WBO #5, WBA #11 junior middleweight standout Xander Zayas (16-0, 10 KOs) successfully defended his NABO and NABF belts against Ronald Cruz (18-3-1, 12 KOs) in the Taylor-Teofimo co-feature on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Zayas dropped Cruz in round one but was forced to go the full eight. Cruz took a lot of punches but never quit. Scores were 80-71 3x.

WBO #11 junior lightweight contender and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (17-2, 8 KOs) and Nicolas Polanco (20-4-1, 11 KOs) ended in a no contest after a second round head clash left Polanco in bad shape.

Unbeaten jr welterweight Omar Rosario (11-0, 3 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Jan Carlos Rivera (8-2, 6 KOs). Scored 77-75 3x.

Unbeaten heavyweight Damian Knyba (12-0, 7 KOs) took an eight round unanimous decision against 39-year-old journeyman Helaman Olguin (9-6-1, 4 KOs). Scores were 79-73 3x.

Unbeaten featherweight prospect Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (8-0, 5 KOs) got an eighth round referee’s stoppage against Luis Porozo (16-7, 9 KOs). Time was 2:17. One-sided fight, but Porozo wasn’t hurt so the late stoppage seemed unwarranted.

Unbeaten WBA #7, WBO #7 jr lightweight Henry Lebron (18-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Carlos Ramos (17-3, 10 KOs). Lebron dropped Ramos in rounds eight and ten en route to a 97-91, 98-90, 98-90 verdict.

In a bout everyone knew was going the distance, IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (20-0, 4 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Andres Campos (15-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the OVO Arena in London, England. Close fight when Edwards chose to stand his ground, but when Edwards used his mobility, Campos rarely touched him. Scores were 117-111 3x.

Unbeaten heavyweight Johnny “The Romford Bull” Fisher (9-0, 8 KOs) needed just 2:07 to annihilate Emilio Salas (7-5-1, 3 KOs) in round one. A left hook that seemingly barely grazed Salas sent him to the canvas to end it.

In a pair of women’s world title fights, WBA bantamweight titleholder Nina Hughes (6-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Katie Healy 6-1, 0 KOs) over ten by scores of 100-90, 99-91, 100-90 and Ellie Scotney (7-0, 0 KOs) dethroned IBF super bantamweight titleholder Cherneka Johnson (15-2, 6 KOs) via ten round unanimous decision. Scores were 98-92, 98-92, 97-93.

Other Results:
Reece Bellotti W10 Youssef Khoumari (super featherweight)
Cheavon Clarke TKO5 David Jamieson (cruiserweight)
Shannon Ryan W8 Martina Bernile (female super flyweight)
George Liddard TKO1 Nikolas Dzurnak (middleweight)
Muhammad Ali W4 Bryan Castro (super bantamweight)

Former WBA world minimiumweight champion Carlos “CCC” Canizales (26-1-1, 19 KOs) won a technical decision over previously unbeaten Panama-based Cuban Daniel Matellon (13-1-2, 7 KOs) on Friday night in a WBA world light flyweight eliminator at the Casino Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina.

Canizales fought from round two until the end of the bout with a cut suffered from a clash of heads. Matellon was deducted points in rounds six and eight. The fight was stopped before the start of round nine. The official scores were 77-73 twice and 76-74 all in favor of Canizales.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Irish super welterweight prospect ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (7-0, 6 KOs) of Cork, Ireland, scored a fourth round stoppage over veteran Carson Jones (43-16-3, 31 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Friday night in headlining 360 Promotions Hollywood Fight Night series at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California.

Walsh let his hands go from the opening bell as connected on a shelled-up Jones. Displaying hand speed and flash in round two, Walsh tagged Jones flush to the chin with a combination. In the third round, Walsh continued to box and outland Jones, who continued to shell up on defense. Coming out strong in the fourth, Walsh pressed and backed up Jones, connecting flush as the face of Jones became a bloody mess. Moments later, Walsh dropped Jones. He got up, but Walsh finished him in the final seconds of the fourth as referee Eddie Hernandez had seen enough waving it off at 2:59. With the win, Walsh captures the WBC US Silver welterweight title. Continue reading “Walsh stops Jones in four”

Four-division former world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Bill “Hutch” Hutchinson (20-3-4, 9 KOs) in a welterweight bout on Friday night at the Miami Casino in Miami, Florida. Broner walked down and generally beat up Hutchinson, who offered professional resistance, but Broner was always in charge. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 99-91. It was the 33-year-old Broner’s first fight in 28 months. His last KO was in 2016.

