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Former European super welterweight champion Sergey Rabchenko made a successful return to the ring on Saturday and then promptly targeted world-rated Tim Tszyu, son of the legendary Kostya Tszyu. Rabchenko (30-5, 22KOs) won a comfortable points decision over journeyman Aliaksandr Dzemka (6-11, 2 KOs) over six rounds in Minsk, Belarus and is no stranger to the Land Down Under. In 2014 he lost a very contentious split decision to Anthony Mundine, in a fight many thought he did enough to get his hand raised. Continue reading “Rabchenko wins, targets Tszyu”

By John Unland

Calkins Sports Productions and Alien Boi Boxing teamed up once again to present a nine bout card from the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, Iowa on Saturday night. As always the show featured a lot of local talent and even featured an appearance by Michael Nunn. Nunn received a nice ovation from the crowd and everyone in attendance was happy to have him back. An exciting main event featuring the up and coming Shawn West against local veteran Lance Williams, the professional debuts of some popular area amateurs, some early knockouts and the return of some fan favorites made this another successful and well-attended show. Continue reading “Results from Davenport, Iowa”

By Ricardo Ibarra

On a sad note, former world title challenger Eloy Perez passed away over the weekend. Perez, who was thirty-two-years old at the time of his death, had amassed a career record of 23-1-2, 7 KOs over a seven-year span as a pro. He was a former WBC United States (USNBC) and WBO-NABO Jr. lightweight titleholder. Continue reading “Former Jr. lightweight contender Eloy Perez passes”

Sad to report that super welterweight Patrick Day is in a coma and fighting for his life at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Day underwent emergency surgery last night after being knocked out in the tenth round by Charles Conwell in a bout streamed worldwide on DAZN. Went he went down, Day’s head bounced off the canvas. Medical personnel couldn’t revive him and he was taken from the ring on a stretcher. While being rushed to the hospital, he reportedly suffered a seizure. Prayers for Patrick Day.

Official Update on Sunday evening: Patrick Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during his bout on Saturday night. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. As of Sunday evening, Patrick is in a coma caused by the injury and is in extremely critical condition. On behalf of Patrick’s team, we appreciate the outpouring of support, prayers, and offers of assistance from all corners of the boxing community.

Updates will be provided as circumstances change. In the meantime, we ask that the privacy of Patrick and his family be respected during this difficult time.

By Przemek Garczarczyk

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By Przemek Garczarczyk

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By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

2016 Rio Olympian cruiserweight Olympian Jason Whateley (6-0, 5 KOs) stopped Argentina’s Alejandro Emilio Velori (24-16, 17 KOs) in round two of a scheduled eight round main event at the Aquatic and Recreation Centre In Bairnsdale, Victoria on Saturday. Referee Ignatius Missailidis crowned the 6’5 Australian in round two. Promoter: Will Tomlinson

Photos: Sumio Yamada

In his heavyweight debut, formerly undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO over late sub Chazz Witherspoon (38-4, 29 KOs) on Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Usyk started slow, but things heated up as the bout progressed. The 38-year-old Witherspoon looked close to being stopped in round six. The game but gassed Witherspoon, who took the fight on four days’ notice, took more big shots in round seven and the bout was stopped after the round.

Photos

Photos: Rosita Gutiérrez/Zanfer

In a clash of unbeaten super lightweights, Omar “Pollo” Aguilar (15-0, 14 KOs) impressively destroyed Francisco “Franky” Cuadrado (12-1, 9 KOs) in the first round to become the WBC 14olb Youth champion on Saturday night at the Estadio Zonkeys in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico.

Aguilar dropped Cuadrado with a left to the jaw. Cuadrado managed to regain his feet, but was ruled in no condition to continue. Time was 2:58.

“Thank God we have the first of which we hope will be many belts to win,” said Aguilar, who may become the next big thing in Mexican boxing with performances like this.

In the co-feature, featherweight Carlos “Chinito” Ornelas  (24-2, 14 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Juan Ramón “Negrito” Bernal (10-6, 5 KOs). Continue reading ““Pollo” Aguilar TKOs “Franky” Cuadrado in one”

Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBA light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over #15 rated Lenin Castillo (20-3-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Bivol outboxed Castillo from the beginning. He dropped Castillo with a right hand in round six, then continue to dominate. Scores were 120-107, 119-108, 119-108. Bivol successfully defended his title for the fifth time.

“Who wants to fight me? Who wants to try to beat me, I’m ready for all comers!” said Bivol after the fight. Continue reading “Bivol easily retains WBA light heavy title”

Unbeaten super featherweight Otha Jones III (4-0, 1 KO) topped Eric Manriquez (7-9-1, 3 KOs) over four 38-38, 40-36, 39-37.

In a rematch, WBA/WBC unified female super lightweight champion Jessica McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) retained her belts over ten sloppy rounds against Erica Farias (26-4, 10 KOs). Scores were 94-94, 97-91, 96-92. McCaskill defeated Farias on points over ten rounds last year.

