NEW YORK (May 22, 2021)- Javier Martinez remained undefeated with an explosive fourth round stoppage over Calvin Metcalf in a scheduled six-round middleweight bout at The Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas.

Martinez is managed by Split-T Management.
In round four, Martinez landed a perfect right hook to the head that sent Metcalf down and out at 1:33. It was the first time Metcalf has been stopped.

Martinez, 162.5 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 4-0 with two knockouts. Metcalf, 160.4 lbs of Kansas City, MO is 10-6-1.

“I am excited about that knockout. Going into the fight, I was looking for a knockout as he was never stopped in 16 bouts. I did my thing ,and I am glad I got him out there. I am getting used to the pro style, and the sky is the limit. I am looking to get back sometime in August,” said Martinez

Martinez is promoted by Top Rank.

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS – No dispute.

Josh Taylor made sure of it, knocking down Jose Ramirez twice enroute to winning all of the pieces to the junior-welterweight title with unanimous decision Saturday night in front of a small crowd at Virgin Hotels and an ESPN audience.

 The judges scored it the same way. It was 114-112 — once, twice, three times — all for Taylor. The margin was only two points, a nod perhaps to Ramirez’ toughness. But the difference between the two was clear, indisputable. There was no argument. No need for a rematch.

Taylor moved toward an even bigger date, perhaps with leading pound-for-pound contender Terence Crawford at a heavier weight, welter. But there were no lingering questions Saturday about who he was. There’s not a better 140-pound fighter on this planet or any other.

“I have been waiting for this moment all my life,’’ he said to a crowd of fellow Scots who chanted his name and waved the Scottish flag.

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) seized the moment midway through the fight with all of his advertised guile and power. He had promised to knock out Ramirez (26-1, 12 KOs). But that was the only promise he didn’t keep. He knocked put everything else, including some early doubt.  

Ramirez was first to enter the ring, wearing a robe in bright colors and dark shoes. Taylor followed, clad in Scottish tartan and a waistband in gold. It was a clash of culture. A clash of colors. A clash of styles.

After a couple of days marked by escalating trash talk, they had finally arrived at the moment when they would communicate with hands bound in white gloves and loaded with dark intent.  

Ramirez was the first to strike. For three plus rounds, he moved forward throwing right hand leads with his first step toward Taylor. It appeared to surprise Taylor. For few moments, the Scotsman looked uncertain, even dazed. But he would recover, adjust and mount the fight’s second and third strikes.

Late in the fourth and throughout the fifth, Taylor seemed to regain his footing and eventually the momentum. He imposed his will, if not his superior height on Ramirez, moving forward in much the same way that Ramirez had in the earlier rounds.

In the sixth, Taylor caught, a left-handed counter that landed on Ramirez’ chin and dropped him onto the canvas. In the seventh, Taylor struck again, this time in the split second after referee Kenny Bayless separated them. Bayless stepped back from the break and Taylor fired a left uppercut.

Ramirez was back on the canvas, down for a second time. He got up. But the spring in that first forward step was gone.

Suddenly, Taylor looked bigger.

Looked stronger.

Looked to be in control.

He was.

“We used his aggression against him,’’ Taylor said. “No disrespect. I’ve got nothing but love for Ramirez. This week was no disrespect. It was all part of the mind games to get in his head, to make him more eager to jump in at me and be more aggressive, to use his aggression against him.”

Ramirez wasn’t finished after the knockdowns. He never is. He carried on the fight with the resilience that has been a trademark to his career and his character. In the eleventh, an incoming Ramirez appeared to stun Taylor, who fell into him and then hung onto him. But it wasn’t enough and Taylor knew it. He waved a gloved right hand at the crowd, limited to 750 people by COVID protocol, as he walked to his corner after the eleventh.

One more round, and there would be no dispute.  

“I’ve got nothing but love for Ramirez. This week was no disrespect. It was all part of the mind games to get in his head, to make him more eager to jump in at me and be more aggressive, to use his aggression against him.

“I thought the scorecards were a little tight. I thought they were well wider than that. I wasn’t too happy with the selection of the judges, but I wasn’t going to moan. I was confident in winning this fight anyway.”

Ramirez said, “He took advantage of some of those clinches but, hey, I got back up and tried to give it my best and stay smart. I was never hurt. I was aware. I was just disappointed every time it happened. I tried to shake it off and get back to my rhythm. But it was overall a good fight. Hopefully, I get back and I learn from my mistakes. You win some and you lose some. 

“I felt like I landed some clean shots. It came down to the clinches. He would let his hands go as soon as he got his chance and I think I left it to the referee to do his part and it was a lack of experience on my part.”

