By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

On the undercard of the WBO AP 140-pound title bout, talented 115-rounders made a very competitive collision to a split draw (77-75, 75-77, 76-76) over eight on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Unbeaten ex-amateur bright prospect Kantaro Juri (4-0-1, 2 KOs), 114.5, was surprisingly held to a draw with WBO AP#14 junior bantam Danrick Sumabong (12-2-1, 9 KOs), 114, over a give-and-take eight. It was a see-saw affair with taller southpaw Juri occasionally connecting with solid lefts, while Sumabong landing sharp right counters to the Japanese rival. Juri recently upset formerly two-time world challenger Masayuki Kuroda (retired afterward) in his just fourth pro bout this January and aimed to take the Filipino’s WBO AP rating in this opportunity. They may exchange gloves in the near future. Continue reading “Juri, Sumabong fight to split draw”

By Joe Koizumi

Former WBC 108-pound champ Masamichi Yabuki (14-4, 13 KOs), 110.25, decked an important victory on Saturday in his home turf Yokkaichi, Japan, when he withstood the constant pressure of unbeaten WBO#4/WBA#9 Thanongsak Simsri (23-1, 21 KOs), 110, and dropped the Thailander three times en route to a fine stoppage at 1:19 of the seventh round in a scheduled ten. Having been dethroned by ex-titlist Kenshiro Yabuki via one-punch knockout in a rematch this March, Yabuki connected with a well-timed right counter, flooring the 22-year-old Thailander in the closing seconds of the second. Game and gallant Thanongsak maintained his aggressiveness, stalking the ex-champ all the way, but it was Yabuki that decked him again with a wicked combo in round six. The seventh saw Yabuki, 30, explode a solid combo, dropping the aggressor for the third time to prompt the referee’s intervention.

Promoter: Midori Promotions.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Abimbola Osundairo (4-0, 3 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over Marco Deckmann (9-2, 7 KOs) on Saturday night on the undercard of the “Social Gloves” celebrity boxing card at the Banc of California Stadium in downtown Los Angeles. Osundairo, notoriously known as one of the “attackers” in the Jussie Smollett hoax, dropped Deckmann in both the first round and second rounds and later floored him a third time in round six to prompt a referee’s stoppage a few moments later.

Unbeaten featherweight Jalan “Skywalker” Walker (11-0-1, 9 KOs) outboxed Moises Sixto (3-2-1, 1 KO) over six rounds. Scores were 59-55, 59-55, 60-54.

Lightweight Mathias Radcliffe (4-0-1, 3 KOs) blew out Trenton Gibson (2-3, 1 KO) in the first round. Gibson down three times.

Welterweight Jerry Bradford (8-1, 5 KOs) stopped Darynn Leyva (1-5-1, 1 KO) in round two.

In a heavyweight boxing match between MMA fighters, Luis Schwenke seemingly outworked Jay Silva over four rounds, but the bout ended in a majority draw. Scores were 39-37 Schwenke, 38-38, 38-38.

Celebrity Boxing Results:

In a clash between popular YouTubers, AnEson Gib (1-1, 1 KO) knocked out debuting Austin McBroom in a sanctioned bout fought at a catch weight of 180 lbs. McBroom dropped Gib in round one, but Gib roared back to floor McBroom five times en route to a fourth round KO.

A heavyweight exhibition between former LA Laker “Swaggy P” Nick Young and TikToker Malcom Minikon ended in round four after Young fell through the ropes and couldn’t continue. Minikon took the bout on short notice.

In a heavyweight exhibition between former NFL running backs, Le’Veon Bell stopped Adrian Peterson in the fifth round. Nothing of any significance landed until Bell connected with a lead right that put Peterson on the deck. Peterson beat the count, but the bout was waved off.

In a sanctioned middleweight pro bout between debuting YouTubers, Landon McBroom and Adam Saleh fought to a sloppy four-round draw. Scores were 38-38 3x.

In a heavyweight exhibition between reality TV actors, Cory Wharton and Chase DeMoor went five two-minute rounds. No decision rendered.

Former super welterweight world title challenger Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (23-2, 16 KOs) returned after a two-and-a-half year layoff to demolish Stepan Horvath (21-7, 11 KOs) in the second round on Saturday night at the CAA Centre in the Brampton suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Cook dropped Horvath twice in round two and the ref waved it off. Time was 1:51. Horvath complained about the stoppage. The 36-year-old Cook challenged Jaime Munguia for the WBO 154lb belt in 2018.

