Sadam Ali, Johan Perez make weight for their fight in Tucson on Saturday

Las Vegan Jessie Vargas, right, celebrates after defeating Sadam Ali in the ninth round to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship Saturday in Washington, D.C. PHOTO BY TOM HOG ...

Sadam Ali, left, was stopped by Jessie Vargas in the ninth round of their title fight in March 2016 in Washington D.C./Photo by Tom Hogan, Hogan Photos

 

Sadam Ali of Brooklyn and Johan Perez of Venezuela on Friday successfully made weight for their welterweight bout Saturday at Casino Del Sol in Tucson (on ESPN2).

Ali weighed the 147-pound limit and Perez came in at 146.6 pounds.

Ali, who is ranked No. 8 by one governing body, is 24-1 with 14 knockouts. His only loss came to Jessie Vargas, who stopped Ali in the ninth round in a battle for a vacant world title in March 2016 in Washington D.C.

Perez is 22-3-2 with 15 knockouts.

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Mikey Garcia, Adrien Broner make weight for Saturday’s bout in Brooklyn

Mikey Garcia holds up his lightweight championship belt after taking it from Dejan Zlaticanin via third-round knockout in January at MGM Grand in Las Vegas/Getty Images photo by Steve Marcus

 

Mikey Garcia and Adrien Broner on Friday successfully made weight for their junior welterweight bout Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on Showtime).

Broner, who in April 2016 lost his junior welterweight title when he came in overweight for a defense against Ashley Theophane, weighed 138 3/4 pounds, easily making the 140-pound limit. Garcia weighed 139 1/2.

Broner, 28, of Cincinnati, is 33-2 with 24 knockouts. He has won world titles in four weight classes. Garcia, 29, of Moreno Valley via Oxnard, is 36-0 with 30 knockouts and has won titles in three weight classes.

This is a non-title fight.

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Actor Victor Ortiz believes he can again become a top welterweight

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Victor Ortiz, shown here during his April 2016 loss to Andre Berto, believes he can again become welterweight champion/Associated Press photo by Jae C. Hong

 

Victor Ortiz has 12 acting credits, according to IMDb, and he claims getting more is no problem. He also wants to fight, and that’s why Sunday he’ll return to the ring after a 14-month layoff to take on Saul Corral in the welterweight main event from Rabobank Theater in Bakersfield (on Fox Sports 1).

This week, from his camp in Ventura, Ortiz at times spoke in bristling tones while discussing the resurrection of a career that has seen him lose four of his past six fights since winning the welterweight world title with a decision over Andre Berto in April 2011.

“I’ve been written off before,” said Ortiz, 30. “People have said I should retire since my first loss. I came back from that loss and became a champion. I don’t care what people have to say about me. I could go act full-time if I wanted, but I truly love this sport.”

One of the reasons why Ortiz has had only six fights in six years is because he was off 19 months after having his jaw broken by Josesito Lopez in a June 2012 fight at Staples Center. Still, Ortiz has not been real busy since losing his title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2011 via controversial fourth-round knockout.

Ortiz intimated his less-than-flattering five-month reign as champion is another reason why he is continuing his career.

“The hunger is definitely still there inside of me,” he said. “When I became world champion, it was a short-lived experience. I had reached a high pinnacle and lost it in a fashion that I was never satisfied with. I’m blessed to be healthy enough to come back.”

In that loss to Mayweather, Ortiz gave Mayweather one too many hugs after Ortiz was deducted a point for an intentional head-butt, Mayweather knocking out Ortiz with his hands at his sides.

After that loss to Mayweather, Ortiz was stopped by Lopez after the ninth round, then Ortiz was knocked out by Luis Collazo in the second round in January 2014. Ortiz’s next two starts were victories over journeymen in December 2014 and and December 2015, before Ortiz was knocked out by Berto in the fourth round in April 2016.

Yet, Ortiz (31-6-2, 24 KOs) believes he can make another serious run for a major title.

“I still feel like I can be one of the best in the 147-pound division,” Ortiz said. “It’s there for the taking. There are some gifted fighters in there and I respect them, but I believe that I have what it takes to be right up there. I’m a complete fighter.”

Corral, 30, of Mexico, is 25-9 with 16 knockouts. He has a common opponent with Ortiz in Lopez, who defeated Corral via unanimous decision in April.

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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

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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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