Boxing News

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American contender Andre Ward outboxed reigning WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler last night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, winning the Showtime's Super Six tournament bout.

Kessler came forward early but couldn't find the target as Ward used excellent footwork to stay out of range while punishing the Dane with lightning quick left hooks and right hands.

Ward started to mix in the jab as Kessler got closer in the third but the fourth and fifth frames saw both men forced to shake off hard punches from the opponent. More...

Manny Pacquiao solidified his status as a modern day great this evening at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV by unseating reigning WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto via a 12th round stoppage.

The combatants both came out strong in the opening moments, trading leather with great gusto until Pacquiao broke things open with a full-blooded right hook that had Cotto on the floor in the third.

But the champion got up and went back to matching the challenger punch for punch. Pacquiao proved he could take the punishment handed out by a strong welterweight and fire back in return, canvassing Cotto again in the fourth.

The champion was shaken up this time but rejoined the fray, slugging it out with the quicker southpaw in the fifth and sixth frames.

Pacquiao began to pull clear in the seventh as Cotto could no longer hold the center of the ring and was getting beaten to the punch repeatedly. More...

Last night at the XL Centre in Hartford, CT, Interim WBC and IBO light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson outpointed challenger Glen Johnson in a rematch fought over the full 12 round distance.

The pair first clashed in April, 2008 when Johnson forced an all-action thriller upon his younger, taller adversary but this time southpaw Dawson wisely kept his 40 year old rival largely on the outside, much to Johnson's disadvantage.

Dawson, 27, used excellent footwork to stay away from exchanges, picking off the challenger during the odd moments that Johnson managed to close distance. More...

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Yonnhy Perez made the most of his first world title fight by knocking off reigning IBF bantam titlist tonight at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

The underdog coming into the challenge, Perez had previously pulled off an upset over Silence Mabuzza in South Africa earlier this year while Agbeko was coming off a stunning victory over heavily favored Vic Darchinyan.

The clash between Agbeko and Perez was expected to produce fireworks and the pair didn't disappoint as the artillery began to fly from the opening bell. More...

Tonight at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas, NV, IBF bantam champ Joseph Agbeko faces the challenge of Yonnhy Perez in what should turn out to be an epic battle.

Agbeko, 27-1 (22), of Ghana, came out of nowhere in 2004 to lose a narrow IBF title challenge to Wladimir Sidorenko in Germany before capturing the vacant Commonwealth crown later that year.

After a two and a half year absence from the ring, Agbeko returned with three bouts in 2007, the last of which won him the IBF bantam crown when stopping Luis Alberto Perez in the seventh.

After a difficult majority decision victory against William Gonzalez last December, Agbeko really hit the limelight when soaking up everything multi-weight champ Vic Darchinyan had to offer in July, banging out a unanimous decision after 12 absolutely furious rounds.

Tonight, the 29 year Bronx resident puts his IBF belt at risk for the third time, facing undefeated Colombian Yonnhy Perez, 19-0 (14). More...

IBF light middle champ Cory Spinks returns to the ring this Saturday as the slick southpaw squares off with challenger Carlos Molina at Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas, NV on the undercard of the Joseph Agbeko vs. Yhonny Perez IBF bantam title clash.

Spinks, 37-5 (11), a former unified welterweight champion, recaptured the IBF 154 pound crown in April by winning a tough split decision against younger crosstown rival Deandre Lattimore.

At 31, Spinks may have lost a step but should still have it together enough to get past the challenge posed by Molina.

However, Molina is fresher at age 26 and has been much more active than the champion, with this being the sixth bout he's performed in since December of last year. More...

There's a big show tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York as WBA feather champ Yuriorkis Gamboa and WBO super bantam titlist Juan Manuel Lopez put their respective crowns on the line.

Former Cuban defector Gamboa, 15-0 (13), could be the most impressive professional to come out of the boxing-rich island but it's too early to tell yet if this is truly the case.

After only 15 pro bouts, Gamboa has displayed stunning speed and reflexes that have thus far supported his superb punch selection and aggressiveness.

But, with such an emphasis on offense, there are holes in the defense. This has resulted in the Cuban phenom getting decked a few time but "El Ciclon de Guantanamo" has always gotten back up to win.

Last time out, the 27 year old Gamboa won the Interim WBA belt by stopping Jose Rojas in the tenth in April and has since been elevated to full WBA champ. More...

Despite his 38 years, Vitali Klitschko remains firmly in control of the heavyweight division after battering brave but outgunned challenger Chris Arreola for ten rounds last night to retain the WBC title at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Arreola stuck to his game plan of coming forward in the attempt to take away the towering champion's reach advantage but for a big man, Klitschko has excellent footwork, reflexes and boxing skills, nullifying almost everything the challenger could offer.

