Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBA light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over #15 rated Lenin Castillo (20-3-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Bivol outboxed Castillo from the beginning. He dropped Castillo with a right hand in round six, then continue to dominate. Scores were 120-107, 119-108, 119-108. Bivol successfully defended his title for the fifth time.

“Who wants to fight me? Who wants to try to beat me, I’m ready for all comers!” said Bivol after the fight. Continue reading “Bivol easily retains WBA light heavy title”

Unbeaten super featherweight Otha Jones III (4-0, 1 KO) topped Eric Manriquez (7-9-1, 3 KOs) over four 38-38, 40-36, 39-37.

In a rematch, WBA/WBC unified female super lightweight champion Jessica McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) retained her belts over ten sloppy rounds against Erica Farias (26-4, 10 KOs). Scores were 94-94, 97-91, 96-92. McCaskill defeated Farias on points over ten rounds last year.

A bloodied 2016 Olympian super lightweight Movladdin Biyarslanov (5-0, 4 KOs) struggled with Tyrome Jones (4-6-1, 1 KO) over six rounds. Scores were 59-55, 59-55, 58-56.

Unbeaten super middleweight Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr (20-0, 18 KOs) former “Contender” fighter Morgan “Big Chief” Fitch (19-4-1, 8 KOs). Sims dropped Fitch twice in round one. Another count in round six and finally the bout was waved off. Time 2:18.

Unbeaten USBA super welterweight beltholder Charles “Bad News” Conwell (11-0, 8 KOs) scored a scary knockout against Patrick Day (17-4-1, 6 KOs) in the tenth round. Conwell dropped Day in rounds four and eight, then knocked him out with a left hook. Time was 1:46. Day was taken from the ring on a stretcher.

Former IBF super bantamweight champion TJ Doheny (22-1, 16 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over journeyman Jesus Martinez (26-10, 13 KOs). It was Doheny’s first fight since losing his title to Danny Roman in April.

IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) scored a second round TKO over Sofiane Takoucht (35-4-1, 13 KOs) at the First Direct Arena in his hometown of Leeds, England. In round two, Warrington dropped Takoucht twice, then got a referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:54.

Commonwealth super featherweight titleholder Zelfa Barrett (23-1, 14 KOs) scored a ninth round stoppage over Jordan McCorry (18-7-1, 4 KOs).

Unbeaten light heavyweight Lyndon Arthur (16-0, 12 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Emmanuel Anim (14-3-1, 12 KOs) to claim the vacant Commonwealth title. Arthur dropped Amin in round four. Scores were 115-112, 117-110, 117-111.

Fächer Sport Management presented championship boxing Saturday at the Palazzo-Halle in Karlsruhe, Germany. The main event saw local favorite WBO #2 flyweight Mirco “mirCOMET” Martin (14-0-1, 6 KOs) draw with Ernesto “El Destructor” Irias of Nicaragua (14-2-1, 9 KOs). The WBC Silver flyweight bout was aired on Baden TV with Graf Hardenberg sponsoring. The bout itself was an all-out war with both fighters having their moments. Trainer Dominik Junge felt that there were some key rounds he felt Mirco deserved to have had scored in his favor that would have led to him being victorious. The scorecards were 114-114 twice and 115-113 to Irias. No word on if a rematch will be staged. Continue reading “Martin-Irias draw in Germany”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Filipino lightweight Rodynie Rafol (14-7-2,7KO’s) stopped Tyson Lantry (7-2, 3 KOs) in round three of a scheduled ten round main event with the WBF Asia Pacific title up for grabs at Club Punchbowl in Sydney, NSW, Australia on Saturday. The referee crowned Rafol at 0.34 of round three. Rafol had visited Australia losing to former WBO world champion Michael Katsidis and IBF #3 George Kambosos in 2015 but was coming off a four round stoppage of James McDonald in 2018. Continue reading “Rafol stops Lantry”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos: Bob Ryder

Second 2 None Promotions: Best of Tomorrow 8 at DeCarlo’s Banquet Center in Warren, MI Friday night did not disappoint. Promoter Vi Tran and matchmaker Kenny Moore, both, have managed to grow the series into a destination for top boxing prospects.

