Denver’s prodigal son Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnson isn’t the only Colorado native returning home to fight May 18 for an IBA world title on the “Rocky Mountain Mayhem: Return of the Champ” card, promoted by Silverhawk Championship Boxing, at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado. While it’s been 6 1/2 years since Johnston…
Undefeated South African bantamweight champion and WBC #5 Simpiwe Vetyeka needed very little time to settle in to his base in Tokyo, Japan, ahead of his up-coming challenge for Hozumi Hasegawa’s WBC world title. Much of that has to do with the fact that Vetyeka’s promoter, Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports Productions (BSP), facilitated the…
World Boxing Association lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull†Diaz added the World Boxing Organization championship to his list of accomplishments last night after Acelino “Popo†Freitas’s trainer Oscar Suarez threw in the towel during the one-minute break between the eighth and ninth rounds at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Juan Diaz: “I’m really happy to become a…
In a classic night of rematches in Oberhausen, Germany, both Felix Sturm and Stipe Drews delivered in spades to defeat men they had previously been mastered by and won WBA world titles in the process. Sturm, 27-2 (12), of Hamburg, Germany was widely expected to defend his middleweight crown last year against aging former WBC…
There were two 12 round WBO title fights last night at Coliseo Universidad Del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia and when the smoke finally cleared, both reigning champions held onto their belts. Longtime WBO Minimumweight king Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon, one of Puerto Rico’s most decorated active professional fighters, was involved in an absolute smoker against…
Last night at Lords Sports Club in Perth, Australia, light middleweight Daniel Dawson regained the PABA Light Middleweight title with a stirring fifth round knockout of visitor Lee Oti. “The Rock” solidified his postition as one of the top men in Oz at 69.9 kg (154 lb) with the pounding of hard punching Oti, 7-6…
Belarussian slugger Yuri Romanov retained his European Lightweight title last night with a third round knockout of former European Super Feather Champion Tontcho Tonchev last night at the Palace of Sport in Minsk, Belarus. Romanov, 19-2 (13), overcame the long experience of Tontchev, 37-5 (21), to shatter the Bulgarian veteran’s composure with powerful blows that…
Click for larger image © Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing The newest edition to Irish Ropes Promotions, Aloysius Kelly made his professional debut Thursday at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Kelly has been in the U.S. via his homeland of Ireland since September of last year, training with countrymen John Duddy and competing…
Acelino “Popó” Freitas is one of the most accomplished champions currently in the sport. Growing up in impoverished conditions in his native Brazil, Freitas put aside an early interest in soccer and instead chose to pursue boxing as the path to a better life. Primarily known throughout his career for his aggressive style and fearsome…
Undefeated USBA super bantamweight champion Mike “Machine†Oliver headlines “Battle Zone 3†in a 10-round non-title fight against Vernie Torres on May 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. “Battle Zone 3,†promoted by Alpha Omega Entertainment Group in association with Sprint, Mohegan Sun and NESN, will be taped live and shown on NESN…
Popular Gary Kid Stark, Jr. (18-1, 8 KO’s) had the right to be depressed after his controversial loss to Mike Oliver on Showtime’s nationally televised monthly series, ShoBox on February 16, the first setback of his pro career. Everyone but the three judges thought that Stark was the victor.
WBC number one cruiserweight David Haye served notice to the heavyweight division last night at London’s Wembley Arena by knocking out Polish hardman Tomasz Bonin in a single round. The massively powerful Haye shattered any illusions that the Londoner won’t be able to carry his punch up to the heavyweight ranks when he dazed seasoned…