By: Rowerth Goncalves

(March 16th) Puerto Rico’s Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo once again proved why he stands as the undisputed king at 105 pounds, successfully defending his WBA Super World Championship. In a display of relentless, systematic punishment, Collazo forced the corner of Jesús “Chiquito” Haro to throw in the towel before the start of the seventh round, sealing a retirement victory (RTD) on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

From the opening bell, the Villalba native imposed a suffocating pace that the young Nevada challenger simply could not contain. Collazo’s blueprint was clear: break Haro down with a sustained body attack. Thudding hooks to the liver and digging shots to the solar plexus steadily eroded the challenger’s mobility. Although Haro showed grit and attempted to fire back in the early frames, he was ultimately overwhelmed by the champion’s power and sheer punch output.

The gap widened in the fifth and sixth rounds, when Collazo “stepped on the gas,” unleashing sharp combinations that left the challenger visibly hurt and without effective defensive answers. After absorbing heavy punishment at the end of the sixth, Haro’s team made the decision to keep their fighter on the stool, granting Collazo his eighth victory in world title bouts.

With the win, Oscar Collazo improved his unbeaten record to 14-0 with 11 knockouts, further cementing his status as one of boxing’s premier pound-for-pound talents. Following the fight, the Boricua champion reiterated his intention to pursue full unification in the minimumweight division, setting his sights on a potential summer showdown with Filipino standout Melvin Jerusalem to determine the undisputed ruler of the weight class.

By: Rowerth Goncalves

(March 16th) In a commanding showcase of power and physical dominance, American star Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora successfully defended her undisputed flyweight world championship by stopping Colombia’s Viviana Ruiz Corredor via sixth-round technical knockout. The bout, staged Saturday, March 14, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, further cemented the 23-year-old southpaw as the defining force at 112 pounds.

From the opening bell, Fundora made full use of her remarkable height and reach to dictate the tempo. Behind a sharp, piston-like jab and crisp left-hand combinations, the champion kept Ruiz Corredor at long range, repeatedly frustrating the Bogotá native’s attempts to close the distance and work on the inside. While Ruiz Corredor displayed admirable courage and managed to land a few solid shots in the early exchanges, the champion’s steady, punishing offense began to take a visible toll.

The turning point came in the fourth round, when Fundora dropped the challenger with a thunderous right hook followed by a pinpoint uppercut. Though the Colombian rose bravely and continued, the disparity in power and accuracy proved insurmountable. In the sixth stanza, after a sustained barrage left Ruiz Corredor defenseless against the ropes, the referee stepped in to halt the contest at the 2:52 mark.

With the victory, Gabriela Fundora improved her perfect record to 18-0 with 10 knockouts, registering her fourth successful defense of the World Boxing Association (WBA) title and reaffirming her hold on all major belts in the division. Ruiz Corredor, meanwhile, saw her winning streak snapped but emerged with her reputation for toughness intact against a fighter widely regarded as one of the sport’s elite pound-for-pound performers.

By: Jesús Cova

(March 11th) Today, Wednesday, March 11, marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of Francisco Gilberto Mendoza simply “Gilberto” to the thousands of friends he made in boxing and in life—and President Emeritus of the World Boxing Association (WBA).

Created in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA) and known by its current name since 1962, the WBA remains the oldest governing body in world boxing.

A decade after his passing, the memory of Gilberto remains intact, especially for his widow Elena, his children Gilberto Jesús and María Elena, and for all those who accompanied him during his tireless and brilliant tenure at the helm of the WBA. Mendoza guided the organization with remarkable leadership for more than 33 years. Today, the association is led by his son, Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, who assumed the presidency shortly before his father’s passing on that March 11 ten years ago.

A Life Devoted to Boxing

It bears repeating what has been said many times before: Francisco Gilberto Mendoza (Barquisimeto, March 30, 1943 – Caracas, March 11, 2016) served as the great helmsman of the WBA for more than three decades—from October 1982 until March 2015.

During that time, he built a legacy that will endure as long as young athletes around the world continue to practice the sport of boxing—the discipline in which two opponents compete using only their gloved fists, striking above the waist inside the squared circle over a series of three-minute rounds under a precise set of rules governing weight classes, bout length, and competition structure.

