Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (25-2, 19 KOs) scored a third round KO over Alexander “The Great” Flores (17-2-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at the Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand. Parker made good on his promise to be “meaner” in the ring. He dropped Flores with a right hand in round three, then finished him in brutal fashion with a barrage of heavy blows.

In the co-feature, unbeaten heavyweight Junior Fa (16-0, 9 KOs stopped Rogelio Omar Rossi (20-7-1, 13 KOs in the first round.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBO super middleweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez hoped for repeat. Jesse “Hollywood” Hart sought revenge.

Repeat won as Ramirez (39-0, 25 KOs) retained his title by twelve round majority decision over WBO #1 Hart (25-2, 21 KOs) on Friday night at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Zurdo injured his elbow in round eight and fought mostly one-handed after that. Scores were 114-114, 115-113, 115-113.

The action reached a crescendo in the 12th round, as Ramirez battered Hart around the ring with one hand for the first 2:30. Then, with the fight drawing to a close, Hart buzzed Ramirez, forcing the champion to hold on to the final bell.

After the fight, Zurdo said he’s moving to light heavyweight. Continue reading “Zurdo Ramirez beats Jesse Hart again”

By Héctor Villarreal

In the main event of the one and only boxing show of 2018 in Colon, Panama, welterweight Fernando De La Rosa (4-1-1, 3 KOs) came from behind to score an impressing technical knockout over favorite John Hibbert (7-2, 4 KOs) on Friday night at Portobello Bar & Grill.

Hibbert dominated rounds one and two by fighting on long distance but De La Rosa put pressure on third and knocked Hibbert down in fourth to finally punish him badly and force Hector Montes, who wraped off his 30 years career as referee on that fight, to wave it off at 2:10 of the sixth and final round.

Unbeaten super lightweight Arnold Barboza Jr. (20-0, 7 KOs) outpointed Manny Lopez (14-3-1, 7 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 100-90 3x.

Bantamweight Joshua Greer Jr. (19-1-1, 11 KOs) won by seventh round stoppage over Daniel Lozano (15-6, 11 KOs). Greer dropped Lozano in round seven and the bout war stopped by the corner after the round.

Olympian female featherweight Mikaela Mayer (9-0, 4 KOs) outpointed Calixta Silgado (17-11-3, 12 KOs) over eight. Scores were 80-72 3x.

USBA super featherweight beltholder Jamel Herring (19-2, 10 KOs) won by eight round shutout over Adeilson Dos Santos (19-6, 15 KOs). Herring dropped Dos Santos in rounds one and two and won 80-70 across the board. Continue reading “Undercard Results from Corpus Christi”

By David Finger

Odessa, Texas’s Desmond “Dez” Hill, 174, took a major step towards establishing himself as a legitimate boxing prospect after stopping the gritty Ricardo “Rico” Urquizo, 174, in four rounds last Saturday (December 8) in an exciting card at the Ector County Coliseum. The back and forth brawl was easily the fight of the night but despite the fireworks, there was some controversy when referee Gregorio Alvarez waved it off with only seconds remaining in the fourth and final round. With the win Hill improves to 4-0, 4 KOs while Urquizo falls to 4-6-2, 2 KOs. Continue reading “Late results from Odessa, Texas”

By Joe Koizumi Continue reading “Nakatani halts Hurricane; keeps OPBF 135lb belt 11 times”

By Joe Koizumi

Japanese southpaw prospect, WBC#18 bantam Shohei Omori (20-2, 15 KOs) proved too strong and sharp for ex-OPBF bantam ruler Takahiro Yamamoto (21-6, 17 KOs), whipping him so lopsidedly that the referee intervened at 2:48 of the third round in a scheduled eight on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

Having failed to win the vacant WBO bantam belt by an eleventh round stoppage by Filipino Marlon Tapales in Kyoto in April of the previous year, Omori, a tall and stylish hard-puncher, registered a couple of fine victories to show his return to the front line. Omori, a junior to Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata in the same high school in Kyoto, will move up to the 122-pount category to be gunning for a shot at a regional championship next year.

By Robert Coster

Frenchman Michel Soro won the WBA interim super-Welterweight World Title on Saturday night, scoring a brutal knockout of American Greg Vendetti in two rounds in the town of Levallois-Perret, France. Soro (33-2-1, 22 KOs) was ranked #1 by the WBA, Vendetti( 20-3-1, 12 KOs) was ranked 9th. Soro cornered Vendetti against the ropes and then unleashed a barrage of three consecutive lethal right hands that drove his unconscious opponent to the canvas. The referee did not bother to count. Soro issued a challenge to “all those world champions out there. I want to be the real, undisputed world champion.” The fight was held at the Marcel Cerdan Sports Arena.

On Saturday night’s Golden Boy card at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, super featherweight Patricio Manuel (1-0) of Los Angeles defeated Hugo Aguilar (0-6) of Iztacalco, Mexico via unanimous decision in a four-round fight. Patricio Manuel won with three scores of 39-37.