Zepeda Decisions Lundy

Jose Zepeda didn’t have much time to celebrate. He won with precise punches. Then, he went back to work as a hopeful observer.

Zepeda (34-2, 26 KOs) kept himself in line for a junior-welterweight title with a unanimous decision, 98–92 on all three cards, over Hank Lundy (31-9-1, 14 KOs) Saturday in the Theater at Virgin Hotels.

Then, he took seat, hopeful for a shot at the winner of the next fight, Jose Ramirez-versus-Josh Taylor for all of the pieces to the 140-pound title. Zepeda, of Long Beach, Calif., looked solid against Lundy, a Philadelphia fighter. For 10 rounds, it was all business for Zepeda, who was coming off a wild Fight of the Year in October when he got up from four knockdowns to knock out Ivan Baranchyk. In 2019, he lost a majority decision to Ramirez.     

Sims Upsets Rodriguez via Majority Decision

The show began with an upset. Kenneth Sims Jr. scored it, opening the ESPN telecast for the Jose Ramirez-Josh Taylor bout with a stunner, a majority decision over junior-welterweight prospect Elvis Rodriquez at Las Vegas’ Virgin Hotels. Rodriguez (11-1-1, 10 KOs), of the Dominican Republic, started strong. But he appeared to tire midway through the eight-rounder. Sims (16-2-1, 5 KOs), began to catch up with him, rocking him with repeated blows and staggering him in the closing moments of a bout that ended with him leading on two cards, 78-74 on each. On the third, it was a draw, 76–76.  

Sims remarked, “I got a baby on the way, so that’s all the extra motivation I needed.” 

Mexican featherweight Jose Vivas overcame two knockdowns and a point reduction for a low blow to score a unanimous, yet narrow decision over Louie Coria of Moreno Valley, Calif. Vivas (21-1, 11 KOs) looked beaten in the third when Coria (12-5, 7 KOs) dropped him twice. But Rivas, a Manny Robles-trained fighter, came roaring back with an aggressive inside attack. Over the next five rounds, Vivas rocked him with repeated body blows. The judges noticed. All three scored it, 75-74, for him in the final fight on the ESPN+ portion of the Ramirez-Taylor card. 

Las Vegas junior-lightweight Andres Cortes (14-0, 7 KOs) relied on aggressiveness in a tough fight to stay unbeaten, scoring a 77-75, 78-74, 75-3 decision over Eduardo Garza (15-4-1, 8 KOs), a Texas fighter who kept it close with body punching throughout eight rounds of the fourth fight on Ramirez-Taylor card.  

Cuban featherweight Robeisy Ramirez (7-1, 4 KOs) combined precision and power to score repeatedly over six rounds for a one-sided decision over Ryan Allen (10-5-1, 5 KOs) of Las Vegas. Allen’s hands-down defense left him wide open for repeated blows from Ramirez throughout the third bout on the Jose Ramirez-Josh Taylor card.  

Raymond Muratalia (12-0 10 KOs), a lightweight from Fontana, Calif.,  had all the advantages. His strength, size and power overwhelmed Jose Gallegos (20-11, 15 KOs) midway through the fifth round of a scheduled eight-rounder. It was over, a TKO, at 1:40 of the round during the second fight on card featuring Jose Ramirez-Josh Taylor at Las Vegas’ Virgin Hotels.

Javier Martinez remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Calvin Metcalf in a scheduled six-round middleweight bout.

In round four, Martinez landed a perfect right hook to the head that sent Metcalf down and out at 1:33.

Martinez, 162.5 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 4-0 with two knockouts. Metcalf, 160.4 lbs of Kansas City, MO is 10-6-1.

NEW YORK (May 21, 2021)- Tomorrow night, undefeated middleweight prospect Javier Martinez will take on veteran Calvin Metcalf in a bout scheduled for six-rounds at The Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas.

The bout, which will kick off the much anticipated Jose Ramirez – Josh Taylor undisputed junior welterweight world championship fight card, will begin at 4:45 ET and be streamed live on ESPN+.

The 25 year-old Martinez of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who is managed by Split-T Management, is 3-0 with one knockout, and is coming off his first stoppage victory as he took out Billy Wagner in the first round on February 20th in Las Vegas.

Martinez also has a win over Rance Ward (4-1).

Martinez got ready for this bout as he was a main sparring partner to Ramirez.

Martinez was the 2020 Olympic Trial Champion at middleweight. He was also a five-time National Champion, and the number-one ranked fighter at 165 pounds in the USA Boxing Rankings, Martinez’s selection as an Olympic alternate despite his victory at the trials and various international experience caused shock-waves through the amateur system.

