By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Newly crowned Japanese minimumweight champ Yuni Takada (12-8-3, 6 KOs), 105, came off the canvas in round six and fought hard to retain his national 105-pound belt by a unanimous decision (97-92 twice, 96-93) over Tatsuro Nakashima (11-5-1, 7 KOs), 105, over ten hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Hachioji, Japan. Having acquired the vacant national belt, Takada, handled by former world challenger Tetsuo “Lion” Furuyama, controlled the bout almost all the way except in round six when the champ hit the deck with a vicious right counter to have a narrow escape. Continue reading “Takada barely keeps Japanese 105lb belt”

Undefeated IBF interim welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) scored a spectacular knockout against rugged IBF #2 contender Roiman “Flaco de Oro” Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ennis said Villa was tailor-made for him and he was pretty much correct. Ennis rocked Villa in round six and then dished out punishment in every round until he knocked out Villa with a barrage of punches in round ten. Time was 1:27. Villa was game and tough as they come, but Ennis was simply on another level.

“I want the winner of Errol Spence and Terence Crawford,” said Ennis. “Let’s make it happen. I’ll take on Eimantas Stanionis in a heartbeat. I want to get into the ring one more time before the end of the year to make it three fights. Stanionis, Keith Thurman, Yordenis Ugas, all the top guys out there. Let’s make these fights happen.” Continue reading “Ennis KOs Villa in ten, remains unbeaten”

Former world champion and current WBC #2 super bantamweight Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) destroyed former world title challenger Froilan Saludar (33-7-1, 23 KOs) in round two on Saturday night at the Recinto Ferial Metepec in Metepec, Mexico (90 minutes west of Mexico City). Nery dropped Saludar three times in round two to end it.

Unbeaten lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (15-0, 11 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Haskell “Hackman” Rhodes (28-5-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Schofield dropped Rhodes twice in round seven and once in round eight. In round nine, Schofield suffered a ghastly cut under his left eye, but he finished the fight. Scores were 100-87 3x. Schofield-Rhodes was moved into the main event after the original headliner, Stanionis-Ortiz Jr., fell out just days before fight night.

“It’s boxing, you’re supposed to face adversity inside the ring,” said Floyd Schofield. “I didn’t feel anything when I got the cut, I told the referee, please don’t stop this fight. Rhodes can take a hell of a punch, and I am glad that he’s going back to his family.”

Former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (33-4-1, 15 KOs) scored a spirited ten round unanimous decision over Jerry Perez (14-3-1, 11 KOs). Scores were 97-93, 97-93, 98-92. The bout was shifted from lightweight to welterweight after Diaz weighed in six pounds heavy. Continue reading “Schofield remains unbeaten”

Middleweight “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor (15-1-2, 1 KO) shocked previously unbeaten 6:1 favorite Yoelvis Gómez (6-1, 5 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision on Saturday night in the Ennis-Villa co-feature on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The awkward Marquis dropped Yoelvis in round two and frustrated him all night. Scores were 96-93, 96-93, 99-90.

“We’re fighting at 154 and 160 to keep the window of opportunity as wide as possible,” said Taylor. “Right now we’re calling myself a two-weight division fighter. I’d fight Tim Tszyu because he’s not getting that Jermell Charlo fight. I would like to fight him or anyone in the top five or top 10. It’s time for me to fight the best.”

Meanwhile, it was Heartbreak Hotel for the highly regarded Yoelvis. “I’m frustrated,” he said. “The ref kept getting in the way and wouldn’t let me work in the range I wanted, which was short distance and making Taylor feel me. This is professional boxing, it’s not too much to ask for him to let me go do my job. I’m gonna keep working hard and come back even better. You can count on that.” Continue reading “All Shook Up: Marquis upsets Yoelvis”

WBO #3 super middleweight Diego Pacheco (19-0, 16 KOs) won by impressive fourth round TKO over Manuel Gallegos (19-2-1, 16 KOs) on Friday night at Cintermex in Monterrey, Mexico. Great fight between two big punchers. Pacheco finally dropped Gallegos in round four and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:45. Pacheco, 22, continues to show improvement each time out.

“I’m just that guy,” said Pacheco. “I’m getting better, wiser, stronger. The opposition is getting better, but that’s just raising the level of my performance and you are going to keep seeing that.”

