WBA/IBF unified super lightweight champion Josh Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs) destroyed mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong (16-1, 13 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at York Hall in London, England. A left to the liver put Khongsong down for the count. Time was 2:41. Khongsong was on the canvas for several minutes.

Former flyweight champion and now WBC #3 rated bantamweight Charlie Edwards (16-1, 6 KOs) outpointed Kyle Williams (11-3, 3 KOs) over ten rounds. Referee Bob Williams scored it 99-91.

In a surprise, Ionut Baluta (14-2, 3 KOs) stopped 2016 Olympian Davey Oliver Joyce (12-2, 9 KOs) in round three to seize the WBO European junior featherweight title. Baluta dropped Joyce with a left hook, them got the stop with a ferocious follow-up. In 2020, Baluta has defeated former world champ TJ Doheny and now Joyce.

Ricards Bolotniks booked his place in the final of the Golden Contract light heavyweight tournament with a victory over Hosea Burton. The two men were competing at Studio 69 in Riga, Latvia, with a fantastic back and forth battle taking place over 10 hard-fought rounds. Bolotniks appeared to get the better of the action, with the most dramatic moments coming in round nine when Burton received two standing counts after an onslaught from the Latvian.

In the end, the judges had it slightly wider than expected, scoring it 98-90, 100-90, 98-90, earning Bolotniks the win and seeing him keep hold of his WBO European light-heavyweight title in the process. Continue reading “Bolotniks moves into Golden Contract final”

By Welsh Jack

German prospect Timo Rost scored a solid 8-round unanimous decision over sturdy but limited opponent Davit Makaradze (20-14-1,11 KO) of Georgia on Saturday night in Dusseldorf, Germany. Rost improved to 10-0-2 (3 KO) and had a restricted, pandemic-sized crowd of around 300 socially-distanced fans screaming for him, but the potential contender still has a considerable ways to go before he’s ready for top-notch opposition. Continue reading “Results from Dusseldorf”

IBF #6, WBC #9, WBO #15 heavyweight Filip Hrgović (11-0, 9 KOs) had little trouble with late sub Alexandre Kartozia (8-2-1, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark. A crushing Hrgovic right hand laid out Kartozia in round two.

WBO female junior featherweight champion Dina Thorslund outscored Nina Radovanovic over ten 100-89, 100-89, 100-90.

Undefeated KO artist Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk, (18-0, 18 KOs) continued his reign of terror in the super welterweight division with a sixth round stoppage of Alejandro “Pajaro” Davila, (21-2-2, 8 KOs) on Friday night at Grupo SIPSE TV Studios in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. After six rounds of punishment, Davila didn’t come out for round seven. Bohachuk retained his WBC Continental Americas title. He is rated IBF #8 and WBC #13.

2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka (8-0, 7 KOs) returned Friday with a first round TKO over former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas (38-6, 25 KOs) at La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France. Yoka floored Duhaupas with a barrage of punches, then put him on the deck again with a furious barrage of punches to end it.

Undefeated welterweight prospect Mark Reyes Jr. (13-0, 11 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Carlos Mohamed Rodriguez (13-9-1, 5 KOs) on Thursday night at the Civic Center, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Reyes dropped Rodriguez twice in round four and got a referee’s stoppage after a fearsome barrage of punches at 1:51. Eight straight KOs now for Reyes, who hails from Tampa, Florida

In the co-feature, unbeaten welterweight Michael Williams Jr (13-0, 9 KOs) scored a second round KO over Thomas Miller (6-4, 3 KOs). A body shot finished Miller. Williams, trained by Roy Jones Jr., won the NBA title.

M&R Boxing Promotions Presented “Drive-In at the Fair” Live outdoor Boxing experience Thursday night at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo, Miami, Florida. In the main event, Melvin “Melo” Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) of Nicaragua (now based in Miami) continued his march towards a world title opportunity by stopping Yeison Vargas (17-5, 12 KOs) of Colombia in round one.

