By Damon Gonzalez/LatinBox Sports

In the 10-round main event Saturday night at the Elevation Event Center in Chester, Pennsylvania, presented by Price Promotions, highly talented Dylan Price (15-0, 9 KOs) of Sicklerville NJ. became the NBA bantamweight world champion by scoring a ten round unanimous decision win over a very game Drew Correll (10-3, 8 KOs) of Danville, Virginia by way of Glassboro, New Jersey. Judges’ scorecards were 98-92, 99-91 2x in favor of Price. Continue reading “Price tops Correll in decision win”

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

In the Garcia-Fortuna co-main event on Saturday night at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, welterweight Alexis Rocha from nearby Santa Ana pressured Luis Veron out of Buenos Aires, Argentina all night and won a one-sided unanimous decision with scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91. The southpaw Rocha attacked Veron from the opening bell as he touched Veron with his right jab and hard left to the body and head. In round 5, Rocha picked up the pace and battered Veron from post to post but could not finish off the savvy veteran. Rocha continued to push forward against Veron over the second half of the fight but could not land the significant shot to put away the Argentinian. And although Veron engaged more the final few rounds, he spent most of the night on his bicycle to avoid the power of Rocha. In the end, Rocha earned the easy decision and the NABO welterweight title in doing so.

By Miguel Maravilla and Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Washington D.C. super featherweight Lamont Roach Jr. (23-1-1, 9 KOs) won a lackluster unanimous decision over Angel Rodriguez of Columbia (20-2, 10 KO’s) in a twelve round WBA 130lb eliminator on the Garcia-Fortuna undercard at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Roach boxed aggressively early in the fight taking the fight to Rodriguez. Letting his hands go in the third, Rodriguez connected with a low blow as Roach took a knee in pain, Roach recovered and was up fighting. Roach staggered Rodriguez with a right hand in the fifth as he stalked the Colombian throughout the round. Momentum appeared to be going Roach’s way in the sixth as he backed Rodriguez and connected with combination late in the round. Boxing patiently in the seventh, Roach attacked smart backing and limiting Rodriguez. In the eighth, Rodriguez appeared to be fading as Roach kept coming staying on top of the limited Rodriguez.

In the ninth, Roach stayed on top of Rodriguez scoring points and painting up Rodriquez behind the jab staying busy. The whistles began to fill the arena with noise in the tenth as L.A fans began to boo, Roach’s dominance of Rodriguez. Roach boxed in the eleventh as he was obviously ahead on the cards outworking Rodriguez. Stalking in the twelfth and final round, Roach pressed behind the jab as Rodriguez held on in making it the distance. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112.

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In a WBA flyweight title eliminator, David Jimenez (12-0, 9 KOs) out of Cartago, Costa Rica stunned the local, crowd favorite Ricardo “El Nino” Sandoval (20-2, 15 KOs) from Rialto, CA with a come from behind majority decision 114-112 twice, 113-113. Through the first six rounds, Sandoval picked his spots and tried to neutralize the constant movement of Jimenez as neither fighter could gain control. But in the 7th round, the tide appeared to change as referee Thomas Taylor deducted a point on Jimenez for holding. This seemed to energize Sandoval, as he came out firing in the eighth, which started with a left hook to the body that clearly hurt the Costa Rican. Sandoval smelled blood and went on the attack and dropped bombs to the head and body on Jimenez, who showed his toughness and survived the round. Jimenez was no longer coming forward as Sandoval was now in complete control until the fateful eleventh round. After a missed right hand by Sandoval, Jimenez stepped back and landed a flush right on the jaw of Sandoval that sent him to the canvas. Jimenez was now looking to stop Sandoval who did his best to survive to the final bell. Jimenez pulled out the victory to the dismay of the pro-Sandoval crowd and remained undefeated, while Sandoval lost for only the second time as his 16-fight winning streak came to a halt in dramatic fashion.

