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”

Unbeaten super welterweight Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas Jr. (11-0, 11 KOs), son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, was victorious when Andre “Thunder” Byrd (10-14-2, 1 KO) wasn’t allowed to continue after round three on Saturday night at the famed Cow Palace in the San Francisco suburb of Daly City.

Super featherweight Leonardo Alcala (22-5, 15 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over local favorite Andy “El Tiburon” Vences (23-5-2, 12 KOs). In round five, Vences was deducted a point for a shot to the back of the head. Alcala took five minutes to recover. Scores were 78-73, 78-73, 76-75.

Welterweight Evan “Yung Holy” Holyfield (11-1, 7 KOs), son of former world champion Evander Holyfield, edged Juan Meza Moreno (4-3, 3 KOs) over six rounds. Holyfield dropped Moreno in round five and that made the difference in a 57-56, 57-56, 57-56 unanimous decision.

WBO #4, IBF #4, WBA #6 super middleweight Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Jason “El Animal” Quigley (20-3, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Berlanga pressed the action and dropped Quigley in rounds three and five and twice in twelve. Quigley had his moments also, but Berlanga closed the show with a huge final round. Scores were 116-108, 116-108, 118-106. Berlanga, who opened his career with 16 straight first round KOs, went the distance for the fifth straight time.

In a war, heavyweight Joe Cusumano (22-4, 20 KOs) upset Adam “Babyface” Kownacki (20-4, 15 KOs) by eighth round TKO. Cusumano dropped Kownacki with a big right hand in round one. Cusumano swarmed over Kownacki in round two and seemingly punched himself out. After that, it became a battle of attrition. In round seven, both exchanged huge shots. Kownacki looked finished. Kownacki came out for round eight, but his corner threw in the towel after two minutes. Four straight losses for Kownacki.

More Results

WBC interim middleweight champion Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) halted former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (28-4-1, 16 KOs) in round nine on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis. Good fight. Adames pressed the action and mostly got the better of it before getting a referee’s stoppage in round nine. The Williams camp was not happy with the stoppage, which was arguably premature. Time was 2:45.

“I’m so thankful to everyone who came out here and gave me support today and all week,” said Adames. “We gave the fans a great fight and I accomplished my goal, which was walking out of here with the title.” Continue reading “Adames stops J-Rock in nine”

Undefeated IBF super flyweight champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez (16-0, 9 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Jade Bornea (18-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Martinez broke open the fight in round nine when he popped open Bornea’s earlobe. The bout was waved off at :29 of round eleven.

“I said before the fight that the tougher, stronger fighter was going to win and that was me,” said Martinez. Continue reading “Fernando Martinez retains IBF superfly title”

WBC #6 super welterweight Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over Luis “Cuba” Arias (20-4-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis. Lubin, returning from 14 months out of the ring, dropped Arias in round five. Arias stayed down until 9, then barely missed beating the count. Time was 2:11.

Unheralded light heavyweight Burley Brooks (7-2-1, 5 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over 39-year-old former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Golden” Truax (31-6-2, 19 KOs). Scores were 98-91, 96-93, 96-93. Brooks was deducted a point in round nine for repeatedly losing his mouthpiece, but still managed to get the win in the hometown of Truax.

Former IBF superfly champion Jerwin Ancajas (34-3-2, 23 KOs), now competing at super bantamweight, dominated Wilner Soto (22-13, 12 KOs) en route to a fifth round KO. Soto took a knee after taking a two hard bodyshots.

A super lightweight bout between Mickel Spencer (3-0, 2 KOs), the younger brother of super welterweight Joey Spencer, and Lyle McFarlane (2-1, 1 KO) ended in a no-decision after a head clash in round three.

Undefeated WBO #10 junior middleweight Slawa Spomer (18-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended his WBO Global title with an eighth round KO against Felice Moncelli (24-8-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night the Eisstadion in Spomer’s hometown of Heilbronn, Germany. Spomer dropped Moncelli in round seven and went right after him in round eight, blasting him to the canvas to end it at Time was :38.

