By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Naoya Inoue stood on the scale like a politician on the bully pulpit Saturday in his first American appearance in about four years for a bout that looks a little bit like a campaign stop in his bid to gain pound-for-pound supremacy.

Pound-for-pound is nothing more than debate, after all. It’s about gaining supporters and knocking out lingering doubts.

Inoue is expected to do both against likable, yet little-known junior-featherweight challenger Ramon Cardenas, a massive underdog  who insists he’ll prove to be more than a mere prop Sunday in Inoue’s defense of his undisputed 122-pound title at T-Mobile Arena.

“More than anything, I want people to see something they haven’t been able to see yet in the U.S,” Inoue said through an interpreter before he safely made weight, coming in under the junior-featherweight-limit by a slim tenth-of-a-pound, 121.9, also a tenth-of-a-pound heavier than Cardenas.

Those are bold words. Terence Crawford, an all-time welterweight great and America’s best practitioner of the sweet-science craft, is surely planning to introduce a couple of counter arguments of his own in a planned move up to the scale against Mexican super-middleweight Canelo Alvarez later in the year. 

On Sunday, however, Inoue, Japan’s rising son, will have the bully pulpit all to himself in what will be the four-division champion’s 25th successive title defense. 

Inoue’s dominance of boxing’s lightest weight classes has been thorough and reliable, so much so that it’s become expected, if not somewhat forgettable. 

It’s not, of course. In part, Inoue can reawaken America’s impatient, quick-to-forget audience with a showcase exhibition of a skill set still sharp, comprehensive and dynamic as any.

“I’m very motivated to fight in front of an American crowd in a big arena like this, but because it’s during Cinco de Mayo weekend, it feels like I’m playing an away game,” Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) said a day before the ESPN-televised bout. “So, I don’t know what to expect.”

He can expect skepticism, much of it planted by rival promoter Eddie Hearn, whose noisy criticism of Inoue’s recent string of opponents probably factored into Inoue’s agreement to fight Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev, a feared Uzbek and a former bantamweight champion, next September in Tokyo. 

Against Cardenas, there’s a chance to get an updated look at Inoue and how he might withstand a risky challenge from a dangerous Akhmadaliev.

If there are flaws in Inoue, Cardenas hopes to be the first to expose them.

Opportunities like this don’t come around often, so I had to jump at it,” said Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs), a 29-year-old San Antonio fighter and Akhmadaliev’s stablemate. “I’ve been mentally preparing to fight Inoue for a long time. I knew I’d eventually get a big fight if I kept winning. And here we are — a shot at the undisputed champion of the world.

“This is Inoue’s first fight in America in four years, so I know he’s motivated to show out. I’m prepared for the very best version of Naoya Inoue.”

Canelo Alvarez won a 12-round unanimous decision over William Scull to become Undisputed Super Middleweight champion at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The fight lacked any sustained action as Scull circled the ring relentlessly with Canelo trying to stalk the former IBF champion. Scull laned an occasional right hand but it was body shots from Alvarez that proved to be the difference.

Alvarez landed just 56 of 152 punches. Scull was 55 of 293. To illustrate just how pedestrian the fight was, By throwing a combined 445 punches over 12 rounds, Canelo (152 punches) and Scull (293 punches) set a new record for fewest punches thrown in a 12 round fight tracked by CompuBox’s 40-year history. The previous record was 459 (Parker vs. Wilder). On Friday night in Times Square, Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero combined to throw 490 punches over 12 rounds, now the fourth fewest; and Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez combined to throw 503 punches over 12 rounds, now the sixth fewest. 

Alvarez of Guadalajara, Mexico won by scores of 119-109, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 63-2-2. Scull of Germany via Cuba is 23-1.

After the fight, Alvarez and Terence Crawford faced off in the center of the ring as they officially announced their September 12th mega-showdown which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Badou Jack Decisions Mikaelian to Win Full WBC Cruiserweight Title

Badou Jack won the full WBC Cruiserweight title with a majority decision over Champion in Recess Moel Mikalelian.

Mikalelian controlled the first five rounds using the right hand behind the jab. In round five, Mikaelian suffered swelling under his left eye. Jack was able to land some good right hands. It was a close fight as they grinded out down the stretch.

Jack landed 122 of 369 punches. Mikaelian was 153 of 670.

Jack, 200 lbs of Stockholm, SWE won by 115-113 twice and 114-114 and is now 29-3-3. Mikaelian, 198.1 lbs o Armenia is 27-3.

Munguia Gets Even; Decisions Surace

Jaime Munguia avenged a December knockout loss to Bruno Surace and pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision in a super middleweight bout.

Munguia boxed well and dominated with body shots and slowed Surace down.

Munguia landed 105 of 397 punches. Surace was 94 of 292.

Munguia, 167.7 lbs of Tijuana, MEX won by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 and is now 45-2. Surace, 167.7 lbs of Marsailles, FRA is 26-1-2.

Ajagba and Bakole Battle to Draw

Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole battled to a 10-round majority draw in a battle of big hitting heavyweights.

Ajagba controlled the first part of the fight as he worked behind a nice jab and mixed in some right hands. Bakole started to get inro the fight and had a big eighth round as he landed a huge flurry of power punches that made the nose of Ajagba bleed. Bakole once again had a big final frame as landed a nice combination.

Bakole landed 145 of 460 punches. Ajagba was 190 of 451.

Scorecards read 96-94 for Ajagba and 95-95 twice. Bakole, 299 lbs of Kampala, Congo is 21-2-1. Ajagba, 240 lbs of Ughilli, NIG is 20-1-1.

Brayan Leon Decisions Aaron Guerrero

Brayan Leon remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Aaron Rocha Guerrero in a super middleweight bout.

In round two, Guerrero started to swell on his face. In round four, Leon dropped Guerrero with a perfect left hook to the jaw.

Leon, 169.1 lbs of Pinna Del Rio, CUB won by score of 60-54 and is now 7-0. Guerrero, 166.1 lbs of Culican, MEX is 11-4-1.

Former cruiserweight world title challenger Richard Riakphore made a successful heavyweight debut with a stoppage of Kevin Nicolas Espindola after round four of their scheduled eight-round bout.

In round four, Riakphore landed a huge right to the body that put Espindola on the canvas. After the round, Espindola had enough and the fight was halted.

Riakphore, 235 lbs of London is 18-1 with 14 knockouts. Espindola, 297 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 9-10.

Marco Verde made a rousing pro debut with an opening round stoppage over Michel Galvin Polina in a six-round middleweight fight.

Early in round one, Verde dropped Polina with a big body shot. Seconds later, Verde dropped Polina with another body shot. Verde use sizzLing flurry to hurt Polina and the fight was stopped at 1:34.

Verde, 158.7 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX is 1-0 with one knockout. Polina, 158.8 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 4-6-3.

Mohammad Alakel remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Alexander Morales in a lightweight bout.

Alakel, 134.1 lbs of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia won by a 60-54 score is now 4-0. Morales, 133.5 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 6-14-5.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Unified super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue aims to bolster his bid for pound-for-pound kingpin status in a stateside showcase against once-beaten Ramon Cardenas at the T-Mobile Arena in an ESPN-televised main event on Sunday night. On a weekend in which some of the sport’s top stars will have already stated their case and another has dropped from contention, Inoue is the best bet to stand out spectacularly. Fighters for the eight-bout card weighed-in Saturday morning and then took part in a ceremonial event in the afternoon in one of the studios adjacent to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. 

Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) of Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan continues what could become a Fighter of the Year 2025 campaign as he takes on heavy underdog Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas. Inoue made short work of late replacement opponent Ye Joon Kim in January and may fight twice more this calendar year if reported plans come to fruition. 

Reports surfaced in recent days that Inoue has already agreed for his next bout, to take place this September in Japan, against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, who holds claim to an interim version of the WBA title. When asked how he stays motivated to keep fighting, Inoue offered brief insights. 

“My goal is to just get stronger,” said Inoue. “For my final challenge, I want to move up to featherweight. That will be my final challenge,” said Inoue, through interpreter Nobu Ikushima on Saturday. 

Cardenas, the IBF #1 ranked 130-pounder, graduated to the national level in 2024, picking up two regional titles, followed by a career-best win over previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta this past February. There may not be any string of opponents one could have that would ready a fighter for the leap in class that Inoue represents, so it goes without saying “The Monster” represents a giant step-up in class for Cardenas. However, the San Antonio fighter does not appear to be in awe of the moment and has said the right things. 

“I am excited and ready to get the show on the road,” said Cardenas, fighting for his first world title on Sunday. “It doesn’t get real until tomorrow and I am ready.” 

Inoue, defending the WBC/WBA/WBO/IBF 122-pound titles, weighed-in at 121.9-pounds on Saturday, while the challenger Cardenas scaled 121.8. 

In the co-feature, budding star Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico will defend his WBO 126-pound title against former 130-pound title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs) of Fort Worth, Texas in a twelve-round featherweight bout. 

Espinoza, who scaled 125.4-pounds on Saturday, became one of the faces of the division over the last year-and-a-half, highlighted by his signature knockout of Robeisy Ramirez in the rematch of his title-winning effort last December. 

“It is a dream come true to be here on this Mexican Day and to fight for these beautiful people,” said Espinoza after hitting the scales for the ceremonial weigh-in. 

Vazquez, the WBO #10 ranked 126-pounder despite not fighting at that weight class in two years, was last seen at this level giving Joe Cordina all he could handle in an IBF super featherweight title bid that resulted in a majority decision defeat in November of 2023. The challenger weighed-in at 125.6-pounds on Saturday. 

WBO #10/WBC #15 ranked welterweight Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic will see action against veteran Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) of Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires, Argentina in a ten-round bout. Polanco hopes to further add to his credentials, while Maidana aims to make good at the same venue he came up short in an interim title bid against Mario Barrios one year ago. Polanco, who risks his regional WBO Inter-Continental title, weighed-in at 146.2-pounds on Saturday, while Maidana made 146 even. 

Rising prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas will meet Juan Leon Alvarez (11-2-1, 2 KOs) of Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain by way of Guayaquil, Ecuador in an eight-round bout for the minor NABF Junior light welterweight title. Vargas, who made 138.7-pounds on Saturday, is back after a second-round stoppage of veteran Giovannie Gonzalez in late March. Leon Alvarez, who scaled 139.9-pounds, has built up his record against modest opposition, mainly in Spain. 

Mikito Nakano (12-0, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas, by way of Hiroshima, Japan will take on Pedro Marquez (16-1, 10 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a ten-round featherweight bout. Nakano, the IBF #8/WBC #10/WBA #10/WBO #11 ranked featherweight, made 125.9-pounds on Saturday. Marquez, who weighed-in at 126-pounds, will be taking a major step-up in class on Sunday as he fights out of his native Puerto Rico for the first time in his professional career. 

Fighting out of the famed Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, junior middleweight prospect Art Barrera Jr. (8-0, 6 KOs) of Paramount, California will meet Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. (6-1-1, 2 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois in a six-rounder. Barrera, who just saw action and scored a second-round stoppage a month ago, weighed-in at 152.7-pounds. Guerra, who gained fame with a victory over Nico Ali Walsh at Madison Square Garden this past February, weighed-in at 153.7-pounds. 

Featherweight contender Ra’eese Aleem (21-1, 12 KOs) of Las Vegas looks to get rolling again against Rudy Garcia (13-1-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California in a ten-round bout. Aleem, now signed to Top Rank after fighting just once a year for the last three years, made 125.6-pounds, while Garcia, who will be shaking off a little rust himself, scaled 125.3-pounds. 

Former amateur star Patrick O’Connor of Waldorf, Maryland makes his professional debut against Marcus Smith (2-1, 2 KOs) of Carlisle, Ohio in a four-round cruiserweight bout on Sunday. O’Connor weighed-in 196.1-pounds, while Smith scaled 188 even. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBC Super Bantamweight Championship

WBO Super Bantamweight Championship

WBA Super Bantamweight Championship

IBF Super Bantamweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Inoue 121.9

Cardenas 121.8

WBO Featherweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Espinoza 125.4

Vazquez 125.6

WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Polanco 146.2

Maidana 146

NABF Junior Light Welterweight Championship, 8 Rounds

Vargas 138.7 

Leon Alvarez 139.9

Featherweights, 10 Rounds

Nakano 125.9

Marquez 126

Light middleweights, 6 Rounds

Barrera Jr. 152.7

Guerra Jr. 153.7

Featherweights, 10 Rounds

Aleem 125.6

Garcia 125.3

Cruiserweights, 4 Rounds

O’Connor 196.1

Smith 188

Tickets for the event, promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are available online at AXS.com 

Photos by Mikey Williams/Top Rank 

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

Follow all the action as Canelo Alvarez takes on William Scull for the Undisputed Super Middleweight Title.  The action begins at 5:45 ET/12″45 in Riyadh.  The undercard features the WBC Cruiserweight Title bout between Badou Jack and Noel Mikalelian.  Also Super Middleweights Jaime Munguia and Bruno Surace battle in a rematch plus big hitting heavyweights Martin Bakole fights Efe Ajagba.

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ROUND 1 Right from Alvarez

ROUND 2 Left from Alvarez

ROUND 3 

ROUND 4 Alvarez lands a body shot…Body..Right from Scull

ROUND 5 Combination from Alvarez

ROUND 6 Right from Scull..Body shot from Alvarez..Body shot

ROUND 7 left to body from Alvarez…Left from Scull,

ROUND 8 Canelo lands a body shot…Left hook…

ROUND 9 Right for Scull…Body shot from Alvarez..2 body shots..

ROUND 10 Quick right from Scull…

ROUND 11 Right to body by Alvarez

ROUND 12  Body shot from Alvarez…Combination from Scull..

115-113, 116-112, 119-109 FOR CANELO ALVAREZ

Round 1 Right to bofy from Mikaelian..

ROUND 2 Right from Jack…Good right from Mikaelian

ROUND 3 Right from Mikaelian..Good right from Jack..Triple right..Right to body…Good right from Jack

ROUND 4 Right from Mikaelian..Body shot and right hook..Clubbing right..Left hook

ROUND 5 Good right from Mikaelian..Big left…Mouse under left eye of Mikaelian..Good right from Jack…

ROUND 6 big furry from Jack…Right from Jack..Jab

ROUND 7 Good jab from Mikealian..Right from Jack..Right from Mikaelian..Right to body..Body combination from Jack

ROUND 8 Jabs from Mikaleian..Counter left..Jab..Big right from Jack..Lead right…Counter at the bell

ROUND 9 Right from Mikaelian..Short left hook from Jack..Right..Big right from Mikaelian..Another oner

ROUND 10 Body shot from Jack..Left hook and right from Mikaelian..Short right…Quick left from Jack…Bidy shot…Right from Mikaelian

ROUND 11 Left From Jack..Chopping right from Mikaelian…Right..Body shot from Jack..Counter..

ROUND 12 Nice left hook from Mikaelian..Right to body..Body shot from Jack..Good combination from Mikaelian..Big right for Jack

114-114; 115-113 TWICE FOR JACK

Round 1: Right from Surace…Right..Right to body…
Round 2 Right from Munguia..Jab and left hook to body
Round 3 Left hook to the body from Munguia..
Round 4 Counter right from Surace..Another..
Round 5 Left hook from Munguia..Right from Munguia..
Round 6 Right from Surace
Round 7 Right to body from Surace..Uppercut..Looping left and right over the top from Munguia..Body shots
Round 8 Hard right to body from Munguia..
Round 9 Good right to body from Surace…Good left to body from Munguia…Good body shot..Double left hook..Right to head from Surace
Round 10 Right from Surace..Good right to body from Munguia hurts Surace
Round 11 Left to body from Munguia,…Good body shots..Left to the body..
Round 12 Left hook to the body from Munguia…

117-111 TWICE AND 116-112 FOR MUNGUIA

Round 1 Jab to body from Ajagba…Nice Right
Round 2 Jab from Bakole to the body..
Round 3 Right over top from Ajagba..Big right..Another right wobbles Bakole..Another right..Good left hook from Bakole..
Round 4 Big lft hook from Bakole..uppercut..Big flurry in the corner
Round 5 Jabs from Ajagba…Counter right
Round 6 Right to body from Ajagba…
Round 7 Nice right…another..Counter right..stiff jab…
Round 8 Good right from Ajagba…Clubbing left hook from Bakole..Blood from the nose of Ajagba..Body work from Ajagba..Bigh Right from Bakole..
Round 9 Right over top from Bakole
Round 10 2 punch combination from Bakole..

96-94 AJAGBA…95-95 ON TWO CARDS

Round 1: Espindola lands a left hook to the body..Good body shot from Riakphore…Right to body from Espindola
Round 2 Body shot from Espindola…Rught to body from Espindola…Good body shot from Riakphore..
Round 3 Nice right from Riakphore…Good body shot…Right to body doubles over Espindola..Left hook from Espindola..
Round 4 Beautiful uppercut from Riakphore..Nice BODY SHOT AND DOWN GOES ESPINDOLA...FIGHT IS OVER IN THE CORNER

Round 1 Nice right from Leon..Nice right to the body…Chopping right..
Round 2 Body shot from Leon..Good left hook on the inside..Swelling on the face of Guerrero
Round 3 Right from Leon…Body shot..Right…
Round 4  COUNTER LEFT AND DOWN GOES GUERRERO…
Round 5 Body shots from Leon
Round 6 Hard left hook from Leon…Hard 2 punch combination. Left hook..another left hook ricks Guerrero

60-54 LEON

Round 1: VERDE LANDS AN UPPERCUT TO THE BODY AND DOWN GOES POLINA.  ANOTHER BODY SHOT AND DOWN GOES POLINA AGAIN.  Big combination…HUGE FLURRY IN THE CORNER AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Jab from Alakel…Uppercut
Round 2 Good body shot from Alakel
Round 3 Nice right from Alakel….Uppercut…
Round 4 Body shot from Alakel
Round 5 Left from Alakel
Round 6 Step back right hand from Alakel…Nice body shot..Double jab

60-54 Alakel

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Naoya Inoue’s pound-for-pound campaign resumes Sunday in a return to America  against Ramon Cardenas in a T-Mobile Arena fight he calls a good “platform” to exhibit his skillset enroute to a significant September date against Murodjon Akhmadaliev. 

On Friday, Inoue confirmed an announcement on social media from promoter Eddie Hearn that he has an agreement to fight Akhmadaliev later in the year. 

Inoue told reporters that the agreement, announced on X early Thursday, was “written in stone.” According to a Boxing Scene story published on Thursday, Inoue-Akhmadaliev is planned for Sept. 14 in Tokyo.

It looks as if only Cardenas has a chance to rewrite what looks to be indelible. But it’s not much of a chance. Cardenas has power. The likable San Antonio junior-featherweight has poise. According to prohibitive odds, he also has virtually no chance, which also means he has nothing to lose. But he’s here, he says, to perhaps write his own name in stone. An upset of Inoue would do that. Money, Cardenas said, is not his motivation.

“I’m not here to collect a paycheck and that’s what makes me dangerous,” he said Friday during a formal news conference at the MGM Grand.

For Inoue, now 32, the bout looks to be a chance to re-awaken American fans to his comprehensive collection of skill. From power to precision, it’s all there, swift and deadly.

“The ideal situation is to show the American fans my boxing and win with a knockout,” he said through an interpreter at Friday’s news conference. “But more than anything, I want people to see what they haven’t been able to see yet in the U.S.”

Inoue was asked if Cardenas reminds him of any fighter he’s faced. That’s a tough question. said Inoue, who is in a three-way race with heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk and former welterweight great Terence Crawford for the top spot in the pound-for-pound debate.

“Cardenas is a very well-rounded fighter,” Inoue said.”And I think it’s a good platform to show my boxing skills.”

In part, Cardenas is an interesting opponent for Inoue because of his relationship with Akhmadaliev. They’re stablemates at trainer Joel Diaz’ Boxing Academy in Indio, a hot spot in the California desert between Phoenix and Los Angeles.

For Akhmadaliev and fans, how and what Cardenas does against the dynamic Inoue could provide a good look at what might happen in September.

Rolando Romero scored the biggest win of his career by winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Ryan Garcia in a welterweight fight outdoors at the famed Times Square in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

In round two, Romero dropped Garcia with a hard double left hook on the chin. After that, Garcia really seemed to be listless and fought very timidly. Romero did just enough in every round by just coming forward more with foot pressure that any type of sustained punching.

