Josesito Lopez beats Mike Arnaoutis by technical decision

233 Photo: CARLOS BAEZA – Welterweight Josesito Lopez (31-6, 18 KO’s) looked like a shell of his former self tonight in struggling badly to defeat journeyman Mike Arnaoutis (24-10-1, 11 KO’s) by an unimpressive 8th round technical decision caused by a head-butt in the 8th round at the Fantasy Springs Casino, in Indio, California, USA.

Arnaoutis banged heads with Lopez in the 8th, causing a wide cut over the side of Arnaoutis’s left eye. He had already suffered a small cut over his right eye earlier in the fight, but that one wasn’t as bad as this one. Arnaoutis told the ringside doctor that he couldn’t see out of his left eye, and the fight was then stopped. The judges scored it 77-74, 77-74, 76-75.

Lopez took a lot of shots in this fight, and he’s quite fortunate that Arnaoutis had no power to speak of because it’s easy to imagine that Lopez would have been stopped in this fight with the way that his head was swinging violently each time Arnaoutis would land a shot.

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Brian Minto TKOs Shane Cameron

Round by Round: Shane Cameron (29-3-0) V Brian Minto (38-7-0) – Trust Arena, Auckland, New Zealand

Shane Cameron hasn’t fought since his 2012 Cruiserweight title bout with Danny Green. Comparatively Brian Minto has fought three times in 2013 for two decision losses and a win. The pro-Cameron crowd know little of Brian Minto. Minto a relatively small heavy is a live dog given against a similarly sized heavy like Cameron. Minto has fought the far higher calibre of opponent and brings great application and heart to his game.

This fight for as long as it last could be a barn stormer given we have two heavyweights who like to exchange. Neither man will have to go looking for each other.

Minto ring walk: Minto is calm as a cucumber. Accompanied by his coach the home-country boy Kevin Barry.

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“Danger Zone” weigh-in: Adrien Broner – 144.4, Marcos Maidana – 146.2

This afternoon from the Farmers Market in downtown San Antonio, Texas, WBA Welterweight Champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Marcos “El Chino” Maidana participated in the official preliminary weigh-in event and posed for the capacity filled venue of media members and fight fans.

On the eve of the highly anticipated main event of the evening, the defending champ seemed jovial and relaxed as he stepped onto the commission scale. Sporting a pair of shades, the reigning title holder began shadow boxing after he weighed in at a healthy 144.4 pounds.

When Maidana stepped onto the scale, “The Problem” began talking to the Spanish speaking Argentine fighter. Seemingly unphased by the inaudible banter, “El Chino” Maidana weighed in at approximately 146.2 pounds. Both men appeared to be full of energy and didn’t show any signs of dehydration.

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Carl Frampton wants Leo Santa Cruz fight

Photo: ©Russell Pritchard – Belfast sensation Carl Frampton has opened the door to a spectacular world title showdown with Leo Santa Cruz next year.

The WBC super-bantamweight champion, Santa Cruz, called out the Ulsterman ahead of his fight with undefeated Cesar Seda this weekend on BoxNation, naming him as a potential opponent for a mega bout in 2014.

Frampton is currently the mandatory challenger for Kiko Martinez’s IBF world title, raising the stakes in a future matchup with Santa Cruz, should he triumph over the Spaniard once again, having stopped him in nine rounds when they met last February.

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“People power” in boxing: Pacquiao-Mayweather (part II)

NO solid fight for the unbeaten “number one” boxer except the resurrected eight-division champion whom he got accustomed to avoid. Thus who is the Money Team looking for to challenge their “man” outside of the Filipino sports icon? Nobody.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. runs on the wrong side of the road if he is not fighting Manny Pacquiao next, while Pacman has an unfinished business to do with Timothy Bradley if Floyd decides to stray in barren grounds. The world has yet to see the best of Mayweather and no opponent but Pacquiao can bring it out in him.

FMJ will do a calamitous disservice to himself, his promotional outfits and Showtime if he opts to continue ignoring his worst fear in Pacquiao. Counter flows are forbidden in a single-way-narrow-street game called boxing.

