August 2018 – BOXING NEWS PRESS RELEASES

Garcia and Stevens Close Out 2018 Youth World Championships with Wins

BUDAPEST, Hungary (August 31, 2018) -- The final day of the 2018 Youth World Championships in Budapest, Hungary was another golden day for Team USA, as both Heaven Garcia (El Monte, Calif.) and Asa Stevens (Waianae, Hawaii) won the female and male flyweight titles. Stevens began the final day of boxing in the first bout against 2018 European Champion Ivan Price of England. Leading up to this showdown, Stevens and the USA Boxing coaching staff worked on a plan that would result in victory. “The past three days we were creating a game plan of keeping distance and doing a lot of faints,” said Stevens after his gold medal performance. “I feel like we utilized it very well and that is how I got the win.” The flyweight boxed a total of five times through the 11-day tournament, which Read more [...]

Meuli Neutralizes Mulovhedzi To Become WBF Champion

25-year-old Swiss prospect Zino Meuli came of age on Saturday night, August 25, when he captured the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Welterweight title by defeating former IBO World Champion Tsiko Mulovhedzi from South Africa. Headlining a show promoted by Markus Schefer at the Bodensee-Arena in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, a lot of pressure was on the back of the young man from Horn, only about 30 kilometres away, with plenty of support from fans, family and friends. It was expected to be a tough and dangerous fight for Meuli, who had never competed at this level before, and Mulovhedzi, who had fought and defeated much better opposition, was by many considered a favourite to ruin the party. But, after a nervous start, the local hero found his distance and rhythm after Read more [...]

Philly Heavyweight Joey Dawejko Puts UK Olympian Joe Joyce on Blast for Taking Easier Fight

After being stepped over as Joe Joyce’s next opponent, Philadelphia fan favorite Joey Dawejko is calling out the highly touted UK-based heavyweight for taking the easy road. Since turning professional, Joyce, the outspoken 2016 Olympic Super-Heavyweight Silver Medal Winner and now Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight Champion, has made a habit of publicly calling out the division’s top contenders and champions. But Dawejko says Joyce’s antics may be just for show, and in reality, his representatives are very protective of their charge. Dawejko (19-5-4, 11 KOs) says he was offered and accepted the opportunity to face Joyce (5-0, 5 KOs) on the undercard of former welterweight champions Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter’s Saturday, September 8, showdown at the Barclays Center Read more [...]

Coyle forced to withdraw from October 6 fight

Tampa, FL (August 24, 2018) – Connor “The Kid” Coyle was forced to withdraw from his October 6 bout as part of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions’ “Night of Champions” card in St. Petersburg, Florida. During his training camp in Ireland, Coyle’s back began to swell and cause him pain. The unbeaten 28-year-old battled through the back problems and continued training. Unfortunately, the pain got worse and aggressively spread throughout his body. Coyle then checked into a local hospital. Doctors believe he has an inflammatory infection and ran a number of tests. In the interim, Coyle must refrain from training during the next 6 weeks. “I’d like to sincerely apologize to my fans for being unable to compete,” said Coyle, who is 8-0 and coming off a dominant stoppage Read more [...]

Update: Omar Juarez Fight Cancelled Due to Opponent Having Weight Issues

UPDATE: MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 24, 2018) - Due to his opponent having weight issues, the highly anticipated pro debut of Omar Juarez will now be postponed to another date. The Minnesota Commission declined to let both fighters make adjustments to the contracted weigh and the fight was cancelled. Look for Juarez to make his pro debut on Sept 30, 2018 on the Victor Ortiz vs. John Molina Jr. showdown. "I'm very disappointed that my fight was cancelled, said Juarez, "I worked extremely hard leading up to this fight. I want to say sorry to my family and friends who traveled from Texas to Minnesota to see me fight. I will be back in September with victory on my mind." ORIGINAL STORY: MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 23, 2018) - Highly decorated 19-year old amateur standout, Omar "El Relampago" Read more [...]

