Month: April 2018

Kotey’s “Nightmare” at the Hands of Decastro – Pugh and Hughes Reign Supreme at Pride Park -Ringside Report: Gianluca Di Caro

Pride Park in Derby may be best known as home of Derby County FC, however after Saturday night it may be just as well known as the new home of Boxing in the City.  Local Promoter Dan Gray and his team really pulled out all of the stops to put on a seriously top class International event, Dan Gray's second at the stunning venue, that outclassed the vast majority of the biggest televised events in the country, not just in the realm of quality of the promotion but also with regard to matching.  How refreshing it was to be ringside at an event where each and every fight was so evenly matched you really didn't know who was going to emerge victorious. This was boxing the way it should be and I loved every second of it, as I am pretty sure so did every single person that attended, well as virtually Read more [...]

Humberto Velazco in Legal Trouble with Government of Mexico for Pulling out of Fight

AGUASCALIENTES, MX (April 30, 2018) - Super middleweight prospect, Humberto "Tito" Velazco (19-1-1, 13 KOs), who is promoted by Sugar Promotions, is taking heat from the Government of Mexico for pulling out of his scheduled fight with Devis Caceres (24-8, 19 KOs), that was supposed to take place this past Saturday in Aguascalientes, MX. Velazco was set to face Devis Caceres (24-8, 19 KOs) for the vacant WBC Silver Super Middleweight Title at the "Feria de Campeones" card promoted by Sugar Promotions, but pulled out at the last minute, putting the entire card in jeopardy. "We have programs here in Mexico that are funded by the government of Mexico in Aguascalientes," said Dr. Lorenzo Soboranes Maya, director of Latino public relations for Sugar Promotions in Mexico. "One of which was this Read more [...]

Melson honored by Jewish Sports Heritage Association

New York, NY (April 30, 2018) – Retired professional boxer and Army Public Affairs Officer Boyd Melson was inducted to the Jewish Sports Heritage Association Sunday, April 29.  A 501(C)(3), the Jewish Sports Heritage Association, INC is an educational organization dedicated to educating the public about the role Jewish men and women have played in sports and showing Jewish youth that there is nothing they cannot achieve. All honorees were introduced by Master of Ceremonies Barry Landers at Temple Israel in Lawrence, NY. Each honoree then give a speech and received a plaque from the Jewish Sports Heritage Association. Following a solid amateur career, Melson had an 18 fight pro career and finished with a record of 15-2-1 with 4 wins by knockout. He won the WBC USNBC 154 pound title Read more [...]

WBO light flyweight champion Tito Acosta to make 1st title defense vs. Carlos Buitrago

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (April 30, 2018) -- Miguel Cotto Promotions hosted a press conference earlier today to announce World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World ChampionTito Acosta will make his first title defense at home on June 16 against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos "Chocorroncito" Buitrago in the "La Batalla" 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico. Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago Read more [...]

Super Channel to launch boxing series, “SUPERBOX LIVE” May 19 in Kansas

EDMONTON, Canada (April 28, 2018) - Super Channel has announced the formation of a new live boxing series, SUPERBOX LIVE, debuting Saturday, May 19, in association with KO Night Boxing LLC, from Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas,  International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas flyweight champion Nico Hernandez (4-0, 3 KOs) will take on Szilveszter Kanalas (14-7, 9 KOs) for the vacant IBA World Flyweight Championship in the 12-round main event. Wichita-native Hernandez captured a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics. Two years ago, Kanalas became one of the youngest (17) world champions ever, when he defeated fellow Hungarian boxer, Jozsef Ajtai, for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Super Flyweight World Championship. The card will also feature two heavyweight showdowns as rising Read more [...]

