Tickets are now on sale for the highly-anticipated Featherweight showdown between former two-weight World Champion Carl Frampton MBE and former four-weight World Champion Nonito Donaire.

Belfast hero Frampton (24-1, 14 KO’s) and Filipino icon Donaire (38-4, 24 KO’s) collide at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Saturday 21st April, live on BT Sport and BoxNation.

The blockbuster bout will be one of the biggest fights to take place in Belfast in recent years and a make-or-break fight for both men.

“It’s a brilliant fight – a four-weight World Champion against a two-weight World Champion,” said Frampton.

“Has a bigger ‘away’ fighter ever come to fight in Belfast before? I don’t think there’s been a bigger name than Nonito Donaire and he’s coming to fight a local guy in his hometown.”

“But I think both of us are in the same situation – a slip-up here and one of us might never fight for a World Title again. There’s a lot on the line for both guys.”

Tickets for Frampton vs. Donaire are available to purchase from the SSE Arena Belfast Box Office, www.ssearenabelfast.com and 028 9073 9074.

Tickets range from £40 (Tier) to £400 (Inner Ring Hospitality):

£400 – Inner Ring Hospitality
£250 – Outer Ring Hospitality
£150 – Floor
£120 – Central Tier/Floor
£100 – Floor
£80 – Tier
£50 – Tier
£40 – Tier

Carl Frampton MBE (24-1, 14 KO’s) faces Filipino four-weight World Champion Nonito Donaire (38-4, 24 KO’s) at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Saturday 21st April, live on BT Sport and BoxNation.

The blockbuster bout will be one of the biggest fights to take place in Belfast in recent years and a make-or-break fight for both men.

Frampton is looking forward to meeting elite opposition on home soil in his first bout of 2018.

“It’s a brilliant fight – a four-weight World Champion against a two-weight World Champion,” said Frampton. “Has a bigger ‘away’ fighter ever come to fight in Belfast before? I don’t think there’s been a bigger name than Nonito Donaire and he’s coming to fight a local guy in his hometown.

“But I think both of us are in the same situation – a slip-up here and one of us might never fight for a World Title again. There’s a lot on the line for both guys.”

With a much-anticipated summer fight date at Belfast’s Windsor Park in the works for ‘The Jackal’, 30-year-old Frampton believes a win over the 42-fight veteran would be perfect preparation ahead of a World Title tilt.

Coming off the back of a 10-round points win over Mexican Horacio Garcia last month in what was Frampton’s first outing since the loss of his WBA World Featherweight crown to Leo Santa Cruz, ‘The Jackal’ is confident that victory over Donaire will tee up a bout against the winner of the scheduled IBF title clash between Lee Selby and Josh Warrington.

“He’s been at the top of four divisions, but he was in the same weight division as me for quite a while and he’s someone I’ve always kept an eye on,” said Belfast native Frampton. “He’s someone I admire as well and I think he’s a great fighter, but I think this is the perfect fight to get me ready for a World Title fight in the summer.”

While Donaire has suffered three defeats since being named 2012 Fighter of the Year by The Ring, ESPN and the Boxing Writers’ Association of America – the same honours Frampton picked up in 2016 – the 35-year-old ‘Filipino Flash’ is eager to prove that he is still an elite force at 126lbs.

“This is exactly the type of fight I live for — going in against one of the best in the World in the lion’s den of his hometown of Belfast,” said Donaire. “I can’t wait for the first bell! I know I’ll have to be the best I can be on fight night. Make no mistake, I’m already training like never before.”

“I plan to put on a spectacular show for my fans, his fans and boxing fans in general. When I walk out of the ring victorious, it will have all been worth it.”

Promoter Frank Warren said: “Belfast fight fans are going to be in for another treat on April 21st. This is a guaranteed barn burner between two elite Featherweights. Both men have held multiple World Titles and know that a win will lead to another shot at World glory.

“If Carl comes through this fight then it’s the big one at Windsor Park in the summer next. That is what we promised him and that is what we will deliver if he gets the win in April.”

Richard Schaefer, founder of Ringstar Sports, added: “This is a fight between two of the best Featherweights in the World, with multiple World Titles between them. These are two fighters who are never boring in the ring, two fighters who come forward and love to engage.

“If styles make fights — well it doesn’t get any better than this! On April 21st it will be ‘Fireworks in Belfast’ and boxing fans from around the World will be in for a treat.”

Details of a press conference will be announced in the coming days.

Tickets for Frampton vs. Donaire are available to purchase from the SSE Arena Belfast Box Office, www.ssearenabelfast.com and 028 9073 9074 from 10.00am on Thursday 11th January.

Tickets range from £40 (Tier) to £400 (Inner Ring Hospitality):

£400 – Inner Ring Hospitality
£250 – Outer Ring Hospitality
£150 – Floor
£120 – Central Tier/Floor
£100 – Floor
£80 – Tier
£50 – Tier
£40 – Tier

LOS ANGELES (July 25, 2017) – Four-division world champion Nonito Donaire will join forces with Ringstar Sports as the international boxing star attempts to add another world championship to an already illustrious list of career accomplishments.

“Exploring what was out there in the new landscape of boxing was unnerving and exciting at the same time,” said Nonito Donaire, “I have known Richard for many years and have always respected what he has been able to do for the fighters he promotes. At this point in my career I want the biggest fights possible and Richard’s track record to deliver them speaks for itself. The thought of the mega-fights against the likes of Mares, Santa Cruz, Selby or Frampton gets my blood boiling. The next chapter of my career is starting now and I am excited to say that it is with Ringstar! I am grateful to my fans and team for their continued support!”

“Nonito is one of the modern day legends of our sport,” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. “One of these rare fighters that always delivers and always knows how to entertain! I am convinced that he will again become one of the pound for pound best fighters in the world. No doubt about it! I want to thank his wife and manager, Rachel Donaire as well for the trust she places in me. We can’t wait to get going!”

Born in the Philippines and living in California, Donaire burst onto the scene in 2007 after a stellar amateur career when he stopped previously unbeaten Vic Darchinyan in the fifth round to capture a flyweight world title. Donaire would defend the title with three more knockouts before he moved up to bantamweight and defeated unified champion Fernando Montiel in 2011 to becoming a two-division world champion.

Donaire’s next challenge came at super bantamweight as he made it 27 consecutive victories by knocking down and defeating Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in 2012 to become a champion at 122-pounds. A banner year for Donaire continued with a title-unifying victory over Jeffrey Mathebula and knockouts over Jorge Arce and Toshiaki Nishioka. After the impressive run Donaire was recognized as the 2012 Fighter of the Year by the BWAA, ESPN and Ring Magazine.

A loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux ended a 30-fight win streak for Donaire, but he continued to add to his resume as he won a world title in a fourth weight class by winning a featherweight championship via technical decision over Simpiwe Vetyeka in 2014.

Another world title was added to Donaire’s ever-growing trophy case in 2015 when he defeated Cesar Juarez to capture a world title at super bantamweight. He defended the title successfully in the Philippines before losing a close decision to unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno last November.

Donaire, who is currently training in Japan, will be returning to the ring in September. Further details will be communicated as they become available

LOS ANGELES (April 13, 2017) — Let the intrigue begin! Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) world champions ÓSCAR VALDEZ, the ESPN Deportes Mexican Fighter of the Year, GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ, the Premios Univision Deportes Fighter of the Year, and JESSIE MAGDALENO, hosted a packed Los Angeles area Media Workout today at Manifico Gym. The three gladiators are in deep training for their respective title defenses which will take place Next Saturday! April 22, live on pay-per-view, from StubHub Center. Magdaleno, who is making the first defense of the title he won off the legendary Nonito “Fili[pino Flash” Donaire revealed that his team has spied Donaire in the gym working with Adeilson Dos Santos, Magdaleno’s opponent. Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but it’s one Magdaleno intends to serve up to the Dos Santos/Donaire team using two red-hot leather utensils!

ÓSCAR VALDEZ

“This is the biggest, most difficult fight of my life. I want to be aggressive and take control but I need to be intelligent while doing it. I am a world champion but I am still hungry. I know how special this fight is and I know a win over Marriaga will make me a better champion. I’ve never worked harder for a fight. Marriaga is the real deal and we know it.”

GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMÍREZ

“I’m ready to get back in the ring and defend my title for the first time. I know there are a lot of fighters looking to fight me and challenge for my title, but right now I’m focused on my fight against Max Bursak. Let’s see what happens after that. I’ll fight anyone. I want the best. It’s an honor to fight at StubHub Center where there have been so many great fights. I know there will be a lot of fans supporting me.”

JESSIE MAGDALENO

“When you are a world champion you have a target on your back. Every challenger in my division wants a piece of me, including Dos Santos. I know he has been training in Las Vegas and I heard Nonito Donaire has been in the gym with him. That will not make any difference for Dos Santos. It’s hard to mimic my style. I am keeping the belt.”

