In a hotly anticipated battle of light welterweights, Argentina's Marcos Rene Maidana upset top American prospect Victor Ortiz in a fiery explosion of power punches that exceeded expectations at Staples Center in Los Angeles for the Interim WBA title.

Both boxers were coming off high profile bouts with Ortiz seeming to have the momentum following his second round stoppage of highly touted Mike Arnaoutis for the NABO and USBA crowns while Maidana had narrowly missed knocking off WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik.

The initial round was torrid as the big punchers left caution to the wind and let go with all they had. Southpaw Ortiz struck paydirt first, hammering his Argentine opponent to the floor with a perfect right hook, but Maidana beat the count and returned the favor, dropping Ortiz with a full blooded right hand.

Both men survived the first frame to go back to the tooth and nail exchanges in an equally furious second round. More...

The Interim WBA light welter strap is up for grabs tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as native son Victor Ortiz is in the spotlight against Marcos Renee Maidana.

Both guys can bang and aren't used to losing so the contest should be a superb fight for as long as it lasts.

Southpaw Ortiz, 24-1-1 (19), has rubbed out eight opponents in a row including former world champ Carlos Maussa and highly regarded contender Mike Arnaoutis, proving his power and abilities at a very high level.

Committed body puncher Maidana, 25-1 (24), pounded his way out of Argentina to land in Germany where he has been based for the last two years.

Maidana took a big leap in competition to contend for the WBA title in February but Ukrainian stylist Andriy Kotelnik turned him back. The 25 year old from Santa Fe now gets to once again go for the WBA bauble tonight. More...

Prior to the boxing show tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, the principal fighters all weighed in yesterday.

Interim Vacant WBA Super Lightweight Title, 12 rounds
Victor Ortiz: 139.75 lb
Marcos Maidana: 140 lb More...

Big weekend Down Under with the pick of the litter being today's great show at Challenge Stadium in Perth, headlined by the long awaited return of former WBA Light Heavyweight Champ Danny Green but also including Jackson Asiku, Gairy St. Claire and William Kickett.

16 months after shocking the boxing world by walking away from the sport and WBA title, big punching local hero Green began his comeback today with a bang, crushing South African import Anthony Van Niekerk, 21-7-2 (13), in just two rounds.

The glory days of former South African and All Africa Middleweight titlist Van Niekerk came nine years ago and the 35 year old, who was recently stopped a year ago by Daniel Bruwer in a South African Light Heavy title challenge, was the perfect choice for Green to return against. More...

Anthony Mundine won his 12th straight contest by defeating popular fellow Aussie Shannan Taylor this past Wednesday at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollogong, NSW but more importantly, "The Man" made a successful transition to middleweight, breaking 72.7 kilos for the first time in his career.

33 year old former two-time WBA Super Middle Champion Mundine used his world class handspeed to outbox ex-WBC Welter and IBF Middleweight title challenger Taylor and had to contend with the hard-nosed rough and tumble tactics of the "Bulli Blaster", who lost a point in the ninth frame.

After 12 rounds, Mundine swept the cards by scores of 120-108 and 120-107 twice to win the WBA International Middleweight title and is now the mandatory challenger of WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm.

Also on Mundine's schedule is a rematch with Perth's former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Danny Green, who ended his retirement to announce that he will have a few more fights to lead up to a rematch with Mundine, who defeated Green on pints in front of 30,000 fans at Sydney Football Stadium in 2006. More...

The big news Friday night Down Under was the shocking knockout loss of one of the world's top prospects, William Kickett, at the Central Coast Leagues Club in Gosford, NSW.

At just 21 years of age, "Cool Willie" had stormed out of Balga to win 13 straight contests at lightweight and super feather in just a year and a half, turning back such far more experienced opponents as Gairy St. Clair and Tommy Browne in the process.

In August, Kickett won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific and IBF Pan Pacific Youth Super Feather belts against WBO Latino Champ Vincente Martin Rodriguez of Argentina and defended those titles against Indonesian southpaw Zoel Fidal a month later.

In his bouts, Kickett showed tremendous handspeed and accuracy, finding openings in the defense of opponents whether he was backing up or lunging forward with hurtling hooks and crosses.

The phenom from Western Australia relied on pure quickness, head movement and shoulder blocks to avoid punishment but his best defense was a real feel for counterpunching, taking away the confidence of rivals. More...

There was a good bill last night at the Central Coast Leagues Club in Gosford, NSW last night featuring the much anticipated return of the country's hottest prospect, lightweight William Kickett.

Returning after four months out due to falling through a window and injuring his right hand, 21 year old "Cool Willie" battered Filipino Jurland Ceniza, 6-7-1 (3), in a one-sided contest before the action was stopped at 2:58 of the third frame.

Only a professional since March of 2007, Kickett, 10-0 (5), has already won the Australian Super Feather title and went up to light welter where he defeated the far more experienced former two-time world featherweight title challenger Tommy Browne last December.

Able to fit into several weight classes competitively, Kickett's future appears to be filled with potential big domestic matchups but his rehabilitation from the accident will likely continue at least through one more bout.

American super journeyman Emmanuel Augustus was also on the bill and won his second consecutive bout since relocating to the Sydney area. More...