Ilunga Makabu won a 12-round split decision over Thabiso Mchunu to retain the WBC Cruiserweight title at the Packard Music Hall in Warren Hall.

It was a fight that did not provide much action, but it seemed like the challenger may have done barely enough to get the victory. Mchunu landed quick shots on the inside where Makabu’s good shots were fewer and far between.

The bout was a rematch of Makabu’s 11th round stoppage in 2015.

Makabu of The Congo won by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 while Mchunu took a card 115-113. Makabu is now 29-2. Mchunu is 23-6.

Makabu could now be looking at a huge opportunity against pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez.

“Today I didn’t come for the knockout,” said Makabu, who won the vacant WBC belt by registering a unanimous decision over Michal Cieslak almost exactly two years ago on Jan. 31, 2020. “I just came to show that I can box. I am going to box and knock Canelo out in my next fight, baby.”

In his United States debut, the 34-year-old Makabu pressed the action against his compatriot and successfully followed his team’s game plan from the opening bell to run his unbeaten streak to 10.

“We were leading the fight comfortably,” said Makubu’s trainer, Damien Durandt. “Junior (Makabu) boxed beautifully. We knew what Mchunu was about. He brought in some elements that surprised us. I told Junior not to look for the knockout. If it comes, we will take it. All I wanted from round one was points. He said to me, ‘I got you baby.’

“I landed a lot of my punches, but the judges saw it the other way, said the 33-year-old who fought in the U.S. for the sixth time. “He (Makabu) didn’t really hurt me.”

Bryan Decisions Guidry; Retains WBA Heavyweight Title

In an entertaining battle, Trevor Bryan retained the WBA Heavyweight title with a 12-round split decision over Jonathan Guidry.

Bryan dominated the fight with his jabs and good right hands that followed. He had Guidry hurt on several occasions, but the pesky challenger was able to take those and fight back with heart and courage. In round 12, Bryan dropped an exhausted Guidry in the final seconds. Guidry was able to get to his feet and heat the final bell.

Bryan of Albany, NY won by scores of 118-109 and 116-111, while Guidry took a card 115-122 and is now 22-0. Guidry of Dulac, LA is 17-1-2.

“Trevor Bryan is here to stay, said the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident. “I showed that tonight. I am only going to get better and keep improving my skills. I worked until the final bell. I am taking my talents overseas. I am going to make those fights against the top three, which is Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Oleksandr Usyk. I deserve those fights. This is a steppingstone for me. Shout out to Jonathan Guidry. He was a tough opponent.”

“It was a close fight,” said Guidry after the decision was announced. “We only trained for four weeks for this fight. I want another shot at it. If I get in a little bit better shape, I’ll put on a better show. It was heartbreaking. If I had a little bit more gas in the tank, I could have gotten him (Bryan).”

“The last round he caught me in my neck,” Guidry recalled. “I feel really good. I wasn’t supposed to make it this far.”

Langston Stops Kisner in 5

Johnnie Langston stopped Nick Kisner in round five of their 10-round cruiserweight fight.

In round five, Langston dropped Kisner three-times. The first came after a combination that punctuated by a body shot. The second came from a well placed left to the body. Langston ended things when he landed a big right that hurt Kisner that was followed by a combination that sent Kisner to the canvas to the deck and the fight was topped at 1:40.

Langston of Sarasota, FL is 10-3 with four knockouts. Kisner of Baltimore, MD is 22-6-1.

“I knew that Kisner was slick, Langston said in the ring after. “I just put the punches together and started landing. When he (Kisner) switched back and forth and went southpaw, I landed the overhand left and followed it up with the right uppercut.”

Scott Decisions Hefney

Decaree Scott remained undefeated with a 10-round splits decision over Ahmed Hefney in a heavyweight bout.

In round four, Hefmey was badly cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt.

Scott of Atlanta, GA won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and is now 7-0. Hefney of Brooklyn, NY via Egypt won a card 96-94 but falls to 13-2.

“I knew I could go 10 rounds,” Scott said. “It wasn’t a problem. The cut was a punch. He (Hefny) was missing punches, holding, and grabbing. I worked so hard. I deserve this title.

Wiggins stops Wilson in 3

Tre’Sean Wiggins stopped Cody Wilson in round three of their 10-round welterweight bout

Wiggins dropped Wilson in round two, with a hard left. Wiggins dropped Wiggins early in round three with a hard left. Wilson was able to get up, but he ate a flurry of punches and the bout was stopped at 1:33.

Wiggins of Newbergh, NY is 13-6-3 with seven knockouts, Wilson of West Virginia is 10-4.

“Everything went right,” Wiggins said. “I am the man in charge right now. This is only the beginning. I knocked the door down, now I am running through.”

Michael Moore won a 10-round unanimous decision over Anthony Lenk in a middleweight bout.

Moore of Cleveland, won by scores 99-91 on all card, and is now 19-3. Lenk of Niagara Falls, New York is 17-8.

WARREN, Ohio (January 26, 2022) – WBC World Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Makabu will defend his world title against WBC Cruiserweight Silver Champion Thabiso Mchunu in the main event while WBA Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan will square off against WBA No. 13-ranked Heavyweight Contender Jonathan Guidry on Saturday, Jan. 29, at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio.