Romero landed 57 of 280. Garcia was 66 of 210. Garcia & Romero 490 combined landed punches 3rd fewest in CompuBox history for a 12-round fight, surpassing Haney & Ramirez at 503

That was enough as Romero, 146.6 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 118-109 and 115-112 twice to raise his mark to 17-2. Garcia, 146.8 lbs of Victorville, CA is 24-2.

“Knockdowns always help,” said Romero (17-2, 13 KOs). “Ryan is a warrior. He got up, and he finished the fight. I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”

“Rolly fought a good fight,” said Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs). “He caught me early, no excuses. Congrats to him. He did a great job, and that’s that.”

“I think the whole year took a lot off my body physically and mentally,” said Garcia. “I’m thankful for the opportunity. Hats off to Rolly… I’m gonna go back to the drawing board, talk it over, and see what we do next.”

 “I’m not even thinking about what’s next,” said Romero. “I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and make a big one.”

Devin Haney Decisions Ramirez in Lackluster fight

In a fight where very punches of significance landed, former undisputed champion Devin Haney won a 12-round unanimous decision over former unified world champion Jose Ramirez in a welterweights.

Haney landed 70 of 224 punhes. Ramirez was 40 of 279. Haney (229) & Ramiez (274) combined to thrown 503 punches.  4th fewest in a 12 round fight in CompuBox history. Ironically, Haney (214) & Ryan Garcia (285) combined to throw 499 punches- 3rd fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox 40-yr. history.

Haney, 143 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 119-108 twice and 118-110 and is now 32-0. Ramirez, 143,8 lbs of Avenal, CA is 29-3.

“I felt good going into the fight, and the game plan I worked on definitely showed,” said Haney. “I handicapped him. He couldn’t do anything in there.”

“Towards the middle of the fight I started to feel real comfortable, got his timing, and I picked him apart,” said Haney.

Teofimo Lopez Decisions Lopez; Retains Super Lightweight Title

Teofimo Lopez retained the WBO Super Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr.

In round five, Lopez started to swell under his right eye. In round six, Lopez was cut under left eye.

Lopez landed 127 of 574 punches. Barboza was 71 of 428.

Lopez, 139.6 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 118-110 and 116-112 twice and is now 22-1. Barboza, 139.8 lbs of Long Beach, CA is 32-1.

“I’ve been telling myself this whole week that anything happening is happening for me and not against me,” said Lopez. “I felt great. I felt reborn.”

“We gave it our all, but this time, we came up short,” said Barboza. “Congratulations to Teofimo on a hard-fought victory. We’ll take this experience, learn from it, and come back stronger. The work continues. Maybe we can fight Ryan next, or Haney, or anyone that will give us an opportunity. For now, I’m going to enjoy some much-deserved time off with my family after eight months of training.”

“I’ve been at this weight for some time, and now I’ll talk to my team, and maybe I’ll move up in weight,” said Lopez. “You know me. I go after the tough challenges. I wanna see ‘Boots.’ I’m Dora The Explorer and I wanna see ‘Boots.’”

Tsutsumi Wins Pro Debut by Unanimous Decision

Reito Tsutsumi won his professional debut with a six-round unanimous decision over Levale Whittington in a super featherweight bout.

Tsutsumi landed 141 of 386 punches. Whittington was 65 of 331.

Tsutsumi, 128.8 lbs of Tokyo, JAP won by scores of 60-54 twice and 58-56 and is now 1-0. Whittington, 127.8 lbs of Chicago is 1-3-1.

Follow all the action as Ryan Garcia takes on Rolando Romero; Devin Haney squares off of Rolando Romero PLUS Teofimo Lopez defnds the WBO Super Lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. live from TIMES SQUARE in New York City.

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Round 1: Garcia jabbing

Round 2 DOUBLE LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES GARCIA..Hard right from Romero..Good hook from Garcia

Round 3

Round 4 Jab from Garcia..Jab to body from Romero…

Round 5 Garcia lands a counter…Body shot…

Round 6 Left hook from Garcia..Body shot from Romero…Right

Round 7  Good body shot from Garcia..Good jab…

Round 8 Left to body from Romero

Round 9 Romero drives Garcia to corner…Good left hook…Jab from Garcia…

Round 10 Good left hook from Romero…2 body shots

Round 11 Good body shot from Romero…

Round 12 Garcia just retreating

115-112 TWICE AND 118-109 FOR ROMERO

Round 1

Round 2 Good right from Haney

Round 3 Ramirez lands a left hook.  Jab and left hook from Ramirez..Hard right…Left from Ramirez..Right from Haney

Round 4 Good lft hook from Haney..Good right..Good counter right uppercut…

Round 5 Good right from Haney. Followed by a left..

Round 6  Good right from Haney…Ramirez cut under left eye

Round 7 Right from Haney

Round 8 Haney boxing and moving

Round 9 Good left from Haney…1-2 from Haney…left hook…

Round 10

Round 11 Good right from Haney…

Round 12 Jab friom Haney…

119-109 TWICE AND 118-110 FOR HANEY

Round 1: Good left from Barboza…Good left from Lopez

ROUND 2 Jab to body from Lopez…Good counter right..Barboza lands a left hook…Straight

ROUND 3 Body shot from Lopez..Good counter Left ..Counter left

ROUND 4 Right from Lopez

ROUND 5 Good counter right from Lopez..Body shot..Lopez has swelling under his right eye..Hard right from Lopez..

ROUND 6 Hard Right from Barboza…Another right…Lopez cut under left eye.

ROUND 7 Hard right from Lopez..

ROUND 8 Right lead frion Lopez

ROUND 9 Nice combination from Lopez..

ROUND 10  Right from Lopez

ROUND 11 Counter right from Lopez

ROUND 12 Combination from Lopez

118-110…116-112 TWICE FOR LOPEZ

Round 1 Right to body from Tsutsumi…Uppercut…Left cross…Left to body…

Round 2 Overhand left to the chi buckles Whittington…

Round 3 Let to top of temple…body shot..Good left from Whittington…Good body shot…

Round 4 Tsutsumi lands a right hook…2 body shots

Round 5 Uppercuts from Tsutsumi

Round 6 

60-54 TWICE AND 58-56 FOR TSUTSUMI

By Norm  Frauenheim

Naoya Inoue has heard the criticism, and it looks as if he has answered with news Thursday from rival promoter Eddie Hearn, who announced on social media that he has a “done deal” for Inoue to fight Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

Hearn, Akhmadaliev’s promoter, said he had an agreement in a message on X Thursday, a few hours before Inoue’s scheduled arrival at the Las Vegas’ MGM Grand for a fight Sunday against Ramon Cardenas at T-Mobile Arena.

There was no immediate confirmation of the agreement from Inoue, the Japanese star who first has to beat Cardenas before he can move on in his quest for pound-for-pound supremacy.

However, Boxing Scene reported a date and place — Sept. 14 in Tokyo.

Inoue, ripped by Hearn for a string of weak opponents, is expected to beat Cardenas. He’s a massive favorite over the San Antonio junior-featherweight. According to some on-line books, Inoue is a 50-to-1 favorite.

Buster Douglas was  a bigger underdog against Mike Tyson in Inoue’s home country in 1990. Douglas, a 42-1 underdog,  stopped Tyson, also in Tokyo, in one of the biggest upsets in any sport.

Translation: It happens, which is perhaps one reason to watch Inoue against Cardenas on an ESPN-televised card scheduled to follow the Los Angeles Dodgers — featuring Japan’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani — against the Atlanta Braves.

Above all, the reported agreement could heighten interest in Inoue-Cardenas in the curtain-closer to a busy Cinco de Mayo triple-header beginning Friday at Times Square in a New York card featuring Ryan Gracia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez.

On Saturday, the weekend’s second chapter plays out with Canelo Álvarez against William Scull in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed super-middleweight title.

Scull, a Cuban living in Germany, might have a better chance than Cardenas. But not by much. Canelo is a 30-to-1 favorite, according to books.

For Canelo, the bout versus Scull is thought to be a tune-up for his projected fight against former welterweight great and newly-minted junior-middleweight Terence Crawford.

Canelo-Crawford also is expected to happen in September, although a specific day has not been reported. There’s been no reported site either, although Las Vegas and Los Angeles have been mentioned. 

If in fact Canelo-Scull is a tuneup, it won’t be the only one this weekend. Inoue against Cardenas would be the second in Hearn’s announced plan for a showdown with Akhmadaliev, a former undisputed champion at bantamweight.

For Inoue, it’s an intriguing tune-up, a many-sided fight that includes an opportunity for him to deliver another combination. https://theboxinghour.com/2025/04/25/naoya-inoue-back-in-the-usa-with-a-chance-at-the-final-say/

Inoue, who is known for his masterful execution of combos, will have the weekend’s final word and perhaps an opening statement on what happens next.

In a bout that made their world champion father’s proud, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn carried on their legacy just fine with Eubank pounding out a 12-round unanimous decision in a middleweight bout in front over 67,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.

In round three, Benn landed a hard right hand the momentarily buckled Eubank. Benn came out full of energy while Eubank chose to box mostly from the outside for much of the first half of the fight.

In round eight, the fight broke out as the two stood toe-to-toe and both landed some hard shots on the inside which was much to the delight of the 67,000 fans in attendance. In round nine, Eubank was cut around the right eye. The cut was caused by a clash of heads. Benn and Eubank wailed away on each other in some more great action in round 10. In round 12, Eubank and Benn engaged in furious exchanges with Eubank landing some big shots including a left hook that rocked Benn on the ropes.

Eubank landed 367 of 912 punches. Benn was 215 of 583.

Eubank, 160.1 lbs won by scores 116-112 on all cards of and is now 35-3. Benn is now 23-1.

The fight was a grudge match on the heels of their father’s Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn fight that took place in 1990.

Anthony Yarde Rallies to Decision Lyndon Arthur in Trilogy

In a battle of veteran light heavyweight, Anthony Yarde dominated the second half of his 12-round light heavyweight bout to win a unanimous decision over Lyndon Arthur.

The fight was the third in their trilogy, which now has Yarde winning the last two of the three fights.

Yarde, 174.6 lbs of East London won by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 twice and is now 27-3. Arthur, 174.6 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 24-3.

Aaron McKenna; Dominates and Decisions Liam Smith

Aaron McKenna announced himself on the world stage as he scored a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Liam Smith in a middleweight bout.

For 11 rounds, McKenna beat up and battered Smith by working behind a long jab. In round 12, McKenna dropped Smith with a left to the body.

McKenna landed 292 of 794 punches, while Smith was 88 of 520.

McKenna, 159.7 lbs of Monahan, IRE won by scores of 119-108, 117-109 and 118-108 and is now 20-0. Smith, 160 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 33-5-1.

Viddal Riley Decisions Chev Clarke

Viddal Riley won a 12-round unanimous decision over Chev Clarke in a cruiserweight bout.

Riley landed 147 of 617 punches. Clarke was 108 of 546.

Riley, 199.5 lbs of Tottenham, London, ENG won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. and is now 13-0. Clarke, 199.7 lbs of Kent, ENG is 10-2.

Billiam-Smith Decisions Glanton

In a physical grueling fight, former world champion Chris Billiam-Smith pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision over Brandon Glanton in a cruiserweight bout.

Billiam-Smith landed 195 of 667 punches. Glanton was 177 of 560.

Billiam-Smith, 199 lbs of Bournmoth, ENG won by scores of 116-112 twice and 116-113 and is now 21-2. Glanton, 199.5 lbs of Atlanta is 20-3.

By Norm Frauenheim

Naoya Inoue, whose masterful combinations keep him at the top of the pound-for-pound debate, is back in the United States for the first time in nearly four years this week on the first stop of an itinerary that will give him the last word and perhaps an opening statement.

It all adds up to another Inoue combo, one perfectly timed to reaffirm his claim on the pound-for-pound’s mythical crown. It’s no coincidence, perhaps, that Inoue is planning to deliver a convincing one-two just a few weeks after he turned 32. Inoue, who celebrated the birthday on April 10, is in his prime, yet it’s a prime entering a late stage. On his career path, now is the time to punctuate an unbeaten, four-division title run with a string of dominant performances.

It all begins next weekend with an intriguing Cinco de Mayo triple-header. First, there’s Times Square Friday (May 2) on a New York card featuring Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, all three in almost desperate fights to resurrect their pound-for-pound aspirations. Then, there’s a chance Saturday (May 3) to see what Canelo Alvarez still has against William Scull in Saudi Arabia in a perceived tune-up for his projected September showdown with Terence Crawford.

Then, there’s the curtain-closer Sunday (May 4), Inoue — with his pound-for-pound credentials very much intact — against Ramon Cardenas at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. There are loud complaints about Cardenas, just as there were about everybody else beaten by Inoue over the last couple of years. No surprise there. In part, it comes with the rare pound-for-pound real estate occupied by Inoue these days.

But the complaints also are one way to explain Inoue’s astonishing superiority. He’s just been a hell of a lot better than anybody since stopping Nonito Donaire in a 2022 rematch. From this corner, the complaints about Inoue’s opposition sound a lot like those lodged against Crawford, who alongside Inoue and heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is at the top of the pound-for-pound race. 

Crawford was just a heck of a lot better than anybody he faced, especially at welterweight. That, after all, is why Crawford, who has fought once at junior-middle, is jumping up two weight classes to face Canelo, undisputed at 168 pounds.

But that won’t stop the skepticism. And it shouldn’t. Pound-for-pound contention comes with a burden of proof. Inoue, after all, is a 50-to-1 favorite to beat Cardenas, according to some online books. Buster Douglas had a better chance at beating Mike Tyson in 1990 in Inoue’s home country. Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, beat Tyson in a monumental upset in Tokyo. Maybe, that’s a reason we should watch Inoue-Cardenas. But don’t bet on it.

In his first appearance in the U.S. since a third-round TKO of Michael Dasmarinas in June 2021, however, complaints about Inoue-versus-Cardenas miss what the Cinco de Mayo three-step is really all about. 

From New York to Riyadh to Vegas, it’s a stage-setter. Depending on what happens in Canelo-Scull, the weekend heightens the stakes attached to Crawford-Canelo. In New York Friday, a strong performance by Teofimo, or Haney, or Garcia in Times Square could generate some pound-for-pound time for one or all three in the evolving debate.

In the end, however, the guess here is that Inoue will get the biggest say-so. He’ll use a one-sided blowout of the unfortunate Cardenas to amplify his pound-for-pound claim. Then, he’ll pursue the proof to that claim by moving on to the bigger names promoters, pundits and fans are demanding.

Former junior-featherweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, possibly in September, and unbeaten bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, also of Japan, in December were mentioned during Inoue’s public workout Wednesday at Westside Boxing Gym in Los Angeles. Beyond that, there’s hope for a dream fight, Inoue against super-flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.

“I don’t know if I’ll make it back to No. 1 with this fight, but with September, December and next year … I hope to get back with those fights,” Inoue told reporters through an interpreter at his media workout. “I’m really looking forward to it. I know it is a legendary day for boxing.’’

A good day for another combo, too.

By Norm Frauenheim

It was a different Ryan Gracia than the one who shocked, outraged and frightened throughout a long-running social-media ride to hell-and-back a year ago. He was composed, thoughtful. There was even a hint of humility. Was it real? Will it last? 

Those are questions only Garcia can answer as he resumes a career interrupted by the craziness that surrounded his date with Devin Haney, a fight preceded by Garcia chugging a beer on the weigh-in scale and one that turned into a virtual accident. It’ll be exactly a year this Sunday, Easter Sunday, since a bout that  included a positive PED test, suspension, lawsuit, reported settlement and repeated denials. The hangover, framed by the questions, lingers.

There were no simple answers last April. There were none this April at a public workout in San Diego Thursday a few weeks before Garcia answers an opening bell for the first time in more than a year May 2 against Rollie Romero in Times Square, about eight miles of roadwork through New York traffic from the scene of his last ring appearance against Haney at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Garcia, who is coming off a year-long suspension for testing positive for Ostarine, was calm. But will that prove to be only the calm before another storm? The answer to that one rests in what is about to transpire before a card that figures to get more attention for where it is than who is on it. 

For Garcia, it’s a tuneup. For Haney, it is too. He’s scheduled to fight Jose Carlos Ramirez. Teofimo Lopez will also be there in a defense of his junior-welterweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. Hopefully, the weather will include only punches and no rain. 

“Looking to get the rust off,’’ Garcia said to a circle of reporters before a live-streamed workout at BXNG Club in Oceanside.

Looking to get some answers, too.

Garcia made some news Thursday, repeating that he had an interest in fighting welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the acknowledged best at 147 pounds today. He also mentioned Mario Barrios and Brian Norman.

“I’m excited, but do I want to fight somebody else that would make me feel more like a champion?’’ he said. “Whoever the champions are …any of those guys. I will win the word championship if I beat any of those guys.’’

But, mostly, the Friday night card — the first in a Cinco de Mayo triple-header  including Canelo Álvarez-William Scull Saturday in Saudi Arabia and Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas Sunday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena — is thought to be a steppingstone to a Garcia-Haney rematch, which is projected for a day in October. The planned sequel is full of immense potential to settle a lot of differences still there after Garcia’s three-knockdown beatdown of Haney in bout later changed to no-contest because of the PED positive.

“I want the Devin Haney rematch, 100 percent,’’ said Garcia, who has virtually disappeared from the wild social-media presence he occupied a year ago. “I need it and I’m going to do it for USADA this time. I want the Devin Haney rematch so bad. I really want it. There’s some personal bad blood there but it’s not going to overrule me but it’s got some extra oomph in there, you know, when you’re fighting and put it on him even more. 

“Then you got Bill’s (Haney’s father and trainer) crazy antics, and he’s constantly talking nonstop, and that makes me want to put a whooping in a little bit more. This is an opportunity to do it again, and I think after that, I’ll put a stamp on that and move forward.”

Garcia’s mention of USADA — a drug-testing agency — is a reference to the Ostarine controversy. Garcia tested positive twice for the substance — an anabolic agent, according to drug testing and New York State Athletic Commission. 

But he denied it after the fight. And he denied it again Thursday.

“I did a lot of things, but for me it was more mental,’’ Garcia said. “Everything was mental. It took a toll on my mentality, because I know I didn’t take steroids or anything like that.

“It was tough for me to overcome that, but throughout the year I got over it, re-focused myself, and got blessed with this opportunity.’’

This time, Garcia denies it without any of the angry histrionics that were there for weeks after the fight.  A year later, Gracia says it a matter-of-fact tone.

Still, it was an acknowledgement that Garcia knows what a lot of people are thinking. Hall of Famer and ringside analyst Roy Jones Jr, expressed it in an interview this week with AKHi TV, a You Tube boxing network. Jones gives a Haney a chance to win the rematch.

“If you (don’t) knock him out when you’re illegal, how you gonna beat him when you’re not illegal?’’ Jones is quoted as saying.

For Garcia, there’s only one opportunity. Only one answer. First, there’s Romero. Then, there’s the projected rematch.

“I felt that this is my chance to come back and show everybody I can really fight,” he said.

By Norm Frauenheim 

It’s not exactly the transaction David Benavidez wanted. Benavidez, an instinctive fighter, was hoping to exchange blows for an undisputed title. Instead, he exchanged light-heavyweight belts in a move that was more about process than punches. It didn’t earn him a purse, but it didn’t cost him a sanctioning fee either.

In acronym-speak, Benavidez got “elevated,” from interim to champion without throwing a single jab in a move that was about as elevating as filing taxes. Few fans care, mostly because not much happened in a World Boxing Council shuffle that saw Benavidez move into a title relinquished by Dmitrii Bivol in about the time it takes to send a text message. 

Only when Benavidez elevates a challenger into mid-air with a furious succession of combinations will anybody really care. Maybe, that happens against Callum Smith. Or Anthony Yarde. Until then, however, Benavidez is confronted by skepticism already attached to what fans dismiss as an e-mail title. But don’t blame Benavidez, who understands the inevitable doubts.

“This is not ideal,’’ Benavidez posted on social media in response to a shuffle before a scheduled purse bid last week.

It’s decidedly not. 

But it’s not surprising, either. 

There had been plenty of talk about Bivol-Benavidez instead of a third Bivol-Beterbiev. Benavidez’ growing fan base is impatient, frustrated that Canelo Álvarez continues to say no to their demands for a fight with Benavidez. The Canelo possibility, if there ever was one, looks to be slim-to-none. But the fans’ impatience for Benavidez in an undisputed showdown has followed him up the scale to light-heavy.  

Nevertheless, it was pretty clear that Bivol-Beterbiev 3 would happen — probably this fall — at the moment Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh  waved three fingers in the immediate aftermath of Bivol’s rematch victory — a majority decision — over Beterbiev Feb. 22 in Riyadh. 

