World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Kirkdale Kid” hangs up gloves after Prizefighter semi-final Liverpool’s former ABA champion Joe Ainscough has announced to WBN that his super-middleweight Prizefighter bout with eventual winner Rocky Fielding on Wednesday night, will be the last time the 31 year-old laces on the gloves for a professional contest. Ainscough (8-3-1), showed guts and tenacity in coming back from a serious knife wound to gamely compete for the £32,000 cheque at the Liverpool Olympia in midweek, but has decided to focus on a life outside of the ring and concentrate on his helping youngsters in the sport. “It’s time to call it a day,” Ainscough told WBN Editor Phil D. Jay. “I just wanted to go a few more fights, which I did and got my shot at Prizefighter! “I'm happy with what I’ve achieved and am going to focus on my family and my business Mersey Tilers now. “In time, I will start training the kids back at Kirkdale ABC,” he added. The Liverpudlian was a true warrio

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Low-key” return may be a one-off for former world title challenger                                                                                        Two-time British heavyweight champion Danny Williams has spoken for the first time about his comeback fight in Germany this month and revealed that he didn’t want anybody to know that he was returning to the ring. “The Brixton Bomber” fought cruiserweight Frank Roth at the beginning of the month after almost a year out of the ring, winning by KO in the second. The 37 year-old hadn’t stepped foot in a boxing ring since Dereck Chisora stopped a shell-like Williams in the second round on the undercard of Kevin Mitchell’s interim world title challenge against Michael Katsidis at Upton Park Stadium in May last year and admitted before the fight, that his desire to fight had gone. His return earlier this month shocked everyone, with WBN breaking the news on March 2 nd  to disbelief. Even long-time friend Spencer

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor 1. Manny Pacquaio (52-3-2) WBO Welterweight champion and WBC light-middleweight champion 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0) 3. Nonito Donaire (26-1) WBC and WBO bantamweight champion 4. Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1) WBA and WBO lightweight champion 5. Miguel Cotto (36-2-0) WBA "Super" light-middleweight champion 6. Sergio Martinez (47-2-2) 7. Wladimir Klitschko (55-3-0) WBO and IBF heavyweight champion 8. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (77-3-1) (Thailand) WBC flyweight champion 9. Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0) WBO featherweight champion 10. Chris John (44-0-2) WBA “super” world featherweight champion 11.Timothy Bradley (26-0) WBO light-welterweight champion 12.Vitali Klitschko (42-2-0) WBC heavyweight champion 13. Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2) 14. Amir Khan (24-1-0) WBA light-welterweight champion 15. Andre Ward (23-0) WBA “super” world super-middleweight champion 16. Carl Froch (27-1-0) WBC super-middleweight champion 17. Giovani Segura (26-1-1) WBO and WB

Bob Trieger Full Court Press Modern-day Rocky dreaming about title shot at home Middleweight contender Peter “The Pride of Providence” Manfredo, Jr. had a ringside seat in MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods last Saturday night to witness the superlative performance turned in by WBC Emeritus and  The Ring  160-pound champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, who dropped previously unbeaten WBO junior welterweight titlist Sergiy “Razor” Dzinziruk five times en route to a major statement-victory by eighth-round knockout. Manfredo (37-6, 20 KOs), arguably the leading American middleweight challenger, is riding a six-fight win streak since losing to super middleweight Saki Bika in 2008. The  star of  The Contender , Season One is currently rated No. 7 by the IBF and No. 9 by the WBC. Now working fulltime as a laborer at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, ironically, where he headlined four major shows, Manfredo dreams of fighting Martinez there this summer. The popular Italian-American b

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Welterweight contenders keep dignified ahead of May showdown With just over seven weeks to go until Manny Pacquaio and Shane Mosley meet in Las Vegas, it has struck me that there is a distinct lack of column inches in the press about this fight. The majority of reports seem more interest in whether a bout between Pacquiao and Mayweather can be made, rather than the Filipino’s upcoming WBO welterweight title defence. It looks from a journalistic point of view, that the majority of boxing writers are counting the days till this fight happens, so they can brush it aside and concentrate on trying to get Floyd “Money” Mayweather to step back in the ring, for the fight of our generation to happen. For me, it shows a lack of respect for one of the fight game’s real heroes of late and the fact that he continues to fight on past his best, as a lot of fighters do these days, always has the press scrambling to write them off before they even step in the ring. I am

