KONGO DEFENDS WBO GLOBAL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST MCKINSON

Undefeated Welterweights Chris Kongo and Michael McKinson will collide for the WBO Global Title on the undercard of Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte 2 on Saturday March 6, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on DAZN in all other markets excluding the UK and Ireland.

Bermondsey’s Kongo clinically dispatched Luther Clay in nine rounds to win the WBO ranking Title at Fight Camp last summer, taking full advantage oh his first opportunity of the big stage to extend his unbeaten record to 12-0 with seven knockouts.

Portsmouth’s McKinson has won all nineteen of his professional contests, with two of those wins coming via knockout, and the 26-year-old prospect has picked up the WBC Youth World, WBC International Silver and WBO European Welterweight Titles in an impressive run.

“I’m very excited, this is a fight that I’ve wanted for a long time,” said Kongo. “He was saying that he was far ahead of me, but now I’ve got the belt, the tables have turned.

“Michael has said he’s the most avoided, but I know I’m the most avoided, so we have to make it happen. The two most dangerous fighters in the division – we’re both getting it on now – so it’s a big fight.

“It’s not, can I solve ‘The Problem?’ I will solve ‘The Problem’ on March 6, guaranteed. In the Luther Clay fight, I said before it, someone is going to go down, and I definitely know it’s not me. Same way someone is going to go down in this fight, and it’s definitely not me again.

“It’s going to be an explosive win for me. This is what we train for, this is what we work for. I want the big risk fights. If you don’t take risks in life, you won’t get anywhere, so it’s all about taking another risk in my career.”

“I’m very pleased with this Chris Kongo fight,” said McKinson. “It’s a fight I have called for and I’m over the moon to get a fight that I want. I’ve wanted a big fight for a long time. I deserve one and I’m buzzing.

“It’s a massive platform and one that I need in my career. I believe I was born to be on the big stage and I can’t wait to show that on March 6. Chris Kongo is a dangerous fighter and a talented fighter, but there is no fighter like Michael McKinson. You can throw me in with anybody and I’d come out victorious.

“I’ve told Chris before many times that all they needed to do was make the call and the answer would be yes. Winning a fight like this can change my life and change my daughter’s life, it can catapult me to even bigger things. That’s why I’m in this sport, to do big things for my city of Portsmouth and big things for my daughter and make people proud, and that’s what I’ll do on March 6.”

Povetkin vs. Whyte 2 tops a huge night of action, Bermondsey’s Ted Cheeseman (16-2-1, 9 KOs) meets Liverpool’s James Metcalf (21-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant British Super-Welterweight Title, Ipswich Heavyweight talent Fabio Wardley (10-0, 9 KOs) steps-up again against USA’s former World Title challenger Eric Molina (27-6, 19 KOs), Manchester Super-Featherweight Campbell Hatton – son of British fight legend Ricky Hatton – makes his professional debut and Wembley Super-Featherweight Youssef Khoumari ( 11-0-1, 4 KOs) faces Birmingham’s Kane Baker (14-7).

Tim Tszyu has beaten Jeff Horn by technical knockout in their contest in Townsville.

The decision came when Horn failed to come out for the ninth round, having been comprehensively beaten by his younger opponent.

Tszyu worked over Horn throughout the fight with some vicious body shots and punishing right hands.

Horn was knocked down in the third round thanks to a brutal left uppercut, but gamely hung on in typical fashion for another four rounds before failing to rise from his stool.

More on https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-26/jeff-horn-vs-tim-tszyu-live-boxing-blog/12598204?section=sport&sf237180853=1

Horn-Tszyu stream begins at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT for a special Aussie edition of Breakfast and Boxing

(August 21, 2020) —Australia’s most anticipated fistic showdown in years has an American streaming home.

Former welterweight world champion and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff “The Hornet” Horn will face WBO Global Junior Middleweight Champion Tim Tszyu Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Australia. A socially distanced crowd of more than 16,000 fans are expected for Horn-Tszyu, which will headline a special edition of Breakfast and Boxing exclusively on ESPN+ (5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT).

Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs), from Brisbane, toppled Pacquiao in July 2017 via unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight world title. Horn-Pacquiao, the Top Rank on ESPN series premier, peaked at 4.4 million viewers. Horn defended his title once before losing via ninth-round stoppage to Terence “Bud” Crawford in June 2018. He is 2-1 since the Crawford loss, most recently splitting a pair of action classics against countryman Michael Zerafa in 2019.

Tszyu (15-0, 11 KO), the Sydney-born son of legendary former world champion Kostya Tszyu, returns from a nearly nine-month layoff. He graduated from prospect to contender in 2019, closing out the year in December with a fourth-round TKO over Jack Brubaker that streamed live on ESPN+.

“In my career, what I’ve accomplished and what I’m doing, my dad doesn’t play much of a role. I do my own stuff,” Tszyu told ESPN recently. “He taught me one thing and that’s work ethic, because of that I am who I am. If you want to succeed you have to put in the work.

“I’m proud of what my dad achieved. He’s the greatest boxer in Australian and Russian sports history. I do everything that he’s done. There’s a blueprint. If I could do half of what he did, I’m going to be a great in this sport.”

The Horn-Tszyu stream will also include unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Liam Wilson (6-0, 4 KOs) against Jackson Woods (4-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder, former Australian 154-pound champion Joel Camilleri (18-6-1, 8 KOs) versus Adam Copland (5-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight bout, and Australian middleweight prospect Issac “The Headsplitter” Hardman (6-0, 5 KOs ) against seven-year veteran Jamie Weetch (12-3, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Undisputed WBO Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor (15-0, 6 KOs) weighed 134.3 lbs & Delfine Persoon (44-2, 18 KOs) weighed 132.7 lbs.

WBO Global Welterweight Champion Luther Clay (13-1, 5 KOs) weighed 145.8 lbs & Chris Kongo (11-0, 6 KOs) weighed 145.6.

Fight venue: Matchroom Fight Camp action in Brentwood, Essex. TV: Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US, as part of Whyte-Povetkin.

Photos by Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Luther Clay has warned Chris Kongo that he will be looking to end their WBO Global Welterweight Title fight early when they clash on the undercard of Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin at Matchroom Fight Camp this Saturday August 22, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Bracknell’s Clay (13-1, 5 KOs) is enjoying a rich vein of form after snatching the WBO ranking Title from Italy’s Dario Morello in Florence last September with a shutout points win, he then defended his belt for the first time against Freddy Kiwitt with another impressive unanimous decision victory at York Hall in December.

‘Black Panther’ is determined to prove he is one of the brightest prospects in the Welterweight division by handing a first loss to Bermondsey’s former Team GB amateur standout Kongo, who will also be looking to impress in his debut appearance as a Dillian Whyte fighter.

“I’m excited to be on such a great show and I’m ready to fight,” said Clay. “2019 was a good year for me. I won the Title in Italy and then defended it against a good fighter. I celebrated that period but stayed focused. I was ready to fight Chris in March and I’m ready now.

“It goes without saying, the better the opponent, the more you’re going to focus and the better your performance will be. I’m so happy to be fighting and making another appearance on a big show. This is history, and I’m glad to be a part of it. These are the nights we work to be a part of.

“I’m more excited about fighting someone that everyone rates because when I beat him I will take that shine. There has been a lot of hype about him coming from Team GB. He’s a good boxer who is tall and rangy and well-skilled all round. I can’t really replicate a six foot Welterweight in sparring, it’s hard. We know what we’re facing and we’re prepared.

“It’s a challenge but one I’m really looking forward to. Him being confident is good but I’m coming to win this fight. I don’t care about his reputation, I’m coming to fight. Whatever he thinks doesn’t matter to me. I feel like I’m going to stop him. I don’t know how and I don’t know what way, but it will happen, he will fold. This fight has to end in a knockout. Chris said that I’m a terrible finisher, but I’ve been working on that for him, and I’ll knock him out on Saturday.”

