By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a super lightweight clash elevated to main event status after the sudden implosion of the Zurdo-Rosado headliner, Filipino veteran Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (34-3-3, 17 KOs) from San Diego was victorious Saturday night in taking a ten round split decision over former world champion and 2012 U.S Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. (32-4-1, 15 KOs) of South El Monte, California at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.

Gesta worked from the start, letting his hands go. He was busier than Diaz but Diaz connected with the right hand towards the end of the opening round. Staying busy and jabbing in the second, Gesta outworked Diaz. Things began to pick up in the third as Diaz and Gesta exchanged inside with the Filipino fighting off the ropes and the 2012 Olympian on the attack. In the fourth, Diaz stood close and applied pressure with Gesta mixing it up using the jab from a distance and trading. Continue reading “Gesta beats JoJo by split decision”

In a battle of attrition, welterweight Cyrus Pattinson (6-0, 4 KOs) stopped Chris Jenkins (23-7-3, 8 KOs) in round nine to claim the vacant English welterweight title on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England. Tough, gritty fight with Jenkins’ corner finally throwing in the towel. Time was 1:34.

Heavyweight Solomon Dacres (6-0, 2 KO)s teed off on Robert Ismay (11-1, 4 KOs) until the referee stepped in at 2:12 of round two. Dacres claimed the vacant English title.

Super bantamweight Hopey Price (10-0, 3 KOs) outpointed Thomas Masson (20-6-1, 7 KOs) over ten rounds for the vacant WBA Continental title. Scores 99-91, 100-90, 98-92.

Other Results:
Pat McCormack TKO8 Dario Socci (welterweight)
Callum French W8 Jordan Ellison (lightweight)
Mark Dickinson W8 Ben Ridings (middleweight)
Adam Reichard W4 Jahfieus Faure (lightweight)
Maiseyrose Courtney W4 Buchra El Quaissi (female super flyweight)
Muhammad Ali W4 Sean Jackson (super bantamweight)

In a war, WBA #10 heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-0-1, 22 KOs) scored an entertaining sixth round TKO over WBA #9 Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne (31-4, 27 KOs) on Saturday night at the Agenda Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Both came at each other and were willing to trade power punches. Each absorbed big shots. In round four, Miller rocked Browne, but Browne survived the round. Browne had a good recovery round in round five as both continued to trade. Miller finally battered Browne to the canvas in round six and got the stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:33.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1637196909294104578

Fast-tracking cruiserweight Soslan “Cobra” Asbarov (4-0, 1 KO) scored a ten round majority decision over WBO #11 Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton (17-2, 14 KOs). Slow-paced fight for the first five rounds. Glanton got the better of it down the stretch, but it was too little, too late. Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 95-95. Glanton was coming off a controversial loss in a WBO eliminator, so good name for Asbarov’s resume.

WBA #5, IBF #11 super featherweight Jono “King Kong” Carroll (24-2-1, 7 KOs) outscored three-time world title challenger Miguel “The Scorpion” Marriaga (30-7, 26 KOs). Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 98-92. The fight was closer than the scores indicated. Continue reading “Big Baby spanks Big Daddy in six”

In an IBF light heavyweight world title eliminator, 7:1 underdog Michael Eifert (12-1, 4 KOs) scored a surprising twelve round unanimous decision over 40-year-old former world champion Jean Pascal (36-7-1, 20 KOs) became mandatory challenger for IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. The quicker Eifert, 25, outboxed and outworked Pascal, while Pascal mostly missed with wild power punches. Eifert slowed down a bit midway and Pascal began to connect more often. However, Eifert continued to outwork Pascal, who often looked old and sluggish late in the fight. Scores were 118-110, 115-113, 117-111.

Junior welterweight Mathieu Germain (22-2-1, 9 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision against Steven Wilcox (24-4-1, 7 KOs). Scores were 96-94, 97-93, 97-93.

In an upset, unheralded female junior welterweight Karla Ramos Zamora (10-9-1, 2 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO against former world title challenger Jessica Camara (10-4, 2 KOs). A barrage of unanswered punches prompted a referee’s stoppage. Time was 1:46. Zamora claimed the IBF International title.

2016 Olympian light heavyweight “Mighty” Joe Ward (9-1, 5 KOs) needed just 91 seconds to annihilate previously undefeated Mario Andrade Rodriguez (7-1, 4 KOs). Ward dropped Rodriguez with a left hook then quickly finished him.

