Shiming defeats Valenzuela, fails to impress; Estrada beats Viloria in upset

shiming3Light flyweight Zou Shiming (1-0) got his career off to a good start with a four round unanimous decision on Saturday night in beating Valenzuela (2-2-1, 1 KO’s) by a four unanimous decision in a fight that was pretty much one-sided from start to finish at the Cotai Arena, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China. Shiming used his jab and fast hands to land at will against the more limited Valenzuela. Zou had Valenzuela hurt from a left hand in the 2nd, but he didn’t have the power to add to it. The judges scored the fight 40-36, 40-36 and 40-36.

Valenzuela was getting to Shiming in the 3rd round and it wasn’t impressive stuff by Shiming despite the fact that he was still landing more. Valenzuela wasn’t bothered by his shots for the most part other than that one left hand he was clipped with in the 2nd.

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Mayweather picks Donaire to defeat Rigondeaux

donaire22Floyd Mayweather Jr. is going with WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) to get past WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) next week in their fight on April 13th at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. Mayweather is picking the 30-year-old Donaire to defeat by knockout.

Mayweather said on his twitter: “People won’t like this but I’ll put it out there @filipinoflash (Donaire) will win VIA KO (knockout).”

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Lederman sees Canelo obliterating Trout on 4/20

alvarez346HBO broadcaster Harold Lederman doesn’t see WBA light middleweight champion Austin Trout (26-0, 14 KO’s) having much of any chance this month in his fight with WBC light middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (41-0-1, 32 KO’s) on April 20th at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Lederman thinks the 22-year-old Canelo will overpower Trout and get an easy knockout win. I imagine Lederman is putting Trout in the same class as light welterweight Josesito Lopez, who Canelo just annihilated in five rounds last September.

Lederman said to Hustleboss.com “I hate to say this but I think Canelo’s going to destroy him…Canelo’s something special…Canelo is a star. He can box, he can move, he can punch…he fights like a veteran that’s 35.”

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Audley: It’s over if I lose to Deontay Wilder

harrison564Heavyweight Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO’s) says it’ll be over for him if he loses to the 27-year-old Deontay Wilder (27-0, 27 KO’s) on April 27th on the undercard of the Amir Khan vs. Julio Diaz fight at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Audley, 41, has talked about retiring in the past but he always sticks with it after he gets knocked out.

Audley said to Sky Sports “Deontay is fast, dangerous puncher, but he has not been tested as a pro. Lose and it’s over, win and I’m in the top 10 for sure, eligible to challenge for the world title. Biggest risk for the biggest reward. It can’t get any bigger than that.”

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Rigondeaux CAN beat Donaire!

rigondeaux22Note: The “Road to Donaire-Rigondeaux” special replays today (Apr. 4) on HBO2 at 6:15 p.m. ET/PT.

With close to 400 fights in the mighty Cuban amateur boxing program Guillermo Rigondeaux is one of the most decorated amateur boxers in that program and the history of amateur boxing. The 12 losses that he accrued during his amateur run that saw him win 2 Olympic gold medals (2000, 2004) is short of amazing for such a long amateur career. After defecting from Cuba, the Cuban standout entered the professional ranks.

As a professional Rigondeaux’s 11-0 record and fight resume is nothing to brag about, because his amateur pedigree thus far has prevented him from getting the competitive fights…until now. In 10 days Rigondeaux will face his toughest test as a professional when he takes on P4P fighter Nonito Donaire for Donaire’s 122lb title. Many scribes, boxing analysts and insiders are predicting a Donaire win based on professional experience and size alone, discounting Rigondeaux deep participation in the amateurs. Some are even questioning Rigondeaux’s skills and heart. Donaire himself has said he sees a ‘flaw’ in Rigondeaux’s fight style that he will exploit on fight night.

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Steve Cunningham: “We have a solid gameplan for Tyson Fury on April 20th”

DSC_1634Media Day Workout Report – The Theater at Madison Square Garden will once again host Major Boxing action when Philadelphia’s Heavyweight pride Mr. Steve “USS” Cunningham enters the ring on April 20th, under the big lights for a 12 round face-off with the English giant, 24 year old Tyson Fury.

On Wednesday, April 3rd, Cunningham held a media workout at the Rock Ministries Gym in “The City of Brotherly Love” and had more than a few things to say about where he’s been, where he’s at and what’s in store for Fury.

“I came up and came through Europe. I’m used to not hearing the USS chants so that doesn’t bother me. We have a solid game plan for April 20th and if Fury is looking to have “fun” in the ring, I’m all set to have my “fun” too. I won’t even call this [Boxing] a sport, this is a lifestyle where people want to knock my head off so I’m ready to get in there and do the same. I have to be ready to do that and I have to win. If Fury uses his extended reach or starts doing his other antics we have a game plan for that too.”

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Thurman vs. Chaves & Berto vs. Soto-Karass in late July on Showtime

thurman32 - CopyIn a couple of interesting fights that are being put together for late July, former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (28-2, 22 KO’s) will be getting a chance to redeem himself in a fight against Jesus Soto-Karass (27-8-3, 17 KO’s), and unbeaten welterweight Keith Thurman (20-0, 18 KO’s) will face interim WBA welterweight champ Diego Chaves (22-0, 18 KO’s) in a fight that will be televised on Showtime. The date of the fight hasn’t been set but they’re looking at either July 20th or July 27th as of now.

Berto, 29, could find himself in deep, deep trouble if he gets outworked like he was in his last fight against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero last November in a 12 round unanimous decision loss. Guerrero didn’t do anything special to beat Berto other than pressuring him and throwing a lot of shots.

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Australian Boxing: Jarrod Fletcher v Randy Suico This Friday Night

WBA #5 middleweight Jarrod Fletcher (14-1, 8 KOs) headlines a six fight card this Friday night at the Grand Star Receptions, Altona North, Victoria, Australia.

Fletcher, 29, has positioned himself as one of the leading middleweights in Australia, clearly Australia’s leading division on the world scale, led by IBF champion Daniel Geale, Sam Soliman and Anthony Mundine.

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Hearn: Groves feels that Andre Ward is the only fighter he can’t beat yet at 168

groves4534Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn says his fighter Commonwealth super middleweight champion George Groves (18-0, 14 KO’s) feels that WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Andre Ward is the only guy that Groves feels he can’t handle at 168.

Hearn said to ESPN “The only person he says he can’t beat yet is Andre Ward. That’s the only one that George says, ‘At the moment I wouldn’t challenge Ward but I’ll beat the rest of them.’ I keep saying, ‘Alright, George, let’s work on this, let’s keep work on this.’”

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