The featured bout of the night was surely the matchup between Anthony Barnes vs. Kenneth Council in a 6-Round Super Middleweight contest. Why the bout meant so much was the following: Barnes, due to new trainers and injuries, had been sidelined for the past 15 months. Also, his opponent, Council, had a good record, high knockout rate, and had fought the likes of Erickson Lubin. But he had been out of the fight game for just shy of four years. Continue reading “Results from Warren, Michigan”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Irish-born light heavyweight Conor Wallace (7-0, 5 KOs) captured the Australian crown when he stopped Michael Whitelaw (5-4, 2 KOs) in round six of a scheduled ten round main event at Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland on Friday. The referee was former world champion Philip Holiday, who crowned the 23-year-old Wallace in round six because Whitelaw suffered a severe cut due to an accidental head clash. Southpaw Wallace is a former six-time all Ireland amateur champion who has had all his professional bouts in Australia.

In other action, Ben Kite (16-4-1, 6 KOs) defended the Australasian welterweight crown successfully when he clearly outscored Ben Savva (11-2, 4 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores at the conclusion Cyril Cairns 98-92, Alan Burford 99-91, Paul Williams 97-93. Promoter: Stephen Dellar

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Shinobu Charlie Hosokawa (12-4-1, 11 KOs), 159.75, showed his determination and durability in acquiring the vacant OPBF middleweight belt as he finally caught up with his grudge rival Tyson Koki (14-4-3, 12 KOs), a taller southpaw at 160, and halted him with the referee’s intervention at 1:21 of the eighth round in a scheduled twelve on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

In their first encounter it ended in a drawn game (114-114 twice, 115-114 for Tyson) this July, and they faced again and it resulted in a give-and-take battle again. Continue reading “Hosokawa halts Tyson, wins vacant OPBF 160lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese lightweight champ Shuichiro Yoshino (11-0, 9 KOs), 135, acquired the vacant OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific belts when he scored a one-punch stoppage over Filipino Harmonito Dela Torre (20-3, 12 KOs), 135, at 2:10 of the opening session on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Yoshino, formerly an excellent amateur with a 104-20 mark including 55 stoppages, withstood Dela Torre’s furious two-fisted attack from all angles in a peek-a-boo guard, and exploded a single solid left hook to the button with precision, flattening him with a thud. The ref Fukuchi promptly called a halt to save the loser. Continue reading “Yoshino wins OPBF, WBO AP 135lb belts in 130 sec”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Unheralded JBC#4 Yuto Takahashi (11-4, 5 KOs), 108, upset WBC#2/IBF#5 Kenichi Horikawa (40-16-1, 13 KOs), 108, by a majority but well-received decision (96-94, 97-93, 95-95) over ten hard-fought rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Takahashi, 26, made a good start and took the initiative with effective overhand rights in earlier rounds, unanimously leading on points after the fifth on open scoring system: 48-47 twice and 49-46. The 39-year-old champ, in the second half, turned loose but couldn’t overcome his early deficits as they mixed it up on even terms down the stretch.

Photos

In a stunning upset, journeyman Armando “Alacran” Torres (25-18, 19 KOs) knocked out former WBC light flyweight champion and WBC #5 rated Ganigan “Maravilla” Lopez (36-10, 19 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the famed Blackberry Auditorium in Mexico City. The heavy-handed Torres dropped Lopez twice to end it and claim the WBC Latino fly title.

Photos: Emily Harney

Former two-time light heavyweight world champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (36-5, 19 KOs) cruised to an uneventful eight round unanimous decision over Denis Grachev (19-9-1, 10 KOs) on Friday night at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

Dawson was in control from the opening bell. Grachev’s best moment was round six when he connected with several punches. Scores were 80-72, 80-72, 79-73. With the win, Dawson claimed the vacant WBC USNBC title.

It was short, but sweet. Unbeaten heavyweight Cassius Chaney (17-0, 11 KOs) needed just 63 seconds to annihilate former cruiserweight title challenger Santander Silgado (28-8, 22 KOs). A crushing right hand laid out Silgado for several minutes. Continue reading “Dawson dominates; Chaney steals the show”

In an upset, cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy (16-2, 8 KOs) won a split decision over previously unbeaten WBC #15 rated Fabio Turchi (17-1, 13 KOs) to win the WBC International title on Friday at PalaTrento in Trento, Italy. McCarthy busted up Turchi’s face en route to a 116-112, 115-113 verdict on two cards. Turchi was up 116-112 on the third card. Turchi was a 4:1 favorite.