In the co-feature, former WBC flyweight world champion Cristofer “Latigo” Rosales (31-5, 21 KOs) scored a dominating eight round unanimous decision over durable Mexican journeyman Samuel Gutierrez (16-27-6, 6 KOs). Continue reading ““Melo” scores first round KO in Miami”

Undefeated lightweight prospect Nestor Bravo (19-0, 13 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Jose Luis Gallegos (19-9, 14 KOs) on Wednesday night from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with no spectators present. Bravo built up a lead then faltered late, getting deducted a point by referee Jack Reiss in both rounds nine and ten for holding. Scores were 96-92, 96-92, 97-91. Continue reading “Bravo beats Gallegos despite point deductions”

Promoter Paco Damian of Paco Presents promised a night of action and delivered in spades Monday night in Tijuana. In the main event, former world title challenger and WBC #8 bantamweight Alejandro “Peque” Santiago survived an all-out spirited challenge from countryman Willibaldo Garcia to successfully defend his WBC International bantamweight championship via 10-round majority decision. Continue reading “WBC #8 bantam Santiago edges Garcia”

Belgium had its first boxing event post lockdown Saturday night. Belgium promoter Alain Vanackere of 12 Rounds Boxing presented professional boxing at the Fight Off Training Center in Wavre, Belgium. The main event saw the promoter´s son junior welterweight prospect Antoine Vanackere (14-1, 7 KOs) stop Filip Poturovic in round one. Continue reading “Results from Belgium”

WRAM Boxing (William Ramirez) and Nica Boxing (Pablo Osuna) continued their run of monthly events Saturday night at the Gymasio Nicarao in Managua, Nicaragua.

In the 8 round featherweight main event hometown favorite Elisson Marquez (10-2, 7 KOs) unanimously decisioned countryman Edwin Tercero Rios (16-12-1, 4 KOs). It was a solid performance by Marquez who maintained a fast past of nonstop punishing punches on Rios consistently. Marquez entered the fight fresh off of an upset of then-unbeaten Mohamed Soumaoro of Canada this past February. Continue reading “Results from Managua”

Former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (28-3, 13 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (22-3, 9 KOs) in a junior welterweight bout on Saturday night inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas “Bubble.” Pedraza pretty much controlled the whole fight. Scores were 99-91, 98-02, 98-92.

“They do name me the ‘Sniper,’ and that means I have to be patient, and when my moment comes, I have to take advantage of it,” said Pedraza. “That’s what I did tonight because I was able to wear him down, break him down and make him fight my fight. It was the experience that I’ve had at the top level that helped me finally put it together. I’ve had the experience. I’ve had the talent, and it’s just on a night like this that I’m happy I could put it all together.”

“I do believe I’m ready for a world title opportunity. Whoever it happens to be between Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez, I want the winner of that fight. If for some reason I can’t get a world title shot against them, I do want to respectfully ask Jose Zepeda for the rematch.”

In his Top Rank debut, unbeaten heavyweight Efe Ajagba (14-0, 11 KOs) took a workmanlike ten round unanimous decision over Jonnie Rice (13-6-1, 9 KOs). Ajagba got the win (98-92, 99-91, 99-91), but didn’t impress. He may have suffered a hand injury. Continue reading “Pedraza, Ajagba triumph in Vegas”

In a WBC super welterweight title eliminator, Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (23-1, 16 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha (21-2-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night in the Mohegan Sun “Bubble” in Uncasville, Connecticut. Lubin had the edge for the first nine rounds. Gausha rocked Lubin in round ten but let the opportunity pass. Lubin stunned Gausha in the twelfth to punctuate a 115-113, 116-112, 118-110.

In a bout upgraded from ten to twelve rounds as a WBC featherweight eliminator, WBC #2 rated Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar (12-1,9 KOs) won a twelve round split decision over previously unbeaten Cobia Breedy (15-1, 5 KOs). Nyambayar dropped Breedy in both rounds one and two, but then was forced to go the full twelve. Scores were 115-111 Breedy, 114-112, 114-113 Nyambayar.

Unbeaten welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) scored an impressive sixth round KO over Juan Carlos Abreu (23-6-1, 21 KOs). Southpaw Ennis dropped Abreu in round five. Then put him down twice in round six to end it. Time was 1:06. Abreu, who missed weight, forfeit 20% of his purse. It was the first time Abreu has been stopped.