Unbeaten super welterweight Callum Walsh (6-0, 5 KOs) brutalized Wesley Tucker (15-5, 9 KOs) over two rounds on Thursday night at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Walsh dropped Tucker three times in round two to end it. Time was 2:59. Tucker has now lost five of his last six.

In his first fight in five years, welterweight Danny O’Connor (31-3, 12 KOs) busted up Luis Garcia (13-2-1, 9 KOs) over five one-sided rounds. The ring doctor finally advised that the fight be stopped due to cuts. Time was 1:55

Unbeaten middleweight Francis “Frank the Tank” Hogan (14-0, 13 KOs) was victorious after round five when the corner of Jimmy Williams (18-11-2, 6 KOs) decided he had taken enough punishment.

Unbeaten featherweight Hegly Mosqueda (24-0, 18 KOs) won an eight round split decision over Jose Garcia (13-4-3, 9 KOs). Scores were 77-75, 77-75 for Mosqueda, 77-75 for Garcia.

Light heavyweight Kendrick Ball Jr (21-1-3, 12 KOs) scored a workmanlike six round unanimous decision over Mike Stegall (7-1-3, 3 KOs) by scores of 60-54, 60-54, 59-55.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Undefeated IBF #8 super featherweight Charlie Suarez (15-0, 9 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten WBA #11, IBF #13 rated Paul Fleming (28-1-1, 18 KOs) in round twelve of an action-packed bout on Wednesday night at the Kevin Betts Stadium in MtDruitt, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Suarez outworked Fleming in the early rounds but Fleming took control in the middle rounds. In round twelve, Suarez dropped Fleming with a left hook and at 1:58 the referee crowned Suarez, who captured the IBF Intercontinental, WBC Asian and WBA Oceania titles.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

OPBF flyweight champ WBA#6 Taku Kuwahara (12-1, 7 KOs), 113.5, made very short of Mexican Jose Rivas (18-14-4, 10 KOs), 113, halting him in just 51 seconds of the opening session of a scheduled non-title eight on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Having come back from a tenth-round annihilation in his crack at Seigo Yuri Akui’s national flyweight belt in 2021 and captured the OPBF title from Filipino Giemel Magramo last October, the speedster Taku stunned the crowd with his quick stoppage of the more experienced Mexican veteran. His opening shot, a vicious left hook, decked Rivas and the same punch again sent him flat with the referee Sugiyama calling a halt without counting because of the impact of the loser’s second visit to the canvas. Continue reading “WBA#6 Kuwahara halts Rivas in 51 seconds”

Welterweight Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez (22-1, 14 KOs) came back from a 21-month layoff to win an eight-round unanimous decision over Kashon Hutchinson (10-6, 2 KOs) in the main event on Friday night at The Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA.

Rodriguez came out fast as he landed some booming power punches which landed flush on Hutchinson. Hutchinson showed an amazing chin as the punches that landed did not seem to faze the Reading, PA. fighter. The middle rounds saw Hutchinson try to peck away and get some punches through on Rodriguez. Rodriguez showed some solid boxing ability down the stretch.

Rodriguez of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, won by scores of 80-72 and 78-74 on two cards in his first bout since losing to former world champion Jose Pedraza in June 2021. Hutchinson had his seven fight win streak snapped. Continue reading “Hammer Hands returns with victory”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Undefeated WBO #1 rated Tim Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) stepped out of the shadow of his ring legend father Kostya Tszyu to stop former world champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison (29-4-1, 21 KOs) in round nine to claim the vacant WBO interim junior middleweight title on Sunday morning at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Harrison was able to keep Tszyu on the end of his jab in round one. Tszyu upped the pressure in round two. Tszyu rocked Harrison with heavy artillery in round three. Harrison continued to land the jab, but most the power punches were landed by Tszyu. Tzsyu finally dropped Harrison hard with a barrage of punches in round nine. Harrison barely beat the count, but referee Danrex Tapdasan waved it off. Time was 2:43 of round nine.

With the win, Tszyu set up a clash against undisputed super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo. After the fight, Tzsyu shouted, “What’s my motherf**king name? Say my motherf**king name!”

At the time of the stoppage, Tszyu was ahead 77-75 on all three cards.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #7, WBO #6, super bantamweight Sam Goodman (14-0, 7 KOs) clearly outscored WBC #11, WBO #11 T.J. Doheny (23-4, 17 KOs) over ten rounds to capture the IBF intercontinental and WBO Oriental titles. Goodman connected with accurate left jabs and right hands to the head that kept the former world champion Doheny off balance throughout the contest. Both Goodman and Doheny suffered cut eyes during the contest. At the conclusion, the scores were 97-92, 98-92, 100-89 all for Goodman.