Brandon Robinson to now take on Ernest Amuzu on Friday, September 14th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA (August 23, 2018) -Brandon Robinson will now take on veteran Ernest Amuzu in the eight-round super middleweight main event that will headline a great night of action on Friday, September 14th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The nine-bout card is promoted by King's Promotions. Robinson of Philadelphia has a record of 10-1 with seven knockouts. The 30 year-old Robinson has won 10 straight fights, and has quickly established himself as one of the top super middleweight prospects in the country. The 2 year-pro is coming off a eight-round unanimous decision over Oscar Riojas on April 6th at the 2300 Arena, Amuza of Prichard, Alabama by way of Ghana, has an impressive mark of 24-3 with 22 knockouts. The 35 year-old Amuzu is an eight-year professional, who is coming Read more [...]

“The Special One” Sharad Collier Back in action Oct. 20 at Foxwood

HARTFORD, Conn. (August 21, 2018) - Hartford blue-chip prospect "The Special One" Sharad Collier returns to action October 20, on a show presented by CES Boxing, at Foxwood Resort Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The two-time New England Golden Gloves champion made his professional debut this past June 16, on his promoter's Hartford Boxing Promotions' inaugural event, "Fight Night at The Capital", in which he registered a sensational first-round knockout of Antonio Castillo Jr. (1-1), at Xfinity Centre in Hartford. Collier will step-up in competition, fighting in to his first scheduled six-round bout Oct, 20, against undefeated Springfield, MA welterweight Derrick Whitley, Jr. (4-0, 0 KOs), the son and uncle of well-known retired New England fighters. "I feel the same as I did in Read more [...]

KlowdTV to Air Live and it is Exclusively in the US Mchunu v. Oosthuizen

LAS VEGAS, NV. - 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." 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 Read more [...]

Power Punching Shoh Ergashev Wins Again in Russia, Calls Out Brandon Rios, Post-Fight

Undefeated junior welterweight slugger Shohjahon “Shoh” Ergashev notched another dominating victory on Sunday night, in front of a packed house at the Korston Club Hotel Moscow, in Moscow, Russia, as he demolished opponent Juma Waswa in four one-sided rounds. Fighting in the 10-round main event, Uzbekistan-born southpaw Ergashev (now 13-0, 12 KOs) was even able to drop Uganda’s Waswa for the first and second times ever, before stopping him the first time in his career. Ergashev showed his versatility, as he dug a lot of punches to the body to lower the defense of his opponent, who was fighting out of a high-hand-raised peekaboo stance. Throughout the fight, Waswa (now 10-3-1, 4 KOs) didn't manage to land even one clean punch. Afterwards, the confident Ergashev called for a high-profile Read more [...]

Russia’s Umar Salamov to Face Germany’s Denis Liebau in Explosive Light Heavyweight Clash on September 5 in Grozny

On Wednesday, September 5, fearless Russian light heavyweight contender Umar Salamov (21-1, 16 KOs) will risk his IBF #11 and WBO #15 rankings when he takes on treacherous KO puncher Denis Liebau (23-2, 21 KOs) of Frankfurt Germany, for the WBO International Light Heavyweight Championship. The explosive 10-round showdown will be held in the Amphitheater at the five-star Grozny City Hotel in Salamov’s hometown of Grozny, Russia, and televised live in Russia on Match TV. Eager for a shot at the world championship, Salamov has lately been honing his craft at the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit, while issuing public challenges to dangerous world champions Eleider Alvarez (WBO) and Dmitry Bivol (WBA). He was last seen in the ring in June, winning the IBF North American Championship by scoring Read more [...]