Former cruiserweight title challenger Mateusz “Master” Masternak (42-5, 28 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Taylor Mabika (19-6-2, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at Arena Jaskolka in Tarnow, Poland. Scores were 99-91, 99-91, 100-90. It was the 33-year-old Masternak’s first fight in two years.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten southpaw prospect OPBF#3 Kazuki Nakajima (9-0-1, 8 KOs), 122, caught up with taller speedster Kenta Tonomura (7-4, 3 KOs), 122, dropping him twice prior to the referee’s intervention at 2:39 of the third round in a scheduled eight on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. The victor’s manager Hideyuki Ohashi said, “I wish to have Nakajima get a 118-pound title shot either at the Japanese national belt or the OPBF crown—next year.” Continue reading “Unbeaten Nakajima stops Tonomura”

Just two weeks after his controversial “loss” in Germany, 43-year-old former world title challenger Rafal Jackiewicz (51-27-3, 22 KOs) could only manage a draw against journeyman Bartlomiej Grafka (22-38-3, 10 KOs) on Saturday night in Ruda Slaska, Poland. Scores were 57-57, 58-56 Jackiewicz, 60-54 Grafka. On social media afterward, Rafal called the 57-57 score “a stretch” and the 60-54 card “a scandal like Germany.”
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Heavyweight Jose Larduet (3-0, 2 KOs) destroyed Josh Sandland (5-3-1, 0 KOs) in the first round at the Universum Gym in Hamburg, Germany. After the fight, Larduet, a former Cuban National Team member, called out German rival Peter Kadiru.
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Taking advantage of the second consecutive “Canelo-less” Mexican Independence Weekend, King Carlos Promotions, headed by former IBF junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina, staged a card in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico. In the main event, Molina (34-11-2, 12 KOs) beat Hector “Baby” Zepeda (19-2, 5 KOs) by TKO6.

Unbeaten super lightweight Omar “Pollo” Aguilar (18-0, 17 KOs) won by third round TKO over José Guillermo “Gato” García (12-8-1, 5 KOs) on Saturday night at TV Azteca Studios in Mexico City. Aguilar punished Garcia from the opening bell, dropped himin round two, and get a mercy referee’s stoppage in round three. Official time was 1:22. Aguilar should be breaking into the world rankings soon.

In an important welterweight fight, WBC #7, WBO #13 rated Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas (22-1-1, 18 KOs) scored an impressive eighth round KO over IBF #7, WBO #8, WBC #13 Mikael Zewski (34-2, 23 KOs) on Saturday night inside “The Bubble” at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. Kavaliauskas, a two-time Olympian coming off a valiant effort last December against Terence “Bud” Crawford, dropped Zewski with a barrage of shots at the end of round seven. Kavaliauskas then came out aggressively and floored Zewski again seven seconds into round eight to end it. At the time of the KO, Zewski was ahead 67-65 on two of the three scorecards.

“I was controlling the fight. I was never in danger. I was never hurt,” said Kavaliauskas. “I wanted to knock him out faster, but it happened this way. You can never count on the knockout. I was working. I was putting pressure on him. I saw him slowing down round by round. I saw him getting weaker and weaker. I was just blocking his punches and not feeling his power.”

“I don’t think {Terence} Crawford has any other choices at welterweight. I can ask his team, with all due respect, to give me a rematch because these guys have no opponents yet.” Continue reading “Kavaliauskas KOs Zewski in 8”

Former WBO light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Yarde (20-1, 19 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over Dec Spelman (16-5, 8 KOs) on Saturday night behind-closed-doors at BT Sport Studios in London. Yarde battered Spelman to the canvas in round six to end it. The fight was a good opportunity for Yarde to directly compare himself with potential future foe Lyndon Arthur, who edged Spelman on points last month.

In the co-feature, middleweight Mark Heffron (25-1-1 19 KOs) and Denzel Bentley (13-0-1, 11 KOs) battled to a ten round draw in a clash for the vacant IBF European title. Scores were 95-95 across the board.