A seemingly innocuous pro debut, except for one fact. As an amateur, Manuel fought in the 2012 US Olympic trials as a female. On Saturday night, Manuel became the first transgender male to fight professionally in the United States. Continue reading “Trans boxer wins pro debut (photos)”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight champion Dempsey McKean (13-0, 7 KOs) defended the title successfully when he stopped challenger Roger Izonritei (12-8-1, 11 KOs) at the Southport Sharks AFL club at Southport, Queensland on Saturday. Southpaw McKean controlled the action from the opening round connecting with accurate combinations on his opponent. At the conclusion of round four, the corner of Izonritei retired their boxer when he was in no condition to continue. Continue reading “McKean stops Izonritei”

Puerto Rico’s undefeated rising star in the junior welterweight division Danielito ‘El Zorro’ Zorrilla scored an eight round unanimous decision over tough challenger Ryan Pino to be crowned as the new national champion of the Professional Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico at the Antonio R. Barceló Coliseum in Toa Baja.

Zorrilla (10-0 with 8 KOs) took the win after taking the best part of the fight between the third and eighth round, including knocking down Pino (8-4 with 4 KOs) in the third round to get the cards to his favor to the sound of 79-72 on one of them and 78-73 on the other two. Continue reading “Zorilla defeats Pino for PR domestic title”

By Ron Jackson

In a battle of southpaws, Thabiso Mchunu gained revenge and added the African Boxing Union cruiserweight title to his South African cruiserweight crown when he completely outclassed Tommy Oosthuizen to score a unanimous 12 round points decision, in their return match, at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night.

Oosthuizen only shared one round on my scorecard as judge’s John Shipanuka (Zambia) and Michael Neaquay (Ghana) scored 119-109 and 119-111 and the third judge Simon Mokadi (South Africa) handed in a card of 118-111. Continue reading “Mchunu gains revenge and ABU cruiserweight title”

In a WBA super featherweight world title eliminator, WBA #1 rated Rene “El Gemelo” Alvarado (29-8, 20 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over WBA #4 Carlos “The Solution” Morales (17-3-3, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Alvarado battled through the blood from several cuts to win 117-111, 116-112, 115-113.

“I’m going to work harder on getting better and improving my technique,” said Alvarado afterward. “I was able to get these six victories in a row because allow God to direct me, I work hard and I throw a lot of punches. We want the world title. I want [Alberto] Machado.” Continue reading “Alvarado beats Morales in WBA eliminator”

By David Finger at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBA lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (12-1, 9 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision to take the belt of WBO lightweight champion Jose Pedraza (25-2, 12 KOs) in a lightweight unification clash on Saturday night at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

It was a tactical fight with Lomachenko bringing the pressure but not dominating in normal Loma fashion until round eleven when he exploded and battered Pedraza pillar to post with two knockdowns. Scores were 119-107, 117-109, 117-109.

“It was my dream to unify titles,” Lomachenko said. “It was my next goal. I can now focus on my next chapter…He’s a veteran. He did a very good job, and I respect Pedraza and his team.” Continue reading “Lomachenko beats Pedraza in unification bout”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undisputed women’s welterweight champion “The First Lady” Cecilia Braekhus (35-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended her WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO titles Saturday night with a unanimous decision over Aleksandra Magdziak-Lopes, (18-5-3, 1 KO) of Poland at the StubHub Center in what was the final HBO televised bout. Braekhus boxed patiently throughout the fight picking her shots and connecting Lopes solidly. Halfway through Lopes seemed tired as Braekhus kept the pressure and connected. Boxing poised in the ring late in the fight, Braekhus continued to back up Lopes with the jab as the undisputed champ was too much for Lopes as she cruised her way to a decision victory. 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91 for Braekhus.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Former unified world Champion Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada, (38-3-0, 26 KOs), of Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico stopped crosstown rival Victor ‘Spock’ Mendez, (28-4-2, 20 KOs) of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico in a scheduled ten round super-flyweight co-feature bout on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Estrada was in control of Mendez throughout the fight and Mendez’s corner had seen enough following the seventh round. The referee waved off the bout the end of round seven.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Two-time United States Olympic Gold Medalist and WBC/IBF/WBA women’s middleweight world champion Claressa Shields (8-0, 2 KOs), of Flint, MI dominated WBO women’s super-middleweight world champion Femke Hermans (9-2, 3 KOs), of Londerzeel, Belgium in a ten-round middleweight world title clash on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Shields won every minute of every round en route to a 100-90 verdict on all three cards.