Beyond his accomplishments as an administrator, Mendoza was known for his generosity toward others, his loyalty in friendship, and an admirable humility that left no room for arrogance. Above all, he was defined by an unwavering work ethic.

Listing every contribution Gilberto made to the sport he loved would be a difficult task. His impact on boxing was so profound that mentioning his name evokes the same immediate association with the sport as legendary figures such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, or Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán.

His Rise to the Presidency

Mendoza was elected WBA president on October 7, 1982, during the organization’s annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

An industrial engineer who graduated from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, he also completed postgraduate studies in Administration and Educational Technology at the University of Toledo in Ohio and specialized in Formal Business Planning at the Stanford Research Institute in Palo Alto, California.

He remained in boxing’s highest office within the organization until December 2015, when he stepped down due to illness. His resignation was formalized during a meeting of the WBA in Panama City in 2016, where delegates unanimously elected Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, then serving as executive vice president, as his successor.

Last year, Gilberto Jesús Mendoza was reelected for another five-year term in recognition of his leadership and the work he has carried forward.

A Tireless Builder

One of Mendoza’s earliest contributions to the organization came when he helped develop the WBA Rankings Manual, which remains in use today. He prepared the document while serving on the Executive Committee as one of the closest collaborators of Panamanian boxing leader Rodrigo Sánchez Colón, who later became his mentor.

Among Mendoza’s many initiatives were the creation and expansion of the now globally recognized KO Drugs campaign, the organization of training seminars for referees and judges to improve championship officiating, and structural reforms within the WBA itself.

He also promoted the establishment of several regional boxing bodies, including:

• the North American Boxing Association (NABA)

• the Caribbean Boxing Federation (FEDECARIBE)

• the Pan African Boxing Association (PAFBA)

• FEDECENTRO

• the Bolivarian Boxing Federation (FEDEBOL)

Additionally, he introduced the concept of Super Champions for fighters who successfully defended their titles five times and oversaw the creation of interim championships, among many other ideas that helped shape the modern structure of world boxing.

Beyond the Ring

Outside the sport, Mendoza also built a distinguished professional career. After graduating from university, he served as a senior executive and administrative advisor at the Central Azucarero El Palmar sugar mill in Turmero, Aragua, Venezuela.

Driven by a deep commitment to community service, he also founded the Yaritagua Fire Department in his home country.

His public service included roles such as president of the Venezuelan Scout Association in 1979, member of the Legislative Assembly of Aragua state (1995–1998), director of the National Economic Council (1998–1999), and director of Fedecámaras from 1995 to 2001.

He also served as honorary president of the Boxing Information Center.

Honors and Recognition

Over the years, Mendoza received numerous honors for his work in boxing and public service, including the Order of Francisco de Miranda (First Class), the Brígido Iriarte Order (First Class), and the Samán de Güere Order of Aragua.

He also received distinctions from several countries, including Panama, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Mongolia, the United States, and Italy.

On the first anniversary of his passing, the Municipal Council of Santiago Mariño in Aragua awarded him a civic honor named after the Venezuelan independence hero, which was received by his widow, Elena de Mendoza.

A Young Man from Barquisimeto

Mendoza was born on March 30, 1943, in Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela. From an early age he was passionate about sports, excelling in both soccer and baseball to the point of representing local teams from his home region.

As a teenager, while attending Lisandro Alvarado High School, he discovered boxing. From the humble neighborhood of Caja de Agua, where he lived, he began training at the Pantera Negra Gym, where the trainer who gave the facility its name introduced him to the fundamentals of the sport—the classic principle of “hit and don’t get hit.”

As an amateur boxer competing in the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight divisions, he fought 17 bouts and suffered just one defeat, reportedly against lightweight Antonio “Chilano” Hernández.

Despite his dedication to boxing, he also maintained a strong passion for soccer and dreamed of one day becoming as great on the field as his idol, Argentine legend Alfredo Di Stéfano.

The Beginning of His Boxing Career as an Administrator

In the 1970s, already a university professional, Mendoza became friends with Alberto Sarmiento, another respected WBA figure who would later serve for years as the organization’s treasurer.

