Ring legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather beat up on former sparring partner “Dangerous” Don Moore in an eight round exhibition on Saturday night at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. No decision rendered. The pay-per-view event was originally scheduled for last week on the helipad in a high-rise hotel in Dubai.

MMA legend turned boxer Anderson Silva outclassed MMA fighter Bruno Machado over eight rounds in a boxing exhibition. No decision rendered.

Former two-division world champion Badou Jack (26-3-3, 16 KOs) needed just 46 seconds to lay out Hany “Egyptian Hurricane” Atiyo (16-5, 12 KOs) in a sanctioned fight.

The return of Cuban boxing to professionalism, after 60 years, was historic on Friday night at the Palenque of the San Marcos National Fair in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Of the six participants, all won convincingly, five of them by way of knockout. Among the combatants were three of the four Cuban gold medal winners in the Tokyo Olympics (Julio César la Cruz, Arlen Lopez, and Rionel Iglesias).

Results:
Arlen López KO1 Fernando Galván (light heavyweight)
Rionel Iglesias KO2 Brandón Pérez (super welterweight)
Feliciano Hernández KO4 Juan Carlos Raygoza (super middleweight)
Osvel Caballero KO4 Jhosman Reyes (super featherweight)
Lázaro Álvarez W6 Francisco Mercado (super lightweight)
Julio César la Cruz KO2 Devis Casseres (cruiserweight)

In the main event, former IBF super middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui (32-4, 27 KOs) demolished Felipe Romero (21-20-1, 15 KOs) in two.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In a sensational encounter, former IBF 122-pound champ Yukinori Oguni (21-2-2, 8 KOs), 121.75, returned to action after a three-year hiatus due to a very serious hand injury, looked very sharp and swift, but was held to a technical draw with current OPBF bantam ruler Keita Kurihara (16-6-1, 14 KOs), 121.75, at 2:40 of the fourth round on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The 34-year-old ex-champ Oguni was surprisingly as fast and keen as in his prime when he dethroned previously unbeaten IBF 122-pound titlist Yonatan Guzman in 2016. Oguni, an upright stylist, was leading on points: 30-27 twice, 29-28 at the point of stoppage caused by Oguni’s bad bleeding on the forehead after an accidental butt. Kurihara, a KO artist at 29, began to display his power punching, but the battle was abruptly halted with Oguni’s laceration to the crowd’s disappointment. Continue reading “Ex-IBF champ Oguni, OPBF champ Kurihara draw”

Coming off a two-and-a-half-year layoff, 39-year-old former two-time world champion Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) upset previously unbeaten IBF #1 light heavyweight Fanlong Meng (17-1, 10 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Friday night from the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida. The taller Meng connected cleanly over the first three rounds. Pascal upped the pressure in round four and his wild aggressions began landing more frequently in round five. Pascal dropped Meng at the end of round nine and closed the fight strong. Scores were 115-112, 114-113, 116-111.

Quarterfinals of the ProBox 140lb “Last Chance” tournament

Kendo Castañeda (18-5, 9 KOs) turned in by far the most impressive performance, winning by first round KO over Sonny Frederickson (21-6, 14 KOs). Castañeda laid out Frederickson with a left hook at 2:02.

In a close fight, local hero Joseph Fernandez (13-1, 4 KOs) advanced with an eight round unanimous decision over Zhiming Wang (11-4, 3 KOs). Scores were 77-75, 78-74, 78-74.

Michael Dutchover (15-2, 10 KOs) advanced with an eight round split decision over Clarence Booth (21-4, 13 KOs). Scores were 78-74, 77-75 Dutchover, 77-75 Booth.

In a good action fight, Antonio “Toño” Moran (27-5-1, 19 KOs) advanced with an eight round unanimous decision over Jeffrey Torres (10-2, 6 KOs). Scores were 79-73, 77-75, 77-75.

The semi-finals will be Castañeda vs. Fernandez, and Dutchover vs. Moran.

