Former IBO super lightweight world champion and former IBF world title challenger Jermias Ponce (32-1, 21 KOs) of Argentina decisioned countryman Alexis Nahuel Torres (12-8-1, 6 KOs) on Friday night at the Club Social y Deportivo El Porvenir, Quilmes, Argentina. Ponce dropped the tricky southpaw Torres in round one but Torres was game and fought to the end. The official scores were 98-91 twice and 99-90. Ponce fought valiantly last year in his world title fight loss to then-world champion Subriel Matias.

In a middleweight clash between former unified super welterweight champions, “Swift” Jarrett Hurd (25-3-1, 17 KOs) and Jeison “Banana” Rosario (24-4-2, 18 KOs) battled to a ten round draw on Wednesday night at the ProBox Event Center in Plant City, Florida. Close rounds with both having their moments. Scores were 96-94 Hurd, 96-94 Rosario, 95-95.

Pound-for-pound, which is the most competitive category in Japan?

Lightweight division, this reporter believes. If not world class, we have many good crowd-pleasers in this class.

Japanese champ IBF#13 Hironori Mishiro (16-1-1, 5 KOs), 134.75, proved too sharp and skillful for hard-punching southpaw JBC#11 Kazuaki Miyamoto (10-9, 8 KOs), 134.5, decked him with a well-timed right in round five and finally halted him with the referee’s intervention at 0:31 of the sixth round on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The triumphant victor who retained his national belt said from the ring, “I’m willing to unify the regional belts.” His first target is the newly crowned OPBF ruler Shu Utsuki (14-1, 12 KOs), and the next may be WBO AP titlist Katsuya Yasuda (14-1, 9 KOs). Continue reading “IBF#13 Mishiro halts Miyamoto, keeps Japanese 135lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Having their baby just a fortnight ago, his wife worked the corner of Japanese flyweight champ WBA#11 Jukiya Iimura (7-1, 2 KOs; amateur mark 68-13), 111.5, who successfully kept his national belt on a nearly shutout decision (100-90, 99-91 twice) over JBC#9 Tetsuya Mimura (12-5, 3 KOs), 112, over ten heats on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

Mrs. Iimura, former amateur lightweight boxer (retired), wrapped the husband’s hands and served as a corner-person to see Jukiya’s onesided victory. Making his third defense, Iimura, whose idol is Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, made good use of lateral footwork, confused the less skillful challenger and steadily piled up points with his hit-and-run tactics thanks to his better half’s encouragement in the corner. After the triumph they rushed back home to see their two-week old daughter. Continue reading “Iimura shuts out Mimura, keeps Japanese 112lb belt”

Unbeaten WBC #1, WBA #2, IBF #3, WBO #3 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) scored ten round unanimous decision over three-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-6, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. The 38-year-old Derevyanchenko showed good skills, but Mbilli simply overpowered him with his attacks. In round four, Derevyanchenko appeared to injure his left arm and after that he mostly fought with his right hand with some success. Mbilli aggressively attacked in round six to get the momentum back. Derevyanchenko was drastically handicapped with the arm injury as Mbilli broke him down. Derevyanchenko showed incredible heart, but Mbilli was a clear winner by scores of 100-90, 99-91, 98-92.

In a crossroads heavyweight fight, Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (13-2-1, 11 KOs) upset Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-2, 18 KOs) by eighth round stoppage. Vianello got the better of the early rounds with Makhmudov’s left eye completely closed by round three. Makhmudov was game but got the worst of the exchanges. Makhmudov was deducted a point for hitting behind the head in round six. Vianello landed some big shots that rocked Makhmudov in round seven. The bout was finally stopped by the ring doctor at the start of round eight.

IBO super middleweight champion Osleys “El Tornado” Iglesias (12-0, 11 KOs) impressively crushed Sena “The African Assassin” Agbeko (28-4, 22 KOs) in a non-title fight. Iglesias floored Agbeko toward the end of round one. The bout was stopped at 1:16 of round two with Iglesias mercilessly teeing off.

Unbeaten lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason continues to impress. Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) destroyed Mike Ohan Jr. (19-2, 9 KOs) in round two. Mason dropped Chan in round one, then in round two, Ohan’s corner stopped it after Mason scored a second knockdown. Time was :40. Continue reading “Mbilli beats D’chenko, Vianello halts Makhmudov”

The 10 round main event saw young unbeaten prospect Harvin “Manimal” Aguirre (13-0, 9 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua unanimously decisión veteran Alberto “Metralleta” Mosquera (28-7-2, 16 KOs) of Panama at the Coliseo De Combates in Panama City, Panama.