All four fighters joined eight others who will compete for four more championship belts in the final press conference for Don King Productions’ “RETURN TO GREATNESS” on Wednesday at the Grand Hotel. Johnnie Langston (9-3, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, Fla., will square off against Nick Kisner (22-5-1, 6 KOs) of Baltimore, Md., in a 10-round bout for the NABA Cruiserweight title and Ahmed Hefny (13-1, 5 KOs) of Queens, N.Y., takes on undefeated Decatur, Ga., prospect Dacarree Scott, who has a perfect record of 6-0 with 6 KOs. Plus, West Virginia’s Cody Wilson (10-3, 7 KOs) meets New York’s Tre’Sean Wiggins (12-5-3, 6 KOs) in an NABA Middleweight Title Bout and the NABA Middleweight Championship will be up for grabs as local product Michael Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, will meet Anthony Lenk (17-7, 7 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY.

Warren Mayor William D. Franklin declared January 26, 2022, Don King Day in Warren, Ohio, presenting the legendary 90-year-old Hall of Fame promoter with a special “Don King Day” Proclamation plaque.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster or the W.D. Packard Music Hall. The fight card will be televised through

Donking.com, DKPBoxing.com, or Itube247.combeginning at 6 p.m. ET at a cost of $49.99.

DON KING: International Boxing Hall of Fame Promoter

“We’re going to have a sensational evening of boxing. I am very pleased to be home again. It will give people a chance to have fun again. No one should take it lightly. It would be much better if you take the vaccinations and the shot, where your mask and socially distance.

“We are here to give you a moment of respite. Hey everybody, let’s have some fun. Live it once, and when you’re dead, you’re done. No matter whether you are young or old, let the good times roll.

“I have to thank God because we had a governor (of Ohio) who reduced the charge for me, basically because he said it wasn’t possible. Nevertheless, he put his reputation on the line. They sent me to the Ohio penitentiary. They said they were going to give me shock probation. I had never been arrested so they were going to give me 30-90 days. I ended up doing four years. I made the time serve me. I educated myself in the penitentiary. When I came out of the penitentiary, the good citizens of Cleveland were waiting to tell me about the hospital that was going to be closed down for lack of funds and would I promote a fundraiser for the hospital.

“I called Muhammad Ali to come in and box five or six guys. In so doing, we would raise money for this hospital. He told me that I was the greatest promoter he had ever seen, and I should go into boxing. So, my first fight was Muhammad Ali. We made history together. Then he got convicted by not taking that step into the Army. He was sentenced to five years and a big fine at the height of his career. He stood as a conscientious objector. The United States Supreme Court reversed that decision. Ali then came back and made history again with me promoting him.

“The four years that he (Ali) was out, no one knows how great he would have really been because he was at the top of his career. Plus, he would have made millions of dollars during those four years.

“You’ve got to say, ‘Muhammad Ali take a deep breath. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Your hands can’t get what your eyes can’t see.’  He was so fast that he could turn the switch off and get in bed before the room got dark.”

ILUNGA MAKABU: WBC Cruiserweight Champion

“I hope everybody knows who I am. I’m very thankful for this opportunity to be here today in front of you guys. I’m very thankful to Don King Productions for making this event happen because plenty of events have been disturbed by COVID. I’m very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to defend our title on January 29. I don’t have much to say. I just want to say good luck to my opponent Thabiso Mchunu because this is the second time I’m fighting him now. Thanks to all who come to support us. Thanks to my team. Enjoy the fight on the 29^th.”

THABISO MCHUNU: WBC No. 1 Ranked Cruiserweight Contender

“The hard work has been done. Come fight night, I am ready to go. All the best to everyone who is fighting on Saturday night.”

TREVOR BRYAN: WBA Heavyweight World Champion

“I am here to stay, to keep proving myself. I have a strong opponent in front of me in Jonathan Guidry. I appreciate him being out here. This is a big opportunity for him as well. We are going to show it out for you in Ohio and showcase all this talent for the whole world to see.

“It’s been a long road, a lot of hearsay. I am here to stay. It won’t be long now. I am the journey.”

JONATHAN GUIDRY: Undefeated WBA No. 13-Ranked Heavyweight

“All the hard work is done. I am just glad we got the opportunity. We are just thankful to be out here to shock the world.”

RAY “BOOM BOOM” MANCINI: International Boxing Hall of Fame Boxer/Jan. 29 pay-per-view commentator

“I am very excited about this fight card here at W.D. Packard Music Hall. I fought six times here in 1980 on the way up. I had a fight here against Jose Luis Ramirez to defend my North American belt. It is a great venue. It is just a great facility for boxing. It’s great to have championship boxing back here in Warren, Ohio.”

HONORABLE WILLIAM D. FRANKLIN: MAYOR OF WARREN, OHIO

“We are very proud, honored, and happy to be hosting this event. I know what we’re about. I am thankful to you, Mr. King for letting us be the host of this great event seen by boxing fans worldwide. Who would have thought that Warren, Ohio, would be the host?

“On Saturday night, by the benevolence of Mr. King, we are going to have a record number of our safety forces at the fight. We’re going to host more than 175 police officers, firefighters, and health care workers. They have been protecting us for almost two years.

“Mr. King, I tried to capsulize what people don’t talk about; your heart, your life, your spirit, your experience, your strength and hope that you give to so many people.”