Metcalf of Kansas City, Missouri, has a record of 10-5-1 with three knockouts. The 26 year-old is a five-year professional. Metcalf has quality wins over Raymond Handson (5-0-1), Joe Louie Lopez (9-2) and Marchristopher Adkins (9-2). Metcalf has never been stopped and is coming off a defeat to undefeated Timur Kerefov on August 20th in Detroit.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Martinez checked in at 162.5 lbs. Metcalf was 160.4

Martinez is promoted by Top Rank.

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)

Current WBO Featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson moved up in a weight to stop Felix Caraballo in a non-title junior lightweight bout at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Top Rank promoted card was the 1st boxing event in the United States in almost three months due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

In round one, Stevenson was credited with a knockdown, when he landed a right hook to the body that saw Caraballo’s knee touch the ground.

Stevenson continued to batter Caraballo throughout the next several rounds, and in round six, Stevenson landed a perfect right to the body that sent Caraballo down and the fight was stopped at 1:31.

Stevenson, 130 lbs of Newark, NJ is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Caraballo, 130 lbs of Mayaguez, PR is 13-2-2.

“Everything about this fight week was different. After my last fight was canceled, I was happy to showcase my skills for all of the boxing fans,” Stevenson said. “He hit me with a couple shots, more than I’m used to, a couple jabs here and there. He was a tough guy, but I felt great in there after my training camp in Houston.”

Said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum: “What a magnificent performance by Shakur Stevenson. He keeps on getting better, and rest assured, he is a future pound-for-pound superstar.”

Prospect Jared Anderson remained perfect by stopping Johnne Langston in round three of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

The two fought at a high-pace with Anderson landed a plethora of power punches. He distributed his punches nicely to the body and head. In round three, Anderson landed a hard left and right that forced Langston to slowly go to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:55.

Anderson, 236 1/2 lbs of Toledo, OH is 4-0 with four knockouts. Langston, 218 1/4 lbs of Sarasota, FL is 8-3.

“He took some good shots. He was a tough opponent. I did what I wanted to. I did some stuff I didn’t want to do. I got caught with a good shot. It didn’t hurt me, but I definitely got caught with it,” Anderson said. “I know a different opponent could hurt me with a shot like that. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what I did wrong.
 
“This wasn’t what I expected, but it was a great experience. I’m happy I got the opportunity to showcase my talents on ESPN at such a young age.”

Heavyweight Guido Vianello kept his perfect knockout record intact as he stopped Donald Haynesworth in the first round of their six-round

In round one, Vianello dropped Haynesworth with a hard right hand. Haynesworth got to his feet, but referee Jay Nady stopped the bout at 2:16.

Vianello, 239 1/4 lbs of Rome, ITA is 7-0 with seven knockouts. Haynesworth, 294 1/2 lbs of New Rochelle, NY is 16-4-1.

“It was an interesting experience. I spent three days relaxing in my hotel room, but everything went according to plan,” Vianello said. “I knew the right hand would be there, so I worked to set up that shot. I could not have asked for anything more.”

Quintavious Cash won a six-round technical unanimous decision over Calvin Metcalf in a middleweight fight.

In round three Metcalf was cut on the forehead from a legal punch. Replays showed it was from a clash of heads. After replay review, the cut was ruled a clash of heads. Later, the cut opened worse around the left eye, and the fight was stopped before the end of the fight.

Cash, 160 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas, NV won by scores of 60-54, 60-55 and 59-55 to raise his mark to 12-2. Metcalf, 158 1/4 lbs of Kansas City, MO is 10-4-1.

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medal winner, Robeisy Ramirez stopped Yeuri Andujar in round one of their six-round featherweight bout.

Ramirez dropped Andujar with a straight left that was followed by an uppercut. With Andujar hurt, Ramirez finished the fight with a hard three-punch combination that dropped and stopped Andujar at 54 seconds.

Ramirez, 126 lbs of Cienfugos, CUB is 3-1 with three knockoutsl Andujar, 125.5 lbs of San Cristobal, DR is 5-4.

“It was an honor to be the first fight back, and I am proud of the performance I gave tonight. My pro debut is long behind me, and I am progressing with every fight. I hope to return shortly,” Ramirez said. “I have a great trainer in Ismael Salas, who continues to add dimensions to my game. He is the man to lead me to a world title.”