WBC #1 super featherweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (34-1, 31 KOs) scored a spectacular third round knockout over late sub Hector Garcia (20-8-4, 13 KOs). Both came out in round one slinging bombs. Rocky staggered Garcia at the end of round two and finished him with a brutal barrage in round three. The ref stepped in just as Garcia was going down 25 seconds into the round.

“It’s a great victory for me,” said Hernandez. “I’m number one in the WBC and it brings me closer to the fight that I want, O’Shaquie Foster.”

In an exciting clash between former world title challengers, WBO #13 super flyweight Jonathan Rodriguez (24-2-1, 16 KOs) and WBC #11 Israel Gonzalez (28-5-2, 11 KOs) battled to a ten round draw. Good fight with back and forth action and both fighters having their moments. Scores were 96-94 Gonzalez, 96-94 Rodriguez, 95-95.

Other Results:
Neider Valdez KO3 Isaias Ortiz (light flyweight)
Federico Pacheco Jr TKO3 Oscar Heredia (heavyweight)

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Sivenathi Nontshinga (12-0, 9 KOs) retained his IBF light flyweight title for the first time when he outpointed mandatory challenger Reggie Suganob (13-1, 4 KOs) from the Philippines over 12 rounds on Sunday at the International Convention Centre in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Two judges scored it 116-111 and the third judge had it 117-110.

Nontshinga (48,80kg) made a sensational start as he came out fast in the first round to take to fight to Suganob (48.75kg) and just before the bell sent the Filipino down in the center of the ring with right hand to the side of the jaw for a count from referee Deon Dwarte who once again did a fine job of controlling the fight.

However, this is where the excitement ended as the 25-year-old Suganob spent the rest of the fight pushing forward as he tried to score against the elusive Nontshinga, 25, who literally got on his bicycle as he backed up around the ring to score with counterpunches.

This was the pattern of the fight which never rose to any heights with the South African in control even though he spent most of the fight on the retreat, scoring with the cleaner punches. Continue reading “Nontshinga retains IBF light flyweight title”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In the main event of a regional title twinbill, 37-year-old southpaw Japanese Kenta Nakagawa (24-4-1, 12 KOs), 115, kept his WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight belt by completely outmaneuvered previously unbeaten compatriot Joe Shiraishi (11-1-1, 6 KOs), 114.75, to earn a unanimous nod (117-111, 116-112, 115-113) over twelve speedy rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Moving to-and-fro all the way, the lefty champ Nakagawa confused the willing mixer with well-timed counters and lateral movement, and what Shiraishi constantly caught was only air or ghost. Bleeding from a gash on the skull after an accidental butt in round three, the challenger, eleven years his junior at 26, kept stalking the shifty champ no matter how many times he missed the target. With the champ’s fatigue in the championship rounds, Joe went forward to win points in the final two sessions. That wasn’t enough to overcome his early deficits on points. Continue reading “Nakagawa beats Shiraishi, keeps WBO AP 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Good footworker Jukiya Iimura (4-1, 1 KO), 111.75, dethroned previously unbeaten Japanese flyweight champion Josuke Nagata (5-1, no KO), 112, by a hairline majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95) over ten hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. They were formerly amateur rivals with Iimura (amateur mark 63-13) scoring a 3-1 log over Nagata (38-20) in four contests. They each turned professional in 2021, and Nagata upset formerly world rated Ryota Yamauchi (who failed to win the WBO 112-pound belt from Junto Nakatani on an eighth round stoppage last year) to acquire the vacant national belt this April. In his initial defense he thus forfeited his title to his amateur grudge rival, as Iimura convincingly took the initiative in the first half despite the champ Nagata’s last surge. Iimura displayed good skills to cope with the southpaw champ, connecting with good shots upstairs and downstairs and utilizing a lateral mobility. This reporter, however, has a complex feeling on them fighting in quest of the prestigious national belt only with each five pro bouts. Continue reading “Iimura wins Japanese 112lb belt”

By Brad Snyder at ringside

Unbeaten WBO #7, WBA #8, WBC #9 heavyweight Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (15-0, 14 KOs) went the distance for the first time against former IBF heavyweight champion “Prince” Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) on Saturday night at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. Anderson applied pressure from the get-go. Martin, who took the bout on twelve days notice, stayed on his backfoot trying to counter. Anderson dropped Martin at the end of round three with a right hand. Martin began to stand his ground in round five and had a huge round with numerous clean connects. Anderson outworked Martin behind his jab after that. The bout went the full ten with Anderson prevailing by unanimous decision. Scores were 98-91, 99-90, 99-90.

