Boxing News

WBO Welterweight Champion Paul Williams stepped up to light middle and caged the vacant WBO belt by stopping former three time 154 pound world titlist Verno Phillips in the eighth round at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA in the highest profile bout in America this weekend.

Williams overcame a bad cut from a headclash early on and used his massive height and reach advantage to good effect, keeping the much older Phillips at bay with hard shots to the body and head.

It was the constant body shots which seemed to take their toll on the former champion as he began to slow down later in the bout but Phillips also didn't have the power to trouble his far taller opponent despite not having much difficulty in hitting Williams when he did throw punches.

By the eighth round, Phillips was getting hurt and the bout was called to a halt before the ninth frame could begin to keep the 39 year old from further damage.

Williams wins the WBO Light Middle title, improving to 36-1 (27), while Phillips drops to 42-11-1 (21) after a brave performance in what could be the last big fight of his long career. More...

Last night at The Casino in Montreal, former IBF Middleweight title challenger Sebastien Demers, 26-2 (9), showed a return to form as "Double Trouble" won every round against American visitor Donny McCrary, 24-9-2 (13), after ten frames of combat.

Demers was coming off a surprise split decision loss to Dionisio Miranda for the NABA belt and this was an important win as the 28 year old local man begins the rebuilding process of his career.

Texas based spoiler Don Mouton, 8-3-1 (7), upset former Canadian Middleweight title challenger Walid Smichet, 19-5-3 (14), by points in a ten rounder and welter prospect Phil Lo Greco, 17-0 (9), kept on track with a eight round unanimous decision over seasoned Mexican journeyman Roberto Valenzuela, 47-44-2 (39).

A good weekend of Continental boxing featured three European title fights and we kick off this report at Spodek, the largest indoor arena in Poland in the southern city of Katowice.

European Welterweight Champion Rafal "Braveheart" Jackiewicz, 33-8-1 (18), continued his amazing career transformation with a successful title defense against previously undefeated European Union, German and IBF Intercontinental titlist Jan Zaveck, 25-1 (14).

But it wasn't easy as the confident Slovenian challenger came to win and Jackiewicz had his hands full before pulling out a hard-fought split decision victory after twelve difficult rounds.

Jackiewicz's record stood at 12-7-1 (7) at the end of 2004 after having been thrown in with more experienced opponents such as Antonio Lauri, Ted Bami, Yuri Nuzhnenko, Michael Jennings and Jacek Bieleski but then the Minsk Mazowiecki born hard man went on a tear, going 19-1, losing only to excellent Italian boxer Giammario Grassellini by majority decision.

This earned Jackiewicz a shot at European Champ Jackson Osei Bonsu, a murderous puncher who was on the verge of a WBC title shot. Jackiewicz drew on his long experience to keep Bonsu off balance and expose holes in the Belgian's defense to pull out a tough points decision. More...

It was a good weekend for the fights in Central and South America. The highlight of Friday night was Jorge Linares' WBA Super Feather title win in Panama City, already reported upon, but there were also two major title fights on Saturday in Mexico.

WBC Light Flyweight Chamion Edgar Sosa had a good challenge on his hands from tough Filipino southpaw Juanito Rubilar as the pair stood toe to toe and took turns lashing the other to head and body for six contentious rounds at Arena Mexico in Mexico City.

Neither man took a backward step in the dogfight but it wasn't until Sosa caught Rubilar in the seventh round with double left hook to the head then body that the challenger began to crack.

Rubilar withstood the followup blitz but by the end of the round he was getting hammered in the corner by the champion, prompting a referee stoppage at 2:54 of the frame.

Sosa solidifies his position as the top light flyweight in the world, improving to 34-5 (18), winning his 22nd consecutive bout and retaining his WBC title for the seventh time.

Rubilar drops to 46-11-7 (22), failing in his third bid for a full world title and sees a seven bout winning streak come to a close. More...

Last night at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California, WBC Cabofe Heavyweight Champion, Manuel "El Toro" Quezada, 25-4 (13), continued his winning ways by defeating Teke Oruh, 14-2-1, via unanimous decision, making it 14 consecutive victories. More...

