By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese superstar Naoya “Monster” Inoue (17-0, 15 KOs), 118, impressively kept his WBA bantamweight belt as he so quickly flattened former titlist Juan Carlos Payano (20-2, 9 KOs), 117.5, Dominican Republic, at 1:10 of the first round on Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. Naoya’s left-right combination was the haymaker. As soon as the fight started, it ended with the audience greatly stunned with such a quick demolition. As expected, Naoya’s punch was so devastating that the highly regarded Payano became a flattened pancake.

(More to come)

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten baby-faced Japanese Ken Shiro (14-0, 8 KOs), 107.75, retained his WBC light-flyweight belt when he kept outjabbing ex-IBF ruler Milan Melindo (37-4, 13 KOs), 107.5, bloodied him with legal punches and finally halted him at 2:47 of the seventh round on Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. Ken, making his fourth defense, appeared beneath the season 2 of WBSS, and finely outclassed and outpunched the shorter Filipino veteran. The 26-year-old champ started displaying his favorite hit-and-run tactics with his constant jabs and shifty footwork, which definitely kept Melindo from coming close to him. Continue reading “Ken Shiro halts Melindo, retains WBC 108lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi

More aggressive Kiryl Relikh (23-2, 19 KOs), 140, Belarus, kept his WBA super-lightweight belt as he defeated former titlist Eduard Troyanovsky (27-2, 24 KOs), Russia, 139.25, by a unanimous decision (all 115-113) over twelve monotonous rounds on Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. The referee was Guillermo Perez (Panama). Relikh kept taking the initiative, stalking the defensive Russian all the way. Troyanovsky looked to have failed to bring his fighting spirit from Russia, but he started his engine down the stretch at last. But we saw Relikh’s victory was more unanimous than the official tallies, and it was surprising that the scores were identically so close.

(More to come)

In a battle of former WBA regional beltholders David Bency (14-9-1, 4 KOs) of Nicaragua defeated countryman Winston Campos (30-6-5, 18 KOs) once again. The two squared off just three months ago and Bency edged Campos by split decision. Once again, the two made it a tough night of work for the judges with each having their moments in the fight. A split decision verdict once again went in favor to Bency. The official scores were 78-74 and 77-75 to Bency with once judge having it for Campos 77-75. The card took place at the Gimnasio Nicarao in Managua, Nicaragua. RAM Boxing (William Ramirez) and Nica Boxing (Pablo Osuna) promoted the show.

Photos: Rafael Soto/Zanfer

Unbeaten former world bantamweight champion Luis “Pantera” Nery (27-0, 21 KOs) exhibited a brutal display of power and knocked out Filipino Jason Canoy (29-9, 19 KOs) in the third round in front of a huge crowd at the Gasmart Stadium, home of the Tijuana Toros baseball team.

Inspired by chants of “Nery Nery,” Nery kept his promise to seek a quick knockout. The fight began explosively when Nery sent Canoy to the canvas in the first round with a powerful hook left to the jaw. After a slower second round, Nery punished Canoy with power shots in round three and drove him to the canvas again. Canoy beat the count but Nery finished him with his follow-up barrage prompting a stoppage. Time was 2:44. With the win, Nery becomes WBC silver bantamweight champion and is in line to contest for the world title which is currently vacant. Continue reading “Nery destroys Canoy in comeback fight”

By Jim Jenkins, courtesy Sacramento Bee

Highlighting a boxing card mixed with rapid action and a salute to recently-deceased promoter Don Chargin, lightweight Joel Diaz Jr. (24-1) of Glendale stopped Miguel Huerta (28-16-1)) of Mexico City in their main event Saturday night at Cache Creek Casino and Resort in Brooks, Calif. Diaz notched his 20th KO by putting his overwhelmed foe on the deck with a series of left hooks, forcing a stoppage at 2:46.

Chargin, 90, died Sept. 28 after a Hall-of-Fame career of matchmaking and promoting, which included this card. Co-promoter Paco Damian ordered up a tribute in the ring, complete with emotionally-choked praise and a video of Chargin, narrated by close friend and ring announcer Bill Caplan. Continue reading “Diaz Breezes, Chargin Lauded”

Unbeaten WBA #2, WBO #3 heavyweight contender Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (22-0-1, 19 KOs) scored a second round KO over two-division former world champion Tomasz Adamek (53-6, 31 KOs) on Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The 317lb “Big Baby” blasted the smaller Adamek to the canvas with a series of shots to end it.