Photos by Mikey Williams / Top Rank

NEW YORK CITY — Ivan “The Volk” Golub retained his WBC USNBC Welterweight Title, scoring a wide ten round unanimous decision against Manuel Alejandro Reyes (11-5-1, 5KO) in the main event of a DiBella Entertainment Broadway Boxing card from midtown Manhattan’s SONY Hall.

It wasn’t necessarily easy work for the southpaw Golub, but the Ukrainian controlled the action from bell to bell. Golub, who now lives and fights out of Brooklyn, got off to a quick start, immediately banging away at Reyes’ body. Reyes’ gained a bit of momentum the ensuing round when a short right opened up a cut over Golub’s right eye — a cut that would produce blood until the final bell.

In the third, however, the 30 year old Ukranian turned the tide for good, gaining confidence after landing a crisp one-two that stunted Reyes’ ever-forward momentum. In the fourth Golub landed a huge straight left that was set up by a pawing jab. By the time the fifth round rolled around, Golub found a rhythm, timing the southpaw Reyes as he made his way in, peppering him with punches before the California-native could fire off shots of his own.

Golub, who was fighting for the fifth time in Manhattan, continued to control the fight in the mid-to-late rounds, as well, as Reyes was unable to solve his Ukrainian counterpart.

At the end of ten, all three judges scored the contest for Golub, 99-91 and 100-90×2.

The result makes it three wins in a row for Golub since suffering his only career defeat at the hands of Jamontay Clark in 2017.

For Reyes, the result makes it two losses in a row. Prior to tonight, he suffered a UD loss against Mykal Fox in 2017.

Bakhodir Jalolov Blasts Out Brendan Barrett In One

Former 2016 Uzbekistani Olympian Bakhodir Jalolov (6-0, 6KO) destroyed fellow heavyweight Brendan Barrett (7-3-2, 5KO), stopping him in the first of a scheduled six rounds, winning the NABF Junior Heavyweight Championship in the process. From the opening bell, the 6’7” southpaw Jalolov had his way with 5’10” Barrett, who took the fight on short notice. About midway through the opening round, the 24 year-old Jalolov landed a crisp jab that immediately drew blood from Barrett’s nose and sent him retreating to a neutral corner where he took a knee. The 37 year-old Barrett managed to get back to his feet, but probably wished he’d been counted out. Smelling blood in the water, Jalolov, who now lives and fights out of Brooklyn, NY, connected with a missile of a straight left that exploded on Barrett’s chin and collapsed him to the canvas, this time for good. Referee Earl Brown reached a count of three before waving off the contest at the 2:45 mark of the first round.

Alicia Napoleon Pleases Hometown Crowd With TKO2 Over Eva Bajic

Lindenhurst, NY native Alicia “The Empress” Napoleon (11-1, 6KO) delighted the hometown crowd and dismantled fellow super welterweight Hungary’s Eva Bajic (14-17, 9KO), dropping her twice en route to a TKO2 victory. Napoleon, 33, simply outclassed Bajic. Working behind a sharp jab, Napoleon landed at will and in the opening moments of the second round landed a left-right combination that sent Bajic to the mat. The 34 year-old Hungarian, who has now lost six fights in a row and eight of her last nine, beat the ensuing count, but didn’t last much longer. Napoleon followed up and landed an overhand right that returned Bajic to the mat, prompting the ringside physician to step on the ring apron and advise the referee to stop the contest. The official time of the stoppage came at the 1:04 mark of the second round. Napoleon has now won four in a row since suffering his lone career defeat against Tori Nelson in 2015.

Hurshidbek Normatov Shuts Out Calvin Metcalf In 6 Round Bout

Uzbekistan’s Hurshidbek Normatov (8-0, 3KO) shutout (60-53×3) fellow middleweight Calvin Metcalf (9-2-1, 2KO) in a six round contest. Normatov, a 26 year-old southpaw who fights and trains out of Brooklyn, NY, used his jab to keep Metcalf at distance. Once the jab was established, Normatov began to pepper in short right hooks, connecting and dropping Metcalf with a perfectly thrown one in round 3. To his credit, the stubborn 24-year old Metcalf hung tough and refused to let Normatov earn a win by stoppage. At the end of six, all three judges scored it 60-53 for the Uzbekistani.

Brian Ceballo Makes Easy Work Of Ricardo Garcia, Stops Him In 2

Former five-time New York Golden Gloves Champion Brian Ceballo (8-0, 4KO) had an easy night at the office, dominating and stopping fellow welterweight Ricardo Garcia (14-6-1, 9KO) inside two of a scheduled six rounds. Midway through the second Ceballo, who lives and fights out of the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, connected with a straight right that landed on Garcia’s chin and collapsed him to the mat. The Dominican-born Reading, PA transplant, Garcia, beat referee Earl Brown’s ten count, but never fully recovered. Ceballo, 25, immediately followed up and sealed the deal with a huge left hook that backed Garcia to the ropes, prompting Brown to jump in and call a halt to the bout at the 2:33 mark of the third round.

