Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by The Won Promotions, Ohashi Promotions

Former champ Deok-No Yun (9-2, 7 KOs), 167.25, impressively regained his WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight belt when he avenged his previous defeat and forfeiture of the title in Japan, battered defending titlist Tyson Koki (17-6-3, 14 KOs), a 6’3” southpaw Japanese at 168, all the way and finally halted him with a towel fluttering in from the dethroned champ’s corner at 2:02 of the seventh round in a scheduled twelve on Friday in Seoul, Korea.

It was Koki in their first encounter that survived a bad visit to the deck with Yun’s opening solid right, resumed fighting and quickly landed a countering southpaw left, pulverizing the Korean in the first give-and-take round this June. It was such a shocking scene that the flattened loser Yun got a cramp in his legs like Ingemar Johansson against Floyd Patterson in 1961. The sturdy Korean, in this rematch, maintained the pressure and outhustled the awkward champ, steadily piling up a point in every round. The seventh saw Yun accelerate his attack to batter him from pillar to post, prompting the champ’s corner throwing in the towel. After the well-received stoppage the bloodied Tyson Koki stayed flat on the canvas for minutes. Continue reading “Yun halts Koki, regains WBO AP 168lb belt”

Former world champion Elwin Soto (22-3-1, 13 KOs) of Mexico and countryman/ local Moises Caro (11-3-4, 5 KOs) fought to an exciting 10 round split draw Saturday night in a bout for the WBO Latino light flyweight title. The main event took place at the Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Mexico. The bout was actually backed with many heated exchanges. Many close rounds where one dominated the rounds beginning and the other closed the round strong. The official scores were 97-93 Soto, 96-94 Caro, and 95-95 even.

Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

Topeka’s favorite son John “The Iron Man” Cantrell, not only promoted Saturday night’s Westridge Fight Night at Westridge Mall, he headlined the 8-round heavyweight main event! Nearly 2500 raucous fans packed the venue to capacity to watch Cantrell take on the much more experienced Jesse Bryan. It became apparent from the outset that Bryan didn’t come to lay down and would use his vast experience to pull every trick out of his bag. Cantrell for his part, utilized his speed, and superior conditioning to power box his way through this bout. In the third round, Cantrell trapped Bryan in his own corner for a solid minute, trying his best to end it, but Bryan wouldn’t budge. The fourth, however, was a different story. This time, Cantrell trapped Bryan in a neutral corner and didn’t crowd his own punches, allowing room to deliver solid right after solid right to the head of Bryan. Bryan buckled, sagged and finally went down, the referee stopping matters at 1:16, raising Cantrell’s record to 11-0-1, 10 KOs. Bryan falls to 21-10-2, 16 KOs. Cantrell called out Jake Paul immediately afterward, to the roars of the partisan crowd. We shall see. Continue reading “Results from Topeka, Kansas”

Friday night’s fight at Philadelphia’s Liacouras Center on the University of Temple campus headlined by two-time world title challenger Jesse Hart against Ricardo Luna in a scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout was abruptly cancelled due to an issue between the Pennsylvania Commission and Teflon Promotions.

Wendy Touissant 154 vs. Brian Arregui 154
Micky Scala 155.2 vs. Luis Caraballo Ramos 154.6
David Malul 147.4 vs. Zachary Davis 146.2
Harley Burke 170 vs. Tevin Terrance 170.2
John Gjini 127.6 vs. Luis Porozo 127.8
Frank Monaco 166.8 vs. Victor Pradis 168.2

Venue: The Paramount, Huntington, New York
Promoter: Star Boxing
TV: Star Boxing $19.99 PPV

By Boxing Bob Newman

John Cantrell 214.8 vs Jesse Bryan 230.8
Tyler Rowe 243.2 vs Russell Harris 209.6
Kory Rupp 182 vs. Tyler Smith 179.2
Brittany Dukes 120 vs Jessica Links 120.4
Kayla Williams 135 vs Nataley Pendergrass 133
Colors Campos 198.4 vs Byron Clayton 202
Danielle Bennett 124.6 vs Jasmine Blanson 121.6
Ira Johnson 144.4 vs Deonta Williamson 141
Anthony Adams 146.8 vs Michael Stevens 147.4
DeAngelo Clardy 172 vs Benito Mayorga 174.6

Venue: West Ridge Mall, Topeka, KS
Promoter: John Cantrell (Iron Man Promotions) Damon Reed
Commission: Kansas Athletic Commission
Doors open at 6 p.m.
First Bell at 7p.m.

Hometown favorite Christian ‘Chispa’ Medina (24-4, 17 KOs) stopped countryman and previously unbeaten Alexis Molina (12-1-1, 4 KOs) on Friday night. The 10 round batamweight main event took place at the Domo del Codo Guadalajara, Mexico. After a closely contested first few rounds of the fight Medina broke through sending Molina to the canvas with a barrage of punches near the middle of round five. Molina valiantly beat the count and fought back but the referee waved the bout off moments later. The official time of the stoppage was 1:04 of round five. Medlina won the WBO Latino title.

