Alvarez v Cintron to form triple-header with Broner and Russell Jr.

‘Canelo’ puts his title on the line for a third time

Saul Alvarez will tackle former welterweight world champion Kermit Cintron on November 26th in what will now be broadcast as an HBO triple-header from Cincinnati, Ohio and the WBC light-middleweight title holder’s native Mexico.

The 21 year-old, who fights for the fourth time this year, amazingly participates in his 40th career bout in six years as a professional, without loss and is expected to finalize a venue in the coming days.

Cintron (33-4-1, 28 KO’s) will participate in his sixth world title fight after a spell as IBF 147lb champion between 2006 and 2008 when he eventually lost to Antonio Margarito, who had also beaten him three years previously in his first world title bout.

The contest will link up with the double feature from Cincinnati on the night as undefeated super-featherweight Adrien Broner challenges for his first world title against an opponent yet to be confirmed, but rumoured to be Vicente Rodriguez of Argentina.

The 21 year-old, who has a perfect 21-fight record with 17 knockouts, will attempt to gain the WBO title vacated by Ricky Burns, who has moved up to lightweight to fight Michael Katsidis on November 5th in London.

In chief support, is Maryland native Gary Russell Jr. who looks to move to 19-0 against an un-named foe at featherweight.

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Mundine takes unanimous decision win over Alvarez

‘The Man’ claims interim WBA title

Anthony Mundine overcame Mexican Rigoberto Alvarez at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in New South Wales, Australia today with a unanimous points victory that was conclusive on two out of three cards to claim the interim WBA light-middleweight strap.

The 36 year-old was awarded the bout 117-111 on two of the judges’ cards and 114-113 on the third, to improve his record to 43-4, 25 KO’s and put himself in line to face American WBA champion Austin Trout in 2012.

Alvarez, 33, falls to his second consecutive interim title loss after suffering the fate to Trout in February and will now have to re-think his next career move as he drops to 27-4,20 KO’s.

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Ashley Theophane's take on Cleverly v Bellew and James DeGale

This weekend saw a night full of quality fights as James DeGale picked up the European Super Middleweight title in a very close fight that could have gone either way.

James demonstrated that he has heart as well as talent. He really must not be allowed to end up like former Olympic and World champion, David Reid, who was fast tracked and eventually badly burnt out within a few years of reaching the top.

There is no substitute for experience, no matter how good the ‘raw talent’.

James can be a World champion, but from where I sit, he really needs to be a little patient and gain the necessary experience. He desperately wants to fight for a World title by the London Olympics in 2012, but I feel he needs to wait a little longer maybe until 2013. Carl Froch, Andre Ward and Lucien Bute are quite a bit above him at this point in his career, but he can get there. Patience is the key.

The much awaited and angry local British affair for the WBO 175lb World championship saw Nathan Cleverly beat Tony Bellew in a war of attrition, nutrition and conditioning. Bellew has come down from being an amateur heavyweight and a professional cruiserweight, and has looked less than ‘honed’.

Bellew started boxing nicely and winning rounds but as he got tired, Cleverly’s better conditioning and experience took over, and saw him win by the smallest of margins (despite the insultingly wide margins by two judges).

Tony had talked a lot and loudly in the build-up to the fight and he certainly backed up his boasts, despite not winning. He clearly demonstrated that he is a talented fighter and with three ABA championships behind him he has the same quality amateur pedigree as Joe Calzaghe.

He will come again.

Nathan Cleverly was also very good, but perhaps not quite ready for the world’s best just yet. Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Jean Pascal and Tavois Cloud are the four top fighters in the division. Nathan is Europe’s best, but he has a way to go before he is in the league of the world’s best.

Frank Warren is very shrewd and not keen on risking his champions unnecessarily stateside, so I will be very surprised if Nathan fights any of the top four fighters in the near future.

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Crolla: Until I hear something different, Limond is next

British champion ready to defend in Scotland

After weeks of speculation about British lightweight champion Anthony Crolla securing a potential WBC title challenge against 140lb champion Erik Morales in December, the Mancunian has now confirmed that he will travel to Scotland next month and face mandatory challenger Willie Limond.

The 24 year-old, who fought an eight-rounder in Las Vegas last month after a bout with Morales fell through, had once again been linked for a fight against the Mexican legend in Tijuana but will now step up preparations to meet the Scot on his home soil after the world title fight failed to materialize for a second time.

"There are plenty of rumours out there but I have been told I am fighting at Ravenscraig next month,” Crolla told The Daily Record.

"If that is not approved it will be at Bellahouston but the fact is I am defending in Scotland in November and haven't heard anything else that tells me I won't be fighting Willie.

"I have to train really hard and be professional because I know if I don't take this fight seriously and start thinking about something else then I will be a goner."