The public send-off for Manny Pacquiao, scheduled for Monday, December 1 at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, has been Canceled by Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach. More...

Tonight at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA, a contest for the vacant WBO Light Middleweight title takes place between Verno Phillips and Paul Williams.

Phillips, 42-10-1 (21), resuscitated his career in March by defeating Cory Spinks for the IBF 154 pound belt, a title the Belize born Denver resident held previously in 2004 in addition to the WBO Light Middle crown Phillips owned during 1994-5.

Facing Phillips will be WBO Welterweight Champion Paul Williams, 35-1 (26), a 6-1 southpaw who will tower over Phillips with a five inch height advantage and an amazing 13 inch edge in reach.

This bout is a big ask for the three time light middleweight champion at 39 years of age but if Phillips can slip the long jab of Williams and make the welterweight titlist engage in a draining fight on the inside, he could pull off the upset.

The incentive, aside of course from winning an additional world title, for Williams is liberation from the welterweight weight class and it's confining 147 pound limit, no easy task as the massive South Carolina native begins to fill out at 27 years of age.

A good bout on the undercard features America's number one heavyweight contender, big punching local man Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola, 25-0 (22), who meets Houston based Travis "Freight Train" Walker, 28-1-1 (22), in an IBF title eliminator that is also for the NABF and WBC Continental Americas belts.

Last night at Glasgow's Bellahouston Sports Centre, British Featherweight title challenger Paul Appleby, 13-0 (8), won his most important test to date by outpointing former super bantamweight triple champion Esham Pickering, 33-8 (13), after twelve rounds.

Appleby was aggressive from the start and looked to tire the aging Pickering but the Newark stylist drew on his long experience to survive the onslaught and even win a few rounds later in the bout when the champion began to flag from the effort.

But Pickering, never a big puncher, just couldn't keep his 21 year old antagonist off and loses the third bout over his last four outings on points. Appleby retains the British Featherweight title for the first time.

The man Appleby defeated to win that belt, fellow Scot John Simpson, 18-6 (6), was also in action on the bill, outpointing Kenyan import John Gicharu, 10-3-1 (5), in a competitive eight round featherweight contest.

WBA Featherweight Champion Jorge Linares, 26-0 (17), outgrew the 126 pound division but promptly moved right up to super feather last night and won the vacant WBA title by stopping local man Whyber Garcia, 20-6 (14), in the fifth round at Centro De Convenciones Atlapa in Panama City, Panama.

At just 23 years of age, Tokyo based Venezuelan Linares showed why he is one of the best lighter weight fighters in the world by putting on a scorching performance, stopping his fifth straight opponent early.

Panama City's Luis Concepcion, 15-1 (11), kept hold of his WBA Fedelatin Flyweight title with a first round KO of Venezuela's former two-time WBA Minimumweight Champ, Noel Arambulet, 23-8-1 (11), who had only been stopped previously on one occasion.

Ex-WBA Featherweight title challenger Roinet Caballero, 25-8-1 (18), won his third in a row by stopping Colombian veteran Arcelio Ibarra, 12-11 (8), in the third round.

Venezuelan welterweight prospect Pablo Vasquez, 16-0 (16), added another stoppage to his resume by knocking out Colombia's Mauricio Julio, 14-11-1 (6), in the fifth frame.

Two good cards took place on Thursday and we kick things off in Phitsanulok, Thailand where 23 year old Bangkok southpaw Oleydong Sithsamerchai, 29-0 (12), stayed undefeated while retaining his WBC Minimumweight title on points against longtime PABA Champ Pornsawan Kratindaenggym, 21-2 (16).

30 year old Sa Kaeo based slugger Kratindaenggym had previously only come up short against Donnie Nietes for the vacant WBO belt last year but could not get to grips with the cagey Sithsamerchai, who won on points after twelve rounds.

Yubileiny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia was the site of a big fight card as Baku's Ali Ismailov, 15-1-1 (10), retained the WBO Latino Cruiserweight crown with a third round KO of Argentine visitor Rodolfo De Dominicis, 13-1-1 (10).

World rated Los Angeles based Russian cruiserweight Vadim Tokarev, 26-1-1 (19), stopped American based Cameroonian opponent Manu Ntoh, 17-16-1 (1), in the eighth frame. More...