Super welterweight JJ Metcalf (23-2, 14 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over local hero and WBA #4 rated Kerman Lejarraga (34-3, 26 KOs) in a bout for the vacant WBA Continental title on Friday night at the Bilbao Arena in Bilbao, Spain. After ten tough, torrid rounds, scores were 97-94, 96-94, 96-95.

In a clash for the vacant EBU Euro flyweight title, unbeaten Jairo Noriega (12-0, 3 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over 38-yeqr-old Angel Moreno (21-5-3, 6 KOs). Noriega dropped Moreno in round one and floored Moreno again in round five, but was forced to go the distance. Scores were 116-110, 118-109, 118-109.

Unbeaten welterweight Jon Miguez (17-0, 8 KOs) scored a sixth round KO over James Moorcroft (16-2, 5 KOs).

Wins WBO AP, JBC 126lb belts

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Perennial contender Reiya Abe (23-3-1, 10 KOs), 125.75, impressively acquired Japanese and WBO Asia Pacific featherweight belts as he fully befuddled defending champ IBF#6, WBC#8, WBO#10 Hinata Maruta (12-2-1, 9 KOs), a prohibitive favorite at 125.25, with his shifty southpaw style, dropped him with a well-timed left in round seven and pounded out a unanimous decision (115-112, 116-111, 118-109) over twelve lopsided rounds on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “Abe upsets Maruta”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Hard-punching southpaw Masanori Rikiishi (11-1, 6 KOs), 129.75, the younger brother of former WBC 108-pound ruler Masamichi Yabuki, seized the vacant OPBF super-feather belt by scoring a shutout decision (all 120-108) over ex-WBO AP champ Takuya Watanabe (38-11-1, 21 KOs), 130, over also one-sided twelve sessions on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan.

Masanori, with his advantageous height and reach, kept outpunching the onrushing veteran with southpaw jabs and solid one-two combinations, sweeping all rounds with ease. Rikiishi jubilantly said, “My dream is to become world champions with my brother at the same time.”

Dangan Aoki Promotions.

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Heavyweight Sonny Conto (10-0, 8 KOs) remained undefeated with a third-round stoppage over Justin Rolfe (7-4-1, 5 KOs) in a scheduled six-rounder last Friday in front of a packed crowd at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennslyvania. After two rounds of beating up Rolfe with hard power shots. Conto decked Rolfe with a big left hook in round three. Seconds later, it was another hard left hook from close quarters that sent Rolfe folding towards the canvas and the fight was stopped by referee Eric Dali at 1:38.

In the co-feature, super lightweight Shinard Bunch (19-1-1, 17 KOs) needed just 47 seconds to viciously destroy Marko Bailey (7-8, 4 KOs) in a scheduled six-rounder. Bunch bum-rushed Bailey and battered him until the fight was stopped by referee Shawn Clark. Continue reading “Late Results from Philadelphia”

Unbeaten bantamweight Emmanuel “Salserito” Rodriguez (11-0, 6 KOs) of Newark, N.J. won by sixth round TKO over Juan Gabriel Medina (14-10, 12 KOs) of La Romana, Dominion Republic to win the vacant WBA-NABA gold bantamweight title on Saturday night at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ.

In the co-feature, unbeaten flyweight Andy Dominguez (7-0, 5 KOs) of Bronx, NY won by fourth round TKO over Edwin Reyes (8-8-3, 5 KOs) of Madison, TN to claim the vacant WBA Federcentro belt.