Limond, 32, has himself shared the ring with Morales after managing six rounds with ‘El Terrible’ in September 2009 and has only fought once since, a six-round victory over journeyman Arek Malek.

The Glaswegian’s credentials grant him respect though as a former British, European and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion.

Limond also a brief spell as WBU belt holder at 135lbs in 2009 and has gone eight rounds with Amir Khan and Alex Arthur in his only other defeats in his 37 contests.

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Mares v Agbeko II, Moreno v Darchinyan paired on December 3

In a highly anticipated rematch of one of the year's most talked about and exciting fights, unbeaten rising star Abner Mares will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Bantamweight Championship titles against the boxer he dethroned, former two-time IBF 118-pound champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko, in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING onSaturday, Dec. 3, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) at Honda Center in Anaheim,Calif.

In the co-featured world championship bout, Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) Bantamweight Super Championship against Two-Division World Champion Vic "The Raging Bull'' Darchinyan.

Tickets for Mares vs. Agbeko II, priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com and via charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000. Tickets will be available for sale at the Honda Center Box Office beginning Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. PT.

Mares (22-0-1, 13 KO's) scored a hotly disputed 12-round majority decision over Agbeko (28-3, 22 KO's), to win the SHOWTIME Bantamweight Tournament and IBF title last Aug. 13 in Las Vegas.

The summer slugfest featured many two-way exchanges with numerous swings in momentum. Mares and Agbeko combined to throw 1,394 punches in the first fight. The fast-starting Mares connected on 318 of 732, while Agbeko landed on 231 of 662 and notably came on strong in the later rounds. Each fighter landed his share of big blows.

Their brave performances, however, were overshadowed by referee Russell Mora, who warned Mares several times for low blows throughout the fight yet never deducted a point. In the 11th round, the referee called a knockdown when Agbeko took a knee following a punch that appeared below the beltline.

When the final bell rang and the scores were totaled, Mares scored a majority decision victory by the scores of 115-111 twice and 113-113, however the controversy surrounding the fight was such that the IBF ordered an immediate rematch less than 24 hours after Team Agbeko had filed an official protest in the days following the fight.

Golden Boy Promotions' first homegrown world titlist, Mares showed no hesitation in giving Agbeko the rematch as he said he would immediately following their first fight. Mares said he relishes the opportunity to show that he is deserving of the championship he won this summer.

"I'm looking forward to December 3rd to clear the record and show that I deserve to be a world champion," said Mares. "I beat him the first time and I'll beat him again, but this time it will be easier. I'm going to make a statement in this fight."

Despite the Aug. 13 outcome, Agbeko's confidence has not wavered.

"As I said after our first fight, Abner Mares did not win my world title, the referee gave it to him," said Agbeko. "This is not to say Mares cannot win. His undefeated record shows he has boxing abilities. His challenge now is to prove he can beat me in a fair fight. The world and a new referee will be watching this young man to see if he can keep his gloves above the beltline. In a fair fight, I know I will prevail."

Mares, who turns 26 on Nov. 28, will be fighting for the fourth consecutive time on SHOWTIME; Agbeko, 32, will be appearing on the network for a fifth time in a row.

Moreno (31-1-1, 11 KO's), 26, of Panama City, Panama, will fight for the first time since he signed with Golden Boy Promotions last August. He will be making his United States and SHOWTIME debuts against Darchinyan (37-3-1, 27 KOs), 35, a Sydney, Australia-based Armenian who has appeared 13 times on the network.

Unbeaten since losing in his eighth professional fight in 2002, the 5-foot-8 Moreno captured the WBA title in May 2008 and was upgraded by that organization to Super Champion in November 2010. He's made a total of eight title defenses, including an eighth-round TKO over former World Champion Lorenzo Parra in his lone start this year on June 17 in Panama. All but six of Moreno's 33 professional fights took place in his homeland.

The aggressive-minded, crowd-pleasing Darchinyan, a former world champion at 112 and 115 pounds, is the current International Boxing Organization (IBO) 118-pound titleholder.

Darchinyan regained the IBO belt last April 23 with an impressive fifth-round technical decision over Yonnhy Perez on SHOWTIME. On Sept. 12, Darchinyan retained the strap by pitching a near-shutout in a lopsided 12-round decision over Evans Mbamba in Armenia.

The doubleheader is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don King Productions and Gary Shaw Productions and is sponsored by Tecate, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. A full undercard will be announced shortly.

Steve Albert (blow-by-blow), Al Bernstein and Antonio Tarver (analysts) will call the action with Jim Gray reporting from ringside. The executive producer is David Dinkins Jr. with Ray Smaltz producing and Bob Dunphy directing.

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Nonito Donaire opens his gym doors to the media

World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has had a well-attended workout at the legendary Gleason's Gym in Manhattan, New York which was attended by the media as well as members of the West Point women’s boxing team.