By David Finger at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

Mandatory challenger Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (25-1, 22 KOs) battered and dethroned previously unbeaten WBO junior featherweight champion Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe (20-1, 14 KOs) taking a twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The taller Navarrete took the fight to Dogboe over the first half of the bout, but Dogboe came back after Navarrete injured his right hand. Navarrete had a big round ten, rocking Dogboe, and dominated the rest of the fight. Scores were 115-113, 116-112, 116-112. Continue reading “Navarrete pummels and dethrones Dogboe”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Highlighting the undercard from the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California, popular women’s star Louisa ‘Bang Bang Lulu’ Hawton (9-2-0, 5 KOs), was dominant against Lorraine Villalobos (2-2) earning the stoppage after five rounds of their scheduled ten rounder. With the victory, Hawton was awarded the WBC atomweight title.

Also featured on the undercard top middleweight prospect Serhii Bohachuk (12-0-0, 12 KOs), stayed perfect with a six-round knockout of Carlos Garcia Hernandez, (15-20-1, 12 KOs).

Las Vegas lightweight Rene Moreno (2-0, 2 KOs) stopped David Courtney (3-9, 2 KOs) of Phoenix in the fourth of a scheduled four-rounder in the opening bout.

By David Finger at ringside

Unbeaten lightweight Teofimo Lopez (11-0, 9 KOs) obliterated Mason Menard (34-4, 24 KOs) in 44 seconds. An overhand right laid out Menard face first.

WBA #1 and USBA welterweight titleholder Alexander Besputin (12-0, 9 KOs) scored a hard-fought ten round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Abreu (21-5-1, 19 KOs). Besputin floored Abreu in round one and was credited with a second knockdown in round eight. Scores were 100-88 across the board.

Pro debuting 2016 Olympian heavyweight Guido Vianello (1-0, 1 KO) annihilated Luke Lyons (5-2-1, 2 KOs) in two rounds. Guido dropped Lyons at the end of round one and put him down for the count 29 seconds into round two. Continue reading “Lopez blows out Menard in 44 seconds”

Former world champion Kell “Special K” Brook (38-2, 26 KOs) was forced to go the full twelve rounds against Michael Zerafa (25-3, 14 KOs) in a WBA super welterweight eliminator on Saturday night at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Not an impressive performance by Brook, who never had Zerafa in any trouble. Scores were 118-110, 119-109, 117-111.

With the win, Brook earned a mandatory shot at WBA super welterweight champion Jarrett Hurd.

“I was a bit like Klitschko tonight, the right I just couldn’t let it go!” said Brook, who again called out archrival Amir Khan. Khan, however, is said to be close to landing a fight against WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

In an IBF super featherweight eliminator, unbeaten IBF #4 Jono Carroll (16-0-1, 3 KOs) and IBF #3 Guillaume Frenois (46-1, 12 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw on Saturday night at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Scores were 115-113 for the heavily bearded Carroll, 115-113 for Frenois, and 114-114. The winner was supposed to be in line to challenge IBF champion Tevin Farmer.

Unbeaten 2016 Olympian super welterweight Anthony Fowler (9-0, 8 KOs) demolished Jose Carlos Paz (23-8-1, 13 KOs) in the first round. A body shot put Paz down for the full ten count.

IBF #1, WBC #5, WBO #13 featherweight Kid Galahad (26-0, 15 KOs) outpointed Brayan Mairena (10-5-1, 4 KOs) over eight rounds. Score was 80-72.

Unbeaten super flyweight Jeyvier Cintron (9-0, 4 KOs) won by eighth round disqualification against Marvin Solano (21-3, 8 KOs) in a bout for the WBO Latino title on Friday night at the Rubén Zayas Montañez Coliseum in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Referee Roberto Ramirez stopped the bout at 1:40 of the eighth round after some dirty moves by Solano. Solano threw several low blows, pushed Cintron and lifted the Puerto Rican during the fight. Solano visited the canvas in the fifth round.

Heavyweight Víctor Bisbal (24-3, 17 KOs) needed just 61 seconds to take down Edson Roberto Dos Santos (30-4-2, 24 KOs) in a bout for the WBO Latino title. Bisbal sent Dos Santos to the canvas with a right hand and the referee stopped the action immediately. Continue reading “Cintron, Bisbal triumphant”

Formerly world ranked Antonio “Toño” Moran (24-3, 17 KOs) destroyed late sub Víctor Alejandro “Gato” Zuniga (19-3, 10 KOs) in the second round on Friday night at the Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City. Moran dropped Zuniga in round two and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Zuniga stepped in on late notice for Edson Ramirez who became ill.

By Ron Jackson

In an untidy affair, South Africa’s Yanga Sigqibo won on a 12 round unanimous points decision over Keywin Lara of Nicaragua to claim the vacant WBO Intercontinental-junior bantamweight title at a less than full Orient Theatre in East London on Friday night.

Judges Sithembile Tom (SA) and Timo Haikonda (Namibia) scored it 116-112 and 117-111 whilst judge Clifford Mbele (SA) had it 117-112. Continue reading “Sigqibo wins vacant WBO Intercontinental title”