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Lucas Browne closes year with another knockout

LUCAS “BIG DADDY” BROWNE can now turn his attention to title fights in 2014 after he ended this year with another stunning knockout.

The Aussie banger dispatched New Orleans-born Kiwi Clarence Tillman inside two rounds at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington on Friday night (December 13th).

Tillman previously managed to go the distance with Browne in August 2011, but was swiftly outgunned this evening.

After a patient opening two minutes, Lucas began to rip shots to the body before homing in on Tillman’s head with heavy right hooks.

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Mike Perez vs. Carlos Takam on Janaury 18th on HBO

Montreal, Canada (December 13, 2013) World ranked heavyweight Mike “The Rebel” Perez will make a quick return to the ring taking on hard-hitting contender Carlos Takam of France on Saturday, JANUARY 18 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

The Perez/Takam clash contested for the World Boxing Council (‘WBC’) US-NBC Title will be a featured bout on the massive event headlined by Canada’s two most popular fighters, Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute. Perez vs. Takam is presented by K2 Promotions while Pascal vs. Bute is promoted by GYM Promotions and Interbox. January 18 will be a tripleheader televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

“We’re thrilled to bring Mike back to the ring and back on HBO so quickly following his win on NOVEMBER 2 at Madison Square Garden” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “Mike’s battle with Magomed Abdusalamov was a highly competitive bout and in light of Mago’s injuries from that fight Mike will be dedicating this upcoming bout to him.”

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Weights: Amir Mansour – 229 Kelvin Price – 240

838 Photo: Rich Graessle/Main Events – Trent Laidler, Palm Beach, FL Pro Debut VS. Vincent Floyd, Philadelphia, Pro Debut – 4 Rounds Middleweight
Trent Laidler – Weight: 158.5
Vincent Floyd – Weight: 160

David Rodriguez, El Paso, TX,36-0, 34 KOs VS. Darnell Wilson, Miami, FL 24-17-3, 20 KOs – 6 Rounds Heavyweight
David Rodriguez – Weight: 254.5
Darnell Wilson – Weight: 239

Steve Cunningham, Philadelphia,25-6, 12 KOs VS. Manuel Quezada, Bakersfield, Ca, 29-7, 18 KOs – 8 Rounds Heavyweight
Steve Cunningham – Weight: 208
Manuel Quezada – Weight:230

Andrew Peurifoy, Sicklerville, NJ, Pro Debut VS. Aaron Leonard, Philadelphia, PA, -0-1-1 – 4 Rounds Heavyweight
Andrew Peurifoy – Weight:201.5
Aaron Leonard – Weight: 211

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Broner vs. Maidana: Will Chino shut Broner’s mouth or will Adrian’s speed be too much of a problem for Marcos?

Photo: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME – The old saying “If you build it they will come” rings true for boxing.

In 2013 the two biggest networks and promoters have improved the quality of their product despite engaging in a Cold War.

Both networks have done a great job building events along with lowering the average price of admission causing attendance to rise and the best example of this would be San Antonio, Texas.

Earlier this year Canelo Alvarez fought Austin Trout on Showtime in front of almost 40,000 fans at the Alamodome.

This summer Showtime had what was probably the best tripleheader of the year back in San Diego, oops I mean San Antonio.

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Trainer Rick Morones Jr: “Adrien Broner will KO Marcos Maidana”

Every great trainer throughout boxing’s storied history has insisted that fights are won and lost in the gym. If the age old adage is indeed true, former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Marcos Maidana could be in serious trouble this weekend.

Throughout the entire week leading up to the eventual “gun fight” with the hard punching Argentine, three division world champion and current WBA Welterweight title holder Adrien “The Problem” Broner has been finalizing head trainer Mike Stafford’s game plan at the Team Morones Boxing Club in San Antonio, Texas.

Talented, young gym owner and trainer Rick Morones Jr. has been thoroughly impressed with what he’s seen from the Cincinnati, Ohio native during the days leading into the highly anticipated showdown.

“Adrien Broner is a beast,” claims the 28 year old boxing mentor.

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