There are reasonable questions about whether the third will be any different than the first or second. Bivol is a slight favorite to win the trilogy fight. But a draw might be the best bet. They are 1-1, each winning by majority decision by identical scores — 114-114, 116-112, 115-113. If there’s a draw in the third, will Alalshikh  wave four fingers? A fourth fight would only heighten the impatience among Benavidez fans.

For the Phoenix-born Benavidez, the good news is that he has a belt that gives him some leverage in potential negotiations with Matchroom-promoted Smith or any other 175-pound challenger. Still, I’m not sure the WBC did Benavidez any favors when the acronym handed him the title. Then again, it’s not as if the WBC did him any favors during his time as the so-called interim champion at 168-pounds. 

That was supposed to lead to a mandatory shot at Canelo.

It didn’t. 

But a Canelo-Benavidez fight was never ordered. There was no purse bid, no threat to strip Canelo and “elevate” Benavidez. Remember, Canelo gets what he wants. It’s the perk that comes with his celebrity and pay-per-view numbers. Now, he has a rich five-fight deal with Alalshikh. 

First, he’ll fight William Scull in a perceived tuneup on the first Saturday in May in Riyadh. Then, there’s the projected date against Terence Crawford, the all-time welterweight great who is coming up from 154 pounds for a 168-pound date in September. After that, who knows? Let’s just say there’s no mention of Canelo-versus-Benavidez. 

There’s been speculation among fans and media that the WBC moved Benavidez into the light-heavy vacancy left by Bivol in part because it wanted to make up for what it didn’t do at super-middle. Maybe. 

The real devil in the fine print, however, appears to be lurking in a looming battle created by Saudi money. In addition to signing Canelo, Alalshikh  bought The Ring, a century-old publication with a trademark name and its own championship belts.

A couple of years ago, the WBC’s Mauricio Sulaiman dismissed The Ring-sponsored titles. The Ring, he said, was just a magazine. But don’t tell that to Alalshikh. He carries The Ring belt around as though it’s permanently attached to one shoulder. Bivol, the man in the middle, relinquished the WBC belt because Sulaiman and Alalshikh left him no reasonable option.

Bivol has a deal with Alalshikh, who underwrote the first two fights with Beterbiev, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. He had a belt with Sulaiman. What would you do? Take the paycheck or keep the belt? Stupid question.

Sulaiman told ESPN Knockout that Bivol had an $8-million offer to fight Benavidez. He said the Bivol offer for a third Beterbiev fight was $2.7-million. The real numbers are impossible to know. It’s not as if the Saudi contracts are public record. 

Even if the numbers are close, however, it’s safe to guess that Bivol sweetened his purse by choosing Beterbiev instead of Benavidez — who according to Benavidez — dominated Bivol in sparring a couple of years ago.

Benavidez, also caught in the middle, got the consolation prize, a belt — a trophy — that comes with a burden of proof. He has yet to fight for it. 

Like Benavidez said, it’s not ideal. But Benavidez is 28. Beterbiev is 40. Bivol is 34.

Longterm, it is ideal.

Ideal for Benavidez.

ATLANTIC CITY-– Jaron “Boots” Ennis passed his biggest test of his career in flying colors as he scored an entertaining beatdown of Eimanras Stanionis to unify his own IBF and Stanionis’ WBA welterweight titles in front of a big crowd at Boardwalk Hall

The fight began with a great pace as Ennis was able to land quick shots that set up harder combinations. Stanionis was able to keep honest as he was able to get in some good hard jabs and right hands of his own. Ennis was able to box free and work behind his power shots to continuously beat Stanionis to the punch. Stanionis as having a good round five until he ate a big uppercut that turned the round around as it produced a bloody nose from the Lithuanian. In round six, Ennis landed a big combination that was culminated by and uppercut that put Stanionis on the deck. Staniomis seemed to have steadied himself, but when he sat down on the stool, the corner called and end to the fight.

Ennis is now a unified champion with a record fo 34-0 with 30 knockouts. Stanionis of Lithuania is 15-1.

Raymond Ford Decisions Thomas Mattice

Former world champion Raymond Ford won a 10-round unanimous decision over Thomas Mattice in a super featherweight bout.

Ford landed 128 of 610 punches. Mattice was 24 of 126.

Ford, 130 lbs of Canden, NJ won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 17-1-1. Mattice, 129.6lbs of Cleveland is 22-5-1.

Omari Jones Stops Jackson in 1

Omari Jones made it two consecutive first round stoppages as he took care of William Jackson in their welterweight bout.

Jones landed a left hook to the body that put Jackson down for referee David Franciosi’s 10-count at 1:47.

Jones, 149.6 lbs of Orlando, FL is 2-0 with two knockouts. Jackson, 150 lbs of Cincinnati is 13-6-2.

Giyasov Stops Ocampo in 4

WBA number-one ranked welterweight Shakhram Giyasov stopped Franco Ocampo in round four of their 10-round welterweight fight.

At the end of round one, Giyasov buckled Ocampo with a hard left. Giyasov then landed a big flurry that was punctuated by a right that dropped Ocampo. In round four, Giyasov landed a straight right to the body that put Ocampo down and the fight was halted.

Giyasov, 149 lbs of Uzbekistan is 17-0 with 10 knockouts. Ocampo, 153 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 17-3.

Zaquin Moses stopped Alex Pallette in round two of their four-round super featherweight bout.

Moses dropped Pallette with a straight left and the bout was stopped at 2:13.

Moses, 128.8 lbs of Newark, NJ is 3-0 with two knockouts. Pallette, 129.8 lbs of Toa Baja, PR is 1-4.

Tahmir Smails needed just 73 seconds to dispose of Earl Bascome in a scheduled eight-round welterweight bout.

Smalls scored a knockdown and referee Charlie Fitch reached the 10-count at 1:!3.

Smalls, 147.8 lbs of Philadelphia is 14-0 with 10 knockouts. Bascome, 148.6 lbs of Hamilton, BER is 13-2.

Arturo Cardenas scored an eighth and final round stoppage over late replacement Edgar Joe Cortes in a super bantamweight bout.

In round five, Cardenas dropped Cortes with a hard left hook. In round seven, Cardenas planted Cortes on the canvas with a perfect right hand. Cardenas was dominant in the final round as he pounded away on Cortes and dropped him again with a right hand. Referee Charlie Fotch called a halt to the fight just as Cortes hit the deck at 1:30

Cardenas, 122.3 lbs f Mexico is 16-0-1 with 10 knockouts. Cortes, 123.6 lbs of Millville, NJ is 9-8-1.

Cortes stepped for Christian Carto. Carto with drew this week for unspecified reasons.

Francisco Rodriguez remained perfect with a stoppage of Naheem Parrker after round three of their six-round lightweight bout.

Rodriguez, 135 lbs of Atlantic City is now 7-0 with seven knockouts. Parker, 136 lbs of Camden, NJ is 5-2.

By Norm Frauenheim

Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford will share a ring and not much else on a projected day in September. In part, the differences are what make their planned fight so intriguing. 

Canelo has a documented advantage on the scale and perhaps another one among fans. Shifting odds, reported here last week https://www.15rounds.com/2025/03/30/canelo-crawford-interest-builds-as-odds-continue-to-favor-canelo/, suggest the public increasingly favors Canelo.

Then, there are the intangibles, hard to define, nonetheless there on social media in a tireless debate that only figures to get noisier by multiple octaves. 

It’s a fight with a genuine chance to remind us that legacy — rendered irrelevant by overuse — can still mean something. Put it this way: Canelo, bigger and wealthier, is fighting to preserve his; Crawford, smaller and less popular, is fighting to guarantee his own. 

It’s not that simple, of course. It never is amid the inherent chaos sure to happen before any conflict. It’s messy, a drama expected to exasperate and entertain. But the stakes are there, clearcut in a fight between two of the best in their generation. A younger one is emerging. Canelo-Crawford represents a passing-of-the torch, that last major bout for fighters who’ll reunite in Canastota NY at a Hall of Fame induction in about five years. The winner of this one can claim to be the best of his day. In a time that will be remembered for a risk-to-reward ratio and fights that didn’t happen, it just doesn’t get much better than that.

On the scale and their resumes, we know the differences. Crawford is unbeaten at 140, 147 and 154 pounds in a reign that includes undisputed titles at junior-welter and welterweight. Canelo has lost twice, going upscale from 154 to 160, 168 and 175 pounds. 

At 168, it’s safe to argue that nobody has ever been better than Canelo. At 147, there’s an argument that Crawford could have been an all-timer, among the best in the fabled welterweight division, good enough to perhaps be a fifth king in the four-sided rivalry so powerfully captured by the late George Kimball in his book, Four Kings, about Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns.

The respective arguments are there, an inseparable part of what is also at stake.

For now, Crawford and Canelo enter the ring with only one thing in common: A victory over Amir Khan. On paper, at least, the Khan fights settle nothing. Both Canelo and Crawford scored sixth-round stoppages over Khan, Crawford winning by TKO in April 2019 at welterweight and Canelo by KO in May 2016 at a 155-pound catchweight.

Crawford knocked down and nearly knocked out Khan in the first round. But the fight ended in controversy. After an apparent low blow, Khan’s corner said he could not continue. Canelo simply overwhelmed Khan in the sixth walking through his punches and knocking him unconscious. Yet, Khan was competitive in the early rounds. 

At the time of stoppage, Canelo trailed, 47-46, on one card. He led 49-46 and 48-47 on the other two. 

Other than the low blow, there was no argument about the scoring for Crawford-Khan. At the time of stoppage, Crawford was on his way to a runaway decision — 49-45, 50-44, 49-45.

In the buildup to Canelo-Crawford, the scorecards figure to be part of the story, an item in the debate. But the two fights were separated by three years. Khan was a different fighter in each. So, too, were Canelo and Crawford, now at the end of their primes. Canelo is 34. Crawford will be 38 on Sept. 28.

In the end, however, there will be a parallel that will further the intrigue and perhaps set the stage for what follows. Floyd Mayweather Jr., a dominant face of the generation before Canelo-Crawford, looms as a significant point of comparison.

Canelo has fought him, losing a decision in 2013 that proved to be a lesson and a milestone for the business-like way Canelo turned himself into boxing’s biggest pay-per-view draw over the next 12 years. Crawford has not fought Mayweather and presumably never will. 

Since Crawford’s singular display of welterweight brilliance in a stoppage of Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023, fans and media wonder at how Crawford, a dynamic finisher at welterweight and still unbeaten, would have done against Mayweather, who retired unbeaten as one of history’s greatest defensive fighters. We’ll never know.

But Canelo-Crawford — who wins and how it happens — figures to produce documented history and an intriguing look about how different eras compare. That’s real legacy. 

By Norm Frauenheim

Date and place remain uncertain, but exploding interest in Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford six months before a projected opening bell is already evident in the noisy debate on social media and shifting numbers in the betting line. 

The social-media noise will continue, ad nauseam. But it’s the betting line, an early poll of sorts, that is showing a shift of public opinion toward Canelo. 

Canelo opened as a slight favorite, minus-190. But the odds, the dollars, are moving toward Canelo during the weeks since an 11th-hour deal was struck with Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh on Feb. 7. 

This week Canelo is at minus-230. Translated, that means there’s a 66-percent chance he wins a fight as intriguing as any for a bout expected to happen in September in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles. 

The early odds figure to change more, especially during the first Saturday in May when Canelo is expected to reunify the super-middleweight title against International Boxing Federation belt-holder William Scull, a Cuban living in Germany, in a perceived tune-up in Riyadh. 

Canelo figures to win easily, but how easily will be a key factor going into the fight against Crawford, a four-division champion and an all-time welterweight great who is moving up two weight classes.

Increasingly, there’s social-media talk that the smaller, more skillful Crawford can beat Canelo. But the shifting odds say something else. There’s an old line: In a fight between two good fighters, bet on the bigger guy. For now, that’s Canelo. 

According to the latest odds update, Crawford has a 33 percent chance at springing one of the biggest upsets since Manny Pacquiao, then a lightweight champion, jumped to welterweight and scored an eighth-round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008.

Pacquiao weighed in at 142 pounds. De La Hoya, who came down from junior middleweight, was at 145 at the official weigh-in. It looked as if De La Hoya had weakened himself in the battle to make weight. Pacquiao overwhelmed De La Hoya late in the eighth, forcing him to quit before the start of the ninth.

Canelo, already known to tire in the later rounds, won’t have to weaken himself on the scale. According to the agreement, he’ll be at his customary weight, 168 pounds at the weigh-in the day before opening bell. 

It’s up to Crawford, who fought and won a belt at junior-middle (154) in his last bout, to add pounds. The question is how that will affect Crawford, who unlike Canelo does not have a fight scheduled before the projected September bout.

If Crawford can carry the additional weight without draining his endurance or eroding the dynamic resilience in his varied skillset, he’s got a real chance. Canelo has never faced anybody with Crawford’s quicksilver ability to adjust, including a seamless move from orthodox to southpaw and back. 

At 37 — he’ll be 38 on Sept 28, Crawford’s feet might not move with the agility and speed that they did when he was at lightweight and junior-welter. 

If, however, Crawford withstands Canelo’s early power, carries the weight and carries himself into the later rounds, there’s a chance he catches a tiring Canelo with counters from angles the powerful Mexican has yet to see.

On the scale of intangibles, the edge goes to Crawford. There’s charisma in his defiance. Motivation, too. Underdog will be the perfect fit for Crawford in his pursuit of big money and genuine legacy. 

It’s not as if Crawford is coming into what might be his last fight seeking a gigantic payout against a Jake Paul or a Conor McGregor. He’s taking on perhaps the biggest challenge possible against a bigger man, Canelo, who goes into the fight more than just favored.

Canelo is supposed to win. There’s pressure in that role, but it’s one Canelo understands better than any fighter in his generation. 

He’s learned how to counter it and how to use it throughout the years since a milestone scorecard loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013. If social media and shifting odds are any indication, that pressure is just beginning to build.

Best bet:

It’s going to be a hell of a fight.

LAS VEGAS  –It’s beginning to look as if everybody at junior-middleweight is looking up at Sebastian Fundora.

Fundora continued to establish himself as more than just the tallest fighter in the division. He’s also its biggest player, a two-belt champion with a clear path to a chance at winning two more.

“I’d love to be the undisputed champion,” said Fundora (22-1-1 14 KOs), who further secured his place at the top of the 154-pound weight class with a dominant fourth-round stoppage of Choredale Booker (23-2, 13 KOs)  Saturday night in a Prime Vision bout at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.  “Whoever they have for me next, I’ll be ready. I want the IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, plus Xander Zayas is the WBO mandatory. I also want Errol Spence Jr. We have two belts, we have to defend them, and if anyone is willing to unify, let’s do that too.”

Fundora, a 14-1 favorite, left Booker with very little chance at springing an upset. Booker appeared to be confused by  Fundora’s unusual height. He’s 6-foot-6.

“He’s so big,” Booker said, ” that it really doesn’t matter where he’s at in the ring. With every step, he’s covering a lot of ground.”

Booker simply could not escape Fundora’s NBA-like dimensions. He was always there, ready to block any of Booker’s shots. Meanwhile, there was Fundora’s reach, long and dangerous.

The most immediate threat to Fundora’s two belts — the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization — appears to be Zayas.. The Purto Rican emerged as a leading contender Friday after Terence Cawford relinquished his interim title, which represents a so-called mandatory challenge. It was no coincidence that Zayas was at ringside Saturday. There’s already talk about a Fundora-Zayas bout — Mexican American versus Purrto Rican — in New York.

“I”d love it in New York,” Zayas said. “But I’d go to the moon to fight him.” 

Jesus Ramos scores TKO, possibly puts himself in line for Fundora

Jesus Ramos moved forward and ever closer to shot at a major junior-middleweight title Saturday with poise and patience in a stoppage of Mexican Guido Emmanuel Schramm Saturday.

In the end, it was a powerful statement.delivered by a 24-year fighter from Casa Grande, Ariz. 

The message: Ramos (23-1, 19 KOs) will let neither defeat nor injury stand in his way. 

In his third straight victory since a lone loss to Erickson Lubin, Ramos overcame a hand injury, stopping Sscramm with an overpowering succession of punches at 1:38 of the seventh at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.”I had some obstacles.,” said Ramos, who might have put himself in line for a shot at the 154-pound titles retained by Sebastian Fundora in a fourth-round stoppage of Choredale Booker Saturday night in title bout after his victory.”I hurt my hand in the third round, but I battled through it. I made a promise, so I had to get him out of there.

“Overall, I felt good. I did what I wanted. I wanted to get him out of there a little earlier, but he’s a warrior. Everything was working, almost too good. That’s where I hurt my hand and I backed off a bit. It was hurting a lot so I kind of boxed a little bit.

“I was joking with my dad that my previous opponent had stopped Schramm so how could he stop him and I don’t? I’m ready for anybody at 154.”

Schramm (16-4-2, 9 KOs), of LOs Angeles, simply didn;t have the strength to keep Ramos off of him. He complained about the stoppage. But if it hadn’t come in the fourth, it would have happened later. It was inevitable.

“I thought the referee stopped the fight prematurely. I was withstanding Ramos’ shots and countering just fine. I wasn’t exposed or defenseless, I just closed up big in order to counter.

“Ramos was dominating, but it was anybody’s fight since I was also hurting him with my shots. I have to let my hands go more and not allow this to happen again. Bring anybody on. I’ll be back and eager to face the best once again.”

“It was hard to get the finish. He has a lot of heart and he displayed it tonight. I tip my hat to him, he’s a great warrior. Hopefully now I can get the winner of the main event next.”

Elijah Garcia win controversial split-decision over Gausha

Elijah Garcia escaped what would have been a devastating loss Saturday, scoring a controversial split decision over Terrell Gausha

In a desperate fight to avoid a second straight loss, Garcia, a 21-year-old Phoenix middleweight, had to get up from a first-round knockdown. Suddenly, it looked as if Gausha might knock the promise out of  Garcia’s future. A crisp right hand sent Garcia, head over heels, onto the canvas. Garcia got up and smiled almost in resignation. He knew perhaps, that the next nine rounds could forever fracture his aspirations.

In the end, he survived, perhaps with consistent aggression and solid body shots. In his won-loss record, it goes down as a victory. But controversy lingers. By definition, a split decision is an argument. 

Judges Don Trella and Zachary Young scored it for Garcia. It was 99-94 on Trella’s card. Young scored it, 96-93. 

On Chris Magliore’s card, it was 95-94 for Gausha. 

The judges’ cards appeared to reflect the unofficial scoring along press row and among the fans at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena. It was split. Some booed. Some cheered. Some scratched their heads in confusion.

“People can think what they want,” said Garcia (17-1, 13 KOs), who had veteran trainer Bob Santos in his corner for the first time. “I went in the ring and fought my ass off against an Olympian. He’s only lost to world champions, and I went in there and beat him. He’s very experienced, very crafty. He was able to do some things that he wanted, but I figured it out as time went on. Whoever thinks I lost, whatever. I won.

“I figured after he dropped me that was the hardest I was going to get hit. I prepared for it 1000%. I don’t control the judges. My job is in the ring. It was a little closer than I thought. For the most part, I controlled the fight. It was a good experience. I am ready for the next one. I never turn down the fight. I’ll fight anybody.”

Like the judges and the crowd, Gausha had a different opinion about what happened. He thought he won 

“I just thought I did what I had to do.,” said Gausha (24-5-1, 12 KOs), a 37-year old fighter and 2012 Olympian who has fought and lost for a world title twice. “The decision is unfortunate, but all I can do is try to regroup and get better.”

After the first-round knockdown, Gausha appeared to steal several rounds with a lury of clean shots in the waning seconds of  subsequent rounds. He repeatedly caught Gracia with uppercuts. But Garcia’s sustained aggressiveness impressed Trella and Young often enough for him to bank a narrow win, a pivotal one that keeps his career on track.

Freddie Rojas wins unanimous decision

It was awkward. Sometimes ugly. But it was also predictable.

Las Vegas welterweight Freddie Rojas did what he had to, scoring a unanimous decision over Maurice Lee Saturday in the final fight before the Prime Video portion of the card featuring Fundora-Booker at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.

Mostly, Rojas had to stay unbeaten. Mission accomplished with a scorecard victory that pushed his record to 15-0, 13 victories by stoppage. Lee, of Woodland Hills CA, fell to 16-2-2, six victories by stoppage

Alberto Mora wins unanimous decision

Alberto Mora’s skill set included the kind of precision and patience that count on the scorecards.