Members of the Pacman Nation are invited to give five-division world champion Manny Pacquiao a world championship sendoff as he heads off to Las Vegas for his showdown with “The Golden Boy”, Oscar De La Hoya. More...

Two-time BWAA Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach is confident that his charge Manny Pacquiao, a five-division world champion, will not only beat “The Golden Boy”, Oscar De La Hoya, but will knock him out within nine rounds.

“Oscar is 35 and a part-time fighter; it’s obvious that father time is catching up with him,” said Roach. “Look at his face after his fight against Stevie Forbes who is a light hitter. I’ve never seen Oscar’s face look like that against opponents who were bigger, stronger and better. His stamina has decreased and he’s not the fastest learner when it comes to new things. More...

Jason Estrada: “No more talk, all that is done. I’ve said things and I’ve done all of my talking. Show up tomorrow night for a great show.”

Derek Bryant: “It’s been a while since I’ve been in the ring. I’ve been off almost two years. Estrada’s an Olympian, an up-and-comer. I’m going to put on a good show.” More...

© Emily Harney

In preparation to tonight's CES Boxing "Holiday Havoc" fight card at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI, the fighters all weighed in yesterday.

Jason Estrada: 241 lb
Derek Bryant : 225 lb More...

Maybe it is the speed and power he possesses in his hands? Or perhaps it's his beautiful footwork and cat like reflexes that have been honed to perfection since he first put on a pair of gloves at the ripe age of six?

Maybe it's the fact that at only 20 years old and having only one professional fight, he already can spar twelve hard rounds, barely breaking a sweat? More...

With sub freezing temperatures becoming the norm, Chicago’s 8 Count Productions is planning an outstanding eight bout holiday blowout for Friday, December 12 at Cicero Stadium.

“We’ve got a terrific show planned for the 12th but really this is a great time for boxing fans in Chicago," said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions. More...

Jean Pascal flew into England this morning in confident mood ahead of his WBC Super-Middleweight World Title fight against Carl Froch at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham on Saturday, 6th December.

The Canadian challenges Froch for the vacant title that Joe Calzaghe relinquished earlier this year on a Hennessy Sports show in a clash of two unbeaten, knockout specialists.

Someone's O will have to go and Pascal is convinced it won't be his since England has been a happy hunting ground for the boxer from Quebec.

Pascal beat Paul Smith to win the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Manchester six years ago and he is not worried about fighting in front of Froch's home fans in Nottingham with a 9,000 sell out expected on the night. More...

English dance group "Booty Luv" will open the show and perform chart topping hits when Carl Froch and Jean Pascal meet for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title at Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England on December 6.

Oisin Fagan is planning to give himself an early Christmas present by grabbing the chance of a lifetime with both hands. The Dubliner faces Amir Khan in London on December 6th with Khan looking to bounce back from his sensational first round knockout defeat to Breidis Prescott.

A second successive defeat for Khan would all but end the grand plans made for the Bolton native since he turned professional following his Olympic Silver medal in 2004. Fagan believes that pressure will play into his hands in London next month.

“I’m coming to London to win, no doubt about that,” insisted Fagan. “I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t think I could win it. Of course I’m going to be the underdog but that’s ok, I’m well used to that and I kind of like that ‘me against the world mentality’, it’s helps to fire me up.

“There's no doubt I'm being overlooked by Khan his team, they obviously see me as a soft touch but they'll be in for a shock if they think I'm just going to fall over. This is a huge opportunity for me and I intend to grab it with both hands.” More...

The five weight former world champion will see a bronze statue in his likeness unveiled at the Staples Center, joining other Los Angeles superstars in a Walk of Fame.

Oscar De La Hoya will be honored by AEG and the Staples Center with the unveiling of a 14' bronze statue in his likeness. He will join NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and NBA superstar Magic Johnson in the Staples Center Los Angeles Sports Walk of Fame.

The presentation will be last media opportunity with De La Hoya before he departs Los Angeles for Las Vegas for his Dec. 6 "Dream Match" against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand and live on HBO Pay-Per-View.