Longtime super featherweight contender Andres Cortes makes the move north five pounds to the fairly wide-open lightweight division against once-beaten Eridson Garcia in the Paramount+ main event of Zuffa Boxing 05 on Easter Sunday night. The intriguing ten-round bout between two guys that have not appeared to be fond of one another in the lead-up to Sunday caps a seven-bout card from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighters weighed-in early Saturday morning at the host venue. 

Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas seemed to be one win away from a world title opportunity for the last 2 ½ years, perhaps squandering his last audition with a lackluster ten-round decision on the Emmanuel Navarrete-Charly Suarez undercard last May. On that night, Cortes moved past unheralded Salvador Jimenez, but failed to make himself a marketable opponent for 130-pound champion Navarrete. Since, Cortes, the WBO #4/WBC #5 ranked super featherweight, stopped overmatched Derlyn Hernandez-Gerarldo before signing with Zuffa and announcing his move to 135 pounds. Cortes weighed-in at the 135-pound lightweight limit at Saturday’s weigh-in. 

Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs) of Houston, Texas made a statement as he himself moved up to lightweight in his last bout. Garcia met well-regarded Japanese prospect Taiga Imanaga on the Naoya Inoue-David Picasso undercard last December and sealed a close fight with a picture perfect right hand to score a knockdown in the eighth round of a ten-round bout. After closing the final two rounds with punishing left hands, Garcia edged the cards to score the split decision. Garcia, still the WBO #9/WBA #14 ranked 130-pounder despite fighting for the second straight time at lightweight, weighed-in at 135-pounds on Saturday morning. 

Former featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo (28-2, 18 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines will take on former title challenger Feargal McCrory (17-1 9 KOs) of New York, New York by way of Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in a ten-round lightweight bout in the co-feature. 

Magsayo, the IBF #5/WBO #12 ranked lightweight, had actually dropped back down to super featherweight to score a win over Jorge Mata on the Mario Barrios-Manny Pacquiao undercard in Las Vegas last July. Despite his lofty rankings at 135-pounds, Magsayo had only fought north of 130 twice against nondescript opposition. With his new promoter Zuffa Boxing not recognizing the 130-pound weight class, Magasayo will now campaign at lightweight full-time, weighing 134 pounds on Saturday morning. 

McCrory has fought north of 130-pounds for much of his career, but trimmed down to the super featherweight limit as he got into contention and ultimately met up with titleholder Lamont Roach in a failed bid at the WBA belt in June of 2024. McCrory hit the canvas three times prior to the eighth-round stoppage, but regrouped since to stop Keenan Carbajal in eight last March. McCrory weighed-in at the lightweight limit of 135 pounds on Saturday.  

In a make-or-break fight of sorts, veterans Azat Hovhannisyan (22-6, 17 KOs) of Glendale, Arizona by way of Yerevan, Armenia and Eduardo Baez (25-7-2, 10 KOs) of Calexico, California by way of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico will meet in a ten-round featherweight bout to open the main broadcast. 

Hovhannisyan is best remembered for his super bantamweight title eliminator defeat to Luis Nery in what was one of the better fights of 2023. Hovhannisyan, who had previously failed in a bid for a portion of the 122-pound crown against Rey Vargas back in 2018, was stopped on his feet in the eleventh by Nery, which set off a three-fight skid. Hovhannisyan got back into the win column last time out: an eight-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Aidos Medet this past January. Hovhannisyan weighed-in at the featherweight limit of 126 pounds on Saturday. 

Former title challenger Baez enters on a two-fight win streak having taken on tough opposition for much of his career. In his failed title bid, Baez succumbed to a vicious body shot from power-punching champion Emanuel Navarrete in round six of a bout back in 2022. Since, Baez has provided a stiff test to top prospects and contenders to mixed results. Baez scaled 125 pounds at Saturday’s weigh-in.

In the preliminary card main event, unbeaten Alexis De La Cerda (8-0, 4 KOs) of Federal Way, Washington will meet fellow unblemished prospect Ervin Fuller III (12-0, 6 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland in a ten-round featherweight bout. 

De La Cerda has built his resume mostly in the Pacific Northwest, but did make a Las Vegas appearance defeating journeyman Sharone Carter via third-round stoppage in March of last year. Fuller comes off of a sixth-round unanimous decision over tougher-than-his-record Erik Ruiz this past January. The bout is a step-up for both and De La Cerda and Fuller both scaled an identical 125.5 pounds on Saturday morning. 

In an eight-round lightweight bout, Robert Meriwether III (10-0, 4 KOs) of Las Vegas returns to the Meta Apex to take on Tony Hirsch Jr. (7-0-2, 4 KOs) of Oakland, California. Meriwether impressed in his Zuffa Boxing debut, scoring a mostly one-sided six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Cesar Correa in January. Hirsch, the 24-year-old son of former rugged gatekeeper of the middleweight and super middleweight division of the same name, last saw action in December, scoring a six-round decision over journeyman William Flenoy in Stockton, California. Meriwether weighed-in at 135, while Hirsch came in at 134 pounds on Saturday.

Jorge Maravillo (11-0-1, 8 KOs) of Salinas, California attempted to drop back down to welterweight for the first time in nearly five years to take on Elias Diaz (15-3, 8 KOs) of National City, California in an eight-rounder. Maravillo fought just once last year, bouncing back from a draw against fellow Zuffa fighter Damoni Cato-Cain in 2024, to shutout longtime journeyman Cameron Krael in a six-rounder back in November. Diaz is coming off a July 2025 loss to .500 fighter Sergio Garcia Herrera, who may be much improved since he went on to defeat previously unbeaten Jose Vargas last December. Maravillo weighed-in 2.5 pounds above the welterweight limit and thus 1.5 pounds more than the contract allowed at 149.5 pounds on Saturday. Diaz made the welterweight limit of 147. 

In the featherweight opener, Troy Nash (6-0-1, 1 KO) of Colorado Springs, Colorado returns to the Meta Apex, site of his thrilling decision victory over Jaycob Ramos back in January, to take on once-beaten Bryan Rodriguez (8-1, 1 KO) of Donna, Texas in a eight-rounder. 

Nash, who has taken the path of most resistance in his young career, ends a six-fight streak of meeting undefeated opponents on Sunday night. Ramos, who entered their contest 4-0, pushed “The Bank” in the maiden bout for Zuffa Boxing, but Nash won over the judges with his jab and boxing acumen. 

Rodriguez bounced back from an upset defeat by springing an upset decision of his own over previously unbeaten, Robert Garcia-trained Daniel Cortez (11-0) last November. Nash weighed-in at the contracted maximum of 127-pounds, while Rodriguez came in heavy at 127.5 pounds, 1.5 pound above the featherweight limit and thus half a pound over the allowed weight. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Lightweights, 10 Rounds

Cortes 135

Garcia 135

Lightweights, 10 Rounds 

Magsayo 134

McCrory 135

Featherweights, 10 Rounds

Hovhannisyan 126

Baez 125

Featherweights, 8 Rounds

De La Cerda 125.5

Fuller III 125.5

Lightweights, 8 Rounds

Meriwether III 135

Hirsch Jr. 134

Welterweights, 8 Rounds

Maravillo 149.5*

Diaz 147

Featherweights, 8 Rounds

Nash 127

Rodriguez 127.5**

*Maravillo weighed-in 1.5 pounds over contracted weight

**Rodriguez weighed-in .5 over contracted weight 

Tickets for the event, promoted by Zuffa Boxing, are available online at AXS.com 

Photos by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

By Norm Frauenheim

Floyd Mayweather cast doubt last Saturday on whether his September 19 sequel with Manny Pacquiao will be documented as a real fight and where it’ll happen, but tickets were available this week for a date already scheduled on the Las Vegas Sphere’s calendar.

Tickets, priced from $1,882 to $29,214, were up for sale on the Sphere’s website Thursday amid controversy raised by Mayweather, whose comments suggested the event was not the done deal it seemed to be when announced February 23 by Netflix and CSI Sports.

During a busy boxing day dominated by Sebastian Fundora’s stoppage of Keith Thurman last weekend, Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today that the venue was uncertain.

“We don’t know if it’s a hundred percent going to be there,’’ Mayweather said during a reported meet-and-greet at Caesars Palace.

Days later, however, the MSG-sponsored Sphere is moving forward as if it is certain.

Mayweather also told Vegas Sports Today that the fight would not count in the official record book, which has him at 50-0 after a boxing victory over then MMA star Conor McGregor in August 2017.

“This is not actually a fight,’’ Mayweather said. “It’s an exhibition.”

In a video posted by Source of Boxing, Pacquiao countered, saying he didn’t sign up for an exhibition.

“…he signed a real contract,’’ says Pacquiao, who lost a 2015 decision to Mayweather in a much-hyped fight remembered mostly for the record-setting pay-per-view revenue. “Yes, the contract that we signed is a real fight. I wouldn’t fight an exhibition.’’

There’s a theory that Mayweather is attempting to re-negotiate, because he wants to protect his official record. He might need money, but he still values the 0 on the loss side of the ledger more than anything. It’s his identity. Maybe, his future. He’ll be 50 next year. One loss might ruin the birthday party.

From the Netflix and Sphere point of view, however, that risk is part of the drama, a compelling reason to watch. After all, the first fight, more than a decade ago, was a dud.

As of Thursday, it’s not clear whether Mayweather thinks he’s found a loophole that will allow him to re-negotiate. The Pacquiao camp is certain he does not.

Mayweather is in breach of contract,

Jas Mathur, Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO, told ESPN and Boxing Scene.  Now, there are reports that Mathur is demanding Mayweather re-confirm that he intends to fulfill the terms that –Pacquiao says — he agreed to.

Will he? Mayweather, a calculating and clever master of the feint within the ring, also uses it outside of it. Keep them guessing, before and after opening bell.

He’s done it often enough to think he’s trying to do it all over again. It also might help explain the odds. Mayweather opened as a slight betting favorite, minus 175. A couple of days later, money came in on Mayweather, making him more of a favorite, minus 190.

There are no odds on whether the fight, real or not, happens at all.

Not yet anyway.

Sebastian Fundora stopped former unified world champion Keith Thurman in round six to retain to the WBC Super Welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Fundora took the first three round to establish his jab and follow with right hands and uppercuts.

In round three, Thurman started to swell around the right eye. In round six, Thurman’s left eye was a bloody mess. In round six, Fundora turned up the pressure and began to batter Thurman all over the ring and the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Fundora, 153.6 lbs of Coachella, CA is 24-1-1 with 16 knockouts. Thurman152.6 lbs of Clearwater, FL is 31-2.

Tellez Decisions Mendoza

Yoenis Tellez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Brian Mendoza in a super welterweight bout.

In round two, Tellez was cut badly on his nose from an accidental headbut.

In round eight, Mendoza was cut around the left eye from an accidental haedbutt.

Tellez landed 147 of 435 punches. Mendoza was 125 of 501.

Tellez, 153.8 lbs of Santiago De Cuba, CUB won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 12-1. Mendoza, 153.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 23-5.

Hernandez Stops Gausha in 5

Yoenli Hernandez stopped former two-time world title challenger in round five of their 10-round middleweight fight.

Hernandez landed thudding power shots throughout until the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Hernandez, 158.4 lbs of Camaguay, CUB is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Gausha, 160.8 lbs of Cleveland is 21-6-1.

Hovhannisyan Stops Navarro in Five

Massive heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan in round five stopped Cesar Navarro of a 10-round bout.

Hovhannisyan dominated using mostly the jab and in round five, Hovhannisyan turned it up and battered Navarro in both hands until the bout was stopped at 2:45.

Hovhannisyan, 281.4 lbs of Los Angeles is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Navarro, 210.2 lbs pf Phoenix is 15-4.

Kevin Newman II won a 10-round majority decision over Elijah Garcia in a super middleweight bout.

Newman, 171.4 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 98-92, 06-94and 95-95 and is now 19-3-1; Garcia, 171.4 ls of Phoenix is 17-2.

Bryan Gonzalez stopped Brandon Medina in round five of their six-round featherweight bout.

Gonzalez, 125 lbs of Phoenix is 6- with four knockouts. Medina, 124.6 lbs of Mexico is 7-5

Kaipo Gallegos got dropped for the first time in his career, but he was able to shake it off and win a 10-round unanimous decision over Julian Gonzalez in a lightweight bout.

In round three, Gonzales dropped Gallegos with a straight right on the chin. That was the only blemish for Gallegos as he countered very well thtoughout.

Gallegos, 134.3 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 98-91 and 97-92 twice and is now 12-0-1. Gonzalez, 134.2 lbs of Reading, PA is 16-2-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

Keith Thurman promises history. A lot of people think he already is.

There’s a challenge in that, one that offers Thurman the motivation that always comes with an opportunity to prove them wrong.

It also gives him a chance to talk, and there’s never been a doubt he’s still better at that than just about anybody on boxing’s bully pulpit.

He was there, center stage, Thursday with a volume of words full of philosophy, preaching and psychology. If it weren’t for Sebastian Fundora’s much-hyped height, you wouldn’t have known Fundora was there at all.

Fundora, all 6-foot-6 of him, walks into a room and everybody looks up, including the 5-7 Thurman, who must have suffered a crick in his neck during the ritual stare down during a live-streamed newser a couple of days before the title fight Saturday at Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Fundora let his 154-pound title, recent string of impressive victories and that height do most of his talking. The 28-year-old with an emerging ring IQ is a smart guy. So, he listened.

Word-for-word, Thurman is unrivalled, if not undisputed. He has a broadcaster’s skillset. For now, however, he’s a fighter who plans to stay active. Thurman, nicknamed One Time, said Thursday he doesn’t intend to retire. One Time promised at least one more in a fight — he says — could open the door to Hall of Fame consideration

“A historic night,’’ he said many times.

In part, Premier Boxing Champions’ pay-per-view bout on Amazon Prime is historic for both PBC and Thurman. Thurman was featured in PBC’s first main event, a decision over Robert Guerrero 11 years ago — March 7, 2015 – also at the MGM Grand.

“It’s called PBC,’’ Thurman said. “It should be PB Me.’’

He’s a poet, too.

But a question lingers: Is he still the puncher with the finishing power defined by his nickname? The answer determines the fight.

Despite the nickname, his career has been a story about not enough times. It’s impossible to judge inactivity. That’s not exactly fair. There was Covid. There were injuries, including three surgeries. 

But none of that is attached to his record like an asterisk offering an explanation. It’s just a fact, including only 15 rounds since July 2019. 

That’s nearly seven years, a stretch when some fighters retire, come back and retire all over again.

At 37, Thurman is closer to the end than his prime. Perhaps, inactivity helped protect him from the inevitable wear-and-tear sustained in a busy career. But the surgeries suggest otherwise.

Thurman hears the skepticism. He uses it, effectively on stage and in video. The psychologist in him also might be using it against the younger Fundora. Media and fans were there with questions Thursday. In part, however, Thurman might have been talking to an audience of one: Fundora.

Fundora, he said many times, has been knocked out in his only loss to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Fundora’s muscle memory of that KO will be there, Thurman said, when a big shot lands. The body, he promised, will react in a way Fundora’s mind can’t control.

“I don’t know what all is going to go down,’’ Thurman said. “I just know Sebastian Fundora is going down.’’

It’s no coincidence that Mendoza is on Saturday’s card against Cuban prospect Yoenis Tellez in the co-main event. It’s also no coincidence that Thurman was seated next to Mendoza on the stage for the news conference.

“He gave me the cheat code,’’ Thurman said to Fundora, who was seated on the other side of the pulpit. “Night, night.

“I’m going to give you that flashback. Do you remember? Maybe, you forgot. I will make you remember.’’

Maybe, make some history, too.

Carlos Adames retained the WBC Middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Austin Williams to retain the WBC Middleweight title over Immanuwel Aleem at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

It was a fast paced fight with several instances of toe-to-toe action

In round two, Adames dropped Williams with a perfect straight right down the middle.

In round 12, Williams was bleeding from the mouth.

Adames, 158.6 lbs of Elias Pina, DR won by scores of 118-108 and 117-109 twice and is now 25-1-1. Williams, 159.6 lbs of Palm Beach Gardens, FL is 20-2.