Former jr welterweight and welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (28-2-2, 10 KOs) and Thomas Dulorme (24-3-1, 16 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw. It was a close back-and-forth affair. Vargas dropped Dulorme in round ten and Dulorne floored Vargas in round twelve. In the end, scores were 113-113, 113-113 and 115-111 for Vargas.

Female super lightweight Jessica McCaskill outpointed Erica Anabella Farias over ten rounds to claim the WBC title. Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 96-94.

Undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs) retained his belt with a fourth round KO over previously unbeaten Callum Johnson (17-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Beterbiev dropped Johnson at the end of round one. He then came out looking to finish Johnson in round two, but a Johnson left hand dropped Beterbiev! The bout ended in round four when Beterbiev dropped Johnson for the count. Great fight.

WBA super bantamweight champion Daniel Roman (26-2-1, 10 KOs) retained his title with a tenth round KO over Gavin McDonnell (20-2-2, 5 KOs) on Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Roman was in command all the way. He rocked McDonnell in round ten, then battered him to the deck and the bout was stopped.

Unbeaten heavyweight Daniel Dubois (9-0, 8 KOs) went the distance for the first time against veteran Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (32-11-1, 16 KOs) on Saturday night at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England. 21-year-old Dubois swept nearly all ten rounds (100-91) in an uneventful fight against the 39-year-old Johnson, who dropped his third straight.

Unbeaten WBO #2 rated super lightweight Jack Catterall (23-0, 12 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Ohara Davies (18-2, 14 KOs). The bout was a disappointing chess match with both boxers fighting cautiously. Scores were 118-110, 115-113, 15-113. Catterall retained the WBO Intercontinental title.

2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams (5-0, 3 KOs) claimed the WBO interim flyweight title with a ten round unanimous decision over Isabel Millan (22-5-1, 8 KOs). Scores were 96-92, 97-93, 97-93.

WBC super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (47-4-1, 41 KOs) retained his title with a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over Iran Diaz (14-3-3, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the Impact Arena in Pak Kret, Thailand. Scores were 119-109, 120-108 and 119-109 for Srisaket, who won his 20th straight fight.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #6 lightweight Kye McKenzie (20-1, 17 KOs) stopped Mark Bernaldez (17-2, 11 KOs) in round seven of a scheduled ten with the WBO Asia Pacific title up for grabs at Metro City, Northbridge, Western Australia on Friday. McKenzie dropped Bernaldez in round four and in round five the Filipino had the rangy Australian on the canvas. The referee crowned McKenzie at 1:56 of round seven after Bernaldez had been dropped twice.

Bantamweights Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (18-1, 7 KOs) and Joshua “The Professor” Franco (14-1, 7 KOs) staged a non-stop punchfest with both fighters throwing over 1,100 punches in ten rounds inside The Hangar at The OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. In the end, judges scored it a draw. 96-94 Franco, 96-94 Negrete, and 95-95. Negrete retained his NABF bantamweight title.

Unbeaten super lightweight Daintily Zorrilla (9-0, 8 KOs) scored a second round TKO over previously undefeated Dakota Linger (10-1-2, 6 KOs). A barrage of Zorrilla punches left Linger reeling and the bout was stopped. Time was 2:59.

Unbeaten super featherweight Jousce “Tito” Gonzalez (8-0-1, 8 KOs) went the distance for the first time, settling for a six round draw against Ivan “Striker” Delgado (12-1-2, 5 KOs). Scores were 57-57, 57-57, 58-56 Delgado.

Unbeaten bantamweight Carlos “Purin” Caraballo (9-9, 9 KOs) scored a sixth round Felipe Rivas (17-22-4, 11 KOs). Good body attack displayed by Caraballo.

