By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten “Monster” Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), 121.75, impressively retained his undisputed super bantamweight belts when he survived a first round visit to the deck, knocked down Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs), 121, back in rounds two and five, and finally scored a bad knockdown again to cause the referee’s well-received intervention at 1:22 of the sixth round on Saturday at Tokyo Dome, Japan. It was truly a give-and-take affair that fully entertained the huge crowd and oversees streaming viewers as well. Some 43,000 spectators were in attendance at the Dome.

The Tokyo Dome had been used for boxing events just twice—for the Mike Tyson versus Tony Tubbs bout at the Dome opening ceremony in 1988 and for the historical upset of Tyson’s shocking defeat by James Buster Douglas in 1990. In thirty-four years since it was “Monster” Inoue that opened the Dome’s door for a boxing promotion, though Naoya wasn’t Madonna, Michael Jackson or Taylor Swift (who lately performed four days straight at the Dome this February).

In the first round, Inoue, 31, looked too eager to demonstrate his very best performance when he began to throw a big opening shot as if he wished to finish Luis Nery, 29, with a single shot. The thick-bearded Mexican being welcomed by loud booing of the audience because of his previous overweight scandal six years ago, he stayed cautious to feel out the champ Inoue’s strategy. Continue reading “Inoue halts Nery, keeps undisputed 122lb belts”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda 

Unbeaten southpaw Japanese Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs), 117.75, captured the WBA bantamweight belt as he surprisingly upset prohibitive favorite Jason Moloney (27-3, 19 KOs), 117.75, from Australia, and scored a unanimous decision over twelve rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Scored: Benoit Roussel (Canada) and Ellis Johnson (US) both 116-111, and Lou Moret (US) 117-110, all in favor of the lefty challenger. Referee was Steve Willis (US).

Moloney inexplicably stayed too cautious to positively throw combinations as usual, while Takei, formerly K-1 kickboxing titlist, remained more aggressive to the more experienced champ. Continue reading “Takei upsets Moloney, wins WBO 118lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA bantamweight titlist Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KOs), 117.75, came off the canvas in the first round, dominated the proceedings and retained his belt by a unanimous decision over WBA#1 Sho Ishida (34-4, 17 KOs), 117.75, over twelve fast rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Pinit Prayadsab (Thailand) and Kazunobu Asao (Japan) both tallied 118-109, and Michiaki Someya (Japan) saw it 116-111 all in Takuma’s favor. Referee was Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico).

The champ hit the deck with the challenger’s countering left hook over his jab in the initial session, but Takuma quickly regained his rhythm and timing from the second round on. Takuma positively mixed it up in the close range all the way, punishing the much taller Ishida with repeated uppercuts to the face. Continually nose-bleeding, Ishida couldn’t cope with Takuma’s aggression thereafter.

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA flyweight champ Seigo Yuri Akui (20-2-1, 11 KOs), 112, successfully made his first defense as he kept stalking elusive footworker Taku Kuwahara (13-2, 8 KOs), 112, maintained the pressure and pounded out a unanimous decision over twelve rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. The scores read: Pinit Prayadsab (Thailand), Jose Roberto Torres (Puerto Rico) both 117-111, and Yoshikazu Furuta (Japan) 118-110, all in favor of the aggressive champ.

It was their rematch since Akui scored a tenth and final round knockout over Kuwahara in then defending his national flyweight belt in 2021. The champ proved again he’s more powerful in swapping punches to force the challenger to stick his circling strategy. Taku occasionally attempted to respond to Seigo’s aggression, but his retaliation was not enough to take back the initiative and overcome his deficits on points.

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In the curtain raiser of the Inoue-Nery gigantic promotion at Tokyo Dome, former IBF junior feather champ TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), 121.75, decked an easy TKO victory over previously unbeaten Filipino Bryl Bayogos (7-1-1, 2 KOs), 121.5, at 2:51 of the fourth round in a scheduled eight on Monday. Doheny quickly caught the still nervous and stiff Filipino and dropped him with solid body shots twice in the third, and followed up so furiously that the referee called a well-timed halt in round four, when Bayogos fell down again. Continue reading “Ex-IBF champ Doheny stops Filipino Bayogos”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) scored an exciting twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten former 154lb champion Jaime Munguía (43-1, 34 KOs) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Munguía was more than willing to exchange with Canelo and often got the better of the early exchanges.