Omari Jones Decisions Christian Gomez

Omari Jones won a eight-round unanimous decision over Christian Gomez in a junior middleweight bout.

Jones landed 109 of 396 punches. Gomez was just 20 of 175.

Jones, 151.6 lbs of Orlando, FL won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 6-0. Gomez, 151.6 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 23-7-1.

Marksman Decisions Gomez

Corey Marksman won a 10-round unanimous decision over Jaycob Gomez in a lightweight bout.

Marksman landed 123 of 397 punches. Gomez was 106 of 375.

Marksman, 134 lbs of Sanford, FL won by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 twice and is 13-0-1. Gomez, 134.2 lbs of Caguas. PR is 14-1-1.

Teremoana Stops Harper in 1st

Teremoana Teremoana stopped Curtis Harper in round one of their 10-round heavyweight bout.

At the end of round, Teremoana landed a crushing short right to the head that sent Harper crashing to the canvas and the fight was over at 2:59.

Teremoana 265.5 lbs of Queensland, AUS is 10-0 with 10 knockouts. Harper, 270.2 lbs of Jacksonville, FL is 19-13.

By Norm Frauenheim

There are questions. Optimism, too. Mostly, there’s relief that Top Rank’s 60-years of expertise in the promotion and development of fighters is back on a significant platform with potential to sell and sustain the volatile boxing game.

We still don’t know exactly how long Top Rank’s deal with DAZN is, or whether there are any clear limits on exclusivity regarding dates and matchups with fighters tied to rival promoters.

Potential land mines, of course, are buried in the fine print of a deal announced Wednesday. It wouldn’t be boxing if they weren’t. Risk and reward, drama and disaster are all there. Caveat emptor. It’s a timeless warning, one that simply leads to another one heard before every opening bell. Defend yourself at all times.

Top Rank has, brilliantly so throughout a turbulent eight-month stretch when fans, pundits and a new generation of promoters were saying the longtime entity was dead. Mark Twain once had something to say about premature obits. News of his death, he said, had been exaggerated.

In Top Rank’s case, it surely was. After Top Rank’s final show with ESPN in July, it looked as if there was a vacuum. Saudi money, The Ring, Zuffa and TKO threatened to take over.

The threat is still there. The idea is to rewrite the Ali Act and do away with the confusing array of weight classes and titles prevalent throughout the so-called four-belt era. But there are still no real answers. Questions linger. Chaos looms.

Fans, so often forgotten, sit and wait, wondering whether it’s just a revolving door. The WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA leaving; The Ring, Zuffa and TKO arriving. Acronyms in; acronyms out.

Some fans don’t know much about it. Many don’t care. But they do know good fights and who puts them together. Over the last eight months, that’s been 94-year-old Bob Arum’s Top Rank. Amid the mess of uncertainty throughout the last year, Top Rank’s trademark resilience has been there with a quiet, yet powerful adherence to fundamentals.

The Top Rank template was never more evident than the co-promotional role it played with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom on Feb. 28 in a stunning performance by Emanuel Navarrete in an upset stoppage of Eduardo Nunez for a unified junior-lightweight title in front of a crowd of about 12,000 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb.

In the card’s immediate aftermath, it was a story about a couple of dramatic

comebacks, Navarrete and the Phoenix market, which had gone dormant with the advent of Saudi money and the Riyadh season.

A couple of weeks later, it became evident there was a third comeback: Top Rank. In part, it was expressed by Emiliano Vargas, the emerging son of former great Fernando Vargas, also his trainer. Vargas, boxing’s hottest prospect and a Top Rank fighter, had just embellished his credentials with a victory – punishing and powerful — over junior-welterweight Agustin Ezequiel Quintana.

Vargas thanked the fans and then said what fellow fighters are beginning to learn about the AZ crowd, called “educated” by Hearn. They know what they’re watching. He says he wants to fight his first main event in Phoenix. The crowd roared its approval.

Eighteen days later, there was a further approval in the Top Rank-DAZN alliance, formally announced during a news conference at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The deal is still being worked out, according to Arum. It had probably been under negotiation for weeks before Feb. 28.

But that last night in February was full of reasons, all comebacks, about why it got done. Top Rank is calling it “a new era,’’ and for the younger generation in that AZ crowd it is.

But it’s also proof that new eras work because of old fundamentals that always do.

By Norm Frauenheim

Reborn Emanuel Navarrete fought his way back from the edge of retirement and now looks at a restored future that starts with options, a decision and perhaps a dilemma.

What’s next?

More to the point, who’s next?

A couple of weeks after a dramatic career-best stoppage of Eduardo Nunez, Navarrete must choose between a promise and an opportunity.

Charly Suarez?

Or O’Shaquie Foster?

The either-or could change, of course. Unforeseen options are like insults from feuding promoters. There’s always another one.

This week, however, there were only two for Navarrete, who on Wednesday got an order that — in acronym-speak — told him he had 20 days to negotiate a deal for a “mandatory” rematch.

The only mandatory here is skepticism, of course. The only bet is an extension. Negotiations and Navarrete’s decision figure to go on for a while.

The dilemma was Navarrete’s own doing. In a contentious arena often devoid of what Ernest Hemingway called “grace under pressure,” a maturing Navarrete showed some.

He thanked Suarez.

He also acknowledged he owed him one.

“I know I owe Suarez that rematch,’’ Navarrete said at a news conference in the immediate aftermath of his 11^th-round TKO of Nunez in front of a roaring crowd in Glendale, AZ.

The rematch has been there, at one level or another, amid lingering echoes of the controversy over the Navarrete-Suarez fight in May. At first, Navarrete was declared the winner by an eighth-round “technical decision.” The referee ruled that a cut above his left eye was caused by a punch.

Thirty minutes after the San Diego fight, however, video showed the cut was caused by a Suarez punch.

Weeks later, the California State Athletic Commission changed the result, ruling it a dreaded “No Contest.”

Ten months later, there’s still no rematch. It screams for one. It sounds as if Suarez is already counting on it. The Filipino told Boxing Scene that he wants the rematch in Las Vegas.

On the last night in February, he was in the Arizona crowd for Navarrete’s victory, a definitive performance that proved to be a powerful answer to most questions about Navarrete’s future. It’s never been brighter.

Nevertheless, a ruling at a regulatory meeting allowed him to retain a title that many believe Suarez had rightfully taken from him in the ring. It remains unresolved, because Suarez stepped aside, allowing Navarrete to fight Nunez.

For that, Navarrete is thankful. But it’s still not clear whether he’ll agree to a sequel, or simply relinquish the WBO belt and move on to another 130-pound unifier against Foster.

Foster was in the Arizona crowd, too.

“Let’s do it …let’s make it happen,’’ Foster told reporters.

Then, he went on to suggest he has more name-recognition than Suarez.

“My profile has been raised,” he said.

Foster also has something that Suarez doesn’t. He’s got a junior-lightweight title, the World Boxing Council’s version – the green belt valued more than any other, especially by Mexican fighters.

The powerful Foster, who like Navarrete is a Top Rank fighter, also represents a significant 130-pound challenge to Navarrete’s renewed aspirations. There was talk that Navarrete merits some serious pound-for-pound consideration after his stoppage of a feared Nunez, a fellow Mexican who was the betting favorite at opening bell.

A victory over Foster would validate what Navarrete did against Nunez. It also would answer a lingering question about Navarrete’s consistency.

He had grown erratic, which was all too evident in a now-forgotten, yet still-controversial stoppage of unknown Australian Liam Wilson, also in Glendale where Navarrete won a then-vacant WBO title in February 2023.

To do it, Navarrete had to get up from the only knockdown in his career. He was floored by a left hook. Clearly dazed, he was still alert enough to spit out his mouthpiece, giving him a controversial 27 seconds to recover. He survived.

Wilson’s corner was outraged. It threatened a protest. It demanded a rematch. Wilson never got one. Will Suarez?

For now, not even Navarrete knows. It’s a tough question, one bound to be controversial in the court of public opinion.

Stand-up guy?

Or pound-for-pound guy?

By Norm Fraueneim

David Benavidez, once branded as a weight bully, now looks up-and-down the scale and sees only options.

Bullies are sometimes hostages, too, trapped by a narrow pursuit that eliminates other possibilities.

For Benavidez, that was Canelo and only Canelo. It kept him at 168 pounds, a super-middleweight division long ruled by Canelo Alvarez. For as long as it did, there was nowhere else to go for Benavidez.

At 23-years-old, he missed weight in 2020, losing the World Boxing Council’s 168-pound title for the second time since a positive drug test, yet never losing it in the ring. Still, he chased Canelo for five more fights over three-and-half years. The pursuit bullied the bully, keeping him at 168 and only 168.

From bout to bout, birthday-to-birthday, he battled to make the weight while his maturing body told him to move on, move up.

His toughest fight?

“The scale,’’ Benavidez, now 29, said at a recent news conference for the formal announcement in his bid for a cruiserweight title against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez May 2 in Las Vegas.

It was a joke. Kind of. The question asked by The Boxing Hour, should have been more specific. To wit: Who was his toughest opponent?

“Caleb Plant,” said Benavidez, a Phoenix born-and-forged fighter who battled and beat Plant, scoring a hard-fought decision in Vegas March 2023.

He would fight once more at super-middle, winning both the fight with the scale and then Demetrius Andrade later that year.

Still, Canelo would not budge, perhaps because he saw Benavidez as too big, or too loud or too much of both. Whatever the reason, Benavidez moved on, moved up. The question, however, is still there.

“For as long as Canelo is still out there, still active, it’ll always will be,’’ Benavidez said.

Canelo is planning a September 12 comeback in Riyadh from his scorecard loss to Terence Crawford. Christian Mbilli and others have been mentioned for what will be Canelo’s first fight in a year. But don’t bother to look too far down the list. Benavidez’ name is not there. The question is, of course.

These days, it’s almost always preceded by an apology. Sorry, but we have to ask.

Benavidez is happy to answer. Maybe, relieved, too. His move up the scale has freed him from the frustration that had been attached to the futile pursuit of what would have been a rich date with Canelo. It’s also freed him to take on risks that can make or break a legacy.

Cruiserweight is that risk. After three fights at light-heavyweight, Benavidez is making the jump, from 175- pound champion to 200-pound challenger.

Zurdo, Benavidez’ old sparring partner, has been at the weight for three fights over the last two years. He’s won two of the belts. His experience, familiarity, gives him an edge.

Another Zurdo advantage is measurable. Benavidez has always been the bigger fighter. In a face-off at the end of a Las Vegas newser late last month, however, Benavidez had to look up to look into Zurdo’s eyes. Will that matter? Maybe not.

But that photo is just one indication of adjustments confronting Benavidez in a bid for a third division title.

There’s a sense that Benavidez’ energy and whirlwind punching rate will propel him to victory. Betting odds reflect that. Benavidez is a slight favorite, minus 310.

Jai Opetaia, the world’s most feared cruiserweight, talked about Benavidez-Zurdo during the days before his bout against Brandon Glanton in a Zuffa-promoted card Sunday in Vegas. He wants the winner.

Opetaia, the most interesting big guy from Down Under since David Tua, also talked to Benavidez during the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios fight on March 21. They weren’t exchanging gardening tips. The Benavidez-Opetaia possibility has got fans talking.

Whatever happens, Benavidez hasn’t eliminated anything on either side of his current place on the scale. He says he still wants to fight Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev at light-heavy.

The difference between 175-to 168 is seven pounds however. That’s a lot less than the 25 pounds separating 200 from 175.

Can he go back down, win another fight with the scale? He’s done it before, which explains why he’s confident he can do it again.

But doubts increase as he gets older. It’s also not clear what Bivol and Beterbiev plan to do. There was talk of them in a second rematch, a trilogy. But both names have begun to fall out of the media and the pound-for-pound ratings. Their careers are close to the end.

Meanwhile, Benavidez is just beginning on a path that some say will lead to heavyweight. Cruiserweight is just seen as a steppingstone for him and Opetaia, as it was for Evander Holyfield and Oleksandr Usyk. But that option will have to wait.

“The question is not whether I can fight at heavyweight,’’ Benavidez said. “It’s whether I want to.’’

Jai Opetaia won the inaugural Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight title with a 12-round unimous decision over Brandon Glanton at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

In round six, Glanton was deducted a point for holding.

In round 11, Opetaia was deducted a point for holding.

Opetaia of Australia won by scores of 119-106 on all cards.

The bout was marred in controversy all week as Opetaia was seemingly stripped of his IBF title after the organization was on board with the sanctioning. The IBF made the decision late on Friday night, apparently feeling disrespected for the placement of their title bout during fight week activities.

Salas Stops Saracho in 8

Ricardo Salas stopped Jesus Saracho in round-eight of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

Salas dominated and poured on the volume over the second half of the fight and the bout was stopped at 2:09 of round eight.

Salas is now 23-2 with 18 knockouts. Saracho falls to 16-3-2.

Rubio Gets Dropped Twice But Decisions Palma

Pablo Rubio Jr. was dropped two times in round three, but was able to comeback and out work Adan Palma and take an eight-round unanimous decision in a featherweight bout.

In round three, Palma was able to hurt and drop Rubio with a left hook along the ropes. Later in the round, it was a short right that put Rubio down again. Rubio was able to gather himself and begin landing volume for the remaining round and took the unanimous decision by scores of 77-73 twice and 76-74.

Rubio of Whittier, CA is 15-0. Palma is is 14-1.

Vlad Panin stopped Shinard Bunch in round nine of their 10-round welterweight bout.

Panin dominated the action and a big flurry caused a stoppage ay 2:29 of round nine.

Panin, 146.5 lbs of Las Vegas is 24-2 with 16 knockouts. Bunch, 147 lbs of Trenton, NJ is 22-4-1.

Joshua Juarez remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Jardae Anderson in a heavyweight bout.

Juarez, 256 lbs of Laredo, TX won by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 15-0. Anderson, 263 lbs of Davenport, IA is 11-2.

Jaycob Ramos and Ethan Perez battled to a six-round draw in a featherweight battle featuring fighters from the Lone Star State.

Each fighter landed 83 punches.

Ramos took a card 57-55 and two cards were even at 56-56.

Ramos, 126 lbs of Dallas is 4-1-1. Perez, 125.5 lbs of San Antonio is 8-0-1.

In round two, Perez dropped Ramos with a straight left to the chin. In round three, Ramos returned the favor by dropping Perez with a counter right,

In a battle of undefeated lightweights, Brady Ochoa and Adrian Serrano battled to a six-round majority draw.

Ochoa outlanded Serrano 105-104.

Ochoa took a card 58-56 while two cards were even at 57-57.

Ochoa, 134 lbs of Las Vegas is 9-0-1. Serrano, 135 lbs of Salinas, CA is 6-0-2.

Emiliano Alvarado remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Erick Rosado in a featherweight bout.

After a good first round from Rosado, Alvarado landed a perfect double left hook to the body and then head that put Rosado on his back.

Alvarado, 125.5 lbs of Coachella, CA won by scores of 59-54 on all cards and is now 11-0. Rosado, 1245 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 16-5.

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. –The blood poured into a right eye. A swelling bruise began to close the left eye. Only the end was easy to see.

Emanuel Navarrete’s punches, long and deadly, bloodied, bruised and busted-up Eduardo Nunez, forcing the ring physician to call an end to the carnage in the first second of the eleventh round Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena.

Navarrete’s victory proved to be a definitive answer to a growing chorus of critics who believed that the three-division champ was in a steep decline. He’s not. Instead, he’s a unified junior welterweight champion. He took Nunez’ International belt and added it to his World Boxing Organization title.

“I feel like I got back to what it is to be a Mexican warrior,” he said to a roaring crowd after his fourth appearance in the state since 2023.

The only way back to his warrior roots, however, was through a determined challenge from another resilient Mexican. Nunez (29-2, 27 KOs) was a slight favorite. And there were moments when it looked as if he might prevail.

“I want to be champion again,” he said after hugging Navarrete in the center of the ring. “I will continue to learn. 

