Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT BAM Rodriguez-Gallo Estrada photo gallery for some incredible shots + the scorecard.

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Jesse “BAM” Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) dethroned WBC super flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (44-4, 28 KOs) with a spectacular seventh round KO on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Glendale, Arizona. Great fight. BAM dropped Estrada with a straight left hand in round four. After the round, Estrada went to Rodriguez’ corner. BAM rocked Estrada again in round five. Estrada dropped BAM in round six with a right hand. BAM dropped Estrada with a liver shot to end it in round seven. Time was 3:00. There is a rematch clause and Estrada says he plans to exercise it.

In a flyweight clash between former world champions champions, Sunny Edwards (21-1, 4 KOs) outboxed Adrian Curiel (24-6-1, 5 KOs) to take a nine round technical decision. Curiel was the aggressor, but was largely neutralized by the mobile Edwards. Edwards suffered a bad gash from a head clash in round six. The bout was stopped at the beginning of round nine. Scores were 90-82, 88-84, 87-85.

WBC female super bantamweight champion Yamileth Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) topped Ramla Ali (9-2, 2 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 98-92, 98-93, 97-93.

In a clash between unbeaten super bantamweights, Arturo Cardenas (15-0-1, 8 KOs) scored a ten round majority decision over Danny Barrios (15-2, 5 KOs). Scores were 95-95, 97-93, 96-94.

Unbeaten bantamweight Gabriel Muratalla (12-0, 6 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Carlos Fontes (23-4-1, 19 KOs) by scores of 79-73, 78-74, 77-75.

WBO junior welterweight champion “The Takeover” Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KOs) on Saturday night at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. Claggett applied a lot of pressure, while Teofimo landed the sharper punches. Lopez was in command in every round, but he didn’t come close to stopping the rugged Claggett. Scores were 120-108, 120-108, 119-109.

Former world champion Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) won by seventh round KO against Brandon Leon Benitez (21-3, 9 KOs). A Ramirez uppercut toppled Benitez at 2:46. Ramirez could be in line for a rematch against WBO champion Rafael Espinoza, who dethroned him last December.

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (11-1, 5 KOs) avenged his only pro defeat in a rematch with a six round unanimous decision over Sona Akale (9-2, 4 KOs). Ali Walsh dropped Akale in round three and overcame a dislocated shoulder to get the win. Scores were 58-55, 57-56, 57-56.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs) scored a first round KO over Jose Zaragoza (9-9-2, 3 KOs). Vargas simply teed off on Zaragoza until the bout was stopped.

Junior welterweight Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez (16-1-1, 13 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Jino Rodrigo (12-4-2, 10 KOs). Rodrigo dropped Rodriguez in round one, only to have Rodriguez floor him later in the first round. Rodriguez went on to win 98-91, 98-91, 97-92.

Former cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck (43-5-1, 28 KOs), now competing at heavyweight, scored a ten round unanimous decision over Evgenios Lazaridis (19-6, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Estrel Convention Center in Berlin, Germany. In his first fight in four years, the 39-year-old Huck outworked the 6’6 Lazaridis in workmanlike fashion. Scores were 97-93 3x.

In a clash between unbeaten cruiserweights, Tahir Kahrovic (22-0, 14 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Miljan Djordjevic (16-1, 8 KOs) in a clash for the WBO Euro belt. Scores were 99-91, 97-93, 100-90.

Local favorite Laureano ‘Dinamita’ Sciuto (15-1, 10 KOs) of Argentina stopped countryman Walter Ezequiel Gauchez (10-6, 3, KOs) in round four of their scheduled for ten round main event Friday night at the Biblioteca Popular Nicolas Avellaneda, Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sciuto wasted no time in dropping Gauchez in round one but Gauchez beat the count and survived the round. Sciuto tried to get Gauchez out of there in rounds two and three but Gauchez was tough. The corner of Gauchez had seen enough and threw in the towel at about the 2 minute mark of round four. TKO 4 win for Sciuto.