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Unbeaten minimumweight Oscar Collazo (5-0, 3 KOs) of Puerto Rico won a unanimous decision over Victor Saludar (21-6, 11 KOs) in a WBA 105lb eliminator. Collazo worked his way to a hard-fought 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112 judges’verdict. Continue reading “Roach, Jiminez, Collazo win WBA eliminators”

Hamzah Sheeraz is the new WBC Silver middleweight champion following a fifth round stoppage victory of the rugged Francisco Torres. Mark Heffron scored a title treble by halting Lennox Clark, Dennis McCann won the WBC International Silver belt with an eighth round stoppage of James Beech Jr and Nick Ball retained his WBC Silver title with a defeat of Nathanael Kokololo at the Copper Box Arena. Details…

IBF #9 light heavyweight Michael Eifert (10-1, 4 KOs) and Adriano Sperandio (14-1, 2 KOs) fought ten close rounds with neither fighter really seizing the initiative. In the end, Eifert prevailed 96-95, 98-92, 96-95 to claim the vacant IBF Intercontinental strap on Saturday night at the Maritim Hotel in Magdeburg, Germany.

Light heavyweight Tom Dzemski (20-1, 11 KOs) beat up previously unbeaten Alexander Lorch (7-1, 4 KOs) for three one-sided rounds and Lorch didn’t come out for round four. Dzemski, son of former fringe contender Dirk Dzemski, claimed the German domestic 175lb title. Continue reading “IBF #9 Eifert edges Sperandio”

In a clash between undefeated junior welterweight contenders, WBO #8, WBC #11 Arnold Barboza Jr. (27-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over WBO #10 Danielito Zorrilla (16-1, 12 KOs) on Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,836 at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. Barboza outworked Zorilla in a tough, gritty fight and survived getting rocked in the final stanza to win 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

“I was a little rusty,” said Barboza afterward. “It’s been awhile. I’m not going to be inactive like that no more, man. I’m going to be fighting constantly. I was more off balance {in the 10th round}. I was right there. Once you saw me off balance, I was right back to my thing. Shout out to my conditioning. My conditioning was on point. My manager knows, if we can’t get a title shot, you know who it is. We want Teofimo. It’s either a title shot or him.” Continue reading “Barboza defeats Zorrilla, remains unbeaten”

Former WBA super welterweight champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (35-5-1, 18 KOs) outboxed Florin Cardos (21-4, 9 KOs) buttony came away with an eight round majority decision on Friday night at the Historische Stadthalle in Wuppertal, Germany. Currently rated IBF #5, Trout seemingly won comfortably. Scores 79-73 and 78-76 for Trout. The third card was 76-76.

“I don’t know what fight they were watching,” said Trout afterward. “I want to give thanks to God for bringing me here to be safe, giving me the win as I feel like I deserve even though it seemed like the devil had his hand on some of the judges but not all of them – it wasn’t enough.”

Ageless former WBA cruiserweight champion First Arslan (52-9-3, 37 KOs) destroyed Juan Rodolfo Juarez (20-7, 14 KOs) in two rounds on Friday night at the Historische Stadthalle in Wuppertal, Germany. The 51-year-old Arslan, still rated #6 in the world by the WBA, pressed the action and dropped Juarez twice in round two, prompting Juarez’ corner to throw in the towel. Time was 2:30.

Female super featherweight Ramona Graeff (4-0, 0 KOs) defeated Alys Sanchez (17-8-1, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBA gold title. Scores were 99-91 3x.

Super middleweight Timo Rost (13-1-3, 5 KOs) needed just 42 seconds to take out Mariusz Biskupski (23-50-2, 8 KOs) with a body shot.

Super middleweight Uwel Hernandez (14-1, 7 KOs) outpointed Kamer Maloku (16-3, 13 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 98-92, 97-95, 97-95 to claim the WBA continental title.

Unbeaten lightweight Jaouad Belmehdi (16-0-3, 7 KOs) outpointed James Chereji (17-2, 7 KOs) over eight rounds. 78-73, 77-74, 78-75. Chereji down in round six.