BERNIE PROFATO: Executive Director of Ohio Athletic Commission

“In 1972 Don King called me and I was a young referee at the time. He asked if I wouldn’t mind donating my time because they were going to do a boxing show for this hospital. I said, ‘Don, for you, absolutely anything.’ Don King is the only person in the state of Ohio that I have issued a lifetime boxing license to. No one deserves it more than him. This is probably the greatest overall fight card in the 20 years that I have been at the Ohio Athletic Commission to be promoted in Warren, Ohio. I am so honored that Don has done this.”

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (January 14, 2022)—Don King has done it again!

After working the phones and finalizing contracts, King proved once again he knows how to put together an action-packed championship night of boxing come Saturday, January 29^th in Warren, Ohio at the W.D. Packard Music Hall.

Count them…six championship bouts on one card featuring two World Championships—the co-main events spotlighted with Ilunga Makabu defending his WBC World Cruiserweight Championship against Thabiso Mchunu and WBA World Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan risking his title against Jonathan Guidry.

Tickets for the spectacular night of boxing are on sale at Ticketmaster or the W.D. Packard Music Hall.  The tickets will be priced at $550, $350, $250, $175 and $80. 

The evening will feature two co-main events as Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) of South Africa takes on the number one challenger and fellow countryman, WBC Silver Champion Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs).   The winner is hopeful of the opportunity to fight World Champion Canelo Alvarez later this year.

The WBA World Heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) of Fort Lauderdale, FL will be featured in the other co-main event as he risks his title against Jonathan Guidry (17-0-2, 10 KOs) of Dulca, Louisiana.

And if those two championship fights weren’t enough, King has four other NABA titles on the line for fighters who are knocking on the door of stardom.

The NABA Gold Heavyweight championship will pit veteran Alonzo Butler (34-3-2, 25 KOs) from Chattanooga, TN taking on young Ahmed Hefny (13-1, 5 KOs) from Egypt via Queens, NY.

The NABA Cruiserweight title clash features Johnnie Langston (9-3, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, FL and Nick Kisner (22-5-1, 6 KOs) of Baltimore, MD.

The NABA Middleweight Championship will be up for grabs as local product Michael Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, OH will meet Anthony Lenk (17-7, 7 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY.

The sixth and final title fight of the night will showcase Cody Wilson (10-3, 7 KOs) of West Virginia, VA and Tre’Sean Wiggins (12-5-3, 6 KOs) of Newburgh, NY battling for the NABA Welterweight championship.

The evening will get rolling with a special Cruiserweight attraction pitting Jaywon Woods (11-1-1, 5 KOs) of Danville, VA challenging Shawn Miller (18-6, 7 KOs) of Troy in an eight-round affair.

The World’s Greatest Promoter, Don King, has come through again with another spectacular championship night of boxing as he returns to Ohio.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (November 26, 2021)—Homecoming At Last! The fight for the forgotten people (the homeless, poor, and downtrodden people) will benefit from this championship doubleheader.

The world’s greatest boxing promoter, Don King, will return to his home state of Ohio on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, as he presents another blockbuster for the forgotten people, who won’t be forgotten any more, world championship fight pitting WBC Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Junior Makabu and the number one challenger, WBC Silver Champion Thabiso Mchunu.

The WBC world championship fight for the love of the people, will be held at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH.  In addition to Makabus-Mchunu, a special 10-round heavyweight sensational attraction will pit undefeated Jonathan Guidry (18-0-2, 10 KOs) of Dulac, Louisiana risking his perfect record against Alonzo Butler (34-3-2, 25 KOs) of Chattanooga, TN.

King, who represents Makabu, came to an agreement with Mchunu’s representatives on the 12-round world championship fight, and the winner will advance to fight Mexico’s great champion Canelo Alvarez in the month of May.

Alvarez will be ringside in Warren, OH to see who his next opponent will be.

“This is going to be one action packed WBC world championship fight with a very big fight on the horizon for the winner,” said King.  “They are both warriors and this war for the recognition of the homeless will start the new year in grand style, recognizing the homeless, and helping others.” 

Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) is from the Democratic Republic of The Congo, defended his championship in his hometown of Kinshasa as he stopped Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Durodola with two solid left hooks in the seventh round last December. 

Makabu, who has won his last nine decisions, won the vacant title on Jan. 31, 2020 in winning a unanimous decision against Michael Cieslak.

Thabiso (23-5, 13 KOs), who hails from South Africa and is nicknamed “The Rock”, became the WBC Silver Titlist with a unanimous decision over Denis Lebedev on Dec. 21, 2019.  He last defended his title and scored another unanimous victory over Evgeny Tishchenko on March 27, 2021.  Thabiso has won his last four fights.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (October 20, 2021)—The world’s greatest boxing promoter, Don King, has put together another blockbuster championship fight pitting WBC Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Junior Makabu and the number one challenger, WBC Silver Champion Thabiso Mchunu.

King, who represents Makabu, came to an agreement with Mchunu’s representatives on the 12-round championship fight, to be held in the next two months.

“This is going to be one action packed championship fight,” said King.  “They are both warriors and this battle could result in one of the best championship fights of the year.” 

Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) is from the Democratic Republic of The Congo, defended his championship in his hometown of Kinshasa as he stopped Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Durodola with two solid left hooks in the seventh round last December. 

Makabu, who has won his last nine decisions, won the vacant title on Jan. 31, 2020 in winning a unanimous decision against Michael Cieslak.