************************************

Valdez (22-0, 19 KOs), from Nogales, Mexico, will be making the second defense of his WBO featherweight title against NABO champion and No. 1 contender Miguel Marriaga (25-1, 21 KOs), from Arjona, Colombia; Ramirez (34-0, 24 KOs), from Mazatlan, Mexico, will be making his first defense of the WBO super middleweight title against Top-10 contender Max Bursak (33-4-1, 15 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine; Magdaleno (24-0, 17 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nev., will be making the first defense of his WBO junior featherweight title against WBO Latino champion Adeilson Dos Santos (18-2, 14 KOs), of São Paulo, Brasil.

The six world championship warriors have a combined record of 156-7-1 for a winning percentage of 95% with a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.

The pay-per-view telecast will also feature the pro debut of U.S. Olympic silver medalist SHAKUR STEVENSON

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, All Star Boxing, Zapari Boxing Promotions and Antonio Leonard Productions, remaining tickets to this world championship tripleheader are priced at $128.50, $77.50, $52.00 and $36.70. They may be purchased online at AXS.com, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub Center box office. The world championship event will be produced and distributed live by Top Rank Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, or facebook.com/trboxeo,and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, or twitter.com/trboxeo, Use the hashtags #ValdezMarriaga, #ZurdoBursak, #MagdalenoDosSantos to join the conversation on Twitter.

First Blows: Fuentes opens Pacquiao-Vargas card with a decision over Chinese featherweight

Follow all the action as Manny Pacquiao tries to regain the WBO Welterweight title from Jessie Vargas.  The action kicks off at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT / 9 AM Sunday in General Santos City, Philippines.  The action kicks off with 3 more world title bouts as Nonito Dnaire takes on Jessie Magdaleno for the WBO Super Bantamweight title; Oscar Valdez battles Hiroshige Osawa for the WBO Featherweight title and Zou Shiming battles Pratisak Phaprom in a rematch for the WBO Flyweight title

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED…THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1 Jab, right and jab from Vargas..right…Left from Pacquiao …Short uppercut

Round 2 Straight left from Pacquiao ..Combination..Left from Vargas…HARD STRAIGHT LEFT AND DOWN GOES VARGAS…

Round 3 Body and head from Vargas..Staright left from Pacquiao and and another..Hard jab..straight left..Right from Vargas,,

Round 4 Stleft…raight left..lead left..Counter left..

Round 5 Pacquiao lands to a straight left

Round 6 Staright right from Vargas…Vargas right eye swelling..lead left from Pacquiao…Right

Round 7 Jab from Pacquiao …Nice right from Vargas…Jab from Pacquiao..

Round 8 Jab from Pacquiao..Hard right from Vragas…left hook..Vargas bleeding above his nose..right from Vragas..Jabs from Pacquiao..left…left..

Round 9 Good right from Vargas..Left from Pacquiao

Round 10 Combination from Pacquiao…left…good right hook…Jab..right from Vargas..

Round 11 Pacquiao lands a jab..Straight right from Vargas..Left hook…

Round 12 lead left from Pacquiao..Body shot from Vargas..counter left from Pacquiao..

Vargas landed 147 of 662   Pacquiao landed  147 of 409

114-113; 118-109; 118-109 for MANNY PACQUIAO 

Round 1 Jab from Magdaleno..

Round 2 Body shot from Magdaleno..Left hook from Donaire…Staright left from Magdaleno..Good right from Donaire..

Round 3 Right from Magdaleno..Body shot…head shot..Body shot..Left to body from Donaire..

Round 4 Left from Donaire..Right hook from Magdaleno…Magdaleno bleeding over the left eye…Straight right from Donaire..

Round 5 Left from Donaire…Right..doube jab..Body shot from Magdaleno..

Round 6: 3 jabs and right hook from Mgdaleno..Body shot

Round 7 Hook from Donaire..right from Magdaleno..Good right to body from Donaire..

Round 8 2 lefts to body from Magdaleno..Counter jab from Donaire..Good right hook from Magdaleno..Body shot..Right from Dinaire..right hook from Magdaleno..Body shoot..Uppercut from Donaire..

Round 9 Blood over right eye of Donaire..Big left from Magdaleno…ripping shots on the ropes..

Round 10 Right rocks Magdaleno..Swelling under left eye of Donaire..right from Magdaleno..Good right from Donaire..Left from Magdaleno

Round 11  Counter right from Donaire..Counter right from Magdaleno..Right from Donaire..Hook from Magdaleno..Good body shot..

Round 12 Good body shot and hook from Magdaleno..Good right from Donaire..Right hook from Magdaleno…Hard right from Donaire..right..Left hook from Magdaleno

Magdaleno 154-500  Donaire  132-404–Punches

116-112 twice and 118-110 FOR NEW CHAMPION..JESSIE MAGDALENO

Round 1 Valdez lands a left hook to the body..Good left hook..Jab..

Round 2 Hard right from Valdez

Round 3 Big right and left hook from Valdez..left hook and right..Hard jab

Round 4 BIG LEFT AND DOWN GOES OSAWA…Huge right hands from Valdez…Jab from Osawa…Uppercut from Valdez..Right from Osawa…Hook from Valdez

Round 5 Hook and right from Valdez

Round 6 2 right hooks from Valdez from the southpaw stance

Round 7 HUGE FLURRY ON THE ROPES..VALDEZ RIPPING SHOTS TO THE HEAD AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Combination from Shiming..Hard combination…Right from Phaprom…Body from Shiming..

ROUND 2 HARD RIGHT AND DOWN GOES PHAPROM

Round 3 Good right from Shiming..Nice right and left hook..

Round 4:  Right from Phaprom..Hard right…Right..Body shot from Shiming…Jab..

Round 5: 3 punch combo from Shiming…Uppercut..Body from Phapron..Left hook from Shiming….Left hook

Round 6 Shiming lands a body shot..Right …Hard 1-2…Flush right..Phapron saying come on…

Round 7 Shiming lands a right…Crisp right

Round 8 Blood over left eye of Phapron..Jab from Shiming..Good exchange with Shiming landing hard head shots…Big left hook from Phapron…left hook..

Round 9 Good right from Shiming…Shiming shuffling and lands a combination..

Round 10 Phapron lands a right to the body…1-2 from Shimimg

Round 11 Body combination from Shiming

Round 12  

PUNCH STATS  107-503 for Phapron…Shiming was   347-778

120-107  twice and 119-108 for ZOU SHIMING

Manny Pacquiao 144.8 – Jessie Vargas 146.5
(WBO Welterweight title)
Oscar Valdez 125.3 – Hiroshige Osawa 125.3
(WBO World featherweight title)
Nonito Donaire 121.8 – Jessie Magdaleno 121.25
(WBO Jr. Featherweight title)
Zou Shiming 111 – Prasitsak Phaprom 111.5
(WBO Flyweight title)
Robson Conceicao 129.6 – Clay Burns 129
Teofimo Lopez 133 – Ishwar Siqueiros 133.75
Alexander Besputin 149.75 – Azael Cosio 150
Que Xu 125.5 – Fernando Fuentes 124.5

Vladimir Tikhonov, rated No 9 by the WBA, and No 13 by WBO, has put word out that he’s ready, willing and more than able to rumble with the best and brightest in the super bantamweight division.

Scott Quigg, “let’s get it on”, he is calling the former WBA champion out, through promoter Dmitriy Salita.

Guillermo Rigondeaux, “I respect your skills but don’t believe you are invincible”, is Tikhonov’s message for the Cuban sweet scientist.

Nonito Donaire, “If you take care of business Nov. 5 against Jessie Magdaleno then how about you step to the line against me,”, said the 15-0 (8 KOs) Russian.

“Tikhonov is a big, strong super bantamweight who knows how to use his height, reach and power,” Salita said of the southpaw pugilist tutored by Igor Shafer in St Petersburg, Russia. “Vladimir is very well schooled and wants to fight the best fighters in the division. Russia is producing lots of top notch fighters, contenders and world champions. I feel that Vladimir has the skills and experience to be the new face in the super bantamweight division!”

The 26 year-old Tikhonov got it done in his last outing against 40-4 Mikhail Krivolapov. Salita has proven himself to be judicious talent spotter, no surprise since he’s been to the mountain top himself, as a standout at 140 pounds, with a 35-2-1 record at junior welterweight/welterweight. “This Russian is ready to rock and makes heads roll at super bantamweight,” Salita said. “He can finish out this year with a bang and climb even higher in 2017!”

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (September 27, 2016) — Three action-packed world championship fights will act as co-main events to the MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO – JESSIE VARGAS World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world title fight, Saturday, November 5, at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions and Wynn Las Vegas, the Pacquiao – Vargas world welterweight championship event will be produced and distributed live by Top Rank Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, and will be available on all conventional platforms, including all major cable and satellite systems, as well as Top Rank’s digital distribution via www.TopRank.tv and mobile devices.

NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and ÓSCAR VALDEZ, WBO junior featherweight and featherweight champions, respectively, will be risking their crowns in mandatory title defenses against their respective No. 1 contenders JESSIE MAGDALENO and HIROSHIGE OSAWA. The pay-per-view telecast will open with Chinese Olympic icon ZOU SHIMING in a 12-round rumble with PRASITAK PAPOEM for the vacant WBO flyweight world title. This marks the first time Pacquiao and Donaire, the two biggest boxing stars to come out of the Philippines, have ever shared the same card.

The six co-main event gladiators, representing six different countries, have a combined record of 158-8-6 (104 KOs) — a winning percentage of 92% with nearly 2/3 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Remaining tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Vargas world championship event are priced at $1,000, $700, $500, $300, $100 and $50, not including applicable service fees. They may be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, online at http://www.unlvtickets.com/, at UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square Las Vegas and La Bonita Supermarkets. To charge by phone call 702-739-FANS (3267) or 866-388-FANS (3267).

“Jessie is a great challenger, a mandatory title defense and I know he’s hungry because he has been calling me out on social media,” said Donaire. “I am working great with my new trainer Ismael Salas. We are learning about each other and he’s instructing me on a more precise, compact way of fighting while still being very explosive as everyone is going to see on November 5.”

“Nonito is one of the greatest boxers of all time,” said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin. “He’s fought the best and he’s beat the best. He’s faced many tough challenges. This is a very tough challenge but this is what Nonito does.”

“As a kid I’ve dreamt of this moment and the time is finally here. On November 5th I will be victorious with my hands raised up high and a belt around my waist,” said Magdaleno.

“It’s a pleasure to work with Jessie Magdaleno. We’ve been working together since July 23, and so far training camp has been great, the weight hasn’t been an issue, sparring hasn’t been an issue as he has been working with top notch boxers and the workload has not been an issue. He has embraced the work, and is definitely up to the challenge as he faces Nonito Donaire,” said Manuel Robles, Magdaleno’s trainer.

“Jessie Magdaleno is very, very motivated for his fight against Nonito Donaire,” said Frank Espinoza, Magdaleno’s manager.. “Nonito has been a great champion and has fought in many big fights for a long time. But this is Jessie’s time. He has worked hard and he has what it takes to win and become a world champion.”

“As a world champion you have to face tough challenges and my first defense will be against a tough challenger, but I am ready to face him,” said Valdez. “I worked hard to get my belt and I intend to keep it for a long time.”

“Óscar Valdez always works very hard to get ready for his fights. He will be even more focused and work even harder defending his championship belt on November 5 than he was when he won it back in July,” said Valdez’s trainer Manuel Robles.

“Óscar Valdez won his world championship with a spectacular performance in July and on November 5, I am sure he will give us another great fight and successfully defend his belt,” said Frank Espinoza, Valdez’s manager.

“The boxing ring has always been a world stage where I have been able to fulfill my dreams. It has given me countless opportunities to challenge myself and surpass my limits which I have always found more important than defeating an opponent,” said Zou. “Though my first world title fight was not as successful as I had hoped, I have focused even more on developing and improving myself mentally and physically to meet the challenge of fighting for another world title. I have worked hard to get this second opportunity and I will work even harder in training camp to succeed. On November 5, I will enter the ring fueled by the strength of the Chinese people. Together we will make our mark on boxing history.”

“Prasitak may look like Manny Pacquiao but he sure doesn’t fight like him. He’s dirty as hell. The last time we fought him, Prasitak was head butting and landing low blows on Shiming throughout the fight. But just to play it safe, I’ll have Shiming spar with Manny when we get back from Manila so we’re extra prepared,” said Zou’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

“Zou is rated No. 2 and I am rated No. 3, but that is the only thing that has remained the same from our first fight,” said Prasitak. “I am a much different fighter than the man Zou fought in China two years ago. I have knocked everyone out since that fight and I have developed elephant strength punching power. I look forward to avenging my only loss and becoming world champion on November 5.”

“Top Rank is very proud to be presenting such a special pay-per-view event,”: said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Las Vegas will truly be the boxing capital of the world on November 5 with a championship card featuring the best fighters from six different countries.”

Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in Las Vegas, is a five-division world champion. He regained the WBO junior featherweight crown on December 11, 2015, winning a 12-round unanimous decision over No. 1 world-rated contender Cesar Juarez for the vacant title. His banner year in 2012 featured four world championship victories which included beating former world champion Israel Vazquez, Jr. to capture the vacant WBO junior featherweight title, unifying the title by defeating International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight champion Jeffrey Mathebula, followed by Donaire collecting his third belt of the year with a knockout of World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka, ending Nishioka’s eight-year, 16-bout, winning streak, and concluding his magnificent year by blasting out Mexican icon Jorge Arce in the third round and sealing his 2012 Fighter of the Year honors while extending his 12-year, 30-bout winning streak. He lost his title to undefeated Cuban sensation and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in a title unification bout at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall on April 13, 2013. He bounced back in 2014, dethroning World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion Simpiwe Vetyeka in Macau, China. Career highlights for Donaire also include knockout victories of world champions Vic Darchinyan, Wladimir Sidorenko, and Fernando Montiel, ending Montiel’s 25-bout winning streak. That victory was named the 2011 Knockout of the Year. Donaire returns to the ring fresh from his first title defense, a third-round knockout of Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak on April 23. The fight took place outdoors in Cebu and attracted 30,000 fans despite the extremely hot and humid conditions.

Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs), from Las Vegas, NV, enters this fight having won eight of his last 10 bouts by knockout. The former U.S. Amateur Champion has crafted a sterling professional ring record since making his professional debut on November 6, 2010. The younger brother of lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno, Jessie is a southpaw whose aggressive style and fierce punching power has produced a victory by knockout ratio of 73% en route to becoming the WBO’s No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger.

Valdez (21-0, 18 KOs), from Nogales, Mexico, and who represented Mexico in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, was the first Mexican fighter to qualify for two Olympic games. He is considered one of the bright lights of the featherweight division and a new face for boxing’s next generation. He will be making the first defense of the vacant world title he won on July 23 via a second-round knockout of undefeated No. 2 rated Matías Rueda. Rueda entered that fight having won his previous 10 bouts by stoppage. Valdez, 26, started the year with a fourth-round knockout victory over former IBF featherweight champion Evgeny Gradovich on the April 9 Pacquiao – Tim Bradley III pay-per-view undercard in Las Vegas. It was the first time Gradovich had ever been stopped in his 24-bout professional career. Other career highlights include knockout victories of former world title challengers Ruben Tamayo and Chris Avalos.

Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs), from Osaka, Japan, will be making his U.S. debut. He enters this fight riding a seven-year, 16-bout unbeaten streak, with 12 victories coming by way of knockout, including his last 10. He returns to the ring fresh from a first-round knockout of Yon Armed on April 2, where he captured the WBO Asia-Pacific featherweight title and solidified his position as the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger to Valdez.

Zou (8-1, 2 KOs), from Guizhou, China, returns to the ring fresh from his U.S. pro debut, which took place on June 11 at Madison Square Garden. He defeated Jozsef Ajtai of Hungary by a lopsided unanimous decision. He started the year out with a bang, knocking out undefeated contender Natan Santana Coutinho, to regain the WBO International flyweight title, on January 30, in Shanghai. Zou’s professional career highlights include a 12-round decision loss t to International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight world champion Amnat Ruenroeng in 2015 and a 12-round unanimous decision victory over undefeated No. 3 contender Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a world flyweight title elimination bout. Their fight was the co-main event to the Pacquiao – Chris Algieri world welterweight championship on November 22, 2014 in Macau, China. Zou scored three knockdowns en route to a 119-106, 119-106 and 120-103 victory over his vastly more experienced opponent. He showed his mettle by fighting through numerous head butts that swelled his left eye shut as well as weathering numerous low blows. But Zou kept his composure throughout the fight showing the world he was ready for a world title shot. Zou captured his first WBO International flyweight title on July 19, 2014, stepping up to his first 10-round fight and winning a unanimous decision over Top-10 contender Luis De La Rosa, proving to the world that he had developed into a world title contender. Zou is currently world-rated No. 2 by the WBO and No. 3 by the IBF. One of the most popular Olympic athletes in China, Zou was the world’s greatest amateur light flyweight, capturing gold medals in the World Amateur Championships in 2005, 2007 and 2011, along with gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. He also owns an Olympic bronze medal from the 2004 games, making him his nation’s first Olympic medallist in boxing as well as its first boxing gold medallist in the World Amateur Championships and the Olympics.