By Brad Snyder at ringside

Unbeaten WBC #5, WBA #5 heavyweight Arslanbek “The Lion” Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs) destroyed previously unbeaten 6’8 Raphael Akpejiori (15-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. Makhmudov dropped Akpejiori twice in round one and the bout was halted after a third knockdown in round two. Time was 1:43. Makhmudov retained his NABF title.

By Brad Snyder at ringside

In a lightweight special feature, 19-year-old southpaw Abdullah Mason (9-0, 8 KOs) impressively knocked out Alex de Oliveira (20-5, 14 KOs) in the second round. Time was 2:18.

Unbeaten junior wlterweight Tiger Johnson (9-0, 5 KOs) defeated Jonathan Montrel (15-2, 10 KOs) by UD (80-72, 80-72, 80-72) over eight rounds.

Dante Benjamin Jr. (7-0, 5 KOs) exploded out of the gate to score a knockdown, then get a stoppage right after his opponent, Mirady Zola got up.  The light heavyweight contest ended with the TKO at the 1:56 mark of the first round.  The loss drops Zola to (4-3, 1 KO).

Super middleweight DeAndre Ware (16-4-2, 9 KOs) won by six round unanimous decision (58-56, 59-55, 59-55) over Decarlo Perez (19-9-1, 6 KOs).

Rance Ward touched leather to the face of fellow junior middleweight Husam Al Mashhadi, often, over six rounds. Ward appeared fresh and was able to walk Mashhadi down during the six rounds to take the majority decision (57-57, 58-56, 59-55) victory and improve to (8-5-1, 2 KOs). Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for Mashhadi (6-1, 6 KOs), who suffered his first loss.

Junior Middleweight Nicklaus Flaz (11-2, 7 KOs) won a close fight by majority decision (76-76, 78-74, 77-75) over previously unbeaten Jahi Tucker (10-1, 5 KOs). The fight, which went all eight rounds, had moments where both fighters showed some ability to throw combinations.

Junior Lightweight Tyler McCreary (18-2-1, 8KOs) got the hometown crowd excited by landing strong left hooks to the body, left hooks to the head, and a strong right cross to his opponent, Deivi Julio (26-14, 16 KOs). Julio, who fought hard, did not have enough to sway the judges. The judges all saw the fight in favor of McCreary (59-54, 57-56, 57-56).

Middleweight Vincenzo Gualtieri (21-0-1, 7 KOs) of Wuppertal, Nordrein-Westfalen, Germany thrilled his local hometown fans by outpointing former Olympian silver medalist Esquiva Falcao (30-1, 20 KOs) of Brazil to win the vacant IBF middleweight world title vacated by Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. The tone of the fight was set early when Gualtieri dropped Falcao in round two. He would stun Falcao in round five but Falcao managed to stay on his feet. In round seven, Falcao was hit with a very low blow and fell to the canvas where the referee proceeded to count him out but stopped and rightfully gave Falcao a full 5 minutes to recover. In round ten, Gualtieri was credited with another knockdown. Gualtieri well ahead at this point and pretty much cruised to the end of the bout. The official scorecards read 117-109 and 116-110 (twice).

In the co-main event, Etinosa “Chapo” Oliha (18-0, 8 KOs) of Italy defeated Julio Alamos (16-1, 9 KOs) of Chile by unanimous decision to win the vacant IBO middleweight world title. The title had also been vacated by Golovkin. It was an even and competitive fight with some very close rounds. Alamos appeared to score a knockdown on Oliha in round two but it was ruled a slip. Alamos had a bad cut on the bridge of his nose at the end of round ten where the ring doctor took a close look at it before allowing him out for round eleven. Alamos had a strong round eleven where he pressed the entire round. In the end, Oliha landed the overall harder connects. The official scorecards were 116-112 and 115-113 (twice) all in favor to Oliha. Almos was attempting to become Chile’s first world champion

The event took place Unihalle Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Nordrein-Westfalen, Germany and was televised on ESPN Knockout in Latin America.

