Watch EUFA champions league this season

04/17

Bayern

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Real Madrid

‎-2:45 PM (ET)

04/18

Chelsea

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Barcelona

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04/24

Barcelona

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Chelsea

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04/25

Real Madrid

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Bayern

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The Ring hails Donaire as world's best 1-punch KO artist

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Reigning WBO super bantamweight champ Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. has been hailed by The Ring Magazine as today’s top one-punch knockout artist in boxing. 


Donaire, a 4-division world champion, topped the list that includes Marcos Maidana, Juan Manuel Lopez, Wladimir Klitschko, and Sergio Martinez.


“Does his best work with a masterful left hook … Has KO’d nine of his last 12 opponents … Is so confident in his punch that he occasionally dabbles as a southpaw, switching his stance during fights … Scored 10 of his 18 career knockouts in the first three rounds,” said The Ring’s Don Stradley.


Donaire is The Ring's No. 4 pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.


Stradley pointed out Donaire’s stoppages over Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel as the best examples of The Filipino Flash’s knockout prowess.


Donaire won the IBF flyweight title by knocking out cold then-undefeated Darchinyan in 2007. The victory was awarded by The Ring as 2007 "Knockout of the Year" and "Upset of the Year."


In 2011, Donaire won the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles by taking out Montiel in just two rounds. It was awarded as The Ring’s 2011 Knockout of the Year.

The Filipino Flash last fought against Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in February when he won the WBO super bantamweight title.


He is planning to climb the featherweight ranks in a year’s time.


Meanwhile, 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao was included in The Ring's honorable mention list.


Pacquiao, The Ring's top pound-for-pound boxer, is more known for his volume punching rather than his one-punch knockout power.


 

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Bundesliga - Schröck to join Hoffenheim

1899 Hoffenheim have announced their first new signing ahead of next season. Stephan Schröck, who currently plays for Bundesliga 2 leaders SpVgg Greuther Fürth, will move to Sinsheim on a free transfer this summer after the defender put pen-to-paper on a contract lasting until 30th June 2015 with the Kraichgau outfit.

"I'm very much looking forward to the challenge at 1899, who have made a name for themselves on their way to becoming an established side in the Bundesliga," stated Schröck of his move. "I can take the next step in my career here." 

Hoffenheim's head coach Markus Babbel had this to say about his first summer signing: "Stephan Schröck was a prime transfer target of mine. He has all the qualities that a modern day defender needs to have. In signing him we have gained the necessary substance and will have more alternatives in our defensive department for the future."

Philippine international on the books

The son of a Philippine mother and German father, Schröck played for DJK Schweinfurt during his early years before moving to SpVgg Greuther Fürth in 2001 as a teenager. In 2004/05 he made the leap into the first team and also represented Germany at both the U-18 and U-20 level. 

However last year Schröck announced his intention to play for the Philippines and promptly went on to make his international debut on 29th June 2011 against Sri Lanka. A month later he scored his first goal during a World Cup qualifier versus Kuwait which ended in a 2-1 loss for the Philippines.

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Brian Viloria can't wait to avenge loss

WBO flyweight champion Brian (The Hawaiian Punch) Viloria will wait a little longer before exacting payback on Mexican nemesis Omar Niño Romero as their 12-round title fight has been reset from April 1 to April 21 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn predicted the third bout between the two warriors will be conclusive. “Brian is so hungry to get Niño in the ring,” he said. “We all agreed to afford Niño additional time to deal with his issues.”

Romero was fined close to $12,000 for failing a drug test after battling Viloria to a majority draw in Las Vegas in November 2006. Three months earlier, the Mexican had dethroned Viloria as WBC lightflyweight champion via a unanimous decision, also in Las Vegas. Romero never settled his obligation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

When NSAC executive director Keith Kizer learned of Viloria’s coming defense against Romero, an appeal was made to WBO president Paco Valcarcel to withhold the Mexican’s clearance as challenger until the fine is paid.

Technically, the WBO is not obliged to withhold sanction because it was not involved in the 2006 fight. But it’s holding back because of Kizer’s appeal since the WBO is actively involved in sanctioning fights in Nevada, explained Solar TV CEO Peter Chanliong who is coordinating the event with Mexico’s Zanfer Promotions, Gittelsohn and the WBO.

Gittelsohn said he was assured that Romero will pay the fine. The speculation is the fine will be deducted from his purse by Zanfer. “We’re informed that Niño will pay his delinquent fine to the NSAC and as soon as the payment is acknowledged, the WBO will sanction the fight,” he said. “We agreed to postpone the fight after receiving assurances that the fine will be paid.”

Solar Sports’ Paolo Diaz said preparations for the Ynares show are proceeding smoothly. “We’re not sure if this issue of paying the fine popped up when Niño fought (Rodel) Mayol for the WBC title and won,” he said. “In the undercard, we’re working on the IBF title eliminator between Al Sabaupan and Marvin Quintero and possibly, a defense by WBO Asia Pacific youth superflyweight champion Mark Anthony Geraldo.”

