Jeremias Ponce to Make U.S. Debut in Bout for Vacant IBF Junior Welterweight Title

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jeremias Ponce is ready to rumble on American soil for the first time…

In his U.S. debut, the 26-year-old Argentine boxer will fight Subriel Matias for the vacant IBF junior welterweight title on the PBC on the Showtime undercard, sources said.

Ponce and Matias will face off against each other on February 11 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, according to ESPN.

Ponce is currently 30-0 with 20 Kos.

Matias (18-1, 18 KOs) avenged his lone professional defeat in January with a ninth-round TKO of Petros Ananyan. The 30-year-old volume puncher from Puerto Rico is ESPN’s No. 9 boxer at 140 pounds.

The IBF title is one of three Josh Taylor vacated to proceed with his March 4 rematch vs. Jack Catterall.

Vergil Ortiz, Jr. to Reportedly Train with Eddy Reynoso

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Vergil Ortiz, Jr. is making a big change…

The 23-year-old Mexican professional boxer, one of the fastest rising stars in boxing, has a new trainer.

The undefeated welterweight, who has long been with former trainer of the year Robert Garcia, will be under the guidance of Eddy Reynoso as he prepares for his first bout of 2022.

Ortiz will train with Reynoso at Canelo Alvarez‘s San Diego gym, according to ESPN.

Ortiz denied Friday that the change to Reynoso is happening. Garcia, meanwhile, posted a YouTube video in which he confirmed that Ortiz told him last month that he was opting to leave Garcia’s camp.

Reynoso is best known for training Canelo, the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world. Along with Alvarez, Reynoso is the trainer of star lightweight Ryan Garcia, former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr., 130-pound champion Oscar Valdez, heavyweight Frank Sanchez and 112-pound champion Julio Cesar Martinez.

Coming off a Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year campaign, Reynoso now adds Ortiz.

Ortiz makes the change on the heels of the biggest year of his career. He stepped way up in competition with a seventh-round KO of former champion Maurice Hooker in March and then topped that performance with an eight-round TKO of Egidijus Kavaliauskas in August.

Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs) is now eyeing a January return with Reynoso in his corner.

Thiago Santos Outlasts Johnny Walker to Win by Unanimous Decision at UFC Fight Night

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Thiago Santos is celebrating another victory…

The 37-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist edged Johnny Walker via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.

The fight featured two of the most explosive knockout artists in the UFC light heavyweight division, but it never got out of first gear.

A big overhand left from Santos in the fifth round likely sealed the victory in the close contest.

Santos to win by decision was +650, according to the Caesars Sportsbook. Neither man landed more than 11 significant strikes in a single round.

“I tried to do my best,” Santos said in his post-fight news conference. “I tried to knock him out, but it’s hard to get close to him. He’s big, but he moves fast.”

ESPN has Santos ranked No. 10 in the world at light heavyweight and Walker was trying to ascend the ladder. Both men were born in Brazil, but live and train elsewhere.

Santos competes out of Florida’s American Top Team and Walker trains at Dublin’s SBG Ireland, the home gym of Conor McGregor.

Santos said in his post-fight interview on ESPN+ that he next would like to face top Czech Republic light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka.

Walker held a 4-inch height and 6-inch reach advantage, so it made it hard for the smaller Santos to get inside where he’s so effective with his hard hooks. But Walker also wasn’t very active offensively. The best techniques of the fight were Santos’ kicks to the legs and body of Walker.

Walker had a solid first round with leg kicks, keeping Santos at bay. Santos landed some hard kicks to the body and legs of Walker in the second round. In the third, Santos had his best head shot to that point, a left that wobbled Walker off a Walker kick. Walker got back some momentum in the fourth round with some kicks and a right hand, his best punch of the night.

Santos, though, cemented the win in the fifth. He landed two hard left hands and big body kick. Walker didn’t show much urgency down the stretch and the bout went to a decision.

Santos (22-9) came in tied for the second most KO/TKOs in UFC history with 11. “Marreta” snapped a three-fight losing streak with the victory. One of those losses came against then-champion Jon Jones in a 2019 UFC light heavyweight title fight in which Santos blew out both of his knees. Santos earned his first win Saturday since that surgery. He was coming off a unanimous decision loss to Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 259 in March.