Sure enough, it was on the cards that Mora (13-0, 10 KOS) , a junior-lightweight from Mexico City, won a one-sided decision –80-72, 77-75 and 80-72 — over ViktorSlavinski (15-4–1, 7 KOs), a Los Angeles fighter who always seemed to be one step and several points behind in the sixth bout of the Fundora-Booker card Saturday

Robert Guerrero Jr. wins quick stoppage

He’s the son of a legend. He has a name that creates impossible expectations. Robert Guerrero Jr., son of a former featherweight and junior-lightweight champion, began to show he might be able to live up to some of them Saturday.

Guerrero (6-0, 3 KOs) wasted little time, scoring a second-round stoppage and staying unbeaten in a lightweight blowout of Sam Armas (6-2, 3 KOs, of Pomona CA, on the Fundora-Booker card. Guerrero controlled the ring and the pace with an authority that was a sure sign of some merging maturity. 

A Junior no more.

POW, Brayan Gonzalez wins TKO

Brayan Gonzalez wore pink into the ring.  Across his trunk’s waistband, it said:

POW.

It was more than a message. The POW was real, delivered at the end of a lethal left hand in a Gonzalez fourth-round stoppage of Justin Marquez on the Fundora–Booker card Saturday at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.

Gonzalez (3-0, 2 KOs), a junior-lightweight from Phoenix, found his range and target early and often against Marquez (5-2, 4 KOs), a Stockton fighter who struggled to mount any kind of counter

De La Certa wins bantamweight blowout

Alexis De La Cerda had power in his hands. Speed in his feet.

Combine the two and the potent mix was just too much for Sharone Carter, who found himself down and done in a third-round bantamweight blowout in the third bout on the Fundora-Booker card Saturday.

De La Certa (6-0, 4 KOs), of Federal Way WA,  dropped Carter (14-9-1, 3 KOs), of Saint Louis, early in the third and then again in finishing flurry in the final second of the round

Ezequiel Duran gets up to stay unbeaten

is said to be a prospect.

But he had to prove it. He had to get up.

Duran (5-0, 2 KOs) did, displaying a prospect’s chops in a sixth-round stoppage of Canadian Joseph Brown (4-1, 3 KOs) in the second bout on a card featuring Fundora-Booker Saturday. Brown, a rugged junior-middleweight from Vancouver, dropped Duran with a hard shot midway through the fifth.

Duran, of Amarillo TX, quickly rose to the occasion with an aggressive response. He moved forward, throwing punches at a whirlwind rate that forced Brown into a sudden retreat. Duran’s relentless pressure continued in the sixth with a succession of punches that left Brown defenseless and done at 1:54 of the round.

First Bell: Body-shot KO opens the show

The seats were empty. Only an echo filled the building. 

Jursly Vargas produced it, delivering a thundering body shot for a fourth-round knockout of Uhlices Avelino-Reyes in the opener Saturday to a card featuring junior-middleweight Sebastian Fundora’s first title defense against Chordale Booker. Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena

Vargas (5-0, 4 KOs), a stocky lightweight from Rotterdam, worked  inside Aerlino-Reyes’ long, lanky reach. In the third, Vargas’ body blows began to hurt Avellino-Reyes (3-2, 2 KOs), of Omaha. In the fourth, the matinee was over when Vargas landed a nasty uppercut that dropped Avelino-Reye to his knees in the final second of the round.   

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — For Sebastian Fundora, the view is unobstructed. 

Maybe, even undisputed.

At 6-foot-6, Fundora, a junior-middleweight with NBA dimensions, already has two pieces to the 154-pound puzzle, both of which he is expected to retain in an interesting challenge from Chordale Booker Saturday on Prime Video at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.

Fundora’s possible path to undisputed was cleared of a challenge Friday with news that Terence Crawford will relinquish his World Boxing Organization title, a so-called interim belt. Crawford’s decision is significant on multiple levels. Above all, it is a sign  that Crawford intends to retire after his looming date with super-middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez in September.

Since a spectacular  stoppage of Errol Spence in July 2023, Crawford, a four-division champion and an all-time welterweight great, has never shown interest in fighting Fundora or anyone other than Canelo. At 37, it looks as if he’s seeking a big-money goodbye to his brilliant career. His lone appearance at junior-middleweight, a narrow decision over Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles in August, was seen as a move — the penultimate bout in his career – toward the big paycheck against the bigger Canelo.

Crawford’s decision Friday prompted the WBO to recommend in a social-media post that Puerto Rican Xander Zayas step up in the ratings and into the challenger’s role for one of the titles Fundora will defend for the first time Saturday.

“Anybody,’’ Fundora told reporters Friday after tipping the scale at 152.8 pounds in a staged weigh-in at a crowded ball room at Mandalay Bay. “Whoever it is. Zayas, Crawford. We’re ready for all of them.’’

Fundora said he has seen Zayas fight a couple of times.

“It would be a good fight, a good Latin fight,’’ said Fundora, who hasn’t fought since he took the two belts from a bloodied Tim Tszyu in a split-decision stunner last March.

At 27, Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) looks to be comfortable and in control at 154. He made weight easily, coming under the limit Friday by more than a pound. He’s a 14-to-1 favorite over Booker, who has an interesting back story. For Booker, the ring is a refuge from trouble. In 2010, he was an 18-year old facing a possible 13 years in prison on multiple gun charges and one charge of possession with intent to distribute.

He wound up spending three years on probation, a sentence that included a message: Change. He did. An improbable victory over the heavily-favored Fundora would mean even more change.

“It would change my life,’’ said Booker, who was at 152.6 pounds Friday in front of a crowd that included family and friends. “I’m extremely confident.’’

It’s a confidence he says he found in his first real training camp. For years, he would spend time in the gym only when he could find time away from his 40-hour-a-week jobs.

“This was the only training camp I’ve had in my time as a professional fighter,’’ Booker said. “There’s no pressure. Only my family and friends think I can win. Everybody thinks I’m going to get killed. But I’m here to show what I can do.’’

Whatever happens, he’s already done plenty.

NOTES: Jesus Ramos (22-1, 18 KOs), of Casa Grande AZ, has been mentioned as a possibility for Fundora if — as expected — Fundora beats Booker. Ramos sat next to Fundora at a news conference Thursday. “Definitely,’’ Ramos said when asked about the possibility. “I’m happy to be here, next to him, so I can get a chance to see how tall he really is,’’ Ramos said. “But, first, I have to win this fight.’’ Ramos was at 155.8 pounds Friday. He faces Mexican Guido Emmanuel Schramm (16-3-2, 9 KOs), who was at 154.6 pounds. …Phoenix middleweight Elijah Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs) comes off his only loss in a pivotal test against former Olympian Terrell Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs). Garcia was at 159.6 pounds; Gausha 160.2. 

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — They sat next to each other like neighbors at one end of the table, linked by geography and the promise that comes with youth. Elijah Garcia and Jesus Ramos are from Arizona, which these days has become a place known for young fighters.

Aggressive fighters.

Ambitious, too.

“I’m here to get better,’’ said Garcia, a 21-year-old middleweight who shares a prominent spot alongside Ramos Saturday on a Prime Video card featuring junior-middleweight champ Sebastian Fundora against Chordale Booker at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Arena.

Getting better sometimes means starting anew. That’s where Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs) finds himself in a fight to reset the table — re-assert his evident potential — against former Olympian Terrell Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs) in Garcia’s first fight since a his lone loss eight months ago to Kyrone Davis.

There are always questions about how a fighter reacts to his first defeat. It’s a portal, a test, that few fighters avoid. Unbeaten is unlikely. But dealing with defeat, confronting and overcoming the adversity, is often a true measure of a fighter’s future. Ramos, seated next to Garcia at the AZ end of the table Thursday during a news conference, already understands that. 

Ramos (22-1, 18 KOs), who faces Mexican Guido Emmanuel Schramm (16-3-2, 9 KOs) in a junior-middleweight bout Saturday, has already passed through the portal, scoring successive stoppages over Johan Gonzalez and Jeison Rosario after his lone loss to Erickson Lubin in September 2023. 

“The loss was a blessing in way,’’ said Ramos, a 24-year-old from Casa Grande. “Losing led to a lot of work at getting better all of the time.’’

Ramos talks about the loss as though it is part of the lesson plan for a young fighter. Perhaps, it is. Garcia, who grew up in Phoenix and has a ranch in Wittman, is about to find out. The plan is eight-months long. He left his family and his ranch, moved to Las Vegas and began to work under the guidance of veteran trainer Bob Santos.

Garcia’s life has changed. His corner has changed. His father, George Gracia, had trained him. HIs dad will still be there Saturday, but as the cut man, Elijah said.

“My dad was great,’’ Elijah said. “He got me here. Bob Santos has been there. He is all about winning. Winning, winning, winning.’’

Over the eight months, Garcia said he has developed a strong relationship with Santos, who once trained beloved two-time champion Robert Guerrero.

“For eight straight months, my life has been all about boxing, only boxing,’’ said Elijah, who wore an Arizona Diamondback’s cap and a Wittman T-shirt. “There have been no kids, no ranch. Just boxing. Like I said, I’m here to get better.’’

In Gausha, Elijah Garcia faces a fighter who is 16 years older than him. At 37, Gausha, a US Olympian at the 2012 London Games, has fought for a major title twice, losing both times. Carlos Adames scored a unanimous decision over him last June for a 160-pound belt. He lost a decision to Erislandy Lara for a 154-pound belt in 2017. 

“I respect him,’’ Garcia said. “He’s a good fighter. I could have said no. But I need to fight a good fighter to get better. I’ve got to get better to be a world champion, and that’s always been my dream.

“I had a loss. But that loss is behind me. I can’t do much about it right now. I just have to move on.’’

Start anew.

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez says he wants to be the Face of the Game. He might have to wait on that one too. 

That’s not his choice. Patience, after all, isn’t exactly a virtue in boxing, which has been defined by the pursuit of paydays ever since prize and fighting became one word. But it’s an inescapable factor in the ongoing emergence of Benavidez. 

He waited on Canelo Álvarez, still to no avail. 

Now, he waits on Dmitrii Bivol.

The current round in the waiting game isn’t exclusive to Benavidez. For now, it’s the state of a game waiting on changes Saudi money has brought. 

And bought. 

There’s talk of moving beyond ruling acronyms and a crazy collection of belts named everything but irrelevant. There’s an agreement for a new league, TKO, although nobody seems to know exactly how that one will be much different than any other acronym.

Nearly a month ago, Benavidez was at ringside in Riyadh for Bivol’s narrow rematch decision over Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez was there as the potential next, the so-called mandatory challenger, for the winner after his solid scorecard victory over David Morrell Feb. 1 in Las Vegas.

Mandatory has been attached to Benavidez’ name for years now. He was in that role, the World Boxing Council’s mandatory at super-middleweight, throughout his futile pursuit of a date with Canelo, undisputed at 168 pounds in everybody’s opinion other than than one acronym, the IBF (International Boxing Federation). 

But mandatory didn’t mean much then. It was never enforced, simply because Canelo’s celebrity and pay-per-view clout comes with prerogatives. Canelo, who intends to re-claim the IBF belt against William Scull during the first weekend in May in Riyadh, fights whoever he wants to.

Benavidez moved up the scale and away from Canelo, in part to create his own career and mostly because he didn’t have much choice. At 28 years old, Benavidez is just getting bigger, perhaps big enough to one day fight at heavyweight.

Whether the move from super-middle to light-heavy changed the meaning of mandatory, however, is still anybody’s guess. 

In the wake of Bivol’s majority decision, the WBC did what it did not do at 168 pounds. It ordered Bivol to defend his 175-pound title against Benavidez, a consensus pound-for-pound pick for the first time since beating Morrell. 

But Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, whose bankroll is redefining boxing’s expectations, announced in The Ring — his new acquisition — that he was not interested. 

That much seemed to be clear at the moment Bivol’s narrow rematch victory was announced. Alalshikh waved three fingers, meaning — of course — that a third Bivol-Beterbiev fight was next. In the wake of the WBC order, however, he said in a somewhat tense declaration that he would not bid on Bivol-Benavidez.

What followed was predictable, perhaps even inevitable in this age of disinformation. There was a social-media report that negotiations for Bivol-Benavidez were underway. That proved to be news to both Benavidez promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz and Bivol manager Vadim Kornilov.

Lewkowicz called the report “fake news.” Believe him. After Benavidez blew out ex-middleweight David Lemieux in a third-round beat-down in May 2022 at Glendale, AZ, just a few miles of road work from the Phoenix streets where Benavidez grew up, Lewkowicz told 15 Rounds that talk about a Canelo fight was “fantasy.” It still is.

Then, Kornilov told journalist Dan Rafael of Fight Freaks that there was nothing to reports about Bivol-Benavidez. Bivol was with his family, Kornilov said, resting from a busy stretch that included the majority-decision loss to Beterbiev and the rematch victory, all within five months — October and then February.

In the days after Bivol won the rematch, fans took to social media, calling for Bivol to skip a second rematch with Beterbiev. First, they wanted to see Bivol-versus-Benavidez. It’s a fair opinion, but that’s all it is. Saudi money figures to decide this one. Bivol-Beterbiev 3 looks to be next.

The guess is that a third Beterbiev-Bivol fight will be as close as the first two were. Both were decided by identical scores. If the trilogy fight is a draw, will Alalshikh wave four fingers? A fourth fight for the 40-year-old Beterbiev? 

It’s not clear what that might mean for Benavidez, who already is being mentioned in a possible fight against Callum Smith. Then again, it might mean more of the same.

He’s still waiting, which on one level makes him the only relevant Face of a changing game. Waiting is the only mandatory these days.  

By Norm Frauenheim

Canelo Álvarez, who has never fought anywhere outside of the Western Hemisphere, arrived in New York Thursday, the first step in a journey that will lead him to answer his first opening bell somewhere out of the Americas.

Canelo is not exactly going global. He’s already introduced himself to the world with world-class wealth generated by the rock-and-roll power in his combinations. That beat — beatdown — figures to continue in Saudi Arabia during the first weekend in May against somebody named William Scull, a Cuban with a belt, mostly anonymity and virtually no chance.

At least, the oddsmakers don’t give him one.

His chances at beating Canelo are at 30-to-1. Odds were better that somebody in the audience Thursday knew who Scull was when he arrived at Radio City Music Hall for the newser. Scull wore a red cap, glasses and no name tag. He could have used one. He could have been a tourist looking for a slice of pizza for all anybody knew. Come to think of it, a hungry tourist in New York might have as much of a chance at upsetting Canelo in Riyadh. 

The stakes, after all, are huge in a brand new, four-fight Saudi deal that is supposed to begin with a tune-up, a set-up for a captivating September showdown, super-middleweight Canelo against all-time welterweight great and newly-minted junior-middleweight Terence Crawford at an NFL stadium.

Canelo, a careful pro in the ring and on the stage, didn’t want to talk about Crawford when asked if the Scull fight could risk the projected biggie.

“We don’t have a fight in September,’’ Canelo said during the live-stream. “There is only this fight. Then, we will see.’’

It didn’t take long for Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh to remind Canelo of the real reason he signed him to a contract in a furious 11th-hour deal last month. 

September 12, Alalshikh said, offering a specific date for Canelo-Crawford on a Friday night at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders home field. Alalshikh told Canelo that he forgot to mention one item: The International Boxing Federation 168-pound belt, stripped from Canelo and then won by Scull in a unanimous decision over Vladimir Shiskin for the then vacant belt last October in Germany.

“I got you, don’t worry,’’ Canelo said, relaxed and smiling, said to Alalshikh.

It was a comment from a fighter in control, a sign that he also expects to be in control and undisputed all over again in May.

“He has only one belt, and that’s mine, too,’’ Canelo said of Scull.

Through an interpreter, Scull acknowledged he’s in a tough spot. He’s the designated fall guy in a bout that Alalshikh is confident will set the stage for a huge money-maker in September. 

“This is just how boxing is sometimes,’’ said Scull, who lives in Berlin.

But, Scull continued through an interpreter, “I’m going to shut up everybody. You’ll see.’’

For Scull, the newser on a New York stage was often awkward. He had never been there. The crowd grew restless when it couldn’t hear him in the early moments. Please, speak into the microphone, Canelo told him. It was Canelo’s show.

The Mexican, still boxing’s pay-per-view star, did say that Scull’s Cuban pedigree could present some problems.  Before his move to Germany, Scull learned how to box in the slick Cuban style, which has won a lot of Olympic medals but frustrates fans and opponents on the professional level.

“It’s going to be difficult, because the Cuban style always is,’’ Canelo said. “He has a lot of skills, but there is nobody else, no other Canelo, out there.’’

Canelo’s experience with Cuban fighters is perhaps defined by a difficult night against Erislandy Lara at junior-middleweight in July 2014 in Vegas. Canelo escaped with a controversial split-decision. Lara landed more punches (107, connecting at 28 percent) than Canelo (97, connecting at 23 percent.) 

The argument is that Canelo’s shots were more effective. Whatever you believe, the fight itself was a dud. The styles simply didn’t mix well enough to produce a fan-friendly fight. It’s safe to say Alalshikh is urging for more. He was talking about a belt when he mentioned “an item.’’ But the genuine item might be a knockout. Canelo hasn’t scored one since 2021.

Maybe, Canelo, now 34,  discovers some of his youthful power in his first fight in a different hemisphere. He concedes the atmosphere will be different. There’s talk that the fight will take place in the morning of May 3 in Riyadh. That way, Canelo’s Mexican fans have a better chance to see the PPV bout on a Cinco de May weekend, one of Canelo’s traditional dates.

“Different for me, for sure,’’ Canelo said.

But, he continued, he felt “most assured that the whole world is Canelo territory.’’

Alalshikh is betting on it.

LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA – Cruiserweight contender Blake McKernan kept his comeback rolling, scoring a stoppage of late replacement Jurmain McDonald in the main event of a ten-bout card at the Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday night.

McKernan (16-2, 9 KOs) of Sacramento, California started out working behind his jab and using his reach advantage over the former middleweight McDonald (8-8, 3 KOs) of Jefferson City, Missouri. McKernan, 195.5, made McDonald, 200, feel his power midway through the round when he landed a hard right hand that gave the Jefferson City native reason to pause his attack. 

After allowing McDonald some comfort in round two, McKernan turned up the aggression in round three and rocked McDonald along the ropes and followed-up until the bell to end the round. By round four, McDonald was only looking to land one looping shot at a time and was bloodied by the nose. Though McDonald’s ample body was there as a target, McKernan mostly landed his power shots upstairs, often off of his jab. 

McDonald returned weary to his corner at the end of round four and, after consulting with the corner, referee Edward Collantes opted to end the bout between rounds, officially at 3:00 of round five. With the victory, McKernan has won three straight since returning from a nearly two-year layoff induced by multiple shoulder surgeries and a bout with severe sepsis. 

Undefeated middleweight Islam Abdusamadov (5-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia scored a four-round unanimous decision over Josias Gonzales (2-5-1) of Whittier, California. 

Abdusamadov, 157, dropped Gonzales, 148, in the second, landing a right in the middle of an exchange. Gonzales had the habit of falling off balance when he was errant with a power shot and Abdusamadov was ready to counter. Gonzales did not appear hurt and fired back in a wild exchange to end the round. 

Gonzales had a solid round three as perhaps Abdusmadov was looking to time a perfect counter once more, but ultimately was outworked in stretches of the round. Again the round ended with a heated exchange, where Abdusamadov was able to flex some of his power against the busy Gonzales. 

In round four, Abdusamadov was willing to give ground against the forward-moving Gonzales in order to land his power counter punches. Gonzales would throw a flurry, but Abdusamadov would time him and land one or two clean shots that would win the moment for him. In the end, judge Joel Farbstein had it 39-36, while judges Melissa McMorrow and Edward Collantes scored it 38-37, all for Abdusamadov. 

Kyle Lacanlale (4-0, 3 KOs) of San Ramon, California was taken the distance, but won every round against a tough Brandon Badillo (0-4-1) of Lancaster, South Carolina. 

Lacanlale, 124, set the pace and landed in combination against the shorter Badillo, 126.5. Lacanlale was the better boxer and landed with power shots, but Badillo hung tough and fought back throughout. 

All three judges, Joel Farbstein, Melissa McMorrow and David Hartman scored the bout a shutout for Lacanlale, 40-36. Lacanlale’s next bout is already set for May 24th at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. 

In a rough inside fight, Jessie James Guerrero (5-0-3, 4 KOs) of Gilroy, California remained unbeaten with a four-round majority decision over Antonio Vallecillo Velasquez (0-2) of Richmond, California by way of Chinandega, Nicaragua.