“Lil Pacquiao” Resendiz added to June 16 card in St Petersburg, Florida

Featherweight Jose “Lil’ Pacquiao” Resendiz will face Vincent Jennings in a six round contest as part of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions’ June 16 card at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg.   With a physical and stylistic resemblance to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, Resendiz built a strong fan base and rewards supporters with an all-action style. Originally from Mexico but now fighting out of St. Petersburg, Resendiz is 5-1 with 3 knockouts. He owns impressive wins over Mohamed El Marcouchi (2-0) and Raul Chirino (7-1), mercifully stopping the latter in a brilliant performance. His lone defeat came under extremely seedy circumstances and many argue he should’ve won by disqualification. In that contest, Resendiz badly hurt unbeaten Joshua Pagan with a body shot in the final minute of Read more [...]

WBF Championship Victories For Ali Yammouni & William Zepeda

On Friday night, April 27, in French port-city Calais, Ali Yammouni excited his home-town fans with a thrilling victory over Georgian late substitute Jaba Shalutashvili to win the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Middleweight title.  It could only be described as an all-out brawl between two boxers with little defense, as they took turns wobbling each-other in almost every round. With very few jabs or faints, it was power-punches galore from start to finish. Yammouni, who got the better of most exchanges, floored Shalutashvili in the second round with a short right uppercut, but the Georgian beat the count of referee Mohamed Hireche and gamely fought back. It was the only knock-down of the fight, and it went all ten rounds and to the scorecards. Judges Christophe Hembert Read more [...]

Golden Boy Boxing: Diego De La Hoya to defend his NABF and NABO Super Bantamweight Titles

VERONA, N.Y. (April 27, 2018): Diego De La Hoya (20-0, 9 KOs), the quick-handed super bantamweight contender of Mexicali, Mexico, will defend his NABF and NABO Super Bantamweight Titles against Jose "Sugar" Salgado (35-4-2, 28 KOs) of Cozumel, Mexico in the 10-round main event of the June 8 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. The event will take place during the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, where legendary fighters such as "Dr. Ironfist" Vitali Klitschko, Erik "El Terrible" Morales, and Ronald "Winky" Wright will be inducted, along with important figures in the sport of boxing such as Peter Kohl, Steve Albert, Jim Gray and Lorraine Chargin. ESPN2 will air the fights at a delayed start time of 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. Read more [...]

Ruben Villa Speaks to Troubled Kids at Monterey County Youth Center

PHILADELPHIA, Penn. / ORANGE, Calif. (April 25, 2018) - One week after winning his first professional title (WBO Youth) in his hometown of Salinas, Calif., prized featherweight prospect Ruben Villa paid a visit to the Monterey County Youth Center where he spoke to at risk adolescents. "There were a lot of young kids, kids that are still in high school that never really got the guidance that you would want them to have," said Villa, who sports an undefeated record of 11-0, 4 KOs. "My message was simple. You can still better your life, but you have to find the motivation that's going to make you want to change." Villa, 21, was fortunate to have found the sweet science at an early age. He started boxing the same year he entered kindergarten. Many youth in Monterey County and the greater Read more [...]

Mason Menard is training very hard for his upcoming battle with undefeated Devin Haney that will headline a ShoBox:

Beverly Hills, Calif. (April 25,2018) - Lightweight contender Mason Menard (33-2, 24 KOs) is training very hard for his upcoming battle with undefeated Devin Haney (18-0, 12 KOs)  that will headline a ShoBox: The New Generation card, live on SHOWTIME (10 PM ET / PT) on Friday, May 11th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.   Menard has set up training camp in Dallas, Texas for this important battle, which is now for the USBA Lightweight title. "Training Camp is Dallas is going great.  I'm feeling comfortable with my new team around me, and being around elite guys in the gym like Errol Spence, Jermell Charlo, Rob Brant and Cem Kilic has made me a better fighter," said Menard.  "My only real loss was to world champion Ray Beltran. May 11th can't come soon enough because I am ready to show Read more [...]