In the main event, unbeaten super welterweight Sukhdeep Singh (13-0, 5 KOs) outpointed Xhuljo Vrenozi (18-5, 3 KOs) over ten workmanlike rounds. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 99-91.

Unbeaten 6’7 Olympian heavyweight Ricardo “Big 12” Brown (5-0, 5 KOs) scored a one-punch knockout against Carlos Carreon (8-8, 2 KOs) with a big right hand in round three. Time was :11. Continue reading “Cook KOs Horvath in ring return”

Former WBA super middleweight champion Vincent Feigenbutz (35-3, 31 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Diego Ramirez (24-9-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the famed Universum Gym in Hamburg, Germany. Feigenbutz pressed the action and got Ramirez out of there with a body shot.

Unbeaten super welterweight Carlos Toledo (6-0, 5 KOs) made quick work of 46-year-old journeyman Ferenc Hafner (27-21, 14 KOs). A body shot put Hefner down for the count in the very first round.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Rostam Ibrahim (10-0-2, 6 KOs) outscored Chico Kwasi (5-2-1, 2 KOs) over eight rounds.

Super welterweight Freddy “Pretty Boy” Kiwitt (22-3, 12 KOs) outpointed Ivan Matute (30-10, 25 KOs) over eight rounds.

Unbeaten WBC #3 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (22-0, 20 KOs) destroyed DeAndre Ware (15-4-2, 9 KOs) on Friday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mbilli dropped Ware in round one and floored him twice more in round two to end it.

Heavyweight Simon Kean (22-1, 21 KOs) won a bizarre first round TKO against Newfel Ouatah (18-5, 10 KOs). At the sound of the bell, Ouatah immediately took a knee without being hit and the bout was waved off. Effortless “W” for Kean. Ouatah, who traveled from France to Canada for this fight, will obviously have his purse withheld.

Unbeaten female super welterweight Mary Spencer (7-0. 5 KOs) smashed Cynthia Lozano (9-2, 7 KOs) in 63 seconds. If it’s possible to call a 37-year-old “a hot prospect,” Spencer, who made her pro debut last year, appears to be that.

Undefeated WBO #14 cruiserweight Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton (17-0, 14 KOs) made quick work of Mario “El Ruso” Aguilar (22-8, 18 KOs), winning by second round KO at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. A body shot put Aguilar down for the count at 1:09. Glanton claimed the vacant WBO global title.

In a clash of unbeaten super middleweights, Richard Vansiclen 13-0, 6 KOs) took an eight round unanimous decision against Hakim Lopez (13-1, 8 KOs) by scores of 78-74, 78-75, 78-75.

Unbeaten all-action lightweight Otar “Pitball” Eranosyan (12-0, 6 KOs) hammered out an eight round unanimous decision against game veteran Cesar “Corazon” Juarez (27-11, 20 KOs). Eranosyan was deducted a point in the closing seconds for pushing down Juarez who was trying to clinch. Scores were 77-74, 77-74, 78-73.

Welterweight Marques Valle (6-0, 6 KOs knocked out Benjamin Whittaker (15-10, 3 KOs) in the first round. Time was 2:57.

Three undefeated boxers entered the ring on Friday night inside Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino’s Grand Ballroom. And all three undefeated fighters suffered their first loss.

In the main event, super lightweight Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (17-1-2, 14 KOs) won a narrow ten round unanimous decision against previously unbeaten Hugo Alberto Roldan (21-1-1, 7 KOs). Adorno dropped Roldan in round two and built an early lead. Roldan rallied down the stretch, but it was too little, too late. Scores were 95-94 3x. The knockdown was the difference.

Featherweight Frency Fortunato (14-1, 10 KOs) took ten round split decision against previously undefeated Bernard Angelo Torres (16-1, 7 KOs). Fortunato dropped Torres in round four. Scores were 95-94 Torres, 95-94 and 97-92 for Fortunato.

Welterweight KO artist Roiman Villa (25-1, 24 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Janelson Bocachica (17-1-1, 11 KOs). Villa dropped Bocachica in round two and Bocachica was also deducted a point for continuously losing his mouthpiece. The aggressive Villa won by scores of 78-73, 79-72, 79-72.

Unbeaten super welterweight Josh “The Boss” Wagner (13-0, 7 KOs) won by ninth round TKO over Jorge Sanchez (13-3, 5 KOs) on Friday night at the CAA Centre in the Brampton suburb of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Wagner dropped Sanchez twice in round nine, leading to a referee’s stoppage at 2:07.

