Unbeaten super lightweight Kevin Hayler Brown (5-0, 3 KOs) took an unpopular ten round split decision over Idalberto Umara (12-3, 8 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Brown overcame a fourth round knockdown to win on two cards 97-92, 96-93. Umara was up 97-92 on the third card. Brown retains the WBA Continental Americas title.

Heavyweight Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (6-0, 6 KOs) stopped Luis Pascual (19-11, 17 KOs) after two rounds. The 6’7 Hovhannisyan dropped Pascual in round two and the bout was halted between rounds.

WBC #1, WBA #2, IBF #3, WBO #3 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (27-0, 23 KOs) destroyed Mark Heffron (30-4-1, 24 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at the Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. Mbilli came out throwing body shots and folded up Heffron in just 40 seconds.

Rebounding from his first professional loss, IBF #12, WBC #14 heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs) destroyed Miljan Rovcanin (27-4, 18 KOs) in round two. A clubbing Makhmudov right hand knocked Rovcanin halfway out of the ring for a knockdown in round one. Makhmudov then laid out Rovcanin with a crushing right hand in round two. Time was 2:32.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Mehmet Unal (10-0, 8 KOs) was impressive in stopping Rodolfo Gomez Jr (14-8-3, 10 KOs) in round four. Well received referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:17.

In a grudge rematch, Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) avenged his loss to former undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) taking a twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. Taylor and Catterall fought 27 months ago in Glasgow, Scotland, with Taylor winning a controversial split decision. This time, it was another close fight with both fighters digging deep and having their moments. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 116-113 for Catterall.

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Unbeaten cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke (9-0, 7 KOs) knocked out Ellis Zorro (17-2, 7 KOs) in the eighth round to win the vacant British title. A right hand laid out Zorro at 2:59. Zorro was kayoed in one round by current world champion Jai Opetaia in his previous fight.

Unbeaten welterweight Paddy Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) stopped former top ten contender Lewis Ritson (23-4, 13 KOs) in round nine to retain the WBA Continental title. A barrage of punches prompted a referee’s stoppage at :32.

Lightweight Gary Cully (18-1, 10 KOs) outpointed former European champion Francesco Patera (29-5, 11 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 96-94, 96-94, 98-92.

By Robert Coster

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, former WBA interim light heavyweight champion Felix “Mangu” Valera stepped back into ring action against fellow countryman Andy Perez but in the cruiserweight division. Valera (23-5, 20 KOs) leveled Perez (20-15, 15 KOs) with a vicious, right-hand body blow in just two rounds.

“I feel really good at that weight,” declared Valera, “I’m ready to fight the best.” Continue reading “Ex-champ Valera KOs Perez”

Middleweight “Super Bad” Vlad Panin (19-1, 11 KOs) scored a second round KO over former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (27-9-1, 14 KOs) on Friday night at the River Cree Resort Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In round two, Panin dropped Alexander with a short left hand. Alexander got up, argued that the punch was behind the head, then took a knee. At that point the fight was immediately halted. Time was 1:52. Five straight losses now for the 37-year-old Alexander, whose last W came in 2017.

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence “The Sauce” Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs) destroyed and dethroned previously undefeated WBC bridgerweight champion Lukasz Rozanski (15-1, 14 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the Podpromie Arena in Rzeszow, Poland. The 6’5 Okolie dropped the 38-year-old Rozanski three times in the first stanza to end it! Time was 2:55.

WBO #12 heavyweight Jermaine “The 989 Assassin” Franklin Jr. (23-2, 15 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over 2004 Olympian Devin Vargas (22-11, 9 KOs) on Thursday night at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin connected with big shots in every round, but the rugged 42-year-old Vargas was able to absorb it. Franklin dropped Vargas in round four and again at the end of round six. The bout was stopped during the break between rounds.

In a clash between unbeaten super lightweights, Joshua Pagan (10-0, 4 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Roger Hilley (13-1, 8 KOs) to claim the “Junior” NABF title. Scores were 78-74 3x.

Light heavyweight Ali Akhmedov (21-1, 16 KOs) scored. Second round KO against Encarnacion Diaz (18-4, 11 KOs).

WBA #12 super lightweight Batyrzhan Jukembayev (23-1, 17 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over 38-year-old veteran Ivan Redkach (24-6-1, 19 KOs) on Wednesday night at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Jukembayev pounded on Redkach for five one-sided rounds before the beatdown was stopped by the referee. Time was 2:18.