The turning point came when Canelo dropped Munguia at the end of round four with a right uppercut.

The momentum then changed to begin the fifth as Munguia fought at a calmer pace. Canelo began to counter effectively with solid shots and swing with the uppercut. Continue reading “Canelo defeats Munguia, still undisputed”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

WBC interim welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 19 KO’s) won a hard fought unanimous decision against Argentina’s Fabián “TNT” Maidana (22-3, 16 KO’s), the younger brother of former world champion Marcos Maidana, in the Canelo-Munguia co-feature on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Argentinian Maidana applied the pressure early on as Barrios boxed patiently looking for openings. An overhand right in the third by Barrios found its mark as sent Maidana to the canvas.

Barrios continued to box behind the jab and stalk Maidana, connecting boldly in the process at the halfway mark in the sixth. It was the Azteca that appeared to be conquering his way to victory, passed the halway mark in the seventh Barrios kept at it applying the pressure. Despite boxing effectively, Barrios’s right eye was shut heading into the eighth Continue reading “Barrios beats Maidana, keeps WBC interim title”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

WBC interim featherweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KO’s) of Weslaco, Texas scored a knockout over hometown former world champion Jessie Magdaleno (29-3, 18 KO’s) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. A crunching body shot by Figueroa put Magdaleno down on his knees. Referee Allen Huggins reached a ten count at 2:59 of the ninth.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Lithuania handed two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre (6-1-1, 5 KO’s) from Barcelona, Venezuela his first defeat in winning a twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Neither shyed away in the opening bell as Stanionis and Maestre exchanged at a fast pace. Picking up where they left off, Stanionis and Maestre worked inside and let their hands go in round two. Staying busy in the third, Stanionis applied pressure as Maestre held his ground and mixed it up. Stanionis began to land big in the fourth as he connected with a hard right, the Venezuelan went downstairs to the body. Continue reading “Stanionis retains WBA welterweight title”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Phoenix’s super welterweight Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KO’s) returned to the ring with a late stoppage of Venezuela’s Johan Gonzalez (34-3, 33 KO’s). It was a tough battle for Ramos as he suffered a cut on the right eye from an accidental head-butt. Gonzalez kept coming and applied pressure late in the fight. However a left by Ramos dropped Gonzalez late in the fight as he was up but Ramos finished him dropping him a second time as the referee waved it at 2:56 of the ninth.

Super welterweight Vito Mielnicki (18-1, 12 KO’s) of New Jersey defeated Ronald Cruz (19-4-1, 12 KO’s) of Los Angeles over ten rounds. Mielnicki dropped Cruz with a left hook in the third. Cruz was down once again in the fourth. Cruz displayed toughness bouncing off the canvas and hanging in. It was all Mielnicki the second half of the fight as he worked his way to the decision. 99-89, 98-90, and 96-92.

Undefeated Mexican super bantamweight Alan Picasso (28-0-1, 16 KO’s) of Mexico City remained unbeaten as he scored a fifth round stoppage over Damien Vasquez (17-4-1, 10 KO’s) of Las Vegas. Timenof the stoppage was 2:11. Picasso is rated WBC #2 in the 122lb division.

Undefeated Cuban super middleweight William Scull (22-0, 9 KO’s) won a clear unanimous decision over Sean Hemphill (16-2, 10 KO’s) of New Orleans. Scull scored a knockdown in rout to the decision win. Judges scores were 79-72, 78-73, and 76-75. Scull is the IBF #1 super middleweight and mandatory challenger for a shot at the title.

Light heavyweight Lawrence King (16-1, 13 KOs) rolled over Anthony Holloway (7-5-3, 6 KOs) in a six rounder. Scores were 59-55 3x.

Mexican lightweight Adrian Torres (9-0, 6 KO’s) won a unanimous decision over Arsen Poghosyan (3-2-1, 2 KO’s). Torres dominated as all three judges scored the bout 60-54.

In the opening bout from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Lightweight prospects Julian Bridges (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Antioch, California and San Diego’s Jabin Chollet (9-1, 7 KO’s) squared off. It was Bridges that boxed his way to a unanimous decision victory. All three judges scored the bout 59-55.