Nunez’ right eye was cut in the fourth round. From the fifth through about the eighth, however, his power and evident discipline forced Navarrete to retreat.

But his corner stopped the bleeding after the round.  The blood was gone, suddenly and seemingly replaced by a sharper Nunez. He began to find his range. He landed a solid body-to-head combination that backed Navarrete into the ropes. 

The double shot, perfectly executed, seemed to surprise Navarrete, whose loosey-goosey style managed to confuse Nunez over the first two to three rounds. But the combo interrupted Navarrete’s momentum. He hesitated just enough for Nunez to get back into the fight.

Nunez’ power was finding avenues under Navarrete’s long, spaghetti-like arms. First, he targeted Navarrete’s body. Then his head, Navarrete went into reverse. He marched forward in the opening round. He retreated in the seventh. Increasingly, the relentless Ninez was there, his head and face in Navarrete’s chest. In the eighth, Nunez backed  him into the ropes and followed with a succession of head shots that landed with an echo that could be heard above the roar from the crowd. 

In the ninth, the blood started flowing again. A rapid swelling, the color of a purple grape, appeared around the left. Only the end was left.  

Emiliano Vargas prevails in punishing fight

There’s more to Emiliano Vargas than just a pretty face. There’s a mean streak too.He displayed it Saturday in a contentious, bruising stoppage of Augustine Quintana Saturday In a junior-welterweight fight that was a good measure of the young prospect’s chances of fulfilling his potential at Desert Diamond Arena.

“I want to become a world champion in my next fight,” the 21-year-old Vargas said after forcing Quintana’s corner to end it after the ninth round.

In the early rounds, it looked as if Vargas would win easily. In the fifth, however, Quintana (22-3-1, 13 KOs)  suddenly got aggressive. He marched forward, pursuing Vargas and throwing punches at a wild rate and in every direction. One landed low. Then, another. Vargas was in evident pain. The referee called time and warned Quintana.

For a few seconds, Vargas walked it off. The warning, however, changed the fight. It got nasty, borderline ugly. Quintana continued to throw punches, some that repeatedly seemed to land just at or below the beltline. But Vargas didn’t back away. 

Instead, he stood and exchanged shots that echoed throughout the old ice hockey arena. In the eighth, Quintana slipped onto his hands and knees. Vargas looked at him. Actually, he glared and gestured at the Argentine, urging him to get up. No interpretation necessary. Vargas wanted to administer some more punishment. 

He did with punches that forced another timeout  Quintana was sent to his corner where the ringside physician was waiting. The  good doctor took a look at his busted-up face and determined the fight could continue. Nobody was happier about that than Vargas.  A round later, it was over, despite angry protests from the busted-up Quintana.

Abel Ramos storms back, scores decision over Smalls

Now we know why Mario Barrios wouldn’t fight Abel Ramos again.

Ramos, fighting for the first time since a controversial draw with Barrios for the WBC welterweight title more than a year ago, displayed great conditioning, unleashing another furious rally for a victory over prospect Tahmir Smalls at Desert Diamond Arena.

It was close, but this time the judges got it right, giving Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs) a split decision– 98-92  and 97-93 for Ramos, 96-94 for Smalls.

Ramos and the crowd — populated by many fans from hometown Casa Grande about an hour drive from Glendale — celebrated as though they had been waiting for fate and fairness to finally favor Ramos.

For months, he waited and wondered, praying and hoping for a rematch with Barrios. 

“It’s been awhile since I last fought,” he told The Boxing Hour before opening bell.  “I thought I’d get the rematch. There were. a couple times I thought it was done. They kept saying yeah. But then he got the Manny Pacquiao fight. That’s when I knew I’d have to fight somebody else. No regrets. 

“I’m just happy to be here, fighting again. 

“I just love to fight.”

For the last six rounds, that was evident, painfully so for Smalls (16-1 11 KOs). First, there were body shots from  Ramos. Then, head shots. In the final round, Smalls slipped to the canvas, a picture of exhaustion..

“It’s exactly how I thought it would go,” said Ramos, who resurrected his future. “I hope this win will give me another title shot. I want Ryan Garcia, all of the champions.” 

Martinez, Cardenas fight to a draw

Jordan Martinez didn’t get the win. But he got the cheers and probably a rematch.

Martinez, an entertaining mix of energy and speed, wound up with a draw in front of hometown fans Saturday against favored Arturo Cardenas in the first fight of the DAZN live stream of the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez fight at Desert Diamond Arena.

Martinez (16-0-1, 15 KOs) appeared to grab the early momentum in the junior-featherweight fight. He danced into the ring and kept his feet moving throughout most of the early rounds. By the mid rounds, however, Cardenas (17-0-2, 9KOs) began to catch with solid shots. It was enough for him to also catch him on the cards — 98-92 for Martinez, 96-94 for Cardenas and 95-95. It was a split draw. A split audience, too..

“Most of his shots were hitting me on the gloves,” Cardenas, of Mexico, said.

The, crowd booed,

“We can run it back for sure and I’ll come back better,” said Martinez, a Phoenix fighter who wore the city’s logo on the back of his trunks.

Mesa junior welterweight Ochoa suffers first loss

Mexican Oscar Alvarez Guerrero brought Julio Cesar Chavez out of his broadcasting seat and onto his feet with a resilient burst of late energy that led to an upset decision over Trini Ochoa, a popular junior welterweight from Mesa, Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena.

The early moments in the eight-round fight appeared to belong to Ochoa, who delivered an effective body attack. But the lanky Guerrero (15-2, 12 KOs) endured the shots, recovered and then began to dominate, especially in the final couple of rounds. That’s when Guerrero mounted a relentless attack, backing Ochoa (21-1, 9 KOs) on to the ropes and into the loss column for the first time.

Bantamweight Velle stays unbeaten with dominant decision

Phillip Velle, an accomplished amateur, continued to add a prospect’s credibility to his resume Saturday, displaying a comprehensive skill set in a dominant decision over Brayan Ramos at Desert Diamond Arena.

Velle (5-0, 2 KOs), landed several well-executed counters throughout a sxi-round bantamweight fight. He staggered Ramos (8-8-1, 2 KOs), a resilient Mexican who managed to stay on his feet and in the fight. 

Prospect Beltran extends unbeaten record

Hector Beltran calls himself Handsome. The nickname still works. His face and record remains unmarked.

Beltran, a Robert Garcia-trained prospect, stayed unbeaten with a shutout decision over a game Cesar Diaz in the second fight on the Navarrete-Nunez featured card Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena.

Beltran (7-0, 5 KOs), of Dallas, took complete control of the welterweight bout in fourth, landing successive shots that rocked Diaz (10-2, 6 KOs) from one side of the ring to the next. 

First Bell: Navarrete-Nunez card opens with quick KO

Las Vegas welterweight Rahman Muhammad turned a scheduled matinee into a short feature Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena

Muhammad (3-0, 2 KOs) wasted little time, opening the show with second-round stoppage of Mitchell McFadden, (1-1), of Atlanta, on a Matchroom card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez fight for two pieces of the junior-lightweight title

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. – For a while, the only thing separating Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez was a valid passport. Now, even that’s gone.

Navarrete and Nunez stood face-to-face, seemingly even for perhaps the most intriguing fight in a new year Friday, just a day after Navarrete resolved issues over a lost passport and boarded a private jet in Mexico City for a flight to Arizona.

He landed, his papers and weight all in order. As he stepped off the scale, he looked relieved. Finally, he was where he was supposed to be. Finally, there were no issues about the weight. He safely came in under the junior-lightweight limit of 130 pounds.

In a staged weigh-in after the official one behind closed doors Friday morning at Desert Diamond Arena, he was at 129.2 and Nunez at 129.8.

Over the last few years, the 31-year-old Navarrete (39-2-1-1, 32 KOs) has often struggled to make weight. But this time, more than a passport was lost.

Pounds were, too, enough for him to stay in the hunt to keep his World Boxing Organization belt and to take Nunez’ International Boxing Federation title Saturday night at Desert Diamond in a DAZN-streamed bout.

“Obviously, we had our setbacks, all out of our hands,’’ Navarrete said through an interpreter. “But, finally, we’re here.’’

Navarrete sounded confident. The three-division champion is no stranger to Arizona where he’s already fought three times since 2023.

“This is a lot like my second home,’’ Navarrete said.

He’s been lucky in Maricopa County. He escaped with a victory over Australian Liam Wilson, scoring a stoppage after getting up from a controversial knockdown. He’s also been dominant, punishing Oscar Valdez, first at Desert Diamond and again at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix.

He knows the city. It knows him. But a boxing ring never includes any of the comforts of home. It’s full of danger and shifting allegiances, both of which are personified in the emerging face of Nunez.

Navarrete has the resume and an awkward style, a puzzle to most who have tried to solve it.

But Nunez has the momentum, which includes an astonishing knockout rate. He’s not perfect, but he’s close. He’s stopping opponents at a 93.1-percent clip.

Twenty-nine victories in 30 fights, 27 by stoppage. It comes with no surprise, perhaps, that his only loss came on the scorecards early in his career. Nunez’ power has dictated what he does. Who he is.

“Navarrete has been a champion for a long, long time,’’ Nunez said, also through an interpreter. “But I feel like it’s my time to write my own destiny.’’

Nunez woke up Friday as the favorite. The betting odds have been close since the fight was announced. Throughout, however, Nunez has been the bettors’ slight favorite, a sign perhaps that the fighter from Sinaloa has captured the imagination of Mexican fans.

For now, at least, Nunez is a name. Few American fans have seen him fight. In August 2024, he beat Miguel Marriaga in Carson, Calif. Last May, he traveled to Japan, scoring a unanimous decision over Masanori Rikiishi for a vacant IBF title in Yokohama. Twice, his passport has been punched with some noteworthy credibility.

But none would be more powerful than a victory over Navarrete, whose name has been near the top of Mexico’s boxing royalty for many years.

A victory over Navarrete would be a sure sign that he has arrived, especially among Mexicans, boxing’s biggest and loudest demographic. It’s no coincidence that promoters, Matchroom and Top Rank, have dubbed the fight “King of Mexico.”

Canelo Alvarez, who still plans a post-Terence Crawford comeback in September, might argue with that one. For one night, however, the marketing title works.

The 27-year Nunez has youth and evident energy. Against a Navarrete, he might need a lot of both. Navarrete’s edgy victories over Valdez suggest he’s at his best against fellow Mexicans. Valdez is popular in Arizona, in part because he has roots in Tucson. But Navarrete walked through him. From round to round, it looked as if he was energized by a partisan crowd. Those Valdez fans might be his fans now.

Nunez figures to encounter that version of Navarrete, who is also motivated by talk that he is not the fighter he was five years ago. In his last fight, he escaped against Charly Suarez. It ended in controversy over whether a punch or a head butt left Navarrete with a nasty cut. Eventually, it was ruled a No Contest. Navarette kept his belt, but couldn’t shed the questions.

“Some of the criticism was unfair,’’ said Navarrete, who has never had a better chance to prove just how unfair.   

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emanuel Navarrete missed a news conference Thursday for a fight for a unified junior-lightweight title Saturday against emerging fellow-Mexican Eduardo Nunez at Desert Diamond Arena because he lost his passport.

The fight for the World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation belts was still on, however. 

During the  undercard portion of a delayed news conference, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed a story first reported by The Boxing Hour and said  Navarrete was on a private jet from Mexico City to Phoenix.

“”Earlier, he was sitting in an embassy in Mexico City,” Hearn, Nunez’ promoter, said. “Nobody could find his passport.

Hearn had hoped to stage the ritual stare-down between Navarrete and Nunez later in the night. But there was still no sign of Navarrete as the undercard part of the newser ended.

Representatives for Top Rank, Navarrete’s promoter, were confident he was enroute.

“We had some drama this week,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said.

Moretti then thanked Hearn for acquiring a private jet.

“We’re still negotiating that,” Hearn said.

Navarrete is popular in the Phoenix area. His scheduled Saturday fight on DAZN is his third at Desert Diamond and his fourth in Maricopa County since 2023. He beat Oscar Valdez in a rematch in December, 2024 at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix in his last Arizona appearance. His drawing power has been evident.

“This fight will happen in front of what will be 12,0000 fans,” Hearn said.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – Belts and acronyms are at stake, but a date matters the most to David Benavidez’ in his upscale move to prove he’s the undisputed face of the game.

Ownership of that date, Cinco de Mayo, is there, up-for-grabs on May 2 in an intriguing fight against cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.

It’s been there, vacant and valuable, ever since a masterful Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez in September. Crawford retired; Canelo abandoned the date amid plans for a comeback in September.

For Benavidez, just the chance to claim the date is an opportunity to kick his career into prime time.

“That date doesn’t belong to just one fighter,’’ Benavidez said at a formal news conference announcing the Zurdo bout early Saturday, just hours before the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios fight at nearby T-Mobile Arena.

No, but it does belong to a long list of legends.

“Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Canelo,’’ Benavidez, a Phoenix born-and forged fighter, said to an audience that included De La Hoya, Zurdo’s promoter. “It’s for the best fighter of his time.’’

Benavidez, still a light-heavyweight champion, thinks his time is approaching. A definitive victory over Zurdo during the first weekend in May would serve as a sure sign that it is.

For Benavidez’ trainer and dad, the opportunity also serves as motivation for his son to deliver the kind of performance that will ensure an encore.

“We’re not going to let anyone take it from us,’’ Jose Sr. said.

Zurdo, of course, has other plans. He knows Benavidez. Since 2016, they’ve sparred about 100 rounds. 

“Pay-per-view rounds,’’ Zurdo trainer Julian Chua said during the newser for a bout that will be streamed by Amazon Prime Video.

There’s some debate about how the rounds went.

“I hurt him,’’ Benavidez said. “He might not say that, but I know he knows. But I also remember that through all that sparring I once told him that one day we’re going to do this on pay-per-view.’’

Turns out, it’ll happen on boxing’s biggest day.

Claressa Shields retained the undisputed Heavyweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Super Middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn in front of over 16,000 fans at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

In round eight, Crews-Dezurn was bleeding from the mouth.

Shields, 174 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 18-0. Crews-Dezurn, 174.2 lbs of Baltimore is 10-3.

This was a rematch of the pro debuts of each fighter that saw Shields win a four-round decision in 2016.

Oberlton Stops George After 1; George Momentarily Collapses on Stool

Atif Oberlton got stoppage after round one when Joseph George Jr. collapsed on his stool.

Not much happened in round one, but replays showed a clash of heads between the two. In between rounds, George plummeted of his stool and seemed to momentarily unconscious.

Oberlton, 174.8 lbs is 14-0 with 13 knockouts. George, 173.4 lbs of Houston is 13-2.

Perkins Knocks Out Kenneally To win WBA Light Heavyweight Title

Danielle Perkins won the WBA Light Heavyweight title with a sensational one-punch knockout over Che Kenneally in round six.

In round six, Perkins landed a perfect right hook to the jaw that sent Kenneally down. Kenneally was bleeding from her mouth and the fight was stopped at 1:45.

Perkins, 174.4 lbs of Houston is 6-1 with three knockouts. Kenneally, 171 lbs of Gold Coast, AUS is 5-1.

Pryce Taylor Stops Evans in 3

Pryce Taylor remained undefeated with fifth round stoppage over James Evans in an eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round four, Pryce landed a left to the body that took Evans into the ropes for a knockdown. Moments later, Taylor landed a clubbing right that put Evans on the cannvas.

In round fiive, Taylor continued to land hard clubbing shots that put Evans down for a third time. When Evans got to his feet, the fight was stopped at 53 seconds.

Taylor, 275.2 lbs of Brooklyn is 11-0 with seven knockouts. Evans, 223.8 lbs of Toledo, OH is 9-3-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS ––For one night, there were no doubts about Ryan Garcia.

He eliminated them with a disciplined, thorough decision over Mario Barrios Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs), often known for wild controversy, simply performed, a boxer trying to redeem the considerable talent in his skillset. He did that, dominating the scorecards – 119-108, 120-107 and 118-109.

Barrios (29-3-2, 18 KOs) never had a chance, mostly because Garcia never lost control.

