Fightnews.com

By Ron Jackson

Former two time South African and three time world boxing champion Dingaan “Rose of Soweto” passed away in Mayfair, Johannesburg on Monday. He was 57. Thobela who had been unwell recently was found dead in his flat after he failed to answer telephone calls.

Born Dingaan Bongane Thobela on 24 September 1966 in Chiawelo, Soweto he did well at school and wanted to study to become a teacher, but as his boxing career took off all these plans were left behind. Continue reading “Dingaan Thobela remembered”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with the undefeated #1 WBO welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (32-0, 17 KOs) who is back in action against the also undefeated Brian Norman Jr (25-0, 19 KOs) on Sat, May 18 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego and shown live on ESPN and is the co-feature to Navarette-Berinchyk. Santillan shocked the boxing world when he knocked out the former #1 contender Alexis Rocha, who was in line for a shot at Bud Crawford’s WBO title at the time. Crawford went on to take on Spence Jr. where he became the undisputed welterweight champ. Santillan is hoping a big win against Norman will propel him into a title shot at 147 this year and is open to fight the young stars at 140 looking to move up and has his sights on arguably the face of boxing now, Ryan “KingRy” Garcia.

Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez and challenger Jaime Munguía kicked off fight week Tuesday with Grand Arrivals in Las Vegas. They clash Saturday in a PPV card on Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo Alvarez: “This is a very significant and historic fight with two Mexicans fighting for all four belts for the first time. I’m looking to leave my mark and put my country up high.”

Jaime Munguía: “This is going to be an interesting fight and we’re going to come after him. We’re going to look for him in the ring, and in the end it’s going to be an amazing fight for the fans.”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

This time, I will try to remember some things that have happened around boxing events, making it clear how destiny is marked for each of us and how boxing is full of surprises every single day and surrounding every event.

One of the great promoters in history, who I remember with great affection, Dan Goossen, adroitly navigated around a number of situations which he sailed into. A long-standing boxing family, there were 10 Goossens and naturally, their company was called Ten Goose Promotions.

Here is one of the great anecdotes. Continue reading “Every Event is Full of Memories”

Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, has announced that if Deontay Wilder gets past Zhilei Zhang in good shape on June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he will face unbeaten Jared Anderson two months later in Los Angeles.

Turki Alalshikh: “The talented Jared Anderson is with us now on August 3rd Riyadh Season card at LA against the “Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder – if he’s ready by then to fight after 1st of June’s fight against Zhilei Zhang. I always believe that boxing would be at its peak when you have young American heavyweights like Jared Anderson which I also believe in his talent and his promising future. my advice to him ‘Focus on your future, training, and commitment and you will reach to your goals.’ Happy to collaborate with Top Rank again – Riyadh Season card 3rd of August in LA, will be one for the history!”

By Boxing Bob Newman

Sad to report the passing of former world champion Dingaan Thobela. “The Rose Of Soweto” held two versions of the lightweight title- WBO from 1990-1991, the WBA in 1993 and incredibly, jumped up 5 divisions to annex the WBC Super Middleweight title in 2000! In a career that spanned 20 years, Thobela would face 11 world champions, going 3-7-1 in that run and 40-14-2, 26 KOs overall.

Thobela had an undisclosed illness recently and hadn’t been answering phone calls, prompting family to have police conduct a wellness check at his flat in Mayfair, outside Johannesburg, where his body was found. He leaves behind his common-law wife Sandra and two children Ntombi and Dingaan Thobela Jr. Thobela was 57. Rest In Peace champ.

The July 20 clash between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will not be an exhibition and the result will go on their official professional records.

“Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight,” announced Paul today on social media.

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has reportedly agreed to sanction the Tyson-Paul fight as a professional eight-rounder with two-minute rounds, 14-ounce gloves, and no headgear.

Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez opened as a 6:1 favorite over Jaime Munguía and the odds haven’t changed much since then. Álvarez remains around -600 at most sportsbooks.

If you want to see the featured fighters in person for this Saturday’s big Canelo-Munguia card in Las Vegas, the grand arrivals are open to the public and will take place at 2PM tomorrow (Tuesday) in the MGM Grand Lobby.

• 2:30 PM – Eimantas Stanionis / Gabriel Maestre
• 2:45 PM – Brandon Figueroa / Jessie Magdaleno
• 3:00 PM – Mario Barrios / Fabian Maidana
• 3:15 PM – Jaime Munguía
• 3:30 PM – Canelo Álvarez

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has announced the signing of lightweight contender Karlos Balderas, (14-2, 12 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract. The 2016 United States Olympian, trained by Robert Garcia and David Balderas, will return to action on Saturday, June 7 against Gilberto Espinoza Zarate, (13-2, 8 KOs), of Tijuana, Mexico in a scheduled eight rounder at the Chumash Casino Resort hedlined by ‘King’ Callum Walsh.