WBA NABA/WBC NABF light heavyweight beltholder Ahmed Elbiali (23-1, 18 KOs) edged Rodolfo Gomez (14-7-3, 10 KOs) over ten hard fought rounds. Gomez down twice in round four, both ruled low blows. Scores were 95-94 3x.

42-year-old former two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (22-3, 15 KOs) scored a seventh round KO over previously unbeaten Charlie Clemente (12-1, 5 KOs). A slow-paced chess match ended suddenly when Rigo connected with a body shot that sent Clemente down for the count. Time was 2:47. Continue reading “Broner outpoints Hutchinson in comeback fight”

By Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

Continue reading “Izmailov edges Foster”

Unbeaten WBO Euro heavyweight beltholder David Adeleye (12-0, 11 KOs) hammered on Emir Ahmatovic (12-2, 9 KOs) for five rounds and got the win when the bout was called off between rounds. The event took place Friday night at the famed York Hall in London.

Unbeaten IBF Euro lightweight beltholder Mark Chamberlain (13-0, 9 KOs) needed just 2:16 to demolish Marvin Demollari 12-5, 2 KOs) in round one. Demollari down twice.

By Evan Jacobs

Englebrecht Promotions & Events returned to the Hangar at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA for yet another sell out show. Setting this night apart from most other nights was the fact that three of the fighters were making their pro debuts. Continue reading “Fight Club OC Results”

B-side bantamweight Walter Santibañes (12-2, 2 KOs) surprised previously unbeaten local favorite “Gucci Manny” Flores (15-1, 11 KOs) on Thursday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Santibañes outworked Flores all night with rapid-fire combinations and pulled away to a one-sided ten round unanimous decision. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 99-91.

In the co-feature, 40-year-old three-division former women’s world champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (42-12-4, 19 KOs) edged Calista Silgado (21-17-4, 16 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 95-95, 97-93, 96-94. Fans booed the majority decision.

Other Results:
Daniel Garcia KO1 Luis May (super featherweight)
Gael Cabrera KO1 Ulises Rosales (super featherweight)
Patricio Manuel W4 Alexander Gutierrez (super featherweight)

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Once-beaten ex-university amateur Katsuya Yasuda (11-1, 7 KOs), 134.5, struggled to acquire the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightweight belt as he defeated previously unbeaten Thailander Apichet Petchmanee (15-1, 5 KOs), 134.5, by a unanimous decision (115-113, 116-111, 118-109) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The climax was seen in round four, when Yasuda decked his muscular rival with a southpaw right hook, while Apichet dropped him back with a well-timed straight right to the button moments later. In the championship rounds Yasuda ran out of gas or mental power, repeating clinches time and again. It was Apichet that was penalized a point for throwing the ever-grabbing Japanese to the canvas in the final stanza, but the audience also criticized Yasuda’s repeated holding. The new champ Yasuda’s face was more grotesquely swollen with his absorption of the Thailander’s less aggressive but more effective shots. Continue reading “Yasuda wins vacant WBO AP 135lb belt”

Undisputed women’s middleweight Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) dominated late sub Maricela Cornejo (16-6, 6 KOs), but didn’t get the knockout she wanted in front of a big crowd on Saturday night at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Shields came out firing, hitting Cornejo at will and winning every minute of every round. However, Cornejo was never in danger of being stopped. Scores were 100-89, 100-90, 100-90.

“I feel great,” said Shields post-victory. “I was landing my shots. I won every round like I knew I could. I went for the knockout how many times this fight? Maricela is tough. She did a great job. Height doesn’t matter and power doesn’t matter either. It’s all about the skills and will and heart, and I always have more than the other girls.” Continue reading “Shields shuts out Cornejo”

43-year-old former heavyweight title challenger Mariusz “Viking” Wach (37-9, 20 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Jakub Sosiński (8-3-1, 3 KOs) in a tune-up bout on Saturday night in Katy Wroclawskie, Poland. The 6’8 Wach is scheduled to face 2020 Olympic medalist Frazer Clarke in London on June 16.

Super welterweight Rodolfo Orozco (32-3-3, 24 KOs) of Sinaloa, Mexico stopped countryman and local favorite Elian Trejo (8-3, 5 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico by TKO in round four of their scheduled for eight round main event on Friday night at the Salon Villia Flamingos in Mexico City. Trejo came out strong in round one, rocking Orozco multiple times. Orozco settled in over the next few rounds en route to stopping Trejo early in round four.