Former WBO middleweight world champion Savannah Marshall (13-1, 10 KOs) dethroned undisputed super middleweight world champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn (8-2, 2 KOs) by ten round majority decision on Saturday at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Ugly fight with lots of wrestling. Scores were 95-95, 99-92, 97-92.

Unified junior middleweight world champion Natasha Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) stopped former two-time title challenger Kandi Wyatt (11-5, 3 KOs) to claim the vacant IBF welterweight crown. Referee Marcus McDonnell waved off the one-sided affair in round eight.

Unbeaten super lightweight Dalton “Thunder” Smith (15-0, 11 KOs) knocked out “Super” Sam Maxwell (17-2, 11 KOs) in round seven on Saturday night at Sheffield, England’s Utilita Arena. With the British and Commonwealth titles on the line, Smith connected with a massive right hand that ended Maxwell’s night. Time was 1:34.

By Robert Coster

On Friday night, female Dominican boxer Claribel Mena (11-1, 7 KOs) won the WBA Fedelatin jr middleweight belt with a third round TKO over Colombian Paulina Cardona (25-29-7, 11 KOs) at the Mauricio Baez Club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

In other results, WBA flyweight title contender Norberto Jimenez (32-10-6, 17 KOs) won by KO in three rounds over Venezuelan Gilbert Gonzalez (18-6-1, 13 KOs). Female lightweight Vivian Rodriguez (4-0) upset crowd darling Dyana Vargas (16-1, 10 KOs) with an eight round decision. Lightweight Misael Vazquez (13-4-1, 11 KOs) fought a six round draw with US amateur standout Kaipos Gallegos (1-0, 1 KO). The crowd in attendance generally felt that Vasquez deserved the win. A rematch would be called for.

Promoter : Shuan Boxing Promotion

Flyweight Gustavo “Smiley” Perez (11-1, 2 KOs) of Ensenada, Mexico unanimously decisioned countryman Carlos Zaleta (11-2, 7 KOs) over ten rounds on Friday night at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico with ESPN Knockout in Latin America televising the event. Zaleta pressed the action the entire fight to his credit but it was not effective aggression. Southpaw Perez was too elusive defensively and very accurate offensively with a variety of punches he landed throughout the bout. The official judges’ scorecards reflected Perez’ performance at 100-90 and 99-91 (twice).

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former IBF champ TJ Doheny (24-4, 17 KOs), 122, annexed the WBO Asia Pacific 122-pound belt by very impressively dropping defending titlist WBO#13 Kazuki Nakajima (14-2-1, 12 KOs), 121.75, twice and finally halting the damaged Japanese at 2:32 of the fourth session in a scheduled twelve on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. It was in 2018 that the Irish southpaw Doheny dethroned IBF ruler Ryosuke Iwasa by a close but unanimous decision at the same Hall. Since then, TJ’s career was seemingly declining as he lost his world belt to Dniel Roman, dropped a decision to Michael Conlan and Sam Goodman, but the 36-year-old veteran displayed his power alive in demolishing Nakajima with furious attacks midway in the fourth. Nakajima badly hit the deck twice and forfeited his regional belt to the Irish lefty who now has three victories over as many Japanese boxers. Doheny can still fight. Continue reading “Doheny stops Nakajima, wins WBO AP 122lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBO #10, IBF #14 elongated southpaw prospect Toshiki Shimomachi (17-1-2, 11 KOs), 122, impressively acquired the vacant Japanese super bantam belt as he utilized his advantageous height and reach, kept moving and oujabbing hard-punching Ryuto Owan (10-2, 6 KOs), 121.5, and pounded out a unanimous decision(97-93 twice, 98-93) over ten on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Except in rounds three and nine, it was a nearly lopsided affair with Shimomachi, a 5’10.5” lanky jabber, outpunching the shorter hard-hitter to steadily pile up points. The talented winner is gunning for a future fortune either in the 122-pound or 126-pound categories. Shimomachi, 26, had entered the world top ten thanks to his upset victory over then world rated Jeo Santisima last December. Continue reading “Shimomachi defeats Owan for Japanese 122lb belt”

Unbeaten super lightweight Kurt Scoby (12-0, 10 KOs) demolished 39-year-old former world title challenger Hammerin’ Hank Lundy (31-14, 14 KOs) in two rounds on Thursday night at Sony Hall in Times Square Manhattan. Scoby dropped Lundy in round two, then put him down again moments later to end it. Time was 1:54. Afterward in the ring, Lundy announced that this was his last fight.