Former amateur star light heavyweight Paulo Aokuso (4-0, 3 KOs) dominated American-based Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez (21-6, 17 KOs) over ten rounds. Aokuso connected with a four-punch combination to the head of the Cuban to drop him in round six. Scores at the conclusion for Aokuso 97-92, 99-90, 100-89, who captured the IBO Intercontinental 175-pound championship.

Super middleweight Rohan Murdock (27-2, 19 KOs) outworked Issac Hardman (13-2, 11 KOs) in the first four rounds of their ten round contest but from round five the action see -sawed and at the conclusion of an entertaining bout, Murdock was awarded a split decision with two judges scoring 97-92 in Murdock’s favor while one judge gave it 96-93 for Hardman.

Unbeaten super welterweight Nikita Tszyu (5-0, 4 KOs) chopped down tough Bo Belbin (7-1, 5 KOs) in round four of a scheduled six round bout. Tszyu connected with solid combinations from round one that had Belbin on unsteady legs throughout the contest – and in round four the Tasmanian was dropped and referee Will Soulos crowned Tszyu at 1:46.

42-year-old heavyweight Carlos Takam (40-7-1, 28 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka (11-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at Zenith Paris in Paris, France. Yoka never got untracked and Takam pressed him all the way to deservedly win 96-94, 96-94 on two cards. Yoka was somehow ahead 96-94 on the third card. Two straight losses for Yoka now, following his defeat to Martin Bakole last May. Yoka was a 6:1 favorite.

In a bout for the European light heavyweight title, unbeaten Dan Azeez (19-0, 13 KOs) broke down and stopped Thomas Faure (21-5-1, 2 KOs) in round twelve. No time announced. Tough gritty fight. Faure not happy about the stoppage.

In a female welterweight bout, Olympic gold medalist Lauren Price (3-0, 1 KO) shut out Naomi Mannes (6-1, 4 KOs) over eight 80-72 3x.

Undefeated middleweight Farrhad Saad (8-0-2, 0 KOs) and Macaulay McGowan (17-3-2, 3 KOs) battled to an eight round draw. Scores were 77-75, 76-76, 76-76.

Unbeaten super middleweight Diego Pacheco (18-0, 15 KOs) brutally stopped “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (21-4-1, 9 KOs) in round four on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Pacheco dropped Cullen with a body shot in round four. Cullen struggled to his feet, but Pacheco quickly finished him with a barrage of punches. Time was :47.

In an upset, replacement fighter Darragh Foley (22-4-1, 10 KOs) stopped local hero Robbie Davies Jr (23-4, 15 KOs) in round three of a super lightweight clash. Foley dropped Davies with a right hand at the end of round two, then floored him again with a jab 26 seconds into round three and the referee waved it off. Davies twisted his ankle just prior to the end.

Heavyweight Johnny “The Romford Bull” Fisher (8-0, 7 KOs) punished Alfonso Damiani (6-3, 2 KOs) until the bout was stopped at 2:05 of round four.

Super lightweight Campbell Hatton (10-0, 3 KOs) outpointed Michel Gonxhe (4-3-1, 0 KOs) over six rounds 59-55.

Super bantamweight prospect Peter McGrail (7-0, 5 KOs) shut out Nahuel Botelli (14-8, 8 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 100-90 3x.

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

Bert’s Warehouse was treated to four fights on Friday evening. The main event featured Cameran Pankey (7-0, 4 KOs), who was in one word, “dominant”. His opponent, Ira Terry had been beat down over the six-round fight. Pankey started the first with a good left hook to the body. Pankey chased Terry all over the ring. Round 2 featured a good jab to Terry’s stomach from Pankey. You can see the power with Pankey, even if Terry blocked the shot, part of the impact was landing. In Round 3, Pankey stalked Terry, while throwing with great precision. Round 4 had Terry landing his best punch. In Rounds 5 and 6 Pankey picked up the pace. The 6th produced a knockdown of Terry (28-25, 16 KOs) with a straight right by Pankey. In the last minute of the fight super bantamweight Pankey threw left after devastating left. All three judges saw it (60-53, 60-53, 60-53), as Pankey won by UD. Continue reading “Pankey defeats Terry in Detroit”

Undefeated lightweight Luis “Koreano” Torres (18-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Misael “Pinchon” Cabrera (14-2, 10 KOs) in a clash for the WBC Latino title on Wednesday night at the Palenque de la Expo in Cuidad Obregon, Mexico. Torres dropped Cabrera in round two, but Cabrera seemingly fought himself back into the fight. Scores were 98-91, 96-93, 96-93.