Along the way, Garcia picked up his first world title, the World Boxing Council welterweight belt.

He also reconnected with his dad, Henry, who was back in his corner. Garcia wore dad’s first name, stitched onto the beltline of his red trunks.    

He also put himself in line for bigger fights, perhaps a sequel in a grudge match with Devin Haney. There’s also Shakur Stevenson, who has quickly emerged as a pound-for-pound contender. Stevenson was at ringside. Sure enough, Garcia called him out after the scores were announced. He still knows when and how to deliver a line.

There were no complaints, except for maybe one.

“To be honest, I should have got the knockout,’’ Garcia said.

He didn’t, perhaps, because defense is the only weapon in Barrios’ skillset. He’s careful, but now he’s also an ex-champion

It didn’t take long for Garcia to display just how fast and powerful his hands are. Not long after David Benavidez’ young son, Anthony, welcomed him into the ring with a fast flurry of his own punches, Garcia went to work. But it began with a surprise

He’s known for a lethal left. But he opened with a right that put Barrios down just seconds after opening bell.

Barrios kept his poise. He got up, patience instead of panic in his eyes. Those eyes, however, also had to be filled suddenly with some unexpected concern.

Barrios had to be as wary of the right as much as that feared left. It confronted Barrios with some double-edged danger. Power on one side and diversionary on the other.  

It was meant, perhaps, to set Barrios up for a finishing blow. But the defending champion from San Antonio proved to be tougher than perhaps Garcia expected. He withstood what Garcia threw with either hand and from almost any angle.

Still, there was a toll. From round-to-round, it became increasingly evident. Garcia punches and stubborn pressure began to wear down Barrios. He remained upright in trough the remaining eleven rounds.

But there were moments when his balance looked shaky. Barrios’ attempts at landing his best punch, a counter, began to dwindle as he kept his distance, perhaps because he didn’t want to step inside and within the range of the destructive power in both of Garcia’s hands.

It was a tactic. But Barrios couldn’t win that way. It allowed Garcia to stand outside, often with his hands down, as he fired from distance, almost sniper-like. Again and again, he scored enroute to the fist win on what might be redemption.

Russell survives, scores decision over Hiraoka

It was a fight for survival, or at least a punishing exhibition in how to prevail. Gary Antuanne Russell. won. Andy Hiraoka lost.

To the winner, there were mostly bruises. Russell’s resilience and early energy guaranteed victory. But the defending World Boxing Association’s junior-welterweight champion (19-1, 17 KOs)  suffered mightily in the tenth round because of an ugly low blow, thrown inadvertently but right on target. 

Hiraoka (24-1, 19 KOs) was penalized a point. But it didn”t matter. He lost on all three cards — 117-110 and 116-111 twice. In the Japanese junior-welterweight’s first loss, he won over the fans. The gathering crowd for Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios at T- Mobile Arena cheered him and booed Russell when the scores were announced.

Hiraoka was fighting just a couple of days after a long flight from Japan. He was delayed by VISA problems. Early on, he looked stiff and tentative, almost as if he was suffering from jet lag. If he was , however, he shook it off in the middle rounds, That’s when he began to land big lefts and thundering body shots.

As the fight went on, it began to look as if jet lag might be contagious. Russell looked tired. In the end, however, he had scored often enough in the early round to survive.

Martin, Albright fight to wild draw

Anybody for a rematch?

It sounds as if everybody is, including  Frank Martin and Nahir Albright who set the stage for one with a wild draw Saturday on a card featuring Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios at T–Mobile Arena.

Through eight rounds, Martin (19-1-1, 13 KOs), a Detroit junior-welterweight, appeared to hold a slight edge. He dictated pace. He landed more solid shots. In the ninth, the lefthander rocked Albright (17-2-1, 7 KOs), of Philadelphia.

In the tenth, however. Albright attacked, capturing the momentum and badly hurting Martin with a head-spinning combination of ;punches. Martin stumbled, then desperately held on and held himself up just enough to avoid defeat.

In the end, it was 95-95 on all three scorecards.

“Should we re-run it?” Martin asked the fans.

The crowd roared yes.

Melikuziev Stops Agbeko in 7

Bektemir Melikuziev stopped Sena Agbeko in round seven of their 10-round super middleweight bout,

In round four, Melikuziev was cut around the right eye from a clash of heads. Agbeko was cut on his forehead

In round seven, Melikuziev wobbled Agbeko with a right hook and then was dropped with a straight left. Agbeko was badly hurt and ate another straight left and the fight was stopped at 2:58.

Melikuziev is now 17-1 with 11 knockouts. Agbeko is 29-5.

Amari Jones dominates, scores stoppage

It started with a counter hook. It ended in a beatdown.

From start to end, it was all Amari Jones (16-0. 14 KOs), a middleweight from Oakland, CA, who delivered a perfectly-executed hook that put Luis Arias down onto his rear and sliding across the canvas Saturday on the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios card.

Arias (22-7-1, 11 KOs), of Las Vegas, got up from the shot, but never really covered from the damaging impact. He looked hurt. He moved around the ring  in evident fatigue. In the fourth, he was down again.The ringside physician took one look at him and ended it.  Before the fifth, he was finished.

Uppercut thunder keeps Alakel unbeaten

Mohammed Alakel is unbeaten because of an uppercut.

David Calabro (5-2, 3 KOs) couldn’t elude it. It landed once, leaving him with a bloodied nose. It landed again, this time landing on his midsection with a shot that echoed throughout an empty Mobile Arena Saturday afternoon. Both put Calabro, of Aston PA,  on the canvas, both within a few moments in the second round. 

Calabro had seen enough. So had the referee, who ended it at 2:17 of the second in a TKO victory for Alakel (8-0, 2 KOs) of Riyadh.

First Bell: Hitchins withdraws from title defense versus Duarte as Garcia-Barrios card gets off to slow start

The show opened with empty seats, news that the co-main event was off the card and Joshua Edwards.

A few fans had just reached their seats at T-Mobile Arena when it was reported that junior-welterweight Richardson Hitchins withdrew from his title defense Saturday against Oscar Duarte on the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios card because of an undisclosed illness. Delay and dull followed.

Edwards, a former Olympic heavyweight, appeared to have the power to eliminate the dull. But there was no stoppage. Edwards, a perfect five knockouts in five fights before the bout, could never land anything solid against Canadian Brandon Colantonio (7-3, 1 KO). Instead, Edwards settled for his first scorecard win, a unanimous decision.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – The weigh-in was staged on a day when nothing else was.

Ryan Garcia, known to miss weight, was a half-pound lighter than the 147-pound mandatory and Mario Barrios was at the welterweight max Friday just as boxing’s familiar chaos descended all over again.

There’s redemption, and maybe Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) gets some along with his first real title Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in a DAZN-streamed fight.

There’s respect, and maybe Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) gains some by retaining the World Boxing Council’s green belt after keeping it twice with a couple of unconvincing draws.

From redeem to retain, there’s an R-word for just about everything in boxing. The only missing one is retirement. There’s no such thing. Prizefighters are like the tide. They keep coming back.

As Garcia and Barrios stepped off the scale and then indulged in the trashing-talking, non-blinking stare-down ritual, Floyd Mayweather, now more Sr. than Jr., was announcing a comeback.

Who knows if it really happens – and there are reasons to be skeptical. If it does, however, maybe the 30-year-old Barrios or the 27-year-old Garcia are in his future. Mayweather will always get closer to social security than he will his prime. He’ll be 49 next Tuesday (Feb. 24).

Who knows if Mayweather needs the money or the attention or both. Whatever the motivation, he becomes a legendary name that younger fighters – a Garcia or a Barrios – might one day want to have on their resume. 

One way to become a legend is to beat one. Mayweather is surely that, although his plan for a comeback risks his 50-0 sanctioned record. 

A loss to a face in the game’s emerging generation – again a Garcia or a Barrios – is a risk to Mayweather’s carefully-calculated claim on being an all-time great.

There’s a lot of talk that Mayweather’s comeback plan will include a rematch of his revenue record-setting victory over Manny Pacquiao. On Friday, at least, it was impossible not to note that Barrios fought to a controversial draw in July with Pacquiao in his last fight.

In announcing his comeback plan, Mayweather said he would fight his next sanctioned bout after a reported exhibition with Mike Tyson this spring. He’s also engaged in a looming court battle, a lawsuit against Showtime for $340 million.

Meanwhile, no specifics – date, place and network – have ever been announced about the speculated Mayweather-Tyson show. It’s fair to be as skeptical about that as it is to wonder whether we’ll ever see his comeback really happen. At 49, things change.

The body doesn’talways cooperate. Ask Bernard Hopkins, who went from an ageless wonder until he got stopped, knocked out of the ring by Joe Smith in 2016. Hopkins was 51. His body finally said no mas.

For now, however, Mayweather says he has contract, deal with CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS for a comeback career, post Tyson. 

“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather said in a written statement.

More records, maybe more revenue too, But there’s another R-word: Regret. Without retirement, that’s often all that’s left.   

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – Ryan Garcia came in from the storm.

He didn’t exactly leave it behind. He never does. But on a rare day that left Vegas chilled by rain instead of warmed by the desert sun, Garcia stepped inside, looking peaceful. Almost serene.

Calm before an opening bell vanishes like spilled beer up-and-down the Strip in mid-summer. It’s there, then it’s gone faster than a mirage.

Perhaps, that’s all it was for Garcia Thursday during a news conference that was moved from an outdoor pavilion and onto the bottom floor of T-Mobile Arena because of persistent showers.

But you never know with Garcia, who has more roles in his erratic career than he has angles on his

punches.

For Mario Barrios, a peaceful Garcia on a Thursday before their welterweight title fight Saturday night on DAZN might have been a little eerie.

After all, the last time they shared a stage, he encountered a Gracia full of the usual mocks, insults and theatrics.

Who is this guy? His father, Henry Garcia, hears the question. Dad, who is back in his son’s corner, promised a fighter fans remember.

“The boxer that beat Luke Campbell, beat (Javier) Fortuna, beat (Devin) Haney, that’s the fighter you’re going to see,’’ Henry Gracia said.

The fighter who beat Haney, of course is the fighter who tested positive for a PED that might have explained his ferocity throughout a wild and notorious fight in New York. It led to Garcia’s suspension and widespread condemnation.

But this is boxing. Ferocity is the way many of his fans want to remember him. The passive, disinterested fighter they saw in a subsequent loss to Rolly Romero in his last bout is the fighter they’d rather forget.

The Haney fight, eventually ruled a no-contest, has them hoping for a rematch, one that could be there if Garcia beats Barrios and claims the World Boxing Council’s 147-pound belt. That possibility is why The Ring has attached the promotional label, High Stakes, to the bout.

Haney-Gracia would be a grudge fest, a storm for which there would be no shelter. For now, at least, Garcia’s quiet confidence suggests confidence he’ll take a step in that direction against Barrios.

During the newser, Barrios said he hoped to make Garcia uncomfortable

Garcia was asked the inevitable: 

Can he?

“No,” he said.

Then, he paused, almost ominously

“I don’t,’’ he said

Since the bout was announced, Garcia has been the favorite, both in the ring and on the billboards. Barrios has the title, but Garcia owns the show.

There’s been a lot of talk about Barrios trainer, Joe Goossen, who is Garcia’s ex-trainer. In the first news conference, Garcia passed out T-shirts that said Traitor. Then, that was what Garcia apparently wanted everybody to think of Goossen. On Thursday, however, there were no divorce-like insults.

There were just questions about whether Goossen’s experience with Garcia might give Barrios an advantage.

Barrios didn’t talk much about that possibility. He doesn’t talk much at all, anyway.

But Garcia had a profane response.

Goossen, he said, knows him, knows what he can do.

“He also knows I can be a bad m-effer,’’ Garcia said. “On Saturday night, I’m going to be a bad m-ffer.’’

Moments later, Garcia and Barrios walked to the middle of the stage for the ritual face-off. Just as they broke off, Garcia flashed the middle finger, an obscene gesture that flashed like lightning on the horizon.

Another m-effing storm might be coming.  

By Norm Frauenheim

From outrage to silly, Ryan Garcia’s many sides have shown up on either side of the ropes and lots of other places.

There are so many roles, it’s hard to know what’s genuine, who’s real. Garcia has a mask for every opening bell. In a craft dictated by feints, it often works.

Along the way, he’s made fools out of opponents, fans, media and regulators.

Sometimes, he just makes a fool out of himself

That sets up a new stage. This time, however, who’s-fooling-who is more than just a question. It’s a theme, the inescapable drama, for his return next Saturday (July 21) against Mario Barrios in a DAZN-streamed bout from Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

The Ring, the promotional entity, calls the fight “High Stakes”, a fair enough marketing that suggests Devin Haney will be there for a rematch if Garcia prevails.

He’s expected to. He’s favored, but the odds (minus 225) are close, in part because of Garcia’s scorecard loss to Rolly Romero last May on a messy night at New York’s Times Square.

Garcia performed more like a guy trying to wave down a vacant cab than an elite fighter trying to land a punch in a fight that could have restored credibility badly damaged in a notorious New York night against Haney.

Eventually, a beat-down of Haney was ruled a no-contest because Garcia tested positive. Sometimes, masking doesn’t work. In his first fight – opportunity — since then, Garcia just looked disinterested.

Just another disguise, or a real look at what, who Garcia has become? Guess here: Narrow odds are also a fair reflection of the public perception of Garcia. Fans don’t know what to make of him, either.

High Stakes, perhaps, says more about him — his identity — than his future. If he fails against Barrios, his career is in crisis.

If he loses to Barrios, forget Haney, who might move on to a speculated shot at newly-minted junior-welterweight and pound-for-pound contender Shakur Stevenson. For this fight, fans will watch, knowing that only Garcia’s future is at stake.

Is that fair to Barrios? No. But fair and boxing, like jumbo and shrimp, don’t belong in the same sentence. Boxing is always a working definition for oxymoron.

Barrios, a nice guy in a notorious workplace, seems to understand his role in the looming show. He’s the B-side, which is the same bit-player role he had in a controversial draw with middle-aged celebrity Manny Pacquiao in July.

Garcia was there for that one too, reportedly engaging in some extracurricular exchanges on the arena floor after Barrios escaped with the draw.

Seven months later, the two would meet in the ring. Who knew? In a news conference dominated by Garcia last month, Barrios watched the show and reviewed it simply with perhaps the only trash talk he’s ever delivered. He called Garcia a clown.

“Payaso,’’ the proud Mexican-American said of Garcia who arrived on-stage with T-shirts, insults and his own dancing girls, all with ring cards mocking the World Boxing Council.

There’s more than just Bozo in the Spanish definition of clown. It could mean buffoon. It also could mean mischief, which, of course, has been a Garcia specialty. Expect some more.

For Barrios, a clown is what he hopes to make out of Garcia, who has been pretty good at doing that all by himself. In the process, Barrios hopes to put together a performance worthy of a shot at Haney in what would be a welterweight title-unification fight.

For now, there are just questions about Barrios’ path to the WBC’s version of the 147-pound belt.

He was awarded the belt without throwing a punch after Terence Crawford moved up,  from welter to junior-middle for a victory over Israil Madrimov

Then, Barrios kept the title with two draws, the last one with Pacquiao and the first one against Abel Ramos.

Ramos, resilient and tireless, battled his way back and seemed to dominate Barrios throughout the final rounds on the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul show in November 2024.

Barros retained the belt, but didn’t answer gathering questions with a rematch. Ramos, of Casa Grande south of Phoenix, earned a shot, yet never got one.

More than a year later, Ramos makes his first appearance since then. Seven days after Garcia-Barrios, Ramos faces prospect Tahmir Smalls on the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez Feb. 28 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ.

Who’s fooling who? Maybe only time can answer that one. Garcia-Barrios is a fight for one. 

By Norm Frauenheim

Shakur Stevenson’s sudden transformation from boring to brilliant isn’t exactly a surprise.

The potential, sometimes suffocated by bouts of immaturity, has always been there.

What we saw from the 28-year-old’s captivating mastery of technical skill against Teofimo Lopez appears to be just a beginning, an awakening of who he really is.

