By Joe Koizumi

Japanese southpaw Masataka Taniguchi (15-3, 10 KOs), 105, impressively captured the WBO 105-pound belt as he dropped southpaw defending champ Wilfredo “Bimbito” Mendez (16-2, 6 KOs), 105, in the second round, pressed the action and finally caught up with him with a flurry of punches to prompt the referee’s intervention at 1:08 of the eleventh session on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

(More to come)

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Two-time world title challenger and WBC #7 super middleweight Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (28-3, 22 KOs) stopped David Murray (10-2-1, 6 KOs) in the third round on Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Hart, the son of Philly legend Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, dropped Murray in round three and got the stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:20.

Former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over former world champion Richard Commey (30-4, 27 KOs) in a lightweight bout on Saturday night before 8,555 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Loma took apart Commey, dropping him hard in round seven. Commey barely survived the round. Loma outboxed Commey the rest of the way to win 117-110, 119-108, 119-108.

Unbeaten WBC #13 super middleweight Christian “Solide” Mbilli (20-0, 18 KOs) won a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over Ronald “Akeem” Ellis (18-3-2, 12 KOs) for the WBC Continental Americas title on Saturday night at the Zembo Shrine Auditorium in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Both fighters went toe-to-toe from the opening bell with Mbilli getting the better of it. The pattern continued the whole fight. Scores were 99-91, 100-90, 100-90.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In an unset, unrated welterweight Cody Crowley (20-0, 9 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over IBF #1, WBC #6, WBO #6 Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (18-1, 10 KOs). Abdukakhorov dropped Crowley in round two, but otherwise it was pretty much all Crowley. Scores were 95-94, 97-92, 98-91.

Unbeaten super lightweight Brandun Lee (24-0, 22 KOs) knocked out rugged Juan Heraldez (16-2-1, 10 KOs) in round seven to keep his KO streak intact. Lee connected with a huge straight right hand to finish Heraldez. Time was 2:11. 15 straight KOs for Lee.

In an IBF super bantamweight title eliminator, Marlon Tapales (35-3, 18 KOs) scored a quick KO over Hiroaki Teshigawara (22-3-2, 15 KOs). Tapales dropped Teshigawara twice in round one and finished him six seconds into round two. Continue reading “Undercard Results from Carson, California”

Unbeaten heavyweight Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) laid out Oleksandr Teslenko (17-2, 13 KOs) with a massive right hand in the second round in the Loma-Commey co-feature on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Teslenko barely beat the count, but was in no condition to continue. Time was 1:33.

2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) impressively crushed Jose Zaragoza (8-4-1, 2 KOs) in the second round of a lightweight bout. Davis dropped Zaragoza twice, the second time with a devastating body shot. Time was 2:51.

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2 KOs), grandson of “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, won a four round majority decision over Reyes Sanchez (6-1, 2 KOs). Scores were 38-38, 40-36, 39-37.

Rising junior middleweight star Xander Zayas (12-0, 9 KOs) annihilated Alessio Mastronunzio (9-2, 3 KOs) in the first round. Zayas dropped Mastronunzio, then teed off on him til the bout was stopped. Time was 2:52. Continue reading “Real Big Baby, Keyshawn, Zayas win with KOs”

Unbeaten welterweight Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (20-0, 13 KOs) scored an impressive fourth round knockout against 37-year-old former WBO junior welter champion Chris Algieri (25-4, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Benn dropped Algieri with a cuffing shot round two and then knocked him out cold with a right hand in round four. Time was 2:58. Benn is the son of ring legend Nigel Benn.

Undisputed female welterweight champion Katie Taylor (20-0, 6 KOs) successfully defended her WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO crowns against WBA mandatory challenger Firuza Sharipova (14-2, 8 KOs). Scores were 98-92, 97-92 96-93.

Former European, British and Commonwealth super lightweight champion Robbie Davies Jr (22-3, 15 KOs) scored a quick second round KO over Philadelphia’s “Hammerin'” Hank Lundy (31-9-1, 14 KOs) to win the vacant WBA Continental title. Davies knocked Lundy through the ropes in round two to end it. Time was 1:23.