Heavyweight Agron Smakici (19-1, 17 KOs) scored a first round KO over Fernando Almeida (9-6, 9 KOs). Smakici landed two hard jabs and Almeida went down grabbing his nose. Time was 2:44.

By Ricardo Ibarra

Unbeaten welterweight Quinton Randall (10-0-1, 2 KOs) outboxed Ivan “Cobra” Pandzic (14-2-1, 8 KOs) over eight Rigondeaux-like rounds on Thursday night at the Yakama Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington. Randall picked apart Pandzic and was content to cruise to a 78-74, 79-73, 79-73 win.

Unbeaten local super middleweight Andrew “White Lightning” Murphy (6-0, 4 KOs) took a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over journeyman Isiah Jones (9-7, 3 KOs). Murphy, who is trained by Roy Jones Jr., won 79-73, 80-72, 80-72 to claim the NBA America’s title. Continue reading “Randall tops Pandzic remains unbeaten”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

WBO 115-pound champion Kazuto Ioka (29-2, 15 KOs), 115, made his fifth title defense when he decisively avenged his previous loss to Filipino veteran WBO#1 Donnie Nietes (43-2-6, 33 KOs), 114.5, by a unanimous decision over twelve speedy rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. The judges lopsidedly favored Ioka: Gerardo Martinez (Puerto Rico) 118-110, William Lerch (US) 117-111 and Waleska Roldan (US) 120-108. The referee who handled the fast-moving contest very well was Bence Kovacs (Hungary).

It was such a tactical fight of both four-division titlists as a couple of Miguel Cantos kept outboxing and countering each other, but it was Ioka, 33, that displayed more aggressiveness in throwing combinations upstairs and downstairs all the way. Nietes, 40, showed only his cleverness in averting Ioka’s versatile combinations, and failed to retaliate with more effective punches in return. Continue reading “Full Report: Ioka defeats Nietes in rematch”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

ormer WBC flyweight titlist, hard-punching Daigo Higa (18-2-1, 17 KOs), 118, very barely eked out a split decision (76-75, 76-74, 74-77 against him) over ex-world challenger, Filipino Froilan Saludar (32-6-1, 22 KOs), 117.25, over give-and-take eight on the Ioka-Nietes undercard on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.

The fourth witnessed Saludar explode a very vicious right hook that penetrated Higa’s chin and badly dropped him to the canvas. People then thought Higa, flat on the deck, might not be able to stand up and resume fighting, but he barely did. Higa, who forfeited his WBC belt on the scale in his title defense against Cristofer Rosales and was badly stopped by him in 2018, moved up to the bantam category, and acquired the WBO AP belt, but lost it to Ryosuke Nishida via upset decision in April last year. In his comebacking fight, Higa experienced a very tough time with the more skillful Filipino who gamely withstood the ex-champ’s desperate retaliation down the stretch.

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Record-making thirteen-time national amateur champ, very highly expected prospect Hayato Tsutsumi, 125.75, made a successful pro debut by scoring a nearly shutout decision (80-72 twice, 79-73) over OPBF#5 feather Filipino Jhon Gemino (23-14-1, 13 KOs), 125.25, over eight fast heats beneath the Ioka-Nietes WBO junior bantam title bout on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. The 23-year-old Hayato, whose amateur mark was 88-6, once won the national amateur championship by defeating all adult oppositions while he was just a high school student—like “Monster” Naoya Inoue. Already nicknamed “Next Monster”, Tsutsumi displayed his speed and skills against the more experienced and very durable Filipino, sweeping all rounds. This youngster is worth watching. Continue reading ““Next Monster” Tsutsumi makes pro debut”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Workman stylist Makoto Kawasaki (13-8-2, 2 KOs), 153.5, barely retained his Japanese super-welter belt as he fought to a unanimous draw (all 95-95) with JBC#1 Ryosuke Maruki (18-7-2, 13 KOs), 154, over hard-fought ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Having acquired the vacant national belt by defeating Koki Koshikawa on points this April, Kawasaki, the oldest national champ at 38, had a very tough time coping with the perennial contender’s furious last surge from the eighth on. Ryosuke, in his fourth attempt to win the belt, is the son of former world challenger Takao Maruki (who failed to win the WBA 130-pound title from Samuel Serrano in 1978). We may see their rematch soon. Continue reading “Kawasaki draws with Maruki, keeps Japanese 154lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi

WBO 115-pound champion Kazuto Ioka (29-2, 15 KOs), 115, Japan, decisively avenged his previous loss to Filipino veteran WBO #1 Donnie Nietes (43-2-6, 33 KOs), 114.5, by a unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 120-108) over twelve speedy rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was such a tactical fight of the four-division titlists as a couple of Miguel Cantos kept outboxing and countering each other, but it was Ioka, 33, that displayed more aggressiveness in throwing combinations upstairs and downstairs all the way. Nietes, 40, showed only his cleverness in averting Ioka’s versatile combinations, and failed to retaliate with more effective punches in return.

More to come…

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

As expected, knockout artists JBC#3 welterweight Jin Sasaki (12-1-1, 11 KOs), 142, and unbeaten ex-university amateur hard-puncher JBC#18 Kotaro Sekine (3-1, 3 KOs), 141.75, put on a grueling battle, both hit the deck and had the other on the verge of a knockout, and finally fought to a majority draw (56-56 twice, 57-55 for Sasaki) over a give-and-take six on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “KO artists Sasaki, Sekine battle to a grueling draw”

Unbeaten former 122lb champion Rey Vargas (36-0, 22 KOs) dethroned WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. In a slugfest, Vargas stood his ground and gave Magsayo all he could handle. Magsayo dropped Vargas in round nine, but Vargas was far busier throughout the bout. Scores were 115-112, 115-112 Vargas, 114-113 Magsayo.

After the fight, Vargas set his sights on a potential unification fight against four-division world champion and current WBA featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz, a potentially huge Mexico vs. Mexico clash.

“Now I want the unification bout,” said Vargas. “I want to fight Leo Santa Cruz. We’ve already talked about it with my team and I’m ready.”

Unbeaten super flyweight Nico Hernandez (8-0, 4 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over Delvin McKinley (4-3-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Hernandez dropped McKinley in round four en route to a 60-53 3x verdict.

Unbeaten super lightweight Cesar Francis (11-0, 6 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over 41-year-old former world champion Ray Beltran (37-10-1, 23 KOs) in a bout for the NABO title on Saturday night at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. The decade younger Francis dropped Beltran in round four and largely outboxed him to win by scores of 95-94, 96-93, 98-91.

In an upset, journeyman heavyweight Curtis Harper (14-8, 9 K0s) won an eight round majority decision over previously unbeaten 6’8 Christian Thun (8-1, 6 K0s). Harper scored a third round knockdown and pretty much took the fight to Thun to win 75-75, 78-72, 76-73.

Unbeaten WBA #8, WBO #15 cruiserweight Brandon Glanton (16-0, 13 KOs), who has pretty much been MIA since defeating Efetobor Apochi (11-0, 11 KOs at the time) on national TV 13 months ago, scored a fifth round KO over Deshon Webster (12-6-3, 6 KOs).  After scoring two knockdowns earlier in the fight, Glanton ended matters at 1:58 of the fifth with a fight-finishing knockdown.

Continue reading “Francis defeats Beltran, Glanton, Harper also win”

Former super bantamweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (23-1-1, 18 KOs), moving up to featherweight, scored a sixth round TKO over Carlos Castro (27-2, 12 KOs) in a WBC eliminator in the Magsayo-Vargas co-feature on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Figueroa dropped Castro in round three, then punished him for the rest of the round. Castro fought his way back into the fight, but in round six Figueroa spun him around on the ropes and unleashed a barrage of shots that prompted a referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:11.