Unbeaten super welterweight Brian Ceballo (13-0, 7 KOs) of New York, NY. won by sixth round TKO over Gerald Sherrell (10-3, 5 KOs) of Pittsburgh, PA. Continue reading “Rodriguez stops Medina, remains unbeaten”

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

In the main event at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas, one of Dallas’ biggest stars over the last 20 years welterweight Charles Hatley (30-3-1, 21 KOs) got knocked out in the second round by Jamshidbek Najmitdinov (19-2, 14 KOs) out of Uzbekistan, who earned the WBC USNBC belt with the victory. Najmitdinov, a southpaw, came out firing left-handed bombs, but the veteran Hatley adapted and covered up and threw combinations of his own to thwart the initial onslaught. After Hatley tasted the power of Najmitdinov, he seemed ready to make it a fight and go some rounds. There was also a cut over Najmitdinov’s right eye that looked like it could become a problem if the fight went deep. In the second round of the scheduled ten, Hatley came out more aggressive and landed a nice counter right. But soon after, Najmitdinov wobbled Hatley with a powerful left hand and dropped another left hook square on the jaw that put Hatley awkwardly on his back. Hatley did everything in his power to get back to his feet, but referee Ruben Perez saw that Hatley was in bad shape and waived it off. The time was 2:18 of round two. Continue reading “Najmitdinov wins big in Dallas against Hatley”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

In a rematch, unified WBC, WBA and IBF world champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 18KO) captured the undisputed super welterweight title with a scintillating tenth round knockout victory over now former WBO champion, Brian Castaño (17-1-2, 12KO) on Saturday night at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. In round ten, Charlo dropped Castano twice to get the victory and become undisputed. Continue reading “Charlo KOs Castaño, becomes undisputed”

Former light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (35-4-1, 29 KOs) moved up to cruiserweight and scored a clear cut ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Tervel Pulev (16-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the iconic Forum in Inglewood, California. Kovalev schooled Pulev with the jab to pull away to a 98-92, 98-92, 97-93 win.

Former heavyweight title challenger Kubrat Pulev (23-2, 14 KOs) pounded out a ten round unanimous decision over Jerry Forrest (26-5-2, 20 KOs). The fight was delayed 90 minutes due to a glove problem with Forrest. When the fight finally got underway, Pulev won by scores of 98-92, 99-91, 99-91.

Journeyman super welterweight Jurmain McDonald (7-5, 3 KOs) knocked out previously unbeaten Evan Holyfield (9-1, 6 KOs) in the second round. A right to the jaw finished Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

Pro debuting lightweight Emiliano Vargas destroyed Mark Salgado (1-2, 1 KO) in the first round. Vargas dropped Salgado twice to end it. Time was 2:09.

Vargas was one of three sons of former world champion Fernando Vargas on the show. Earlier, super welterweight Fernando Vargas Jr. (6-0, 6 KOs) and junior lightweight Amado Vargas (4-0, 2 KOs) both kept their unbeaten records intact.

By Rocky Morales at ringside

Jaron “Boots” Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) annihilated previously undefeated Custio Clayton (19-1-1, 12 KOs) by way of crushing second round knockout in an IBF welterweight title eliminator on Saturday night in the Charlo-Castaño co-feature at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

After an initial feeling out round, the IBF #1 rated welterweight, Ennis, went on a seek and destroy mission and landed a right cross to the temple of his Canadian opponent. Clayton went down hard, flopped around, somehow found his way to his feet but then continued to lose his footing causing the referee to stop the fight. With the victory, Ennis puts himself in line for a title shot against IBF/WBC/WBA welterweight champ, Errol Spence Jr., should a unification with WBO champ, Terence Crawford, not take place.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a WBA light heavyweight eliminator, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (44-0, 30 KOs) of Mazatlán, Mexico, scored a one-sided fourth round KO over former WBA interim champion Dominic Boesel (32-3, 12 KOs) of Freyburg, Germany, on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. It was target practice as Ramirez dominated and finally dropped Boesel to end it. Time was 1:33. Ramirez is now the mandatory challenger for WBA champion Dmitry Bivol. Continue reading “Ramirez crushes Boesel in four”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

Kevin Gonzalez (25-0-1, 13KO), WBA #6 super bantamweight, went the distance in a winning effort against a very game Emanuel Rivera (19-3, 12KO). It was largely a very competitive back and forth Mexico vs Puerto Rico battle over ten rounds but with the Mexican, Gonzalez, doing slightly better. Judges scored it unanimously for Gonzales by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 98-92.