Undefeated WBC #2, WBA #2, WBO #2, IBF #8 super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan (30-0, 21 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Jose de Jesus Macias (28-12-4, 14 KOs) on Thursday night at Casino de Montreal in Montreal, Canada. Macias surprisingly gave 9:1 favorite Bazinyan all he could handle. In round seven, he He rocked Bazinyan and nearly finished him. Bazinyan had his moments also and probably did enough to win – but certainly didn’t deliver a performance worthy of the world’s #2 168-pounder. Scores of 97-93, 98-92, 98-92 heavily supported the local fighter.

Junior welterweight Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs) scored a third round KO over former world champion Alberto Machado (23-4, 19 KOs). Claggett dropped Machado twice in round three to end it. Time was 2:29. Claggett claimed the NABF 140lb title.

Other Results:
Avery Martin Duval TKO3 Andres Sanchez Ramirez (junior lightweight)
Thomas Chabot W8 Luis Bolanos Lopez (featherweight)
Alexandre Gaumont TKO2 Piotr Bis (middleweight)

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten formerly 13-time amateur national champ Hayato Tsutsumi (3-0, no KO), 125.75, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF featherweight belt as he outlegged and outpunched hard-punching Filipino Jeo Santisima (22-6, 19 KOs), 124.75, to pound out a unanimous decision (120-108, 119-109, 118-110) over twelve fast rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Hayato, whose amateur mark was 88-6, 26 stoppages, utilized faster and more accurate jabs and his versatile mobility all night to confuse the power-punching Filipino. The final session saw Tsutsumi, 23, lopsidedly batter him to have him in great trouble, though Santisima gamely refused to go down until the end. Tsutsumi is a talented speedster whose future may be bright. Continue reading “Tsutsumi wins OPBF 126lb belt in his third pro bout”

Fast-tracking WBO #1 minimumweight Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (7-0, 5 KOs) dethroned WBO 105lb champion Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem (20-4, 12 KOs) by seventh round TKO on Saturday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Collazo began breaking down Jerusalem midway and Jerusalem was kept on his stool after round seven. Collazo won the world title in just his seventh pro fight.

“We knew we had a solid challenge ahead of us, but thanks to my corner, they helped me stay calm throughout the fight,” said Collazo afterward. “I knew I had to establish the pace with my jab, and by the fourth or fifth round we started to hit the body and he didn’t like it. We chopped the tree and we made history for Villalba. I will see you all in Puerto Rico in August, where I will make my first title defense.”

WBO #1 welterweight Alexis “Lex” Rocha (23-1, 15 KOs) stopped WBO #10 Anthony “Juice” Young (24-3, 8 KOs) in round five on Saturday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Rocha overpowered Young with heavy shots from the get-go. In round five, Rocha sent Young to the canvas with a straight left. Young beat the count, but the referee stopped the fight at 2:15. Rocha retained his NABO title.

Afterward, Rocha said, “I want the winner of the Spence-Crawford fight, and I am confident with the help of my amazing promoter, Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya, we’ll make it happen.”

* * *

Lightweight Oscar Duarte (25-1, 21 KOs) scored an impressive seventh round TKO over D’Angelo Keyes (17-3, 11 KOs). Duarte dropped Keyes in rounds three and seven. The ring doctor stopped the fight after round seven.

Unbeaten super flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs) got all he could handle from Fernando “Leoncito” Diaz (12-4-1, 4 KOs) for ten rounds, but managed to win 96-94, 96-94 on two cards. Diaz was ahead 96-94 on the third card. The split decision for Scrappy was greeted with boos.

Other Results:
Eric Priest W8 Ricardo Ruben Villalba (middleweight)
Leonardo Sanchez KO2 Uhlices Avelino-Reyes (super featherweight)
Jonathan Canas W4 Jose Valenzuela (super lightweight)

Leigh Wood (27-3, 16 KOs) avenged his KO loss to Maurico Lara (26-3-1, 19 KOs) and reclaimed the WBA featherweight title by workmanlike twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Only Wood was eligible to win the title after Lara lost the belt Friday on the scale. Lara was dropped in round two and never exhibited his trademark ferocity as Wood outboxed him and banked round after round. Scores were 118-109, 118-109, 116-111.