Super welterweight Brian Ceballo (15-1, 7 KOs) dominated Mitch Louis-Charles (7-4-2, 4 KOs) over eight rounds. Ceballo dropped Charles in round five en route to a 80-71, 79-72, 79-72 win.

Unbeaten super lightweight Matthew “Lefty Gunz” Gonzalez (13-0-1, 8 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over speedster Terell Bostic (7-2, 1 KO). Scores were It’s owned by Disney78-74, 77-75, 77-75.

Other Results:
Arnold Gonzalez W6 Alejandro Munera (welterweight)
Raymond Cuadrado W4 Yeuri Andujar (super featherweight)

Former WBC light flyweight champion Pedro “Pedrin” Guevara (40-3, 22 KOs), now competing at super flyweight, scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Miguel “Joyita” Herrera (22-6-5, 8 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Centro de Eventos Figlostase in Culiacan, México. Guevara landed cleanly and often en route to a 100-90 3x. Guevara hasn’t lost since 2017, winning ten consecutive fights.

In a direct rematch, WBC strawweight champion Panya Pradabsri a.k.a. Petchmanee CP Freshmart (40-1, 24 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over very game 38-year-old challenger Norihito Tanaka (20-10, 10 KOs) on Wednesday in a temporary outdoor arena in Rayong, Thailand. Pradabsri dropped Tanaka in round one and staggered him in round three. After four rounds, WBC open scoring had Pradabsri ahead 40-35, 39-36, 39-36. In round eight, Tanaka’s cornerman dashed into the ring to save his fighter from further punishment.

Pradabsri previously outpointed Tanaka in an entertaining fight eleven months ago .

This past Friday at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA, super lightweights Jesus Saracho (13-1-1, 11 KOs) of Guanajuato, MX, and Tarik Zaina (12-0-1, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, MX, fought to a majority draw in Thompson Boxing’s Locked ‘N Loaded 10-round main event. Saracho, who was defending his WBO Latino title, lost his belt at the scale, giving Zaina a golden opportunity to capture his first belt. The title is now vacated. Continue reading “Late Results from California”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBC flyweight champ Daigo Higa (20-2-1, 18 KOs), 117.75, Japan, proved too powerful for WBA #3 super fly Sirichai Thaiyen (64-5, 24 KOs), 117.75, as he dropped the Thailander four times—twice in round two and each once in rounds three and four—finishing him for the count at 1:34 of the fourth session in a scheduled ten beneath the Ioka-Franco rematch on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Sirichai (AKA Yodmongkol CP Freshmart), who had failed to win the WBA 112-pound belt from Artem Dalakian via eighth round in Kiev in 2018, looked very fragile, often hitting the deck with Higa’s continual combinations upstairs and downstairs.

Having lost his WBC fly belt to Cristofer Rosales on a ninth round surrender in 2018 and also forfeited his WBO AP bantam title to puzzling lefty Ryosuke Nishida on points in 2021, Higa was said to get into a slump but this impressive victory over the highly ranked WBA contender Sirichai may open a way to win back a world belt in the near future.

Promoter: Shisei Promotions.

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By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBO AP feather champ Musashi Mori (14-1-1, 7 KOs), 129.75, participated in a grudge fight with Takuya Watanabe (39-12-2, 21 KOs), 130, defeated him this time by a unanimous decision (all 117-110) over twelve and seized the vacant OPBF 130-pound belt on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Having drawn with him by all 114-114 tallies last March, Mori, 23, a southpaw prospect and Kazuto Ioka’s stablemate, positively mixed it up from the outset, kept his lead on points with his aggressiveness despite Watanabe’s occasional retaliation and confirmed his victory with a significant knockdown in the final session. A southpaw left caught the 34-year-old veteran and sent him reeling to the canvas down the stretch. Continue reading “Mori beats Watanabe, wins vacant OPBF 130lb belt”