Unbeaten super welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) made quick work of former world title challenger Thomas Dulorme on Saturday night to set up a mouth-watering August 3 showdown with former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.

“I know you’re watching this fight, Tim Tszyu. Just know I’m ready!” said Ortiz. “I just want to fight the best…they bring me opponents and I knock them out.”

The debut card of Dominic Walton’s Teflon Promotions was one to remember. A huge lineup of Philadelphia’s biggest name fighters and future stars saw action on Saturday at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University.

In the main event, heavyweight Andrew “Beast” Tabiti (21-2, 17 KOs) demolished Junior “Hurricane” Wright (20-5, 17 KOs). In the co-feature, light heavyweight Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (31-3, 25 KOs) stopped Daniel Aduku (15-5, 11 KOs) in round five. Other notables in action included heavyweight Joey “Tank” Dawejko (28-11, 15 KOs), who halted Walter Burns (7-2, 5 KOs) after three rounds, and super lightweight “Hammerin’ Hank” Lundy (32-14, 14 KOs), who won a six round split decision over Juan De La Cruz (11-23-1, 7 KOs).

Other Results:
Nikita “White Chocolate” Ababiy TKO1 Jesus Cruz Silva (middleweight)
Muhsin Cason TKO1 DeShon Webster (cruiserweight)
Dylan Price TKO2 Sebastian Franzolini (bantamweight)
Juan Rivera TKO1 DeAndre Menser (super lightweight)
Juan Marrero KO1 Daniel McCall (lightweight)
Seifullah Jihad Wise W4 Aaron Newmones (welterweight)
Tariq Green D4 Rancy Slanger (middleweight)

Former unified super lightweight world champion Jose Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) scored an exciting twelve round unanimous decision over 38-year-old former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at the Save Mart Center In Fresno, California. Ramirez applied tremendous pressure and punch volume, however Barthelemy rocked Ramirez with straight lefts on multiple occasions. Ramirez took over midway as Barthelemy wore down. Scores were 119-108, 119-109, 118-110.

Undefeated super welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) demolished Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a body shot 2:39 into round one. Dulorme went down for the count. Ortiz is now lined up to face former world champion Tim Tszyu on August 3 in Los Angeles.

In a super lightweight clash, Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) hammered on former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (33-6-1, 15 KOs) for nine rounds, ultimately getting a referee’s stoppage at 2:32. Duarte simply outworked Diaz, who has now lost five of his last six.

Female flyweight Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs) claimed the WBC, WBA, and WBO titles by split decision in a rematch with former world champion Marlen Esparza (14-2, 1 KO), who lost her belts on the scale on Friday. Alaniz pressed the action and won 97-93, 96-94 on two cards. Esparza was up 98-92 on the third card.

Unbeaten NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) destroyed Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2, 7 KOs) in the first round. Two knockdowns from body shots. Time was 1:31.

2020 Olympian Peter McGrail (9-1, 5 KOs) returned to his winning ways after suffering a shock KO loss at the hands of Ja’rico O’Quinn Last December. McGrail scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over former British super bantamweight champ Marc Leach (18-4-1, 4 KOs) in a bout for the WBA international title on Saturday night at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, England. Scores were 100-90. 99-91, 99-91.

By Damien St.Pierre

Current NABA Gold Heavyweight champion Jonathan “King” Guidry secured his 21st victory as a professional boxer on Friday night at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS, and he did it in very convincing fashion. Guidry (21-1-1, 13 KOs) who is also currently ranked #13 by the WBA walked down Mobile, AL’s Bobby O’Bannon (10-8, 10 KOs) from the opening round. Round one saw Guidry go to work on the body of his opponent. To his credit O’Bannon did put up a fight and landed a good right hand in the middle of the round but not enough to keep the round close.

The second and final round saw Guidry turn up the pressure and landed a chopping right hand followed by left hand that put O’Bannon down. O’Bannon beat the count but was on extremely unsteady legs and official Brandon Huges stopped the bout shortly after. Continue reading ““King” Guidry Reigns Supreme”

In a clash between unbeaten super welterweights, Yoenis Tellez (8-0, 6 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over “Action” Joseph Jackson (19-1, 15 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando, Florida. Tellez dropped Jackson in round two en route to a 100-89 3x shutout.