IBF #5, WBA #12 super featherweight Joe ‘The Welsh Wizard’ Cordina (14-0, 8 KOs) took a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Miko Khatchatryan (13-1, 7 KOs). Scores were 100-90, 98-92, 98-92

WBA light heavyweight champion Dimitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) scored another workmanlike twelve round unanimous decision against Umar Salamov (26-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Uralets Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Bivol was in control all the way. Scores were 119-109, 118-109, 118-110. Six straight decision wins for Bivol.

IBF super flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (17-0, 4 KOs) frustrated and outboxed mandatory challenger Jayson Mama (16-1, 9 KOs) over twelve rounds to take a unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE. Mama was never able to catch up with the elusive Edwards, who was credited with a knockdown in round ten. Scores were 117-11-, 118-109, 118-109.

Note: Probellum announced that the WBO Interim bantamweight title fight between Paul Butler and Joseph Agbeko will no longer be taking place on this event. Reportedly Butler didn’t want to fight for the interim belt.

2020 Olympic super heavyweight champion Bakhodir Jalolov (9-0, 9 KOs) knocked out 201lb Julio Cesar “El Gigante” Calimeno (4-2, 4 KOs) with his first punch on Saturday night at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE. A straight left to the chin put Calimeno down for the count 46 seconds into the bout. Afterward, Jalolov proclaimed that he’s ready to fight for the world heavyweight title right now.

39-year-old four-weight world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (43-1-6, 23 KOs) and Norberto “Meneito” Jimenez (30-9-6, 16 KOs) battled to a ten round draw in a WBO super flyweight eliminator. Scores were 96-94 Jimenez, 96-94 Nietes, 95-95. The bout was originally scheduled for twelve rounds, but was changed to ten rounds. Jimenez thought it was still a 12-rounder.

Former world title challenger Jono Carroll (21-2-1, 6 KOs) outclassed Aelio Mesquita (20-6-1, 18 KOs) in a second round KO. Mesquita down multiple times. Time 2:27.

Unbeaten lightweight Anthony de Bruijn (11-0-1, 6 KOs) won a six round majority decision over Diego Valtierra (6-5, 2 KOs). Scores were 57-57, 58-56, 59-55.

In a clash for the WBA gold cruiserweight title, unbeaten 2020 Olympic super heavyweight bronze medalist Kamshybek Kunkabayev (4-0, 3 KOs) won a seven round technical decision against Steven Ward (13-2, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the CSKA Sport complex in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Kunkabayev dropped Ward in round five. In round seven an accidental elbow cut Ward and the bout was sent to the cards. Scores were 70-62 3x.

Unbeaten super featherweight Sultan Zaurbek (12-0, 8 KOs) overpowered Ryan Wheeler (16-2-1, 0 KOs) over six rounds. Zaurbek dropped Wheeler twice in round four and got a referee’s stoppage at 1:38 of round six.

Unbeaten welterweight Talgat Shayken (7-0, 4 KOs) outpointed Volodymyr Hordiienko (9-4, 4 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 100-90 3x.

By Joe Koizumi

Formerly WBO three-division champ Kosei Tanaka (16-1, 9 KOs), 115.75, eked out a split decision (96-95, 96-94, 94-96) over IBF#5, WBO#10 junior bantam Sho Ishida (29-3, 15 KOs), 115.75, over ten hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Nagoya, Japan.  Ishida, four inches taller and with an advantageous reach by six inches, started well with stinging lefts, but the ex-titlist Tanaka gradually went close to him and scored with solid body shots as the contest progressed.  It was a close affair, but it was WBC#7, WBO#9 Tanaka that was more aggressive all the way despite his absorption of Ishida’s jabs and right uppercuts.  Tanaka made his first appearance since his first defeat at the hand of Kazuto Ioka on New Year’s Eve of the previous year.

Promoter: Hatanaka Promotions.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated Junior Lightweight Adrian ‘Bam Bam’ Corona, (9-0, 2 KOs), of Rialto, California won a majority decision over Jesus Perez (13-13-1, 8 KO’s) of Sinaloa, Mexico. Friday night in headlining the Hollywood Fight Nights from the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California. Perez cam out pumping the jab and stood busy in the opening round as Corona took his time attempting to figure out his opponent and receive some shots. In round two, Corona and Perez had some solid exchanges as the Mexican kept his distance, Corona worked to get on the inside. Corona pressed the action in the third as Perez continued to keep his distance using the range to connect.