Guerrero, 110.5, and Vallecillo Velasquez 110.5, traded on even terms for much of the bout. Guerrero landed well in combination, but Vallecillo Velasquez had his moments, landing some clean power shots. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout even, 38-38, but was overruled by judges Michael Margado and Joel Farbstein, who scored the fight 39-37 for Guerrero. 

Braulio Ceja Navarro (4-0, 2 KOs) of Concord, California pounded out a four-round unanimous decision over journeyman David Minter (4-7, 3 KOs) of Lincoln.

Ceja Navarro, 138.9, threw and landed in combination as the veteran Minter, 139.5  could not keep up with the high output. 

Slowed only by a warning and timeout for a low blow in the final round, Ceja Navarro claimed a shutout on the cards of all four judges, Joel Farbstein, Melissa McMorrow and David Hartman, 40-36.

In an excellent action fight, Ebert Diaz (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Richmond, California scored a hard-fought six-round majority decision over Christian Avalos (3-2-2) of Carson City, Nevada. 

Avalos, 135, got off to a great start, rocking Diaz, 134.8, in an exchange in the first, but the Richmond native regained his footing quickly and bounced back to have a solid second round. 

As the fight progressed, Diaz’s pressure began to turn the fight in his favor, but all six rounds featured two-way action. Avalos landed with a clean uppercut late in the sixth, but ultimately came up short on the cards. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout even, 57-57, but was overruled by judges Joel Farbstein and Edward Collantes, 58-56, for Diaz.

In his pro debut, former amateur standout Sergio Gonzalez (1-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento scored two knockdowns en route to a third-round stoppage of Miguel Soto-Garcia (1-5) of Fresno, California by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Gonzalez, 149, turned up the pressure in the second round, dropping Soto-Garcia, 150.5, with a left hook. Later in the round, Gonzalez caught Soto-Garcia with a right in the middle of an exchange to score a second knockdown.

After a visit to the Soto-Garcia corner at the end of round two, referee Edward Collantes stopped the bout officially at 3:00 of round three.

Vikash Deol (2-0, 1 KO) of Hayward, California remained unbeaten via four-round unanimous decision over Herman Hodnett (0-2) of Oroville, California.

With his basketball center frame, Hodnett, 246, failed to take advantage of his height and reach and fought an inside fight with the stalky Deol, 230. 

Late in the final round, referee David Hartman deducted a point from Hodnett for hitting behind the head, which ended up being the difference in the scoring, as judges Joel Farbstein and Edward Collantes both scored the bout 38-37, while judge Melissa McMorrow had it 39-36, all for Deol.

Dante Kirkman (4-0, 2 KOs) of Palo Alto, California scored two knockdowns in short order to halt journeyman Jose Cruz (2-7, 1 KO) of El Monte, California in the opening round. 

Kirkman, 158, downed Cruz, 160, in the early going with an overhand right. Cruz managed to rise, but was soon forced into the red corner, where Kirkman landed a solid right and a sweeping left to down Cruz for the second time. Referee Michael Margado began his count, but ultimately waved it off at  2:32 of round one.

In the opener, Pedro Angel Cruz (4-6, 2 KOs) of San Jose, California boxed his way to a six-round unanimous decision over brawling Luciano Ramos (2-9) of Stockton, California by way of Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Cruz, 143, had the superior technique, but Ramos, 142.5, had his moments, landing with power punches. In the end judges Joel Farbstein and Michael Margado scored it 58-56, while judge Melissa McMorrow scored it 59-55, all for Cruz. 

Upper Cut Promotions will bring professional boxing back to the Venue at Thunder Valley on Saturday, September 6th.

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

ROCKLIN, CALIFORNIA – Cruiserweight contender Blake McKernan ended a two-year sabbatical last August and will now fight for the third time in his return on Saturday night as he takes on short notice replacement Jurmain McDonald in the eight-round main event at the Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. Fighters for the ten-bout card weighed-in Friday morning at Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ in nearby Rocklin. 

McKernan (15-2, 8 KOs) of Sacramento, California scored fourth-round stoppages in both of his bouts last year, stopping Jasper McCargo on his feet in August and dropping Milton Nunez to a knee to force the last stoppage at the Venue this past October. The two fights last year ended a long layoff induced by multiple shoulder surgeries and a bout with severe sepsis. McKernan originally prepared for veteran Shawn Miller, a naturally larger opponent than he will end up meeting in his replacement. McKernan weighed-in at 195.5-pounds on Friday. 

McDonald (8-7, 3 KOs) of Jefferson City, Missouri is a recent entrant into the cruiserweight division, as he ended a two-plus year layoff this past January, scoring a four-round decision in his 200-pound debut. Prior to the time away, McDonald fought at middleweight and will likely look to use his footwork and movement on Saturday, as he was not a puncher at the 160-pound weight class. McDonald made the cruiserweight limit of 200-pounds on Friday. 

Power-punching middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov (4-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia will take on gatekeeper Josias Gonzales (2-4-1) of Whittier, California by way of Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico in a four-round bout. Abdusamadov, coming off of a four-round unanimous decision at the Venue last October, weighed-in at 157-pounds Friday. Gonzales, whose previous opponents all combined have only one loss among them, scaled 148-pounds on Friday. 

Exciting featherweight prospect Kyle Lacanlale (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Ramon, California will take a step-up against better-than-his-record Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) of Lancaster County, South Carolina in a four-rounder. Lacanlale, fighting for the fourth time since turning pro in late August, weighed-in at 124-pounds on Friday. The well-traveled Badillo, who has never fought an opponent with a prior loss, weighed-in at 126.5-pounds. 

Jessie James Guerrero (4-0-3, 4 KOs) of Gilroy, California returns to the ring on Saturday against Antonio Vallecillo Velasquez (0-1) of Richmond, California by way of Chinandega, Nicaragua in a four-round flyweight bout. Guerrero, came away with a draw last time out against Bryan Santiago last October, and Vallecillo Velasquez, fighting for the first time since May of 2023, both scaled 110.5-pounds on Friday. 

Making his 2025 debut, Braulio Ceja Navarro (3-0, 2 KOs) of Concord, California will take on veteran journeyman David Minter (4-6, 3 KOs) of Lincoln in a four-round light welterweight bout. Ceja Navarro’s original opponent was a late scratch and the Concord native agreed to step up in weight to meet Minter and keep his spot on the card Saturday. Ceja Navarro, normally a super featherweight, weighed-in at 138.9-pounds on Friday. Minter, no stranger to testing undefeated pros, scaled 139.5-pounds.

In what is sure to be an action fight, Christian Avalos (3-1-2) of Carson City, Nevada will take on Ebert Diaz (2-2-1, 1 KO) of Richmond, California in a four-round lightweight bout. Avalos, winner of three straight bouts, weighed-in at 135-pounds on Friday. Diaz, coming off of a decisive victory over previously unbeaten Kevin Montano, scaled 134.8-pounds. 

Former amateur standout Sergio Gonzalez, who trains out of Caballero’s Boxing Gym in Sacramento, will make his highly-anticipated debut in a four-round junior middleweight bout against Miguel Soto-Garcia (1-4) of Fresno, California by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. Gonzalez weighed-in at 149-pounds, while Soto-Garcia scaled 150.5. 

Vikash Deol (1-0, 1 KO) of Hayward, California will end a six-year absence when he meets Herman Hodnett (0-1) of Oroville, California in a four-round heavyweight bout. Deol weighed-in at 230-pounds, while the much taller Hodnett came in at 246. 

Junior middleweight prospect Dante Kirkman (3-0, 1 KO) of Palo Alto, California will make his 2025 debut against Jose Cruz (2-6, 1 KO) of El Monte, California in a four-round bout. Kirkman, finishing up his undergraduate degree at Stanford University this semester, weighed-in at 158-pounds, while Cruz made the 160-pound middleweight limit. 

In what promises to be a crowd-pleaser, Pedro Angel Cruz (3-6, 2 KOs) of San Jose, California will open the night as he takes on Luciano Ramos (2-8) of Stockton, California by way of Buenos Aires, Argentina in a six-round welterweight fight. Cruz weighed-in at 143-pounds, while Ramos scaled 142.5-pounds on Friday. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Cruiserweights, 8 Rounds 

McKernan 195.5

McDonald 200

Middleweights, 4 Rounds

Abdusamadov 157

Gonzalez 148

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Lacanlale 124

Badillo 126.5

Flyweights, 4 Rounds

Guerrero 110.5

Vallecillo Velasquez 110.5

Light welterweights, 4 Rounds

Ceja Navarro 138.9

Minter 139.5

Lightweights, 6 Rounds

Avalos 135

Diaz 134.8

Light middleweights, 4 Rounds

Gonzales 149

Soto-Garcia 150.5

Heavyweights, 4 Rounds

Deol 230

Hodnett 246

Middleweights, 4 Rounds

Kirkman 158

Cruz 160

Welterweights, 6 Rounds

Cruz 143

Ramos 142.5

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com 

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

Just seven months into his pro career, former amateur standout Kyle Lacanlale will make his fourth ring appearance this coming Saturday as part of the “Thunder Showdown II” event at the Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. Lacanlale will take on tough Brandon Badillo in a four-round featherweight attraction as he continues his rise a short ride from home.

Lacanlale (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Ramon, California made his pro debut just last August 31st, as he steamrolled his opponent in one minute before a vocal gathering in nearby Oakland. After scoring a second career stoppage in October, Lacanlale was taken the four-round distance for the first time in his last outing, November 30th in Tijuana, Mexico. 

“That fight was fun,” says Lacanlale of his bout south of the border. “We went down there to get another fight in before the year ended. The fight went the four rounds and I got a unanimous decision. My opponent came in a little overweight and had eleven fights, so it was a good experience for me to go out there and go the four rounds. I was able to box him and get the win out there.”

Veteran Luis Antonio Macias had some extra poundage and a few veteran tactics that aided his ability to last the distance against Lacanlale. However, it is the type of fight that every young fighter needs to learn and grow before moving on to the next level. 

“Our opponent didn’t make weight,” recalls Kyle’s father-trainer Lyndon Lacanlale. “He was five pounds heavier than our contract was, but we took the fight. [Kyle] could have done a little better. He was accepting the holds a little more than he should have. The guy was a crafty and held a lot. He fought defensively, basically. He was also a grown man at 27-years-old and he had some experience. There were little tricks they were doing as well, like using some vaseline, which makes it hard to make solid contact with the punches, with everything sliding off. I wish it would have went a little better, but Kyle got the win on the cards of all three judges.”

Like most young fighters, Lacanlale would have preferred to continued his knockout streak, but he was able to show he could go the four full rounds and finish strong. The knowledge gained will definitely serve Lacanlale as the competition gets tougher.

“Obviously, I want to get the knockout when I fight, but if it comes, it comes,” explains Kyle. “But I was able to box and dominate all four rounds. I felt like I was in control the whole fight. There wasn’t much for me to worry about and I felt like I could execute what I wanted to do in the ring.”

Next up this coming Saturday, Lacanlale will take on a better-than-his-record Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) of Lancaster County, South Carolina at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in the Sacramento suburb of Lincoln, California. 

“I’ve seen a little film on him,” says Kyle. “He’s a southpaw and I know he’s tough. All his losses were to high-ranked amateurs or guys with good professional records so far, so I am looking to go out there and make a statement. I am going to execute the game plan and hopefully come out with the stoppage.”

Originally Lacanlale and his team had agreed to fight an unbeaten opponent, before that fighter fell out and was replaced by the ultra tough Badillo.

“We had a different opponent that was 3-0 that dropped out for whatever reason, and Badillo stepped-in and I actually think he is a better fighter than the 3-0,” says Lyndon. “Some people will just look at his record and say he is a bum, but he’s not. He’s lasted in every fight. I’m expecting good things out of Kyle. I’m happy with a win, but I’d be even happier with a stoppage, just because these national champions [that have fought Badillo] couldn’t do it.”

Three fights in, on the verge of walking out for bout number four, Kyle Lacanlale is pleased with the path he has traveled thus far, while getting ready for what it is to come. 

“I’m happy with what we have done since last year,” says Kyle, who hopes to stay active by fighting every couple months. “I had three fights in the last quarter of last year and I am getting ready for my fourth fight at the beginning of this year, so I am just going to continue to build and setting myself up for the future.”

Building a professional boxing career has similarities to building a home. Before anything else, you need a solid foundation. With a wealth of amateur experience and the beginnings of a well-planned pro career coming together, Lacanlale’s foundation looks strong. The young fighter continues to build this coming Saturday in Lincoln, before a supportive fanbase. 

“They can expect a dominant performance,” predicts Kyle, whose next bout is already pegged for May 24th near home at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. “I have been training hard. I am sharp. I am ready and I am motivated. I am just going to go out there and do my best to show everyone the skills that I have.”

Very few tickets remain for Saturday’s event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, and are available online at uppercutpro.com 

There is something that never gets old about the story of a fighter finding his way to America to pursue his dreams and doing what it takes to succeed and accomplish improbable goals. From the dry, mountainous terrain of  Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, middleweight Islam Abdusamadov made his way to the States and continues to achieve his objectives this coming Saturday night as he returns to the ring to meet Josias Gonzales as part of “Thunder Showdown II” at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. 

Currently residing in Santa Clara, California, middleweight upstart Abdusamadov (4-0, 2 KOs) first took to boxing in his native Dagestan following his cousin to the gym.  

“I started training with my cousin Sadula Magomedov in Dagestan, Russia and I liked it,” explains Abdusamadov. “I went to the store and bought a boxing bag and for two months I trained myself. I kept training and training for about two years before I started fighting amateurs in Russia.” 

Fighting and training out of the mountains of Dagestan, Abdusamadov approximates he fought to a record of about 20-5 before a family member living in the San Francisco Bay Area convinced him it would be a good idea for his budding boxing career to make the move to the United States and offered to take him into his home. 

“My uncle Ramazan Magomedov has helped me a lot and continues to support me,” explains Islam. “My uncle doesn’t know boxing, but he has helped me. He still helps me and cares for me a lot. My uncle was living here and told me I could be better here.” 

Abdusamadov did not speak much English at the time of the move and obviously had some adapting to do once he arrived in Santa Clara. After some adjusting, and picking up the language, Abdusamadov feels at home now as he pursues his dream of boxing stardom. 

“Maybe for about a year it was hard, but I had someone here, in my uncle, to help me,” explains Abdusamadov. “When I came here, I did not speak English. I learned from speaking with people myself, so for the first year it was hard, but now it is easy.” 

Soon after arriving, Abdusamadov’s uncle helped his nephew find his new home boxing gym after a quick Google search pulled up the nearby Relentless Boxing and Training Center, founded by accomplished former professional, and now a well-regarded trainer, Arturo Quintero. Abdusamadov eventually ended working with Quintero and Eriky Alvarez Cosio through a few more amateur fights before the time was right to turn professional. 

“Even though he didn’t have an extensive amateur career, he has developed really fast,” explains Quntero. “The power that he has is insane, insane power. He just needs to start relaxing a little bit more, work more on setting up his punches and everything else will fall into place.” 

Sometimes things just work out for a reason and by chance Abdusamadov had an uncle that lived near a quality boxing gym with a good team of coaches and everything has fit just right for the Dagestan native while he pursues his singular goal of boxing success. Abdusamadov has adapted to the American fighting style while still having some of the Russian amateur teachings in his arsenal. 

 “I came here for training,” explains Abdusamadov. “I did not come here for clubbing or girls, I came here just to train boxing. I don’t have a choice. Before I go back to Dagestan, this is my goal. Professional boxing. For Russia, everyone is not training to be professionals, they are only training for the amateurs. The coaches only know amateur boxing. They are born for amateur boxing and I believe they are better amateurs there. But here, in the United States, we train for professional boxing. We fight in the amateurs for the experience, but we train to be professionals. Over there, they train to be the best amateurs, but not professionals.” 

Abdusamadov, with his power-punching approach, crafted his style to the pro game and finally realized his dream of turning professional in November of 2023, stopping Miguel Soto-Garcia in the third round at Gold Country Casino Resort in Oroville, California. 

“It is different,” explains Abdusamadov. “Amateur and professionals are very different. Professional boxing is more calm. You punch for power. You want to knock down the guy. I like knockouts. I look for the knockout. In amateurs, you have headgear and big gloves. It is hard to get a knockout. But in the pros, I like to go for the knockout. It is fun.” 

Abdusamadov’s love affair with the knockout almost got him into some trouble in pro bout number two, which took place last January against eight-fight veteran Juan Meza Moreno in Sacramento, California. After dropping Meza Moreno late in the second round, Abdusamadov punched himself out late in the fight, trying to end matters inside the distance. In the end, the knockdown scored gave Abdusamadov the points win, as Meza Moreno was able to box over the last two rounds but ultimately lost 38-37 on all three cards. 

 “I knocked him down and tried for the knockout, but it was hard,” recalls Abdusamadov. “I tried, but I still won the decision. That is the important thing. Maybe he felt my power and decided he needed to be careful. I wanted to finish him in the fight, but still I won.”

For Abdusamadov, the experience gained in his second pro fight will serve him well for the rest of his career. 

“It was a great learning experience,” says Quintero. “He pushed through and showed a lot of heart. I have been in that situation, so I know what it feels like. To push through it and come out with the win still, it was good to see. It is only going to help him for his next fights and show him that he needs to stay relaxed. It is not just about that one shot. As he starts progressing to more rounds, the fighters he is going to be fighting are going to be more experienced fighters. These guys are going to be able to take his punches a lot better than the ones when he first started. It was a good experience for him to understand that he will not be able to take everyone out with one punch. He needs to be patient, set-up his punches and when he sees the opening when the fighter is hurt, then go for that finish. But he can’t just start looking for that knockout.”

In his second fight, Abdusamadov did not need to worry about conserving energy, as he halted normally tough Matthew Monroe inside the first round last August. The Dagestan native returned less than two months later and, similarly to the Meza Moreno bout, dropped his opponent Andrew Buchanan early, but this time he boxed smarter down the stretch. Buchanan, much like Meza Moreno, reverted to a boxer’s style to close out the fight after feeling Abdusamadov’s power, which helped get the fight to the scorecards. Abdusamadov prevailed 39-36 on all three official cards. 

Next up on March 8th at the Venue at Thunder Valley in Lincoln, California, Abdusamadov takes a step-up in seven-fight veteran Josias Gonzales, a tough southpaw fighter that has fought almost exclusively against unbeaten prospects in his early pro career. 

“His record might now show it, but the guy is a good fighter, a strong fighter and very durable,” says Quintero of Josias Gonzales. “Islam can win, he just has to stick to his game plan and stay focused and relaxed and do his work.”

Helping bring confidence to Team Abdusamadov heading into battle this Saturday is the quality work they have put in preparation, especially in sparring. 

“He’s ready,” says Quintero of Abdusamadov. “This has probably been his best camp since turning pro. We have got great work with Vladimir Hernandez and Cristian Baez. Even though we know Vladimir is a right hander, the work he gives us is beyond comparison. Mentally and physically, Vladimir pushes you. He just throws non-stop punches. It gives Islam that sense of pressure, how to set himself up, how to move around and get around him. How to fight a pressure fighter. With Cristian, many of the same tactics, but Cristian is more of a boxer and he is a southpaw, like Islam’s opponent will be on March 8th.”  

Gonzales is a tough guy to stop inside the distance and his last opponent, a 5-0 at the time Sincere Brooks, was lucky to escape with a split decision last November, but Abdusamadov still envisions ending things early this Saturday night. 

“I never know what will happen. Once the fight starts, I will see what he brings and see if I can knock him out,” says Abdusamadov. “I always think about the knockout. If in the first round I can, I will in the first round. But we will see. Maybe the third or fourth round, but I will try. In my head, I will try to knock him out. I know it is hard to do, because the opponent can fight, but I will try and we will see. I know he is a good fighter, but I am better and we will see.” 

Limited tickets remain for this Saturday’s event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, at uppercutpro.com 

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

BROOKLYN–Gervonta Davis is still undefeated, he is still champion, but that should be in question after he got a 12-round split draw with local rival Lamont Roach Jr. in front of a record crowd of 19,250 at Barclays Center.

Davis started off the first half of fight in decent fashion as he slowed the pace and was able to squeeze some early rounds under his belt by thin margins.