In a female minimumweight unification clash, IBF champion Yokasta “Yoka” Valle (26-2, 9 KOs) took the belt of previously unbeaten WBO champion Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen (5-1, 1 KOs) by shutout ten round unanimous decision on Thursday night at the Ciudad Deportiva Heiner Ugalde in Hatillo, San José, Costa Rica. Local favorite Valle outclassed Viet Nam’s Nguyen with quick combinations, winning 100-90 3x.

Unbeaten female super flyweight Adelaida “La Cobra” Ruiz (12-0-1, 6 KOs) dethroned WBC interim titleholder Sonia Osorio (15-8-2, 2 KOs) via ten round unanimous decision. Ruiz, from Lynwood, California, took the fight to Mexico City’s Osorio and won going away 100-90, 98-92, 99-91. They had previously fought to a tech draw due to a head clash.

Super flyweight Jose “Superman” Garcia (16-1-1, 15 KOs) stopped Israel Lopez (9-3, 7 KOs) in round two to claim the vacant WBO Youth title. Garcia dropped Lopez twice in round two, then got a referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:06.

By Joe Koizumi

WBO#5 Riku Kano (15-3, 7 KOs), 112, impressively acquired the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight belt as he outhustled compatriot Yuga Inoue (13-3-1, 2 KOs), 112, to earn a close but unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113 twice) in a sizzling see-saw twelve-rounder on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. The sellout crowd watched the tide busily turning in every round with Kano scoring with southpaw right hooks and Inoue connecting with light but fast combinations. But it was Kano that dominated the championship rounds and carried himself to a valuable triumph. Kano, previously WBO AP 108-pound ruler, gained his second regional belt in his second category to his credit. It was such a hard-fought affair to be called Fight of the Month.

In the semi-windup, IBF#8 junior bantam Sho Ishida (31-3, 16 KOs), kept whipping Filipino Alvin Medura (10-7, 7 KOs), 118, to score a unanimous decision (identically 80-71) over eight. Ishida had him on the deck with solid combinations in round two.

Promoter: Taisei Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former OPBF champ IBF#14 junior feather Ryo Akaho (39-2-2, 26 KOs), 123.25, needed just 167 seconds of the opening session to dispatch Filipino Edrian Dapudong (35-8-1, 21 KOs), 121.5, in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Akaho’s single left hook was the haymaker with the loser hearing the fatal ten on knees.

OPBF middleweight ruler Kazuto Takesako (14-0-1, 13 KOs), 160, easily made short work of Thailander Niwat Kongkan (11-9-1NC), 158.75, at 1:57 of the third round in a scheduled ten. Despite a sixteen-month hiatus, Takesako proved too powerful for the Thailander, decking him twice in the second and once more in the fatal third. The OPBF champ Takesako, 31, strongly wishes to unify another regional WBO AP belt with Hiroya Nojima who recently dethroned Yuki Nonaka via upset sixth round stoppage this July. Continue reading “IBF #14 Akaho blasts out Dapudong”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a WBC heavyweight eliminator, former unified champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) of Imperial Valley, California, defeated Cuba’s Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (33-3, 28 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Ruiz dropped Ortiz twice in round two, but the 43-year-old King Kong survived. The pace slowed until round seven when Ruiz dropped Ortiz again. Scores were 113-112, 114-111, 114-111. Continue reading “Ruiz defeats Ortiz in WBC eliminator”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

WBC #2 lightweight Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (24-2-1, 17KO) was provided a sacrificial lamb in light-punching WBC #4 super featherweight Eduardo Ramirez (27-3-3, 12KO) and did not disappoint with a second round destruction of Ramirez in a WBC lightweight title eliminator. Ramirez was on his bike in the opening round with Cruz in hot pursuit. In the second round, it wasn’t long before Cruz landed a crunching lead left hook to drop Ramirez hard to the canvas. The referee took a long hard look at Ramirez before allowing him to continue. Moments later, Cruz landed an even more punishing left hook, right cross, left hook combo to drop Ramirez again with the referee immediately waving off the fight without a count. Time of the stoppage was 2:27 of the second round.

Despite becoming a mandatory to WBC (and undisputed) world champ Devin Haney, PBC appears to, instead, be pushing Cruz back into a rematch with WBA “regular” champ Getvonta “Tank” Davis. With Davis in attendance and the cameras focused on him, the easily led crowd in attendance chanted “We Want Tank, We Want Tank!!”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

Four-time, three-division former world champ, Abner Mares (31-3-2, 15 KOs) fought to a majority draw with tough-as-nails Miguel Flores (25-5, 12 KOs) in a 10 round lightweight bout. It was the first appearance in the ring for Mares in 51 months and he got off to a nice start landing crisp counter punches over the aggressive Flores.