What’s next? Who’s next? The possibilities appear to be unlimited, although a return to lightweight looks unlikely. The World Boxing Council made sure of that by stripping him of its 135-pound belt while he was still celebrating his scorecard masterpiece over Lopez for a fourth division title.

I’m not exactly sure why the WBC stripped him. Amend that: I don’t care. I don’t think most fans do, either. Apparently, it had something to do with an unpaid fee – reported to be $100,000, even though the WBC was not part of the sanctioning for a 140-pound fight for Lopez’ World Boxing Organization and Ring belts. Fees, flies and fine print, they’re all over boxing.

What nobody can strip from Stevenson, however, is his future, including his place among the top five in the pound-for-pound debate, Against Lopez, he engineered a bold and early statement about 2026. On the last day in January, he made a New Year look like his year.

It was timely, a move that coincides with a changing-of-the-guard in the wake of Stevenson mentor Terence Crawford’s retirement after his September victory over Canelo Alvarez.

Stevenson is no Crawford. Few are. Stevenson is not a finisher.

Crawford’s last two fights went to the cards. But both were at heavier weights – junior-middleweight against Israil Madrimov and super-middleweight against Canelo. At junior-welter and welterweight, however, Crawford was deadly, scoring 11 successive stoppages from 2016 through 2023.

It’s not clear that Stevenson will ever develop that kind of show-stopping dynamic. Given his first nine years in the pro ring, you’d have to say no. Yet, that can change. He’s just entering his prime, meaning power along with maturity are expected to grow. That figures to be part of his unfolding story.

For now, at least, he’s already talking as though he intends to go upscale. He mentioned Conor Benn in the immediate aftermath of beating Lopez by a decision more one-sided than the scorecard numbers. Somehow, unanimous just didn’t explain how big his victory really was.

But promoter Eddie Hearn seemed to dismiss the Benn possibility, saying he wanted to get the UK fighter a title bout or two. For now, at least, the weight difference looks to be too much. Benn has been campaigning at middleweight.

A more intriguing possibility rests closer to home, against Devin Haney, who began to restore his credibility in November with a victory for the WBO welterweight title over Brian Norman, Jr.

“a tremendous fighter, …,’’ Haney said of Stevenson in a post. “but hell yes I know I can beat him.”

Haney also posted: “Me & Shakur is the biggest fight in boxing!’’

Exclamation point not necessary.

Stevenson, who knows how to time a good counter, fired back on social media in a way sure fire up demand among fans weary of stories about belts and fees.

“Be careful what you ask for things might just happen,” said Stevenson, already the biggest happening in a year just underway.

NEW YORK, NY–Shakur Stevenson won the WBO Junior Welterweight title with a master class 12-round unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez before a record crowd of over 21,000 at Madison Square Garden.

Stevemson boxed beautifully by keeping quality distance that never allowed Lopez to find any offensive rhythm. Stevenson was also able to keep Lopez away with a long jab throughout the contest. Stevenson reaffirmed his status as maybe the best defensive fighter in the sport.

Stevenson won by scores of 119-10 on all cards.

Keyshawn Davis Stops Jamaine Ortiz in 12

Keyshawn Davis made a successful super lightweight debut with a 12th and final round stoppage over Jamaine Ortiz.

At the beginning of round 11, the left eye of Ortiz was swollen shut. In the round, Davis dropped Ortiz with a perfect left to the body. In round 12, it was another left to the body sent Ortiz to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 2:47.

Davis of Norfolk, VA is now 14-0 with 10 stoppages. Ortiz of Worcester, MA is 20-3-1.

Carrington Knocks Out Castro in 9 to Win Featherweight Belt

Bruce Carrington knocked out Carlos Castro in round nine to win the WBC Featherweight title.

In round nine, Carrington landed a right hand that hurt and froze Castro. Carrington then landed a crushing right, left and another right on the jaw of a prone Castro then sent him on the deck and the count was reached at 1:29.

Carringon of Brooklyn is now 17-0 with 10 knockouts. Castro of Phoenix is 30-4.

Jarrell Miller Wins; Loses Hairpiece

Jarrell Miller won a 10-round split decision over Kingsley Ibeh in a heavyweight bout.

It was a closely contested bout and in round two, Ibeh landed a little left hand that sent the follicles of Miller out of the ring.

Miller of Brooklyn won by scores of 97-93 twice and is now 27-1-2. Ibeh of Phoenix is 16-3-1.

Austin Williams took a 10-round unanimous decision over last-second replacement Wendy Toussaint in a super middleweight contest.

In round four, Williams dropped Toussaint with a hard uppercut.

Williams who was supposed to challenge WBC Middleweight champion Carlos Adames before the champion fell ill on Friday, won by scores of 98-91 and 99-90 twice and is now 20-1. Toussaint of Huntington, NY is 17-4.

Keven Castillo overcame a knockdown to win an eight-round unanimous decision over Ziyad Almaayouf in a super lightweight battle.

In round one, Almaayouf dropped Castillo with a counter right hand,

Castillo of Miami won by scores of 78-73 and 77-74 twice to raise his record to 6-2-1. Almaayouf of Saudi Arabia is 7-1-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

Teofimo Lopez arrived looking more like a preacher than a prizefighter. He wore a half-coat and reading glasses, carefully balanced at the end of his flat nose.

Instead of a belt, he carried a book.

No telling what it said. But, safe to say, there was no sermon from the bully pulpit. This was the Church of Chaos, another boxing ritual, a news conference Thursday intended to offend and sell, sell, sell.

The Lopez-Shakur Stevenson fight is doing that and perhaps a lot more. The junior-welterweight bout Saturday at New York’s Madison Square Garden is already sold out. A big audience for the DAZN live-stream is expected. Chaos, staged or otherwise, really isn’t necessary.

This fight, the first significant one in a New Year, sells itself. From the pound-for-pound debate to the race to be the game’s new face, it’s all there. Nevertheless, neither Lopez nor Stevenson nor anybody in the audience could resist another chance at some drama in the live-streamed newser.

First, there was Lopez’ look, or perhaps costume. He’s unpredictable, so much so that many wonder about his chances against Stevenson’s classic skillset. Hence, the inevitable question: Which Lopez will show up? The fighter who beat Vasiliy Lomachenko and Josh Taylor? Or the one who lost to George Kambosos?

His fashion statement Thursday offered no clues. On paper, at least, Lopez has some documented advantages. At opening bell, he’ll be the defending champion. He holds the World Boxing Organization and The Ring versions of the 140-pound belt. He’s held them for more than two years, including three defenses.

He knows the weight. Stevenson doesn’t. The former champion at 135, 130 and 126 pounds is at the heavier weight for the first time.  A jump too fast, a bridge too far? The oddsmakers don’t think so. Stevenson is about a 3-to-1 favorite.

Stevenson mentor Terence Crawford, a retired face of the game since his September triumph over Canelo Alvarez, doesn’t think so, either.

“Shakur is on a whole ‘nother level,’’ Crawford said in an interview after the newser in New York. “Come Saturday, he’s going to prove it.’’

Stevenson’s cool confidence has been evident since the fight was formally announced. Still, the ever-enigmatic Lopez tried to rattle him Thursday. In a spontaneous flash of anger, it looks as if he might have succeeded.

In the middle of a trash-talking exchange full of profanity – both racial and sexual, Lopez insulted Stevenson’s mom. Stevenson, who ran to defend his mom after his 2022 victory over Oscar Valdez in Las Vegas, got up from his seat on the stage and walked toward Lopez.

“I will smack the (bleep) out of you,’’ Stevenson said with evident menace.

It was a moment when it looked as if the newser was going off the rails. It was also a moment when pundits decided it was enough to score an early victory for Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs). But Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) quickly regained his evident poise. After all, he had an unexpected counter waiting for Lopez.

Lopez’ father and trainer, Teofimo Sr., missed the newser. “Under-the weather” was the formal explanation. “Hungover” was the Stevenson explanation. Stevenson and his corner said they saw Lopez’ dad in the hotel lobby Wednesday.

That’s when they decided to buy a bottle that they wrapped in a brown-paper bag, which could have been used to wrap much of what transpired Thursday. Stevenson reached under his chair and handed it to Teofimo Jr., who apparently had no answer. Maybe, he should have consulted that book.

Guess here: After some early success, Lopez will run out of answers in the late rounds against Stevenson’s technical, southpaw skillset. Stevenson by unanimous decision.

Notes on an undercard

Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs), of Phoenix, faces a tough challenge on the undercard against emerging Bruce Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs), of New York, on the Lopez-Stevenson card.

Castro knocked down Stephen Fulton in his last bout, yet still lost a split decision.

“I’m good, I’m confident,’’ said Castro, who grew up in a Phoenix trailer park. “I’m here to take on the best, here to prove myself.’’

Kingsley Ibeh, a Nigerian and a former defensive tackle at Washburn University in Topeka, has been training in Phoenix for a heavyweight bout against Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, also on the Stevenson-Lopez card.

Ibeh (16-2-1, 14 KOS), who also played soccer in Romania, wound up in the ring only after a chance encounter in a Phoenix gym. He scored a knockout in an impromptu sparring session during a workout. Ibeh, who started playing football at Glendale Junior College in suburban Phoenix, had been working as an insurance salesman and personal trainer.

Raymond Muratalla retained the IBF Lightweight title with a 12-round majority decision over undefeate former Olympic Gold Medal winner at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

It was a close fight throughout that saw Muratalla get stronger and edge ahead in the later rounds.

Muratalla landed 175 of 611. Cruz was 176 of 537.

Muratalla, 134 lbs of West Covina, CA won by scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 114-114 and is now 24-0. Cruz, 134.4 lbs of Matanzas, CUB is 6-1

Khalil Coe Decisions Jesse Hart

Khalil Coe got a 10-round majority decision over former two-time world title challenger Jesse Hart in a cruiserweight bout.

In round three, Coe was deducted a point for slamming Hart to the canvas.

In round six, Hart was deducted a point for holding.

Cioe won despite landing 54 of 143 punches. Hart was 92 of 326.

Coe who was 7.8 lbs ofver 175 pound weight limit won by scores of 96-92, 95-93 and 04-94 and is now 11-1-1. Hart, 174.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 32-3.

Madrimov Decisions Salazar

Former world champion Israil Madrimov won a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis David Salazar in a super welterweight fight.

In round 10, Madrimov was cut around the right eye.

Madrimov, 156.4lbs of Khivam UZB won by scores of 99-91on all cards and is 11-2-1. Salazar, 157.8 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 20-2.

Omari Jones Decisions Baxter

Omari Jones scored a knockdown, but when the distance for the first time and won a six-round unanimous decision over Jerome Baxter in a super welterweight bout.

In round one, Jones dropped Baxter with a perfect jab.

Jones, 151 lbs of Orlando won by scores of 60-53 on all cards and is now 5-0. Baxter, 149 lbs of Pittsburgh is 7-1.

Moses Decisions Medina

Zaquin Moses won a six-round unanimous decision over Leandro Medina in a lightweight bout.

In round three, Medina started to swell around his right eye.

In round four, Moses dropped Medina with a right hook behind a jab.

Moses, 132.8 lbs of Newark, NJ won by 60-53 on all cards. Medina, 134.2 lbs of Santa Fe, ARG is 7-3-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

The props and plots were all there. So was Ryan Garcia.

Garcia, ever the showman, delivered Thursday with a gag bag full of punchlines, insults, mockery, T-shirts, ring-card girls and many more of the usual theatrics he’s been rehearsing for so long

He may have left the white horse in the barn this time. Maybe, some of the manure, too. But place and stage — Avalon Hollywood — hasn’t changed much since Garcia’s gallop into a formal news conference in 2024 turned into a wild ride and controversial crash against Devin Haney.

Once again, Garcia proved his wit is still as quick as his hands. Maybe quicker, although we’ll have to wait and see on that Feb. 21 against welterweight Mario Barrios at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Barrios, the World Boxing Council’s 147-pound champion, was part of the live-streamed show Thursday, of course. But Garcia has a way of turning everybody around him into a bit player. Barrios — a champion, but no celebrity — understood his role, his place among the extras.

“This is turning into a circus,’’ Barrios said during his turn at the podium at the newser for The Ring-promoted bout.

By then, Garcia had already turned it into his bully pulpit.

First, there was the story line, the plot that will be explored ad nauseam for the next month.

Barrios’ trainer is Joe Goossen, Garcia’s ex. After Goossen, there was Derrick James. Before Goossen, there was Eddy Reynoso. Hand wraps last longer. Now, Garcia’s dad, Henry is back in the corner he occupied early in his son’s pro career and throughout his amateur days.

On Thursday, dad warmed up the show for his son. He complained about Goossen, suggesting that he’s betraying his son.

“At first, I was taken a back,’’ said dad, who called Goossen’s move “disrespectful.’’

Then, it was Goossen’s turn. He conceded that his new role in the latest chapter of Garcia’s ongoing show was “awkward.”

But Goossen’s explanation was quickly interrupted by Garcia, who delivered a perfectly-timed counter.

From his seat next to the podium, Garcia cried that he was suffering from a broken heart. Jaws and noses get broken all the time in what Mike Tyson once called the hurt business. Not many hearts do, perhaps because there just aren’t many in the prize-fighting business.

“How could you, Joe?’’ Garcia said. “That’s messed up. I just can’t believe you’re doing this to me. That’s insane. You hurt my heart.

“It’s over. We’re done. I’m breaking up with you again. You just broke my heart. Just move on. You were being sweet, but I’m offended.

“It’s too late. I’m offended. I’m offended already. I’m hurt. All of that.”

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. It’s a 1962 Neil Sedaka song not heard by anybody among fight fans in more than a half-century.  Garcia sounded as if he was humming a few of those forgotten lyrics. But the show, like the trainers, had to move on.

Garcia took the cue, reached into a bag at his feet and pulled out black T-shirts that said: I Am A Traitor. He threw one at Goossen. Goossen threw it back as though he was trying to throw a hook

At one point, Garcia raced backstage, chanting repeatedly that he loves the WBC. He returned to center stage with three ring-card girls, all waving WBC placards. Somewhere, Terence Crawford must be smiling.

In November, the World Boxing Council lifted a ban on Garcia, who is coming off a listless loss in May to Rolly Romero after the Haney bout was ruled a no-contest because of a positive PED test. The WBC had suspended him for racial slurs posted on social media. The move opened the way for him to fight Barrios.

“Last, but not least, I get to thank the WBC,’’ he said without saying he was sorry.

In the end, Garcia said whatever he wants. It wouldn’t have been much of a news conference if he hadn’t.

“I’m the ringmaster,’’ he said.

He’s that and more, said Barrios, who also showed he can deliver a quick counter.

“Payaso,’’ he said.

That’s Spanish for clown.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – New disruptor in the boxing space, Ed Pereira, CEO of iVisit Boxing (iVB for short) officially announced on Friday a partnership with digital media juggernaut YouTube that will see multiple, massive scale live events take place this year in cities of historical significance for the sweet science. The announcement, which Pereira made across the steps of City Hall, alongside San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and representatives from the  Google-owned YouTube, did not make mention of any specific fights or fighters that will be featured, but the word among many in the industry is that a fight between unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former kingpin Deontay Wilder is in play for the July 11th date announced to take place today in the “City by the Bay.” The event will be held outdoors at Civic Center Plaza. 

While Pereira’s name may be new to the average boxing observer, the Uruguay-born, Wales-raised promoter was a key figure behind the scenes while working alongside Saudi Arabian officials on last May’s “Fatal Fury” event in New York City’s Times Square as well as the Ring Magazine Awards Show, which took place this past January in London, England. 

“I have been in and around boxing for the last few years, but historically I have come from sport,” Pereira explained to TheBoxingHour.com on Friday. “I’ve worked for some of the biggest soccer teams in the world, for rugby, and for me the world of boxing is incredible. The people in boxing; the fighters, the fans – they have inspired me to come to the city of San Francisco and ask, ‘How are we going to create bigger and bolder events?’ I was inspired while working in the industry and I saw an opportunity.”  