Thabiso (23-5, 13 KOs), who hails from South Africa and is nicknamed “The Rock”, became the WBC Silver Titlist with a unanimous decision over Denis Lebedev on Dec. 21, 2019.  He last defended his title and scored another unanimous victory over Evgeny Tishchenko on March 27, 2021.  Thabiso has won his last four fights.

Thomas Oosthuizen won a 12-round majority decision over Thabiso Mchunu in a cruiserweight bout at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa.

Oosthuzien, 195.6 lbs won by scores of 115-113 twice and 114-114, to raise his mark to 28-1-2. Mchunu, 197.7 lbs is 19-5.

Ryno Liebenberg stopped Alfonso Tissen in round five of their scheduled 12-round super middleweight bout.

In round five, Liebenger landed a hard right hand that hurt Tissen. With Tissen in trouble, Liebenberg landed a barrage of flush punches that forced the stoppage at 1:48.

Liebenberg, 167.9 lbs is 19-6 with 13 knockouts. Tissen, 167.3 lbs is 12-3-2.

Michael Mokena got off the deck to come back to stop Lusanda Komanisi in round four of their scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

Komanisi dropped Mokoena in round one with a big uppercut.

In round four, Mokoena landed a booming right and left that sent Koanisi down. Komanisi staggered as he got to his feet, and the bout was stopped at 48 seconds.

Mokoena, 134.9 lbs is 13-2 with eight knockouts. Komanisi, 1332. lbs is 21-5.

Keaton Gomes stops Tshilidzi Mulaudzi in round one of their scheduled four-round cruiserweight bout.

Gomes landed a hard right hand that hurt Mulaudzi. Gomes followed up by landing a barrgae of hard punches, and the bout was stopped at 2:23.

Gomes, 196 lbs is 2-0 with 2-0 two knockouts. Mulaudzi, 194.1 lbs is 0-2.

Coram Ray won a six-round unanimous decision over Jade Karam in a middleweight bout.

Karam, 159.2 lbs won by scores 59-55 and is now 5-0. Karam is 9-9-2.

LAS VEGAS, NV. – August 21st, 2018 – On Saturday, September 1st, KlowdTV
will present a battle between highly regarded cruiserweights, Thabiso Mchunu and Thomas Oosthuizen in a 12-round bout from The Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa.

The fight will mark yet another world-class boxing event that KlowdTV is bringing to the fans in the United States.

“This continues a great run of fights that we are excited to bring boxing fans in the United States,” said KlowdTV President, Robert Herring, Sr. “This is another terrific matchup, and we will continue to stream the top fights from around the world. There is a thirst for these fights, and KlowdTV promises to continue to serve up great events.”

Thomas Oosthuizen vs Thabiso Mchunu
Thomas Oosthuizen vs Thabiso Mchunu

Mchunu of Cato Ridge, South Africa has a record of 19-4 with 12 knockouts.

The 30-year-old southpaw has been a player in the cruiserweight division for the better part of the last decade.

He has big wins over Sean Santana (4-1), Daniel Bruwer (21-1-1), and Zack Mwekassa (10-2); also, two wins over Flo Simba (12-2), former world heavyweight title challenger Eddie Chambers (36-3), Olanrewaju Durodola (17-1), and Boniface Kabore (18-3). He stopped Ricards Boloniks in his most recent winning bout on June 23rd.

Mchune lost in his bid for the WBO Cruiserweight title on December 17, 2016, when he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk.

Oosthuizen of Booksburg, South Africa has an impressive mark of 27-1-2 with 16 knockouts.

The 30-year-old Oosthuizen is a 10 year professional who has a plethora of big victories to his credit, most notably against Semanda Shabane (1-0-1), Jared Lovett (7-0) Cleber Argente Alves (5-1), Saul Roman (32-6), Evert Bravo (15-1-1), Aaron Pryor, Jr. (16-3), Francisco Sierra (24-4-1), Serge Yannick (14-1), Marcus Johnson (21-1), Rowland Bryant (16-1), Former world title challenger Fulgencio Zuniga (25-5), Ezequiel Maderna (20-1), Ryno Liebenberg (16-1), Robert Berridge (26-2-1), and Daniel Bruwer (24-6-1).

Oosthuizen is coming off his 1st professional defeat when he lost by a decision to world title challenger Igor Mikhalkin on May 19, 2017, in Germany.

A full undercard and start time will be announced shortly.

KlowdTV is a 24/7 live streaming service that has over 32 live channels and 50 music channels.

KlowdTV can be accessed on the KlowdTV Box, Apple TV, Opera TV, Smart TV’s, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Computer browsers, ROKU, and all IOS or Android devices.
To sign up visit www.klowdtv.com and choose the premium package option.

The Mchunu v. Oosthuizen bout is available on KlowdTV to United States viewers only. There will be no free trials available for live boxing events.

(New York City, October 10, 2017) STAR BOXING brings championship boxing to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on Saturday, November 25 as WBC International Cruiserweight Champion and WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight Champion CONSTANTIN BEJENARU, (12-0, 3KO’S), of Brooklyn, NY defends his titles against #1 ranked mandatory contender THABISO “The Rock” MCHUNU, (18-3, 13KO’S) of Cato Ridge, South Africa, in the ten round main event.