Prasitak (39-1-2, 24 KOs), of Buriram, Thailand, made his professional debut in 2010 and captured the WBO Oriental junior bantamweight title the following year knocking out Fredirex Rodriguez in the seventh round. After one successful defense he moved down one division where he captured the WBO Oriental flyweight title in 2012, which he successfully defended six time during his two-year reign. After losing a unanimous decision to Zou in 2014, he regained the WBO Oriental flyweight title on April 3, 2015 by knocking out Haji Juma in the 12th round. Since his loss to Zou, Prasitak has fashioned a two-year, 12-bout winning streak, with all of his victories coming by way of knockout, including five defenses of his WBO Oriental flyweight title. Prasitak, who will be making his U.S. debut, is currently world-rated No. 3 by the WBO.

For fight updates go to www.pacvargas.com and www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing or facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing or twitter.com/trboxeo. Use the Hashtag #PacVargas to join the conversation on Twitter.

Nonito Donaire made the first defense of the WBO Jr. Featherweight title with a 3rd round stoppage over Zsolt Bedak in Cebu City, Philippines.

In round two, Donaire landed a hard left hook that sent Bedak to the canvas.  Bedak had a bloody nose when later in the round he took another left to the top of the head and he was sent to the canvas for a second time.  In round three, Donaire landed a little right hand that was ruled a knockdown by referee Russell Mora.  Upon getting to his feet, Mora deemed Bedak unable to continue and the fight was stopped at 2:44 of round three.

Donaire is now 37-3 with 24 knockouts.  Bedak of Hungry is now 25-2.

Paul Fleming shook off a first minute knockdown to comeback and win a 10-round unanimous decision over Miguel Angel Gonzalez in a Super Featherweight bout.

Gonzalez landed the first punch of the fight to the top of Fleming’s head that sent the Australian to the canvas.  Fleming came back to box his way and take most of the remaining rounds and won by scores of 97-92 twice and 96-93.

Fleming of Sydney, Australia is now 22-0.  Gonzalez of Guadalajara, MX is 22-8-1.

Mark Magsayo remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Chris Avalos in round six of their scheduled 12-round Featherweight bout.

In round two, Magsayo rocked Avalos several times from right hands.  In round three, Avalos was able to gather himself and land a big left hook to the head that sent Magsayo to the canvas.  In round five, Magsayo rocked Avalos again with a left hand that had the American wobbling all over the ring.  In round six, Magsayo came out looking for the stoppage and he got it by landing two hard left hooks that hurt Avalos and Avalos  corner threw in the towel at 1:55 of round six.

Magsayo is now 14-0 with 11 knockouts.  Avalos is now 26-5.

 

Follow all the action as it happens when WBO Jr. Featherweight champion Nonito Donaire defends his title against Zsolt Bedak.  The action begins at 8 AM Eastern Time / 8 PM in The Philippines with a 3 fight undercard featuring Super Featherweight bout between Paul Flemming and Miguel Angel Gonzalez; Featherweights Mark Magsayo and Chris Avalos as well as Jason Pagara battling Miguel Zamudio–PAGE WILL REFRESH AUTOMATICALLY 

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Round 1 Donaire lands a left to the body

Round 2 Left hook lands solid for Donaire….LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES DONAIRE…Bedak bleeding from the nose..Hard uppercut…LEFT TO TOP OF HEAD AND DOWN GOES BEDAK

Round 3 1-2 from Donaire…uppercut…RIGHT HAND BY DONAIRE RULED A KNOCKDOWN AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 GONZALEZ LANDS A RIGHT AND DOWN GOES FLEMING…Right from Gonzalez..

Round 2 Gonzalez lands a body shot..Right from Fleming…Right from Gonzalez

Round 3 Fleming lands a right to the body…Straight left…Left to body from Gonzalez…

Round 4 Fleming lands a combination against the ropes..Uppercut from Gonzalez…Fleming warned for a low blow..

Round 5 1-2 from Gonalez…Body shots from Fleming..4 punch combo from Gonzalez

Round 6 Good combination from Fleming…Body shot…

Round 7 Fleming going to the body..Good left..3 punch combination…Gonzalez lands a right

Round 8 Fleming counters with a right…left…right on the ropes…1-2 from Gonzalez..

Round 9 Fleming lands a combination…left

Round 10 Body shot from Fleming…left…good left..

97-92 twice and 96-93 for FLEMING

ROUND 1 Magsayo lands 2 lefts..Right from Avalos..Counter from Magsayo..left hook to the head..Hard right..

Round 2 Big right from Magsayo..Avalos is hurt…Hard rights on the ropes rocks Avalos..Big overhand right..Counter right from Avalos

Round 3 Left from Avalos..right..HARD LEFT AND DOWN GOES MAGSAYO..Good right hand..Avalos working the body

Round 4 Left from Avalos…1-2…Jab…

Round 5 Left from Magsayo..Right from Avalos…Uppercut from Magsayo..Left…Hard left wobbles Avalos..Hard 3 punch ccombination wobbles and rocks Avalos head back.

Round 6 Good left hand from Magsayo…ANOTHER AND THE TOWEL GETS THROWN IN 

 

 

By Norm Fraunheim-

Nonito Donaire remembers 2012 as though it is history about to repeat itself.

Donaire fights for the first time in 2016 Saturday at home in the Philippines at Cebu City against Hungarian Zsolt Bedak in defense of a title he won in December and at a weight, 122 pounds, he dominated four years ago when he was Fighter of the Year.

“I have a second opportunity,’’ Donaire said in a conference call Thursday for a bout that will be televised in the U.S. by InDemand Pay-Per-View. “Not everybody gets that. I want to re-write everything that I did in 2012.’’

Re-live it too, yet this time with a deeper appreciation for what it all means.

In the first defense of a WBO super-bantamweight title he won in a decision over Cesar Juarez in December in Puerto Rico, Donaire returns to his Filipino roots in a fight the has dedicated to his father, Nonito Sr, who will be in his corner.

“My dad never left me through all my ups and downs,’’ said Donaire, who is 3-0 since Nicholas Walters knocked him out in a 126-pound bout in October, 2014. “I just want to thank him.’’

Donaire (36-3, 23 KOs) also intends to thank his Filipino fans with a victory over Bedak (25-1, 8 KOs), who beat Abner Mares at the 2004 Olympics.

In a sure sign that Filpino boxing is still thriving in the post-Manny Pacquiao era, about 18,000 tickets have already been sold, according to Donaire and promoters. There’s talk that the walk-up sale could put the crowd at 30,000, he said.

“Boxing will always thrive here,’’ Donaire said. “Filipinos want somebody to represent them, somebody to look up to. For me, it’s an honor and I’m going to show that in my performance.’’

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Super Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire will defend his title against Zsolt Bedak on April 23rd at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, outside of Manila in Donaire’s native Philippines.

“It’s a great opportunity for Nonito to defend his world championship in his homeland against a world-ranked and extremely capable opponent,” Top Rank’s Carl Moretti said of the fight, which is being promoted by Filipino television network ABS-CBN.

Felix Verdejo scored an explosive 2nd round stoppage over Josenilson Dos Santos in a scheduled 10-round Lightweight bout at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Verdejo landed a perfect right hand to the chin that sent Dos Santos down. Dos Santos got to his feet but stumbled all over the ring and the fight was stopped at 2:21 of round two.

Verdejo, 134 1/2 lbs of San Juan, PR is 19-0 with 14 knockouts. Dos Santos, 134 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA is 27-4.

In what was a thrilling Fight of the Year candidate, Nonito Donaire was able to hang on and win the WBO Super Bantamweight title with a grueling 12-round unanimous decision over Cesar Juarez

In round four, Donaire sent Juarez to the canvas froma straight right. Moments later, Donaire landed a laser left hook that slumped Juarez in the corner to the canvas. In round five, Donaire began to swell under his left eye.

Juarez began to turn the tide in round seven as he came forward and landed some hard shots. The same continued in round eight as he pounded Donaire for the first two minutes of the round. The two exchanged pounding power shots over the last thirty seconds that left Donaire with a cut around the right eye. Round nine, saw Juarez trap Donaire on the ropes throughout the stanza as he landed hard flurries but Donaire would shoot off hard rights and big left hooks that would land flush. The two continued to war in round ten as Doaire landed a big right that drew blood from the nose of Juarez. Juarez landed a big left that sent Donaire to the canvas that was ruled a slip. Later in the round, Donaire connected with a thumping left hook. The two landed some incredible shots that showcased each other’s chins down the stretch.