Former WBA regular super middleweight champion Vincent Feigenbutz (36-3, 32 KOs), now competing at middleweight, knocked out Marcos Jesus Cornejo (19-8, 18 KOs) in round four. A left to the body finished Cornejo at 2:38. Feigenbutz has won five straight since losing to Caleb Plant in a 2020 IBF title fight.

By Joe Koizumi

Previously four-division champ Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs), 114.75, Japan, acquired the WBA super flyweight belt when he defeated former titlist Joshua Franco (18-2-3-1NC, 8 KOs), 121.5, US, by a unanimous decision (116-112 twice, 115-113) over twelve fast rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Franco had been stripped of his belt because of his failure to make weight, and Ioka thus won the belt despite a big weight difference of 6.75 pounds.

(More to come)

Heavyweight Joey Dawejko (25-10-4, 14 KOs) scored a first round stoppage against Dennis Vance Jr (4-10, 2 KOs) on Saturday night at Bally’s Atlantic City.

In the main event, junior welterweight Larry Fryers (13-6-1, 5 KOs) surprised Dimash Niyazov (14-2-3, 6 KOs), taking a six round technical decision by scores of 59-55 3x. The bout ended prematurely when Niyazov was injured after falling out of the ring. Two straight upset wins for Fryers.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Undefeated WBO interim junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) annihilated IBF #11 rated Carlos “Chema” Ocampo (34-3, 22 KOs) in just 77 seconds on Sunday at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. Tszyu immediately hurt Ocampo, dropped him with a crushing right hand, and then spectacularly laid him out with a massive left hook that almost took off his head.

Immediately after the fight, “Tszyu stated, “I’ve got a question for everyone here. What’s my mother-f**king name?” He added, “I’ve got this interim belt, but I’m not satisfied. I want all four – and it’s not just the belts – I just want the name ‘Charlo’ on my resume.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

In an IBF junior featherweight title eliminator between unbeaten fighters, Sam Goodman (15-0, 7 KOs) took a twelve round split decision over Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) on Sunday in the Tszyo-Ocampo co-feature at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. Aleem built up an early lead, but Goodman closed strong to win 117-111, 116-112 on two cards. Aleem was up 116-112 on the third card.

“That was tough early, he was awkward,” the 24-year-old Goodman said. “I’m so pumped, words can’t explain the work me and my team put into this. This is the start. My heart was through the roof [when I learned it was a split decision]. He’s a tough competitor. He comes in with awkward stuff. It was a big test. I knew early on I had to be smart and give him respect and I’d come through in the later rounds. We’re coming for those straps. We’re coming for them.”

By Boxing Box Newman at ringside

WBC Super Lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis took on late replacement Danielito Zorrilla of Puerto Rico in the first defense of his title at the Smoothie Center in his hometown of New Orleans, LA. Zorrilla stepped in after Australia’s Liam Paro pulled out a month ago with an undisclosed injury.

Late in the first, a lead right from Zorrilla caught Prograis flush and appeared to send him to the canvas, but Prograis grabbed an on rushing Zorrilla, which landed in a tackle and referee Corona ruling it a push. Prograis turned the trick early in round three, landing a long left which dropped Zorrilla into an almost a back somersault!

Zorrilla did well to last the round, despite the best efforts of Prograis to end it then and there. Despite being the bigger man, Zorrilla took to being defensive on his bicycle as Prograis stalked and measured. Zorrilla got more aggressive in the eighth, snapping Prograis’ head with his jab. In the ninth, Prograis looked to take the play back a bit too aggressively, missing wildly with some off balance shots.

A retreating Zorrilla, a chasing Prograis spelled the remainder of this untidy affair. At the sound of the final bell, Zorrilla straddled the ropes in the neutral corner, sure of victory. The final scores were as follows: 118-109 Prograis, 114-113 Zorrilla, 117-110 Prograis, who retains his title on a split decision.