“I come from a tough injury on my knees,” he said in his postfight interview. “It’s so tough to recover. … I was sure this fight I was going to do 100% better than my last fights. And I did. I’m going up, not down.”

Walker (18-6) was coming off a huge first-round knockout over Ryan Spann in September 2020. This was only the third time he’s been to a decision in his pro career. He has won all four of his UFC bouts via finish. Walker, 29, was considered an outstanding prospect before back-to-back losses to Corey Anderson and Nikita Krylov in 2019 and 2020. Now, he has lost three of his past four.

Amanda Serrano Notches 30th Career Knockout Against Daniela Romina Bermudez

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Amanda Serrano has done it again…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican professional boxer, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, Puerto Rican professional boxer, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, defeated Daniela Romina Bermudez via knockout in the ninth round on Thursday night.

While many of Serrano’s fights go only a short distance, Bermudez, her opponent for the WBC and WBO featherweight titles, handled Serrano’s opening attack well.

Bermudez often would try to give some response of her own, too, at least until the ninth round, when Serrano still appeared fresh and powerful, leading to the body shot combination that stepped Bermudez back toward the ropes and then down, where she wouldn’t get up, giving Serrano the win 1:33 into Round 9.

“I knew I was going to be able to walk her down,” Serrano said on NBCSN after the fight.

It was the 30th career knockout for Serrano (40-1-1, 30 KO), who defended the WBC and WBO world featherweight titles and added an IBO world featherweight title, too. It was also the most recent knockout of Serrano’s career.

Bermudez (29-4-3, 10 KO) had taken powerful punches by Serrano all night. But the combination of body shots with Serrano’s right and left fist to Bermudez’s body gave her a little bit of pause. Then Bermudez started walking back and fell down.

Serrano continues a massive streak. She hasn’t lost since 2012, when she lost a unanimous decision to Frida Wallberg. Next, she said she’d like to try and become undisputed in her division after winning Thursday’s fight. It was Bermudez’s first loss since April 26, 2014, when she lost a unanimous decision to Yesica Yolanda Bopp.

Ryan Garcia’s WBC Title Bout Against Luke Campbell Moved to January 2021

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Garcia will have to wait a month to get back in the ring…

A date has been finalized for the rescheduled vacant WBC title bout between the 22-year-old Mexican American boxer and Luke Campbell. The two will fight on Saturday, January 2, DAZN has announced.

Garcia and Campbell were scheduled to fight on December 5 in Los Angeles, but the fight was postponed after Campbell tested positive for COVID-19 on November 10.

“My mindset going into this fight hasn’t changed, and my training hasn’t stopped,” Garcia said. “I’m excited we have a new date and can finally bring this to the fans. I’m here, and I’m ready to ring in the new year with a victory … let’s go!”

Campbell, who has resumed training back in England, doesn’t seem too concerned about the short delay. “New date, new year, same result,” said Campbell. “I’m fully back in training and have never felt better. What a way to start 2021. This is going to be with a clinical Luke Campbell win.”

Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) hasn’t fought since a first-round KO victory over Francisco Fonseca in February. Garcia trains with Eddy Reynoso, who also trains middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, junior lightweight contender Oscar Valdez and former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.

Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs), 33, lost a unanimous decision challenging then lightweight unified champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in August 2019.

Devin Haney is theWBC lightweight titlist and Teofimo Lopez Jr. is the WBC “franchise” champion.

Marlon Moraes to Reportedly Fight Rob Font at Final UFC Fight Night of the Year

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Marlon Moraes is hoping to prove the comeback is bigger than the setback…

The 32-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist, a former UFC bantamweight title challenger, will take on Rob Font at a UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas on December 19.

The UFC hasn’t officially announced the 135-pound bout, but ESPN sources confirmed have confirmed that both sides have agreed to it. MMAJunkie first reported the matchup and date.

It’s a quick turnaround for Moraes (23-7-1), who just suffered a second-round knockout loss to Cory Sandhagen in the main event of a UFC event October 10 on “Fight Island.”