Roach, who is the WBA champion at Super Featherweight, looked and started to fight like the bigger man as he began to dictate the fight on his on terms by engaging Davis in a series of toe-to-toe exchanges for which he got the better of. In round nine, Roach seemed to land a punch that made Davis take a step back and take a knee. Referee Steve Willis started to and then stopped the count and ultimately ruled it a slip. Davis then leaned between the ropes and got toweled off by his corner with the consent in Willis. That action would seem to warrant a disqualification but Willis let the fight continue. The fight continued at a furious pace which favored the 16-1 underdog Roach, and many ringside observers and fans watching on television echoed their thoughts via social media that they thought that despite the antics in round nine, that Roach deserved to have his hands raised. That was not the case as one judge scored the fight for Davis 115-113, while two other judges scored it even at 114-114.

Davis landed 103 of 279 punches. Roach was 112 of 400.

GERVONTA DAVIS
“I think I pulled it out in the last three rounds for sure. I was catching him with some clean shots. I feel I was breaking him down as the rounds were going on, but he kept coming so I didn’t want to make mistakes and I kept it cautious. “I made it competitive to be honest. For sure, Lamont is a great fighter. He got the skills like I said before and the punching power. It was a lesson learned. Shout out to Lamont Roach and his whole team. Hopefully we can run it back in New York. Let’s do it again baby! “A little shit talking. That’s how it is when you are competitive. That’s how it is when you grew up in the sport together. Hopefully we can get a rematch. If not, all the beset to Lamont Roach and his whole team. “I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my shit. So, the grease was coming into my face. It’s all cool. They love you, then they hate you. Then they love you again. You know what I mean?

LAMONT ROACH
This is every day for me. I ain’t gonna lie. I’m cut like this. I’ve been one of the ones and I came out here and showed it. I’m a little disappointed in the decision. I thought I pulled it out. That’s what two skilled fighters do, go in there and show off their craft. I definitely thought I won but we can run it back . Gervonta is a great fighter. I thank him for the opportunity to show all the people that were doubting me, all the fake boxing media and fans talking shit. That shit got flipped upside down. Even though I didn’t win tonight, I thought I did, but it’s a win for me in my book, but we are not satisfied with that. We need a real W. I told y’all in every interview single interview since the fight got announced. I put belt to ass. And you can see that’s what I do. I’m him. I’m one of the best fighters in the world and it showed tonight. It should have been a knockdown. If that was knockdown, I win the fight. He’s saying grease got in his eye, but if he takes a knee and the ref starts counting, it should be a knockdown. It is what it is. I’m not banking on that knockdown to win. I just thought I pulled it out.  I want to run it back for sure. I hope you all enjoyed yourself. Thanks for loving me and thanks for hating me. I’ll be back on the grand stage again, where I belong.

Gary Antuanne Russell Decisions Valenzuela to Win Super Lightweight Title

Gary Antuanne Russell won the WBA Super Lightweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Valenzuela.

Russell was dominant, especially with his straight left. In round eight, he had Valenzuela thinking as he landed a few straight lefts. In round nine, with Valenzuela bleeding from the nose, Russell landed a series of hard straight left hands that caromed off the face of Valenzuela. One buckled the champion. Round 11 saw Russell continue to batter Valenzuela with left hands. He hurt Valenzuela with a left to the body. Both southpaws landed bombs with the left hand in round 12 that culminated the entertaining fight.

Russell landed 252 of 957 punches. Valenzuela was 127 of 443.

Russell, 138.2 lbs of Capitol Heights, MD won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice and is now 18-1. Valenzuela, 138.8 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 14-3.

GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL“I want to thank God. This is a small steppingstone for me. I’m going for the rest of the belts. I love y’all for supporting us. Thank you for making this arena a grand arena. I did it for DC and my family. We are onto the next! “A rule of thumb in my profession is you have to follow instructions. My brother always told me, the difference between great and good is inches or centimeters and the ability to produce because that what it takes. “Valenzuela motivated me a hell of a lot. In this sport, you have to be dominant. You have to have a rough mentality, and he brought it out of me. I had the right dance partner in front of me and I’m glad he gave me the opportunity. I told him to keep that same energy because I’m bringing it in the ring. “My father would be proud of me. This is a steppingstone. This is a marathon. In a marathon, you come across the table with some water, but that’s just a pitstop so you can keep going to the next. I’m coming!”

JOSÉ VALENZUELA

“It just wasn’t my night tonight. His speed got to me a little bit, and I was slow on my feet. No excuses, I have to make adjustments”

“I have to go back to the drawing board now, come out stronger from this and bounce back like I know I can” 

Puello Edges Martin; Retains Super Lightweight Title

Alberto Puello retained the WBC Super Lightweight world title with a 12-round split decision over Sandor Martin.

It was a close fight with neither fighter taking any sustained advantage. Puello landed a few more of the harder shots, and that is what may have propelled him to the victory that saw cards read 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 for Martin.

Puello landed 150 of 526 punches. Martin was 162 of 441.

Puello, 139.2 lbs of San Juan de la Maguana, DR is now 24-0. Martin, 139.2 lbs of Barcelona, SPA is 42-4.

ALBERTO PUELLO

“I thought that the judges made the right call. I didn´t fight like I wanted to, but I fought like the champion I am.  

“I had some issues coming out at the beginning of some rounds, but I adapted and ended up resolving each challenge that came my way.

“It’s time for me to go after unifying titles. I will take on any champion, anytime.”  

SANDOR MARTÍN

“I felt like I won this fight, but I’m not the judges and they clearly saw it a different way. I don’t know what I’m lacking, but I’m not about to give up.

“I’ll talk to my team to figure out what’s next. I leave New Yirk with my head held high.”

Tellez Decisions Former Champion Williams; Wins Interim Super Welterweight Title

Yoenis Tellez won a 12-round unanimous decision over former unified world champion Julian Williams to win the WBA Interim Super Welterweight title.

In round three, Williams was cut under his right eye. In round five, the blood started coming from around his right eye.

Tellez was crisp with his right hand and Williams was unable to sustain consistent offense.

Tellez landed 180 of 502 punches. Williams was 108 of 399.

Tellez, 153.4 lbs od Santiago de Cuba, CUB won by scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111 and is now 10-0. Williams, 152.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 29-5-1.

YOENIS TÉLLEZ
“This was a complete effort, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. I want to dedicate this to my team and all my loved ones, as well as the fans who came out here to support me”.

“J-Rock (Williams) is a great champion, and I gave it my all through 12 rounds against a quality opponent”
“What’s next? I don’t know yet. The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m ready to face any champion out there, and that the 154-pound division has a hungry Cuban fighter coming for more  
JULIAN WILLIAMS

“I don’t know what was missing. I’ll have to look at the tape. In the end, I hope that the fans got to enjoy a great fight”

Johan Gonzalez took a 10-round split decision over former unified world champion Jarrett Hurd in a middleweight bout.

Gonzalez landed 228 of 674 punches. Hurd was 141 of 478.

Gonzalez, 158.8 lbs of Valencia, VEN won by scores of 98-92, 96-94 and 96-94 for Hurd. Gonzalez is now 36-4. Hurd, 159 1/2 lbs of Accokeek, MD is now 28-4-1;

David Whitmire remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Angel Munoz in a welterweight bout.

Whitmire, 146.4 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 60-54 on all cards is now 9-0. Munoz,

Deric Davis blew out Jamal Johnson inside of a round of their four-round lightweight bout.

Davis scored two knockdowns. The first coming on a left hook in the corner. The second coming from a combination. Johnson got to his feet but wobbled and the fight was stopped at 1:56.

Davis, 138.2 lbs of Fort Washington, MD is 6-0 with six knockouts. Johnson, 140.8 lbs of Baltimore is 2-1.

Dwyke Flemmings Jr. remained undefeated with an six-round unanimous decision over Florent Dervis in a super welterweight bout.

In round one Flemmings was all over Derbis and dropped him with a hard left in the corner.

Flemmings, 155 lbs of Paterson, NJ won on all cards and goes the distance for the first time and is now 10-0. Dervis, 155.2 lbs of Boston is 10-3.

In the opening contest, Cristian Cangelosi pitched a shut in winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Jerrod Tennant in a super welterweight bout

Cangelosi, 155 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 10-0. Tennant, 155.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 9-4.

NOTES…Saturday night’s Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Premier Boxing Champions event at Barclays Center has not only set the all-time attendance record in the arena’s history but has also become the second-highest grossing event of all time for the Brooklyn arena. Davis also broke his attendance record for a boxing event at Barclays Center, with a sold-out crowd of 19,250, eclipsing his previous record set in May 2022 when he scored a high-light reel KO of Rolando Romero.

“Brooklyn has become Gervonta Davis’ home away from home, and the energy he brings to Barclays Center is unmatched,” said Laurie Jacoby, Executive Vice President and Chief Entertainment Officer at BSE Global, parent company of Barclays Center. “Each time he steps into the ring, the atmosphere electrifies, creating unforgettable moments for boxing fans. We are thrilled to continue hosting Gervonta’s fights, as he has become one of the sport’s biggest attractions, drawing crowds from across the world. Boxing is an integral part of our diverse programming slate at Barclays Center, and we’re proud to be a venue that champions the legacy of this great sport. As Gervonta’s momentum grows, so does the excitement surrounding every fight — it’s an honor to be part of his journey.”

By Norm Frauenheim

A tank is easy to understand. Gervonta Davis isn’t. He’s more mercurial than his bulldozing, armor-plated nickname ever could be. In the ring and out of it, he’s a dynamic force, often a volatile mix of powerful athletic skill and emotions. Unpredictable and unbeaten.

He’s both, and both are very much in play this week as he resumes his career Saturday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in a lightweight title defense against Lamont Roach. Only the fight itself (Amazon Prime, Pay-Per-View) itself is predictable. Expect a blowout of the likable, yet smaller Roach, who enters the ring in possession of a junior-lightweight belt.

“You know who I am,’’ Davis said at a news conference this week when asked for a prediction. “You know what I do.’’

What he’s done is undisputed. It’s hard to argue with 28 knockouts in 30 victories. Knowing who he is, however, isn’t quite as clear as his record, a powerful statement of his pound-for-pound credentials. This week, there were more surprises from Davis. Let’s just start with arrivals. Davis has a habit of keeping promoters and reporters waiting. He’s been late to news conferences about as often as he’s left the ring with another stoppage. 

But Thursday he was on time and respectful. In part, perhaps, that’s because he knows and seems to like Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs), who grew up in Washington DC. Davis is from nearby Baltimore. They’ve known each other since they were kids in the amateur ranks. In part, also perhaps, Davis knows he can dominate Roach.

On paper, the fight looks to be bridge to bigger dates, the biggest of which would be Shakur Stevenson. If not Stevenson, then maybe emerging Keyshawn Davis, the World Boxing Organization’s new lightweight champion. The opportunities are all there for Tank in a year when he could put himself in contention for the top spot in the pound-for-pound argument currently still led by Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk, all-time  welterweight great and current junior-middleweight champion Terence Crawford and junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue.

From rating to rating, Davis is among the second five. For now. There’s a sense that Davis is better than anyone included among the top 10. Nobody has his finishing power, consistently delivered with predatory instinct and precision. Still, there’s a guessing game about his plans, brought on by his own uncertainty, evident this week on successive days. 

At a live-streamed media workout Wednesday, Davis talked about hopes for a busy year. 

 “I want to say hopefully I got three fights this year,’’ Davis told the moderator about a path that could lead to the top of the pound-of-the-pound debate

The next day, however, Davis wasn’t so sure.

“Yes, it’s good to be in the sport, but sometimes we’ve got to learn ourselves,’’ Davis, now 30 and a father of three,  told Boxing Scene and other reporters Thursday after the formal part of the final news conference.  “I’ve been giving so much to the sport, I don’t take the time to study and learn [myself]. Even if it’s not the sport, I’ve been dishing myself out to other people. I just need time for myself – to grow. And then, hopefully, six months or one year from now, I can come back to the sport and fight these guys.”

Davis has often been compared to Mike Tyson, who on one day would wonder why he’s in the ring and on the next day would talk about how much he loved to fight.  Davis been been called the mini-Tyson for lots of reasons, all also on display this week in the build-up to Saturday’s opening bell. 

Davis was asked about his precise power. He had a Tyson-like answer:

When the big punch lands, Davis said, “It actually feels like a home run, when somebody hit the bat and it’s just right on the target and it goes far. It’s like that. That’s how it feel when you actually hit somebody on the button, you know that you catch ‘em real good.”

Tyson’s description: “I try to catch them right on the tip of his nose, because I try to punch the bone into the brain.’’

From this corner, the guess is that Davis will finish Roach in a way that will include both descriptions — a lot of his own and some of Tyson’s.

But then what? That’s the bigger guess, one for Tank as surely as it was for Tyson.

Top Rank sued

A chill went through the boxing business Thursday at news of a lawsuit filed in California against Top Rank. 

Manager/consultant William Keane is suing Top Rank for more than $25 million in unpaid fees, according to the complaint.

Keane alleges Top Rank President Todd duBoef asked him to secure a deal with alleged Irish gangster Daniel Kinahan for American promotional rights to Tyson Fury, a former heavyweight champion who said he retired in the wake of a rematch loss to Usyk. Fury has acknowledged he has been friendly with Kinahan.

Kinahan, wanted in Ireland for reported money-laundering charges, is reportedly in Dubai.

Top Rank did not comment.

Dmitry Bivol got his revenge as he was able to turn the tide and win a 12-round majority decision over Artur Beterbiev in a rematch at the A & B Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The fight was almost a mirror image of the first fight that took place in October, but this time it was Bivol who won the majority of rounds over the second half of the contest. Beterbiev was good early as he landed the harder shots and took an early lead on the cards. Bivol was able to change thigs up as he boxed and countered and was able to get off his shots. Beterbiev was never out of the fight, but he simply was not able to keep the same rhythm that of the first six rounds.

Bivol landed 170 of 547 punches. Beterbiev was 121 of 688.

Bivol, 174.1 lbs of Tokmak, Kyrgystan won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114 and is now 24-1. Beterbiev, 175 lbs of Khasavyurt, RUS is 21-1.

Speaking to DAZN analyst Chris Mannix immediately following the bout, an overjoyed Bivol exclaimed, “I’m just so happy. I went through a lot in the last year. Thank you so much everybody. I appreciate everybody from my team, my coaches, everyone.” Answering what was different in his performance on this occasion, he responded, “Just me. I was better. I was pushing myself more. I was more confident, I was lighter, and I just wanted to win so much today.”

Artur Beterbiev did not wish to discuss the judges decision in the aftermath of the contest, but he did note that he and Bivol had put on another instant classic while setting the table for his chance to enter the deciding bout as the challenger. “I think this fight was better than the first fight. Now it’s my time to come back.

Parker Stops Bakole in 2 to win WBO Interim Title

Joseph Parker stopped very late replacement Martin Bakole in round 2 to win the WBO Interim Heavyweight title.

In round two, Parker landed a big overhand right to temple that slumped Bakole to the canvas. The fight was stopped with Bakole down and corner stopped the bout at 2:17

Parker, 267 lbs of Auckland, NZ is 36-3 with 24 knockouts. Bakole of the Congo, took the fight on two days notice after IBF champion Daniel DuBois fell ill, is now 21-2.

Following the victory, Parker exclaimed, “Martin Bakole, thank you very much for accepting the challenge and flying over here on short notice to give me a good fight.”

When asked about his preparation going into a fight with a late opponent change, Parker shared, “I’m fit, I’m strong, I’m healthy. I’m sharp thanks to these two men and my hard work as well. Andy was breaking it down for me, and I came in and I had to be patient. I just went out there and listened, stayed calm, composed, and got the victory. Andy gave me instructions to be patient. When he walks in and attacks, that’s when you have to take your shot.”

Despite the successful outcome, Parker remains unsatisfied and noted, “I want to say, who’s next? How can I fight for the world title? I want to fight for a world title, and I’d like to be champion of the world again, too. I will fight anyone and everyone. Saudi Arabia has been amazing. Four fights. Four wins. Thanks to everyone who has been involved.”

Stevenson Stops Late Replacement Padley in 9; Retains Lightweight Title

Shakur Stevenson stopped late-replacement Josh Padley in round nine to defend the WBC Lightweight title.

It was a typical Stevenson fight as he dominated the fight was his boxing against the overmatched Padley. In round seven, Stevenson turned up the gas and started to really break Padley down. Finally in round nine, Stevenson scored three knockdowns, all on body shots and the corner of Padley rescued their man and threw in the towel.

Stevenson, 134.1 lbs of Newark, NJ is 23-0 with 11 knockouts. Padley, 134 lbs of Yorkshire, ENG is 15-1.

Following the victory, Stevenson admitted, “I just did what I was supposed to do with the person that was in front of me. Honestly, you up the level and get the top guys to get in the ring with me, I’ll make them look like that too.”

After being asked who he wants to face next, Stevenson quickly replied “Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. I think that’s the biggest fight in boxing. Me and him can make the most money if we make this fight happen, so let’s do it.”

Adames and Sheeraz Battle to Draw in Middleweight Title bout

Carlos Adames retained the WBC Middleweight title with a split draw with Hamzah Sheeraz.

In round eight, Sheeraz started to swell under his right eye. the bout did noy feature much sustained action as Adames was trying to come forward and the longer Sheeraz fought off the back foot, Each landed some good shots, but neither followed up.

Scores were 118-110 for Adames, 115-114 for Sheeraz and 114-114.

Adames landed 143 of 509 punches. Sheeraz was 135 of 490.

Adames, 158.1 lbs of Elias Pina, DR is now 24-1-1. Sheeraz, 158 lbs of Essex, ENG is 21-0-1.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. Decisions Madrimov to Retain WBC Interim Title

Vergil Ortiz Jr. retained the WBC Interim Super Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov.

In round two, Ortiz began to swell under both eyes. It was a fight where Ortiz was able to find Madrimov enough as Madrimov tried to move around the ring for the better part of the first nine rounds.

Ortiz landed 166 of 561 punches. Madrimov was 127 of 466.

Ortiz, 153.1 lbs of Grand Praire, TX won by scores of 117-111 and 115-113 twice and is now 23-0. Madrimov, 152.1 lbs of Khiva, UZB is 10-2-1.

Reflecting on the biggest win of his career, Ortiz noted, “This was expected. I knew I was the better fighter, all respect to Madrimov. We knew what kind of fight this was going to be, he’s a tough opponent and was there to prove himself after a loss against one of the best in the world. We just wanted to show that we’re the best at 154 pounds, and we say yes to everybody.”

When asked who may be next for the champion at the top of the 154-pound division, Ortiz welcomed all challengers. “I just want to fight the best. I’ve never ducked anybody, no matter what anybody says.”

Kabayel Stops Zhang in 6 to Win WBC Interim Heavyweight Title

Agit Kabayel scored a sixth round stoppage over Zhilei Zhang to win the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title

Kabayel took it Zhang for the better part of the first four rounds. Kabayel was touching Zhang to the body and coming upstairs to the head. It seemed like Zang was starting to wilt, until he landed big left counter in round five that put Kabayel on the canvas. In round six, Kabayel landed a right to the body that doubled over Zhang and the ref separated the fighters for what looked to be a knockdown. Somehow it wasn’t called that. But a moment later, it was another right that put Zhang on the canvas. Zhang tried to beat the count but was not able to at 2:29.

Kabayel, 241 lbs of Nortdrhein, GER is 26-0 with 18 knockouts. Zhang, 287.5 lbs of Zhoukou, CHI 27-3-1.

“We trained hard for this,” said Kabayel immediately after the fight. “This fight was hard. The training camp was hard. I’m so happy.”

Callum Smith Decisions Buatsi in Slugfest to Capture interim Light Heavyweight Title

In a terrific action fight to start the main card, Callum Smith won a 12-round unanimous decision over Joshua Buatsi to win the WBO Interim Light Heavyweight title.

In round four, Smith was cut over his right eye. That seemed to fuel Smith as in round’s five and six, Smith hurt Buatsi with hard body shots. When it seemed that Smith was on his way to a stoppage, Buatsi hurt Smith with a big left hook in the final seconds of the frame.

It was a battle of body shots with both guys being hurt to the flank area,. The two battled down the strecth, but it was Smith who had the more telling blows.

Smith landed 272 of 716 punches. Buatsi was 247 of 606.

Smith, 174.1 lbs of Liverpool. ENG won by scores of 119-110, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 31-2. Buatsi, 175 lbs of London is 19-1.

Reflecting on his new title, Smith admitted, “I feel good. Obviously it wasn’t perfect. I know I still have plenty left and feel I’m good enough to be a two-division world champion. I felt I had to prove a lot of people wrong tonight. It wasn’t the perfect performance. I took off a few rounds towards the end. I lost my rhythm a little bit, and my vision was a little impaired, but that’s boxing, and you have to get on with it. It took a performance—Josh Buatsi is a very good fighter, and I knew I needed to be on my best tonight, and I believe I was.”