Mosquera came out aggressive in round 1 stalking Aguirre but it was Aguirre who counter punched and had Mosquera staggering badly but Mosquera survived the round. Mosquera seemed to have very poor balance a fact mentioned multiple times by Hall of Famer and former two-division world champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon who was on the ESPN Knockout broadcast team commentating the fight. Continue reading “Aguirre decisions Mosquera in Panama”

By Joe Koizumi

Lately it is rare to see Thai boxers victorious here in Japan. More rare is for a Thai fighter to dethrone our Japanese champion here. But it happened when unheralded Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KOs), 112, wrested the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight belt by winning a majority but well-received decision (116-112, 115-113, 114-114) over previously unbeaten WBC#14, IBF#13 defending champ Kento Hatanaka (15-1, 10 KOs), 112, over twelve hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.

Kento, the son of former WBC 122-pound titlist Kiyoshi Hatanaka (who dethroned Argentine Pedro Decima in Nagoya in 1991), was a pre-fight favorite thanks to his unbeaten credentials despite a long hiatus caused by an injury since last September when he acquired the vacant WBO AP belt by scoring a close but unanimous nod over Akira Hoshuyama in Nagoya. The taller Thailander displayed his good judgment of distance, jabbing and countering with better precision. With the face badly puffed by his absorption of punishment, Kento gamely fought with jabs and body punches, but it was Thananchai that demonstrated his cleverness in dominating the championship rounds.

Promoter: Hatanaka Promotions.

Former WBC and WBO light heavyweight title challenger Tommy Karpency (31-8-1, 19 KOs) won a unanimous decision over rugged cruiserweight Joe Jones (14-12-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. Karpency dropped Jones with a straight left / right hook combination in the third round. Jones weathered the storm and had his moments throughout the bout. The win marked Karpency’s 40th professional fight as he plans to compete at light heavyweight. Continue reading “Karpency cruises in 40th fight”

Report and photos by Joe Koizumi

Is there professional boxing in Vietnam? Yes, there is. The WBA Asia Convention was held for three days from Friday by Vietnam Boxing Commission at Ho Chi Minh city—with the attendance of WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza. It was organized by Chris Luu of VBC (Vietnam Boxing Commission) and Shadow Entertainment. The commemorative show was promoted at Saigon Sports Club on Sunday. Continue reading “Report: WBA Asia Convention in Vietnam”

Heavyweight contender Bakhodir Jalolov (14-0, 14 KOs), representing Uzbekistan, won his second straight Olympic super heavyweight gold medal on Saturday in Paris, France. Jalolov swept through all four of his matches, culminating with a decision over Ayoub Ghadfa.

Uzbek fighters dominated the 2024 Olympic boxing competition, winning five of seven available gold medals. Cuba and Ukraine picked up the other two golds.

Team USA was represented by eight boxers (four male, four female) and secured one medal, a bronze, by welterweight Omari Jones.

Both of the controversial female boxers, Imane Khalif and Lin Yu-Ting, won gold medals. They were under scrutiny due to some previous gender testing results.

Here are all the Olympic medalists…

Unbeaten WBC #2 super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) dethroned WBC interim champion Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) by twelve round majority decision on Saturday night at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. From the opening bell, both fighters went right at each other. Bohachuk was awarded a retroactive flash first round knockdown after a video review. Ortiz often seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges. Bohachuk scored another flash knockdown in round eight and Ortiz came back furiously. Ortiz rocked Bohachuk several times down the stretch. Scores were 113-113, 114-112, 114-112. Next up for Ortiz could be a clash with WBA champion Terence “Bud” Crawford.

WBC #3 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) scored a devastating second round knockout against Khiary Gray (18-7, 13 KOs). A body shot put Gray down for the count. Time was 2:32.

WBA #1 super lightweight Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (21-2-1, 8 KOs) pounded on game former super bantamweight world champion and late sub Jonathan Romero (35-5, 19 KOs) for five rounds in a good action fight. Romero’s corner stopped it after round five.

Continue reading “Ortiz gets past Bohachuk, Crawford next?”

Former 122-pound king Angelo Leo (25-1, 12 KOs) scored a spectacular tenth round KO to dethrone IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at Tingley Coliseum in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The unorthodox style of Lopez gave Leo some problems, but in round ten Leo flattened Venado with a left hook to end it. Lopez was on his back for the full ten count.