In a war, undefeated super welterweight Andreas “Katz” Katzourakis (15-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over world-rated former world title challenger Brandon “The Cannon” Adams (25-4, 16 KOs) in the final of the OTX 154lb tournament on Friday night at the Corey Studios in Atlanta. Georgia. After ten hotly contested rounds, scores were 97-93, 96-94 for Katzourakis, and 97-93 Adams. With the win, Katzourakis gets a $100,000 bonus and a promotional contract with OTX.

George Kambosos Jr. (21-3 10 KOs) has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions. The former lightweight ruler has confirmed he will move up to 140lbs and start his bid to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, in an event to be announced soon.

Kambosos shot to fame by ripping Teofimo Lopez’s world titles from him with a stunning victory over in New York in November 2021, flooring the champion in the opening round en-route to handing the Brooklynite his sole defeat to date.

Boxing star “King” Ryan Garcia and Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo will go face-to-face at a press conference in Beverly Hills next week to preview their special exhibition showdown taking place Monday, December 30, in Tokyo, Japan. The PPV will be $49.99 and the bout will be an eight-round affair with two-minute rounds.

Garcia has vowed to knock out Anpo, citing Anpo’s exhibition with Manny Pacquiao. Kingry is currently serving a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission due to a positive drug test in April, but that ban does not stop Ryan from participating in exhibitions outside of the U.S.

Israel Vázquez, the former super bantamweight world champion who thrilled boxing fans with his courageous performances in the classic boxing trilogy against Rafael Marquez is now fighting cancer. Vazquez and Marquez’s second and third fights both won the fight of the year award for 2007 and 2008. They were thrilling performances that cemented the legacies of these tremendous Mexican warriors.

Frank Espinoza who managed Vazquez throughout his career is making a plea for him. “Vazquez gave his all in the ring. I would like to ask the boxing fans to join.me in helping Israel in this difficult time” he said, “let’s show him the love and appreciation he deserves by donating to this important cause on his behalf.”

Let us pray for Vazquez and send him our love and support. Please donate to Israel Vazquez’s go fund me page and let’s help him through this journey: Go Fund link! Please donate.

Unifies OPBF, WBO AP 135lb belts

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Korakuen Hall witnessed an unbelievable extravaganza near the end of the year. In a regional unification bout OPBF champ Shu Utsuki (15-1, 13 KOs), 134.5, collected another 135-pound belt when he survived a knockdown-studded war and finally chalked up a TKO victory over WBO Asia Pacific titlist Katsuya Yasuda (14-2, 9 KOs), 134.75, at 2:47 of the sixth round in a scheduled twelve on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Since it was such a busily tide-turning slugfest that this reporter had better put my fight memorandum in order, as follows:

Round Four: Yasuda (by a short right of Utsuki), Utsuki (southpaw right hook of Yasuda, groggy)

Round Five: Utsuki (straight left, narrow escape)

Round Six: Yasuda (one-two combo), Yasuda (left hook, groggy)

Referee Someya called a well-received halt to the badly damaged Yasuda midway in the fatal sixth with the give-and-take affair having the audience into a frenzy. Continue reading “Utsuki halts WBO #6 Yasuda”

Former world title challenger Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs) will rematch Yamil Alberto Peralta (17-1, 9 KOs) of Argentina on December 7th at the Centre 200, in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. The pair squared off close to two-and-a-half years ago where Perlata narrowly lost his 0 to Rozicki by split decision. The stakes will be much higher this time, with the WBC interim cruiserweight world title on the line. Rozicki and promoter Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions) spoke on the upcoming bout and the significance of a victory. Continue reading “Rozicki ready to decisively beat Peralta”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Hall of Fame boxing legend and trailblazer for women’s boxing, Christy “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin, gives her take on Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor 2, shares her thoughts on Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and the opportunity “Iron Mike” gave her fighting on his cards in his heyday. She also shared thoughts on her longtime promoter Don King and her current promotion and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten 5’10” southpaw prospect Taiga Imanaga (7-0, 5 KOs), 134.5, gained the Asian lightweight tournament prize of five million yen (some 33,333USD) as he defeated Yoji Saito (8-5-2, 8 KOs), 134.75, by a unanimous decision (80-71, 79-72, 78-73) over eight hard-fought rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Imanaga, under Ohashi Promotions, scored a sole knockdown of the bout with his trade-mark southpaw right hook in round three. Continue reading “Imanaga wins Asian 135lb tourney”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former OPBF, WBO AP champ, JBC#2 super welter Ryota Toyoshima (20-3-1, 11 KOs), 153.25, defeated previously undefeated JBC#1 Yasuomi Soda (7-1, 4 KOs), 152.75, by a shutout decision (all 80-72) over eight hard-fought rounds to acquire the right to have a mandatory shot at the national 154-pound champ Yuichi Ideta in the forthcoming Carnical of Champions next spring. Toyoshima’s aggression prevailed all the way despite the loser’s tremendous durability and fighting spirit. Continue reading “Ex-OPBF champ Toyoshima defeats JBC#1 Soda”

The PPV for the December 21 heavyweight title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are now on sale at DAZN. The PPV price has been set at $39.99. The return match will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia under the Riyadh Season banner. Usyk is a -175 favorite to defeat Fury again.