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Junito” ignores Nicaraguan goading to retain title WBA “Super” light-middleweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto successfully defended his title for the first time, after challenger Ricardo Mayorga pulled out of the contest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in the last round citing a thumb injury. The 30 year-old champion stuck to his gameplan of jabbing and moving throughout the fight, as Mayorga tried to goad him into standing and trading. The Puerto Rican showed how he has matured into an experienced champion, by ignoring his opponent’s antics and producing the more quality work. The end came in the final round; Cotto unleashed a three-punch combination, culminating in a big left hook, which sent the challenger down. He just beat the count, before Cotto moved in again and with Mayorga complaining of a sore thumb, the bout was called off. Three-weight world champion Cotto improves to 36-2, scoring his 29th stoppage, whilst former world welterweight titl

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Maravilla” takes home WBC Diamond belt Former unified middleweight champion Sergio Martinez handled a tricky opponent with consummate ease last night as he knocked German-based Ukrainian Sergiy Dzinziruk five times on his way to claiming the WBC Diamond middleweight championship. The 36 year-old avoided Dzinziruk’s sturdy jab for the most part, using his excellent combinations to keep the judges on his side and eventually started to wear “Razor” down, scoring his first knockdown in the fourth as Dzinziruk touched down from a glancing blow. The Argentinean could sense Dzinziruk waning at this point and scored a flush knockdown in the fifth after a superb combination had his man bewildered. It was clear by this point that it was just a matter of time before Martinez would take the European out. Dzinziruk gave one last effort in the seventh, opening a small cut about Martinez’s left eye, but that would only spur the Buenos Aries-born southpaw on and he

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Negotiations for possible rematch in the works IBF light-middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage has revealed to WBN that his team are in “close negotiations” with former opponent Sechew Powell in what would be the Detroit fighter’s first defence of the title gained last August when he blew out Cory Spinks in five rounds . The 37 year-old champion was spectacularly knocked out by Powell in 22 seconds in 2005 in a bizarre bout that started with both boxers hitting each other and scoring a double knock-down, which Bundrage came out of worse and never recovered. Powell, 31, hasn’t fought for a year, since winning an eliminator against Deandre Latimore and was in line to face former champion Spinks, before Bundrage upset the odds at the Scottrade Center and de-throned the St Louis southpaw. It now looks like Powell (26-2, 15 KO’s), will belatedly gain his shot at the IBF 154lb title and its not without a little irony that his opponent will be Bundrage, w

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Pittsburgh Kid” hoping to meet “Pretty Boy” this summer Undefeated former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora is awaiting confirmation from Floyd Mayweather Jr. about a possible meeting with the five-weight world titleholder in the summer, if “Money” can sort out some of his out-of-ring discrepancies. Spadafora, 35, has an outstanding record of 45-0-1, with 19 knockouts, although the Pennsylvanian has shied away from the top-end of world-class fighter since turning pro in 1995 and has no real world champion scalps to brag about. During his career, bouts with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquaio and Marco Antonio Barrera have been avoided and the now light-welterweight southpaw is running out of time to claim some big money fights before he retires from the sport. A bout with Mayweather would change all that for Spadafora, who is a former sparring partner of the WBN pound for pound number two fighter and would be Mayweather’s first outing si

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Adam Booth reveals Haye v Klitschko terms almost finalised After the disappointment of missing out on a world heavyweight title challenge, not once, but twice, British and Commonwealth champion Dereck Chisora will now have heard David Haye’s manager Adam Booth announce a deal is in place for a bout with Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO's) less than a day after his bout was cancelled. Chisora, 27, was due to meet WBO and IBF champion Wladimir in December originally, only for the Ukrainian to pull out injured, leaving Chisora devastated. Then Wladimir started negotiations with Haye’s management, only to u-turn and offer Chisora a second chance, stating his promise to the Briton would be fulfilled. It now looks like money has won the day over integrity as Haye and Klitschko have agreed all terms for the summer unification, bar the date and venue. The bout has been slated for either June 25th or July 2nd and will most likely take place in Germany, Klitschk