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Junior lightweight Jonhatan Cardoso (17-1, 15 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over Adam “Blunose” Lopez (17-6, 6 KOs). Scores were 99-91, 96-94 Cardoso, and 97-93 Lopez.

…wins vacant OPBF 147lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Free-swinging hard-hitting prospect, WBC#9, WBO#4 Jin Sasaki (17-1, 16 KOs), 146.5, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF welterweight belt as he dispatched Filipino veteran southpaw Joe Noynay (23-4-2, 11 KOs), 145.75, with a vicious assault at 0:43 of the fifth round on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Sasaki, still 22, also made his third defense of his WBO Asia Pacific belt since he dethroned world rated Ryota Toyoshima on a first-round demolition last year. Continue reading “WBC #9 Sasaki sinks Noynay…”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Unbeaten Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) claimed the vacant WBO lightweight title with a twelve round split decision over three-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) on Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena San Diego, California. It was a sloppy and awkward affair with Berinchyk winning 116-112, 115-113 on two cards. Navarrete was up 116-112 on the third card. Continue reading “Berinchyk edges Navarrete for WBO 135lb title”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Unbeaten WBO #10 welterweight Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) scored a spectacular tenth round knockout over previously unbeaten WBO #1-rated Giovani Santillan (32-1, 17 KOs) to claim the vacant WBO interim world title on Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Norman badly busted up Santillan, then dropped him twice in round ten to end it.

Norman Jr of Atlanta, in hostile territory against hometown hero Santillan, came out boxing, working the jab and using his hand speed in the opening round, while Santillan patiently crouched and stalked looking to work his way inside. Continue reading “Norman stops WBO #1 Santillan for interim title”

By Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox

Unbeaten middleweight Petr Khamukov (13-0, 6 KOs) from Woodland Hills, California, successfully defended his (NBA) National Boxing Association title by stopping Esau Herrera de la Cruz (21-17-1, 8 KOs) from Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico at the official time 1:28 seconds of round three on Saturday night at the sold out Fox Theater in Redwood, California.

Unbeaten welterweight Jacob Macalooy (8-0, 4 KOs) from San Diego, CA., won by six round unanimous decision over Xavier Madrid (5-4, 2 KO’s) from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Macalolooy showed quicker hands, not allowing Madrid to get off any good shots. Score was 60-54 3x.

The fight card presented by Westside Promotions.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

2020 Olympic Heavyweight silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) of Tulare, California continued his KO streak as he stopped previously unbeaten Brandon Moore (14-1, 8 KOs) on Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Torres came out swinging for the fences as Moore clinched and kept him close. Moore shoved Torres to begin round two and referee Thomas Taylor issued a warning. Later in the round, Torres caught Moore with a right but Moore stayed in the pocket and a brawl ensued briefly. The fighting continued in the third as Torrez and Moore went at each other with Torres backing Moore and catching him solidly at the end of the round. Moore began to back away as Torrez closed the distance and caught him with solid straight shots. Torrez sent Moore to the canvas to start the fifth. Moore appeared to be out but continued. The offense continued from Torres and he attacked and finished Moore forcing referee Thomas Taylor to stop the fight at 1:39 of the fifth.

The son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas (10-0, 8 KOs) of Las Vegas scored a sixth round stoppage over Angel Varela (10-3, 7 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico. Vargas was strong from the opening bell attacking Varela much of the fight. Vargas finished him off in the sixth and final round as referee Ray Corona stepped in to stop the fight. The time of the stoppage 1:01. Continue reading “Torrez Jr., Vargas remain unbeaten”

In a long-awaited bout for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world, WBA/IBF/WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) took the belt of WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk pressed the action and made Fury work every moment. Fury did good work to the body while Usyk connected with a straight left hands to the head. The 6’9 Fury began to find his range in round four, connecting from long range. Fury hurt Usyk with body shots in round six. Usyk adjusted with several good connects to shade round seven. Usyk repeatedly connected with Fury in round eight. Usyk rocked Fury and dropped him in round nine. Fury was reeling and barely survived. Fury attempted to box from a distance in rounds ten and eleven. In the final round, both had their moments. Scores were 115-112, 114-113 Usyk, 114-113 Fury.

Usyk became the third man to achieve undisputed status in two divisions, joining Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue.