More photos…

Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

In the semi main event at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, welterweights Shakhram Giyasov and Harold Calderon tangled in a WBA eliminator match. The crowd rooted for Calderon, chanting “Harold,” throughout. Giyasov employed a measuring tactic, keeping his left hand out, but never receiving a warning from referee Rafael Ramos. Calderon, for his part, chose to box smartly from a southpaw stance fainting moving and using his own jab followed by a left cross. Whenever Giyasov felt he landed a good punch, he would do a bicycle jump and try to follow up. By round 4, Giyasov was getting cocky, coming forward with hands down by his sides, taunting Calderon to take a shot. Calderon wouldn’t take the bait, seldom if ever leading. To say this was a tactical battle, is an understatement! Following the thrilling Guzman-Ali battle really made this bout unappetizing to be sure. The boo birds finally made their feelings known in round 8. Perhaps those boos lit a fire under Calderon as he came out aggressively for the first thirty seconds of round 9, actually engaging and throwing punches to lead instead of countering.

A small cut opened on the left eye of Calderon at the start of round 10. The fight ended as it started, with Giyasov stalking, Calderon looking to counter, ending in a whimper. The scores were 120-108, 118-110 and 116-112 all for Giyasov, who moves to 15-0, 9 KOs, while Calderon loses his first at 27-1, 18 KOs. Continue reading “Giyasov beats Calderon in WBA eliminator”

2020 Olympic super heavyweight bronze medalist Frazer Clarke (7-0, 5 KOs) scored a workmanlike ten round decision over 6’8 former heavyweight title challenger Mariusz Wach (37-10, 20 KOs) on Friday night at London’s historic York Hall. It was a slow-paced tactical fight with Clarke outworking the 43-year-old Wach, but never coming close to getting a stoppage. The bout was scored 100-90.

Unbeaten female lightweight Caroline Dubois (7-0, 5 KOs) scored a one-sided eight round shutout over Yanina “Panterita” Lescano (13-3, 4 KOs). Dubois dropped Lescano in round five en route to an 80-71 verdict.

In a rematch, unbeaten cruiserweight Viddal Riley (9-0, 6 KOs) made it 2-0 against Anees Taj (7-4, 5 KOs). Riley won bouts by TKO in round four.

Unbeaten middleweight Aaron McKenna (17-0, 8 KOs) outpointed Uisma “Monstro” Lima (10-9 KOs) over ten rounds in a bout for the WBC International title.

Cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain (15-2, 8 KOs) outscored Dylan Bregeon (13-4-1, 3 KOs) over eight by a score of 78-74.

In a slugfest between heavy-handed bantamweights, Saul “The Beast” Sanchez (19-2, 12 KOs) scored a brutal sixth round knockout over Franklin Gonzalez (25-3, 25 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Sanchez pressed the action, while Gonzalez showed good and boxing skills. Both happily exchanged bombs that landed with a resounding thud. Sanchez broke through with a knockdown in round four coming from a body shot. Sanchez dropped Gonzalez three more times with body shots in round six to end it. Time was 2:03.

Lightweight Jonhatan Cardoso (16-1, 15 KOs) destroyed previously unbeaten 19-year-old prodigy Oscar Alvarez Jr.(9-1, 7 KOs), who allegedly had 677 amateur fights. Cardoso was credited with a knockdown in round one when he drove the elongated 6’3 Alvarez into the ropes. Cardoso continued to batter and bust up Alvarez with dozens of clean shots and eventually got a referee’s stoppage at 1:56 of the third.

Unbeaten super featherweight Dominic Valle (6-0, 5 KOs) got a referee’s stoppage with one second remaining in the bout against Carlos Rosario (6-2, 3 KOs). Bout waved off at 2:59 of round six.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten southpaw prospect JBC#2 Suzumi Takayama (6-0, 5 KOs), 114.75, impressively seized the vacant Japanese national super-flyweight belt as he battered JBC#1 Ryusei Kawaura (9-2, 6 KOs), 114.75, from pillar to post to prompt the referee’s well-timed intervention at 1:05 of the fourth session in a scheduled ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The newly crowned Takayama is the nephew of former world challenger Yuji Watanabe who had unsuccessful title shots against Genaro Hernandez in 1992 and Wilfredo Vazquez in 1997. Like his uncle Suzume can punch, and looks promising. Continue reading “Takayama halts Kawaura, wins Japanese 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten WBO female junior bantam champ Mizuki Hiruta (5-0, 1 KO), 114.5, scored the fastest victory in world title bouts here as she decked a very quick TKO win over Casey Morton (11-4-3, 3 KOs), 114.5, at 1:03 of the opening session to retain her WBO belt in her initial defense on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Hiruta had Morton down no less than four times in 63 seconds to stun the crowd. Probably Casey was too nervous and stiff to move smoothly, absorbing much punishment from Mizuki’s opening attack. Continue reading “Hiruta keeps WBO female 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Boxing Beat