Clay vs. Kongo lands on a huge night of action that sees Dillian Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) defend his Interim WBC Heavyweight World Title against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs), Irish legend Katie Taylor (15-0, 6 KOs) puts her WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine Lightweight crowns on the line against Belgium’s Delfine Persoon (44-2, 18 KOs) in the biggest rematch in women’s boxing, Super-Middleweights Jack Cullen (18-2, 9 KOs) and Zak Chelli (7-1, 3 KOs) meet over eight rounds and Croatian Heavyweight contender Alen Babic (3-0, 3 KOs) steps up to face Shawndell Winters (13-3, 12 KOs) over eight rounds.

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Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are delighted to announce the full schedule for Fight Camp – an unrivalled summer of elite boxing based at the Matchroom HQ in Brentwood, Essex with the first three weeks shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US – and the final week shown live on Sky Sports Box Office.

The unique and ground-breaking outdoor setting overlooking the city of London will play host to huge World Title clashes, British and Commonwealth Title showdowns, Heavyweight wars and countless other Title fights as Matchroom bring top tier boxing back to the screens of fights fans across the UK and US.

Matchroom’s summer of boxing launches with a bang on Saturday August 1 as Sam Eggington (28-6, 17 KOs) puts his IBF International Super-Welterweight title on the line against Ted Cheeseman (15-2-1, 9 KOs) in a guaranteed barnburner, Belfast’s big-hitting James Tennyson (26-3, 22 KOs) takes on Cardiff’s Gavin Gwynne (12-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant British Lightweight title, Chatteris talent Jordan Gill (24-1, 7 KOs) meets Watford’s Reece Bellotti (14-3, 12 KOs) in an electric Featherweight battle, fast-rising Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (8-0, 7 KOs) steps up to take on Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily (17-2-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant English belt and gifted Sheffield Super-Lightweight Dalton Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) squares off with Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett (9-1, 2 KOs).

Terri Harper’s (10-0, 5 KOs) defence of her WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Titles against British rival Natasha Jonas (9-1, 7 KOs) headlines week 2 on Friday August 7 supported by Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith (10-1, 9 KOs) defending his Commonwealth Title against undefeated Cardiff man Nathan Thorley (14-0, 6 KOs), Liverpool Super-Welterweight Anthony Fowler (12-1, 9 KOs) gets his second outing of the year against Adam Harper (9-1), Oldham Lightweight prospect Aqib Fiaz (5-0) steps up against Birmingham’s former Midlands Area Champion Kane Baker (13-6) and Leeds Featherweight prospect Hopey Price (2-0) fights on UK soil again following his win on the huge Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 show in Saudi Arabia.

Felix Cash (12-0, 8 KOs) puts his Commonwealth Middleweight Title on the line for the second time against former World Title challenger Jason Welborn (24-8, 7 KOs) at top of week 3’s bill on Friday August 14, recent Matchroom signing Zelfa Barrett (23-1, 14 KOs) meets Ireland’s undefeated Eric Donovan (12-0, 7 KOs) over ten rounds, Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway (14-1-1, 3 KOs) takes on Rotherham’s Navid Mansouri (20-3-2, 6 KOs), Watford Super-Bantamweight Shannon Courtenay (5-0, 2 KOs) faces the toughest opponent of her career in Rachel Ball (5-1) and hard-hitting Super-Middleweight menace John Docherty (8-0, 6 KOs) looks for his second win of the year.

Fight Camp concludes with an unmissable night of blockbuster action on Saturday August 22, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office, as Dillian Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) defends his WBC Interim Heavyweight World Title against Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) and Irish legend Katie Taylor (15-0, 6 KOs) defends her Undisputed Lightweight World Titles. There’s more Heavyweight action on offer as Martin Bakole (15-1, 12 KOs) returns to the ring against Russia’s Sergey Kuzmin (15-1, 11 KOs) and Luther Clay (13-1, 5 KOs) defends his WBO Global Welterweight Title against Chris Kongo (11-0, 6 KOs).