Mohammed Alakel remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Engel Gomez in a super featherweight fight.

Alakel, 134.1 ls of Riyadh, SA won by a 60-54 score and is now 3-0. Gomez, 132.1 lbs of Chinandega, SA is 8-43-3.

 “It wasn’t the performance I was hoping for.” I just wasn’t listening to my corner, and it just didn’t go my way,” 

Ziyad Almaayouf remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Jonatas de Oliveira in a welterweight fight.

Almaayouf, 143.2 lbs of Riyadh, SA won by a 60-54 score and is now 7-0-1. Oliveira, 141.6 lbs of Para, BRA is 6-21.

 “I feel so great. It’s so good to get back to winning ways,” said Almaayouf after the contest. “I had the best sparring, the best fight camp I ever had. But I had to do that coming from what I did last time out.”

Follow all the action from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as Artur Beterbiev rematches Dmitry Bivol for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title. The action begins at 10:30 AM ET / 7:30 AM PT/ 6:30 PM in Riyadh with 6 incredible world title fights.

THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY…NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

ROUND 1: Good right from Bivol…Left hook…

ROUND 2 Good right from Beterbiev…Good right from Bivol..Body shot..Good left..

ROUND 3 Combination from Bicol off the ropes..Counter..Good right from Beterbiev…Body shot

ROUND 4Combination from Beterbiev..Body shot..Bivol lands a right to the body..Good right from Beterbiev..Good jab from Bivol

ROUND 5 Big right from Beterbiev..2 body shots..Right from Bivol…Hard right from Beterbiev

ROUND 6 Right from Bivol..2 rights from Beterbiev..Right from Bivol…another..right to body..Hard right from Beterviev

ROUND 7 Good combination from Beterbiev..

ROUND 8 Good right from Bivol..3 punch combination..Good right…Combination,,,

ROUND 9 Slip and combination from Bivol…

ROUND 10 Good right from Bivol…Good body shot from Beterbiev…Body and left hook to head from Bivol..Body shot from Beterbiev..Counter from Bivol..

ROUND 11 Good Right from Bivol..

ROUND 12 Right from Beterbiev..Bivol is cut around the left eye…Good right from Bivol

114-114; 116-112; 115-113 FOR DMITRY BIVOL

ROUND 1 Good jab from Parker..Right from Bakole

ROUND 2 Right from Parker..Left uppercut and body shot from Bakole..Right from Parker…BIG OVERHAND RIGHT TO THE TEMPLE AND DOWN GOES BAKOLE…FIGHT IS STOPPED

ROUND 1 Good right from Padley

ROUND 2 Straight left from Stevenson. 2 lefts..

ROUND 3 Body shot from Stevenson..Jab..Left on the inside..

ROUND 4 Left from Stevenson

ROUND 5 Left from Stevenson..Right to body…Flurry to the head

ROUND 6 Combination from Stevenson…Body shot…Stevenson starting to beat up Padley..Padley trying to answer..

ROUND 7 Stevenson boxing 

ROUND 8 

ROUND 9 STEVENSON DROPS PADLEY 3 TIMES WITH BODY SHOTS…CORNER THROWS IN THE TOWEL

ROUND 1 Good jab from Sheeraz…

ROUND 2 Right to body from Adames..Jab from Sheeraz..another…1-2 from Adames..

ROUND 3 Combination from Adames..Good jab from Sheeraz

ROUND 4 Body shot from Sheeraz..Right..Body shot

ROUND 5 Body shot from Adames..Body..Nice right from Sheeraz..

ROUND 6 Sheeraz lands a right…Good body shot from Adames..another..

ROUND 7

ROUND 8 Hard right from Adames drives Sheeraz to the ropes..Big right from Sheeraz…Swelling under the right eye of Sheeraz..Jab from Sheeraz

ROUND 9 Jab from Sheeraz..Right to body from Adames..Adames warned for low blow..

ROUND 10 Right uppercut from Sheeraz…

ROUND 11 Good right from Adames..Good body shots from Sheeraz…Right uppercut…Counter..Good right

ROUND 12 Good right from Adames..Counter left from Sheraz..

115-114 Sheeraz; 118-110 Adames, 114-114 EVEN

ROUND 1 

ROUND 2 Right from Madrimov…Ortiz swelling under both eyes…Good counter right from Madrimov

ROUND 7 Right to body from Madrimov..Right..Right from Ortiz…Ortiz out landing Madrimov 81-72

ROUND 8 Right from Ortiz…Good right..Nice body shot..Hard body shot

ROUND 10 Overhand right from Madrimov..Left hook..overhand right…Right from Ortiz..

ROUND 11 Left hook from Madrimov…Body shot..Good left…Counter right from Ortiz…Body shot…Left hook from Madrimov..

ROUND 12 Body shot from Ortiz..big right…Right from Madrimov…Left 

117-111, 115-113 TWICE FOR VERGIL ORTIZ

ROUND 1 Right hook from Zhang..Good right from Kabayel..Body shots from Zhang…

ROUND 2 Combination from Kabayel..Right..Uppercut from Zhang…

ROUND 3 Kabayel working on the inside..Body shots..

ROUND 4 2 good uppercuts from Kabayel..3 good rights…

ROUND 5 COUNTER LEFT AND DOWN GOES KABAYEL…Kabayel lands a body shot

ROUND 6 LEFT TO THE BODY DOUBLES OVER ZHANG, BUT NOT RULED A KNOCKDOWN?  Right from Kabayel..Big right..Short right to the body..RIGHT HAND AND DOWN GOES ZHANG…HES NOT GETTING UP…FIGHT OVER

ROUND 1: Smith lands a left hook to the body…Body shot from Buatsi..

ROUND 2: Good left hook from Buatsi..2 body shots from Smith..Body shots from Buatsi…Good left hook from Smith…Nice jab from Buatsi…

ROUND 3: Left and right from Buatsi…Good left hook and uppercut from Smith..Left and uppercut..Hard body shot hurts Smith..Right from Smith

ROUND 4 Smith starting swell over right eye..Right from Buatsi..Straight right

ROUND 5: Straight from Smith..Good uppercut by Buatsi…Body shot hurts Buatsi..Double left hook to the head..Left hook knockous out Buatsi;s mouthpiece..Body shot from Smith

ROUND 6 Body shot from Smith..Good left…Body shots..Big right wobbles Buatsi..Big right..Big left hok from Buatsi

ROUND 7 Good right from Smith…2 good rights from Buatsi

ROUND 8 Double hook from Smith..Nice uppercut from Buatsi..3 punch combination..

ROUND 9 Combination from Smith..Nice counter right..Right hand..

ROUND 10 Body shot from Smith..2 good body shots from Buatsi…Straight right to the head..Big right from Smith to the jaw…Good body shot from Buatsi,,,Bog right from Smith

ROUND 11 Left to body from Smith..Sweeping right from Buatsi..

ROUND 12 Good left hook from Smith.  And another..Big left hook..2 rights from Buatsi..double left hook from Smith..

119-110, 115-113, 116-112 CALLUM SMITH

By Norm Frauenheim

Rematches, like sequels, often disappoint just about everybody other than the opposite corners that get a second trip to the pay window. From Sugar Ray Leonard-versus-Thomas Hearns to Bernard Hopkins-versus-Roy Jones Jr., they just happen too late. They reach their past-due date. We waited — and waited — for a second Canelo-Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin rematch and then wondered why. It was a dud, altogether forgettable.

But then, there’s the exception, which in the here-and-now means Artur Beterbiev-Dmitrii Bivol 2 Saturday. Let’s just start with the timing. It’s serves as a lesson. To wit: Immediate and rematch should be inseparable. Remove the immediacy and the sequel goes stale.

Beterbiev and Bivol last fought in October, a light-heavyweight bout won by the narrowest of margins by Beterbiev on scorecards that sparked a debate that over the last four months has sustained interest in Saturday’s sequel (DAZN, pay-per-view) in Saudi Arabia like no advertising campaign ever could. 

The absence of a definitive conclusion on Oct. 12 screamed out for a second opening bell as soon as possible. Beterbiev’s birth certificate suggests that even he isn’t immune from time’s inevitable toll. He’s 40. On any clock, there aren’t many rematches — if any — left in his 21-fight career.

In the sequel, maybe Bivol can rewrite the script, reversing inconclusive cards that had him trailing on two — 115-113 and 116-112 — and in a draw on the third, 115-115. After all, he’s the younger man, six years younger, in fact. But narrow odds late this week suggest the sequel will be as close as the original. Beterbiev is a narrow favorite. It’s somewhat intriguing that Bivol was a narrow favorite in October. Best bet, perhaps, is the 34-year Bivol, who might force a trilogy — a third fight — if he wins and if the middle-aged Beterbiev decides to fight on, or at least fight once more.

Saudi promoter, Prince Turki Alalshikh, has said he’ll try to put together a third fight if there’s a Bivol victory, forcing David Benavidez to wait on his bid for the 175-pound title. After his solid decision over David Morrell three weeks ago, Benavidez is the so-called mandatory challenger, which in acronym speak could mean just about anything. In a promising sign, Benavidez and father/trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr, will be there, at ringside in Riyadh. The Phoenix-born Benavidez and his dad boarded a flight to Saudi Thursday. Saudi money is the only factor that could turn mandatory into reality.

Beterbiev was quoted this week as saying he’d be interested in fighting Benavidez instead of Canelo, the super-middleweight champ is pointing toward a September date against former welterweight great Terence Crawford after a perceived tune up against William Scull during the first weekend in May in Riyadh in May. But whatever Beterbiev said about plans beyond Saturday is irrelevant. Neither Beterbiev nor Bivol is thinking about anything beyond Saturday, the biggest date for both.

“I was happy with the first fight because I won,’’ Beterbiev, a taciturn Russian living in Canada, said Thursday at the final news conference in Saudi Arabia  “There are many things {I learned}. It’s too long to tell you. Let’s talk after the fight.”

Beterbiev’s feared skillset includes everything but a few good quotes, of course. Then again, Bivol, also Russian, won’t ever have his own talk show, either.

“I didn’t win last time,’’ Bivol said Thursday.  “And I really want to win. It’s burning inside of me. I want to change something because I can see where I was wrong at some points. And I want to change it.’’

What Bivol wants, presumably, is more energy over the final three rounds. He was leading on the cards through the first nine. Seemingly, suddenly, his punching power lost some of the edge that kept Beterbiev off him until the tenth. That’s when Beterbiev, the older man, found enough energy to apply just enough pressure to win a majority decision. Still, Bivol goes into the rematch with some momentum. Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) went into the first fight with a perfect record — 20 victories all by stoppage. Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) is the first opponent he’s not stopped. 

Safe to say, Beterbiev will want to prove Bivol is somebody he can stop. The rematch offers him that opportunity.

“For me, for nine rounds, Dmitrii Bivol completely dominated,’’ Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn said Thursday of the first fight. “And yes, Beterbiev did come on strong and win rounds 10, 11, 12. I stand by that Dmitrii Bivol won the fight, but it was a fantastic fight between two great fighters. But it’s done now, it’s over. 

“The great thing for fans and the fighters is we get to run it back. I want to echo what (Bivol manager) Vadim Kornilov said and thank Artur Beterbiev because he is now the champion, he is the hunted and he’s been the hunter for a long time. I just see the look in this man’s (Bivol) eye this week, I see something different. I couldn’t believe how well Bivol took the defeat. No sulking, no moaning, unbelievable mindset from this man. 

“I just truly believe you’re going to see one of the great performances from this man, Dmitrii Bivoll this weekend. I’m very confident that he becomes the undisputed champion. I believe he should have been last time, but now that’s done, that’s over. I expect another fight for the ages between two great champions but for me, I truly believe Dmitrii Bivol will be the undisputed champion this weekend.’’

Which could mean an immediate trilogy.

JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA – Lightweight contender Gabriel Flores Jr. scored two knockdowns, but was taken to the limit by hard-charging Jose Arellano, despite wide official scores, en route to a ten-round unanimous decision in the ProBox TV main event from the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort. 

Flores (26-2, 8 KOs) of Stockton, California was the first to strike, scoring the first official knockdown of the bout in the early moments when a left counter forced Arellano (11-3, 6 KOs) Aurora, Colorado by way of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico into the ropes. With Arellano gripping a stand to stay vertical, referee Michael Margado correctly ruled the knockdown. 

Arellano, 133.4, was more caught off balance and quickly made his presence known in the fight. Flores, 134.8, always the classy boxer, attempted to use his superior jab to keep the Colorado native at range, but Arellano was undeterred and found his way inside for much of the middle round action. 

With the fight that had the feel of one slipping away from the Stockton native, Flores, the WBO #10/WBA #12 ranked lightweight, found his distance in round six and was able to use his jab to better effect. Arellano still landed some clean power shots as the fight progressed into the later rounds as he continually pressed the action. 

Flores found a rhythm again early in round nine and would score a second knockdown to start round ten. Flores’ counter downed the forward-moving Arellano in a moment that felt more significant before the final cards would be read. Flores closed the fight strong, but ultimately did not require either knockdown to win over the judges. 

Judge Michael Rinaldi scored the bout 99-89, judge Dan Stell scored it 98-90 and judge Brian Tsukamoto had it the closest, 95-93. With the victory, Flores retained his WBA Continental USA lightweight title and remains viable in the 135-pound division. 

In the co-main event, Emiliano Moreno (12-0, 7 KOs) of Long Beach, California overcame a slow start to score a seventh-round stoppage of Cesar Francis (13-3, 8 KOs) of West New York, New Jersey. 

Moreno, 149.6, started methodically, but picked up the pace as the fight went along. Francis, 146.6, boxed well in the early rounds, pressing the action and setting the pace. 

Moreno was careful in his punch selection early, but landed the cleaner, harder shots when he found the opening. 

Francis began to show signs of wilting in the sixth as his output dipped considerably. Moreno broke through in the seventh, landing combinations upstairs. Francis buckled as a result, but regained his footing enough to find the corner. Before Moreno moved in to follow-up, referee Dan Stell moved in to stop the fight, receiving a mild protest from Francis, who was ahead on the cards at the time of the stoppage. Official time came at 2:44 of the seventh round. 

Anthony Cuba (9-1-2, 4 KOs) of Fontana, California overcame a knockdown to score an eight-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten DeMichael Harris (12-1-1, 11 KOs) of Smyrna, Georgia. 

Cuba, 137, was the aggressor throughout as Harris, 134.2, spent too much time on the ropes. By the sixth, Cuba was distancing himself on the cards with solid power shots. 

Harris had a moment early in the eighth, landing a tomahawk right that dropped Cuba in an exchange. The knockdown came too late, as Cuba regained his footing and claimed the wide unanimous verdict. 

Judge Michael Margado scored it 78-73, while judges Michael Rinaldi and Brian Tsukamoto had it a round closer, 77-74, all for Cuba. 

Kevin Soltero (4-0, 2 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri sprung an upset over previously unbeaten Andrew Rodriguez (5-1, 1 KO) of Salinas, California via six-round majority decision. 

Rodriguez, 116.4, had to battle with a cut suffered from a headbutt in the second round, but closed that same act with some solid body work. Soltero, 116.6, applied relentless pressure in the third round, as Rodriguez looked to circle and box. 

The Kansas City native was finding a home for his right in the middle rounds and had a strong fourth as the blood seemed to bother Rodriguez. The final two rounds featured excellent two-way action, but it was ultimately Soltero that won over the judges. Judge Dan Stell scored the bout even, 57-57, but was overruled by judge Brian Tsukamoto, 58-56, and judge Mike Rinaldi, 60-54. 

Jennah Creason (2-0-1) of Visalia, California and Samantha Ginithan (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Las Cruces, New Mexico battled it out to a four-round majority draw. 

Ginithan, 140.2, and Creason, 139, both had their moments in a fight fought at close quarters for the eight scheduled minutes. With neither making a clear case, judges Michael Rinaldi and David Hartman both scored the bout even, 38-38. Judge Brian Tsukamoto turned in a dissenting card for Ginithan, 39-37. 

In the walk-out bout, Antonio Mireles (9-0-1, 7 KOs) of Des Moines, Iowa took an eight-round shutout decision over much shorter Josue Vargas (5-10-2, 2 KOs) of Panorama City, California. 

Vargas, 244, was able to make it a mauling, inside fight from the early going. When Mireles, 274, had daylight to punch, he was successful landing in combination. Mireles did not follow his corner’s repeated instructions to turn Vargas and get his back away from the ropes or create distance, but ultimately did enough to win every round, claiming all three cards, 80-72. 

Photos by Julio C. Sanchez/G-Squad Entertainment

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

JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA – In the ten-round main event of tonight’s ProBox TV broadcast emanating from the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, world ranked lightweight contender Gabriel Flores Jr. will take on TV-friendly action fighter Jose Arellano in what could be an intriguing clash of styles. With the preparation complete, both fighters expressed their feelings about the bout on Tuesday. 

“I feel great,” proclaimed Flores (25-2, 8 KOs) of nearby Stockton, California, just before getting on the scale on Tuesday. “I feel ready. All my confidence comes from the preparation and training. I don’t cut no corners. I work as hard as I can and I get great sparring in the city of Las Vegas.” 

With tonight’s fight being broadcasted by a readily-available outlet, there is extra onus on Flores to perform the way that he knows he is capable of, as the eyes of the boxing industry will likely be tuned into the contest. 

“It just makes me excited for everyone to get to see how I am progressing as more of a pro,” says Flores, the WBO #10/WBA #12 ranked 135-pounder. “I started at 17-years-old. Now I am here to show my man strength, my man mentality and all that follows.” 

Flores took exception to the claim that Arellano presents more of a pressure style than recent previous opponents. 

“He’s aggressive, but I don’t know if he is more aggressive than my last three opponents,” says Flores. “He’s probably just as aggressive. I don’t see him being anymore aggressive. Julian Rodarte was pretty aggressive. Ronal Ron, he was coming forward, he was on me. And in my last fight, I was throwing shots and [Dennis Contreras] kept on coming and kept on coming. So I can’t imagine him bringing any more pressure, but if he does, good for him, but I don’t think it is going to make much of a difference. I am ready.” 

Flores, who will be defending his regional WBA Continental USA lightweight title, plans to put on a show for his fans on Wednesday night. 

“Intensity and an explosive Gabriel Flores,” predicts the Stockton native. “Always doing something entertaining.”

Arellano (11-2, 6 KOs) Aurora, Colorado by way of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico is no stranger to the bright lights of ProBox TV, having engaged in some memorable, at times bloody, bouts on the streamer. 

“I feel good,” said Arellano, just after Tuesday morning’s weigh-in. “I am ready. Everything is done, so we just wait for the last thing and that is the fight tomorrow.” 

For Arellano, who campaigns as a super featherweight, the regional lightweight title bout on Wednesday does not mark a permanent move up in weight for the Colorado resident. Instead it was the opportunity to fight Flores that felt like the right fit for Arellano and his team. 

“We are just fighting at this weight for the opportunity,” explains Arellano. “We will beat him and then go back down to 130. My coach Javiel Centeno liked the fight for me. He believed that I could beat him and I went on board with it, so now we are here.” 

One thing that Arellano and Flores agreed on was that the Colorado fighter is not simply a pressure fighter. 

“They call me a pressure fighter, but I consider myself something else,” says Arellano. “It is a match-up of styles and we are going to clash either way, so it should be a fun fight, period. Whether he has to box or I have to box, it is going to be a very good fight. He is gifted, he is a very good boxer, but we are going to have to fight because of our styles. I take nothing away from him, but we will be there.” 

Tickets for the event, promoted by G-Squad Entertainment and Robert Garcia’s House of Champions, are available online at gsquadent.com 

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

When Kylie Jenner accepted his longshot request to accompany him to prom, eventually featuring the event on the maiden episode of the E! Television show “Life with Kylie,” Sacramento, California’s Albert Ochoa soon became a social media celebrity himself. After making the rounds on local and national television and being featured in print and online publications, Ochoa eventually found a way to parlay his newfound fame into a new passion project: boxing. After gaining some ring experience in “influencer boxing” exhibitions and training with notable professionals, Ochoa feels ready to move into the big league of sanctioned professional boxing and will make his pro debut this coming Saturday in San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico. 

Celebrity boxing has been around a long time, but the world of social media lent itself to organized boxing exhibitions and leagues in a way not possible when television was the main conduit of in-home entertainment. Recognizing a trend, Ochoa decided to try his hand at the sport and quickly grew to have a great devotion to the craft. 