Through those connections, Mendoza joined the board of the Aragua Boxing Commission as treasurer. That role eventually led him to meet Rodrigo Sánchez Colón, the Panamanian leader he would later succeed as WBA president.

Years later, after completing postgraduate studies in Toledo, Mendoza arrived at the 1982 convention in San Juan already considered the natural successor to Sánchez Colón.

His opponent in that election was American official Robert “Bobby” Lee, who ultimately proved less formidable than anticipated during what was at times a turbulent convention marked by competing interests seeking to block Mendoza’s rise.

Those efforts failed.

When the votes were counted, the assembly hall erupted in celebration, with delegates chanting in unison:

“Gilberto! Gilberto! Gilberto!”

More than 33 years later, Mendoza stepped down from his duties due to the illness that would ultimately claim his life.

Yet a decade after his passing, his legacy continues to shape the sport he devoted his life to.

By: Jesús Milano

(March 4th) Poland’s Karol Welter will put his WBA Baltic Middleweight Title on the line this Friday against Venezuela’s Evander Castillo at the Hotel Terminal in Wroclaw, Poland.

The regional strap of the World Boxing Association (WBA) will be contested between two seasoned operators in what shapes up as the main event of a card loaded with promising talent and compelling matchups from top to bottom.

Welter enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign, going 3-for-3 against quality opposition and stopping all three in emphatic fashion. The 30-year-old native of Legnica now steps into his first title defense, a pivotal moment that could further elevate his standing in the division and keep his momentum rolling.

Castillo, 24, hails from Anzoátegui and enters on a hot streak of his own, riding three consecutive knockout victories. The heavy-handed Venezuelan, however, faces a significantly tougher assignment this time—on the road and against a champion brimming with confidence. Castillo’s power is real, and he’ll look to make it travel as he attempts to spring the upset on European soil.

Welter brings a record of 20-1 with 8 knockouts into the bout, while Castillo stands at 21-4 with a formidable 19 wins coming by way of knockout.

By: Rowerth Goncalves

(March 2nd) In a triumphant and explosive return, two-time Argentine Olympian Yamil Peralta claimed the WBA Fedelatin Cruiserweight Championship with a devastating knockout of Venezuela’s Juan Díaz. The featured attraction Saturday, February 28 at Casino Buenos Aires, as part of the WBA Future Program, ended abruptly in the second round.

Peralta established his class and reach advantage from the outset. Working behind a sharp jab and smart lateral movement, he neutralized any offensive ambition from Díaz, nicknamed “El Noqueador.” The Argentine controlled the tempo with poise and authority, dictating the range without absorbing significant return fire.

The ending came with less than a minute remaining in the second stanza. Peralta uncorked a thunderous left hook to the liver that left Díaz gasping for air and collapsing to his knees. With the Venezuelan unable to beat the count, referee Emiliano D’Avila waved it off, sealing the knockout victory.

Peralta now moves to 18-1-1, capturing a key regional belt that should vault him into the WBA’s top 15 at 200 pounds. For the Argentine, it was both redemption and reaffirmation following his recent international venture. Díaz, touted as a dangerous puncher, suffers a setback after failing to solve the technical precision and power of the seasoned Olympian on Buenos Aires soil.

By: Rowerth Goncalves

(February 25th) Argentina’s battle-tested veteran Edith Soledad Matthysse etched another golden chapter into her career, capturing the WBA Super Lightweight World Title with a commanding performance over American contender Samantha Worthington. The bout came to an abrupt conclusion when Worthington’s corner informed the referee that their fighter would not answer the bell for the ninth round at Little Caesars Arena.

At 45 years old, “Itaka” Matthysse delivered a masterclass in ring IQ, timing, and composure. From the opening bell, she neutralized Worthington with veteran savvy — controlling range, applying educated pressure, and dictating the tempo. The Michigan native struggled to find her rhythm as Matthysse’s steady body work and sharp counterpunching gradually broke her down through eight disciplined rounds.

The end came during the rest period before Round 9, when Worthington’s team cited accumulated punishment and their fighter’s inability to respond effectively to the Argentine’s sustained dominance.