Moraes fought for the UFC title in June 2019, but came up short in a TKO loss to Henry Cejudo. He is 2-1 in his past three bouts, with the win coming against Jose Aldo via split decision.

Font (14-4), of Boston, will be looking for the biggest win of his career. He has been a mainstay in the UFC’s rankings for a while, but has come up short in key matchups against John Lineker, Pedro Munhoz and Raphael Assuncao. He is 7-3 overall in the UFC.

The UFC hasn’t yet announced a main event for the UFC Fight Night, which will mark the final UFC event of 2020.

Edgar Berlanga Gunning for 15th First Round Knockout Against Lanell Bellows Next Month

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Berlanga is hoping for a quince…

The 23-year-old Puerto Rican boxer, a hard-hitting super middleweight hopeful, will face veteran Lanell Bellows (20-5-3, 13 KOs).

Berlanga (14-0, 14 Kos) has scored all of his knockouts in the first round.

He defeated Eric Moon in his most recent outing on July 21, needing just 62 seconds to get the job done.

The fight is part of the undercard for the Vasiliy Lomachenko–Teofimo Lopez lightweight unification fight at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

It will take place on October 17.

Cris Cyborg to Defend Her Bellator Title Against Arlene Blencowe Next Month

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Cris Cyborg is getting into defensive mode…

The 35-year-old Brazilian-American mixed martial artist, whose real name is Cristiane Justino, is ready for her first Bellator title defense as part of the promotion’s debut on a new network.

Cyborg will put her Bellator women’s featherweight title on the line against Arlene Blencowe on October 15 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, promotion officials have announced.

The card will air in a Thursday night time slot on CBS Sports Network. Bellator had been on Paramount Network (formerly Spike TV) since 2013.

Cyborg (22-2, 1 NC), ESPN’s No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, won the Bellator title in her last outing, stopping Julia Budd by fourth-round TKO in January.

Cyborg has won two straight after losing the UFC women’s featherweight title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 in December 2018.

Cyborg departed the UFC after her contract expired last year. She’s one of the most fearsome women’s MMA fighters of all time with 18 KO/TKO finishes in 22 pro wins.

Blencowe (13-7) has won three straight and is coming off a unanimous decision win over UFC veteran Leslie Smith last November. The Australia native has just two MMA losses in the past five years, both to Budd. Blencowe, a 37-year-old boxing veteran, has seven KO/TKOs in 13 pro wins.

Yuniel Dorticos’ World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Finals Bout Against Mairis Briedis Set for Later This Month

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

The third time will hopefully be the charm Yuniel Dorticos…

The World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight finals between the 34-year-old Cuban professional boxer and Latvia’s Mairis Briedis has been rescheduled for September 26 at the Plazamedia broadcasting center in Munich, Germany, according to Kalle Sauerland, chief boxing officer for the WBSS.

The fight, which matches ESPN‘s top two rated cruiserweights, has been postponed twice because of the coronavirus pandemic. The bout was originally scheduled for March 21, and then for May 16.

“It’s the biggest fight in boxing since the coronavirus outbreak. I can’t think of any other fight that’s bigger than this one,” Sauerland told ESPN on Tuesday. “It’s for the Muhammad Ali Trophy, the finals of the second season of the World Boxing Super Series, and it’s a sign that boxing is back.

“There’s been some great boxing on, but there hasn’t been a No. 1 versus No. 2 in the division, which this is.”

Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs), the IBF belt holder, reached the finals by scoring a unanimous decision victory against Mateusz Masternak in October 2018 and a 10th-round KO win over Andrew Tabiti in June 2019. Breidis scored a unanimous decision victory over Noel Gevor in November 2018 and a third round stoppage of Krzysztof Glowacki last summer.

“[The event] will be completely behind closed doors — we’re under very strict supervision by the local authorities,” Sauerland said.

Since Breidis is from Latvia and Breidis is based in Miami, there were some logistical hurdles that had to be climbed as both will travel to Germany for this event, which will be streamed on DAZN.

“It’s taken a lot of energy in the background, both teams have been great, very supportive of all the information we’ve needed. It’s really been an effort,” Sauerland said. “As a fan, I’m just looking forward to seeing big-time boxing back. What more can I say?”

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