Donaire, 122 lbs of San Mateo, CA won by scores of 117-109 and 116-110 twice and is now 36-3. Juarez, 122 lbs of Mexico is 17-4

NEW YORK, NY (December 2, 2015) — Two-division world champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR., in his second reign as World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, has been named the 2015 Ring 8 Fighter of the Year. Bradley will personally accept the award from his trainer, Teddy Atlas, at the 29th Annual Ring 8 Holiday Event and Awards ceremony on Sunday, December 13, at Russo’s on the Bay (162-45 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach, NY 11414), from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. ET. Bradley will be flying in from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he will be the expert analyst on the broadcast team for the December 11 edition of MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV. The live truTV telecast will feature the boxing gem of Puerto Rico, undefeated Top-Five world-rated lightweight contender FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO, and former five-division world champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, in separate title bouts.

“It is a great honor to have this opportunity to attend the Ring 8 holiday event and awards dinner. I am humbled and grateful to be presented with the Fighter of the Year award for their organization and will be proud to represent them,” said Bradley.

Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., enjoyed a stellar year which saw him win a unanimous decision over undefeated world champion JESSIE VARGAS to regain the WBO welterweight world title in June followed by a successful defense of the title in November, stopping former world champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS in the ninth round. It was just the third loss for Rios and the first time he had ever been knocked out in his 11-year professional career. It also marked the first fight Bradley had legendary trainer Atlas in his corner.

Remaining tickets, priced at $125.00 per person, can be purchased by contacting Bob Duffy by phone (516.313.2304), email DepComish@aol.com, or mail checks (payable to Ring 8) to him (164 Lindbergh Street, Massapequa Park, NY 11762). Donations of any denomination are welcome for those unable to attend the festivities.

Tickets include a complete brunch with cocktail hour upon entry, followed by seating at the awards ceremony, dinner and dessert, and top-shelf open bar throughout the afternoon. There will also be a silent auction of boxing memorabilia. This event is expected to sell-out and everybody is urged to purchase tickets as soon as possible in order to secure favorable seating.

For more information on the event and on Ring 8, go to http://www.ring8ny.com/?p=14817

For Top Rank fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing or facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing or twitter.com/trboxeo.

SAN JUAN, P.R. (November 12, 2015) — The boxing gem of Puerto Rico, undefeated Top-Five world-rated lightweight contender FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO, and former five-division world champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, will headline, in separate title bouts, the year-end finale of MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV, on Friday, December 11. Verdejo will be making his homecoming a 10-round defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino lightweight title against Josenilson Dos Santos and Donaire, who is on the cusp of another world title shot, will be challenging WBO International junior featherweight champion and No. 1 world-rated contender Cesar Juarez in a 12-round rumble. Both fights will be televised live from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on truTV, beginning at 10 :00 p.m. ET/PT. The live boxing series is presented by truTV and Top Rank® and produced in association with HBO Sports®. Find truTV at: http://trutvishere.com/.

The four warriors boast a combined record of 95-9 (64 KOs) — a winning ratio of 91%, with 2/3 of their total victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Diamante Promotions, tickets to the Verdejo vs. Dos Santos / Donaire vs. Juarez championship event go on sale Today! Priced at $150, $100, $75, $50, $40 and $25, plus applicable charges, tickets can be purchased at www.TicketCenterPR.com, all Ticket Center outlets or charge by phone at (787) 792-5000.

“Fighting as a headliner at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum and in front of my people is a dream that I have always had since I was a little kid,” said Verdejo. “And now, thanks to all the love and support Puerto Rico has given my career, on December 11, I’m going to be able to fulfill that dream. I hope to give all that love back with a big win that unifies my people in a sentiment of happiness and brotherhood.”

“My goal is to get back on top. I am refocused for what I must do in the ring,” said Donaire. That’s why this fight in Puerto Rico is so important for me and my boxing career. I am reading a book called The Power of Habits. It is about getting rid of bad habits and instead using good habits each and every day. It all restarts for me on December 11.”

“Fighting in Puerto Rico is our way of giving our people a night of happiness and union,” said Ricky Marquez, Verdejo’s trainer and manager. “This is the opportunity that Top Rank has given us — to bring together to this Coliseum, whole families, friends, neighbors. It will be a big Puerto Rican party where we all celebrate Felix’s evolution from prospect to contender.”

“December 11 promises to deliver a great night of fights with an unbelievable atmosphere for fans both watching at home on truTV and the thousands in attendance at Roberto Clemente Coliseum,” said Carl Moretti, Vice President of Top Rank.

Verdejo (18-0, 13 KOs), from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who ended 2014 as a consensus “Prospect of the Year,” is looking to conclude this year as a bona fide world title contender. He returns to the ring having won seven of his last nine fights inside the distance, including his first fight of the year, a fifth round knockout of Marco Lopez, on April, 25, for the vacant WBO Latino lightweight title. He successfully defended that title on June 13 at Madison Square Garden during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend, winning a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated contender Ivan Najera of San Antonio, TX. Already world-rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 5 by the WBO, Verdejo, 22, continues to develop into a major gate attraction, producing standing room only crowds every time he fights. A former amateur standout who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympics, Verdejo has been mentored by Puerto Rican boxing icon and Hall of Fame inductee Felix Trinidad.

Dos Santos (25-3, 15 KOs), of Sao Paulo, Brasil, is a two-time WBO Latino junior lightweight champion. His first reign began with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Alejandro Burella in 2008. He successfully defended the title twice in 2009, via a 12-round unanimous decision over David Paredes and a fourth-round knockout of Leandro Almagro. He regained the WBO junior lightweight title in 2012 via a 12-round unanimous decision over Carlos Rodriguez. This will be just the fifth time Dos Santos, 28, has fought outside his native Brasil.

Donaire (35-3, 23 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in Las Vegas, is a former five-division world champion on the comeback trail for another world title shot. His banner year in 2012 featured four world championship victories which included beating former world champion Israel Vazquez, Jr. to capture the vacant WBO junior featherweight title, unifying the title by defeating IBF junior featherweight champion Jeffrey Mathebula, followed by Donaire collecting his third belt of the year with a knockout of World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka, ending Nishioka’s eight-year, 16-bout, winning streak, and concluding his magnificent year by blasting out Mexican icon Jorge Arce in the third round and sealing his 2012 Fighter of the Year honors while extending his 12-year, 30-bout winning streak. He lost his title to undefeated Cuban sensation and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in a title unification bout at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall on April 13, 2013. He bounced back in 2014, dethroning World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion Simpiwe Vetyeka at Cotai Arena. Career highlights for Donaire also include knockout victories of world champions Vic Darchinyan, Wladimir Sidorenko, and Fernando Montiel, ending Montiel’s 25-bout winning streak. That victory was named the 2011 Knockout of the Year. Donaire returns to the ring having won both his 2015 fights — capturing the vacant NABF super bantamweight title via a second-round knockout victory of William Prado on March 28 and scoring another second-round knockout win over Anthony Settoul on July 18. Donaire, 32, is currently world-rated No. 2 and No. 5 by the WBO and the WBA, respectively.

Juarez (17-3, 13 KOs), of Mexico City, will be fighting outside Mexico for only the second time. He returns to the ring riding a two-year winning streak which has included victories over Francisco Leal, Octavio Hernandez, Cesar Seda, and in his most recent fight, on July 25, Juan Sanchez, Jr., where he captured the WBO International junior featherweight title via a 12-round unanimous decision. Juarez, 24, is world-rated No. 1 by the WBO.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or www.twitter.com/truTV. Use the hashtag #truTVBoxing to join the conversation on Twitter.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former 4-division world champion Nonito Donaire as re-upped his deal with Top and will most likely be fighting Cesar Juarez on December 11 in Puerto Rico.

“Nonito came to the office to meet with me and sign the contract. And he said, ‘No more fooling around, no more being a celebrity. I’m a fighter, and I’m going to work hard and stay in the gym, and you will see the best Nonito Donaire you’ve ever seen,'” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “I think Donaire is really serious now. He’s a great fighter, and I don’t count him out against anybody.”

“I feel good about the deal. I’ve had some setbacks, but I’ve put myself in good position with this deal,” Donaire said. “We want to fight the best fighters Top Rank has to offer, and it says in the contract that Top Rank will try to make fights for me with the best available opponents, like Lomachenko and a rematch with Walters.

“Those fights are there for me, and I am happy about that and happy knowing I will get the opportunity for big fights. We’re happy about the deal and the possibility of fighting the best fighters that Top Rank can make available to me.”

Donaire said the fight with Juarez was “icing on the contract. I can start my rise back up. That’s the opportunity Top Rank presented to me, and it’s a good one. He’s a really rugged guy.

“That’s all we know about him. We’ve heard a lot of talk that he’s a tough guy and that he sparred with [lightweight titleholder Jorge] Linares. He can wear you down. He has the Mexican style and will try to take whatever I can dish out to him. We are not looking past him. We’re getting some tapes of him.”

“I would love to fight Lomachenko,” Donaire said. “Lomachenko is a really good fighter and a really good test for me to see where I’m at. There’s talk they want to come down [to junior featherweight], but if not, we’ll go back up to featherweight.

