Jorge Linares to defend against Luke Campbell at Fabulous Forum

Jorge Linares, left, lands a body punch on Anthony Crolla during their bout in March in England. Linares defended his title via unanimous decision/Photo by Getty Images Europe

 

It’s been three years since lightweight world champion Jorge Linares graced the United States with his presence in the ring, but that will change Sept. 23 when Linares defends his title against No. 1 contender Luke Campbell at the Fabulous Forum (on HBO).

Linares, of Venezuela, can’t wait.

“I am excited to make my return to the United States and to headline an HBO show for the first time,” said Linares, who will turn 32 on Aug. 22. “I know Luke Campbell is a tough competitor with an incredible amateur and professional background, but I am confident I will emerge victorious on Sept. 23.”

Campbell, of England, won the gold medal at bantamweight in the 2012 London Games. The 29-year-old southpaw is 17-1 with 14 knockouts.

“I’ve worked my way from Olympic champion to the No. 1 spot in the WBA and WBC rankings, and I feel now is the time to take my chance,” Campbell said.

Linares has not fought in the U.S. since knocking out Ira Terry in the second round in August 2014 at StubHub Center. Campbell has never fought outside the United Kingdom.

 

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Nonito Donaire signs with Richard Schaefer’s Ringstar Sports

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Nonito Donaire, left, takes a punch from Jessie Magdaleno during their fight in November in Las Vegas/Getty Images photo by Christian Petersen

 

Nonito Donaire, who has won major titles in four weight classes and an interim title in a fifth, this week signed a promotional contract with Richard Schaefer’s Ringstar Sports.

“Exploring what was out there in the new landscape of boxing was unnerving and exciting at the same time,” Donaire said. “I have known Richard for many years and have always respected what he has been able to do for the fighters he promotes. At this point in my career, I want the biggest fights possible and Richard’s track record to deliver them speaks for itself.”

Donaire, 34, most recently lost his super bantamweight world title to Jessie Magdaleno in November in Las Vegas.

“Nonito is one of the modern day legends of our sport,” Schaefer said. “One of these rare fighters that always delivers and always knows how to entertain. I am convinced that he will again become one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world. No doubt about it.”

Donaire is 37-4 with 24 knockouts.

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Jermall Charlo looking forward to making middleweight debut

Jermall Charlo/Photo courtesy of BoxRec.com

 

Jermall Charlo of Houston accomplished a lot at junior middleweight. He won a major title and successfully defended it three times, but it’s time for him to explore the opportunities at middleweight.

Charlo (25-0, 19 KOs) will take his first crack at 160 pounds Saturday when he tangles with Jorge Sebastian Heiland of Argentina underneath the Mikey Garcia-Adrien Broner junior welterweight main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on Showtime). Charlo, 27, is anxious to get going.

“I know that Jorge is a come-forward kind of fighter,” he said. “He’s going to try to put a lot of pressure on me. It’s my debut at 160 pounds, so I get a chance to go up against someone who’s never been knocked out before and who has knocked out known fighters. I’m preparing for the best of him.”

Heiland (29-4-2, 16 KOs), who knocked out former middleweight contender Matthew Macklin in the 10th round in November 2014, believes perhaps Charlo has bitten off more than he can chew.

“The key for Jermall will be his speed,” said Heiland, 30. “He’s a fast boxer, but he’s jumping up a division. I’ve been at this weight almost my whole career. I know he will be prepared, so I have to be, too. Without a doubt, it will be a battle.”

 

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Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero announces retirement from ring after 16 years

Figueroa

Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero, right, absorbs a punch from Omar Figueroa Jr. during their bout Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y./Photo by Rich Schultz, Getty Images

 

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero on Monday announced his retirement from boxing, two days after he was decked five times by Omar Figueroa Jr., who stopped Guerrero in the third round of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

“First, I want to thank God for allowing me to have a wonderful career,” Guerrero said in a statement. “I’m a kid from a small town in Gilroy, Calif., who made it to the mountaintop of the boxing world. When I was a young kid growing up, I always believed in myself.

