Tag: WBC

Shakur Stevenson beats Harutyunyan to keep WBC lightweight belt

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Shakur Stevenson, right, punches Germany’s Artem Harutyunyan during the ninth round of a WBC world lightweight championship boxing match Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Newark, N.J. Stevenson won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Unbeaten American Shakur Stevenson retained his World Boxing Council lightweight world title with a methodical unanimous decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

Stevenson improved to 22-0 with 10 wins inside the distance, making his first defense of the title he won with a narrow decision over Dominican puncher Edwin De Los Santos last November.

That made Stevenson a three-weight world champion, but it was a lackluster showing from both fighters and Stevenson did little on Saturday to quiet critics demanding more fireworks in his last fight under contract to promoter Top Rank.

READ: Shakur Stevenson handles Oscar Valdez in unification bout

After a slow start that left fans at the Prudential Center in Stevenson’s hometown restless, Stevenson began to wear down the Armenian-born German challenger with a series of body shots in the sixth round.

He maintained a measured pace through the 12th, the judges scoring it for the champion 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112.

Harutyunyan, in his first world title bid, fell to 12-2 with seven wins inside the distance.

On the same card, Brazilian Robson Conceicao dethroned WBC super featherweight world champion O’Shaquie Foster with a controversial 12-round split decision victory.

Foster’s jaw dropped in stunned consternation as the scores were read out after a fight in which he — and many onlookers — felt he had done enough against an opponent who didn’t appear to land any damaging blows.

READ: Shakur Stevenson dominates as boxing returns to Las Vegas

But two judges saw the bout for Conceicao 116-112 and 115-113, while the third scored it 116-112 for Foster.

“I do think I was actually the winner,” said Conceicao, a 2016 Olympic gold medallist who improved to 19-2 with one drawn and nine knockouts.

“I tried way more. He didn’t come to fight, he was actually running, running, running, I kept on striking, so I was the winner.”



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Foster fell to 22-3 with 12 knockouts.

“I thought it was a shut-out,” Foster said. “I didn’t get touched but with a head-butt. I don’t know, man … I want a rematch.”

Ryan Garcia expelled by WBC after racial slurs in livestream

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FILE – Super lightweight boxer Ryan Garcia speaks during a news conference at the MGM Grand hotel-casino Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. He was expelled by the WBC  on Thursday after he repeatedly used racial slurs against Black people and disparaged Muslims in comments livestreamed on social media. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)

Ryan Garcia was expelled by the World Boxing Council on Thursday after he repeatedly used racial slurs against Black people and disparaged Muslims in comments livestreamed on social media.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman announced the penalty against Garcia on the social media platform X.

“Exercising my authority as president of the WBC, I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization,” Sulaiman posted. “We reject any form of discrimination.”

READ: Ryan Garcia suspended for a year; win over Haney ruled no-contest

Garcia posted an apology of sorts on X.

“I was trolling I want all the killing to stop,” Garcia wrote. “I love everyone sorry if I offended you.”

An attorney representing Garcia did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Last month, Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission, which also ruled that his April 20 victory over Devin Haney would be considered a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

He was also arrested on felony vandalism charges last month for reportedly causing around $15,000 worth of damage at a hotel in Beverly Hills.

The boxer also mocked George Floyd, the African-American man murdered by police in Minneapolis in 2020 whose death sparked worldwide protests. –With reports from Agence France-Presse



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Jesse Rodriguez KOs Juan Estrada to win WBC super fly belt

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Jesse Rodriguez of the United States reacts after knocking out Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico in the seventh round of their WBC world and Ring Magazine super flyweight title bout at Footprint Center on June 29, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Kelsey Grant/Getty Images/AFP

Unbeaten American Jesse Rodriguez knocked out Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada at the end of the seventh round on Saturday to take the World Boxing Council super flyweight title.

The 24-year-old US southpaw Rodriguez, knocked down by Estrada for the first time in round six, answered late in the seventh with a devastating left to the body that crumpled Estrada and left him writhing on the canvas before referee Chris Flores counted him out.

“I got him with a good body shot,” Rodriguez said. “I saw the way he was rolling on the floor. I knew that was it.”

READ: Juan Estrada eyes title unification vs Jerwin Ancajas

Rodriguez improved to 20-0 with his 13th knockout victory while Estrada, 34, fell to 44-4 with the loss at Phoenix, Arizona.

“I’ve not felt a punch like that since my amateur days,” Estrada said through a translator of the knockout blow.

Rodriguez, a former flyweight and super flyweight champion, gave up his title at 112 pounds to move up to the 115-pound division and challenge Estrada.

“It was a tough fight,” Rodriguez said. “I got dropped for the first time. That was crazy. I just got caught with a punch and the next thing you know I was on the floor.

“I know it was bad, but I’ve always pictured myself in a fight like this and in the ring with a legend and to take his best, it makes it that much more better.”