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten southpaw speedster IBF#1 Ryosuke Nishida (9-0, 1 KO), 118, astoundingly dethroned IBF bantamweight champ Emmanuel Rodriguez (22-3, 13 KOs), 117.75, by winning an upset unanimous decision (115-112 twice, 117-110) over twelve speedy rounds on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. Nishida, less experienced and less powerful, was an undoubted underdog, but produced such an upset with his cleverness and positiveness. Ryosuke, formerly a Kinki university amateur boxer, had upset ex-WBC flyweight champ Daigo Higa in his fourth pro bout, which made him enter the world ratings. Rodriguez, four years his senior at 31, might have underestimated the Japanese challenger due to his very low knockout ratio, and he was less aggressive only to aim at a solid counter at a time in the beginning of the contest. Nishida, on the other hand, diligently put on a workman-like aggression and took the initiative for the first two rounds. Though the champ was in command in round three, Nishida found it groundbreaking and effective to score with body attacks from the fourth, when he surprisingly dropped the Puerto Rican on hands and knees. Continue reading “Nishida upsets Rodriguez, wins IBF 118lb belt”

Undefeated WBC #3, WBA #3, WBO #3, IBF #7 super middleweight Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs) and Shakeel Phinn (26-3-2, 17 KOs) battled to a ten round draw on Thursday night at Casino de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bazinynan got all he could handle from Phinn, who pressed the action and seemed to do more. Scores were 97-93 Phinn, 96-94 Bazinyan, 95-95.

The debut card of Dominic Walton’s Teflon Promotions was one to remember. A huge lineup of Philadelphia’s biggest name fighters and future stars saw action on Saturday at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University.

In the main event, heavyweight Andrew “Beast” Tabiti (21-2, 17 KOs) demolished Junior “Hurricane” Wright (20-5, 17 KOs). In the co-feature, light heavyweight Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (31-3, 25 KOs) stopped Daniel Aduku (15-5, 11 KOs) in round five. Other notables in action included heavyweight Joey “Tank” Dawejko (28-11, 15 KOs), who halted Walter Burns (7-2, 5 KOs) after three rounds, and super lightweight “Hammerin’ Hank” Lundy (32-14, 14 KOs), who won a six round split decision over Juan De La Cruz (11-23-1, 7 KOs).

Other Results:
Nikita “White Chocolate” Ababiy TKO1 Jesus Cruz Silva (middleweight)
Muhsin Cason TKO1 DeShon Webster (cruiserweight)
Dylan Price TKO2 Sebastian Franzolini (bantamweight)
Juan Rivera TKO1 DeAndre Menser (super lightweight)
Juan Marrero KO1 Daniel McCall (lightweight)
Seifullah Jihad Wise W4 Aaron Newmones (welterweight)
Tariq Green D4 Rancy Slanger (middleweight)

Former unified super lightweight world champion Jose Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) scored an exciting twelve round unanimous decision over 38-year-old former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at the Save Mart Center In Fresno, California. Ramirez applied tremendous pressure and punch volume, however Barthelemy rocked Ramirez with straight lefts on multiple occasions. Ramirez took over midway as Barthelemy wore down. Scores were 119-108, 119-109, 118-110.

Undefeated super welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) demolished Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a body shot 2:39 into round one. Dulorme went down for the count. Ortiz is now lined up to face former world champion Tim Tszyu on August 3 in Los Angeles.

In a super lightweight clash, Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) hammered on former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (33-6-1, 15 KOs) for nine rounds, ultimately getting a referee’s stoppage at 2:32. Duarte simply outworked Diaz, who has now lost five of his last six.

Female flyweight Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs) claimed the WBC, WBA, and WBO titles by split decision in a rematch with former world champion Marlen Esparza (14-2, 1 KO), who lost her belts on the scale on Friday. Alaniz pressed the action and won 97-93, 96-94 on two cards. Esparza was up 98-92 on the third card.

Unbeaten NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) destroyed Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2, 7 KOs) in the first round. Two knockdowns from body shots. Time was 1:31.

By Damien St.Pierre

Current NABA Gold Heavyweight champion Jonathan “King” Guidry secured his 21st victory as a professional boxer on Friday night at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS, and he did it in very convincing fashion. Guidry (21-1-1, 13 KOs) who is also currently ranked #13 by the WBA walked down Mobile, AL’s Bobby O’Bannon (10-8, 10 KOs) from the opening round. Round one saw Guidry go to work on the body of his opponent. To his credit O’Bannon did put up a fight and landed a good right hand in the middle of the round but not enough to keep the round close.