A bloodied 2016 Olympian super lightweight Movladdin Biyarslanov (5-0, 4 KOs) struggled with Tyrome Jones (4-6-1, 1 KO) over six rounds. Scores were 59-55, 59-55, 58-56.

Unbeaten super middleweight Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr (20-0, 18 KOs) former “Contender” fighter Morgan “Big Chief” Fitch (19-4-1, 8 KOs). Sims dropped Fitch twice in round one. Another count in round six and finally the bout was waved off. Time 2:18.

Unbeaten USBA super welterweight beltholder Charles “Bad News” Conwell (11-0, 8 KOs) scored a scary knockout against Patrick Day (17-4-1, 6 KOs) in the tenth round. Conwell dropped Day in rounds four and eight, then knocked him out with a left hook. Time was 1:46. Day was taken from the ring on a stretcher.

Former IBF super bantamweight champion TJ Doheny (22-1, 16 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over journeyman Jesus Martinez (26-10, 13 KOs). It was Doheny’s first fight since losing his title to Danny Roman in April.

IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) scored a second round TKO over Sofiane Takoucht (35-4-1, 13 KOs) at the First Direct Arena in his hometown of Leeds, England. In round two, Warrington dropped Takoucht twice, then got a referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:54.

Commonwealth super featherweight titleholder Zelfa Barrett (23-1, 14 KOs) scored a ninth round stoppage over Jordan McCorry (18-7-1, 4 KOs).

Unbeaten light heavyweight Lyndon Arthur (16-0, 12 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Emmanuel Anim (14-3-1, 12 KOs) to claim the vacant Commonwealth title. Arthur dropped Amin in round four. Scores were 115-112, 117-110, 117-111.

Fächer Sport Management presented championship boxing Saturday at the Palazzo-Halle in Karlsruhe, Germany. The main event saw local favorite WBO #2 flyweight Mirco “mirCOMET” Martin (14-0-1, 6 KOs) draw with Ernesto “El Destructor” Irias of Nicaragua (14-2-1, 9 KOs). The WBC Silver flyweight bout was aired on Baden TV with Graf Hardenberg sponsoring. The bout itself was an all-out war with both fighters having their moments. Trainer Dominik Junge felt that there were some key rounds he felt Mirco deserved to have had scored in his favor that would have led to him being victorious. The scorecards were 114-114 twice and 115-113 to Irias. No word on if a rematch will be staged. Continue reading “Martin-Irias draw in Germany”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered an immediate rematch of the September 28th junior welterweight world title fight between Batyr Akhmedov and Mario Barrios. The two sides now have thirty days for a free negotiating period before a purse bid is called. Barrios won the first fight by scores of 114-112, 116-111 and 115-111, which were widely criticized.

At the request of World of Boxing Promotions, the WBA conducted a review of the fight by independent judges and concluded an immediate rematch was in order.  Continue reading “WBA orders Barrios-Akhmedov rematch”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Filipino lightweight Rodynie Rafol (14-7-2,7KO’s) stopped Tyson Lantry (7-2, 3 KOs) in round three of a scheduled ten round main event with the WBF Asia Pacific title up for grabs at Club Punchbowl in Sydney, NSW, Australia on Saturday. The referee crowned Rafol at 0.34 of round three. Rafol had visited Australia losing to former WBO world champion Michael Katsidis and IBF #3 George Kambosos in 2015 but was coming off a four round stoppage of James McDonald in 2018. Continue reading “Rafol stops Lantry”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos: Bob Ryder

Second 2 None Promotions: Best of Tomorrow 8 at DeCarlo’s Banquet Center in Warren, MI Friday night did not disappoint. Promoter Vi Tran and matchmaker Kenny Moore, both, have managed to grow the series into a destination for top boxing prospects.

The featured bout of the night was surely the matchup between Anthony Barnes vs. Kenneth Council in a 6-Round Super Middleweight contest. Why the bout meant so much was the following: Barnes, due to new trainers and injuries, had been sidelined for the past 15 months. Also, his opponent, Council, had a good record, high knockout rate, and had fought the likes of Erickson Lubin. But he had been out of the fight game for just shy of four years. Continue reading “Results from Warren, Michigan”

By Przemek Garczarczyk

“I remember when I was training Evander Holyfield before the Mike Tyson fight. Everyone was laughing, giving us no chance. We all know what happened…and we worked hard to make it happen again when Chazz will face Usyk…” says trainer Tommy Brooks, who will be in Chazz Witherspoon’s corner for the “impossible task.”

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By Joe Koizumi

Four-division world champ Kazuto Ioka (24-2, 14 KOs), a skillful Japanese speedster, will make a mandatory defense of his WBO 115-pound belt against #1 Jeyvier Cintron (11-0-1NC, 5 KOs), Puerto Rico, on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, Japan.