By the middle rounds, however, Mares started fading with Flores feeding off his weakening soul. In the seventh round, Mares was looking like a fighter trying to just go the distance and was all over the place with Flores in hot pursuit. The next couple rounds was more of the same with Mares only landing the occasional counter but Flores pressing the action and willing to eat a Mares counter to land his own shots.

The final round saw Flores going for broke and Mares just trying to make it to the final bell. Although Mares had his moments early on, Flores seemed like he did enough to win the fight as it went to the scorecards. Judges saw it 96-94 Mares and 95-95 even on the other two scorecards for a majority draw. Mares appeared disappointed in the draw but really was a shell of his former likely Hall of Fame self and should consider hanging up the gloves to concentrate on the broadcast booth.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Opening the pay-per-view telecast, Dominican lightweight Edwin De Los Santos (15-1, 14 KO’s) made a statement by stopping previously unbeaten José “El Rayo” Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KO’s) of Seattle, Washington by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in a wild one. Off to a fast start, Valenzuela and De Los Santos exchanged, later in the round the Dominican fighter caught Valenzuela with a straight and stopped his momentum. What a wild round it was in the second, as Rayo dropped De Los Santos to begin the the second round but shortly after De Los Santos returned the favor as he sent Valenzuela to the canvas. De Los Santos dropped Valenzeula a second time to begin the third. He beat the count but De Los Santos finished him off at 1:08 of the third. De Los Santos replaced former world champion Jezreel Corrales on short notice and made the most of it! Valenzuela was a 10:1 favorite.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

WBA #12 super bantamweight Ra’eese Aleem (20-0, 12 KO’s) won a dominating but hard fought unanimous decision over Mike Plania (26-2, 13 KO’s) of the Philippines in headlining the FS1 card on Saturday night at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. Aleem dropped Plana early in round two as the fight was off to a fast pace. Despite being knockdown, Plania pressured as Aleem boxed.

Past the halfway point and stalking in the sixth, Plania continued to go forward as Aleem’s slickness was getting to the Filipino. Keeping his composure Plania kept up the pace in the seventh, Aleem made it a chess match fighting smart in the ring timing and finding the openings. Late in the fight, the Filipino kept pressing with Aleem showing composure fighting off the jab and following upstairs solid. The tenth and final round saw Aleem pick up the pace and pressure, letting his hands go as he stood in the pocket with Plania. Finishing strong, Aleem attacked as he did not want to leave it in the hands of the judges backing Plania to the ropes in closing.

After ten rounds, all three judges scored the bout 100-89 as Aleem pitches a shutout.

By Miguel Maravilla and Rocky Morales at ringside

In the opening bout from the Crypto Arena in downtown Los Angeles, former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin (29-3-1, 26 KOs) of St. Louis stopped Devin Vargas (22-8, 9 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio. Things were rough from the start as Vargas slipped in the second round and Martin also slipped in the third. Vargas was down again from an accidental headbutt. Martin stepped up the pressure in round four as Vargas was a bloody mess, referee Jerry Cantu stepped in to stop the fight at 1:59 of the fourth.

Joey Spencer (16-0, 10KO) was the unanimous decision winner to hand a first time defeat to Kevin Salgado (14-1-1) in a 10 round super welterweight bout between rising prospects. Salgado, from Mexico City, did anything but fight Mexican Style and the style of the two fighters made for an underwhelming fight that brought out a chorus of boos to close the fight. Spencer, making his ten round debut, was slightly more aggressive than Salgado but not enough to make it a fan friendly fight. Neither fighter seemed willing to take too many chances and were content to leave it in the hands of the judges. In a closely sometimes contested contest, Spencer rightfully prevailed, if for no other reason, being more aggressive. Scores did not reflect the closeness of the fight as judges had it 99-91 (twice) and 100-90, all in favor of Spencer.

Unbeaten Anthony Garnica (10-0-1, 5 KOs) was sharp in outboxing a very determined Juan Lopez (17-11, 7KO) to win a majority decision in a six round super bantamweight bout. It is the third victory in the last 3.5 months for Garnica who appeared deserving of a wide unanimous decision victory. Scores for the bout were 59-55 (twice) and 57-57 in favor of Garnica.