Bejenaru is coming off two victories seen on the popular Showtime series ShoBox: The New Generation, over fellow contenders Stivens Bujaj and Alexey Zubov.

A native of the Eastern European country, Moldova, Bejenaru is a quick handed aggressive fighter who has shown rapid improvement with each fight. He captured the vacant WBC International Cruiserweight and vacant WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight titles with his dominant victory against Bujaj in his last fight on November 4, 2016.

Mchunu is no stranger to big fights having challenged Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO World Cruiserweight Title on December 17 of last year. Mchunu fell short in a valiant attempt getting stopped in the ninth round. Mchunu holds a victory over highly regarded Eddie Chambers which also took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2013. Mchunu will be coming all the way from his home in South Africa for this coveted title opportunity.

Defending champion Bejenaru had this to say about his upcoming fight, “The Bejenaru Team is facing a world class boxer who fought for a world title. This fight is a great opportunity for me to move up in the world rankings and a step closer to the world title. I’m in great shape and ready to put on a great performance”.

Challenger Mchunu had these comments “I’m very grateful for this opportunity. It’s more than that it’s a dream. There’s plenty of action in the division now. Winning is not negotiable if I’m to reawaken my ambition of winning a world title. I look forward to putting on a great show”.

Promoter Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing, had these comments “This is a top-notch fight between two top cruiserweights looking to place themselves in the world championship picture. With the cruiserweight tournament presently taking place the winner of this fight will be in an excellent position to challenge for the world title. I’m looking for an outstanding fight between these two young men.”

Further details on an outstanding undercard will be announced shortly.
TICKETS:
Tickets starting at $35.00 will go on sale This Friday, October 13 at 10 AM E.T. through Mohegan Sun Box Office, Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1 (800) 745-3000. Additional information and ticket links available by visiting www.starboxing.com.

Follow all the action as the legendary Bernard Hopkins wraps up his Hall of Fame career when he takes on Joe Smith, Jr. in a light heavyweight bout from the Forum in Inglewood, California.  The action kicks off at 10PM ET / 7 PM PT with a cruiserweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Thabiso Mchunu.  That will be followed by a featherweight contest between Joseph Diaz, Jr. and Horacio Garcia

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1: Right wobbles Hopkins…Left from Smith..Good body shot..

Round 2 Smith lands 2 body shot…Smith bleeding from the head (Headbutt)..Hopkins lands a right..

Round 3 Uppercut by Smith…Right from Hopkins..Good body shot..

Round 4 Good right from Hopkins..Left hook to the body and left from Smith..Left hook from Hopkins..Left hook and good right from Hopkins..(Smith outlanding Hopkins 38-29)

Round 5 2 hard rights from Hopkins..Big left hook to body from Smith..Good right from Hopkins..Left hook..Good body shot and big right from Smith..Good jab,,

Round 6 Smith lands a right

Round 7 Hopkins lands a combination

Round 8 RIGHT HAND KNOCKS HOPKINS OUT OF THE RING—FIGHT IS OVER

Round 1: Garcia landing early..Straight left from Diaz..Good body shot..

Round 2:  Diaz lands a body shot…Good counter combo

Round 3

Round 4 2 hard rights by Garcia..Good body shot by Diaz..Good left..Hard left..body shot..straight left..

Round 5 Straight left from Diaz

Round 6 Diaz landing combinations to the head

Round 7 2 lefts from Diaz..Good combination..Good left hand lead..left to the body..Good body shot

Round 8 Diaz landing combinations

Round 9 Diaz lands right to the body..Left to the head..Combination..Good left

Round 10 Garcia lands a right..Good right to the body…Hard body shot and straight left from Diaz..Overhand right from Garcia..

100-90 ON ALL CARDS FOR JOSEPH DIAZ, JR.

Round 1: Good hook from Mchunu..

Round 2 Jab from Mchunu..Mchunu landed 17 punches; Usyk 15 through 2 rounds

Round 3 Mchunu works the body..Hook from Usyk..Right from Mchunu..

Round 4 Usyk starting to open up…Counter left from Mchunu..

Round 5 Hard right from Usyk…Hard 1-2

Round 6 Right hook from Usyk..Hard 5 punch combination..Left hurts Mchunu..Left from Mchunu..COMBINATION AND DOWN GOES MCHUNU..

Round 7:  quick uppercut from Mchunu..Counter left

Round 8 Usyk lands a left and right to head…2 counters from Mchunu…Usyk lands a left…Mchunu lands a right (Usyk outlanding Mchunu 133-67)

Round 9 Good body work by Usyk…STRAIGHT LEFT AND DOWN GOES MCHUNU..2 good counters by Mchunu..Osyk lands a big left..Body shot from Mchunu…LEFT TO TOP OF HEAD AND DOWN GOES MCHUNU…FIGHT STOPPED

Joe Smith Jr ended the legendary career of Bernard Hopkins when he knocked Hopkins out of the ring in the 8th of their scheduled 12-round light heavyweight bout at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

In round one, Smith wobbled Hopkins with a right to the top of head.  In round two, Smith was cut inside his left eyebrow from an accidental headbutt.  Hopkins fought his way back into the fight as he occasionally landed his trademark right hand and some nice uppercuts on the inside.