Highly touted 6’3 super featherweight Oscar Alvarez (9-0, 7 KOs) scored an eight round majority decision over Diego Lopez (3-2-1, 2 KOs). The shorter Lopez gave as good as he got, but came up on the short end of a 78-74, 77-75, 77-77 verdict for the hometown hero.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Brock Jarvis (22-1, 19 KOs) made a successful return to the ring as a welterweight on Wednesday when he scored a knockout victory over Filipino Marlon Paniamogan (11-2-2, 5 KOs) at the Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Sydney, NSW televised on Foxtel Cable television network

Jarvis was in trouble in round two but rebounded to take control of the bout and dropped Paniamogan with a body shot in round four and referee John Gauchi crowned the Aussie at 2.56.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas fought hard in winning a unanimous decision over a very tough Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) of the Philippines on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California to win the WBC interim featherweight title in headlining Showtime Championship Boxing.

Off to a fast start, Magsayo connected with a short right hand, Figueroa returned the favor as he landed a huge chopping right. Magsayo attacked in round two, backing Figueroa with a right hand, fighting at close quarters Figueroa connected inside. In round three, Magsayo pressed but Figueroa landed a thudding body shot, moments later Magsayo unloaded a series of punches to score and finished strong to end the round. Staying busy in the fourth, Figueroa and Magsayo fought at close quarters inside, both connecting and having their momentum. Continue reading “Figueroa tops Magsayo for WBC interim 126 belt”

Matchroom Boxing returned to Mexico on Saturday night at the Polideportivo Arena in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. In the main event, WBO #5 rated Angel Fierro (20-1-2, 16 KOs) retained his NABO title with a fine seventh round KO over the very game Eduardo Estela (14-2, 9 KOs). Fierro dropped Estela hard in round four and battered him to the canvas again in round seven to end it. Time was 2:59.

By Rocky Morales at ringside

In an upset, Armando “Toro” Resendiz (14-1, 10KO) stopped former unified world champion, Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (24-3, 16KO) in the final round of a scheduled ten round middleweight bout on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Resendiz pushed the action from the beginning with Hurd content to mostly throw counterpunches that enjoyed early success. It was a rough fight with Resendiz warned for head butts and Hurd twice warned for low blows.

By the middle rounds, the superior activity of Resendiz was the difference maker as Hurd was unable to find the counter punches to keep Resendiz at bay.

The eighth round saw Hurd’s face start swelling up like a balloon and he was bloodied, as well.

The ninth round was all Resendiz as Hurd looked like a shell of his former self. Only after the ninth round did Resendiz finally show some celebratory emotion as if he finally knew he had the fight in the bag.

Just as the tenth round started, the ringside doctor called a halt to the action to examine Hurd. After a few seconds, the doctor informed the referee that Hurd was unable to continue due to a severe laceration on his lip and, with that, the referee waved off the fight.

By way of knockout at 0:05 of the tenth round, Resendiz is the winner and instant middleweight title contender. Resendiz suddenly looks like a logical choice for a Jermall Charlo comeback fight / title defense.

By Miguel Maravilla and Rocky Morales at ringside

Opening the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, undefeated 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) of Phoenix scored a spectacular fourth round knockout over Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) from Uruguay. It was a feel out opening round as Vidal and Garcia starting things off. The southpaw Garcia connected with a solid straight left in round two, snapping Vidal’s head but Vidal kept coming. Garcia continued to fire away as he finished the round strong. Bleeding from the nose in the third, Garcia kept working away as Vidal stood in the pocket chipping away. Jabbing away and staying in close quarters in round four, Garcia rocked Vidal with a as he dropped him forcing referee Jack Reiss to stop the fight at 2:17 of the fourth.

Former world title challenger, Terrell Gausha (23-3-1, 12 KOs) impressively stopped tough but basic Brandyn Lynch (13-1-1, 10 KOs) by way of ninth round knockout in a scheduled 10 round super welterweight bout. The two fighters started out slowly but by the middle rounds it was a battle of Gausha’s skills against Lynch’s aggression. Gausha was just on another level and despite Lynch’s best efforts, it was Gausha who was landing the cleaner punches.