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor 1. Manny Pacquaio (52-3-2) WBO Welterweight champion and WBC light-middleweight champion 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0) 3. Nonito Donaire (26-1) WBC and WBO bantamweight champion 4. Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1) WBA and WBO lightweight champion 5. Wladimir Klitschko (55-3-0) WBO and IBF heavyweight champion 6. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (77-3-1) (Thailand) WBC flyweight champion 7. Miguel Cotto (35-2-0) WBA light-middleweight champion 8. Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0) WBO featherweight champion 9. Chris John (44-0-2) WBA “super” world featherweight champion 10.Timothy Bradley (26-0) WBO light-welterweight champion 11.Vitali Klitschko (41-2-0) WBC heavyweight champion 12.Sergio Martinez (46-2-2) WBC middleweight champion 13. Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2) 14. Amir Khan (24-1-0) WBA light-welterweight champion 15. Andre Ward (23-0) WBA “super” world super-middleweight champion 16. Carl Froch (27-1-0) WBC super-middleweight champion 17. Giovani Segura (26-1-1) WBO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Fourth world title for New Yorker Zab 33 year-old three-time world titleholder Zab “Super” Judah rolled back the years at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, with seventh round stoppage of South African Kaizer Mabuza to claim his fourth world championship and third at 140lbs. Judah (41-6), scored the 28 stoppage of his career to pick up the vacant IBF light-welterweight title after referee Samuel Viruet stepped in as barrage of punches from the southpaw followed a crushing left hand counter that dropped Mabuza and the fight was stopped 59 seconds into the seventh round. Mabuza, 31, showed he was no pushover in the earlier rounds of the contest, putting Judah down in the fourth with a right hand and rocking him in the sixth, but Judah used all of his world title experience to come through any hairy moments and came away victorious. Also on the Newark card, Adrien “The Problem” Broner edged a cagey ten round contest against former WBO super-bantamw

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Mexican superstar claims WBC 154lb belt 2010 WBN Young Boxer of the Year Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez cemented his place among the elite boxers in the world, with a dominant twelve round decision victory over Britain’s Matthew Hatton at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California last night. The 20 year old, who was also named WBN’s 'One to watch' for 2011, became the youngest light-middleweight champion of all time in the process as he proved too big and strong for the 147lb European champion, with all three judges scoring the fight 119-108. Hatton, 29, drops to 41-5-2 after the one-sided defeat, in which he lost every round, with only Alvarez being docked a point for hitting on the break in the seventh, saving him from a total shutout on all three of the judges scorecards. The Manchester fought bravely though, taking heavy shots in the second round and having to deal with a cut that opened up in the fourth, but was never in with a chance of be

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Wladimir unification talks with Haye intensify Dereck Chisora’s chances of claiming two versions of the sports biggest prize have been taken away from the Londoner as WBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko has called the fight off for a second time in three months. Scepticism will again reign supreme as talks about the Ukrainian facing WBA champion David Haye have, once again, been dominating the headlines over the past two weeks, just as they did before Klitschko pulled out of their first meeting in December. Chisora will no doubt be heavily compensated once again for his inconvenience, but many will see it as Wladimir's only chance to book a July meeting with the "Hayemaker" and it is now unlikely that the bout with the British and Commonwealth champion will happen until after Wladimir faces Haye. The news comes just hours after Ronald "Winky" Wright pulled out of a scheduled bout with another Briton, Matthew Macklin, wh

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor New Jersey Golden Gloves winner fights on Judah v Mabuz undercard this Saturday A late-comer into the fight game, New Jersey's Vinny O’Brien blossomed into a champion amateur after starting his journey in boxing at the age of twenty, culminating in his victory in April at the 2010 New Jersey Golden Gloves at light-welterweight, where he was also named "outstanding fighter of the night. The 24 year-old now turns professional tomorrow night in a four-round contest against fellow rookie David Navarro at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, with Zab Judah topping the bill as he looks for a fourth world title against South African Kaizer Mabuza. "Now that I am hitting the pro ranks, I have a bunch of emotions," Vinny told WBN. "I'm excited, eager, focused and determined to go after every fight with everything I’ve got and one day make the name “Vinny O'Brien” known in every household by claiming a world title within boxing.” Afte

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor WBC title fight put on delayed broadcast as row over weight threatens fight Sky TV’s decision to show Matthew Hatton’s WBC 154lb title bout with Saul Alvarez is a further blow to a bout that is already skating on thin ice after the British fighter’s brother Ricky stated that if Alvarez comes in over 150lbs, then the fight is off anyway. This could have had a huge bearing on Sky TV pulling out of paying for the rights to show the fight live as they may not have wanted to gamble on shelling out for a fight that has more chance of being called off, than actually going ahead in the first place. The bout, between the two predominantly welterweight fighters, was originally signed at a catchweight of 10st 10lbs (150lbs) and was a non-title fight. Then the WBC announced that both boxers would fight for the 154lb title vacated by Manny Pacquaio, when he moved back down to 147lbs where he holds the WBO belt. Then less than two-weeks later, on March 1st, the WBC scra