Smith was bombing away with his right hand and startled but never had Hopkins in much trouble.  That changed in the 8th round, when Smith rocked Hopkins with a right hand.  A follow up combination drilled Hopkins out of the ring.  Hopkins fell on the back of his head, and could not beat the 20 count of referee Jack Reiss and Hopkins was stopped for the 1st time in his illustrious 28 year career.

Smith 174 lbs of Long Island, NY is now 23-1 with 19 knockouts.  Hopkins, 174 lbs of Philadelphia will wind up his career with a record of 55-8-2.

Joseph Diaz, Jr. remained perfect by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Horacio Garcia in a featherweight contest.

Diaz used superior handspeed and body work to control the action and outland Garcia by a 266-116 mark.

Diaz, 126 lbs of South El Monte, CA won by scores of 100-90 on all cards,  and is now 23-0.  Garcia, 125.8 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is 30-2-1.

Oleksandr Usyk retained the WBO Cruiserweight title with a 9th round stoppage over Thabiso Mchunu

Usyk started to open up in round five and in round six, dropped Mchunu with a hard combination.  Usyk continued to build his lead and then in round nine, he landed a hard straight left that sent Mchunu to the canvas.  Mchunu was able to continue, but not for much longer as a left to the top of the head put Mchunu down for a 3rd and final time.  Referee Lou Moret stopped the bout at 1:53.

Usyk, 199.6 lbs of Kiev, UKR is now 11-0 with 10 knockouts.  Mchunu, 198.6 lbs of Cato Ridge, SA is 17-3.

Jason Quigley remained undefeated by stopping Jorge Melendez in the 1st round of their scheduled 10-middleweight bout.

Quigley dropped Melendez with a short right in the 1st round. Quigley dropped Melendez a short time later with a five punch combination. Melendez went down for a 3rd time in the round from a right. Melendez was able to continue, but just for a brief time as he landed a big flurry that forced the corner to stop the fight at 2:42.

Quigley, 159.6 lbs of Donegal, IRE is 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Melendez, 158.6 lbs of Manati, PR is 28-8-1.

Ryan Garcia remained undefeated by scoring a 2nd round stoppage over Antonio Martinez in a scheduled 6-round lightweight bout.

Martinez was cut over his left eye in the 1st round from a huge flurry of punches by Garcia. Garcia scored a knockdown at the end of the round from a right hand. In round two, Garcia dropped Martinez with a left hand. Garcia continued the onslaught and landed a bug right hand that forced the referee to stop the bout at 2:00

Garcia, 131.4 lbs of Victorville, CA is 7-0 with 6 knockouts. Martinez, 131.4 lbs of Durango, MX is 6-8.

Bernard Hopkins 174 – Joe Smith, Jr. 174
Joseph Diaz Jr. 126 – Horacio Garcia 125.8
Oleksandr Usyk 199.6 – Thabiso Mchunu 198.6
(WBO Cruiserweight title)
Jason Quigley 159.6 – Jorge Melendez 158.6
Ryan Garcia 131.4 – Antonio Martinez 131.4
Carlos Morales 130 – Charles Huerta 130
Cristian Gonzalez 134.6 – Jonathan Perez
Roberto Rivera 133 – Ivan Delgado 131.4

Inglewood, California: This Saturday night undefeated WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk (10-0, 9 KOs) will make his first defense against Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (17-2, 11 KOs) at the Forum in Inglewood, California. This exciting match-up will open HBO World Championship Boxing telecast beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT headlined by Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. Below is the scouting report for this bout:

Category
Oleksandr Usyk
Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu
Age
29
28
Record
10-0 (9 KOs)
17-2 (11 KOs)
Strength
Usyk has knockout power in both hands and is a tremendous pressure fighter. He possesses possibly the most dangerous left hand in the division, as well as a jab that is consistently at work.