Unbeaten WBA #14 lightweight Frank “The Ghost” Martin (16-0, 12 KOs) scored a tenth round KO over late sub Jackson Marinez (19-3, 7 KOs). Marinez was slick enough to win some rounds, but Martin upped the pressure late to drop Marinez in round nine and finish him with another knockdown in round ten. Time was :30. Continue reading “Figueroa stops Castro in WBC eliminator”

Unbeaten super welterweight Magomed Kurbanov (23-0, 13 KOs), who has dropped out of the world ratings due to inactivity, hammered out a ten round decision over former WBO champion Patrick Teixeira (31-4, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the KRK “Uralets” in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Kurbanov dropped Teixeira in the first round of a one-sided fight.

Kurbanov last fought in May 2021, defeating former world champion Liam Smith. Teixeira has now lost three straight.

In an exciting clash between former heavyweight contenders, hometown hero Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over Kubrat Pulev (29-3, 14 KOs) to claim the WBA international title on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. Chisora came out with an aggressive body attack while Pulev operated from outside with combinations. Chisora had a big round seven and Pulev went back to the corner with blood streaming from a cut over his left eye. Pulev staggered Chisora in round eight, but DelBoy, always the most dangerous when he’s hurt, somehow fired back. Toe-to-toe action in round nine with both landing big shots. Pulev outworked Chisora in round eleven, but Chisora landed the most eye-catching shots in round twelve. Scores were 116-112 Pulev, 116-112, 116-114 Chisora. Chisora reversed a three-fight losing streak and avenged a split decision loss to Pulev six years ago.

A rematch and WBA super welterweight eliminator between Israil Madrimov (8-0-1, 6 KOs) and Michel Soro (35-3-2, 24 KOs) ended in a technical draw after Soro was cut by an unintentional headbutt at :5 of round three on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. Madrimov rattled Soro in round two, but the premature end prevented a clear conclusion. The cut didn’t seem that bad. This rematch was ordered after Madrimov got a controversial referee’s stoppage in their first fight.

Unbeaten heavyweight Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs) steamrolled late sub Chris Healey (9-10, 2 KOs) in less than two rounds. Wardley dropped Healy in round one and blasted him to the canvas again 40 seconds into round two to end it. Continue reading “Madrimov-Soro ends in technical draw”

By Ron Jackson

Ronald Malindi retained the South African bantamweight title for the fourth time when he beat the number one contender Rofhiwa Nemushungwa on a 12 round split decision at the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall in Middelburg, Mpumalanga on Friday night. Judges Ben Ncapai and Siya Mani scored it 115-114 and 117-115 for Malindi and judge Simon Mokadi handed in a card of 115-114 for Nemushungwa.

There was very little in it through most of the rounds as both fighters threw punches to the head and body. However, some ringsiders were of the opinion that the challenger had done enough to edge it and take the title. Continue reading “Malindi retains SA title on a split decision”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Boxing Beat

It’s a homecoming show of Shigeoka brothers. The prodigies out of Kumamoto displayed fine stoppages before the hometown crowd. Unbeaten elder brother Yudai Shigeoka (5-0, 3 KOs), 105, successfully retained his WBO Asia Pacific 105-pound belt when he swarmed over Filipino Cris Ganoza (19-4, 9 KOs), 103.75, from the outset and sunk him with a vicious body shot at 0:59 of the third session in a scheduled twelve in the main event on Wednesday in Kumamoto, Japan. This result was registered as TKO by the JBC as the ref didn’t complete the count at the loser’s bad visit to the deck. Yudai, 25, is already WBC#6 and WBO#9 despite his short pro career (amateur mark 81-10). Continue reading “Shigeoka Brothers victorious, defend regional belts”

By Ron Jackson

The 42-year-old Bongani “Wonderboy” Mahlangu surprised the critics when he won South African junior featherweight title on a seventh-round stoppage against the 31-year-old defending champion Ayayabonga Sonjica from the Duncan Village, at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday. Mahlangu became the oldest active South African fighter to win a South African title, and also claimed the IBF Continental Africa junior featherweight title.

However, in the past fighters like Jack Lalor (44), Joe Goddard (42) and Jim Holloway (43) won South African titles at what is considered an advanced age for a boxer. Continue reading “Bongani Mahlangu wins SA title at 42”