As the rounds progressed, Gausha turned up the intensity and with Lynch’s forward charging efforts, it was a lot of Gausha counterpunches doing the most damage. Early in the ninth round, Gausha landed a perfectly timed and place right cross to the chin that sent Lynch crashing to the canvas. Lynch got up on very unsteady legs to an indecisive referee who seemed torn between stopping it and allowing it to continue.

Although a stoppage would have been justified, the ref allowed action to continue, only for Gausha to land three clubbing right hands that deposited Lynch on the canvas, once again.

A stoppage at this point would again have been justified, but in for a penny – in for a pound, the referee allowed it to continue once again. Gausha again hammered Lynch to the canvas with the referee finally waving off the fight.

Time of the stoppage was 0:50 of the ninth round. With the victory, Gausha rebounds nicely from his loss to Tim Tszyu and puts himself back in title contention. Continue reading “Garcia, Gausha victorious”

Two important WBA eliminators took place on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England.

In a WBA super lightweight eliminator, Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) brutally stopped Lewis Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs) in round nine with a body shot. Ritson went down for a count of ten and then some.

In a WBA featherweight final eliminator, Thomas Patrick Ward (33-1-1, 5 KOs) was abused over five rounds by Otabek Kholmatov (11-0, 10 KOs). Ward was on the canvas three times before his corner threw in the towel in round five.

IBF #8, WBO #11, WBA #13 heavyweight Agit Kabayel (23-0, 15 KOs) came off the canvas to score a wild third round kayo over Agron Smakici (19-2, 17 KOs) to begin his second reign as EBU European champion on Saturday night at the Ruhrcongress in Bochum, Germany.

In round two, Smakici rocked Kabayel, who fell into the ropes and receives a count. Smakici tried to finish him unsuccessfully and was staggered himself late in the round. In round three, Kabayel stepped on the gas and dropped Smakici twice to end it.

In a pretty big under-the-radar fight, former unified cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (30-1, 23 KOs) scored a second round knockout against previously unbeaten former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun (20-1, 16 KOs) to claim the WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title on Friday night at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia. A Gassiev right hand put Balogun down for the count.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Sumio Yamada

Former WBO champ Tomoki Kameda (40-3, 22 KOs), 123.5, proved faster and more ferocious than WBA#13 Luis Castillo (30-5, 20 KOs), 123.25, halting him at 1:18 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday (February 25). WBA#2 Tomoki, the youngest of Kameda brothers, scored four wins in a row since he failed to win the WBC 122-pound belt from Rey Vargas on points in Carson CA in July 2019. Having established his own TMK International Promotions (named after Tomoki), it was his first appearance as its main attraction in his native Osaka. Castillo complained of a nose pain after an accidental butt in round two, the nose-bleeding Mexican looked to have lost his fighting spirit, and the third man called a halt when Tomoki battered him from all angles, though some people criticized it as a premature stoppage. WBA#2 Tomoki, nicknamed ‘Mexicanito,’ looked sharp and smart. Continue reading “WBA#2 Tomoki Kameda halts #13 Castillo”

YouTube boxer Jake Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) finally faced a “real boxer” for the first time and came up short against undefeated Tommy “TNT” Fury (9-0, 4 KOs), losing by eight round split decision on Sunday night at the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Fury stayed at long range and utilized the jab. Paul concentrated on power shots, often missing wildly. When in close, the fighters usually clinched. Paul was deducted a point in round five for hitting behind the head. Fury was deducted a point for holding in round six. Paul dropped Fury with a jab in round eight, but it was too little too late. Scores were 75-74 Paul, 76-73, 76-73 Fury.

With the win, Fury earned a WBC ranking in the cruiserweight division. Paul has a rematch clause and he stated after the fight that he will 100% use it.

After the fight, Paul explained “I felt flat, I got sick twice in this camp and injured my arm. It wasn’t my best performance, but I’m not making excuses and I’ll come back stronger.”

39-year-old former two-division world champion Badou Jack “The Ripper” (28-3-3, 17 KOs) outboxed, battered and dethroned WBC cruiserweight champion Junior Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) getting a twelfth round TKO on Sunday night at the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Jack dropped Makabu in round four and continually beat Makabu to the punch. Jack dropped Makabu again in round eleven and finished him with a barrage of punches in round twelve. Time was :54. Jack is now a three-division world champion.