“But never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined a small-town kid like myself would be fighting in front of millions of fans.”

Guerrero, 34, compiled a record of 33-6-1 with 18 knockouts with his first bout taking place in April 2001. He went 2-5 in his final seven fights, losing his final three. He won major world titles at featherweight and super featherweight and interim titles at lightweight and welterweight.

 

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Miguel Berchelt ready to prove himself against Takashi Miura at Forum

Miguel Berchelt/Photo courtesy of BoxRec.com
Miguel Berchelt of Mexico in January realized a dream when he knocked out Francisco Vargas in the 11th round to take Vargas’ super featherweight world title at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio.
Berchelt (31-1, 28 KOs) on Saturday will make his first defense when he takes on Takashi Miura of Japan in the main event at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood (on HBO). Miura (31-3-2, 24 KOs) is a former champion who lost his belt to Vargas in November 2015.
“I consider myself a world champion and fighting Takashi Miura is a way to prove that I am the best in my class,” Berchelt said. “Some of my advantages include my height, the fact that I haven’t been in many wars, and my youth.
“I have a youthful hunger that makes the difference between the two of us. It’s cool to know that I am facing the best in my division – I was able to get through Francisco Vargas, so I know that I can take on Miura.”
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Mikey Garcia, Adrien Broner discuss their reasons for fighting one another

Mike Garcia poses with referee Tony Weeks after Garcia knocked out Dejan Zlaticanin in the third round in January to win the lightweight world title at MGM Grand in Las Vegas/Getty Images photo by Steve Marcus

 

Hate on Adrien Broner all you want, but the man has won titles in four weight classes, so his accomplishments speak for themselves. That’s why a fight between Broner and three-division world champion Mikey Garcia is a good thing.

That fight was announced this week for July 29 at a site to be determined (on Showtime). They will fight at the 140-pound junior welterweight limit. The interested parties on Thursday spoke on a conference call about what should be a terrific fight.

“I mean, I’ve done a lot,” said Broner, 27, of Cincinnati. “I’ve done a lot in the sport already at a young age. I’ve watched Mikey Garcia come up before and at the same time I came up. I’ve always wanted to fight the best. The best fight the best and that’s what’s going on today.

“This fight is going to be a tremendous fight and I’m bringing my ‘A’ game. I know a lot of people are probably counting me out.”

Garcia is not among them. He’s too smart for that. He took this fight because he knows Broner is dangerous. That, in turn, sparks plenty of interest.

“It is the biggest fight available for me right now,” said Garcia, 29, of Moreno Valley via Oxnard. “Originally, my plan was to unify at 135 (lightweight). If that was not available, I would look at a big  name to defend my title at lightweight. But that wasn’t quite available.

“Adrien Broner is a much bigger name and a much bigger star who has accomplished a lot in the sport. So it just made more sense to go and pursue the Adrien Broner fight than a regular title defense.”

Garcia, 29, is 36-0 with 30 knockouts. Broner is 33-2 with 24 knockouts.

 

 

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Errol Spence Jr. takes welterweight title from Kell Brook in his native England

Errol Spence Jr., right, lands a right hook on Kell Brook. Spence took Brook’s welterweight title via 11th-round knockout/Photo by Reuters via the Mirror

 

Errol Spence Jr. on Saturday took the welterweight title from Kell Brook via 11th-round knockout at Bramall Lane Football Ground in Brook’s native Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.

Spence, of Desoto, Texas, dropped Brook in the 10th round. Brook, with his left eye badly damaged, took a knee midway through the 11th and the fight was over.

Brook (36-2) was attempting to make the fourth successful defense of his belt. He was coming off a fifth-round TKO loss to middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

Spence (22-0, 19 KOs), a 2012 U.S. Olympian, was in his first world-title fight. He was up by one, three and five points at the time of the stoppage.