Andrew “Beast” Tabiti 221.1 vs. Junior “Hurricane” Wright 223
Jesse “Hard Work” Hart 175.2 vs. Daniel Aduku TBA
Nikita “White Chocolate” Ababiy 162 vs. Jesus Cruz Silva 156.6
Muhsin Cason TBA vs. DeShon Webster TBA
Dylan Price 121 vs. Sebastian “Tito” Franzolini 119.9
Juan “Different Breed” Rivera 143 vs. DeAndre Menser 141.3
Juan Marrero 133.4 vs. Daniel McCall 135.5
Joey “Tank” Dawejko 257 vs. Walter Burns 228
“Hank” Lundy 140 vs. Juan De La Cruz 140.1
Seifullah Jihad Wise 148 vs. Aaron Newmones 146.1
Tariq Green 162.2 vs. Rancy Slanger 162.9

Venue: Liacouras Center, Temple University, Philadelphia
Promoter: Teflon Promotions
TV: BLK Prime PPV

Jose Ramirez 141.8 vs. Rances Barthelemy 142

Vergil Ortiz Jr. 155.6 vs. Thomas Dulorme 154.6

Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte 138 vs. Joseph “JoJo” Diaz 137.6

Marlen Esparza 114* vs. Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz 111.2
*Note: Esparza lost her unified WBC/WBA/WBO female flyweight world titles on the scale.

Raul “El Cugar” Curiel 146.4 vs. Jorge Marron Jr. 146.2

Venue: Save Mart Center in Fresno, California
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Peter McGrail 121.8 vs. Marc Leach 121.2
Junaid Bostan 153.5 vs. Jack Martin 151.9
Ste Clarke 161.3 vs. Artjom Spatar 160.2
Beatriz Ferreira 134.8 vs. Yanina Del Carmen Lescano 134.4
Joe McGrail 126.4 vs. Ryan Walker 125.7
Hamza Uddin 115.3 vs. Santiago San Eusebio 114.9
Maiseyrose Courtney 113.2 vs. Gieseppina Di Stefano 114.2
Frankie Stringer 136.2 vs. Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes De Oliveira 133.5

Venue: Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

By Miguel Maravilla

Tijuana, Mexico’s former world champion and undefeated super middleweight Jaime Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs) held a media workout Tuesday afternoon at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California in preparation for his Mexican showdown against fellow Mexican and superstar, undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) of Guadalajara. The Mexican showdown goes down next Saturday, May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video.

“I’m very happy about this opportunity. I’m excited because there’s no better way to represent the Mexican fans than fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend. I really believe that this is going to be an exciting and memorable fight,” Jaime Munguia told reporters at the media day. “I can’t wait to get in the ring on May 4,” Continue reading “Jaime Munguia: I’m Ready for Him”

U.S. Olympian and former unified super lightweight world champion Jose Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) and undefeated super welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) hosted their final press conference on Thursday. Opponents Rances Barthelemy and Thomas Dulorme were not present. The twinbill take place on Saturday on DAZN from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Jose Ramirez: “I am ready for this Saturday. My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division. I plan on making a statement on Saturday, and that’s what I was working on in the gym. Thank you to Oscar and to Golden Boy for the opportunity.”

Vergil Ortiz, Jr: “I don’t have too much to say right now. All everyone should know is that we had a great training camp, trained hard, and had incredible sparring. I like running – I ran a lot. I really don’t have anything else to say aside from that.”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / WBC President

During this year I have had the opportunity to hold unforgettable encounters and meetings with many champions of great sentimental value for me and for our WBC. It has been a busy year with a lot of travel, but the most important thing has been those moments with my beloved champions.

Manny Pacquiao

I was with him for several days during my visit to the Philippines. It was very gratifying to see what a so loved person he is. It was impressive to see that he was always the last person to leave the events we went to, signing autographs, taking photos, and making video messages for those who asked him. We talked about topics of great interest, as he has very interesting plans to perhaps still have some high-level fight, although he is also already a promoter of boxing, basketball and pool. A legendary champion adored by everyone in the Philippines and the world. Continue reading “Boxing All Around the World”

Ramon Arellano (Arellano Boxing) presents another night of boxing May 23 in Nashville, Tennessee. The site location will be the popular local Mexican restaurant San Jose Fiesta owned by Arellano. The 4 round light heavyweight main event will feature local unbeaten Michael Nelson (2-0, 2 KOs) looking to keep his 0 vs the debuting Jordan Hawthorne-Ranzy. Continue reading “Boxing back in Nashville”

A pair of showdowns featuring super welterweights in separate attractions will highlight PBC on Prime Video action taking place Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The two matchups will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card.

The live streaming presentation will be topped by hard-hitting contender Jesus “Mono” Ramos (20-1, 16 KOs) taking on Venezuela’s Johan Gonzalez (34-2, 33 KOs) in a 10-round bout, plus Vito Mielnicki Jr. (16-1, 11 KOs) battles Ronald Cruz (19-3-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight kicking off the stream. These bouts will lead into a four-fight PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video. PPV price is %89.99.