The goal for Pereira and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is that the event will break the reported all-time boxing attendance record of 135,132 set by world middleweight champion Tony Zale’s title defense against Billy Pryor at Juneau Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 16, 1941. Zale dropped Pryor multiple times en route to a ninth-round stoppage in the main event of a free event sponsored by the Pabst Brewing Company. Lurie reiterated what Pereira had made known in recent interviews: that a large number of standing room tickets will be made available for free for the event in July. 

“I am so fired up to make sure that we see over 130,000 people on July 11th,” Lurie told the crowd gathered at today’s press conference. “What you all might not know is that San Francisco has a long history of boxing. Boxing was and still is a uniting force for our community. Today we are announcing a partnership that builds on that incredible history. This July, I am so excited that San Francisco will be host to iVisit Boxing and a weeklong series of events across San Francisco and the Bay Area, culminating in a historic match right here in our Civic Center. Every match will be free and open to the public, bringing world class sport directly to San Franciscans.” 

One of the criticisms of the Times Square event was that fans were unable to get close enough to see the fights in the ring. San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza obviously offers much more space than the Midtown Manhattan commercial intersection. Space is one of the aspects, alongside the city’s rich boxing history, that Pereira has said in interviews that drew him to the “The City by the Bay.”  

Should the rumored Usyk-Wilder clash end up at Civic Center Plaza, it would be the first world heavyweight championship fight the city has hosted since undefeated champion Rocky Marciano stopped overmatched Don Cockell in the ninth round at Kezar Stadium on May 16, 1955. The city, once one of boxing’s hotbeds, had hosted world heavyweight title fights dating back to a John L. Sullivan title defense in 1886. James J. Corbett, who had graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School in San Francisco, returned to the city for a world heavyweight title defense in 1897. The legendary James J. Jeffries also made multiple defenses at the turn of the 20th century. Today’s announcement did not include mention of Usyk, Wilder or any other specific fighters. Pereira explained those announcements will be forthcoming, but today was about getting the world excited about the sport being featured in a grand scale on the YouTube platform as well as getting the community in and around San Francisco excited about the July 11th event. 

“My focus has been very much about working with the Mayor’s team to put together everything for this announcement and obviously the YouTube announcement,” Pereira told TheBoxingHour.com. “Whenever those guys [Usyk and Wilder] get together, it is going to be a great card, right? Who wouldn’t want Usyk on their card?” 

iVisit Boxing has made mention on their social media platforms that the company plans to host twelve events this calendar year, including the first on April 4th, outdoors of Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nevada to recreate the feel of the old Caesars Palace open-air event center that hosted the majority of major fights on the Strip before the casino bosses wanted the patrons and potential gamblers closer to the the tables and slot machines indoors. The coming weeks and months could be very interesting as Pereira and iVB make their plans better known. 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez wore a polished symbol of the Phoenix logo around his neck a few days ago in a long-awaited homecoming.

The medallion represents, he says, where he’s been and who he still is.

In its brass reflection, however, there was something else. Something more. The mythological bird, now a modern city’s identity seen on government doors and busses, means a lot of things.

On this day, there was a message, a bold statement about a fighter transformed, unleashed from the years when he was defined by his futile pursuit of Canelo Alvarez.

He’s moved on, beyond Canelo and up the scale. The Canelo question is still there. Yet now, it’s almost an aside. Sorry to ask, video journalists say apologetically as he stands amid reporters and a long line of fans during an opening of the Visionary Boxing Club in west Phoenix last week.

No problem, Benavidez says, smiling. He hasn’t exactly eliminated Canelo as a possibility. He never will. The maturing Benavidez, 29-years-old last month, is a businessman, too. Business is a fundamental too often not included in a prize fighter’s skillset.

Canelo still means business, lots of it. Benavidez, like everybody else in the fight game, knows Canelo collected $100-million-plus for his September loss to Terence Crawford. That’s more than a prize. It’s a fortune.

Of course, Benavidez says he’d fight Canelo.

Canelo’s future, post-Crawford, was unclear until Thursday when The Ring reported he plans to fight again on Sept.12 in Saudi Arabia. He underwent elbow surgery in the immediate aftermath of the one-sided scorecard loss to Crawford.

In a video, Canelo’s return was called a “big, big,

big fight” by Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, who bankrolled the Canelo-Crawford fight and owns The Ring.

Until then, Benavidez has other plans, all as ambitious as they are risky.

“Zurdo, Beterbiev, Bivol,’’ Benavidez said of Gilberto Ramirez, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Of the three, only Ramirez – Zurdo – is on the calendar, penciled in for May 2 – the Cinco-de-Mayo celebration that could have been called Canelo-de-Mayo during the Mexican’s primetime reign.

The risk in the Zurdo date, planned for Las Vegas, looks to be heavy. Benavidez, who defended his light-heavyweight title in a seventh-round stoppage of Anthony Yarde November 22 in Saudi Arabia, is making the jump to cruiserweight.

After only three fights at 175-pounds, the light-heavy limit, Benavidez will fight in a division 25 pounds heavier.

On the scale, it looks risky. According to early odds, however, it’s not. Some betting sites already make Benavidez a big favorite (minus-900).

Benavidez is confident, in part because he knows Zurdo well. They’ve sparred countless rounds. One hundred, 200 rounds, Benavidez says.

“Between 2017 and 2022, we sparred all the time,’’ said Benavidez, now a Miami resident who re-connected with his Phoenix fan-base Saturday by signing autographs for about six hours. “For five years, we sparred championship rounds. I knew then that I wanted to fight Zurdo. One day, I figured we would.

“After all of those championship rounds, it’s going to be a championship fight.’’

Benavidez is already at his new weight.

“I’m at 200 pounds now,’’ he said last Saturday.

The weight looked natural, unlike the 168 pounds that often left him gaunt and hollow-cheeked in the division long dominated by Canelo.

His father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., says his son is already close to the weight he expects hm to be at opening bell May 2.

“Two-hundred, maybe 205,’’ Jose Sr. said.

Still, the jump in weight leaves questions about his hope to go back down to light-heavy for 175-pound dates against Beterbiev and Bivol. For at least a year, the expectation has been that Benavidez will grow into a heavyweight. Could cruiser be the first step in that direction?

It’s still not clear whether Beterbiev and Bivol will fight for a third time. Bivol is back in the gym after undergoing back surgery. Speculation has him back in the ring this Spring.

Meanwhile, time is the biggest question for Beterbiev. He’ll be 40 next Wednesday. He won’t be fighting much longer, unlike Benavidez whose ascent is just beginning.

In what is an early clubhouse leader for Fight of the Year, Dalton Smith won the WBC Super Lightweight title with a sixth round stoppage of Subriel Matias at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Smith came out in round one landing hard right hands from distance. Round two saw Matias rev up his engine ad begin to land hard volume of power shots. In round two, Smith began to bleed from his nose. The two traded hard punches at close range with Matias beginning to impose his will on Smith. Smith started to bleed from his mouth and lip in the fourth round. Smith hung in there and started to give as good as he was getting. He started to gain confidence as he was able to withstand the best shots from Matias.

In round six, Smith wobbled Matias badly with two right and hands and then landed a perfect right hand to the side of the head that put Matias flat on his back. Matias got to his feet, but wobbled all over the ring and the fight was stopped at 2:24.

Smith, 139.6 lbs of Sheffield, ENG is 19-0 with 13 knockouts. Matias, 140 lbs of Fajardo, PR is 23-3.

“There are no words,” said Smith. “A lifelong dream, hard work and sacrifice, it’s all for this moment. My Dad, my Granddad, all my family, we’ve all worked for this and I always believed. It’s a message to anyone that if you believe in yourself, you can go out and achieve your dreams.

“I heard some people say that Dalton Smith ain’t tough. I gave my Dad a bit of a heart attack in there as that wasn’t the game plan, but I took all his best shots and thought ‘you can’t hurt me.’ He was slowing down so I thought ‘persevere, persevere, and I’ll get you.’ We had plan A, B and C, and at World level you have to do it all.

“It’s not going to sink in for a long time but we always knew this would happen. We had everything against us for this fight. The build up, the testing and so on. But I knew that this was my moment and my opportunity, and that you could throw anything at me. I’ve got the best team around me, the best promoter in the world, and it’s a win for us all.

“Show me the money! Let me enjoy this moment now, I’m going to embrace it, and the future is bright.”

Emmanuel Rodriguez Decisions Pedro Diaz

Former two-time world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Pedro Diaz in a bantamweight bout.

In round one, Rodriguez dropped Diaz with a left hook.

Rodriguez, 117 lbs of Vega Baja, PR won by scores of 99-90 twice and 97-92 and is now 23-3. Diaz, 117.6 lbs Wilmington.CA is 16-7-1.

Cintron Stops Sandoval in wild 1st round

Jeyvier Cintron stopped Victor Sandoval in a wild first-round of their 10-round bantamweight bout.

Seconds into the fight, Sandoval planted Cintron as he decked him with a perfect left hook. Sandoval got wild going for the knock out and it cost him as Cintron landed a straight left that put Sandoval on the deck. Cintron then landed another left that put Sandoval down again. Cintron scored a third knockdown with a right hook. Cintron finished off the fight but hurting Sandoval again with a hard flurry in the corner and referee Eddie Claudio stopped the fight at 2:40.

Cintron, 117.8 lbs of Bayamon, PR is 14-1 with seven knockouts. Sandoval, 116.6 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 36-6.

Bravo Stops Campa in 2

Nestor Bravo stopped Pedro Campa with one left hook in round two of a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Bravo landed a perfect left hook to the jaw that dropped Campa face-first and the bout was stopped at 1:23.

Bravo, 139.4 lbs of Arecibo, PR is now 24-1 with 17 knockouts. Campa, 141 lbs or Sonora, MX is 37-5-1.

Keith Colon stopped former two-time world title challenger Alberto Guevara in a eight-round featherweight bout.

The bout was stopped at 1:09 for Colon, 125.4 lbs of Newark, NJ who is now 9-0 with nine knockouts. Guevara, 125.2 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX us 28-9.

Arijan Iseni took out Mario Bedolla after round three of their six-round light heavyweight bout.

Iseni dominated the game Bedolla and landed power shots before the corner of Bedolla stopped the bout.

Iseni, 178.2 lbs of Staten Island, NY is now 5-0 with five knockouts. Bedolla, 179 lbs of Michalan, MEX us 4-5.

By Norm Frauenheim

Marinate, a promotional euphemism for momentum, is either another tiring tease, or an early way to test public interest, or a little bit of both in a recipe that leaves hungry fans wanting but never getting.

The current example: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez-versus-Naoya Inoue.

There’s more talk than ever, perhaps because of Junto Nakatani’s disappointing decision over Sebastian Hernandez last month in what was supposed to be a convincing steppingstone to Nakatani-Inoue.

Nakatani was left with a bruised right eye and perhaps a bruised resume, yet he survived, still unbeaten for a fight long planned to be the biggest in Japanese history. According to multiple reports — one from Boxing Scene this week and another from the World Boxing Council, the long-planned bout is projected to be on May 2, a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Tokyo.

News of the projected date was also accompanied by a poll conducted by The Ring. Who would you rather see, Nakatani-Inoue or Rodriguez-Inoue?

The timely question was prompted by Nakatani’s problematic performance Nov. 22 in the former bantamweight champion’s first fight at 122 pounds.

Fans, never a patient demographic, apparently have seen enough. Already, it looks as if they’re ready to cast aside Nakatani-Inoue for Rodriguez-Inoue. Seventy-three percent would prefer Bam in the ring against the feared Inoue instead of Nakatani.

The poll, like all polls, could mean just about anything. It also might be unfair to Nakatani, an accomplished fighter who struggled at a new weight against a dangerous foe virtually unknown outside of Mexico. It happens.

It also gives Nakatani more to prove, perhaps enough to make him more dangerous to Inoue than ever. Lessons delivered, lessons learned. That happens, too.

Still, surprising questions are there, left in the wake of his controversial victory. Left there, too, is an affirmation of the emerging interest in Bam, whose move up the pound-for-pound ratings has put the San Antonio fighter among the top five, consistently behind only Inoue and heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.

Although hard to judge, a poll is one possible ingredient in a fight that might do more than just marinate. Maybe, it resonates. Maybe, it happens. Let’s say that Inoue beats Nakatani as decisively as he has beaten so many others. Then, there could still be questions about his claim – lifelong ambition — on pound-for-pound supremacy. Answers might be there only in a date with Bam.

For now, at least, there are already betting odds on Bam-Inoue, still marinating in the public imagination. Inoue is a solid favorite, minus 550.

In the collective mind of many fans, however, the odds of the fight ever happening are longer. Quit talking about it, they say. It’s a waste of time, they say, because the size difference is too big. Bam is a unified Super-Fly champion, fighting at 115-pounds, seven fewer than Inoue, undisputed at junior-feather (122).

But consider this: The 5-foot-4 Bam and 5-5 Inoue both started at the same weight, junior-flyweight, 108 pounds. The “Bam-is-too-small-for-Inoue” argument sounds a lot like “Inoue is too small for Nonito Donaire.’’

The “too small” Inoue beat Donaire, scoring a unanimous decision, at 120 pounds, in the 2019 Fight of the Year. In 2022, he backed it up, scoring a second-round stoppage of Donaire.

The more significant difference is in that other seven – the years that separate them in age. Bam will be 26 on January 20; Inoue will be 33 on April 10.

The pressure builds with every second on that unforgiving clock, especially for Inoue. It’s no secret that smaller fighters have careers shorter than those in the heavier divisions. Through interpreters, he has hinted at retirement in 2027.

That’s next year, which means the Bam-Inoue marination could be at full boil in about six months.      

By Norm Frauenheim

A year ends and another begins, leaving memories, controversies, brilliance, buffoonery, outrage, the usual suspects and lessons never heeded.

Ignore the lessons, and a battered business moves on from 2025 into 2026 full of the usual good, sad, bad and ugly.

First, the good: Fighter of the Year. It starts with the obvious, Terence Crawford. He’s Fighter of the Year with a singular performance, one of the best in several years.

This corner has said before and will say it again: Crawford’s decision over Canelo Alvarez in mid-September reminded us why boxing was once called The Sweet Science. It was brilliant for its fundamental adherence to time-honored skills, including footwork and smarts.

Lesson: It can be done again. Here are two fighters who have a chance at doing it in forthcoming years, both contenders now.

First runner-up: Naoya Inoue, who in 2025 stayed busy – old-school style – with four fights including this corner’s Fight of the Year, a Las Vegas stoppage of Ramon Cardenas in May. In an early round, then unknown Cardenas floored Inoue, who is at his dynamic best when he’s in trouble. The dramatic comeback from the perilous edge of defeat also saved boxing on a weekend that included the wreckage from an abysmal event in New York’s Times Square.

Second runner-up: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. The three-division champ is boxing’s Quiet Man. He lets his performances speak for him. In 2026, they spoke volumes with two lethal stoppages, including this corner’s Knockout-of-the-Year of super-fly Fernando Martinez for a unified title.

It’s no coincidence that he and Inoue are linked in this Fighter-of-the-Year ballot. Bam-Inoue in late 2026 is the fight this corner wants to see more than any other.  

Now, the sad: A solemn 10-count for George Foreman, Ricky Hatton and Nino Benvenuti. Boxing lost all three in 2025. Foreman, ex-heavyweight champ from two eras, was a compelling story about personal transformation from angry to wise. A scary thug in the early 70s, he became as friendly as a cheeseburger in the 90s. Hatton was fearless and transparent, loved deeply by UK fans who serenaded him. Benvenuti, ex-undisputed middleweight champ with a matinee-idol’s look, is forever remembered by his fellow Italians.

Another 10-count for Michael Katz and Thomas Gerbasi, Sweet Scientists badly missed these days in the media seats. During times full of unsourced reports and feigned outrage in social media, both remind this corner that boxing can still be a writers’ sport.

On to the bad. It wouldn’t be boxing without it.

Worst Scorecard of the Year: Nawal Almohaimeed’s 118-110 in favor of Junto Nakatani in a unanimous decision over Sebastian Hernandez Nov. 22 in Riyadh. The other cards were 115-113, both for Nakatani and both debatable. The fight was supposed to set the stage for Inoue-versus-Nakatani in an all-time Japanese fight in May. 