Adam Smith, Sky Sports Head of Boxing Development, said: “Eddie Hearn has supplied a sizzling summer schedule in August, starting with three Sky Sports shows packed with British talent. Sam Eggington against Ted Cheeseman should be a classic clash, while the exciting trio of Jordan Gill, Fabio Wardley and Dalton Smith will be eager to impress.

“Terri Harper has already endeared herself to fight fans with her remarkable success story, but Natasha Jonas is a genuine threat as we return to Matchroom HQ with a high-class World Title fight. Anthony Fowler and Chris Billam-Smith have big ambitions and cannot afford slip-ups on the same bill.

“Felix Cash defends his Commonwealth belt against the dangerous Jason Welborn on our third action-packed show. We’ll get another chance to see Shannon Courtenay in action – she is a rising talent with an entertaining style – and it’s a perfect platform for Kieron Conway and Zelfa Barrett to showcase their skills.

“Fight Camp ends with fireworks as Dillian Whyte risks his World Title ambitions against the big-hitting Alexander Povetkin, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Katie Taylor can cement her status as one of the sport’s finest fighters when she returns to action on another fantastic bill. We’re back with a red-hot line-up of live boxing!”

Tim Tszyu looks set for a ratings rise after carving out a unanimous points decision over Dwight Ritchie in their vacant WBO Global Jr Middleweight bout in Sydney.

Tszyu (14-0, 10 KOs) won by margins of four, five and six points in a very competitive fight on Wednesday to win two regional super welterweight titles.

He landed the heavier blows and looked good when putting the pressure on, forcing the Victorian back.

But Ritchie (19-2, 2 KOs), who was rated ninth by the IBF, three places above Tszyu, got off plenty of his own shots, sometimes beating his opponent to the punch.

Ritchie was cut near his left eye in the third round, but allowed to continue by veteran fight doctor Lou Lewis.

Tszyu went on the offensive for the rest of the round with Ritchie, obviously conscious of the cut, occasionally pawing at his eye.

Tszyu found the range more often with his right hand as the fight progressed, tagging Ritchie several times in the last.

“He kept me on my toes, he took me somewhere I haven’t been,” Tszyu said of Ritchie.

“I just proved that ‘I’m the best (super welterweight) in Australia, I’ve cleaned up my division

‘It’s time to think about going overseas.”

Asked a about a fight with former WBO welterweight champion Horn, who was commentating at ringside, Tszyu said: “he’s got a big task ahead of him (against Michael Zerafa on August 31)”.

“Once he finishes his task then we can talk.”

VIA BOXINGSCENE.com

Joet Gonzalez (23-0, 14 KOs) of Glendora, California continued his undefeated streak with a sixth-round TKO of Manuel “Tino” Avila (23-2, 10 KOs) on the Rey Vargas vs. Tomoka Kameda undercard.

The fight took place on Saturday night at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, and streamed live on DAZN.

“I saw by the second or third round that he was already gassed,” said Gonzalez. “I knew he was ready to go by the middle rounds, so I tried to take him out like I said I would. I work hard every day in the gym, all I do is eat and sleep boxing, so when I say I’m going to do something, I mean it.”

Gonzalez applied pressure throughout the fight and cut off the ring when needed, which helped him capture the WBO Global Featherweight title. In the fifth round, Gonzalez dropped Avila as time ran out.

“It was time to go,” said Gonzalez. “I could tell that by the second or third round. He was gassed. I knew he wouldn’t be able to box long.”

Avila suffered his first career loss back in May of 2017 versus Joseph Diaz on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. undercard. Gonzalez continued to punish Avila in the sixth round before his corner threw in the towel.

“I could tell by the second or third round, he was gassed, said Gonzalez. “I knew he wouldn’t be able to box to long, and I got him out in the sixth round.” Gonzalez called out any champion at 126 pounds to fight him. “Everybody is running their mouth,” said Gonzalez. “All I do is box, all they do is run their mouth on social media.”