Unbeaten super bantamweight Brandon Figueroa (17-0, 12 KOs) scored a tenth round KO over Oscar Escandon (25-5, 17 KOs) on Sunday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Figueroa seemed headed to a unanimous decision when a crushing uppercut ended Escandon. Time was 1:42. Figueroa is the brother of former world champion Omar Figueroa.

Unbeaten Olympic super heavyweight silver medalist Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce (6-0, 6 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Iago Kiladze (26-4, 18 KOs). Joyce looked good, dropping Kiladze in rounds two and three. The bout ended after Kiladze hit the canvas for the third time in round five. Time was :41.

In a clash of unbeaten heavyweights, Efe Ajagba (7-0, 6 KOs) scored a first round KO over Nick Jones (7-1, 5 KOs). A right hand dropped Jones at 2:25. Continue reading “Figueroa, Joyce, Ajagba win by KO”

Former two-time IBF super middleweight champion James “Chunky” DeGale (25-2-1, 15 KOs) quietly returned to action tonight with a third round KO over former WBC lightweight title challenger Fidel Monterrosa (39-19-1, 31 KOs) on Sunday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. An uppercut finished Monterrosa, who didn’t beat the count. Strangely the ex-champ’s bout wasn’t selected for tonight’s FS1 telecast.

By Matt Thompson

Bakersfield lightweight product Miguel Contreras ran his record to 6-0, 5 KOs, after Mike Melikyan (4-4-1, 1 KO) could not answer the bell to start the sixth round on Friday night at Stramler Park in Bakersfield, California. Fighting behind a partisan crowd, Contreras wore down Melikyan using a solid body attack and picked up steam as the fight progressed to secure the stoppage in his hometown. Continue reading “Boxing Results from Bakersfield”

DiBella Entertainment celebrated its 15-Year Anniversary of Broadway Boxing on Saturday night by teaming up with fellow New York-based promoters The Real Deal Boxing and Uprising Promotions for a stacked card of New York City’s most promising prospects at the legendary Kings Theatre in Brooklyn in front of an energetic and near capacity crowd.

The evening concluded with 2016 Uzbekistan Olympian Bakhodir Jalolov making his New York debut. Trained by Joel Diaz, Jalolov, now (2-0, 2 KOs), blasted Mexico’s Eduardo Vitela (3-3, 1 KO) with a single straight left hand 30 seconds into the first round that dropped Vitela hard and unable to rise from the canvas, resulting in a TKO victory. The 6’6″ southpaw Jalolov is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc. Continue reading “Broadway Boxing Results from Brooklyn”

Photos: Zanfer

Super welterweight José Carlos “Puro” Paz (23-7-1, 12 KOs) scored a ninth round KO over son of the legend Jorge “Maromerito” Páez (40-12-2, 24 KOs) on Saturday night in a rematch at the Gimnasio del Sindicato de Trabajadores del Metro in Mexico City.

The fight was one-sided with Paz connecting with his shots very accurately and from different angles. Paez was very close to being stopped on at least three occasions before the fateful ninth. In 2017, Paz beat Paez on points.

Also, in an upset, featherweight Wilmank Cano Jr (8-1-2, 7 KOs) scored an unexpected fifth round KO over previously unbeaten Carlos “Chinito” Ornelas (21-1, 12 KOs). Continue reading “Paz beats Maromerito again”

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Former three-division world champion Jorge Linares (45-4, 28 KOs), now fighting at super lightweight, scored an impressive three round destruction of Abner Cotto (23-4, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.

Linares dropped Cotto in round two with a right hand to the chin. Linares dropped Cotto again with a right hand in round three. Later in the round, as Linares pummeled Cotto, both men tumbled to the canvas. Cotto got up wobbly and the bout was stopped. Time was 1:31.

Abner’s cousin, the legendary multi-division world champion Miguel Cotto, was at ringside.

Lightweight Romero Duno (18-1, 14 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Ezequiel Avilez (16-3-3, 6 KOs) Duno dropped Avilez at the end of round one, twice more in round six, and had Avilez out on his feet at the final bell. Scores were 78-71 on all three cards. Continue reading “Linares crushes Cotto in three”

By Pasi Taavitsainen

Heavyweight Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius (28-2, 17 KOs) scored a spectacular eighth round KO over IBF #7 rated former Euro champ Erkan Teper (19-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Ritter Sport Stadion in Waldenbuch, Germany.