“I saw that these YouTubers and influencers were fighting and Jake Paul did it too, so I said, ‘Let’s try it.’ Then I fell in love with the sport too,” Ochoa recalled after a recent media workout at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in Redwood City, California. “Now we are here and the hard work is paying off.” 

After a failed first attempt, Ochoa returned to the ring over a year later better prepared and began a string of five straight exhibition victories. Over the two years of competing and in the time since his last bout, Ochoa has worked with a line-up of noteworthy names in the sport. 

“I just connected with the right people and fell in the love with the sport,” explains Ochoa. “Despite what people say about me, I did things differently, but I’ve also worked with some great people: Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, Vicente Escobedo, Joel Casamayor, Bob Santos. I think I have picked something from every trainer I’ve had. I think I’ve got better as we have gone along. I’ve got better every day I am in the gym. One fight at a time, one win at a time and I think I am ready for this next step-up. This pro debut will get me considered as a legit, pro fighter now, despite what people say.” 

After deciding he would turn professional, Ochoa turned to one of his hometown’s recent fighting stars in Stan Martyniouk for guidance. A former top level amateur and an accomplished professional, Martyniouk will be guiding his first pro as a head trainer when Ochoa meets six-fight veteran Zachary Johnson this coming Saturday night. 

“I’ve been training amateur fighters and helping a lot of other up-and-comers get ready,” explains Martyniouk. “It was something that I wanted to do after boxing. With the knowledge that I have from coming up in the ranks, I want to help out the younger generation and get them ready and get them better.

He messaged me on Instagram and said he was looking for a new trainer. He had trained with a few trainers in Vegas, but it didn’t really work out, so he asked me if I could help him get ready. I said absolutely, so he came out here in December to try me out. We trained for one day and he liked what he saw and he liked what he did, so he scheduled his training camp with me in January.” 

Ochoa has not only had expert advice coming from his corner, but his significant other more than knows her way around the ring. After a chance meeting at the airport and some online smooth talk, Ochoa struck up a relationship with multiple time world title challenger Maricela Cornejo early last year. 

“We met at an airport,” recalls Ochoa. “She was fighting for Jake Paul in Orlando last year on February 2nd. I was going to that fight, regardless, as just a fan and I saw her at the airport and I’ve been attached to her ever since. She understood my journey and I understood hers. We both got started in the game late and made an impact and got attention right away.” 

A professional for over twelve years, Cornejo is an invaluable resource as Ochoa charts his path as a professional with limited prior ring experience. Not only is Cornejo familiar with the in-ring aspect of the business, but she understands the path of developing a fighter from the beginning stages. 

“I went pro with only four amateur fights, within six months of learning what a jab was,” recalls Cornejo. “So I made some connections with a lot of promoters and just like Top Rank and Golden Boy, they grow their fighters with a plethora of amateur or Olympic backgrounds and they still have to build them up. So I said, ‘Don’t let what anyone else says about these supposedly easy fights bother you, because everybody has them. You don’t have that experience and those that have Olympic experience do it as well. Don’t worry about what anyone says and just stick to the plan.’  I just have been in the sport for a number of years and I think it helps to have another set of eyes looking and trying to help out whenever I can.” 

Based on his winless record, East Rochester, New York’s Zachary Johnson appears to be the right type of matchmaking for a fighter with a limited amount of ring time in his log book, but Ochoa is taking every fight seriously. 

“I know a little bit about him. He’s a pro and he called me out a year ago. He’s a professional fighter. He’s on BoxRec and he’s had more fights than me. So I consider it a big test for me, but I am ready.” 

Should things go according to plan this coming Saturday, the next bout will be a little closer to home at a venue in Southern California. However, one of Ochoa’s career goals is to bring a marquee attraction type event to his hometown of Sacramento, and he already has the fight in mind. 

“I called Urijah Faber out after my last fight and I think that would be big for Sacramento,” says Ochoa. “ I think that is going to happen. He can’t fight another boxer with a bigger name in Sacramento and sell it out. I am that guy. It is going to be big when it happens. That’s why turning pro now to get to those next steps of what I want to accomplish, such as fighting a former UFC fighter as one of those goals.  I think it is something that could be really big for Sacramento. I feel a lot of people would be really excited for it.” 

This Saturday, Albert Ochoa steps into his new reality as a professional boxer. He will have to walk before he can run, but the young Sacramento native is excited to take the next step in his fistic odyssey. 

“It has been a great three years into this journey,” says Ochoa. “I’ve worked my butt off. Stan has pushed me and I’ve worked on a lot of speed and power. This is the strongest I’ve been and I feel my grown man strength coming in and it will show this Saturday.” 

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

JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA – Lightweight contender Gabriel Flores Jr. aims to continue his rise up the 135-pound ladder and state his case for a title opportunity on the national stage as professional boxing comes to the former California Gold Rush town for the very first time on Wednesday night. Flores, the classy boxer, will take on pressure-fighter Jose Arellano in the ProBox TV-broadcasted ten-round main event from the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in on Tuesday morning at the host venue. 

Flores (25-2, 8 KOs) of Stockton, California has reeled off four consecutive victories at home since suffering a ten-round decision setback to Giovanni Cabrera in July of 2022. The last three were fought under his father-trainer Gabe Flores Sr.’s G-Squad Entertainment promotional banner, as Flores and his team have carefully charted a course that has led to a WBO #10/WBA #12 world ranking. Traveling roughly 60 miles from home, Flores will still have the home crowd advantage as he hopes to successfully defend his regional WBA Continental USA title for the third time. Flores weighed-in at 134.8-pounds on Tuesday morning. 

Hoping to spoil any world title hopes for the hometown favorite Flores, Arellano (11-2, 6 KOs) Aurora, Colorado by way of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico moves up from super featherweight and brings an aggressive style that Flores has not encountered with his most recent opponents. Arellano is no stranger to the ProBox TV audience, having gone 1-2 in action fights, notably scoring an upset over 6’3” Oscar Alvarez two Octobers ago in Florida. Arellano scaled 133.4-pounds on Tuesday. 

In the co-feature, 19-year-old prospect Emiliano Moreno (11-0, 6 KOs) of Long Beach, California will take on Cesar Francis (13-2, 8 KOs) of West New York, New Jersey in a ten-round welterweight bout. Moreno was last seen in a stay-busy bout, dispatching Sergio Gil in four rounds last November. Francis, who holds a win over former world champion Raymundo Beltran, did not fight last calendar year and was last in the ring in December 2023, stopping once-beaten Windry Martinez in two. Moreno made 149.6, Francis came in at 146.6-pounds. 

In an eight-round lightweight bout, DeMichael Harris (12-0-1, 11 KOs) of Smyrna, Georgia meets Anthony Cuba (8-1-2, 4 KOs) of Fontana, California. Harris is taking a step-up from recent competition in meeting Cuba on Wednesday. Harris’ two 2024 opponents combined to have a 14-42-1 record, whereas Cuba’s lone defeat came at the hands of mega prospect Curmel Moton, who was extended the distance for the only time in his career to date on that night in March of last year. Harris made 134.2-pounds. Cuba first tipped the scales at 137.4, but returned to make the contracted 137-pounds. 

Heavyweight Antonio Mireles (8-0-1, 7 KOs) of Des Moines, Iowa will look to remain unbeaten in an eight-rounder against Josue Vargas (5-9-2, 2 KOs) of Panorama City, California. Mireles did not make a ring appearance last year and will be making his first start since his majority draw to fellow undefeated Skylar Lacy in November of 2023. Vargas has dropped three straight, albeit against fairly solid opposition. The towering Mireles came in at 274-pounds, while the shorter Vargas scaled 244.2-pounds.

Super flyweight prospect Andrew Rodriguez (5-0, 1 KO) of Salinas, California will take on fellow unbeaten Kevin Soltero (3-0, 2 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri in a six-round bout. Rodriguez moves up to the scheduled six-round distance for this first time, coming off a dominant four-round decision last October in Stockton. Soltero, with his national level amateur pedigree, figures to be a tougher test on Wednesday. Rodriguez made 116.4, Soltero came in at 116.6-pounds.

Multi-sport star Jennah Creason (2-0) of Visalia, California seeks win number three against Samantha Ginithan (1-0, 1 KO) of Las Cruces, New Mexico in a four-round junior welterweight bout. Creason, who plans to simultaneously pursue her career in MMA, weighed-in at 139-pounds. Ginithan, who also posted a 9-2 record in single round bouts during season two of Team Combat League, made 140.2-pounds   

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBA Continental USA Lightweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Flores 134.8

Arellano 133.4

Welterweights, 10 Rounds 

Moreno 149.6

Francis 146.6

Lightweights, 8 Rounds

Harris 134.2

Cuba 137*

Heavyweights, 8 Rounds

Mireles 274

Vargas 244.2

Super flyweights, 6 Rounds

Rodriguez 116.4

Soltero 116.6

Light welterweights, 4 Rounds

Creason 139

Ginithan 140.2

Tickets for the event, promoted by G-Squad Entertainment and Robert Garcia’s House of Champions, are available online at gsquadent.com 

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

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez emerges from his victory over David Morrell in more control of his career than ever because of how he dominated often edgy pre-fight appearances, how he fought and how the boxing business changed wildly in the aftermath of the significant light-heavyweight fight.

Benavidez, a two-time super-middleweight once known for being the youngest champion in the history of the division, is moving on and up the scale, both in weight and wisdom. He’s a grown-up.

That’s the simplest way of saying it. Too simple, perhaps, mostly because there’s still a lot of maturing to do for an instinctive fighter who has an unrivaled upside. At 28 years old and just entering his prime, there’s still lots of time to grow into the stardom he foresees and many project. 

Is he already there? No, and that’s good news, promising in part because Benavidez understands where he is — who he is — at this point in his ongoing transformation from an overweight, unknown Phoenix kid with no expectations to one who believes he can be the Face of the Game.

“I’ll be the Face of the Game soon,’’ he said boldly after his unanimous decision over Morrell a couple of weeks ago in front of a roaring, pro-Benavidez crowd at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Soon could mean just about anything, of course. There’s a debate about the so-called Face, a mythic title that some have tried to buy and others have tried to steal. For now, at least, it’s fair to argue there is no face. In acronym-speak, it’s vacant. There are choices, but no consensus. The numbers suggest that Canelo Alvarez still gets the nod, despite some support for Terence Crawford, Canelo’s future foe for a projected September date.

The debate is incomplete without at least a mention of Japan’s junior-featherweight whirlwind, Naoya Inoue, the Asian version of The Monster, and heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, a heroic face amid the Ukraine’s desperate war against the Russians. But if you take a well-worn path and follow the money, it’s Canelo, the only prizefighter to consistently crack the top tier of the Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest athletes. Over the last year, however, that changed. Usyk and Tyson Fury surpassed Canelo with two heavyweight title fights last year, both won by Usyk. 

According to Sportico last week, Fury’s total for the two fights was $140 million and Usyk  $120 million, placing both in a different income bracket than Canelo, whose 2024 income was reported to be $73 million. Sportico ranked Fury third, Usyk seventh and Canelo 20th among the world’s highest earning athletes last year.

But it’s a good bet that Canelo will re-take his income supremacy among prizefighters in 2025. Fury says he’s retired. But don’t count on it. Also, don’t count on him getting anywhere close to his 2024 income if he makes a comeback. Meanwhile, Usyk says he’ll fight two more times and retire. But no fight figures to pay him anything approaching the pay he collected against Fury. Meanwhile, Canelo has a rich, multi-fight deal with the Saudis

Add that to his documented command of pay-per-view numbers and the risk-reward ratio, and Canelo’s face still belongs on the game for the same reason George Washington’s face is on the dollar bill. That’s still where the value is. That’s also why Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, boxing’s new money man, scrambled to sign him to a four-fight contract and away from a Netflix spectacle with showman Jake Paul in an 11th-hour deal five days after Benavidez secured his own place as a prominent factor on boxing’s board of potential moves over the next couple of years. 

The deal left one significant question. To wit: How much longer will Canelo hold the key to the vault? Like everything else amid the constant chaos, it’s impossible to know. Expectations, the business agenda’s glass jaw, is full of repeated examples. One unforeseen punch changes everything. For now, Canelo’s plans include a perceived tuneup in Riyadh during the first weekend in May against William Scull, a Cuban living in Germany who holds a piece of the 168-pound puzzle that the IBF — Irrelevant Boxing Federation took from Canelo. It’s an opportunity to restore some order, restore Canelo’s undisputed status, both in name and fact. 

Barring that aforementioned punch, Canelo’s business plan then takes him to the intriguing September date with Crawford, perhaps in a ring on the Las Vegas Raiders home field at Allegiant Stadium. It’s a fight between two of the best from different weight classes. Canelo has more size and presumably power; the smaller Crawford has more speed and skill. There’s a reasonable argument for either in what looks to be pick-em fight between the best of a their generation.

Age is a factor. For Crawford, the Canelo challenge — and the payday it’ll include — looks to be a career ender. Crawford is 37. He’ll be 38 on September 28. From Jaron “Boots’’ Ennis to Vergil Ortiz, the former welterweight great, who has fought once at junior-middle, has ignored challenges from the young lions.

Then, there’s Canelo. Between Scull and Crawford, Mexico’s pay-per-view star will celebrate a birthday. He’ll be 35 on July 18. He’s talked about retiring when he turns 37. Beyond the planned Crawford date, there are two more fights on his contract with Alalshikh. What happens against Crawford is sure to dictate what happens to the remaining dates. If Canelo loses to the smaller man, maybe he retires. If he wins, presumably he fights on in a scenario that could include Benavidez. 

If nothing else, Canelo’s deal with Alalshikh has revived some of the talk about Benavidez-versus-Canelo, which for years has been No. 1 on the list of fights the fans most want to see. Those fans haven’t forgotten. Benavidez has moved on, onto light-heavy, after years of calling out Canelo in a futile chase that threatened to define him. He continued to hear the question, even on the night after he proved he could stand on his own — define himself on his own terms — against Morrell.

What about Canelo? The question was inevitable, of course.

“I would love to fight Canelo, it would be a massive, massive, fight,’’ Benavidez said. “But, Canelo says he has other things and he says I’m being ‘too mean’ in the way I’m approaching him. I guess I got to work on my attitude.”

Then, it was a joke, almost said as if it was a parting shot. But the Canelo-Alalshikh deal five days later kept the possibility on the table. It depends on the Crawford-Canelo outcome. It also depends on Benavidez’ next move. He’s expected to be in Riyadh next Saturday (Feb. 22) for the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitrii Bivol rematch of Beterbiev’s narrow victory for the light-heavyweight title last October. Benavidez is in line to face the winner. Even that plan is uncertain, however. Father Time, also like that unforeseen punch, can change everything. Beterbiev had another birthday last month. He turned 40 on January 21. Retirement can’t be too far away.

What remains in place, however, is Benavidez’ current place among the fighters who hold the key to boxing’s future. Benavidez, a consensus pick for the pound-for-pound’s top 10 for the first time this month, is there alongside Tank Davis and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. He’s younger than Crawford, Canelo and Beterbiev. He’s younger, too, than Inoue, 31, and Usyk, 38.

Meanwhile, Benavidez is just getting started, a still emerging and maturing force who used his comprehensive victory over Morrell as a way to announce he’ll be around for awhile.

Keyshawn Davis stopped Denys Berinchyk in round four to win the WBO Lightweight title at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

In round three, Davis landed a left to the body that put Berinchyk on a knee for a knockdown. In round four, it was another left to the body to liver as Berinchyk tried to come in and throw punches that put Berinchyk on the deck for the 10-count at

Davis, 134.2 lbs of Norfolk, VA is now 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Berinchyk, 134.6 lbs of Kyiv, UKR is 19-1.

Davis said, “It was an amazing feeling. Right before I knocked him out, I was hearing the crowd saying, ‘Norfolk! Norfolk! Norfolk!’ I was like, ‘I’ve got to knock him out now! Boom!’”

“I never really had problems with awkward fighters. The only thing that was giving me trouble was how he kept jumping in and out. And he was a little faster than I expected. As the rounds went on, I got more comfortable in there, and in the fourth round, I did it to him.”

“My son was here. I had to show up for my son, Keyshawn Jr. He was in the crowd watching me. It means a lot to me now. When he looks back at this day, he’s going to be proud of his father.”

“I want anybody who has the balls to step in the ring and fight me. There are two 135-pound champions that I would love to fight. If they have the guts to step in the ring with ‘The Businessman,’ tell them to send me a contract, or I can send them one.”

Xander Zayas Stops Slawa Spomer in 9

Xander Zayas remained undefeated with a ninth round stoppage of Slawa Spomer in a battled of undefeated junior middleweights.

In round one, Spomer began to bleed from his nose.

In round nine, Zayas hurt Spomer with a left hook to the body. Spomer retreated to the ropes and Zayas pounced on Spomer with a flurry of punches until Zayas doubled over Spomer again with a another left to the body, and the fight was stopped at 2:01.

Zayas, 153.2 lbs of San Juan, PR is 21-0 with 13 knockouts. Spomer, 153.2 lbs of Heilbromn, GER is 20-1.

Zayas said, “I knew from the first round that he would wear down little by little. In the third or fourth, I hurt him, and he got me with a good shot. But I went to my corner, and they told me to keep fighting intelligently because we had 10 rounds to wear him down. And by the eighth and ninth, they told me, let’s step it up with the combinations, and we started to land with more power to get the finish.”

“On paper, he was my toughest opponent to date, and I stopped him. I have passed every test that has been put in front of me, and I feel I’m ready to fight for a world title right now. I want that next.”

Mielnicki and Coyle Battle To Majority Draw

Vito Mielnicki Jr. and Connor Coyle battled to a 10-round majority draw in a middleweight fight.

In round four, Mielnicki was bleeding from his mouth. In the same round, Coyle was cut around his left eye.

Mielnicki landed 146 of 546 punches. Coyle was 98 of 520.

Mielnicki, 159.4 lbs of Roseland, NJ took a card by a 96-94 tally while two judges had it even at 95-95. Mielnicki is now 20-1-1. Coyle, 158.3 lbs of Derry, NI is 21-0-1.

Juanmita Lopez DeJesus needed just 59 seconds to win his pro debut over Bryan Santiago in a four-round junior bantamweight bout.

DeJesus landed a left uppercut that put Santiago down and out.

Dejesus, 113.8 lbs of Caguas, PR is the son of former world champion Juan Manuel Lopez. Santiago, 113.6 lbs of Weslaco, TX is 1-2-1.

Abdullah Mason remained undefeated by dropping Manuel Jaimes four-times enroute to a fourth round stoppage in a eight-round lightweight bout.

In round Mason dropped Jaimes with a step-back left uppercut. Mason scored another knockdown in round three from another left hand.. In round four, Mason dropped Jaimes with a right hook that was followed by a left. Mason finished off Jaimes when he dumped him agaion the canvas with a straight left hand that was followed by two right hooks at 1:55.

Mason, 136.2 lbs of Cleveland is 17-0 with 15 knockouts. Jaimes, 137 lbs of Stockton, CA is 16-3-1.

“I said the same thing {about no longer being called a prospect}. We say the same thing. We want the belts, world championship,” Mason said. “I gotta keep doing what I’m doing and making these guys look the way I’ve been doing since I turned pro.”

Rohan Polanco stopped Jean Carlos Torres in round two of their 10-round welterweight fight.

In round one, Polanco dropped Torres with a leaping left hook to the temple In round two, it was a left hook that d put Torres down again. Seconds later, it was a big right hand that rocked Torres and one punch later the fight was stopped at 1:48.

Polanco, 146.4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is now 15-0 with 10 knockouts. Torres, 147 lbs of Trujillo Alto, PR is 22-2.

Keon Davis stopped Ira Johnson in round two of their four-round welterweight fight.

In round two, Davis dropped Johnson with a left hook to the body. Then it was a flurry that was capped by a right over the top that put Johnson down for 10-count at 1:38.

Davis, 149.2 lbs of Norfolk, VA is 2-0 with one knockout. Johnson, 148.2l lbs of Kansas City is 3-3.

Jared Anderson won a 10-round unanimous decision over Marios Kollias in a heavyweight bout.

In round four, Kollias started to swell under his left eye.

ANerson, 256.8 lbs of Toledo won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 18-1. Kollias, 235.4 lbs of Pares, GRE is 12-4-1.

Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. scored an upset six-round split decision over Nico Ali Walsh in a middleweight fight.

Guerra, 1578.8 lbs of Chicago won by scores of 58-56 twice and 58-56 for Walsh. Guerra is now 6-1-1. Waksh, 15.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-2.