Photos and Ringside Report by Bob Ryder

Albert “Prince” Bell scored a comprehensive win over Nicolas Polanco in the headline event of promoter Vick Green’s (Pulse Boxing) show at downtown Toledo’s Huntington Center Saturday night. In the process, Bell captured the vacant WBO/NABO super featherweight belt by scores of 100-90 x 2 and 99-91. Continue reading “Bell dominant in Toledo”

By Mary Ann Owen at ringside

Super middleweight Kevin Newman (14-3-1, 8 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO over late Hector Zepeda (21-5, 7 KOs) to claim the NABA 168lb title on Saturday night in a Ukraine benefit event at the Westgate Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Newman is trained by Roy Jones Jr.

In the co-feature, unbeaten 281-pound former UNLV defensive end Antonio Zepeda (6-0, 6 KOs) stopped Trevor Kotara (3-3, 1 KO) in round five of a heavyweight clash.

Lightweight Gonzalo Fuenzalida (12-1, 3 KOs) took a six round majority decision against Joseph Francisco (8-5, 3 KOs) by scores of 57-57, 58-56, 59-55.

Heavyweight Skylar Lacy (3-0, 2 KOs) won a four round unanimous decision over Jouse Vargas (2-3-1, 1 KO).

WBC franchise super flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (43-3, 28 KOs) won by a harder than expected twelve round unanimous decision over unheralded Argi Cortes (23-3-2, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico. In his first action in 18 months, Estrada easily won the first three rounds. Cortes repeatedly connected with right hands in round four. Cortes bloodied Estrada’s nose in round five. Estrada got serious in round seven, dropping Cortes and landing numerous huge shots. After that, Cortez lost interest in toe-to-toe exchanges with el Gallo and mostly tried to box from outside as Estrada stalked. Scores were 115-112, 115-112, 114-113.

After the fight, it was announced that Estrada will fight Chocolatito Gonzalez in a rubber match on December 3.

In a rematch, WBA female featherweight champion Erika Cruz (15-1, 3 KOs) defeated 40-year-old former champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-12-2, 19 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision on Saturday night in the Estrada-Cortes co-feature at the Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico. Scores were 100-90 3x for Cruz, who also won their previous fight in April 2021, ending the five-year title reign of Mrdjenovich.

In a clash for the vacant IBF light flyweight title between unbeaten fighters, IBF #1 Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga (10-0, 9 KOs) won a grueling twelve round battle of attrition against IBF #3 Hector “Baby Bull” Flores (20-0, 1 KOs) on Saturday night’s Estrada-Cortes undercard at the Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico. Nontshinga dropped Flores in round two, but Flores battled his way back with non-stop punching. Flores suffered a cut on his forehead from a head clash that bled profusely over the second half of the fight. At the end of twelve action-packed rounds, judges scored it 116-111, 114-113 Nontshinga, 115-112 Flores. With the split decision win, Nontshinga became South Africa’s only current world champion.

In a clash of super featherweight punchers, WBA #4, WBC #5 Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (33-1, 30 KOs) showed his power again, stopping previously unbeaten Jorge Mata (14-1-2, 10 KOs) on Saturday night’s Estrada-Cortes undercard at the Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico. Good fight. Hernandez dropped Mata in round five and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 1:15.

WBO #2, WBC #3, WBA #4 super welterweight Liam “Beefy” Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) scored a rather bizarre fourth round TKO against Hassan Mwakinyo (20-3, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. After twisting his ankle in round three, Mwakinyo took a knee twice in round four without really being hit cleanly and the bout was stopped. Time was 1:46. Both fighters complained about the stoppage.

In a unification clash for the WBC and WBO female super welterweight titles, Natasha Jonas (12-2-1, 8 KOs) outpointed previously unbeaten Patricia Berghult (15-1, 3 KOs) over ten by scores of 99-91, 100-90, 100-90.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Dan Azeez (17-0, 11 KOs) outscored Shakan Pitters (17-2, 6 KOs) over twelve rounds in a bout for the British 175lb title. Scores were 117-112, 115-113, 117-111.

2020 Olympic super heavyweight bronze medalist Frazer Clarke (3-0, 3 KOs) blew away previously unbeaten late sub Pencho Tsvetkov (7-1, 5 KOs) in 65 seconds. Tsvetkov down twice. Total mismatch. Clarke outweighed Tsvetkov by 56 pounds.

Unbeaten super lightweight Adam “The Assassin” Azim (6-0, 5 KOs) blitzed Michel Cabral (5-5, 1 KO) in the first round in a bout for the WBC Youth belt.