A left hook by the 6’7 Helenius laid out Teper. Helenius claims the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Continue reading “Helenius KOs IBF #7 Teper in eight”

Photos: Sumio Yamada

IBF super middleweight champion Jose “Bolivita” Uzcategui (28-2, 23 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Ezequiel Maderna (26-5, 16 KOs) in a non-title light heavyweight fight on Friday night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

The bout often resembled a sparring session, with many nods, glove touches and even a hug after one round. Uzcategui was in command all the way, but this wasn’t the kind of performance he promised. Scores were 98-92, 100-90, 100-90.

Next up for Uzcategui is a return to 168 pounds, where he will defend his world title.

“I just played around and got some rounds,” Uzcategui said afterward. “Now that I didn’t get the knockout, maybe the other champions will have the guts to fight me.” Continue reading “Uzcategui tops Maderna in snoozer”

Photos: Sumio Yamada

IBF junior bantamweight Jerwin Ancajas (28-1-2, 19 KOs) barely retained his title with a twelve round draw against Alejandro Santiago (16-2-5, 7 KOs) on Friday night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The aggressive Santiago gave Ancajas all he could handle, and in the end scores were 116-112 Ancajas, 118-111 Santiago, 114-114.

“It was a good, entertaining fight,” Ancajas said. “My timing was a little off. He was a little awkward. I felt like I pressed the fight and did enough to win.”

Said Santiago: “Everyone saw the fight, and everyone saw that I won the fight clearly.” Continue reading “Ancajas retains IBF 115lb title with draw”

Unbeaten lightweight Devin Haney (20-0, 13 KOs) dominated former world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos (33-3-2, 21 KOs) over ten rounds on Friday night at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The 19-year-old Haney was stronger and faster, but the veteran Burgos hung in until the end. Scores were 97-93, 100-90, 100-90.

In a much-anticipated rematch, Thomas Mattice (13-0-1, 10 KOs) and Zhora Hamazaryan (9-1-1, 6 KOs) battled to an eight round draw. Scores were 77-75 Mattice, 77-75 Hamazaryan, 76-76. The bout was changed to a super lightweight bout after Mattice failed to make the contracted 135-pound lightweight limit. Mattice won a highly controversial decision in their first fight.

In a clash of undefeated super middleweights, Cem Kilic (12-0, 7 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over DeAndre Ware (12-1-2, 8 KOs). Scores were 78-74, 79-73, 79-73. Continue reading “Haney beats Burgos, Mattice-Hamazaryan draw”

Former WBA super bantamweight world champion Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (30-5, 14 KOs) cruised to an eight round unanimous decision over late sub Daniel Olea 13-6-2, 5 KOs). Ramos dropped Olea in round one then boxed to an 80-71 3x shutout. Ramos was originally slated to fight former champ Jessie Magdaleno, who pulled out with an injury.

Super bantamweight Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer Jr. (18-1-1, 10 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Giovanni Delgado (16-8, 9 KOs). Greer rocked Delgado in round three and got a referee’s stoppage. Time was 1:49.

Featherweight Genesis Servania (32-1, 15 KOs) scored a third round KO over Carlos Carlson (22-5, 13 KOs). After Servania dropped Carlson and Carlson didn’t beat the count although it looked like he could have. Time was :44.

Welterweight Askhat Ualikhanov (4-1, 2 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over Angel Hernandez (13-11-2, 8 KOs). Scores were 58-56, 58-56, 59-55.

Unbeaten Callum Smith (25-0, 18 KOs) scored a devastating seventh round knockout over “Saint” George Groves (28-4-2, 20 KOs) to claim the WBA super middleweight world title on Friday night at the King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Smith staggered Groves with a left hook then launched a furious assault that battered him to the canvas. With the win, Smith wins World Boxing Super Series Ali trophy.

In the co-feature, super middleweight Chris Eubank, Jr. (27-2, 21 KOs) was victorious when J.J. McDonough (16-5, 8 KOs) couldn’t continue after three rounds citing a shoulder injury.