“Storm” Warning! Star middleweight Alexander Shlemenko To headline M-1 Challenge 93, Plus, Artem Frolov vs. Joe Riggs title fight

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (April 24, 2018)) - One of the greatest middleweights in mix martial arts history, Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko, returns to The Rage on June 1 to headline M-1 Challenge 93 versus Brazilian power-puncher Bruno Silva (17-6-0, M-1: 0-0-0), at Chelyabinsk, Russia.  A hand-to-hand combat sports and kickboxing specialist, Shlemenko (56-10-0, 1 NC, M-1: 6-0-0) is a former Bellator champion, who took top honors in the 2016 M-1 Grand Prix, using a choke hold for a second-round submission of Vyacheslav Vasilevsky in the M-1 Challenge 68 Fight of the Night. In his last M-1 action, "Storm" needed only 25 seconds to stop Brandon Halsey, avenging his Bellator title-fight loss, last June at M-1 Challenge 79. An aggressive striker who has had registered 56 career pro victories, Read more [...]

Bahamian Sons Promotions bringing live Professional boxing to Grand Bahama

FREEPORT, Grand Bahamas (April 24, 2018) - Bahamian boxing icon Sherman "Tank" Williams and Bahamian Sons Promotion presents live professional boxing, "Backyard Rumble", on May 26 at A Social Affair and Convention Center in Freeport, Grand Bahamas. "Bahamian Sons Promotions seeks to create an exciting venue in Freeport and across the Bahamas for live and televised professional boxing," said Kimberly Williams, Sherman's wife and president of Bahamian Sons Promotion. "Easy access to the beautiful islands of the Bahamas are the perfect place to train and get away." Fighting at home in the 10-round event, Williams (39-15-2, 1 NC, 21 KOs) takes on former world light heavyweight title challenger Epifanio "Diamante" Mendoza (43-26-1, 37 KOs), the Colombian knockout artist. Williams has been Read more [...]

McIlroy Secures Second Title In Knockout Fashion Ringside Report by Gianluca Di Caro – Photograph Courtesy of Kevin Thorne

On Saturday night fans of the Pugilistic Arts turned out in force to support local hero George McIlroy, as he challenged Ghanaian Godwin Cudjoe for the Professional Boxing Council (PBC) International Middleweight Crown at the Ayr Town Hall, Ayr, Scotland.Before we get to the boxing action, preceding the fights there was a ten bell salute for Kenny Barr, the Vice President (Scotland) of the British & Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA), who sadly passed away just before Christmas. It was a fitting that the eulogy was made at this event, as it was Kenny Barr, a long time friend of George McIlroy, who persuaded the Ayr fighter to come out of retirement last year, dangling potential title fights as the carrot.  OK onto the fights now, in reverse order with the main event first. McIlroy, who Read more [...]

Stars coming out for this Sunday’s New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner

NEW YORK (April 23, 2018) - Many boxing stars are coming out this Sunday afternoon, 12:30-5:30 p.m. ET, for the seventh annual New York Stare Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) induction dinner at Russo's On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.  Among those boxers who've committed are NYSBHOF past inductees Vito Antuofermo, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland and Renaldo "Mr." Snipes, as well as Monte Barrett, Zab Judah, Chris Algieri, Ray Mercer, Dennis Milton and Alicia Napoleon. Limited tickets are still available through this Thursday and priced at $150.00 per adult and $70.00 for children (under 16) and include a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET, as well as dinner (prime rib, fish or poultry) and open bar throughout the day. To purchase tickets, contact NYSBHOF Read more [...]

World featherweight contender Toka Kahn-Clary heads to Hollywood To work with Freddie Roach

PROVIDENCE, RI (April 22, 2018) - World-rated featherweight Toka "T Nice" Kahn-Clary (24-1, 17 KOs) has graduated from prospect to world contender. To fully develop, Kahn-Clary recently shifted his training camp from the smallest state in the country, Rhode Island, to the second-largest city in America, Los Angeles, where he has started working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Fighting out of Providence (RI), Kahn-Clary made the six-week move to Roach's famed Wild Card Boxing Club to receive fine tuning from Roach, avoid any potential distractions at home, and have an opportunity for world-class sparring sessions. The chemistry was there right away between Roach and Kahn-Clary. After his first day working with Kahn-Clary, Roach said the following: "Today was a very good day. Toka Read more [...]