It was publicly announced on Thursday with Ioka in attendance. Cintron was a two-time Olympian representing Puerto Rico in 2012 and 2016. In London the fast-moving southpaw footworker became a quarter finalist. Ioka, 30, said, “I’d like to show the difference of professional experience and keep my belt.”

All four major 175lb world champions will see action over the next three weeks. The light heavyweight frenzy starts tonight WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who has recently been elevated to ‘super champion’ status, taking on Lenin Castillo at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. WBC and IBF kings Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Artur Beterbiev meet next weekend in a unification battle, and WBO ruler Sergey Kovalev faces Canelo Alvarez on November 2.

Assuming 50:1 favorite Bivol can dispose of Castillo as expected, unification fights are on his radar in 2020.

On Gvozdyk-Beterbiev:

“I don’t know who wins that fight. I don’t like to make predictions! But it’s a very good fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

On Kovalev-Canelo:

“It’s an interesting fight, it’s a big challenge for both. Kovalev is one of the best at 175lbs and is the bigger man, but Canelo is a great fighter, he’s younger and he’s strong too, nobody knows what will happen, we just have to wait and watch.” Continue reading “Bivol leads off light heavyweight frenzy”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Irish-born light heavyweight Conor Wallace (7-0, 5 KOs) captured the Australian crown when he stopped Michael Whitelaw (5-4, 2 KOs) in round six of a scheduled ten round main event at Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland on Friday. The referee was former world champion Philip Holiday, who crowned the 23-year-old Wallace in round six because Whitelaw suffered a severe cut due to an accidental head clash. Southpaw Wallace is a former six-time all Ireland amateur champion who has had all his professional bouts in Australia.

In other action, Ben Kite (16-4-1, 6 KOs) defended the Australasian welterweight crown successfully when he clearly outscored Ben Savva (11-2, 4 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores at the conclusion Cyril Cairns 98-92, Alan Burford 99-91, Paul Williams 97-93. Promoter: Stephen Dellar

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Shinobu Charlie Hosokawa (12-4-1, 11 KOs), 159.75, showed his determination and durability in acquiring the vacant OPBF middleweight belt as he finally caught up with his grudge rival Tyson Koki (14-4-3, 12 KOs), a taller southpaw at 160, and halted him with the referee’s intervention at 1:21 of the eighth round in a scheduled twelve on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

In their first encounter it ended in a drawn game (114-114 twice, 115-114 for Tyson) this July, and they faced again and it resulted in a give-and-take battle again. Continue reading “Hosokawa halts Tyson, wins vacant OPBF 160lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese lightweight champ Shuichiro Yoshino (11-0, 9 KOs), 135, acquired the vacant OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific belts when he scored a one-punch stoppage over Filipino Harmonito Dela Torre (20-3, 12 KOs), 135, at 2:10 of the opening session on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Yoshino, formerly an excellent amateur with a 104-20 mark including 55 stoppages, withstood Dela Torre’s furious two-fisted attack from all angles in a peek-a-boo guard, and exploded a single solid left hook to the button with precision, flattening him with a thud. The ref Fukuchi promptly called a halt to save the loser. Continue reading “Yoshino wins OPBF, WBO AP 135lb belts in 130 sec”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Unheralded JBC#4 Yuto Takahashi (11-4, 5 KOs), 108, upset WBC#2/IBF#5 Kenichi Horikawa (40-16-1, 13 KOs), 108, by a majority but well-received decision (96-94, 97-93, 95-95) over ten hard-fought rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Takahashi, 26, made a good start and took the initiative with effective overhand rights in earlier rounds, unanimously leading on points after the fifth on open scoring system: 48-47 twice and 49-46. The 39-year-old champ, in the second half, turned loose but couldn’t overcome his early deficits as they mixed it up on even terms down the stretch.

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In a stunning upset, journeyman Armando “Alacran” Torres (25-18, 19 KOs) knocked out former WBC light flyweight champion and WBC #5 rated Ganigan “Maravilla” Lopez (36-10, 19 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the famed Blackberry Auditorium in Mexico City. The heavy-handed Torres dropped Lopez twice to end it and claim the WBC Latino fly title.

Photos: Emily Harney

Former two-time light heavyweight world champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (36-5, 19 KOs) cruised to an uneventful eight round unanimous decision over Denis Grachev (19-9-1, 10 KOs) on Friday night at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

Dawson was in control from the opening bell. Grachev’s best moment was round six when he connected with several punches. Scores were 80-72, 80-72, 79-73. With the win, Dawson claimed the vacant WBC USNBC title.

It was short, but sweet. Unbeaten heavyweight Cassius Chaney (17-0, 11 KOs) needed just 63 seconds to annihilate former cruiserweight title challenger Santander Silgado (28-8, 22 KOs). A crushing right hand laid out Silgado for several minutes. Continue reading “Dawson dominates; Chaney steals the show”