The title may only be undisputed for a short time as the IBF won’t permit the automatic rematch.

In a rematch between former champions for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title, unbeaten Jai Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) regained the belt with a twelve round unanimous decision over Mairis Briedis (28-3, 20 KOs) on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Opetaia was in command for first five rounds, then broke the 39-year-old Briedis’ nose with a left hook in round six. Hopeless behind on the cards, Briedis rocked Opetaia in round ten and came on in the championship rounds. It was too little, too late, however. Scores were 117-111, 116-112, 116-112.

Opetaia previously won the IBF title against Briedis two years ago, but was forced to vacate the title to take a Saudi money fight rather than fighting the injured Briedis in a rematch. Briedis then had two IBF title fights fall through and Opetaia landed the shot to regain his old belt.

Unheralded junior lightweight Anthony Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs) dethroned previously unbeaten IBF world champion Joe Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) by eighth round TKO on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In round three, the 35-year-old Cacace hit Cordina on a break, then dropped him moments later – nearly getting a stoppage. Cordina recovered somewhat between rounds. Cacace later pummeled Cordina on the ropes in rounds six and seven. The bout was stopped by the referee after more punishment in round eight. Time was :39. Cordina was a 7:1 favorite.

In a WBC heavyweight final eliminator, WBC #3 Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs) knocked out WBC #2 Frank Sanchez (24-1, 17 KOs) in round seven on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Kabayel pressed the action from the start and walked down Sanchez the whole fight. Sanchez simply wasn’t able to handle the pressure and workrate of Kabayel. The end came in round seven when Kabayel floored Sanchez twice with a body shots. He was counted out at 2:33.

Sanchez, also rated WBO #3, WBA #4, IBF #6, was more than a 2:1 favorite. IBF #7, WBO #8, WBA #9 Kabayel now has consecutive upset wins against Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov, who was a 9:1 favorite.

Unbeaten WBO #15 cruiserweight Robin Safar (17-0, 12 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over former unified light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (35-5-1, 29 KOs) on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Returning after two year layoff, 41-year-old Kovalev appeared to be a shadow of his former glory as Safar systematically broke him down. Safar finally dropped the Krusher with moments left in the fight. Scores were 97-92, 99-90, 95-94.

Unbeaten heavyweight Moses Itauma (9-0, 7 KOs) made quick work of Ilja Mezencev (25-4, 21 KOs), finishing him 50 seconds into round two. Itauma claimed the WBO intercontinental belt.

Unbeaten WBC #10 lightweight Mark Chamberlain (16-0, 12 KOs) destroyed Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab (23-2,16 KOs) in the first round. Chamberlain dropped Wahab twice to end it. Time was 2:42. Chamberlain claimed the WBC silver title.

Other Results:
David Nyika KO4 Michael Seitz (cruiserweight)
Isaac Lowe W10 Hasibullah Ahmadi featherweight)
Daniel Lapin KO1 Octavio Pudivitr (light heavyweight)

Reigning Massachusetts 168lb champion Bernard Joseph (8-1-1, 5 KOs) added another title belt to his growing collection, capturing last Saturday night’s inaugural “Granite Chin Box Off” super middleweight tournament, which headlined the “Rumble at the Rink” pro boxing event, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), in front of a packed Quincy Youth Arena in Quincy, Massachusetts.

The “Granite Chin Box Off” tournament was created by GSP president Chris Traietti, featuring four fighters in a pair of three-round semifinal matches, with the winners squaring off in the five-round main event. Continue reading “Joseph wins super middle tourney”

Undefeated super middleweight Junior Younan (20-0-1, 12 KOs) scored a highlight reel first round knockout over Ricardo Adrian Luna (26-12-2, 17 KOs) to capture the vacant WBA Continental America Gold title on Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York. The knockout came at 2:53 in the first round as Younan won his Star Boxing debut.

Former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (18-3, 13 KOs) scored an eleventh round knockout against former unified champion George Kambosos Jr. (21-3, 10 KOs) to claim the vacant IBF lightweight title on Sunday morning at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. The skillful Loma befuddled Kambosos with his movement and progressively broke him down. Loma dropped Kambosos twice in round eleven to end it. Time was 2:49.