 

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Tickets on sale for Miguel Berchelt-Takashi Miura at Fabulous Forum

Miguel Berchelt/Photo courtesy of BoxRec.com

 

Golden Boy Promotions on July 15 will play host to a card at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood that will have super featherweight world champion Miguel Berchelt (31-1, 28 KOs) of Mexico defending his title against Takashi Miura (31-3-2, 24 KOs) of Japan in the main event (on HBO).

Berchelt took the title from Francisco Vargas in January, stopping Vargas in the 11th round at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio.

The semi-main event will feature Jezreel Corrales (21-1, 8 KOs) of Panama defending his super featherweight title against Robinson Castellanos (24-12, 14 KOs) of Mexico.

Also, Joe Smith Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs) of Long Island, N.Y., will take on Sullivan Barrera (19-1, 14 KOs) of Cuba in a 12-round light heavyweight bout. Smith in December ended the career of Bernard Hopkins when he knocked out Hopkins in the eighth round, sending him through the ropes and onto the concrete floor at the Fabulous Forum.

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75 and $125 are on sale and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or the Forum box office at 310-330-7300. They can also be purchased online at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

 

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Miguel Cotto to fight in Southern California for just the second time

Canelo Alvarez delivers a blow to Miguel Cotto as he wins unanimously for the middleweight title.

Miguel Cotto, right, takes a left hook to the jaw from Canelo Alvarez in their November 2015 bout in Las Vegas/AP photo by John Locher

 

Miguel Cotto has not fought since November 2015. But when he returns Aug. 26 to take on Yoshihiro Kamegai of Japan, the two will be tangling for a vacant junior middleweight title at StubHub Center (on HBO).

That’s right. Cotto will have been out of the ring for 21 months, yet he gets a shot at another title upon his return. He’s stoked.

“I’m very excited to be back and showcase a high-level fight for the fans,” Cotto said in a news release distributed by Golden Boy Promotions. “Kamegai is a great, tough fighter. But I will be ready for him, and to capture the world title.”

Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs), of Puerto Rico, is right when he says Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) is a tough fighter. But Kamegai is anything but great. He comes forward, and offers no defense. But this should be a ring war, which is along the lines of many fights we’ve seen at StubHub.

“I fully understand who I am going to be in the ring against,” Kamegai said. “But Cotto’s record and history won’t matter once we are toe-to-toe.”

Cotto, who has won titles in four weight classes, will be fighting for just the second time in the Southland. He defeated Arturo Rodriguez via second-round knockout in July 2001 at Staples Center underneath the light heavyweight title fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Julio Gonzalez. It was just the sixth fight of Cotto’s career.

Cotto has not fought since losing a wide unanimous decision to Canelo Alvarez in a middleweight title fight Nov. 21 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

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Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia weigh in on Errol Spence Jr.-Kell Brook fight

Errol Spence Jr

Errol Spence Jr./Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

 

There is been a lot of talk about Errol Spence Jr. and how good he might become. The boxing world will find out Saturday if Spence is indeed the real deal when he challenges Kell Brook for his welterweight title at Bramall Lane Football Ground in Brook’s native England (on Showtime).

Current welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and former champion Danny Garcia this week were asked to handicap what figures to be an entertaining bout. They, too, are anxious to see what their fellow American can do in this one.

“This is an interesting fight,” Thurman said. “I have not followed Kell too much, but I have obviously seen Errol fight in the U.S. Errol is a tough, young fighter who is just getting into the public’s eye, and Kell obviously has the strength of the British crowd on his side.

“It should be a tough fight that really speaks to the strength of the welterweight division. Both fighters are men that I would be open to fighting as I continue to unify the division in 2018.”

Thurman in March won a split-decision over Garcia in a title-unification bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Garcia believes this fight is a tossup.

“I think this is a 50/50 fight,” he said. “I think the person with the better game plan is going to win. There’s a lot of pressure to go into someone’s backyard like Spence is doing, and he’s never faced a fighter in his prime before like Brook.

“It’s definitely a big test for him and a big step up in competition. If he is ready, he can do it.”

Spence, a southpaw out of Desoto, Texas, is 21-0 with 18 knockouts. Brook is 36-1 with 25 knockouts.

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