In a clash between undefeated junior welterweights, Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Bryan Flores (26-1-1, 15 KOs). Delgado dropped Flores in round three. Flores was deducted a point in round seven for a phantom low blow. Scores were 95-93, 96-92 Delgado, 96-92 Flores. Mixed reaction from the crowd.

Unbeaten local flyweight Matthew Griego (14-0, 10 KOs) shut out late sub Gilberto Mendoza (23-18-4, 11 KOs) in an eight-round rematch. Scores were 80-72 3x. Griego previously shut out Mendoza via six-round unanimous decision in June 2022.

Junior middleweight contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. (19-1, 12 KOs) won his Top Rank debut by second round disqualification against Laszlo Toth (32-9-2, 20 KOs). Mielnicki dropped Toth in round two prompting Toth’s corner to enter the ring and cause Toth to be disqualified. As a result, Mielnicki doesn’t get the KO on his record.

Unbeaten flyweight Angel Ayala (18-0, 8 KOs) knocked out Dave Apolinario (20-1, 14 KOs) in round six to claim the vacant IBF world title on Friday night at the Restaurante Arroyo in Mexico City. Ayala’s bodywork put Apolinario on the canvas in round six. Ayala upped the pressure and dropped Apolinario again with a savage barrage of body shots. Apolinario could not beat the count.

By Joe Koizumi

WBO#4, IBF#4 ranked light fly Thanongsak Simsri (35-1, 32 KOs), 107.5, impressively kept his OPBF 108-pound belt when he kept whipping Filipino hard-puncher John Paul Gabunilas (10-4, 7 KOs), 106.75, with his fast left-right combinations, bloodied him and finally accelerated his attack to have him at bay to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:52 of the fifth round in a scheduled twelve on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Thanonsak is a 24-year-old Thailander under the promotional agreement who is gunning for a world title shot in the near future.

Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
BoxRec: Thanongsak Simsri

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

Fast-rising ex-amateur prospect Shunpei Ohata (3-1, 2 KOs), 130, proved too strong and aggressive for WBO AP#12, OPBF#13 Rhonvex Capuloy (11-3-3, 8 KOs), 129.5, and finally decked a fine TKO victory at 2:48 of the fourth round on Sunday in Fuji city, Japan. Having experienced more than forty amateur contests, Ohata, formerly a silver medalist of national amateur tournaments in 2021, attacked the game but cautious Filipino from the outset, pinned him to the ropes and battered him with a flurry of punches. Staying too long with his back to the ropes, Capuloy was saved from further punishment by the third man midway in round four. Ohata, a graduate from Toyo university being a junior to 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata, looks promising with his hard-punching ability.

Promoter: Suruga Danji Promotions.

Two-division undisputed champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) dethroned WBA super welterweight champion Israil “The Dream” Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) via twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Close, gritty match with Crawford coming on late to win 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. Crawford also picked up the WBO interim belt.

The fight ended Crawford’s 11 straight KO streak. Promoter Turki Alalshikh stated he has an offer in for Crawford to face Canelo early next year.

Two-division undisputed champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) dethroned WBA super welterweight champion Israil “The Dream” Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) via twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Close, gritty match with Crawford coming on late to win 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. Crawford also picked up the WBO interim belt.

The fight ended Crawford’s 11 straight KO streak. Promoter Turki Alalshikh stated he has an offer in for Crawford to face Canelo early next year.

WBA #5 super lightweight Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs) defeated and dethroned WBA world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Cruz pressed the action, but Valenzuela had success outboxing Cruz from the outside. Scores were 116-112, 116-112 Valenzuela, 115-113 Cruz. Cruz surrenders the title in his first world title defense.

WBA #1, WBC #6, WBO #11, IBF #14 heavyweight Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) ended the unbeaten reign of WBO #4, WBC #5, IBF #5, WBA #13 Jared “Real Big Baby” Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs) with an impressive fifth round stoppage on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Bakole dropped Anderson in round one, then floored him twice in round five en route to a referee’s stoppage at 2:07.

305lb heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs) and former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2-1, 22 KOs) battled to a twelve round technical draw. Ruiz won the early rounds with his hand speed, but Miller turned the tables midway and walked down Ruiz the rest of the way. Scores were 116-112 Miller, 114-114, 114-114.

In a clash for the WBA “regular” light heavyweight title, unbeaten David Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) defeated Radivoje ‘Hot Rod’ Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 118-110 for the former WBA super middleweight champion.