Middleweight Matteo Signani (29-5, 10 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over Gevorg Khatchikian (29-3, 14 KOs) to claim the vacant EBU belt. Scores were 116-112, 115-113 Signani, 115-114 Khatchikian in a bout that never heated up.

Featherweight Francesco Grandelli (13-1-1, 2 KOs) won an exciting ten round split decision over Reece Bellotti (14-2, 12 KOs) to claim the vacant WBC International silver title. Scores were 96-95, 96-94 Grandelli, 96-95 Bellotti.

Unbeaten flyweight contender Jay Harris (17-0, 9 KOs) knocked out three-time Irish Olympian Paddy Barnes (6-3, 1 KO) in the fourth round at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Harris finished Barnes with a bodyshot. Barnes was also down in round three. Time was 2:14.

Former WBO lightweight champion Terry “Turbo” Flanagan (35-2, 14 KOs) won by fourth round DQ over Michael Ansah (17-10-2, 11 KOs). Ansah was chased for hitting on the break. Time 2:58.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Who expected WBC#2/IBF#4 122-pounder Shingo Wake (26-6-2, 18 KOs), 125.75, to lose to such a mediocre Filipino underdog named Jhunriel Ramonal (16-8-6, 9 KOs), 125.25, today (Friday) in Tokyo, Japan?

Furthermore, Wake, when he was the OPBF ruler, had demolished Ramonal in three one-sided rounds here in 2013.  It was an easy-going safety-first matchmaking that booked Wake against Ramonal, just #8 featherweight by the GAB (Philippine commission) in a rematch, but an unbelievable upset happened before the stunned crowd at the Hall. Continue reading “Shocker: WBC #2 Wake stopped by Ramonal”

Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.

Friday night in Philadelphia was a night to remember as the City of Brotherly Love paid homage to Hall of Fame promoter J Russell Peltz, who celebrated 50 years in the business by presenting a card at the 2300 Arena.

In the main event, unbeaten super lightweight prospect Victor Padilla (6-0, 5 KOs) who took a unanimous decision over Romain Tomas (8-3, 1 KO). The bout was scheduled for six rounds, a throwback to a century ago when Pennsylvania state laws set such a limit on all main events. Padilla won by scores of 59-55, 60-54 and 60-54. Continue reading “J Russell Peltz celebrates 50 years in boxing”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Should there be a next Japanese world champ, it might be a highly talented, 21-year-old Junto Nakatani (20-0, 15 KOs), 113.75, who battered former IBF 108-pound ruler, Filipino veteran Milan Melindo (37-5, 13 KOs), 114, to the punch and halted him with the referee’s intervention at 2:02 of the sixth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

WBC#3/WBO#3/WBA#2 Nakatani, a tall youngster at 5’7”, utilized his southpaw stance so effectively that he gave Melindo no openings to come close to him to mix it up all the way. Nakatani made good use of his advantageous height and reach, whipped the Filipino from all angles and had him at bay in the fatal sixth. Having absorbed much punishment, Melindo was saved from further punishment by the ref with the crowd’s great praise. Coached by Californian trainer Rudy Hernandez, Junto has shown his steady improvement. Continue reading “WBC #3 Nakatani halts ex-champ Melindo”

Unbeaten junior welterweight Danielito “El Zorro” Zorrilla (13-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Jesús Pérez (23-3, 18 KOs) to win the NABO interim title on Saturday night at the Coliseíto Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico topping an event presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions together with H2 Entertainment. Despite fighting with an injured hand, Zorrilla won 100-89, 100-89 and 98-91.

Zorrilla’s victory now places him in line for a fight against full NABO champ Yomar Álamo, who retained the belt with a draw against Antonio Morán on Friday night in Kissimmee, Florida. Both fights were part of the WBO’s ‘Tournament of Champions.’ Continue reading “Danielito Zorrilla remains unbeaten”

By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside

“Hammering” Hank Lundy (30-8-1, 14 KOs) scored an impressive one-sided eight round unanimous decision victory over “Red Hot” Robert Frankel (37-23-1, 8 KOs) Saturday night at the PAL Center in Hockessin, Delaware. Lundy showed he can once again be a viable top ten contender with an almost flaws performance against sixty-one fight veteran Frankel.

Lundy controlled the distance with sharp jabs and tight hooks while in the pocket. Frankel looked to bang on the inside, but Lundy’s slick defense forced most of his volleys to deflect off arms or shoulders. Continue reading “Lundy outclasses Frankel”