Using a pole axe-like jab, Klitschko made Arreola pay for each foot gained into enemy territory and on many occasions, the champ's very hard right hand followed in combination to great effect.

Arreola's main problem early on was he could not land anything of substance. That changed a bit in the middle rounds but Klitschko proved to be able to take Arreola's heavy artillery on the occasion when it connected and also punish the Californian afterward for his troubles. More...

Tonight at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the WBC heavyweight title is up for grabs as Vitali Klitschko defends against undefeated Cristobal Arreola over 12 scheduled rounds.

During the media buildup to this one, a lot has been made of the power of Arreola, 27-0 (24), by his promoters and while it's true that their man does have a very good punch, it pales in comparison with that of Klitschko.

Towering Vitali, 37-2 (36), has belted out every one of his victims with the exception of fellow 6'7 tall Timo Hoffman when the two clashed for the European title in 2000.

And that's what this fight comes down to in a nutshell; can Arreola take Klitschko's punches for all 12 frames?

Most of Klitschko's stoppages over the last 10 years have been in the later rounds. Since losing a controversial bout to Lennox Lewis in 2003, four of Vitali's five finishings have been in the eighth or ninth rounds. More...

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Despite sitting on the sidelines the last 21 months, Floyd Mayweather Jr returned in top form tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to reestablish his authority as the finest boxer of his generation and in the world today.

Following up his 10 round dismantling of Ricky Hatton in December, 2007, Mayweather came back to his former stomping grounds of Vegas to shove aside the aspirations of Juan Manuel Marquez over the twelve rounder at welterweight.

Much had been made of Marquez's two highly contentious contests against arch-rival Manny Pacquiao during the media buildup leading up to tonight's clash but the masterful Mayweather aptly showed that meant nothing when stacked up against his prodigious gifts. More...

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The moment of Floyd Mayweather's return to a boxing ring has finally arrived tonight as the top boxer on the planet faces Juan Manuel Marquez over twelve rounds at welterweight at Las Vegas' MGM Grand.

There isn't much that hasn't already been said or written about this pairing and it's obvious that Mayweather is the favorite heading into tonight's clash.

But there are variables to the accepted wisdom of Mayweather having the advantage in size and speed, not the least of which is the former multi-weight champ having been away from pro boxing since stopping Ricky Hatton in December, 2007. More...

Hawaii's favorite son was in action last night at Blaisdell Centre in Honolulu as Brian Viloria came up with a decision over iron-chinned Mexican challenger Jesus Iribe in a firefight to retain the IBF light flyweight title.

Iribe came into the bout as the reigning WBC fecombox titlist and had gone 12 rounds in a losing cause against top man in the division, Edgar Sosa, but "Azul" from Culiacan was the decided underdog in this title challenge.

Cheered on by a heavily partisan audience, Honolulu born Viloria came out and, as expected, gave the visitor a boxing lesson over the first half of the contest.

Viloria aired out his complete arsenal over the first six rounds in a fine display of skill, but Iribe showed true grit and determination to ride it out. More...

IBF light welter champ Juan Urango retained his belt while light heavy contender Tarvoris Cloud outpointed former champ Clinton Woods to capture the vacant IBF belt last night at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL.

After a slow start, southpaw Urango, 22-2-1 (17), got down to business after getting nailed by a full-blooded right hand from challenger and former WBO titlist Randall Bailey, 39-7 (35), the biggest puncher in the division, in the sixth frame.

Urango was floored heavily but beat the count and went straight after Bailey for the remainder of the bout.

The champion burrowed his way into close quarters and went to work, absorbing some of Bailey's heavy artillery on the way in, until he hit the bulls eye in the ninth, downing the challenger with a sharp counter left.

Bailey regained his feet but was canvassed again during Urango's follow up assault. Bailey beat the count again but by the 11th, all Urango's tenderizing earlier came into force as the challenger was finished off by a body shot at 1:51 of the round. More...

Big show tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL with two IBF belts up for grabs.

Colombian hard man Juan Urango, 21-2-1 (16), makes the first defense of his second reign as IBF light welter ruler when he takes on big punching veteran Randall Bailey, 39-6 (35).

It's hard to believe that Bailey is only 34 as he's been around a long, long time and this will be his fourth attempt to gain back a world title after losing the WBO 140 pound strap to Ener Julio in 2000.

Bailey is going in there to do one thing and one thing only, KO the opponent, but he'll be hard pressed to produce that result against probably the strongest light welter in the world, Juan Urango.