Khalid Twaiti Stays Perfect With TKO3 Over Jeno Tonte

Super bantamweight Khalid Twaiti (5-0, 3KO) needed less than three of a scheduled four rounds to up his perfect record and record a TKO win against Hungary’s Jeno Tonte (9-7, 8KO). Twaiti, a 23 year-old Yemeni-American from Brooklyn, forced the action and overwhelmed Tonte, who had no answer for Twaiti’s volume or power. After a flurry of punches that landed without obstruction, the referee in charge stopped the contest at the 1:13 mark of the third round.

Joseph Williams Returns From Two-Year Layoff, UDs Jose Mario Flores

Far Rockaway, Queen’s Joseph “Mack” Williams (13-0, 8KO) outslugged and shutout (60-54×3) fellow cruiserweight Jose Mario Flores (8-2-2, 4KO) in a six round contest, kicking off a seven-fight Broadway Boxing card from midtown Manhattan’s SONY Hall, presented by DiBella Entertainment. The night will culminate when once-beaten Ivan Golub (15-1, 12KO) squares off against California-native Manuel Alejandro Reyes (11-4-1, 5KO) in a ten round welterweight scrap.

NEW YORK (April 10, 2019)–TONIGHT at Sony Hall in New York City, four members of the Split-T Management stable will be featured on Dibella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series.

In the main event, Welterweight Ivan Golub (15-1, 12 KOs) takes on Manuel Alejandro Reyes (11-4-1, 5 KOs) in a ten-round fight for the WBC USNBC title.

Golub of Brooklyn, New York via Ukraine has won two straight bouts since his lone, yet very controversial loss to Jamontay Clark. The 30 year-old is knocking on the door of big fights as he has wins over Kirk Huff (3-0), Tyson Harrison (2-0), Kendal Mena (20-2), Juan Rodriguez Jr. (12-3), Marlon Aguas (9-0) & James Stevenson (23-2). Golub is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over veteran Lanardo Tyner on August 18th.

Reyes is a capable opponent as he has wins over Dwain Victorian (4-1); two wins over Brian Jones (12-3), Steven Zayas (2-0). He is coming off his a defeat to undefeated Mykal Fox on November 21, 2017.

Golub weighed 146.6 lbs. Reyes was 147 lbs.

Hurshidbek Normatov takes on Calvin Metcalf in a six-round super welterweight contest.

Normatov, 26 was an amateur star from Uzbekistan, has a perfect 7-0 mark with three knockouts. Normatov already has wins over two undefeated foes in his career, and is coming off a 6th round stoppage over Alexis Gaytan on July 21st.

Metcalf of Kansas City has a record of 9-1-1 with two knockouts. The capable Metcalf has wins over Raymond Handson (5-0-1), Jose Louie Lopez (9-2), Marchristopher Adkins (9-2) and his last bout when he drew with undefeated Ethan Cooper on November 17th.

Normatov weighed 155 lbs. Metcalf was 154.4 lbs.

Five-Time New York Golden Gloves champion, Brian Ceballo takes on 20 fight-veteran, Ricardo Garcia in a welterweight bout.

Ceballo 7-0 with three knockouts, is making his 2nd appearance in his native city, and has shown terrific boxing skills in hos early career. He is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Randy Fuentes on January 27th.

Ceballo is promoted by 360 Promotions.

Ceballo weighed 148.6 lbs. Garcia, who won his first 14 bouts, will be facing his 4th undefeated opponent, checked in at 148.6 lbs as well.

Undefeated cruiserweight Joseph Williams takes on Jose Mario Flores in a six-round bout.

Williams (12-0, 8 KOs) has shown his prowess and potential with quality wins over Joey Montoya (9-2-3), Chris Harris (2-0-2) & Lenin Castillo (15-0-1). In his last Bout. Williams stopped Felipe Romero in three rounds on April 22, 2017 at Barclay Center.

Flores of Woodbrodge, Virginia is 8-1-2 with four knockouts. Flores scored a big upset when he won a eight-round decision over Armando Pina (16-0) on November 10th.

Williams weighed at 198 lbs. Flores was 198.8 lbs

The fights can be seen live on UFC Fight Pass.

Photos by Joe Quiambao.