Brandon Adams 153.8 vs. Andreas Katzourakis 153.8
(WBA Continental Americas super welterweight title)
Note: Adams-Katzourakis is the final for the OTX super welterweight tournament with a $100K first prize, plus an OTX promotional contract.

Oshae Jones 154 vs. Femke Hermans 153.8
(IBF female junior middleweight title)

Nathan Lugo 169.2 vs. Mardoche Ilunga 168.2
Maliek Montgomery 136.6 vs. Sakaria Lukas 132.2
David Lopez 143 vs. Marlin Sims 142.4
Jonny Mansour 134.6 vs. Luciano Ramos 138.2

Venue: Corey Studios in Atlanta!
Promoter: OTX
TV: DAZN

Two international boxing events will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ this Saturday, Nov. 23.

The fight marathon begins at Canopée Westfield Forum des Halles in Paris at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. Unbeaten junior middleweight Bakary Samake (16-0, 8 KOs) battles Wade Ryan (22-11-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant WBC silver strap in the 12-round main event.

The fisticuffs continue from Plaza de Toros Calafia in Mexicali, Mexico, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, when former world champion Elwin Soto (21-3, 13 KOs) returns against Moisés Caro (11-3-3, 5 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBO Latino light flyweight title.

Undefeated light heavyweight stars David “El Monstro” Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. went face-to-face Tuesday at a press conference in Los Angeles before they meet for Benavidez’s WBC interim title and Morrell’s WBA regular title in the main event of a Prime Video PPV taking place Saturday, February 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

David Benavidez: “Morrell has been talking about me for a while and disrespecting me. He wanted to make it personal with me, so I’m personally going to break his mouth. That’ll give him something to remember me by…he thinks he’s big and bad, but he’s nothing. I’m gonna show him who’s the best on February 1.”

David Morrell: “I’m getting the knockout. 100%. He’s all talk and no bite. He can’t do what he thinks he’s gonna do…he has no idea what he’s talking about, but he’s provoking me and now I want to go out there and beat the crap out of him. I’m here now and none of that talk matters.”

59-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver “The Atomic Bull” McCall (60-14, 39 KOs) scored a second round KO over 54-year-old Stacy Frazier (16-23, 15 KOs) in an officially sanctioned four round bout on Tuesday night at the Troubadour Theater in Nashville Tennessee. McCall dropped Frazier once in round one and twice in round two to end it. Time was 2:45. McCall’s right hand still looked formidable. After the fight, McCall called out Jake Paul.

With the win, McCall broke the four-day-old record of Mike Tyson as the oldest former heavyweight champion to fight in a sanctioned bout.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC

I suppose that most of those who are reading my column knew that last Friday, Mike Tyson returned to the ring and faced Jake Paul.

There is so much to comment on everything that happened. and it is hard for me to put my thoughts in order. Let’s see how it turns out. I will not even hint on any negatives and will focus on the positive as this was a memorable event overall.

Mike Tyson is a legendary figure who will be talked about in 500 years and for eternity. He won the WBC world heavyweight championship at the age of 20 and was feared like few others during his reign. He was Undisputed after Don King made the heavyweight tournament, and regained his WBC crown after being released from prison. Continue reading “Tyson vs. Paul: Behind An Unforgettable Event”

The teams of Eimantas Stanionis and Shakhram Giyasov informed the World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee that they reached an agreement to make the mandatory fight and therefore the purse bidding that was scheduled for this afternoon was officially suspended. The contracts and details about the fight between Stanionis, welterweight champion, and Giyasov, mandatory challenger, will be sent in to the committee with the confirmation of the date, venue and other related elements.

Oliver McCall 251.2 vs. Stacy Frazier 228.4
Isaac Carbonell 175 vs. Antonio Louis Hernandez 175.6
Joel Mutombo 200.6 vs. Kevin Torian 200.2
Sean Hemphill 172,8 vs. Bryant McClain 172
Elon De Jesus 124.2 vs. Dominique Griffin 123.4
Ryan Zempoatectl 141.6 vs. Raymond Chacon 134.2

Venue: Troubadour Nashville
Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions
TV: Triller TV (Marc Abrams, Albert Haynesworth on the call)
1st Bell 7PM CT (8 PM ET)