Day: July 19, 2017

WBO Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders will make the second defense

LONDON (JULY 19, 2017)--WBO Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders will make the second defense of his crown against New York's Willie Monroe Jr. on Saturday, September 16th at London's Copper Box Arena, live on BT Sport and BoxNation. Hatfield's Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) defeated Irish hero Andy Lee to take the WBO strap in a close and absorbing fight back in December 2015 that saw the undefeated star floor the former Champion twice in the third round and go on to claim a majority decision from the judges. A series of injuries led to a frustrating 2016 for Saunders, but he eventually defended his belt last December against Artur Akavov in Glasgow. Saunders was not at his best, but outpointed the game Russian. He was due to take on Avtandil Khurtsidze before the Georgian's arrest Read more [...]

Valavanis Takes WBF Intercontinental, Ashour All Africa Champion

A former WBF All Africa Welterweight Champion and the reigning WBF International Super Welterweight titlist going in, Egyptian star Andreas Valavanis won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental Welterweight crown on Tuesday night, July 18, at Fitbox Corner in Cairo. After suffering a surprise knock-down in the second round, 25-year-old “King Cheetah” Valavanis recovered well and rallied back to stop experienced former Tanzanian Champion Omari Ramadan (29) in the second round with a vicious body-shot. A pro only since November of 2015, heavy-handed Valavanis is certainly being fast-tracked to the top, and improved his impressive ledger to 9-0 (9). Ramadan, a veteran of nine championship fights, is now 14-10-2 (10) since turning over in 2006. In the evenings co-feature, Read more [...]