Last weekend witnessed hot action in Osaka, Japan. In an all-southpaw competition Tyson Koki (16-5-3, 13 KOs), 168, acquired the vacant Japanese super-middleweight belt by a unanimous decision (97-93 twice, 98-92) over 45-year-old veteran Yuki Nonaka (35-12-3, 10 KOs), 168, over ten on Saturday. It was a rather close affair, but the younger Koki, fifteen years his junior at 30, connected a solid shot at a time—more effectively than the more experienced campaigner. In the main event of the show, Japanese heavyweight champ Mitsuro Brandon Tajima (6-0, 5 KOs), 280, failed to finish Venezuelan Luis Marin (10-5, 7 KOs), 267, but won a unanimous decision (77-74, 78-73 twice) over eight.

In the night show at the same arena on the same day, WBO Asia Pacific 130-pound champ Masanori Rikiishi (14-1, 9 KOs), 134, finished Panamanian Ricardo Nunez (23-6, 21 KOs), 134, with a wicked body shot for the count at 2:16 of the third round in a scheduled ten.

Promoter: KWORLD3 Promotions (for both shows).

On Sunday, in Kyoto, 40-year-old former world titlist Katsunari Takayama (33-9, 12 KOs), 107.25, returned to action and emerged victorious by a unanimous nod (77-74 twice, 76-75) over Filipino Joel Lino (12-5-1, 5 KOs), 107.5, over eight heats. The ex-champ took a count in the closing seconds of the sixth, but displayed his superior speed and volume of punches down the stretch.

Promoter: Future Promotions.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Former lightweight king Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) dethroned previously unbeaten WBO junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Theater at Madison Square Garden. Taylor started strong but Lopez took over after a few rounds and started beating Taylor to the punch. Later on, Teofimo was just teeing off at times. Taylor was close to going down in round twelve. Scores were 115–113, 115-113, 117-111.

“Josh Taylor is a tough dude,” said Lopez. “I can see why he beat so many fighters. But you’ve got to counter the counterpuncher. You’ve got to outsmart the man and get in there. And I did that. I think I did enough.This is what it is all about.”

More Quotes and Photos

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Unbeaten former 154lb world champion Jaime Munguia (42-0, 32 KOs) barely pulled out a twelve round unanimous decision against 37-year-old former world title challenger Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (14-5, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The fight was a see-saw affair from the opening bell with both fighters landing big shots. Derevyanchenko rocked Munguia in rounds three and five and seemed better in many rounds. Munguia rocked Derevyanchenko in round eleven and dropped him with a liver shot in round twelve. Derevyanchenko managed to survive. Scores were 115-112, 114-113, 114-113 all for Munguia.

After ten rounds, scores were 96-94 on two cards for Derevyanchenko. The third card was 95-95. Ironically, Golden Boy tried to switch the bout from a twelve-rounder to a ten-rounder and even offered Derevyanchenko a near six-figure payment, which was rejected. Turns out Sergiy did Munguia a favor as Jaime needed those last two rounds to get the W. Continue reading “Late surge saves Munguia’s 0”

WBC #8 cruiserweight Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (18-1, 17 KOs) scored a third round TKO over late sub Zamig Atakishiyev (8-2-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rozicki started putting it on Atakishiyev in round two. The referee waved it off after more punishment in round three. Time was 1:14. Former world champion Kell Brook was taking in the action at ringside.

In the co-feature, super bantamweight Pedro Bernal (12-1-2, 4 KOs) stopped 41-year-old fan favorite Tyson Cave (35-4, 14 KOs) in round two. Body shots proved to be Cave’s undoing. After three knockdowns, Bernal’s hand was raised. Cave was returning to the ring for the first time since 2019.