Thabiso may have the fastest hands in the division. He throws lightning quick combinations and is a dangerous counter-puncher. He is also quick on his feet, making it very difficult to land clean.
Weakness
Although he had an extensive amateur career, he has just 10 pro fights under his belt. A majority of his bouts took place in Ukraine; this will be the first on US soil, where the crowd support may not be as much as he is accustomed to.
Mchunu’s stamina has gotten him into trouble in the past, most notably in his 2015 title eliminator bout with Illunga Makabu, a bout in which he was ahead on all cards before running out of steam in the championship rounds.
Experience
Oleksandr has plenty of amateur experience, accumulating over 400 bouts and a 2012 gold medal at the Summer Olympics. He has only had 10 professional bouts, but in his most recent fight he won the WBO Cruiserweight title from Krzysztof Glowacki.
The Rock has almost double the professional fights under his belt compared to his opponent. Along the way he has defeated credible opposition in former title contenders Eddie Chambers and Olanrewaju Durodola.
Power
The Ukranian’s power has been a force thus far in his young career. He delivers a relentless body attack and a ferocious left hand that can end the fight at any time.
Mchunu has solid power that is primarily based off of his speed. His power will be felt most when he unloads his combinations.
Speed
Usyk has above average speed, both in his hands and his feet. He keeps a steady and consistent pace throughout the fight and really turns it up a notch when going for the finish.
Thabiso’s speed is his strongest attribute; he is very agile in the ring. His cat-like reflexes make it very difficult for his opponents to connect and steer clear of his counter-punches.
Endurance
Usyk may have a slight edge in endurance regardless of having only 10 pro bouts. He was forced to go the distance for the first time in his most recent bout for the WBO Cruiserweight title. He was able to go a full 12 rounds and earn a decision win in enemy territory.
Mchunu’s endurance has been his kryptonite thus far in his career. He will need to maintain a steady and consistent pace in this bout considering the relentless attack that his opponent is known to deliver.
Accuracy
Usyk has solid accuracy; he keeps his jab productive all night. He has been very effective in breaking his opponents down with his in-your-face style.
Mchunu picks his shots wisely and is not known to waste punches. His accuracy could be on full display if he can get on the inside and unleash his quick combinations.
Defense
Usyk’s best defense is his rigorous offensive attack. He has made it very difficult for any of his prior opponents to get going offensively.
Mchunu’s defense is one of his finest traits as a fighter. His agility and quick reflexes make it difficult for any fighter to feel comfortable offensively.
Chin
Usyk proved in his last bout that he can take a shot. He took hard punches from Glowacki for 12 rounds and was able to stand his ground and deliver more of his own.
Thabiso has been stopped twice in his career, with one of those stoppages coming against former title contender Illunga Makabu in 2015.
Style
Oleksandr is an aggressive, in-your-face fighter who doesn’t take his foot off of the gas all night. He is willing to take some to give some and will throw the whole kitchen sink in the process.
Mchunu is a defensive-minded fighter who utilizes his hand speed and agility to keep his opponents guessing. He has also shown that he has no problem standing and trading shots with anyone in the division.
Crowd Support
Usyk has never fought in the US, but the hardcore fans in attendance will be familiar with him. Due to his exciting fighting style, those who do not know him may keep him on their radar by the night’s end.
Mchunu has fought in the US in the past and earned some big wins in the process. If he lets his hands go the way he has before, then he may very well share the crowd support here.
Intangibles
Usyk does not believe in tune-up bouts. He has been on a fast-track to the title since he turned pro and was thrown into the gauntlet to do so. Each of his opponents had winning records as well as more experience than him leading up to his bouts. With his first fight on US soil looming and the pressure to impress on HBO, he has chosen one of the more difficult fighters in the division to showcase his talents. He will face a young and experienced fighter who is hungry to get back on top and one who many believe to be the fastest cruiserweight in the world.
Mchunu has earned big wins in his career, both on big stages and in front of live audiences. At the young age of 28, he has time to regroup and earn some easy wins until his name is called upon again. However, Mchunu accepted challenging fights his whole career and does not plan to stop now. There are less-challenging contenders in the division that he could have petitioned for, but he believes that he is the best cruiserweight in the world. He knows the fastest way to prove that is to defeat Oleksandr Usyk, who many believe is one of the best talents in the sport.
The Match-Up
1. Will Mchunu be able to handle the power of Usyk?
2. Will Usyk be able to handle the boxing ability of Mchunu?
3. Will Mchunu’s stamina be a problem in this 12 round bout?
4. Will Usyk be able to handle the pressure of fighting in the US and on HBO for the first time?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker and 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year Jolene Mizzone, “This is a great matchup. As the champion, Usyk could have taken an easier opponent but he wants to challenge himself. Mchunu who could have also taken an easier fight but is hungry for a world title. Fights like these are made for fireworks. It obviously is a must win for both fighters!”

Hopkins vs. Smith, Jr. is a 12-round WBC International Light Heavyweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. Diaz, Jr. vs. Garcia is a 10-round NABF featherweight title match presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Usyk vs. Mchunu is a 12-round WBO Cruiserweight World Title battle presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events. The event is sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from Inglewood, California’s “Fabulous” Forum on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.starboxing.com, www.K2promos.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.fabulousforum.com; follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @starboxing, @HBOBoxing, @therealbhop, @beastsmithjr, @JosephDiazJr, @TomLoeffler1, @OleksandrUsyk, @Main_Events, @ThabisoMchunu and @TheForum; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ GoldenBoyBoxing, https://www.facebook.com/ StarBoxing/, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/TheForum; and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOBoxing. Follow the conversation using #HopkinsSmith.

HBO Boxing closes out 2016 with an iconic competitor taking on a determined challenger when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: BERNARD HOPKINS VS. JOE SMITH, JR. AND JOSEPH DIAZ, JR. VS. HORACIO GARCIA AND OLEKSANDR USYK VS. THABISO MCHUNU is seen SATURDAY, DEC. 17 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from The Forum in Inglewood, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 18 (9:00 a.m.) and 19 (11:15 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Dec. 20 (12:45 a.m.)

The fight will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

For his final bout, Philadelphia’s Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) takes on rising prospect Joseph Smith, Jr. (21-1, 18 KOs) from Long Island in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight contest.

In a remarkable career that started behind prison walls and defied the odds, Hopkins, 51, has fought professionally as a middleweight and light heavyweight for 28 years. Winning seven titles and making a record 20 consecutive successful middleweight title defenses, he is widely considered a sure thing for the Hall of Fame. But age and a lack of ring activity are certain to be factors in Hopkins’ 23rd appearance on HBO, since he hasn’t fought since Nov. 2014.

With just one blemish on his record, Smith, 27, supplements his training by working construction on Long Island, and has compiled an outstanding 78% knockout-to-win ratio. He seeks to raise his standing in the division as he continues to pursue a championship fight.