The second and final round saw Guidry turn up the pressure and landed a chopping right hand followed by left hand that put O’Bannon down. O’Bannon beat the count but was on extremely unsteady legs and official Brandon Huges stopped the bout shortly after. Continue reading ““King” Guidry Reigns Supreme”

In a clash between unbeaten super welterweights, Yoenis Tellez (8-0, 6 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over “Action” Joseph Jackson (19-1, 15 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando, Florida. Tellez dropped Jackson in round two en route to a 100-89 3x shutout.

World rated super bantamweight Ramon Cardenas (25-1, 14 KOs) scored a ninth round KO against Eduardo “Koreano” Ramirez (22-4-2, 16 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida. Cardenas ended a close, competitive fight with a bodyshot. Time was 1:37.

Super welterweight Damian Sosa (25-2, 12 KOs) upset previously unbeaten local hero Marques Valle (10-1, 8 KOs) by split decision over ten rounds. Scores were 96-94, 97-93 Sosa, 98-92 Valle.

Former world champion Ronny Rios (34-4, 17 KOs) won his featherweight debut by fifth round KO against Nicolas Polanco (21-6, 12 KOs). Body shots finished Polanco. Time was :54.

Unbeaten super welterweight Nikita Tszyu (9-0, 7 KOs) scored a mostly one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Danilo Creati (8-2-1, 1 KO) on Wednesday night in a clash for the Aussie domestic title at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, NSW, Australian. Tszyu dominated the first five rounds, including a knockdown in round two when Creati’s glove touched the canvas. A Creati right hand rocked Tszyu in round six and had Tszyu holding on. After that, Tszyu was back in charge for the rest of the fight to win comfortably.

Nikita is the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and brother of former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.

In an IBF light heavyweight eliminator, unbeaten IBF #14 Malik Zinad (22-0, 16 KOs) won a twelve round majority decision over IBF #4 Jerome Pampellone (18-1, 11 KOs). Score were 117-111, 117-111, and 114-114. Zinad becomes the mandatory IBF challenger for the winner of the undisputed clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on June 1.

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat Magazine

Hard-punching perennial contender Tsubasa Narai (13-2, 10 KOs), 129.5, very impressively wrested the Japanese super feather belt when he dropped defending champ Yuna Hara (14-3-1, 8 KOs), 129.75, three times and scored a fine TKO victory at 2:10 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. Like a triangle, Narai previously put on a give-and-take performance with JBC 130-pound champ Kosuke Saka only to lose on a come-from-behind TKO defeat last September, and it was Hara that dethroned Saka via upset stoppage in April last year. Narai looked so sharp and powerful this night that he decked the champ with a vicious left hook in round four and twice more in the fatal fifth. Despite a five-inch height disadvantage Narai swarmed over the taller titlist and exploded touted strong shots to dispatch the prefight favorite.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.

Photos: Emily Harney

“KingRy” Ryan Garcia (26-1, 20 KOs) scored a twelve round majority decision over previously unbeaten WBC super lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. With Garcia’s erratic behavior before the fight and failure to make weight by 3.2 pounds, on one knew what to expect. Garcia rocked Haney with a left hook in round one. Haney outboxed Garcia from round two to six. Garcia dropped Haney with a left hook in round seven, but Garcia was also deducted a point for hitting on the break. Garcia dropped Haney a second time in round ten. Garcia dropped Haney again in round eleven. Scores were 112-112, 114-110, 115-109. Since Garcia didn’t make weight, Haney remains champion.

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Unbeaten WBO #1, WBC #6, IBF #7 super lightweight Arnold Barboza Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs) scored a controversial ten round split decision over WBO #8 Sean “The Public Nuisance” McComb (18-2, 5 KOs). The lanky and awkward McComb controlled the action and never let Barbosa into the fight. Scores were 98-92 McComb, 96-94, 97-93 for Barbosa. The fans booed the decision.

WBA #5, WBO #10, WBC #14 super middleweight Bektemir “The Bully” Melikuziev (14-1, 10 KOs) took an eight round technical decision over previously unbeaten Pierre Dibombe (22-1-1, 12 KOs). Dibombe was cut over the right eye from a headbutt early on. Melikuziev later suffered a deep cut over the left eye. Melikuziev dropped Dibombe in round five. The bout was stopped at the beginning of round eight and went to the scorecards with Melikuziev winning 79-73, 79-73, 78-74.