With the victory, Matthysse once again sits atop the world stage, adding the WBA 140-pound crown to a résumé that already included a previous reign at featherweight. The win elevates her professional ledger and reestablishes her among the elite names in women’s boxing.

For Worthington, it’s a significant setback — one that forces a recalibration after being outclassed by a seasoned former champion who proved experience still carries weight at the highest level.

By: Rowerth Goncalves

(February 23rd) On a night that once again underscored her iron grip on women’s boxing, Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight championship with a dominant unanimous decision over longtime rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn. The bout, staged Sunday, February 22, at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, served as yet another reminder of the technical gulf Shields has maintained since turning pro.

Meeting again a decade after sharing their professional debut, Shields wasted no time establishing control. From the opening bell, the hometown star showcased blazing hand speed and surgical precision, neutralizing any offensive ambitions from Crews-Dezurn. Despite a tense build-up that included weigh-in controversy and questions surrounding the challenger’s knee and ankle issues, once the fight began, it was one-way traffic.

After ten one-sided rounds, all three judges turned in identical 100-90 scorecards. Shields swept every frame, methodically breaking down her courageous rival with sharp body work and pinpoint combinations upstairs. Crews-Dezurn’s toughness was unquestioned, but she never found the tactical key to unlock the self-proclaimed GWOAT’s defense.

With the victory, Shields improves to 18-0, further cementing her status as the face of women’s boxing and the undisputed queen of the heavyweight division. When the final bell rang, both fighters embraced, symbolically closing a chapter that began in the amateurs and now leaves Shields firmly atop the global stage.

By: Rowerth Goncalves

(February 16th) Under the bright lights of the Traktor Ice Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia, hometown fighter Elnur Samedov turned pressure into gold.

Samedov claimed the WBA Interim Super Featherweight World Title with an 11th-round TKO over Colombia’s John Lenon Gutierrez in a grueling battle defined by pace, persistence, and punishment.

From the opening bell, Samedov set a suffocating tempo. He cut off the ring with precision, took away Gutierrez’s escape routes, and forced the taller Colombian to fight at close quarters. Gutierrez tried to establish distance behind his reach advantage, but the Russian’s relentless pressure began breaking him down by the middle rounds.

The first major breakthrough came in the seventh. Samedov detonated a sharp combination that sent Gutierrez to the canvas for the first time. To his credit, the Colombian rose and showed tremendous grit, remaining competitive over the next few rounds despite absorbing heavy fire.

But in the eleventh, the dam finally broke.

Samedov unleashed a sustained assault, scoring another knockdown and trapping Gutierrez along the ropes with unanswered shots. Seeing no effective return and with the challenger defenseless, the referee stepped in to halt the contest.

With the victory, Samedov improves to 22-1 (11 KOs) and secures the black-and-gold strap. Gutierrez falls to 11-1, suffering the first defeat of his professional career in what was also his European debut.

By: Rowerth Goncalves

(February 16th) Power met precision — and power prevailed. Armenia’s Vartan Arutyunyan delivered a statement performance Saturday night at the Traktor Ice Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia, stopping hometown titleholder Georgiy Yunovidov in the sixth round to capture the WBA Interim Bridgerweight World Championship.

Yunovidov opened the bout boxing behind technique and range, looking to control distance and tempo. But Arutyunyan disrupted that rhythm early, pressing forward with intent and forcing exchanges that favored his heavier artillery.

The turning point came in the fifth round. A sharp combination from Arutyunyan dropped the defending champion, shifting momentum dramatically. Although Yunovidov rose to finish the frame, the fight had clearly swung in the challenger’s direction.

At the start of the sixth, Arutyunyan came out with urgency. He backed Yunovidov to the ropes and unleashed a barrage of punishing hooks. With the Russian offering little in return and absorbing clean, unanswered shots, the referee stepped in to wave it off.

With the victory, Arutyunyan captures the first world title of his professional career and establishes himself as a rising force in the 224-pound division. Yunovidov, meanwhile, suffers the second defeat of his career in what was his first defense of the interim belt he won last July.

The win positions Arutyunyan on a direct collision course with the division’s regular champion, Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, in what could shape up as a high-stakes unification showdown.