Per sources close to the planned bout, Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda ended any chance of a speculated Bam-Nakatani fight months ago. He didn’t want to jeopardize plans for Inoue-Nakatani. 

Yet, Hernandez almost did what Honda feared Bam would. Questions linger about the decision and what it says about Nakatani’s chances versus Inoue.

The Enemy Within: Gervonta Davis calls himself Tank. That’s what’s he’s doing to his career. He’s tanking it with personal problems that never seem to end.

Davis has pound-for-pound skills and pound-for-pound troubles. The latest — a lawsuit alleging violent behavior, battery, and kidnapping – forced a cancellation of a date with Jake Paul, who wound up with a  fractured jaw when he decided to fight Anthony Joshua. In news conferences, Tank, 31, said he planned to retire after Paul. “Boxing is dead,’’ he said.

Exhibitions Ad Nauseam: Jake Paul, more promoter than fighter, suffered a painful loss – if not lesson – in facing Joshua. When Joshua’s brutal right snapped Paul’s jaw in two places, I immediately thought of an old line: You can’t play boxing. But authorities – the Florida Athletic Commission — allowed him to, despite the risk posed by Joshua’s enormous advantages in size and experience.

It reminded me of Paul’s date in November 2024 against Mike Tyson, aging yet in the ring despite a bleeding ulcer months before opening bell. Texas authorities shouldn’t have licensed Tyson, who was an accident waiting to happen. Fortunately, one didn’t. Against Joshua, the risk was to Paul, who’s victory over an ailing Tyson may have told him he could survive Joshua.

He couldn’t in what proved to be a sobering moment for somebody who is good for boxing only on the promotional side of the ropes.

Lesson: Do we really need to see Floyd Mayweather-versus-Tyson later this year? Resolve to just say no. 

By Norm Frauenheim

A consensus pound-for-pound champion is as temporary as it is rare, and — sure enough — Terence Crawford’s retirement this month reignites the debate about who’s No. 1.

Nobody is.

That’s an opinion, of course, but that’s all a pound-for-pound rating is anyway.

From this corner, the top spot is empty. In acronym-speak, it’s vacant and will remain so until somebody delivers a victory that’s proof of ownership.

For now, there are two contenders, both worthy. Take your pick, heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk or junior-featherweight Naoya Inoue, who was a 40-to-1 favorite to stay in contention before his bout Saturday against Allen David Picasso in Riyadh.

One rating already has filled the top spot. The Ring, Saudi-owned since it was purchased 14 months ago from Oscar De La Hoya, put Usyk into the top spot, moving him up like a passenger waiting in line for an open seat.

It was simple enough and somewhat expected. Usyk had been there, off and on, before Crawford left no doubt with his masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez in mid-September.

Even if Crawford makes a comeback nine months from now, his last fight serves as a guide, a lesson of sorts. To wit: One of boxing’s oldest debates should be driven more by performance than process.

Usyk and Inoue have resumes comparable to Crawford’s. Each is unbeaten; each has multiple belts at multiple weights. But neither has the kind of singular performance the equal of Crawford’s last triumph. Not yet.

With Crawford’s retirement, Inoue is the only undisputed champion in the pound-for-pound top 10. Even that, however, is part process. Usyk relinquished a piece of his undisputed title in November when he gave up the World Boxing Organization’s heavyweight version. 

He did so because of another process: Healing. Lingering injuries from his last fight prevented him from fulfilling a so-called mandatory date laid down by the acronym’s bureaucracy.

For now, we wait on Usyk’s next date, perhaps against the faded Deontay Wilder. Talks are said to be ongoing.

For now, we also wait on Inoue’s next real challenge. Prohibitive odds said it wouldn’t be against Picasso, a fighter with an artistic name and in need of something surreal to pull off a Buster Douglas-like upset.

It’s expected that Inoue’s chance at a definitive performance might happen early May in Japan against Junto Nakatani — also unbeaten and ranked among the pound-for-pound’s second five. Inoue-Nakatani is already being called the greatest prize-fight in Japanese history.

It’s no coincidence that Nakatani shared the Riyadh card with Inoue in a bout against Sebastian Hernandez, unbeaten before opening bell yet fighting a scheduled 12-rounder for the first time. It sets up what powerful promoter Akihiko Honda – Mr. Honda – has been planning for a couple of years. 

Until at least then, there’s a vacancy at the top of this pound-for-pound debate.    

Follow all the action as Jake Paul takes on former Heavyweight champion from Miami.  The action begins at 8 PM ET with Olympian Jahmal Harvey plus Anderson Silva takes on Tyron Woodley as well as unified junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner battling Leila Beaudoin

THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY; NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1: Right from Joshua

Round 2 Joshua missing

Round 3 Paul gets in a left…Uooercut from Paul..Jab..Left to body from Joshua..

Round 4 Jab from Joshua..Right for Paul..Jab from Joshua,,uppercut..Left from Paul..

Round 5 Bug uooecut from Joshua..Paul lands a right..RIGHT AND DOWN GOES PAUL..RIGHT AND DOWN GOES PAUL..Right from Paul..Big Flurry from Joshua

Round 6 Right and left from Joshua…RIGHT AND DOWN GIES PAUL..Big uppercuy...HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GIES PAUL..HE DOES NOT BEAT THE COUNT

ROUND 1 

ROUND 2 Right from Baumgardner…Right…

ROUND 3 Right from Baumgardner..Jab and right from Beaudoin…Counter from Baumgardner

ROUND 4 Beaudoin starting to swell under left eye.  Left from Baumgardner

ROUND 5 Counter right from Beaudoin…Short left hook from Baumgardner..Uppercut

ROUND 7 Good Counter from Baumgardmer..Right to head..Lead right..Counter from Beaudoin..Lead right from Baumgardner…Nice right…COUNTER RIGHT AND DOWN GOES BEAUDOIN

ROUND 8  3 punch combo from Baumgardner…Body…1-2…right to the body

ROUND 9 Counter left hook from Baumgardner..Right from Beaudoin,,Right from Baumgardner,,left and jab from Beaudoin..

ROUND 10 Jab from Beaudoin…Chceck left hook from Baumgarder…Body..Left hook..Lead left from Beaudoin..Jab to body from Baumgardner..3 punch combination

ROUND 11 Hard right and body shot from Baumgardner…Another body shot..Right to head from Beaudoin..Body shot..

ROUND 12 Right from Baumgardner

Round 1:
Round 2 Body shot from Silva...BIG RIGHT UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES WOODLEY…THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Jab from Harvey..LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES CERVANTES..Right hook staggers Cervantes
Round 2 Lead right uppercut from Harvey
Round 3 Left from Harvey..2 Hard shots…Right Cross
Round 4 Chopping right from Harvey…Jab…Cerantes lands a right and right to body…Right uppercut and overhand left from Harvey..Double jab and body shot..Nice body 
Round 5 Right from Harvey
Round 6 Jab to body from Harvey.

60-53 ON ALL CARDS FOR HARVEY

It took Anthony Joshua longer then most expected, but once he caught up to Jake Paul, he bludgeoned the YouTube star and scored four knockdowns en-route to a sixth round stoppage at The Kaseya Center in Miami.

Paul started the fight by circling the exterior of the ring like he was trying out for the Olympic track team, not really looking to engage and looking to land a pot shot from time to time. Joshua loaded up on several occasions and swung at air.

Finally in round five, Paul started to look fatigued and Joshua landed some body shots that started to slow Paul down Later In the round, Joshua landed a big right hand that put Paul on the canvas. Joshua started to smell blood and dropped Paul with another right. Paul tried to fight back and was able to get out of the round. With Paul hurt, Joshua scored two knockdowns in round six with the latter being a crushing right to jaw and the Paul did not beat the count at 1:31.

Joshua, 243.4 lbs of Watford, ENG is 29-4 with 26 knockouts. Paul.216.6 lbs of Puerto Rico via Cleveland is 12-2.

Baumgardner Decisions Beaudoin; Retains Unified 130-Pound titles

Alycia Baumgardner retained her IBF/WBA/WBO 130-pound titles with a 12-round unanimous decisions over Leila Beaudoin

In round four, Beaudoin began to swell under left eye.

At the end of round seven, Baumgardner landed a short right to the side of the chin that sent Beaudoin down.

Baumgardner, 129.2 ls of Dallas won by scores of 117-110 twice and 118-109 and is now 17-1. Beaudoin, 130 lbs of Quebec is now13-2.

Anderson Silva Knocks Out Tyron Woodley in 2

50-year-old Anderson Silva stopped Tyron Woodley in round two of a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight bout featuring former UFC champions.

In round two, Silva landed a perfect right uppercut that dropped Woodley hard. Woodley got up but was unable to continue at 1:33.

Silva, 101.4 lbs of Brazil is now 4-2 with three knockouts. Woodleym 194 lbs of Saint Louis is 0-3.

Harvey Decisions Cervantes

Jahmal Harvey scored a six-round unanimous decision over Kevin Cervantes in a super featherweight bout.

In round one, Harvey dropped Cervantes with a left hand.

Harvey landed 185 of 460 punches. Cervantes landed 37 of 196.

Harvey, 129.6 lbs of Oxon Hill, MD won by scores of 60-53 on all cards and is now 2-0. Cervantes, 130 lbs is now 5-1.

In round six, DuBois dropped Panatta with a right hook to the jaw,

Yokasta Valle retained the WBC Strawweight title with a 10-round umajority decision over Yadira Bustillos.

Valle was cut over her right hairline in round three due to accidental headbutt. In round four, Bustillos was cut over her right eye.

Valle landed 154 of 504 punches. Bustillos was 136 of 541.

Valle, 104.8 lbs of San Jose, CR won by scores of 98-92, 96-94 and 95-95 and is now 34-3. Bustillos, 104.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-2..

Avious Griffin rebounded from a a knockout defeat to stop Justin Cardona in the opening round of their eight-round welterweight bout.

In round one, Griffin landed a huge left hook that staggered Cardona to the ropes and to the canvas and he did not beat the count at 2:59.

Griffin, 146.4 lbs of Chattanooga, TN is 18-1 with 17 knockouts. Cardona, 145.6 lbs

Olympic Silver medal winner Keno Marley won his pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Diarra Davis Jr. in a cruiserweight bout.

Early in round one, Marley landed a perfect right on the whiskers that sent Davis down.

Marley landed 103 of 222 punches. Davis was 25 of 150.

Marley, 198.6 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA won by scores of 40-35 in all cards and is now 1-0. Davis, 188.4 lbs of Canyon County, CA is 2-2.

By Norm Frauenheim

Terence Crawford’s retirement is being called a surprise. Even a shock. But is it? Really? Or is it just consistent, another thread in a career defined by a stubborn, defiant brilliance?

After all, Crawford, unbeaten and uncompromising, always defied expectations.

In retiring this week just three months after his masterful victory over Canelo Alvarez, he simply did what he’s always done.

Beating Canelo was unexpected, even in the way he accomplished it. A dynamic finisher throughout his career, he instead scored a decision, dismantling a confused Canelo with a comprehensive skillset throughout 12 rounds. It was another example of Crawford doing what nobody thought he could or would.

Boxing’s cynical wisdom, of course, dictates that skepticism be attached to any retirement. History tells us that no retirement is complete without a comeback or three.

“History is never retired,’’ Crawford said Tuesday in his social-media announcement.

But it does get re-written as new generations produce moments and fighters with their own timeless claims and challenges.

Guess here: Crawford’s legacy – three undisputed titles at three weights – will evolve. For now, there’s an intriguing debate about who was better, Crawford or Floyd Mayweather.

Their eras overlap; their styles were different; their ring IQs were similar. There’s no real answer to who was better. Never will be.

But the debate itself suggests that both could have held their own during a golden era defined by Four Kings, author George Kimball’s book about Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran. If Crawford and Mayweather were fighting then, there might have been six kings.

Crawford’s pursuit of legacy looks to be genuine, even more so than the one created by Mayweather, who has continued to pursue money in exhibitions after ending his real career at 50-0 against mixed-martial artist Conor McGregor.

The often-edgy Crawford is known for a lot of things. Above all, he’s authentic and so is his 42-0 record. He could risk that with a comeback many believe could happen next September in a rich rematch against Canelo, who reportedly had already been seeking a chance to avenge the one-sided loss he suffered at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

Big money is the draw, and $100 million is as big as it gets. There has already been speculation that’s the number Crawford asked for when rumors surfaced that Canelo wanted a rematch. Canelo, the longtime face of Mexican boxing, got $100-million-plus in September, according to Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh.

One-hundred million changes minds. It’s a fortune Crawford couldn’t ignore, especially against somebody he’s already beaten decisively.

But the risk that lurks is in a number not preceded by a dollar sign. This is about time, measured by years instead of dollars. Crawford, who collected a reported $50 million for beating Canelo, will be 39 next September.

In the here-and-now, his retirement sounds genuine. It takes him away from the rigors and risks of thinking about another opening bell. It also preserves a legacy he knows is already his.

A loss, at any price, wouldn’t destroy that, but it could tarnish the unbeaten record and put him at risk of losing the argument about how his all-time resume stands up against Mayweather.

Whatever happens, his announcement does Canelo a favor. Belt-less for the first time in years, it offers the Mexican a couple of paths back to a world title.

In early December, the World Boxing Council created an alternate path back to a world-title belt by stripping Crawford of the super-middleweight version and then ordering that the vacancy be filled by the winner of a Christian Mbilli-Hamzah Sheeraz fight.

Two weeks later, Canelo, who is recovering from elbow surgery, figures to have a few other options back to IBF, WBO and/or WBA belts vacated by Crawford’s retirement.

The WBC decision was dominated by the controversy brought on by Crawford’s profane social-media counter to the ruling body, which said it took the belt because Crawford had not paid sanctioning fees, reported to be $300,000.

The subsequent furor might set the stage for fundamental change in the boxing-business’ hierarchy. But Crawford’s announcement Tuesday also suggests that the belt didn’t mean a damn thing to him any more.

Instead, he was angered by the WBC going public with why it was making the move. Intended or not, the WBC provoked a Crawford reaction. The proud Crawford, already known for not suffering fools gladly, is even more contemptuous of anybody who tries to make a fool out of him.

He fired back with familiar fury. A personal memory: I’ve long believed that it’s hard to understand Crawford without having seen him fight in Omaha, his hometown. The midwestern city is in his DNA. It’s a long way from the Vegas strip, New York and LA. By boxing standards, it’s in a different universe.

Omaha is a city most great fighters leave. But not Crawford, a loyal son who fights for it with tenacity.

In October 2018, I was there for a fight against Jose Benavidez Jr., David Benavidez’ older brother and then still a welterweight contender. The fight was preceded by trash talk, some of it racial.

At the weigh-in, things came to a full-blown boil. Benavidez, Phoenix born-and-forged, reached across the scale and shoved Crawford.

Crawford quickly reacted as though he was enraged at somebody trying to embarrass him in front of hometown fans. He threw an uppercut, one that was intended to land, yet narrowly missed Benavidez’ exposed chin.

The fight was allowed to proceed. The next night, however, Omaha police were on alert. Armed officers filled the ring before opening bell and were present throughout the building throughout the fight. The place was jammed with Crawford fans, including famed investor Warren Buffett.

Surprisingly, a fearless Benavidez survived 11 rounds, but Crawford finished him with an uppercut followed by two right hands in the final seconds. The crowd went wild, roaring almost as if Crawford, one of them, had won one for them. Within the ropes, retaliation is fair play. Crawford delivered it with authority.

And authenticity. Benavidez was never the same.

In the end, it’s the authenticity that people see in Crawford. Another personal experience: As I finished writing last September and left my seat in the Allegiant Stadium press box high above the ring, I stepped into the elevator. An older woman was the elevator attendant.

As we headed down to the first floor, she looked at me and smiled:

“I love Terence Crawford,’’ she said. “There’s nothing phony there.’’

Nothing phony in that retirement, either.

By Norm Frauenheim

The echoes from last week’s noisy Terence Crawford-World Boxing Council feud include lots of talk about what’s next for an always contentious business suddenly facing some fundamental change.