USA Boxing Alumni Association Profile: Dr. Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 20, 2018) - One of the classiest boxers to ever lace-up a pair of gloves is Dr. Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure, who is the only American boxer to capture an Olympic gold-medal and also earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D). "When I think of 'Skeeter' McClure," USA Boxing president John Brown said, "I think of the grassroots of our sport. When 'Skeeter' was a young boy growing up in Toledo, Ohio, he had a twinkle in his eye and a desire to box. We would learn later in life how talented, gifted and passionate 'Skeeter' McClure was about the sport of boxing. "It would be impossible for me, somebody who has spent his entire life in boxing, to find a better representative of our sport than 'Skeeter' McClure." Nicknamed "Skeeter" because his father thought Read more [...]

Devin Haney to Face Former World Title Challenger Juan Carlos Burgoes in Main Event of ShoBox

NEW YORK (August 20, 2018) - Top undefeated lightweight prospect Devin Haney will face three-time world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in the 10-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader Friday Sept. 28 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.The 19-year-old Haney (19-0, 13 KOs) returns for his second consecutive challenge of 2018 on ShoBox, this time against Burgos (33-2-2, 21 KOs), a veteran of 37 fights whose only defeats have come in world championship bouts. The co-feature of the second Friday of back-to-back ShoBox telecasts will feature an immediate rematch of one of 2018's most controversial and widely disputed fights. Lightweights Thomas Mattice (13-0, 10 KOs) and Zhora Hamazaryan (9-1, 6 KOs) will face off less than Read more [...]

Gonorenda And Ndafoluma Set For WBF Title Defenses

Two World Boxing Federation (WBF) Champions are set to defend their titles when Kalakoda Promotions presents “A Fistful of Dollars” on Friday August 31 at the International Conference Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe. WBF All Africa Cruiserweight Champion Chamunorwa “Sting” Gonorenda, 11-12 (7), will be looking to continue the resurrection of his career when he takes on London-based Nigerian Southpaw Tony Salem, 11-1 (6), in his first defense. Gonorenda was 7-12 after losing to former WBF World Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Makabu in April of 2017, but since then he has won four straight, including three stoppages, and picked up the WBF title last August by defeating Kaminja Ramadhan. In the co-featured bout, Lukas Ndafoluma, 12-1 (4), will be making a very quick turn-around as he Read more [...]

Junior Featherweight Arnold Khegai Stays Undefeated with TKO 2 over Africa’s Mudde Ntambi

Ethnic Korean, Ukrainian-born junior featherweight slugger Arnold Khegai stayed undefeated on Sunday, August 19, with an impressive two-round stoppage over Uganda’s Mudde Robinson Ntambi at the Korston Club Hotel Moscow, in Moscow, Russia. The IBF #13-rated Khegai (13-0-1, 9 KOs) utilized his monstrous strength and power to score two knockdowns in the second round, sending Ntambi (23-6-1, 7 KOs) through the ropes and forcing the referee to stop the fight. The 26-year-old Khegai says he was pleased with his performance and fees ready to climb another run of the ladder to a world championship. “All my preparations paid off and I am happy with my victory,” said Khegai. “Now I want to come to the United States and fight the champions to show that I am the best 122-lb fighter in Read more [...]

Jose Antonio Rivera Returns with a Bang KO Winner in His First Fight in 7 Years

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 19, 2018) - Seven years after his last fight, "El Gallo" Jose Antonio Rivera returned to the ring in grand fashion last night (Saturday) to headline "Homecoming, presented by Granite Chin Promotions in association with Rivera Promotions Entertainment, at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. THE CHAMP IS BACK: referee Bob Benoit (L) and Jose Antonio Rivera The 45-year-old Rivera (42-6-1, 25 KOs), 35 pounds lighter than he was in February when he started training, packed the house in his hometown, fully entertained his supportive fans. Three-time, two-division world champion Rivera pressured Larry "Slomoshun: Smith (10-38-1, 7 KOs) from the opening bell and he never let up. It took a few rounds for Rivera to wear off the rust, but he fed Smith a steady diet Read more [...]