Brandyn Lynch (11-1-1, 8KO) won a spirited battle over tough as nails Marcos Hernandez (15-6-2, 3KO) in an eight round middleweight bout. Lynch had to get up off the canvas, rally despite being a bloody mess, almost had Hernandez out on his feet at the end of the sixth round, but worked hard until the final bell to secure a unanimous decision victory. Judges scored it 76-75 (twice) and 77-74, all in favor of Lynch. This was a rematch of their 2021 fight that ended in a draw.

Former WBO Bamtamweight Champ, Marlon “The Maranding Nightmare” Tapales (36-3, 19KO) had an easy time with overmatched Jose Estrella (23-19-1, 16KO). With a vicious body shot, Estrella went down like a sack of potatoes and was counted out by the referee at 1:39 of the second round. The Filipino, Tapales, is the #1 ranked super bantamweight, and stays busy while he awaits his mandatory shot at IBF and WBA Unified Champ, Murodjon Alhmadliev. Continue reading “Charlo-Castano undercard results”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated lightweight William “El Camaron” Zepeda (26-0, 23 KOs) of Mexico put in work against the always tough veteran and former world champion Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado (32-12, 21 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua in the co-feature bout on DAZN co-feature bout at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Starting out at a fast pace, Zepeda and Alvarado exchanged as neither took a step back, letting their hands go.

Zepeda had his hands full in going the distance ten rounds for the unanimous decision victory. Continue reading “Zepeda defeats Alvarado; Scrappy, Akitsugi win”

In an upset, cruiserweight Armend Xhoxhaj (14-2, 7 KOs) took a ten round split decision against previously unbeaten Roman Fress (15-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday night on the lake stage in Elbauenpark, Magdeburg, Germany. Xhoxhaj’s pressure was too much for WBO #8, IBF #8, WBA #10 Fress to deal with. Scores were 98-92, 96-94 for Xhoxhaj, 96-94 for Fress.

Former light heavyweight world title challenger Adam Deines (21-2-1, 12 KOs) knocked out Norbert Dabrowski (24-10-2, 11 KOs) in the eighth round. Deines dropped Dabrowski twice to end it. Time was 2:25.

By Bob Caico

Felix Tuto Zabala, Jr of All Star Boxing held a six-bout card at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY on Friday night.

A large crowd witnessed local favorite Wilfredo “El Bravo” Flores of nearby Dunkirk, NY gain the vacant WBA Fedecentro lightweight belt with a unanimous 10-round decision over Victor Betancourt, Jr of Mexico. Scores were 99-91, 98-92, 97-93.

Flores raised his record to 10-0-1, 5 KOs, while Betancourt drops to 27-5, 14 KOs. Continue reading “Flores remains unbeaten”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

Friday night, The Soundboard at Motor City Casino & Hotel in Detroit and Carlos Llinas put on a card that most will remember for a long time. The night had a special presentation by the WBC. Jackie Kallen, The First Lady of Boxing, had the honor of presenting Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns with a one of a kind commemorative Four Kings belt, honoring his unique time in boxing history. The belt represented what most boxing historians argue was when boxing was at its best. Continue reading “Night of Knockouts XXI Results”

Courtesy Jim Jenkins, Sacramento Bee

Sacramento may yet lack a boxing marquee main-eventer of glory years past, but Malikai Johnson (9-0-1) is blossoming into a candidate.

The homespun lightweight didn’t have the fiercest competition in front of him Friday night but dominated as expected with a fourth-round knockout of journeyman Pablo Batres (10-22-1) of Mexico in their feature match at the DoubleTree Hotel. Continue reading “Johnson Rolls On”

In a huge upset, 37-year-old former WBA super middleweight champion Giovanni De Carolis (31-10-1, 15 KOs) scored a spectacular fifth round KO over previously unbeaten IBF #8, WBO #9 rated Daniele Scardina (20-1, 16 KOs) on Friday night at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. De Carolis dropped Scardina hard in round four. The referee totally botched the knockdown, giving the reeling Scardina extra time. No matter, De Carolis rushed out in round five to floor Scardina again ending it.

