Latest news with #MircoCuello
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mirco Cuello blasts Sergio Rios in 2 rounds to capture WBA interim featherweight title
Mirco Cuello will be a formidable test for WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball. The Argentine picked up the WBA interim strap with a second-round KO of previously unbeaten Mexican Sergio Rios in the headline bout of a DAZN-streamed show from Benghazi, Libya, on Friday. Cuello reaffirmed his mandatory position for Ball's featherweight crown. Britain's Ball puts his title on the line against Australia's Sam Goodman next Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte undercard. Cuello (16-0, 13 KOs) floored Rios (19-1, 7 KOs) with a pinpoint right hand in the final 30 seconds of the opener. Rios managed to see out the frame, although he tasted the canvas again in the final minute of Round, 2 courtesy of a step-in left hand from Cuello. Rios got to his feet for a second time, but a left hook to the body sent him immediately back onto the floor — and this time he didn't beat the count. In the night's co-feature, Venezuela's Albert Ramirez defeated New Zealand-based Brit Jerome Pampellone with a seventh-round TKO to win the WBA interim light heavyweight title. After eating several one-two combinations, Pampellone (19-3, 12 KOs) was floored with a right hook in the final second of the sixth round. Ramirez (22-0, 19 KOs) continued his assault on Pampellone early in Round 7. The New Zealander was target practice for Ramirez's left hand, which ultimately dropped him again early in the deciding round. Shortly after, a combination from the Venezuelan sent Pampellone back to the canvas for the third time in the bout, forcing the corner to save its fighter. Elsewhere on the card, Costa Rica's Francisco Fonseca (37-4-2, 29 KOs) outpointed France's double Olympic silver medalist Sofiane Oumiha (6-1, 3 KOs) in a major upset at lightweight. Main card WBA interim featherweight title: Mirco Cuello def. Sergio Rios Jimenez via second-round KO | Watch video WBA interim light heavyweight title: Albert Ramirez def. Jerome Pampellone via seventh-round TKO | Watch video Lightweight: Francisco Fonseca def. Sofiane Oumiha via unanimous decision (97-92, 95-94, 95-94) Super featherweight: Josue Francisco Aguero def. Diego Ortiz Aleman via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 things to watch in boxing: Albert Ramirez's light heavyweight push, latest on Eubank-Benn 2, Junto Nakatani and more
Yikes, talk about a sparse schedule. Boxing appears to be taking its traditional summer break very seriously this year, and who could blame it? But for those on the outskirts of the boxing circus looking in, this weekend could prove the perfect opportunity to put themselves in the shop window for future opportunities. Let's set the table for some of the biggest things to look out for across one of boxing's quietest weekends: Mirco Cuello and Sergio Rios try to 'KO a las Drogas' in Libya The interim WBA featherweight title is on the line in Benghazi, Libya, as part of the WBA's ongoing mission to "KO Drugs" — something that has managed to pass me by despite celebrating its — checks notes — 30th anniversary this year. Mirco Cuello and Sergio Rios put their unbeaten records on the line in what has to be regarded as the fight of the weekend in an Argentinean-Mexican scrap at 126 pounds. Cuello comes into this fight as a huge betting favorite (-2500 at BetMGM) following an impressive final-round TKO of Christian Olivio in February, notching his 12th stoppage victory in just 15 contests, whereas Rios fights outside of Mexico for the first time as a pro, and, most remarkably, for only the third time in 20 outings against a fighter with a winning record. Nick Ball — who defends his WBA title at featherweight against Sam Goodman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next weekend — will be in line for the winner of Friday night's headline attraction, as the only current male world champion hailing from the United Kingdom. Junto Nakatani looks to move to super bantamweight — is an opponent on the horizon? In what could be the first significant move toward an all-Japanese superfight with Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs), Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) has signaled his intention to leave the bantamweight division behind. The unified champion at 118 pounds is a world champion in three different weight classes and an inclusion within a majority of pound-for-pound top 10 lists, but what awaits the 27-year-old is one of the biggest fights the sport could wish for against the 'Monster.' 'We are currently adjusting to move up to the super bantamweight division for the next match. I think I will relinquish the bantamweight title soon,' Nakatani said, as reported by Yahoo Japan. So, keep your eye on Nakatani making this news official by dropping the IBF and WBC titles, and plotting his path toward Inoue in the first half of 2026. Murodjon Akhmadaliev is next up for Inoue, so Nakatani will need to choose his first opponent at 122 pounds carefully in preparation for his superstar countryman. Albert Ramirez moves closer to light heavyweight title shot Don't worry — if Cuello and Rios don't "KO Drugs," then Albert Ramirez has another chance to deliver a vicious left hook to narcotics on the Cuello vs. Rios undercard. The Venezuelan southpaw has moved to 21-0 (18 KOs) having fought twice in 2025 already, and now challenges London-born Jerome Pampellone in the peculiar setting of the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya. Ramirez is close to a title shot in the light heavyweight division, aiming to bag the WBA's interim title this Friday against the 19-2 (12 KOs) Auckland resident. Will the titlists at 175 pounds, David Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol, be watching? Maybe. Ramirez is a hard-hitting lefty who is moving through the levels quickly, but his ceiling is still a bit of a mystery having competed across