Other Results:
Andy Cruz TKO7 Antonio Moran (lightweight)
Steven Nelson KO5 Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez (super middleweight)
Ziyad Almaayouf DRAW6 Michal Bulik (welterweight)

Super featherweight Jorge ‘Kan’ Mata (19-2-2, 13 KOs) unamiously decisioned countryman Rafael ‘Panadero’ Rosas (19-7-2, 11 KOs) in a ten-rounder on Friday night in Lienzo Charro de Oceania in Mexico City.

Mata was in control the entire fight, coming forward and landing many jabs and hooks. Round five saw the ring doctor called in to check on a cut over the right eyebrow of Rosas but deemed him fit to continue. The pace slowed a bit in the following rounds. So much so that in round seven the referee told both fighters to throw punches. In round eight, the cut of Rosas was worsening but the ring doctor again deemed him fit to continue. The pace continued with Mata in control to the final bell. No official scoring were announced.

Unbeaten super featherweight prospect Marc Castro (13-0, 8 KOs) scored a seven round technical decision over George “El YuYu” Acosta (17-3, 3 KOs) on Wednesday night in a temporary ring at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. Acosta suffered an eye injury and couldn’t continue. Scores were 70-63 3x.

Unbeaten WBA #1 welterweight Shakhram Giyasov (16-0, 9 KOs) took a ten round split decision over Miguel Parra (22-6-1, 14 KOs). Scores were 95-94, 96-93 Giyasov, 95-94 Parra. Giyasov was deducted a point for a low blow, but seemingly won by a wide margin.

Welterweight Jesus Saracho (13-2-1, 11 KOs) recovered from a sixth round knockdown to squeeze out a ten round split decision over Alberto Palmetta (19-3, 13 KOs) on Wednesday. Night at the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida. Scores were 97-93, 96-94 Saracho, 96-94 Palmetta.

By Joe Koizumi

Filipino hard-puncher Pedro Taduran (17-4-1, 13 KOs), 104.25, regained IBF 105-pound belt when he kept battering defending champ Ginjiro Shigeoka (11-1-1NC, 9 KOs), 105, and finally halted him at 2:50 of the ninth round on Sunday in Shiga, Japan.

It was an encounter of the southpaw punchers, and IBF#1 Taduran had the upper hand from the start. The Filipino had the Japanese champ’s right optic puffed and later almost closed as the contest progressed. It was Taduran, three years his senior at 27, that often connected with overhand lefts to the shorter champ and took the initiative. Ginjiro fought back well to show his heart, but Pedro landed more effective shots to the face and to the belly, which gradually had him slowing down. The eighth saw Taduran accelerate his furious attack and so obviously hurt Shigeoka that US referee Steve Willis called a halt to save the champ from further punishment. Continue reading “Taduran dethrones IBF 105lb champ Shigeoka”

Former WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt (40-3, 36 KOs) of Mexico stopped Jeremy Triana (15-6-3, 13, KOs) of Colombia in round three of their scheduled for 10 round bout. The event took place Saturday night in Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico. Berchelt started off very strong with several head snapping jabs on Triana in round one. In round two Berchelt began to work the body of Triana. In the very same round Triana landed a very hard uppercut during an exchange which caught the attention of Berchelt. The third and final round saw Berchelt hurt Triana badly to the body where Triana was very unsteady on his legs. The referee called a brief halt to the action for the ring doctor to check a cut over the right eye of Triana. Moments later, Triana was ruled fit to continue. The action resumed and Berchelt went to work with a barrage of unanswered punches and the referee rightfully stepped in to stop the bout. The official time of the stoppage was 2:36 of round three.

By Bob Ryder and Brad Snyder at ringside

Undisputed female middleweight champion Claressa “GWOAT” Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) stepped up to heavyweight to dethrone WBC female heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs) on Saturday night at the Little Ceasars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Shields totally outclassed Lepage-Joanisse, dropping her three times in round two. Time was 1:09.

World-ranked super lightweight Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera (26-1, 14 KOs) won a ten round split decision against Hugo Alberto “Nato” Roldan (22-3-1, 7 KOs). Scores were 98-91, 98-90 for Rivera, 95-94 for Roldan.

Super lightweight upset artist Julian “The Quiet Storm” Smith (9-2, 5 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over former world title challenger and WBC #13 Shohjahon Ergashev (24-2, 21 KOs). Smith, who is legally deaf, gave Ergashev all he could handle, dropping Ergashev in round five. Scores were 95-94 Ergashev, 95-94, 95-94 Smith. Ergashev was a 7:1 favorite. Continue reading “Shields wins WBC female heavyweight title”