Unbeaten super welterweight Fernando Vargas Jr. (15-0, 14 KOs), son of former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas, handed Juan Carlos Cordones (14-5, 9 KOs) his fifth straight KO loss on Friday night at the Southwest University Event Center in El Paso, Texas. Vargas dropped Cordones twice in round one and then got the win when Cordones’ corner threw in the towel later in the round.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Abel “El Zorro” Mendoza (41-0, 30 KOs) took a six round unanimous decision over journeyman German Ivan Meraz (65-70-3, 41 KOs). Scores were 60-54, 59-55, 59-55.

The WBC Board of Governors has approved the extension of two weeks requested by David Benavidez with regard to his decision to confirm his decision on which weight category he will choose to continue his boxing career. Benavidez currently holds both the WBC interim super middleweight and interim light heavyweight championships.

WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-1, 10 KOs) retained hid title with an eighth round TKO over previously unbeaten Feargal McCrory (16-1, 8 KOs) on Friday night at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington DC. Roach dropped McCrory in round three with a short left hook. Roach floored McCrory twice more with body shots in round four. McCrory put up a game effort, but his corner finally waved the towel to end it in round eight. Time was 2:51.

In a step-up fight, unbeaten super middleweight Lester Martinez (18-0, 15 KOs) scored an impressive ten round unanimous decision over well-respected Carlos Gongora (22-3, 17 KOs). One-sided fight with Martinez connecting with big shots the entire way. Scores were 99-91, 99-91, 100-90.

Lightweight Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) punished Alex Dilmaghani (20-3-1, 7 KOs) for seven rounds and the bout was halted before round eight.

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez 115 vs. Juan Francisco Estrada 115
(WBC super flyweight title)

Sunny Edwards 112 vs. Adrian Curiel 112
Arturo Cardenas 121 vs. Danny Barrios 121.2
Yamileth Mercado 121 vs. Ramla Ali 122
Gabriel Muratalla 117.6 vs. Carlos Fontes 117

Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Teofimo Lopez 139.4 vs. Steve Claggett 139.5
(WBO junior welterweight title)

Robeisy Ramirez 124.8 vs. Brandon Leon Benitez 127.4
Nico Ali Walsh 156.9 vs. Sona Akale 156.3
Emiliano Vargas 139.8 vs. Jose Zaragoza 139.1
Elvis Rodriguez 141.6 vs. Jino Rodrigo 141.2
Lorenzo Medina 235.6 vs. Detrailous Webster 247.7
Rohan Polanco 142.4 vs. Luis Hernandez 143
Yan Santana 127 vs. Brandon Valdes 127
Euri Cedano 161.4 vs. Dormedes Potes 161.7

Venue: James L. Knight Center, Miami, Florida
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

By Héctor Villarreal

Undefeated lightweight Jonathan Miniel (5-0, 5 KOs) failed to make the 135lb limit for the WBA Fedecentro lightweight title fight against Fernando “Panther” Martinez (6-2, 2 KOs ) who refused to fight in the superlight división, so Laguna Premium Boxing swithched the co-main event, Hibrahim Valdespino (3-0-1, 2 KOs) vs Elias Vega (5-5, 0 KOs) to head Friday night’s card at the Centro de Combates in Panama City. Miniel will now face Samir Cuentas (3-3, 0 KOs) in a preliminary fight.

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Lamont Roach Jr. 130 vs. Feargal McCrory 129.6
(WBA super featherweight title)

Lester Martinez 167.2 vs. Carlos Gongora 168.8
Alex Dilmaghani 132 vs. Rene Tellez Giron 136.2
Rianna Rios 116.6 vs. Mary Romero 117.2
Benjamin Johnson 147.4 vs. Michael Williams 147.6
Jordan Roach 115 vs. Luis Domingo Hernandez Cambero 113.6
Greg Outlaw 144 vs. Isidro Curiel 144.6
Deric Davis 135.4 vs. Matias Agustin-Arriagada 132
Travon Marshall 151.4 vs. Luis Midyael Sanchez 156 lbs.
Eric Hernandez 140.6 vs. Jonathan Hernan Godoy 142

Venue: Entertainment & Sports Arena, Washington, DC
Promoter: NoXcuse Promotions
TV: ProBox TV

Undefeated super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (12-0, 10 KOs) hammered out a workmanlike ten round unanimous decision over late sub Vaughn “The Animal” Alexander (18-12-1, 11 KOs) on Thursday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. The scores were 99-91, 98-92, 98-92.