“I took things for granted before. I’m taking things for granted anymore, and I am thankful for every little thing in my life.”

Nonito Donaire scored an easy 2 round stoppage over Anthony Settoul in a scheduled 10-round Super Bantamweight bout at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian in Macao, China.

Donaire dropped Settoul in round one with a right hand. In round two, Donaire dumped Settoul with a left hook. When Settoul got to his feet he was unsteady and the fight was stopped at 1:41 of round two.

Donaire, 123 lbs of General Santos City, Philippines is now 35-3 with 23 knockouts. Settoul, 123 kbs of Calirmont, FRA is 20-4..

2012 U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez remained perfect by stopping Ryushi Yoshida after three rounds of their scheduled 8-round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Ramirez, 141 lbs of Avneal, CA is 15-0 with 12 knockouts. Yoshida, 141 lbs of Japan si 26-8.

Kuok Kun Ng scored a 4th round stoppage over Phompetch Twins Gym in a scheduled six round Welterweight bout.

In round four, NG dropped Twin with a right hand. Secinds later he finished it by depositing Gym on the floor from a perfect left uppercut at the fight was stopped at 2:02 of round four.

NG, 146 lbs of Macao, CHN is now 8-0 with 4 knockouts. Gym, 146 lbs of Bangkok, THA is 6-4.

Rex Tso scored a 4th round stoppage over Khunkhiri Wor Wisa Routh in a scheduled 8-round Bantamweight bout.

Tso put sustained punishment on Wisaruth in the final round and the fight was stopped at 2:55 of round four.

Tso, 116 lbs of Hong Kong, CHN is 17-0 with 10 knockouts. Wisaruth, 119 lbs of Bangkok, THA is 21-12-1.

MACAO, CHINA (July 3, 2015) — Former Fighter of the Year and five-division world champion NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and 2012 U.S. Olympian and undefeated super lightweight contender JOSE RAMÍREZ will headline “Victory at The Venetian,” on the Saturday, July 18 edition of Solo Boxeo Tecate, which will be televised from The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena via same-day delay in the U.S. on UniMás, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. Donaire, of the Philippines, in the hunt for another world title shot, will be taking on France’s ANTHONY SETTOUL in a 10-round super bantamweight battle. Ramírez, who hails from central California, will open the telecast in an eight-round super lightweight bout against RYUSEI YOSHIDA, of Japan.

The exciting undercard, which will be streamed live to the U.S., beginning at 6:00 a.m. ET via www.toprank.tv, will feature undefeated No. 1 contender, CESAR “El Distinto” CUENCA, who is just three victories away from tying Rocky Marciano’s hallowed 49-0 record, taking on undefeated No. 2 contender “IK” LIAN HUI YANG, who will attempt to become China’s second professional boxer to win a world title. Cuenca and Yang will rumble for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight title. The live stream will also feature No. 1 world-rated lightweight contender DENIS “Genghis Khan” SHAFIKOIV, of Russia, and undefeated No. 4 world-rated junior bantamweight contender REX “The Wonder Kid” TSO, from Hong Kong, in separate bouts.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with Tecate and SECA, remaining tickets to Victory at the Venetian can be purchased via Cotai Ticketing™; prices start at HKD/MOP 180, with ferry and hotel packages also available.

Donaire (34-3, 22 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in Las Vegas, is a former five-division world champion on the comeback trail for another world title shot. His banner year in 2012 featured four world championship victories which included beating former world champion Israel Vazquez, Jr. to capture the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight title, unifying the title by defeating IBF junior bantamweight champion Jeffrey Mathebula, followed by Donaire collecting his third belt of the year with a knockout of World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka, ending Nishioka’s eight-year, 16-bout, winning streak, and concluding his magnificent year by blasting out Mexican icon Jorge Arce in the third round and sealing his 2012 Fighter of the Year honors while extending his 12-year, 30-bout winning streak. He lost his title to undefeated Cuban sensation and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in a title unification bout at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall on April 13, 2013. He bounced back in 2014, dethroning World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion Simpiwe Vetyeka at Cotai Arena. Career highlights for Donaire also include knockout victories of world champions Vic Darchinyan, Wladimir Sidorenko, and Fernando Montiel, ending Montiel’s 25-bout winning streak. That victory was named the 2011 Knockout of the Year. Donaire returns to the ring fresh from capturing the vacant NABF super bantamweight title via a second round knockout victory of William Prado on March 28. He is currently world-rated No. 3 and No. 4 by the WBO and the WBA, respectively.

Settoul (20-3, 8 KOs), from Clermont-Ferrand, France, will be making his Asian ring debut on this card. A former French and European Union bantamweight champion, six of his last nine victories have come by way of knockout. He made his professional debut in 2008 and has fought outside of France just once.

Ramírez (14-0, 11 KOs), of Avenal, Calif., will be venturing outside the U.S. for the first time as a professional. Seven of his last eight fights have ended with knockout victories. A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Ramirez was an 11-time National Amateur Champion. Trained by Freddie Roach, the highly-respected junior welterweight prospect returns to the ring looking to extend his current knockout streak to four bouts. His last fight was a fifth-round knockout victory of veteran Robert Frankel on May 9.

Yoshida (26-7, 13 KOs), from Kumamoto, Japan, makes his second visit to the Cotai Arena ring since 2013. He enters this fight having four of his last five bouts with three of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Cuenca (46-0, 2 KOs), a southpaw who hails from Chaco, Argentina, made his pro debut in 2002. Fighting exclusively in Argentina, Cuenca has steadily risen up the world ratings the old fashioned way — by winning! Just three fights shy of matching Rocky Marciano’s mythical mark of 49-0, Cuenca has captured numerous regional titles throughout his 13-year career, all fought at the junior welterweight level. His 12-round unanimous decision victory over Albert Mensah last year, in an IBF junior welterweight title elimination bout, made Cuenca the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger for the world title.

Yang (18-0, 13 KOs), from Dalian, China, is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, who also trains Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao and two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming. Yang, who made his pro debut in 2007, enters this fight having won seven of his last eight fights by way of knockout. Having fought exclusively at Cotai Arena and in Shanghai since 2013, Yang has built up a loyal and rapid fan base in China due to his exciting style of fighting. With 2014 knockout victories over Sukkasem Kietyongyuth and Fahsai Sakkreerin for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific lightweight title and the IBF Pan-Pacific junior welterweight title, respectively, and a sixth-round stoppage of Patomsuk Pathompothong, in an IBF junior welterweight world title elimination bout on March 7, Yang has seen his boxing stock, and his world ratings, soar. He is now the IBF No. 2 world-rated junior welterweight contender.

Shafikov (35-1-1, 18 KOs), a native of Chelyabinsk, Russia who fights out of Los Angeles, will be making his second appearance at Cotai Arena. The Russian southpaw unsuccessfully challenged Miguel Vazquez for his IBF lightweight world title on February 22, 2014, losing a competitive 12-round unanimous decision. He returned to the ring six months later and knocked out Rustam Nugaev in the ninth round of their IBF lightweight world title elimination bout last August, becoming the IBF’s No. 1 world-rated lightweight contender and mandatory challenger to then-champion Mickey Bey who vacated the title to avoid his mandatory title defense against Shafikov which had been scheduled for this card. In his most recent bout, Shafikov won a lopsided unanimous decision over Miguel Mendoza in December. He’ll be facing one-time world title challenger ROY MUKHLIS (18-3-2, 12 KOs), of Semarang, Indonesia, in a 10-round lightweight bout.

Tso (13-0, 7 KOs), the Pride of Hong Kong, has been a Cotai Arena mainstay since 2013 where fans on both sides of the South China Sea have flocked to watch his exciting fights and his ascent up the world ratings. Having already captured Asian and WBO Asia-Pacific junior bantamweight and WBC Asian super flyweight titles, Tso returns to the ring fresh from a 10-round unanimous decision Cotai Arena victory over Michael Enriquez on March 7, where he captured the vacant WBA International super flyweight title. Currently world-rated No. 4 by the WBO, No. 6 by the IBF and No. 8 by the WBA, Tso will be facing KHUNKHIRI WOR WISARUTH (21-10-1, 13 KOs), from Bangkok, Thailand, in an eight-round super flyweight bout.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing or facebook.com/trboxeo, or and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing or twitter.com/trboxeo. Use the Hashtag #VictoryAtVenetian to join the conversation on Twitter.

By Bart Barry–

Saturday in Madison Square Garden Theater, the very place Filipino Nonito Donaire’s candidacy for HBO Fighter of the New Century was subverted 3 1/2 years back by a pesky South American, Jamaican featherweight+1 Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters was unable to stretch Colombian featherweight Miguel Marriaga, much to the theater’s icy chagrin. Walters won a unanimous decision, and neither man stopped fighting or so much as clinched for nearly the full 36-minute duration, but it was not enough action, coming in the form of a 127-pound Jamaican and a Colombian featherweight, evidently, to prod New Yorkers to sustained applause.