In the middle bout, Joseph Diaz, Jr. (22-0, 13 KOs) of South El Monte, Cal. takes on Horacio Garcia (30-1-1, 22 KOs) from Guadalajara, Mexico in a scheduled ten-round featherweight contest. A 2012 U.S. Olympian, Diaz seeks to keep his perfect pro record intact and raise his national profile; Garcia is fighting in the U.S. for only the third time.

The tripleheader opens with a cruiserweight title contest between southpaw Oleksandr Usyk (10-0, 9 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine and Thabiso Mchunu (17-2, 11 KOs) of Cato Ridge, South Africa. A 2012 Olympic gold medalist, title-holder Usyk, 29, will be making his U.S. debut with this scheduled 12-round matchup. The more-experienced Mchunu, 28, has fought three previous times in the U.S. The fight marks the first live cruiserweight battle on the network since 2003.

Friday night HBO LATINO will present a tripleheader from Fantasy Springs Casino starting at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) headlined by a light heavyweight attraction between Vyacheslav Shabranskyy and Sullivan Barrera.

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, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Johnathan Evans.

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

Los Angeles, CA (November 9, 2016) – Newly crowned World Boxing Organization Cruiserweight Champion, Oleksandr Usyk, (10-0, 9 KOs) of Kiev, Ukraine will make his highly anticipated United States debut in his first title defense against world ranked contender Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu, (17-2, 11 KOs) of South Africa on Saturday, December 17 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, CA and televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The Usyk-Mchunu 12-round clash is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events and will open the HBO telecast headlined by the light heavyweight clash between Two-Division World Champion and Future Hall-of-Famer Bernard Hopkins, (55-7-2, 32 KOs) and hard-hitting contender Joe Smith Jr., (21-1 18 KOs) and a 10-round co-main event between Joseph Diaz Jr. and Horacio Garcia who will clash for the NABF Featherweight Title.

“This is a great opportunity, I’m very excited to fight for the first time in the United States and on HBO,” said Usyk. “After winning the world title in September, fighting in America was the next goal and I promise the fans in Los Angeles and those watching on HBO a great performance,” said Usyk, known for his world class performances, heavy hands and his memorable victory dances.

“Against good opposition, I ‘The Rock’ always rise to the occasion, “said Mchunu. “I’m eagerly focused on the throne!”

“Oleksandr is very anxious to fight in the United States, he wants to be known as a true world champion, the same status the Gold Medal provided him as an amateur,” said Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions Ukraine. “We’re very thankful to HBO for this opportunity and see this as just the first step towards Oleksandr becoming a superstar in the United States.”

Said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions, “We’re very happy to bring Oleksandr to the United States. He has drawn large crowds to his fights in Ukraine and there is much anticipation for him coming to America and to become the next boxing superstar. His entertaining, all-action style will be a thrill for fight fans at the Fabulous Forum and those watching on HBO. Having seen the Los Angeles fans’ reaction to both Gennady Golovkin and Roman Gonzalez’s fights at The Fabulous Forum with its rich boxing and entertainment history, this venue is a special place for star making performances.”

Stated Kathy Duva of Main Events, “Thabiso jumped at this opportunity the moment the offer was conveyed without hesitation. He is coming to win and it will be a great fight. I would also give all the credit in the world to Usyk for taking on such a tough challenge in his first defense of the title.”

The 29-year-old Usyk capped an extraordinary amateur career winning Olympic Gold at the London Games in 2012. Signing with K2 Promotions, Usyk scored knockouts in his first nine bouts in front of huge crowds in Ukraine and Germany. On September 17, 2016, Usyk won the WBO Cruiserweight World Title from champion Krzysztof Glowacki, brilliantly dominating the action over 12 rounds in Gdansk, Poland. The unanimous decision championship victory in Usyk’s tenth professional bout broke the previous record of twelve fights held by Future Hall-of-Famer Evander Holyfield. Usyk is currently world ranked in the cruiserweight division, #2 by ESPN and USA Today and #3 by Ring Magazine.

The 28-year-old Mchunu is world ranked #9 by the WBC, #13 by the WBO and #14 by the IBF. Although based in South Africa, he has fought and been victorious on three previous occasions in the United States. Making his U.S. debut on August 3, 2013, Mchunu won a 10-round decision over former world title challenger Eddie Chambers. In 2014, the southpaw also won 10-round decisions over Garrett Wilson and Olanrewaju Durodola. Most recently Mchunu knocked out Boniface Kabore in the second round on May 20, 2016 in South Africa.

Hopkins vs. Smith is a 12-round light heavyweight battle presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. Diaz vs. Garcia is a 10-round NABF featherweight title match up presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Usyk vs. Mchunu is a 12-round WBO Cruiserweight World Title battle presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on Saturday December 17, 2016 from Inglewood California’s “Fabulous” Forum on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets are now on sale and are priced at $25, $50, $75, $105 and $205, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the Forum Box Office (Monday through Friday 11:00am PST to 7:00pm PST) at (310) 330-7300. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.starboxing.com, www.K2promos.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.fabulousforum.com; follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @starboxing, @HBOBoxing, @therealbhop, @beastsmithjr, @JosephDiazJr, @TomLoeffler1, @OleksandrUsyk, @Main_Events, @ThabisoMchunu and @TheForum; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, https://www.facebook.com/StarBoxing/, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/TheForum; and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOBoxing. Follow the conversation using #HopkinsSmith.