Philippines, 24 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Special Edition Arizona Boxing News & Notes With Don Smith: Servin loses, but Advances, Salido/ Martinez a Vegas Hit & More


PhilBoxing.com




Boxing FANS, The Arizona boxing community was saddened to hear that 18 year old Phoenix flyweight Adrian Servin lost to 26 year old Leroy Davilla from New Jersey by a score of 3-0 in the Olympic Qualifier 2 final held in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday September 12. Despite the loss, the Sierra Linda High School graduate and honor roll student will advance to the final USA Olympic box-offs held in December as a result of his second place finish. The site and date of the Olympic Team box-offs will be determined by a designated planning committee, within weeks! Ironically, history reflects that Servin has avenged every defeat in a return match. Ringside observers told me the bout was close and a spokesperson for Team Servin said the Arizona fighter can beat Davilla in a return match; confidence is important.

Adrian and his trainer/Dad Mike were scheduled to arrive at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Sunday, September 13 at 11:15 am on American Airlines flight 1951. Friends and family members were hastily putting together a meet and greet for Adrian at the airport just hours before the Arizona Cardinal home opener.

Celebrity brings Attention: Phoenix Channel 12 (NBC Affiliate) Sports Director Bruce Cooper, a reader of my column, called and is planning to tape an interview Arian on September 24 and feature the segment on September 26 when NBC Network airs the Heavyweight title match showdown between Champion Deontay ?The Bronze Bomber ?Wilder and challenger Johann ?Reptile? Duhaupas live from Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama.
The Servin family was ecstatic upon hearin the news. Cooper will also interview Arizona?s female Olympic hopeful Ariel Arismendez who was defeated in the second round of her qualifier in Baltimore Maryland. Mr. Cooper went on to add that he will ask five time world champion Michael Carbajal, an Arizona Native, to appear on the September 26th broadcast. No word on whether Mr. Carbajal will accept the award winning broadcaster?s offer.

Mayweather Farewell: Andre Berto (18-1 underdog) can brag that he went the distance with ?Money? Mayweather in the Michigan Native?s final fight, but it wasn?t a pretty performance by either man. I saw the fight at Twin Peaks, on Camelback in Phoenix, and the comfort food and iced Peach Tea (not Long Island) eased my huge disappointment a bit. The few Mayweather Fans gathered at the popular night spot cheered their man?s victory, but it should have been with reluctance. I have seen better fly swatting contests.

The real cheers were directed to the co-main event warriors and deservedly so. I can?t use enough superlatives to describe the 12 rounds of non-stop action between defending Puerto Rico?s WBO World Super Featherweight Titlist Roman ?Rocky? Martinez (30-2-2)and Mexico?s challenger Orlando Salido (42-14-2). At the end of the Battle Royale, the judges saw the contest as a draw which caused me to raise my eyebrows and prompted fans at Twin Peaks to boo loudly. They agreed with me that Salido had his obvious victory stolen by three judges. Martinez offered a rematch after retaining his belt and it sounds like a done deal; no word on when the third round of their war will take place, but expect their performance on 9/12 to receive some votes as the fight of the year.

In other under card action, Badou Jack (20-1-1) retained his Super Middleweight belt with a spirited victory over Union Jack patriot George Groves (21-2). Junior lightweight Jonathan Oquendo (25-5) won a majority decision over former titleholder Jhonny Gonzales in a very competitive encounter. . Perhaps the second best fight of the night belonged to middleweights Chris Pearson (13-0) vs. Janks Trotter (9-2-1) in a classic brawl. Both men were bleeding profusely as southpaw Pearson ended the slugfest with a knockout in the 7th round of their scheduled for ten round bout.

Boxing Briefs: The much talked about celebrity charity boxing match between Phoenix boxing personality Ralph Velez Jr. and a Valley of the Sun Dentist is off the calendar for unknown reasons?.Rising Arizona Super Middleweight David Benavidez is headed to the Virgin Islands to train with veteran Julian Jackson. David, a mere 18 years old, holds a record of 11-0 w/ 10 knockouts. The youth titleholder appears to be on a fast track to a world title. He is managed by Fight Hard Promotions. Until Next Time!


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.