Via Eric Ramos

Read more at: https://roundbyroundboxing.com/joet-gonzalez-stops-manuel-avila-to-improve-to-23-0/

The pride of Fairfield, California, Manuel “Tino” Avila (23-1-1 8KOs) looks to make a statement heading into his upcoming July 13th bout against blue-chip prospect Joet Gonzalez (22-0 13KOs) for the vacant WBO Global Featherweight Championship which will take place at the Dignity Health Sports Center in Carson, CA, broadcast nationwide on the streaming service platform, DAZN.

Avila, who returned to his roots is working his longtime cornerman Phil Mondello, as well as training with a longtime teammate, Ivan Vergara, for this bout.

“This fight means a lot to me because I feel like it’s my chance to climbs back on top.” said Avila in between rounds at the Vallejo, California PAL gym in the downtown district of Vallejo.

Avila, who has been looking to find his groove after the Joseph Diaz Jr. bout in 2016, has fought only twice since getting a good win over game veteran tough guy Diuhl Olguin and a split draw against Jose Gonzalez, in which most ringside pundits favored Avila in the bout.

“I feel like people are underestimating me because I haven’t looked like myself in the ring for awhile or been as active as the other fighters but this fight is different like the old Tino is back.” said Avila.

Avila was signed at 18-years-old by Golden Boy Promotions, originally campaigning at 122 lbs, before moving up to 126 lbs for better opportunities. The decorated amateur now will look to face a long and hungry, Joet Gonzalez, who is looking to make a statement off Avila’s accomplishments.

“This camp is going great one of the best camps I’ve had so far. I can’t wait to show the fans all the hard work I have put in. I also want to thank Golden Boy Promotions, DAZN, and all the fight fans in California who will come to see this fight live.” said Avila.

Manuel “Tino” Avila goes to battle on July 13th bout against blue-chip prospect Joet Gonzalez at the Dignity Health Sports Center in Carson, CA, broadcast nationwide on the streaming service platform, DAZN.

The much-anticipated fight between two WBO top 15 rated boxers in the junior lightweight division delivered beyond expectations when Jeremiah Nakathila took on Zoltan Kovacs for the vacant WBO Global title.

Nakathila dominated the fight from the first round, hitting Kovacs with some powerful punches and flooring him in the first round. Kovac beat the count and continued suffering heavy punches combined with great speed from the more supreme Nakathila fighting in front of his fans.

The referee finally stopped the fight to protect a clearly bruised and hurt Kovacs, 1 minute and 20 seconds within the 8th round. In the 3rd and 5th round, Nakathila had the Hungarian on the ropes defenseless and the referee could have stopped the fight much earlier.

The win sees Nakathila improve his record to 18 wins with 14 coming by KO and only 1 loss.

Trainer and promoter, Nestor Tobias from the MTC Nestor Sunshine Promotions was impressed with the win.

“We needed to challenge a top 15 contender to show that we are serious about fighting Ito, the current champion. We extended an invitation to all the top guys in the division and only Kovacs was willing to face Nakathila. It only makes sense that Nakathila now be declared the mandatory challenger to Ito and get an opportunity to challenge Ito next. Our goal is clear, we want to challenge Masayuki Ito for his title.”

“This was tough fight but one I needed to prove that I am amongst the best in this division. I feel 100% ready to fight Ito now whether home or away. I am mentally and physically ready to fight him, and I wish to formally challenge him to fight me next,” said Nakathila right after the fight.

In the main undercard, WBO Africa Welterweight champion and WBO rated number 7, Mikka “Silent Assassin” Shonena KO’d Shadrack Ignas from Tanzania in the 4th round to improve his unbeaten record to 14 straight wins. Shonena wasted no time when he overpowered the Tanzanian with beautiful punches to finish off the fight in style.

Via: BOXINGSCENE.COM

Photo: namibian.com.na