Here’s how it went Nov. 9, 2013: Corpus Christi, Texas, was balmy and surprisingly humid for the season, American Bank Center was a dump – there was no WiFi, and the crowd lacked spirit – press row was the sort of discombobulated jumble a publicity outfit alone could conjure, and my marriage was in freefall. There were reasons aplenty for distraction, if not outright anxiety, and yet.

One begins as a boxing writer squinting at every fight, interrogating every match for its historical import and metaphorical capacity for yielding capacious metaphors – every four-rounder comprising a tiny chance at an immortality-manifesting phrase like “I saw him when he was fighting nobodies in empty arenas.” The more one sits ringside, the more his attention wanes, and something like guilt replaces the will to examine fighters’ footwork from yesteryear’s fights. Somewhere round one’s 60th fight card, though, a nearly enlightened state happens: I’m going to enjoy the undercard however I wish – watching the scorekeeper in the silly striped shirt, fantasizing about a ringcard girl, chatting with a pal I’ve not seen since last year, texting with my mother, googling the attendance record of the venue; whatever brings joy – and if something sensational happens, it will hit me with concussive force enough I’ll not be able to miss it even if I so wish.

That was Nicholas Walters. On a card that boasted Alex Saucedo, Vic Darchinyan, Mikey Garcia, Nonito Donaire and other less-talented but more-touted participants, the Jamaican featherweight happened with a concussive force too great to miss; in his U.S. debut, against Mexican Alberto Garza, Walters radiated with a violence of intention and act uncommon even among prizefighters. His form was rough, his punches were wild, but for simple force and desire, Walters was unmatchable that night.

I’m biased about Walters, then, and I could not care less if it offends.

He missed weight Friday, and it hurt. Part of the appeal of a Walters, like an Antonio Margarito before him, is the size advantage he brings to confrontations – and that appeal is immediately nullified by unfairness if he does not find a way, whatever way, to touch the contracted weight for at least a moment or two before bounding three or four weight classes upwards in 24 hours. Saturday Walters stood across from a career featherweight in Marriaga, a man who has fought nothing but 126 pounders for six years, and Walters looked enormous.

Walters is too big to be a featherweight, unless he returns to fighting thrice annually, and chews solely ice chips four weeks every year, and that is a real problem because Walters’ technique is a passport-snatching type, one that will not allow his power to travel to other weightclasses, and without the power to terrorize his opponents, Walters has very, very little.

His reflexes are about average, which might not be an issue except for his reliance on them; Walters thinks he is much quicker than he actually is, and a lot of this autoöverestimation comes from amateur experiences enough to anticipate the nature of others’ attacks, his parries triggered by anticipation more than reaction – particularly evident and perilous in round 1 Saturday, when Walters repeatedly sent his right guard out to defend Marriaga’s jab even before the Colombian knew he would throw it.

Walters straightens noticeably when he throws, making the target of his head blink and rise like a cartoon thought bubble with an idea, and despite his physical disadvantages Marriaga saw this and exploited it several times in the opening half of the fight. Walters’ defense is quite poor, too. He regularly employs the shell tactic of lowering his lead hand, and almost as regularly neglects to tuck his chin fully behind his lead shoulder; Walters’ defense is not so much a shell as an invitation.

What makes all this work, though, is the Axe Man righthand Walter wields. It is offense-as-defense in the very best sense: Before an opponent commits to a combination, he asks – and in Marriaga’s case, noticeably asks – “What if this does not knock that guy stiff?” The force of Walters’ overhand right is enough to alter others’ offensive calculations, which very nearly fits a workable definition for great defense.

No featherweight should be hit with Walters’ righthand, not Marriaga, not Vasyl Lomachenko, not God shrunken in a 126-pound form. The consequence of Walters’ righthand removed Marriaga’s desire to throw punches Saturday; yes, Walters’ body blows reduced the force of Marriaga’s punches, but it was the possibility of getting spearchiseled by that righthand that kept Marriaga from even wanting to bother.

No prizefight is gentle, but Saturday’s affair – while conclusively better than the New York crowd opined – was not withering enough to entitle Walters another 2/3-year rest. If he takes a couple weeks off, but not a month, then heads into camp for a Lomachenko match, there’s reason to think he can distill himself to 126 one last time. Walters-Lomachenko is the sort of palate-cleansing affair our beloved sport sorely needs in 2015.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, two world title bouts plus former world champion Nonito Donaire will be part of a big card set for the Venetian Macau on July 18.

IK Yang of China will fight Cesar Rene Cuenca for the Vacant IBF Jr. Welterweight crown. Mickey Bey will defend the IBF Lightweight title against Denis Shafikov plus Nonito Donaire will return against most likely Anthony Settoul.

“Ik Yang’s fight will be the main event. Why? Because he’s Chinese and beloved by the president of China,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said of Yang, who will be fighting for the fifth time at the Cotai Arena. “There is no (Chinese star) Zou Shiming or Manny Pacquiao on this card. Ik Yang is the attraction.”

“Donaire is taking things seriously now I think and hopefully he makes a recovery from the knockout at the hands of Nicholas Walters, who was too big for him,” Arum said. “We think he can win another title.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former 4-division world champion Nonito Donaire will return to the ring when he takes on William Prado on March 28 in Pasay City, Philippines.

“I’m excited to be back at 122 pounds,” said Donaire, who is training with his father, Nonito Donaire Sr., in Oakland, California. “I’m hoping the training to be at 122 will bring me more speed and power. This camp has been different. I have been in training since December, so I’ve been in shape longer and working on more boxing instead of the usual eight weeks only of camp.”

“Nonito is very determined to re-establish his career and he believes 122 pounds is the perfect weight for him,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said.

Said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin, “Nonito is training very hard. He has his weight down and he can’t wait to fight again. Nonito is an extremely proud guy, a great fighter, and that really hurt going up in weight and losing and he couldn’t wait to get back in there. He’s motivated. That loss to Walters woke him up. He wants to show that he can still fight and I think he can. He trained hard for Walters but the guy was too big and too strong and he realizes that.”

By Bart Barry–

HOUSTON – Saturday at Carson, Calif.’s StubHub Center, a great fight venue with a moronic name, Jamaican featherweight Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters hacked former world champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire to a stump, in the co-main, and stopped him at the end of round 6. It was a case of dessert served before dinner, increasingly common in boxing’s kitchen, as HBO’s main event offered all the competitiveness its 60-to-1 odds promised.

I forewent the trip to California – no fight in which a man hasn’t a chance, not even one that features Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, warrants a flight – and instead sat beside the stage at Houston Improv, where Chicago comedian Corey Holcomb played to a full house.

No regrets here.

“One of the significant fighters, of the last several years, in the lighter weight classes, Nonito Donaire.” That is how HBO commentator Max Kellerman described Donaire a few minutes after the Axe Man felled him without even a “Timber!” Kellerman, straining at his harness not to employ HBO’s stock quotient of hyperbole – Walters, as a Spanish-speaking Jamaican featherweight, is not, after all, nearly so marketable as a middleweight from Kazakhstan – might near as easily been describing his network: “One of the significant broadcasters, of the last few decades, within pay-cable’s limited reach” or prizefighting: “One of the significant sports, of the last 25 years, among Americans’ third-tier diversions.”

It’s instructive how a fighter HBO nearly made its flagship guy just two years ago was now merely significant for a short time among smaller men. It’s an accurate appraisal by Kellerman, exactly right for once; it is both a proper read of what Donaire is and was and, retroactively at least, a proper read of the import HBO’s blessing now carries.

Fortunately for Nicholas Walters, he is not an HBO-blessed fighter. He is a man who chopped his way from Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City, in 2012, to brutal knockout wins over two very good veteran sluggers, Donaire and Vic Darchinyan. What makes Walters’ story special is not that he arrived on American cable fully formed, Gennady Golovkin did that as well, but rather that his full form was tested decisively and immediately: Darchinyan and Donaire represent a quality-of-opponent, in Walters’ two HBO appearances, Golovkin has not approached in thrice that many.

Walters is the son of a prizefighter, and that pedigree tells. Saturday he got overconfident, emboldened so much by his own power he forgot Donaire once separated effortlessly very brave men from their consciousnesses, and he got clipped in round 2 by Donaire’s deservedly celebrated left hook. It hurt Walters and spun him, and had there been another 30 seconds to go in the second, there’s no telling how things might have gone. But given a minute to recuperate, Walters’ incredible conditioning – born of an island, like the Dominican Republic, whose residents’ miraculous feats of athleticism are becoming, ahem, commonplace – Walters resembled no one so much as Floyd Mayweather against Shane Mosely: Hands up, prudence restored, forward marching behind a textbook jab.