WBO #1 contender and hometown favorite Chris Billam-Smith (18-1, 12 KOs) defeated and dethroned previously unbeaten WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14 KOs) by twelve round majority decision on Saturday night at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England. Billam-Smith dropped Okolie in round four. Okolie was hurt but managed to survive the round. Okolie was deducted a point for holding in round five. Okolie was deducted another point for holding in round seven. Billam-Smith looked like he was running out of gas in round eight. Okolie went to his knees in round ten and Billam-Smith was credited with another knockdown although it appeared to be a pushdown. Billam-Smith scored another questionable knockdown in round eleven. In the end, Billam-Smith won by scores of 112-112, 116-107, 115-108.

* * *

Super welterweight Sam Eggington (34-8, 20 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Joe Pigford (20-1, 19 KOs) in round five. Eggington rocked Pigford prompting a referee’s stoppage.

In his first fight since his controversial loss to Josh Taylor 15 months ago, super lightweight Jack Catterall (27-1, 13 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Darragh Foley (22-5-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night in the Lara-Wood co-feature at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Catterall dropped Foley in round seven, then was deducted a point after Foley immediately popped right back up and Catterall hit him again. Catterall dropped Foley again in round nine. Scores were 99-88, 98-89, 97-90.

WBA female super welterweight champion Terri Harper (14-1-1, 6 KOs) outpointed Ivana Habazin (21-4, 7 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 97-93, 98-92, 97-93.

Other Results:
Danny Ball TKO8 Jamie Robinson (welterweight)
Aqib Fiaz W8 Costin Ion (super featherweight)
Campbell Hatton TKO5 Michal Bulik (super lightweight)

IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) brutally knocked out Michael “Mick” Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) in round five to retain his world title on Saturday night a sold-out SSE Arena in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Lopez took the fight right at Conlan and got the better of most exchanges. A right uppercut in round five laid out Conlan to end it. Time was 1:14.

Lopez said, “I hope all the world champions at the featherweight division are ready for ‘Venado’ Lopez. I’m coming for all of them. I want all their belts. One by one, I’m taking all their belts with me to Mexico.”

More Results…

Highly regarded 19-year-old super lightweight prospect Ashton “H2O” Sylve (9-0, 8 KOs) went the distance for the first time against left sub Adam Kipenga (11-4-1, 7 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Sylve in command all the way. Scores were 80-72 3x.

Flashy Cuban super lightweight “The Alpha” Kevin Hayler Brown (3-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Julian Smith (6-2, 4 KOs) over ten rounds to claim the WBA Continental Americas title. Scores were 98-92, 96-94, 96-94.

In a clash between unbeaten heavyweights, Lorenzo Medina (7-0, 6 KOs) topped Angel Napoles (1-1, 1 KO) over six rounds 58-56 3x.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

As expected, former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs) obliterated Faiga “Django” Opelu (15-4-2, 11 KOs) on Wednesday night at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. With WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury looking on, Parker quickly dropped Opelu and got a referee’s stoppage at 1:29 on round one.

Unbeaten super welterweight Nikita Tszyu (6-0, 5 KOs), son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and younger brother of current WBO interim super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu, stopped Ben Bommber (5-1, 4 KOs) in the first round. Time was 2:09.

Ben Horn (5-6, 0 KOs), brother of former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, upset previously unbeaten Joel Taylor (9-1, 4 KOs) by six round unanimous decision. Taylor down in round one. Scores were 57-56, 57-56, 58-55.

Cruiserweight David Nyika (6-0, 5 KOs), a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, got a referee’s stoppage against Louis Marsters (3-5, 2 KOs) in round four. Nyika previously stopped Marsters in two rounds.

Formerly all-WBO three-division champ Kosei Tanaka (19-1, 11 KOs), 116, scored a fine stoppage of WBC#13 Colombian Pablo Carrillo (28-9-2, 17 KOs), 115.75, at 2:43 of the tenth and final round on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan. Having been halted by compatriot Kazuto Ioka in the eighth with his WBO 115-pound belt at stake in 2020, Tanaka, a Sugar Ray Leonard stylist, registered four victories over as many world contenders to his credit. Tanaka took the initiative, maintained the pressure and finally battered the fading Colombian down the stretch with the referee’s well-timed intervention. Currently ranked #3 by both the WBO and the IBF, Tanaka may have an opportunity of a mandatory shot at the newly crowned WBO ruler Junto Nakatani who seized the vacant WBO 115-pound belt in Las Vegas—almost at the same time because of the time difference. Problem is the taller Nakatani is a very puzzling southpaw that can punch with either hand.