Undefeated super welterweight Callum Walsh (3-0, 3 KOs) demolished Luis ‘The Sniper’ Garcia (3-1, 1 KO in the first round on Thursday night at the Quiet Cannon located at the Montebello Country Club in Montebello, California. Walsh dropped Garcia twice, to notch his third straight first round KO. Time was 1:48.

Unbeaten featherweight Omar Trinidad (8-0-1, 6 KOs) stopped Andrew Strode (6-2, 1 KO) at 1:10 of round three. Referee’s stoppage.

Unbeaten super lightweight Ernesto Mercado (6-0, 6 KOs) blitzed Jose Zaragoza (8-5-1, 2 KOs), getting a referee’s stoppage at 1:07 of round two.

Cruiserweight Marco Deckmann, (9-1, 7 KOs) outpointed Jasper McCargo, (4-3-2, 2 KOs) over six rounds. Deckmann dropped McCargo in round four, but was deducted a point for hitting McCargo behind the head while he was on the deck. Scores were 59-53 3x.

Former world champion Angel “Tito” Acosta (23-3-1, 22 KOs) obliterated Janiel Rivera (18-9-3, 11 KOs) in just 79 seconds of a super flyweight fight on Thursday night at the Fantasy Spring Resort Casino in Indio, California. Acosta rocked Rivera, then unloaded until the referee waved it off. Impressive win.

“I always train well for every fight, we knew Janiel was going to be a strong fighter and I didn’t want to under prepare for this fight,” said Acosta. “I saw an opportunity to end the fight early and I took it. I had a great camp with Joel Diaz and I feel he got me ready for this. Naturally we trained to go the distance, but fortunately we ended it early and got a great victory. We want to go back to the gym train and look for another world championship shot, hopefully Julio Cesar Martinez or McWilliams Arroyo.” Continue reading “Acosta destroys Rivera in one”

Last Saturday, heavyweight prospect Jermaine Franklin returned from a nearly three-year layoff to score a fifth-round TKO over capable journeyman Rodney Moore. Fighting in the main event of a DM Fight Promotions event at McBride Hall in Gary, Indiana, Franklin (21-0, 14 KOs) of Saginaw, MI, looked sharp while dismantling Houston’s Moore (20-22-2, 9 KOs), who has been known to pull off the occasional upset against his laundry list of undefeated and high-profile opponents. Referee Steve Wilson officially decided he had seen enough at :34 of the fifth. Continue reading “Late Result from Indiana”

A new Monday boxing series on FITE kicked off with lightweight Eduard Rodriguez (10-2-1, 5 KOs) stopping Antonio Lozado (40-6-1 34 KOs) on Monday night at the Grupo Caliente in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico. Rodriguez brought the fight to Lozado and got a referee’s stoppage at 2:57 of round eight. The stoppage seemed premature.

Unbeaten super middleweight Justin Mayweather (7-0, 5 KOs), son of Jeff Mayweather and nephew of Floyd, scored a four round unanimous decision over Luis Acevedo (20-20-5, 13 KOs). Mayweather dropped Acevedo with a flush right hand in round three. Acevedo was hurt, but he finished the round. Scores were 40-35, 40-35, 39-36.

Super flyweight Victor “El Chucky” Sandoval (36-3, 23 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Francisco Gomez Sanchez (14-8, 11 KOs). Scores were 99-91, 99-91, 100-90.

Other Results
Marylyn Badillo W10 Cindy Corona (female light flyweight)
Jorge Luis Garcia W6 Luis Guerrero (super lightweight)
Jesus Resendiz W6 Alberto Artiga (super lightweight)
Jesus Villa W4 Brian Landeros (super lightweight)