Passed the halfway point in the fourth, Corona attacked as he backed Perez as the exchanges continued. In the fifth, Perez connected with a solid right hand that lightly staggered Corona but the action continued with Corona holding his own and exchanging. The sixth and final round saw both men sensing the urgency trading and fighting to the final bell. The judges scored the bout 58-56, 58-56, and 57-57 for Corona.

Kazakh super middleweight Ali Akhmedov, (18-1, 14 KOs) scored a one-punch first round knockout over Paul Valenzuela Jr, (26-11, 17 KOs) from Baja, California, Mexico in the co-feature bout. A left hook by Akhmedov landed hard sending Valenzuela to the canvas as the referee Thomas Taylor stopped it at 2:21. Continue reading “Corona, Akhmedov victorious”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBO#9, IBF#9 Keita Obara (25-4-1, 22 KOs), 147, kept his Japanese welterweight belt as he quickly decked JBC#3 Masaya Tamayama (14-3, 8 KOs), 147, in the opening session, opened a gash over the left optic and finally halted him with the deteriorated cut at 2:44 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.  Obara, a 5’11” hard-puncher, failed to win the IBF 140-pound belt with an annihilation by Edward Troyanovsky in Russia in 2016 and lost a unanimous 12-round decision to unbeaten Uzbekistani Kudratillo Abdukakhorov in Pennsylvania in 2019.  Keita, so powerful beyond the Japanese level, kept his national belt twice, and said he would like to meet name world-rated opponents in 2022. Continue reading “IBF/WBO#9 Obara halts Tamayama, keeps Japanese 147lb belt”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (29-0, 26 KOs) of Baltimore retained his world title but he had his hands full in winning a twelve round unanimous decision over IBF #2 Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (22-2, 15 KOs) of Mexico City, Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Scores were 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. Continue reading “Tank gets past Cruz, retains WBA title”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

In a twelve round WBC super welterweight eliminator, 23-year-old, 6’5” Sebastian “Towering Inferno” Fundora (18-0-1, 12KO) was the unanimous decision winner over previously undefeated Sergio Garcia (33-1, 14KO). Judges scored it 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113 and it seemed closer than the first two scorecards.

It was Garcia’s first time fighting in the USA and he entered as the WBC #2 contender while Fundora entered as the WBC #4 contender. Continue reading “Fundora tops Garcia, remains unbeaten”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

In a hotly contested and action-packed WBC middleweight eliminator, Carlos Adames (21-1, 16KO) won a majority decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-4, 10KO) on Sunday night on the Davis-Cruz undercard at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Judges scored the bout 95-95 even, 97-93 Adames and 96-94 Adames. Derevyanchenko during postfight interview didn’t dispute the decision. Adames entered as the WBC #9 contender at 154 pounds while Derevyanchenko entered as the WBC #2 contender at 160 pounds.

Despite the majority decision, it was Adames who controlled the action and who made the 37-year-old Derevyanchenko suddenly look old. Adames was simply too fast and was landing the more impressive punches with Derevyanchenko often in hopeless pursuit. Derevyanchenko had his moments but Adames always rebounded nicely to regain control of the bout with his long reach, superior speed and fleet footwork.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Opening up the Showtime pay per view card, super featherweight Eduardo Ramirez (26-2-3, 12 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico won a unanimous decision over Colombia’s Miguel Marriaga (30-5, 26 KOs) on Sunday night on the Davis-Cruz undercard at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout was a 130lb WBC eliminator. All three judges scored the bout 99-90. Continue reading “Ramirez overcomes Marriaga”