Urango is coming off a points loss to WBC welter titlist Andre Berto after testing the 147 pound waters in May and "Iron Twin" will have to make sure he gets to Bailey first if he wants to walk out of the Hard Rock still a world champ. More...

Last night at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX, light welterweights Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi engaged in a spirited give and take contest that went all 12 scheduled rounds for the NABO title.

Former IBF titlist Malignaggi had managed to keep the fight largely on the outside for at least half the contest, where he could keep the shorter Diaz at bay and subject to jabs and right hands.

The New Yorker also kept the pace of the bout slower than what Diaz would have liked through the use of accurate countering skills and good footwork.

Diaz did break through Malignaggi's perimeter defense many times and the ex-world lightweight champion won most of the exchanges on the inside with his superb body-work and short hooks and uppercuts. More...

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Headlining a big show tonight at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX is former lightweight champion Juan Diaz's move up to light welter to face Paulie Malignaggi in a 12 rounder.

Diaz, 34-2 (17), barely broke the lightweight limit during the weigh-in yesterday and former IBF 140 pound titlist Malignaggi, 26-2 (5), hit the scales at his lightest weight since 2002.

Both fighters have only two losses and both came against top competition; Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton for Malignaggi and Juan Manuel Marquez and Nate Campbell for Diaz. More...

The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN saw Irish middleweight star Andy Lee, 18-1 (13), return to an American ring for the first time in over a year following his shocking loss to Brian Vera.

The lanky southpaw came into his bout with Anthony Shuler, 20-7-1 (14), as a super middle and stopped the Indianapolis man at 2:05 of the eighth in a scheduled ten rounder.

Steel-chinned former IBF light middleweight title challenger Angel "Toro" Hernandez, 30-7 (17), followed up his defeat of prospect James McGirt Jr in January with a sixth round referee stoppage of ex-two weight world title challenger Antwun Echols, 31-12-4 (27), who hasn't won a fight since 2004.

Heavyweight Owen Beck, 29-3 (20), two years removed from his unsuccessful bid at the WBA crown, posted an eight round unanimous decision over granite-jawed former NABO cruiserweight beltholder Jermell Barnes, 18-22-2 (4), who has gone 2-18-2 since January, 2004, by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75. More...

The world's top flyweight is now in the running for that same position at super flyweight after Nonito Donaire handled the jump up to 115 pounds by outboxing Rafael Concepcion last night at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

At stake was the Interim WBA super fly crown, which Concepcion held at one point last year, and the Panamanian made every effort to make Donaire get into the trenches as Concepcion's natural size advantage was maximized after coming in more than four pounds above the super flyweight limit.

Concepcion might not have been able to assume the title even if he won the bout due to the weight overage but Donaire had no such limitation and fought a textbook bout, taking advantage of his edge in experience and quickness to outbox his bigger foe.

The busier style of Concepcion made it close but in the end, the judges favored the accuracy of Donaire, who was awarded a UD via scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. More...

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It's the battle for Florida bragging rights tonight at the Gulf Coast Arena in Biloxi, MS as former world champions Roy Jones Jr and Jeff Lacy tangle for the NABO light heavyweight crown.

Neither one of these combatants are anywhere near their prime but it could be interesting as Jones, 53-5 (39), seeks to keep his career alive a full six years after his last masterful performance and Lacy, 25-2 (17), looks to regain his edge that was blunted forcefully by Joe Calzaghe in 2006.

40 year old Jones is coming off a stoppage win against Omar Sheika in March while Lacy, 32, managed a majority decision over Otis Griffin in April but Jones will likely have the advantage tonight in Biloxi. More...

IBF light fly kingpin Nonito Donaire heads up to super flyweight tonight at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas, NV, contending for the Interim WBA crown against Panama's Rafael Concepcion.

Donaire, 21-1 (14), is coming off three title defenses of the IBF strap he won by expertly dismantling Aussie bomber Vic Darchinyan two years ago and the Filipino stylist should be able to handle the challenge of Concepcion with equal dexterity.

Concepcion, 13-3 (8), won the Interim WBA super fly title by gunning down previously undefeated AJ Banal a year ago but was stopped in the ninth in his next bout during a slugfest with Mexico's Jorge Arce, losing the interim belt in the process.

The Panama City man regained his footing with an eight rounds points verdict over aging ex-WBO minimumweight boss Kermin Guardia in February but will have to pull off a career best performance if he is to overcome the higher skilled Donaire.

The chief support bout features WBO feather champ Steven Luevano, 36-1-1 (15), meeting the challenge of WBC International beltholder Bernabe Concepcion, 29-1-1 (16), in what should be a good contest.