Ramon Arellano (Arellano Boxing Promotions) presents a night of boxing July 25th in Nashville, Tennessee. The site of the event will be the popular San Jose Fiesta Mexican Restaurant owned by Arellano. The four round main event will feature unbeaten Jacob Yamazato (3-0, 3 KOs) who recently signed promotionally with Arellano. The opponent for Yamazato will be journeyman Joshua Romero (0-6) of San Antonio, Texas. Continue reading “Boxing back in Nashville July 25”

Jesse “BAM” Rodriguez and Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada faced off at the final press conference for their WBC super flyweight title clash on DAZN Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Juan Francisco Estrada: “I’m going to go out all action like I always do, but in an intelligent way. He says I’m finished, I’m old. My aim is to show that that is not correct.

Jesse Rodriguez: “This is what it’s all about. This is what I’ve been wanting for a while…I do think it’s gonna start a little bit technical but once I figure him out, it’s a wrap.”

WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) and challenger Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their ESPN-televised world title showdown on Saturday at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.

Teofimo Lopez: “We know how to get the job done. We know how to get the win. We’re not a two-time lineal champion for no reason. We do this. We face the best fighters in boxing. So, Steve Claggett is going to come to bring it. However, there are levels to this. I look forward to what he brings to the table, and we’ll dissect him from there.”

Steve Claggett: “This is something I’ve worked my whole life for. I feel like I have great momentum right now. It’s the time for me.”

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has announced another Hollywood Fight Nights event set for August 31 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, and broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass. Headlining the event is fast-rising super lightweight, “Sugar” Cain Sandoval (11-0, 9 KOs) against “Ruthless” Ramiro Duno (26-4, 20 KOs) over ten scheduled rounds.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Who is the next Japanese star-to-be following the footstep of “Monster” Naoya Inoue? This reporter declines to describe a well-worn word “genius” to any bright prospect. How can we predict this boy would be world champ or superstar? Yours truly, however, repent of my failure to report Monster Inoue’s pro debut in detail in 2012? Twelve years later a very bright prospect successfully made a professional debut on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Hi manager, promoter and ex-world champ Hideyuki Ohashi had exaggeratedly emphasized remarkable talents of Yuta Sakai (1-0, 1 KO), 117.75, who this night scored a very impressive victory over Korean #3 super bantam Ji-Yong Kim (3-2-1, 1 KO), 117.75, at 1:20 of the second round in a scheduled six. Continue reading “Bright prospect Yuta Sakai decks pro debut”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese featherweight champ WBC#13, IBF#9 Keisuke Matsumoto (11-0, 7 KOs), 126, retained his national belt when he scored a shutout decision (all 100-90) over Yushi Fujita (12-10-4, 3 KOs), 126, over ten lopsided rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Keisuke, the son of former three-time world challenger Koji (who unfortunately failed to win the belts from Young-Kyun Park in 1992, Young-Soo Choi in 1997 and Freddie Norwood in 1998), steadily piled up points by outpunching the durable challenger in every round. Keisuke (whose amateur mark was 80-15), 24, is a stylish upright stylist who registered his third defense with ease. Continue reading “Matsumoto defeats Fujita, keeps Japanese 126lb belt”

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez says his fight with Juan Francisco Estrada isn’t personal – but he wants to prove ‘El Gallo’ wrong for his past comments ahead of their blockbuster clash for Estrada’s WBC super flyweight titles at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona this Saturday on DAZN.

“This is a very important fight for me,” said BAM. “When I had that WBC belt before, he said a few things discrediting my wins against Cuadras and Rungvisai, so that on top of fighting for his world title makes it as big as can be. I just know I’m going to have my hand raised, by KO or on points.