By Rocky Morales at ringside

Journeyman middleweight Vaughn Alexander (16-6-1, 9 KOs) was the upset split decision winner over WBA #5 rated Luis Arias (20-2-1, 9 KOs) on the Davis-Cruz undercard Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It was a sometimes ugly fight with Arias deducted one point for repeatedly shouldering Alexander. After a close fight that could have gone either way, judges scored it 96-93 Arias, overruled by two scores of 96-93 for Alexander. Arias was coming off a big win over Jarret Hurd but still found himself buried off television deep on the undercard against a journeyman fighter. Continue reading “Davis-Cruz undercard results”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBO #13 Japan’s Ryota Toyoshima (15-2-1, 9 KOs), 146.5, successfully kept his OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific welterweight belts as he maintained the pressure on gutsy compatriot Shoki Sakai (26-13-2, 14 KOs), 147, and kept battering downstairs to score a unanimous decision (116-112 twice, 117-111) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Sakai, formerly campaigning under Nacho Beristein in Mexico, came home and lately zoomed up high in the JBC ratings. It was Toyoshima that hurt the durable challenger with persistent body bombardments before Sakai displayed his last surge down the stretch, which, however, was too late to overcome his early deficits on points. Continue reading “Toyoshima keeps OPBF, WBO AP 147lb belts”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

In one of the best bouts for 2021, unbeaten cruiserweight Floyd Masson (11-0, 7 KOs) outscored two-time world cruiserweight challenger Mark Flanagan (25-8, 18 KOs) over ten rounds at the Eatons Hotel, Eatons Hill, Queensland on Saturday to capture the Australian cruiserweight title. Flanagan dropped Masson in round one, but Masson survived to outwork his more experienced opponent in most of the rounds to win a majority decision by scores of Phil Gregory 94-94, Phil Austin 96-92, Roy Saunders 96-92. Continue reading “Masson defeats Flanagan, remains unbeaten”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

WBC lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) of Las Vegas scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (32-2-1, 15 KOs) of South El Monte, California, on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Haney’s speed and reach won the early rounds. JoJo came on in round four and had some good moments after that, but Haney was mostly in control. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 116-112.

Haney came out flashy, displaying the hand speed as Diaz had slow start pawing and working the jab in the opening round. In the second, Haney kept letting his hands go with Diaz working his way in leading with the jab and getting inside getting rough. Diaz began to attack downstairs in round three, Haney continued to show hand speed outworking Diaz but the challenger appeared to be gaining ground inside. It got rough in the fourth as Diaz attempted to connect to the body shoved Haney to the ground, moments later Diaz connected with a solid straight left that got the champ’s attention. Continue reading “Haney defeats Diaz, retains WBC lightweight title”

Junior middleweight Damian “Samurai” Sosa (19-1, 10 KOs) an eight round unanimous decision over bubble star “Cassius” Clay Collard (9-5-3, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the Stockton Auditorium in Stockton, California. Close rounds with judges preferring the aggressive Sosa 79-73, 78-74, 80-72.

Collard defeated three straight unbeaten fighters in 2020, but the clock eventually struck midnight and he dropped two straight. After a stint in MMA, Collard returned to boxing tonight.

In the co-feature, unbeaten super lightweight Manuel Jaimes (12-0-1, 10 KOs) kayoed former WBA interim super bantam champ Moises Flores (25-5-1, ) at 2:12 of round two.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Super lightweight prospect Montana Love (17-0-1, 9 KOs) from Cleveland stopped Carlos Diaz (29-2, 14 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico in three rounds on Saturday night in the Haney-Diaz co-feature at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Love popped the jab in the opening round as Diaz stalked attempting to get inside on Love, there was a light clash of heads but there was not cut. Love scored three knockdowns in round two and finally put him away in the third as a flurry of unanswered punches forced referee Raul Caiz Jr. to stop the fight at 1:22.

Undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill (11-2, 3 KOs) of Chicago retained her titles by crushing Kandi Wyatt (10-4, 3 KO’s) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. McCaskill came out aggressively attacking and connecting with solid with hands snapping Wyatt’s head back. In round two, Wyatt gained her composure and used the jab but McCaskill kept coming working her way inside. Patiently boxing in round three, McCaskill connected Wyatt with a solid one-two combo. Wyatt’s face was busted up in the fourth as McCaskill picked her shots. Connecting precisely in the fifth, McCaskill took it to Wyatt and continued doing a number on her.McCaskill kept the pressure and the referee had finally seen enough stopping the fight at 19 seconds of the seventh.

Undefeated heavyweight Filip Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs) stopped Emir Amatovich (10-1, 7 KOs) in three rounds. It was a slow first round but Hrgovic landed big shots on Amatovich. Patiently boxing in round two, Hrgovic dropped Amatovich twice and finished him off in round three as the referee stopped it after another knockdown at 30 seconds.

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