Estrada entered on an eight-fight win streak, his most recent bout coming in December 2022 when he won the superfly crown with a majority decision over Nicaragua’s Roman Gonzalez.

The dethroned champion called for a rematch, which is in his contract.

READ: Juan Estrada edges ‘Chocolatito’ in their third title fight

“I know the mistake I made in there and I want the rematch. What I need to do in the next fight is box a little bit more,” Estrada said.

“He’s a great fighter. I didn’t underestimate him. I made some errors in this fight and I want to put them right in the second one.

“There’s no doubt we’ll win that rematch.”

Rodriguez caught Estrada with a hard right to the jaw in the first round and countered the champion’s body punches in the second to set the early pace.

Rodriguez stunned Estrada in the third round with a right hook to the jaw and in the fourth round knocked the champion to the canvas with a left uppercut followed by a straight left hand.

“He didn’t really know what to do when I was on the outside. I just stuck to the game plan and it worked out,” Rodriguez said.

‘Now I know’

A punishing left uppercut by Rodriguez staggered Estrada with a minute remaining in the fifth but the Mexican stayed on his feet to the end of the round despite a flurry of punches by the challenger.

Estrada answered with a hard right hand to the chest of Rodriguez in the early seconds of round six that planted the American on his rear as the crowd roared.

“I got a little careless. That’s why I got dropped,” Rodriguez said. “I always wondered what it felt like. Now I know. I don’t want it to happen again.”

Rodriguez would like to unify the 115-pound titles.



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“Definitely. It’s something I’ve seen other fighters do and just to see them with all the belts, it’s motivating,” he said.

“It’s on to bigger things from here… I am taking over this division.”

David Benavidez outpoints Gvozdyk for interim WBC belt

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David Benavidez walks to the corner in between rounds during a WBC interim light heavyweight title boxing bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

LAS VEGAS — David Benavidez made the most of his debut in the light heavyweight division, outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Saturday night to win the interim WBC championship belt.

“I went up in weight, won every single round and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as well,” Benavidez said.

Well, not every round, as Don Trella scored the fight 119-109, Dave Moretti had it 117-111, and Zachary Young scored it 116-112.

READ: David Benavidez wants Canelo Alvarez next after dominant win

That said, Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) controlled much of the fight, playing the role of aggressor while keeping Gvozdyk backpedaling and playing defense.

“I had him hurt a couple of times,” said Benavidez, who landed 42.8% of his punches. “I wasn’t throwing a lot of combinations because I reinjured my hand in the third round. I tore my right ligament four weeks before the fight and I hurt my left hand in camp. I’m proud of myself because I also got a cut three weeks ago and I pushed through and gave the fans a good fight.”

Benavidez — at 27, 10 years younger than Gvozdyk (20-2) — didn’t seem to be affected by moving up a weight class from super middleweight.

By the fourth round, Benavidez was bullying his way into Gvozdyk’s space, while peppering the Ukranian with flurries of combinations. To his credit, Benavidez tactfully chose rounds to work the body, as Gvozdyk seemed to absorb a lot of the early punishment.

Nevertheless, the former super middleweight champion who said he came into the fight weighing 189 pounds never appeared intimidated.

Of the 349 power punches he threw, Benavidez landed 163 (46.7%), including 75 to the body. Gvozdyk connected on just 23.3% of his punches (163 of 699), and just 27.8% of his power punches (108 of 388).

“I obviously wish we got a different decision tonight,” Gvozdyk said. “I wish I had done a little more and been more active in the early rounds of the fight.

“I think the scores were pretty accurate. It was a good fight, a close fight. He was better in the first half of the fight, but I think I started doing better in the second half. I’d love a rematch with him.”

Benavidez closed -500 at BetMGM Sportsbook, which means a bettor would have to wager $500 to win $100.

Next up?

Benavidez showed his boxing skills while his combination punching translated well in the heavier class? A fight that makes the most sense, would be a huge payday for both, and that Benavidez has been in pursuit for, a showdown with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

READ: Canelo Alvarez retains undisputed title, dominates Jamie Munguia

“That’d be a big fight,” said Benavidez, who added he needs to take some time off for his hand to heal. “Now I’m at 175 these are some big boys, I’m looking forward to what’s next in the division. I still can make 168, I have a lot to prove.

“If I can go down to 168, there are big fights at 168. I want the opportunity … if it’s Canelo or whoever, I want the opportunity to be a four-time world champion.”

During his post-fight press conderence, Benavidez had 3-year-old son Anthony stand on the dais and throw a bevy of combinations with fast hands, stealing the show and ending the 10-second display with whom he wants to see step in the ring to face his father next: “Canelo!”

“He’s going to be world champion,” an emotional Benavidez quipped, with a proud smile and tears in his eyes.

The fight was the co-main event, Gervonta “Tank” Davis successfully defending his WBA lightweight championship belt against Frank Martin.



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Both fights were two of four championship bouts highlighting the 100th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The card drew 13,249 fans.