Donaire makes his New York debut at the WaMu Theater at famed Madison Square Garden when he defends his title against undefeated two-division world champion Omar Andres “The Hurricane” Narvaez of Argentina on October 23 Manila Time in a fight to be telecast “live” by ABS-CBN over its pre-eminent Channel 2.

Donaire said a knockout win over Narvaez would be most satisfying even as Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told us recently that a possible title fight against WBO super bantamweight champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce was a possibility early next year with a title shot at WBC champion Toshiaki Nisioka likely to take place in May or June.

Donaire who won the IBF/IBO flyweight championship with a sensational 5th round KO of Vic Darchinyan and then captured the WBA super flyweight interim title with wins over Rafael Concepcion and an 8th round TKO of Mexico’s Hernan Marquez won a third title when he smashed veteran WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel in less than two rounds last February at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino.

The classy Filipino fighter wants to follow in the path of Pacquiao who has won eight world titles in eight different weight divisions. Although he realistically aims for five or six titles going all the way up to lightweight, Donaire has made it clear he wishes to establish his own legacy as a fighter.

One of the admirers of Donaire as a fighter is American trainer Rick Stahely who trained Pacquiao when he won his first title - the WBC flyweight crown with a sensational 8th round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul.

Stahely believes Donaire is capable of winning world titles in five or six weight divisions.

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WBN Video: Kimbo Slice 2nd pro fight Knockout (with results)

Electrifying heavyweight Kimbo Slice, aka Kevin Ferguson, needed only 1:52 to register a phenomenal knockout of Tay Bledsoe in tonight’s main event on the “Rumble In The Heartland” card, presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Legacy Communications, at Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Slice (2-0, 2 KOs), who is co-promoted by Gary Shaw and Tony Holden, continued to show improvement in the ring with world-class trainer John David Jackson in his corner. The former Internet combat fighting sensation came out fast and ended the night with a powerful, one-punch overhand right, stopping Bledsoe who remained motionless for several minutes. Slice’s first pro fight lasted only 17 seconds.

Washington D.C. heavyweight Maurice Byarm scored three knockdowns in the opening round, finishing veteran Clinton Boldrige in the first round (1:14) to remainunbeaten, while middleweight Abel Perry (16-5, 7 KOs) battled his way to a unanimous decision victory against Patrick Thompson (17-17-1, 7 KOs).

Full Results:

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Kevin“Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (2-0, 2 KOs), Coral Springs, FL WKO1 (1:52) Tay Bledsoe (2-4, 2 KOs), Omaha, NE

Maurice Byarm (13-0-1, 9 KOs), Washington D.C. WTKO1 (1:14) Clinton Boldridge (9-17-1, 7 KOs), St. Joseph, MO.

SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHTS

Sean Wilson (6-6, 1 KO), Cambridge, NE WDEC4 Reuben Rodriguez (3-7, 0 KOs), Kearney, NY

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Abel Perry (16-5, 7 KOs), Colorado Springs, CO WDEC8 Patrick Thompson (17-17-1, 7 KOs), Lincoln, NE

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Brandon“Pit Bull” Quintana (4-7, 3 KOs), Kearney, NE WTKO2 ( ) Sook Suyajuck (2-7-1, 2 KOs), Kansas City, MO.

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Chad Dawson becomes WBC champion with foul move

Rematch on the cards after Hopkins ruled out injured

Bernard Hopkins’ first defence of the WBC light-heavyweight title descended into farce at The Staples Center in Los Angeles after challenger Chad Dawson, 29, picked up the elder champion in the second round causing him to fall awkwardly onto the ring apron and damage his shoulder.

The incident followed a cagey opening round and amazingly referee Pat Russell failed to rule what looked like a wrestling move a foul. After much deliberation and confusion, the bout was called a technical knockout and Dawson picked up the green belt to the amazement of the Californian crowd.

46 year-old Hopkins looked stunned as the decision was read out and called for a rematch with the new champion who announced that he would now target Jean Pascal to avenge his only loss.

“Of course he was faking it,” stated Dawson. “He fell on his back, how did he hurt his shoulder?”

“I want Pascal. He’ll be 47 by the time of a rematch so no, I don’t want to fight him again.”

Hopkins then blamed the referee for not calling the foul but was still confused how he could lose his title without being hit by a punch.

“It should have been a no contest,” said Hopkins angrily. “If they want me out of boxing this is the way to do it.”

“Bad” Chad improves to 31-1 whilst Hopkins drops his sixth loss in 61 contests and seemingly has nowhere to go without a rematch.

One possibility could be a WBO challenge against the other winner on the night Nathan Cleverly, with Frank Warren keen on bringing ‘The Executioner’ over to the UK.

The main event certainly lived up to it's name 'Believe it or not!'

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