In a clash between former world champions, Pedro Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over Andrew Moloney (26-4, 16 KOs) to claim the vacant WBC interim super flyweight title. Guevara outworked Moloney to win 115-113, 115-113 on two cards. Moloney won 116-113 on the third card. After the fight, an angry Moloney announced his retirement.

Former world champion Cherneka Johnson (16-2, 6 KOs) dethroned previously unbeaten WBA female bantamweight champion Nina Hughes (6-1, 2 KOs) by ten round majority decision. Hughes was originally declared the winner by ring announcer Lieutenant Dan Hennessy, however the score was announced again moments later with Johnson winning. Scores were 95-95, 96-94, 98-92.

Other Results:
Hemi Ahio TKO1 Lucas Browne (heavyweight)
Joseph Goodall TKO10 Faiga Opelu (heavyweight)
Imam Khataev KO6 Ricards Bolotniks (light heavyweight)

All-action WBC #3 super featherweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (35-2, 32 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO over rugged Daniel Lugo (27-3-1, 18 KOs) on Saturday night at the Palenque de la Feria in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Lugo hurt Hernandez in round three, but Rocky woke up after that, pressing the action and beating up Lugo the rest of the way. The referee finally waved it off at 2:17 of round seven. Hernandez was a round away from winning the WBC title last October against O’Shaquie Foster before being stopped in the final round.

WBA female super bantamweight champion Erika Cruz (17-2-1, 3 KOs) and unbeaten mandatory challenger Nazarena Romero (13-0-2, 7 KOs) battled to a ten round draw. Scores were 97-93 Romero, 97-93 Cruz, 95-95. Cruz retains the title.

2020 Olympic gold medalist Lauren Price (7-0, 1 KO) dethroned former undisputed female welterweight champion Jessica “CASkilla” McCaskill (12-4-1, 5 KOs) to claim the WBA title by eight round techical decision on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff, Wales. McCaskill tried to make it a brawl, but Price was always a step ahead. The bout was sent to the judges at the start of round nine due to swelling caused by a cut over McCaskill’s left eye. Scores were 90-82 3x.

Heavyweight Hughie Fury (28-3, 16 KOs), cousin of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, scored a second round TKO over Patrick Korte (Patrick Korte (21-4-1, 18 KOs). A barrage of punched prompted a referee’s stoppage at 2:06.

Other Results:
Rhys Edwards W10 Thomas Patrick Ward (featherweight)
Mark Jeffers TKO5 Darren Johnstone* (super middleweight)

Unbeaten 6’7 heavyweight Mourad Aliev (11-0, 8 KOs) had no problems with Dilan Prasovic (17-4, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at Motorworld in Cologne, Germany. Aliev dropped Prosovic in round two and twice in round three to end it. Time was 2:43. Aliev retained his WBC silver international silver title.

Unbeaten heavyweight Jose Larduet (13-0, 11 KOs) scored a fourth round KO against Luis Jose Marin Garcia (15-6, 10 KOs). Larduet needs to step up the competition.

WBC #15 super middleweight Serhat Guler (6-0, 5 KOs) knocked out Carlos Galvan (20-13-2, 19 KOs) with a body shot in round three.

Unbeaten super middleweight Leon Bauer (21-0-1, 11 KOs) outpointed Dominik Ameri (22-24, 9 KOs) over eight rounds. No scores announced.

Report/Photos: Damon Gonzalez

Undefeated welterweight Arnold Gonzalez (15-0, 6 KO’s) from New York, NY. became the WBA Fedecentro champion after defeating Esneiker “La Maravilla” Correa (15-5-1, 13 KO’s) from Los Teques, Venezuela, on Friday night at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Niagara Falls, New York. For the most part, the fighters remained in the center of the ring trading big shots till Correa gassed out in round five and told referee Charlie Fitch he couldn’t continue.

Female super bantamweight Mikiah Kreps (8-0, 3 KO’s) from Niagara Falls, NY. Took a hard fought eight round unanimous decision over Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-3, 2 KO’s) from Brooklyn, NY. Judges official scores were 78-74, 77-75, 79-73.

Super Bantamweight Alexander Castellano (10-1-2, 2 KO’s) from Tonawanda, NY, executed well in his six round unanimous decision victory over a very tough Miguel Carrizo (3-3-2, 2 KO’s) from Buenos Aries, Argentina. Judges official scores 59-55, 58-56, 59-55. Continue reading “Arnold Gonzalez wins WBA Fedecentro belt”