Still, it’s a guessing game. The only sure thing is that Crawford and the WBC won’t be exchanging Christmas cards this month. All else remains unpredictable. In other words: Business as usual.

Amid all the personal insults and profanity, however, one thing got lost in the WBC’s decision to strip Crawford of its super-middleweight belt for what it said was a failure to pay a $300,000 sanctioning fee. Crawford denied he had agreed to pay anything at all in an angry rant that made fee sound like just another f-word.

Take the belt, said Crawford, who doesn’t need it any more anyway. His undisputed resume is forever there, witnessed throughout his masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez by more than 72,000 at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and a Netflix audience in mid-September.  

The WBC can take the belt.

But not the legacy.

The WBC strip, however, created a path for Canelo to reclaim it.

Canelo, the longtime face of Mexican boxing, has already announced he intends to be back, sometime next year after he recovers from left-elbow surgery, which he underwent in October.

For the first time in years, Canelo will be without a belt, especially the WBC’s green belt, by far the most valued one by fighters throughout the acronym era.

Before the Mexico City-based WBC stripped Crawford, the guess was that Canelo would have to face Crawford all over again in a problematic bid to reclaim the WBC belt, long the crown jewel in a collection that includes WBA, WBO, IBF and — increasingly — The Ring.

Crawford’s skillful victory in September suggests that a second fight would play out the same way. Once again, Crawford would dominate.

In the September showdown’s initial aftermath, there looked to be only one way for Canelo to regain a world title at super-middle. He had to go through Crawford. But the WBC opened an alternate path by stripping Crawford and ordering a Hamzah Sheeraz-Christian Mbilli fight for the vacant belt.

Canelo’s chances at regaining a title? Against Crawford or the Sheeraz-Mbilli winner? Dumb questions. After what happened in September, Canelo’s best shot is the latter, against Sheeraz or Mbilli.

Canelo’s are slim to none against Crawford, who goes into the New Year apparently undecided about his future, yet undisputed in the pound-for-pound debate. He’s the consensus No.1, rare in a business known more for only disputes.

By now, of course, the WBC’s relationship with Canelo is no secret. David Benavidez, a Phoenix born-and-forged fighter and current WBC light-heavyweight champion, was the WBC’s longtime interim champion at 168 pounds.

Interim doesn’t mean much, but it is supposed to come with a mandatory shot at the champion. In this case, it was Canelo. But Benavidez never got that mandatory, and the WBC never enforced it with even a threat to strip Canelo.

The WBC has been ripped for its favorable treatment of Canelo. To be sure, Crawford repeated it in his broadside.

That said – and Crawford said plenty, it’s still not clear whether he’ll be fighting for any kind of belt anymore. Before the WBC stripped him, there had been speculative reports that Canelo wanted a rematch. There were also speculative reports that Crawford would ask for the $100-million-plus purse Canelo received in September.

A sequel might attract streaming services willing to pay a fortune for an escalated episode of drama and trash talk. But heightened hostility between Crawford and WBC might be a hurdle. Could the two ever do business together again?

Reported options for Crawford also include a bid for another title at another weight, 160-pounds. At 38-years-old, however, retirement is still another possibility. Crawford just delivered a singular performance, one that reminded us why boxing was once called The Sweet Science.

It would be hard to top that one and maybe even harder to recreate, especially if Canelo opts to take the easier path.

PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA – Welterweight prospect Jacob Macalolooy ended the longest layoff of his blossoming career with a hard-fought six-round majority decision over Angel Munoz in the main event of the seven-bout “Brawl in the Bay” card at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Saturday night. 

After feeling things out in round one, Macalolooy (10-0, 4 KOs) of Union City, California came out more aggressive in round two, backing Munoz (7-2, 5 KOs) of San Bernardino, California against the ropes and letting loose with his hands. 

Macalolooy, 148 ½, asserted himself in the third as well, pounding Munoz, 146 ½, back into the red corner to highlight the round. Munoz worked his way back into the fight in the fourth, finding a home for two right uppercuts in the early going. Macalolooy, who turned southpaw for a stretch, mirroring his left-handed opponent’s stance, closed the round strong before dancing back to his corner. 

Taking a page out of his opponent’s book, Macalolooy doubled up on his uppercut early in the fifth round. Macalolooy controlled most of the round, but Munoz did land his uppercut again, sending fluid from his foe’s mouth flying across the ring. Each had their moments in the sixth. Munoz landed a stiff right hand early and did some good work through two-and-one-half minutes, before Macalolooy came on strong to close out the fight. 

In the end, judge Kermit Bayless had the fight scored even, 57-57, but was overruled by judges Melissa McMorrow and Brian Tsukamoto, who scored the fight 59-55 for Macalolooy. The fight represented Macalolooy’s return after over a year away from traditional ring action.  

Light heavyweight prospect Kumar Prescod (4-0-1, 4 KOs) of Oakland, California did something not seen in California too often: score four knockdowns in a single round. After some bad blood at Friday’s weigh-in, Prescod had a short, but eventful night in dispatching Isaac Johnson (4-16-1, 1 KO) of Denver, Colorado inside of a single round. 

Prescod, 176, rocked Johnson, 174, early and often, scoring the first knockdown with a straight left. The punch bounced Johnson off a neutral corner’s turnbuckle pad and down. Johnson rose quickly, but was abruptly downed for the second time with a short right hand. The third knockdown was scored with a right to the body. On most nights, that would have been the end. Johnson was allowed to continue before a quick two-punch combination sent him down for the fourth and final time. Time of the stoppage was 2:29 of round one.  

In his U.S. debut, junior welterweight Rob Gutierrez Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Jose, California was taken the distance for the first time as a professional by Imer Lima (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Los Angeles, California, but came away with his unbeaten record intact via four-round unanimous decision. 

Gutierrez, 141 ½, controlled the action from the outset, pressing Lima, 140, to the ropes. At times it seemed like Gutierrez did the hard work of backing Lima up and getting inside, but did not let his hands go enough once he got there. 

After a second round that mirrored the first, Gutierrez closed the third, having hurt Lima to the body and chasing his adversary while looking to land the put away shot. However, Lima did well to get on his horse and regroup. 

After another clear round for Gutierrez, who looked like he had more gas in the tank, judges Melissa McMorrow and Kermit Bayless scored the shutout, 40-36. Judge Brian Tsukamoto found a round for Lima, turning in a 39-37 scorecard. 

Moving into the win column, Johnie Williams (1-0-1) of Suisun City, California pounded his way to a four-round unanimous decision over Terrence Coleman (0-2) of New York, New York. 

Williams, 170 ½, repeatedly found a home for his overhand right, as Coleman, 171 ½, kept his left low in an Archie Moore-type defensive posture, but without bringing his right hand over to deflect shots upstairs. 

Williams again landed clean with the overhand right late in the second. The punch shook Coleman, but after it scored they tangled up and fell to the canvas. The extra time was probably welcomed by Coleman, who looked weary making the trip across the ring and back to his corner.

Things got more interesting in the third as Williams scored two knockdowns. The first knockdown came from a right hand, but the second had a little more flair. Williams landed a combination, scoring a knockdown that sent Coleman down and out of the ring, under the bottom rope, and to the floor. To his credit, Coleman beat the count back in, but was rocked in the closing seconds by an uppercut. 

Both switched to southpaw briefly in the fourth before Coleman executed a double leg takedown. Williams closed out the round landing upstairs again, but Coleman made it to the final bell. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 40-35, while judges Kermit Bayless and Brian Tsukamoto had it 40-34. 

In an evenly matched contest, Tiare Womack (2-0-1, 2 KOs) of San Francisco, California and Danna Pineda (1-0-1) of Orosi, California by way of Michoacán, Mexico fought to a four-round split decision draw. 

The first two-minute round featured some frantic inside work by both fighters. Womack, 129 ½, appeared stronger on the inside in the early going, but Pineda, 129, held her own in the exchanges. 

Once the fight moved into the second, Womack was holding in close more often, while Pineda kept her hands moving. Womack was cut over right eye late in the round, ruled as a result of a legal punch by referee Michael Margado.

Womack started the third with a clean combination, but Pineda was undeterred and fought tough in the final minute. 

Womack landed her best punch early in the fourth, but Pineda was busier and worked more on the inside whenever her opponent looked to tie up.  

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 39-37 for Pineda. Judge Kermit Bayless had it 39-37 for Womack. Judge Brian Tsukamoto turned in the even card, 38-38. Both fighters expressed interest in a rematch during the post-fight interview. 

In a fight that was there for the taking for either debuting fighter, Ralie Gulley (1-0) of Fresno, California edged out Colin Madlangbayan (0-1) of Hayward, California, taking a four-round majority decision. 

Madlangbayan, 133 ½, and Gulley, 133 ½, felt out each other in the first round. Gulley turned southpaw at various points, something he would do all fight. Madlangbayan landed with a couple sweeping rights early, but nothing telling was landed by either before the first closing bell. 

Madlangbayan closed the distance in the second and found a home for his straight left hand, which was probably the best punch landed in the round. 

Madlangbayan forced his way inside again early in the third and landed a clean combination upstairs. Gulley landed a few clean shots at range, but had a hard time keeping the distance that would best suit his longer frame.

Gulley found his range again in spots in the fourth, but neither fighter really pressed to close out the fight strong. In the end it was Madlangbayan that suffered for it, as Gulley did enough to win over judges Kermit Bayless and Brian Tsukamoto, 39-37 each. Judge Melissa McMorrow  had the dissenting card, 38-38.

In his U.S. debut, Danny Belloso Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) of Modesto, California made short work of Antonio Ferrel (0-3) of Santa Rosa, California, scoring a first-round stoppage in under a minute. 

Ferrel, 123, was hurt by the first counter right Belloso, 121 ½, landed. With Ferrel in immediate retreat, Belloso followed with combinations, culminating with two left hooks, to score a knockdown. Referee Michael Margado began his count, before stopping bout without reaching the conclusion of his count at 55 seconds of the first. 

The event was promoted by Elite Underdog Promotions and Benjamin’s Boxing and streamed live by BXNG TV. 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

Lamont Roach Jr. and Isaac Cruz fought to a 12-round majority draw in a tough fight for the WBC Interim Super Lightweight title at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

In round three, Cruz landed a left hook that sent Roach sprawling and his left glove hit the canvas for a knockdown. +

In round seven, Cruz was deducted a point for hitting on the hip.

Cruz landed 1599 of 544 punches. Roach was 191 of 467.

Cruz, 138.6 lbs of Mexico City is 28-3-2. Roach of Washington, DC is 25-1-3.

“I knew he would stand his ground and go toe-to-toe, but I know how to box too,” said Cruz. “People don’t realize I can box.”

“Hats off to ‘Pitbull,’” said Roach. “He’s a great champion himself. I gave the fans a great fight. Back to the drawing board.”

“All I want is a fair shake,” said Roach. “I think I should have won a close victory. All I want is a fair shake. That’s it…I don’t know what I got to do. I don’t accept this at all. I clearly thought I won a close fight. I’m tired of this.”

“I did my job,” said Cruz. “I did my work. The ref was on his side. The judges too. The crowd in San Antonio saw I won this fight…Absolutely I’d do a rematch. With a different referee who is not on his side. The referee took this fight from me.”

Foster Decisions Fulton to Win Interim Lightweight Crown

Junior Lightweight titlist O’Shaquie Foster won a 12-round unanimous decision over featherweight World champion Stephen Fulton to win the WBC Interim Lightweight title.

Foster landed 191 of 600 punches. Fulton was 56 of 438.

Foster, 130 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 119-109,118-110 and 117 -111 and is now 24-3. Fulton, 132 lbs of Philadelphia was 2 pounds overweight for the 130 lb. bout is now 23-2.

“The game plan was to stay smart, stay sharp and get him out of there in the later rounds,” said Foster. “But he’s a damn good fighter and a veteran and he knew how to survive.”

“I want Shakur Stevenson,” said Foster. “I’ve been saying it for the longest. But it looks like he’s gonna fight at 140. So I have to choose either 130 or 135. I’ll see what happens and make a decision.”

Lara Decisions Gonzalez; Retains Middleweight Title

Erislandy Lara retained the WBA Middleweight title with a unanimous decision over late-replacement Johan Gonzalez.

Late in round 12, Lara landed three straight lefts that put Gonzalez on the canvas.

Lara.159.6 lbs of Houston won by scores of 120-108, 119-107 and 118-108 and is now 32-3-3. Gonzalez, 158.6 lbs of Las Vegas, took the fight after unified world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly failed a drug test is now 36-5.

“Gonzalez came to fight and he came to win,” said Lara. “We knew him a little bit, so we were ready for that and we made the adjustments we needed to make. He was a tough opponent who had a great opportunity in front of him, but we executed the game plan.”

“I spend all my time at the gym, so I had no problem being ready for this fight,” said Gonzalez. There are no excuses, but I did feel that Lara didn’t come to fight me the way he said he would.

“I felt a little uncomfortable in the first few rounds,” said Gonzalez. “The first knockdown was a punch and a slip. The second was a clean shot from Lara.”

“I showed the world that I’m 42-years-old and I’m still at the top of my game,” said Lara. “I can compete with the best. I don’t care at all about Janibek and I don’t wanna talk about him anymore.” 

Ramos Decisions Mosley Jr. To Win Interim Middleweight Title

Jesus Ramos Jr. won a 12-round unanimous decision over Shane Mosley Jr. to win the WBC Interim Middleweight title.

Ramos landed 201 of 613 punches. Mosley was 210 of 573.

Ramos, 159.8 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ won by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 and is now 24-1. Mosley, 159.6lbs of Pomona, CA is 22-5.

“I was just being myself,” said Ramos. “I’m not gonna lie, it was tough. I actually had a right hand injury the last three weeks of camp. We didn’t spar for the last four weeks. So it was tough to get my timing. I would catch a rhythm and lose it. I faced a lot of obstacles but I told my family there was no way I was leaving San Antonio without a belt.”

“It was a hell of a fight,” said Mosley. “Thanks to Ramos and everyone who made this fight happen. He was the man tonight. I’ll be back and be better.”

“He never hurt me but he did surprise me,” said Ramos. “I never felt rocked, but I was surprised. He hit me with shots I wasn’t expecting. But I never felt like my legs weren’t there.”

“In those last few rounds I just kept remembering the Erickson Lubin fight,” said Ramos. “I kept getting flashbacks and I didn’t want the same thing to happen again. I kept pushing and pushing. I was in a dark place in that 10th round. I was tired, but I knew it would be worth it when the final bell rang. 

“I want Carlos Adames. He’s the full champion. I don’t want the interim belt, I want the champion.”

Former world title challenger Frank Martin scored a devastating fourth round stoppage over former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Barthlelemy was cut above the right eye. In round four, Martin dropped Barthelemy with an overhand left. Moments later, Martin landed a perfect left to the jaw that put Barthelemy down and out at 2:56

“Man, it felt good,” said Martin after his first fight with trainer Buddy McGirt in his corner. “I felt more comfortable at this weight. I still got my speed. I felt strong. I felt better than my two fights before this. It took me a little time to warm up and get going but, then I saw the shot we’ve been working on. That’s why I took my chance and landed it.

“I feel like I got slept on. I took one loss. It’s a new era. I’m here and I’m back. No disrespect to any of the main event fighters, but I’ll fight any of them next.”

Martin, 139.4 lbs of Indianapolis, IN is 19-1 with 13 knockouts. Barthelemy, 139.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 30-4-1.

Isaac Lucero stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in round eight of their 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round one, Lucero dropped Valenzuela with a clubbing right.

In round eight, Lucero landed a hard right that drove Valenzuela back to the ropes. Lucero then land five more crushing head shots just before the bell sounded and referee Mark Nelson stopped the bout at 2:59.

Lucero, 153.8 lbs of Le Paz, MEX is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Valenzuela, 154 lbs of Aqua Prieta, MEX is 31-6.

Luis Nunez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Hector Sosa in a featherweight bout.

In round seven, Nunez began to bleed from the nose.

Nunez, 126 lbs of Puerto Plata, DR won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 22-0. Sosa, 1256 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 18-3.