Walters’ jab is extraordinarily long, fast, accurate and concussing. Donaire, whose own reflexes are enviable, saw Walters’ jab happening and countered over it successfully in the earliest rounds. By the fourth, though, after he got dropped by the same rear-hand uppercut Walters also dropped Darchinyan with, Donaire couldn’t counter Walters’ jab – because Walters’ jab disrupted Donaire’s equilibrium in a way that obviated reflex. Without a jab or reliable right, Donaire was reduced to his old digs in Left Hook City. Walters anchored his right guard to his cheek, waited for Donaire to put his life behind a left hook, pulled away from that hook, and then dropped an axe blade on Donaire’s left temple. And that was that.

Donaire, now a featherweight, admitted quite frankly afterwards he wanted no part of Walters’ offering, and since he neither wants to be denuded a second time at super bantamweight by Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito is effectively retired, even while he sharpens his pencil, arranges his T-square and readies a protractor for his return to boxing’s ubiquitous drawing board. More interesting, though, was a prefight description of Nonito’s reconciliation with Dad, when both men, according to Nonito, were being “alphas,” and Nonito implored himself to be a man, be strong, be a man, before sobbing uncontrollably once his dad departed.

It was a reminder of a certain debility of spirit about Donaire that long made others a little uncomfortable around him: He was a very good athlete who learned to be a fighter, which of course is different from a man who knows only one way. Or perhaps the point is better made as a question: Do you think Sergey Kovalev gives himself silent peptalks about being a man?

There’s a certain harmony a man has when he enjoys being who he is, and it’s a harmony often more noticeable in its absence, in the dissonance, for example, one senses from Donaire. I was reminded of this Saturday as I watched comedian Corey Holcomb ply his craft. There he sat on Houston Improv’s small stage, in an admittedly ridiculous and sparkly outfit he called “when an old (man) tries to dress young,” entirely relaxed, under the spell of himself, being wildly offensive before an evenly mixed crowd of men and women. Holcomb began with jokes about abortion clinics and moved to jokes about other women – “side pieces,” in the vernacular the comic shares with Paulie Malignaggi – and the illegitimate children that often result, whom Holcomb called “side babies.” It was a routine designed to offend, and performed to appear theatrically oblivious of what offense it caused.

As each of Holcomb’s jokes met with equal parts ribald laughter and hateful silence, Holcomb, with wide eyes and an angelic face, mockingly imitated a man who realized he’d just gone too far – and then went much farther still. An hour of watching Holcomb from ringside, as it were, convinces one of nothing so much as the power a man possesses when he withstands the derision of others, when he is intoxicated enough by himself to alter others’ rejections of him.

It is a different sort of fortitude than what Nicholas Walters showed Saturday, but it is of a piece, a harmony, the way Walters and Holcomb’s type of self-belief forces others to harmonize with them.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Gennady Golovkin thrilled a sold out StubHub Center in Carson, California in the 2nd round of their scheduled 12 round Middleweight championship bout.

Golovkin rocked Rubio at the end of the opening frame from a right. In round two, Golovkin landed a thudding uppercut that drove Rubio to the ropes. A follow up barrage that was finished off by a looping left to the head sent Rubio down for the ten count at

Golovkin, 159 lbs of Kazakhstan is now 31-0 with 28 knockouts. Rubio weighed in 1.8 lbs over the Middleweight limit is now 59-7-1.

Nicholas Walters announced his presence as a top flight Featherweight as Nicholas Walters scored a 6th round stoppage over Nonito Donaire to capture the WBA “Super” Featherweight title.

Donaire struck first as he rocked Walters with a left hook at the end of round two. In round three, Walters landed his own left hook that sent Donaire to the canvas. In round four, Dinaire suffered a cut over his right eye. In roud six, a cut formed over Donaire’s left eye. At the end of the sixth round, Walters landed two thudding right hands with the latter pouncing off the top of Donaire’s head that sent the former Fighter of the Year to the canvas again. Donaire was barely able to get to his feet but referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight at 2:59 of round six.

Walters, 125 1/w lbs of Montigo Bay, JAM is now 25-0 with 21 knockouts. Donaire, 125 1/2 lbs of Philippines is now 33-3.

Edwin Rodriguez scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Azea Augustama in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Scores were 100-90 twice and 99-91 for Rodriguez, 174 3/4 lbs of Worcester, MA and is now 24-1. Augustama. 175 3/4 lbs is now 17-2.

Abraham Han scored a 10-round majority decision over Marcos Reyes in a Super Middleweight bout.

Reyes Dropped Han in round eight but was deducted a point in round for a low blow.

Han, 160 1/2 lbs won by scores of 97-91 twice and 94-94 and is now 23-1. Reyes, 160 3/4 lbs is 32-2.

Gennady Golovkin 159 – Marco Antonio Rubio 161.8
Nonito Donaire 125.6 – Nicholas Walters 125.6

LOS ANGELES (October 15, 2015) — World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champions NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and NICHOLAS “The Axe Man” WALTERS collide This Saturday! in a WBA featherweight title unification showdown at a sold-out StubHub! Center in Carson, Calif. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will also feature WBA/IBO middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin defending his titles against World Boxing Council (WBC) interim middleweight champion Marco Antonio “El Veneno” Rubio. Golovkin vs. Rubio and its undercard are presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions, in association with Promociones Del Pueblo.

Donaire and Walters boast a combined record of 57-2 (41 KOs) — a winning percentage of 97% and a victory by knockout ratio of 72%. When it comes to these two world featherweight champions, “You could have knocked me over with a feather,” is more than just a figure of speech!

NONITO DONAIRE

“Confident fighters are dangerous fighters. I know that. But there other fighters who said before a fight they were stronger than me, hit harder, were going to knock me out.

“Walters is a good champion but really how many quality fights has he been in compared to where I have been in my career?

“We both have speed, we both have power. It’s an explosive fight. This is going to end in a knockout. I will go into the ring and do my best.”

NICHOLAS WALTERS

“Donaire is a very good champion. We both have speed and power. The difference is intelligence. I was born to fight. The bigger the fight the better.

“If Donaire isn’t right, he’s going to get knocked out. Maybe five rounds, maybe less. Not sure yet.

“But you know what? Donaire stepped up and took this fight. He didn’t have to. For that, I respect him for getting in the ring with me.”

******************************

For Donaire vs. Walters fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #DonaireWalters to join the conversation on Twitter.

In two short years, middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin has built a powerhouse reputation with East Coast fans thanks to an intriguing array of skills, highlighted by stunning knockout power, becoming perhaps the sport’s most feared fighter.

Now, he takes aim at the West Coast in his first Los Angeles-area prizefight when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: GENNADY GOLOVKIN VS. MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO AND NONITO DONAIRE VS. NICHOLAS WALTERS is seen SATURDAY, OCT. 18 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT from StubHub Center in Carson, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 19 (8:30 a.m.) and 21 (1:05 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 19 (4:00 p.m.) and 20 (12:15 a.m.)

In his 12th middleweight crown defense, Gennady Golovkin (30-0, 27 KOs), originally from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, and now training at Big Bear, Cal., meets the dangerous Marco Antonio Rubio (59-6-1, 51 KOs) of Torreon, Mexico in a scheduled 12-round contest. Currently boasting a knockout victory streak of 17, Golovkin has taken the boxing world by storm with an extraordinary knockout-to-win ratio of 90%, and no opponent has gone the distance with him since Nov. 2008. He’s trained by the highly regarded Abel Sanchez.

Rubio, who trains in Oxnard, Cal. with the accomplished Robert Garcia, has never backed away from a challenge. A veteran of bouts with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Kelly Pavlik, David Lemieux, Frankie Randall and Kassim Ouma, he brings a wealth of major-league experience into the ring.

Opening the telecast is a compelling featherweight title matchup pitting Nonito Donaire (33-2, 21 KOs) against Nicholas Walters (24-0, 20 KOs) in a 12-round battle. A native of the Philippines who’s currently based in San Leandro, Cal., Donaire was the 2012 BWAA Fighter of the Year. Having earned world titles in four different weight classes, he now puts his new 126-pound crown on the line. Walters, who hails from Jamaica, is widely viewed as a talented fighter.

Immediately after the live boxing action from Carson, HBO Sports will present the one-episode special “24/7 Hopkins/Kovalev” at approximately 12:15 a.m.

At 12:45 a.m. the HBO Latino service will present a doubleheader of HBO Latino Boxing action from StubHub Center. Headlining a 10-round light heavyweight battle will be Edwin Rodriguez and Azea Augustama and in the opening bout it’s a 10-round middleweight clash with Marcos Reyes squaring off with Abie Han.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.