“I wouldn’t call it personal to the point where I am mad about what he said, but he I do want to prove him wrong and show him that I am the truth, the real deal, and on Saturday, he’s going to see. Continue reading “BAM remembers Estrada criticism”

Darius Fulghum 167.8 vs. Vaughn Alexander 171.4
Eric Priest 161.8 vs. Janer Gonzalez 158.4
Tristan Kalkreuth 199.8 vs. Anthony Hollaway 190.8
Grant Flores 153.8 vs. Josias Gonzalez 150.4
Leonardo Sanchez 131.4 vs. Jenel Lausa 135
Cayden Griffiths 140 vs. Juan Romero 139.4
Brandon Sanchez 124.4 vs. MJ Bo 125.6

Venue: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It’s a shocker that in just 1:25 of the first round they hit the canvas each other and the regional belt eventually moved to the new champion on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Elongated southpaw Japanese 6’3” Tyson Koki (17-5-3, 14 KOs), 167.75, captured the WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight belt as he was badly dropped to the deck at first, barely raised himself with rubbery legs and more badly flattened defending titlist Deok-No Yun (8-2, 6 KOs), 167.25, from Korea, en route to a TKO victory at 1:25 of the opening session at the Korakuen Hall.

Yun, a sturdy six-footer, realized it’s a matter of time since he really hurt Tyson with a solid right counter. Upon the resumption of the fight Yun furiously attacked the fading Japanese with a flurry of punches that unfortunately had him wide open for Tyson’s avenging shot to the face. Down he went flat with his legs grotesquely paralyzed such as Ingemar Johansson decked by Floyd Patterson in their grudge fight at the Polo Grounds NY in 1960. Continue reading “Koki sinks Yun, wins WBO AP 168lb belt”

Fan-favorite welterweight Alexis “Lex” Rocha (24-2, 16 KOs) will face the undefeated Santiago “Somer” Dominguez (27-0, 20 KOs) in a 12-rounder that will headline a special edition of Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN July 19. The event will take place at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and worldwide on DAZN beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT.

Alexis Rocha: “I’m thankful to Golden Boy, DAZN and my entire team for the chance to headline another card. I’ve already proven that I was able to come back after a loss. My losses don’t define me. What defines me is the way I respond to the losses. This next fight is another test in me realizing my ultimate dream of becoming world champion. I’m focused on more knockouts for the fans.”

Santiago Dominguez: “Alexis Rocha is a great fighter – I have followed his career and he is well respected. On the fight night though, Alexis Rocha will find a fighter that is coming to win. It will be a great fight, our styles will really collide. This fight will end in a knockout.”

Riydah Season London was officially launched at a press conference at London ahead of the massive night of boxing at the ic onic Wembley Stadium on September 21. HE Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), confirmed the full card headlined by the bout between IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

The headline attraction is one of six all-British fights. Among the matchups…

• Two-time world featherweight champion Josh Warrington returns to world title action by going up against the current super featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace.
• Hamzah Sheeraz, who recently secured a knockout victory against Austin Williams, will take on European middleweight champion Tyler Denny.
• Former British Olympian Josh Kelly will face former WBO super welterweight champion Liam Smith.
• Undefeated 2016 Olympic bronze medallist and British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi will go into battle for the WBO interim title against Willy Hutchinson.
• WBA Intercontinental champion Mark Chamberlain goes against undefeated fellow British lightweight Josh Padley.

Official IBF Statement:

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024 IBF President Daryl Peoples received notification that Oleksandr Usyk was relinquishing his IBF world heavyweight title. Usyk conveyed his gratitude to the IBF, especially for having the opportunity to become the undisputed champion in two weight divisions. The IBF was honored to have Oleksandr Usyk as its champion and wishes him continued success.

Daniel Dubois, former IBF interim world heavyweight champion, was sent notice on June 26 that he is recognized as the organization’s world heavyweight champion effective immediately. The IBF has received the request for Dubois’ first defense of the heavyweight title to be against Anthony Joshua.