In a fight for the WBA interim super flyweight title, WBA #5 David “Medallita” Jimenez (16-1, 11 KOs) outworked previously unbeaten WBA #1 John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) over twelve rounds. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 116-112.

WBC #3 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (19-0, 14 KOs) won his Golden Boy debut by sixth round TKO against Nathaniel Gallimore (22-8-1, 17 KOs). Conwell battered Gallimore until a referee’s stoppage at :52 of the sixth.

WBC #7 super middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) shut out Vaughn Alexander (18-11-1, 11 KOs) over ten rounds. Derevyanchenko dropped Vaughn with a body shot in round eight en route to a 100-89 3x decision.

Unbeaten super middleweight Darius Fulghum (11-0, 10 KOs) stopped Cristian Olivas (22-11, 19 KOs) in round four.

Unbeaten super middleweight Amari Jones (12-0, 11 KOs) halted Armel Mbumba-Yassa (10-2, 7 KOs) in round six.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated super lightweight Cain Sandoval, (13-0, 11 KOs), of Sacramento, CA and Angel ‘Sharky’ Rebollar, (8-4, 3 KOs) of South Gate, California went the distance Saturday night at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California in headlining Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions Hollywood Fight Nights series. The fight saw Sandoval earn a hard fought decision against a very tough elusive Rebollar. Continue reading “Cain Sandoval remains unbeaten”

Unbeaten WBO #10, WBC #15 lightweight KO artist Sam Noakes (14-0, 13 KOs) dominated 38-year-old veteran Yvan Mendy (48-7-1, 22 KOs) over twelve rounds to claim the vacant EBU European title on Saturday night at York Hall in London. Noakes went the distance for the first time, winning 120-108 3x.

More than three years since his last ring appearance, former super welterweight world title challenger Brandon “The Cannon” Adams (24-3, 16 KOs) scored a third round KO against Ismael “Maelo” Villarreal (13-3, 9 KOs) on Friday night at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Adams, last seen stopping current WBC interim 154lb world champion Serhii Bohachuk in eight rounds back in March 2021, took out Villarreal with a brutal left hook to the liver. Time was 2:59.

Adams-Villarreal was a first round match in an 8-man OTX 154lb tournament. In another first round affair, unbeaten Olympian Francisco “Bebu” Veron 14-0-1, 10 KOs) outworked Angel “Relampago” Ruiz (18-3-1, 13 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 99-91, 100-90, 96-94.

In the main event, super lightweight gatekeeper Dakota “Lone Wolf” Linger (14-6-3, 10 KOs) upset previously unbeaten Kurt “Scooby” Scoby (13-1, 11 KOs). Linger pressed the action and turned the fight into a brawl. The bout was stopped with Linger punishing Scoby at 2:21 of round six. Scoby was a 50:1 betting favorite.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In Japan, a failure to make weight is a crime to be severely criticized and punished logically and morally. Therefore, our boxers endeavor to make weight to have this sports fair and square. So, Luis Nery had been suspended indefinitely by the JBC though lately revoked to materialize his WBC mandatory shot at “Monster” Naoya Inoue as ordered by the WBC. Under our strict circumstances undefeated highly expected prospect WBC#8, WBA#10 featherweight Hayato Tsutsumi shamefully failed to make weight by no less than three and a half pounds against ex-WBA bantam ruler Anselmo Moreno in a 126-pound contracted bout in Tokyo, Japan.

Tsutsumi (5-0, 2 KOs), 129.5, displayed his superior physical power and finished currently WBA#9 Panamanian Moreno (43-7-1, 15 KOs), 125.25, at 2:45 of the third round in a scheduled ten on Wednesday. The audience jeered his overweight scandal rather than praised his victory after he dropped the 38-year-old soldier twice and for the full count. Continue reading “Overweight WBC#8 Tsutsumi halts ex-champ Moreno”

By Ron Jackson

In a brilliant exhibition of boxing South Africa’s Ricardo Malajika (13-2, 9 KOs) completely outboxed and outthought Marcel Braithwaite (16-4-1, 1 KO) from England to retain the IBO junior bantamweight title for the first time, at Emperors Palace near Kemp Park on Saturday night.

The scores handed in by the judges, Jeun –Robert Laine, Allan Matakane and Roger Barnor were all 120-108 in favour of the champion. Continue reading “Malajika retains IBO title on a complete shutout”