Sabaupan, 23, is ranked No. 4 and Quintero, 25, No. 6 by the IBF in the lightweight division. The top two slots are vacant and John Molina is ranked No. 3. The winner of the Sabaupan-Quintero fight will move up to No. 1. Sabaupan of Sipocot, Camarines Sur, has an 18-0-1 record, with 13 KOs, while Quintero of Tijuana, Mexico, totes a 24-3 mark, with 20 KOs. Geraldo, 20, scored a majority 12-round decision over previously unbeaten Jerwin Ancajas to wrest the WBO Asia Pacific youth crown in Cebu last week and has a 25-4-3 record, including 10 KOs.

Chanliong said because of the postponement, Zanfer may bid to stage the Sabaupan-Quintero fight in Mexico instead. “If Zanfer doesn’t push it for Mexico, we’ll make the fight our main supporting bout,” he said.

Sabaupan and Quintero are both hard-hitting 5-7 southpaws. The bout is expected to finish inside the distance as the fighters are equally heavy-handed. Sabaupan has scored three first round knockouts, including a disposal of Thai Wopichit Twins Gym for the IBF Pan Pacific lightweight title in 2010. Quintero has won his last four outings, all by KO, and his three losses came by KO.

A possible addition to the card is WBA female superbantamweight queen Jackie Nava of Tijuana. Last January, she beat Chanttall Martinez on points for the WBA crown in Tijuana. Nava, 31, has a 26-4-3 record, with 11 KOs, and is daring Fil-Am Ana (The Hurricane) Julaton to a face-off.

“Jackie is tentative,” said Diaz. “Her hand swelled up last week after training. We’ll find out her availability in a few days. We tried to make the fight against Julaton. We’ll try again.” Julaton, 31, recently lost her WBO superbantamweight title to Yesica Marcos in Argentina. If the Nava-Julaton fight can’t be arranged for the April 21 show, it will remain a possibility in a future Manila event.

The plan is for the Viloria-Romero winner to meet the survivor of tomorrow’s WBA flyweight title bout between defending champion Hernan (Tyson) Marquez of Mexico and Filipino challenger Mayol in Sonora. The unification showdown will likely be held in July, maybe in the undercard of a major promotion headlined by Juan Manuel Marquez, said Chanliong.

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Donaire dominates Vazquez, gets his 4th belt

source: http://espn.go.com

SAN ANTONIO -- Nonito Donaire, who has already won titles at flyweight and bantamweight, plus an interim title at junior bantamweight, won yet another piece of hardware.


"The Filipino Flash," despite a damaged left hand that was soaked in blood when his glove was removed after the fight, won a split decision against Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. to claim a vacant junior featherweight title on Saturday night at the Alamodome in the co-featured bout on the card headlined by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.'s middleweight title defense against Marco Antonio Rubio.


"Vazquez was tougher than I expected," said Donaire, who thought the hand was broken. "I couldn't find my rhythm and I hurt my hand somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. I could only move it a little bit."


Donaire, making his debut in the 122-pound weight class, looked frustrated at times but took it to Vazquez and certainly did enough to win despite a disagreement among the judges. Levi Martinez and Don Trella both had it 117-110 for Donaire while Ruben Garcia had it 115-112 for Puerto Rico's Vazquez, the son of former three-division titlist Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. ESPN.com also had it for Donaire, 117-110.
Donaire, 29, had a big third round, sending Vazquez reeling into a corner with a combination and then rocking him with several shots while he was pinned in the corner. But Vazquez was able to punch out of the dangerous spot as they engaged in an action-packed sequence that ended when Vazquez threw a wild shot, missed and fell to the mat from his own momentum.


Although Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs) seemed in control, he also seemed to be getting frustrated that he couldn't really do much damage to Vazquez even though he was landing shots.


He was warned for a low blow in the seventh round and was clowning around in the eighth, as if to try to draw Vazquez (21-2-1, 18 KOs) into him.


Donaire finally broke through in the ninth round when he caught Vazquez, 27, with a left uppercut followed by a hard left hand that dropped Vazquez. He was up quickly, however, and Donaire wasn't able to do any more damage in the final 30 seconds of the round.


"When I knocked him down in the ninth round, that was the end of the hand," Donaire said. "I was in agony."


There is a lot of potential business for Donaire at 122 pounds and he intends to deal with it, which means potential fights with Jorge Arce, Toshiaki Nishioka and Guillermo Rigondeaux.


"I'm definitely staying at 122 for awhile," Donaire said. "There are things [trainer] Robert [Garcia] asked me to do that I couldn't do so well, so we will go back to the drawing board."


Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said the next fight for Donaire probably will be Arce, who vacated the title Donaire won to move down and claim one of the bantamweight belts Donaire had relinquished. Arce would move back up to 122 to challenge Donaire.


"Let's see what happens with his hand first," Arum said of Donaire. "That will determine everything, but depending on the timing, we want him to face Arce next."


Vazquez was bidding to regain the title he lost last May to Arce, but he had trouble with Donaire's speed.


"He's real quick," Vazquez said. "He caught me with some good punches. He surprised me by hitting me when I was off-balance. I thought I did pretty well. I was patient, but he is a great fighter."

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