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Manchester fighter suffers blow as world title shot is shown on delayed broadcast When European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton steps into the ring at around 4am on Sunday morning, UK time, nobody in the UK will be able to see him in his quest to claim the WBC light-middleweight champion and become Britain’s fifth world title holder. Sky TV, who usually broadcast the younger Hatton’s fights, have chosen not to broadcast the fight live, when the 29 year-old faces his toughest test yet against undefeated Mexican Saul Alvarez at the Honda Center in California and instead will show the fight delayed on Sunday evening. It’s a huge blow for British fight fans who expected, maybe even took it for granted, that any British boxer fighting for the WBC title would be shown live, but as WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has also learned in the past, its not always the case. It now seems that you have more chance of seeing a Briton fight a Mexican in

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Aussie boxer battling back from surgery IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green may still have a career in the ring after all after life-saving surgery to remove an abscess in his appendix late last year. Doctors have advised "The Green Machine" to see how his body holds up, before making a final decision. The 37 year-old former world light-heavyweight champion is currently spreading the word about a boxing show his company The Green Machine Promotions are putting on and was uncertain when questioned about his possible boxing future. “I honestly don’t know the immediate future of my boxing career,” Green told Perthnow.com. “I've just got to wait and see how my body holds up, the desire to fight is there, but I really don't know whether I am able to. “I've only just started putting a bit of weight on so hopefully it won't be too long (until) I can get back in there and start the ball rolling again.” Green (31-3, 27 KO’s) has

SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY Brandon Rios bt Miguel Acosta  ( TKO ) ( 10th Round ) ( WBA lightweight title ) Gilberto Keb Baas bt Jose Aguirre  ( RET ) ( 9th Round ) ( WBC light-flyweight title ) Julio Cesar Miranda bt Arden Diale  ( TKO ) ( 4th Round ) ( WBO flyweight title ) Juan Carlos Salgado bt Guadalupe Rosales  ( UD ) ( 98-92, 97-93, 97-93 ) (lightweight) FRIDAY 25TH FEBRUARY Juan Carlos Burgos bt Frankie Archuleta  ( TKO ) ( 2nd Round ) (super-featherweight) Danny Garcia bt John Figueroa  ( TKO ) ( 2nd Round ) (light-welterweight) THURSDAY 24TH FEBRUARY James Toney bt Damon Reed  ( UD ) ( 100-90, 100-90, 100-90 ) (heavyweight) SATURDAY 19TH FEBRUARY Nonito Donaire bt Fernando Montiel  ( TKO ) ( 2nd Round ) ( WBC and WBO bantamweight titles ) Felix Sturm bt Ronald Hearns  ( TKO ) ( 7th Round ) ( WBA super world middleweight title ) Mike Jones bt Jesus Soto-Karass  ( UD ) ( 117-111, 116-1

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Former Tyson conqueror returns from retirement Danny Williams (41-9-0), returns to the ring on Saturday in Bielefield, Germany after almost a year out the ring since losing to current British and Commonwealth champion Dereck Chisora, in a six-round contest against an un-named opponent, according to Boxrec.com . The former British, Commonwealth and European champion, who famously knocked out Mike Tyson in four rounds in 2004, is taking tentative steps as he returns from a his self-opposed retirement and has another bout lined up on April 8th. Both fights will take place in Germany as the Briton looks to rebuild his career following a poor showing at Prizefighter in October 2009 and his surrender against Chisora in May 2010, with a change of scenary hopefully just what the “Brixton Bomber” needs.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor WBC to insist on 154lb limit for title contest As Matthew Hatton prepares for his first world title quest on Saturday night, the World Boxing Council are expected to announce that his bout with natural Mexican superstar Saul Alvarez will be made at the full 154lb limit, therefore scrapping the proposed catchweight limit. The 29 year-old, who is natural at the welterweight limit seven pounds lighter than light-middleweight and was hoping that the WBC would agree to another 150lb weight contest as they did when Manny Pacquaio fought Antonio Margarito last November at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The European welterweight champion is now facing the daunting task of fighting over 151 pounds for only the second time in his career, with the first being a six-round middleweight contest in 2002 against Paul Denton, for which he weighted in at 157lbs. Since then, Hatton (41-4-2, 16 KO’s), has bounced between 146 and 151 pounds, whilst Alvarez (35-0-1, 26 KO’s)