seven countries as somewhat of a professional nomad. Vartan Arutyunyan continues heavyweight climb Unbeaten southpaw Vartan Arutyunyan could prove to be one of the hidden gems of the heavyweight division. The 25-year-old has built a 10-0 (7 KOs) record under the radar since turning over in 2019 and heads back to Yekaterinburg, Russia, this Saturday night for an eight-rounder against compatriot Vitaly Kudukhov (7-2, 3 KOs). The 6-foot-2 heavyweight sparred with Anthony Joshua in the run up to the Briton's first encounter with Oleksandr Usyk and was described as a 'little Mike Tyson' and a 'powerhouse' by Joshua's team. It's still early, but in an aging heavyweight division there is plenty of room for some young(er) blood. Will Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 fall through, again? Ok, sorry for trying to squeeze the jam out of your doughnut (is that still a saying?), but just because Turki Alalshikh's Ring Magazine has posted Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 is happening on Nov. 15., doesn't mean it's gospel. We've been here before. An original date of Sept. 20 was declared in early July without any knowledge from either Eubank's or Benn's teams, only for the former IBO middleweight champion to refuse acknowledgement of the proposed date. Alalshikh, Riyadh Season and Sela then distanced themselves with any involvement of trying to make the rematch, claiming they weren't a 'charity' and taking aim at Eubank in the process. But as if by magic, it appears we've gone full circle. Bridges have been mended and 60,000 expected fans are preparing for a cold November night inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We are still awaiting official confirmation on any possible stipulations that this rematch will include, including what weight Eubank and Benn will be required to make. The rematch is probably more on than off, but would anyone be surprised if there's another big stumbling block on the road to Nov. 15?
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
The desert stadium playing host to undefeated fighters this weekend
An intriguing fight card takes place this weekend when Mirco Cuello and Sergio Rios Jimenez meet. The event, which takes place on Friday night and is broadcast exclusively on DAZN, will see two unbeaten fighters – always an intriguing proposition – face off. The Argentinian Cuello, 15-0 (12), comes into the bout after three fights in the US, registering decisions over Rudy Garcia and Sulaiman Segawa in 2023 and 2024, and stopping Christian Olivo Barreda in February. According to the WBA, which is sanctioning the bout: 'Cuello, 24 years old and a native of Arroyo Seco, arrives as number one in the WBA featherweight world ranking, after his agonizing victory by technical knockout against Christian Olivo in February. A youth Olympic medallist in Buenos Aires 2018, the Santa Fe native has built a solid career with victories in Uruguay, the United States and now seeks to consecrate himself on African soil, in what will be his seventh consecutive appearance outside Argentina.' Jimenez, 19-0 (7), hails from Mexico and comes into the fight on the back of two stoppage wins against undistinguished opposition in 2024 and 2025. On the undercard of Cuello-Jimenez is perennial contender Mike Perez, 31-3-1 (22), who challenged Alexander Povetkin in 2015 for the WBC heavyweight title. The Cuban Perez will be taking on Christian Fabian Luis, 12-4 (8), over ten rounds at cruiserweight. Perhaps the most-intriguing aspect of the evening, titled KO a las Drogas (KO to Drugs), is that it will take place at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya. The stadium, originally named after Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez until the Libyan revolution in 2011, is now named after the freedom fighters who helped overthrow Colonel Gaddafi and his regime. For football games, it seats around 10,500 spectators. The use of Libya as a destination for international boxing is an interesting one. Despite moves towards democracy, the political climate of the nation is still rocky. Says the German government: 'The security situation in Libya remains unstable. The country is divided at both the political and societal level. Since March 2022, two governments are once again vying for political power and most state institutions are paralysed nationwide. The internationally recognised government in Tripoli, which controls parts of western Libya, faces a rival government that rules large sections in the east and south. Both sides are receiving foreign support.' Other sources support this view. Writing back in April, the United Nations said that while the 2020 ceasefire remains in place, the security landscape remains 'precarious' and is marked by periodic tension and localised outbreaks of violence. As to why this weekend's event is taking place in Libya, the WBA says that the country's inclusion as the host of the 'WBA Future program' represents a 'historic breakthrough' in professional boxing. The organisation adds: 'The World Boxing Association promotes a card of international scope in North Africa, with the aim of promoting peace, inclusion and sports development.' It goes on: 'The WBA Future is not only committed to the discovery of new talents, but also turns boxing into an educational and social platform, reaffirming its role as a tool for transformation. With this initiative, Libya is positioned as the epicentre of the boxing scene in Africa.' As it is, the event in Benghazi this weekend remains an interesting one. While Cuello and Jimenez are both undefeated, there a handful of interesting fights. At light-heavyweight, there is a twelve-round bout between Albert Ramirez, 21-0-0 (18), and Jerome Pampellone, 19-2 (12). At lightweight, Francisco Fonseca, 36-4-2 (29), will take on Sodiane Oumiha, 6-0 (3), over ten rounds. Super-featherweights Josue Francisco Aguero, 13-0 (7), and Diego Ortiz Aleman, 20-3-1 (14), also meet over ten rounds. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
