Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

Jesse Uhde’s Hard Knocks Promotions presented a multi-disciplinary combat show featuring boxing, bare knuckle boxing and MMA, on Saturday night in Kalispell, Montana. Majestic Valley Arena, normally a rodeo venue, played host to this event. This write-up will focus on the amateur and pro boxing as well as the bare knuckle bout. Continue reading “Watley Gets Revenge on Miranda”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Let’s go back to our preview for the second day of the multiple title events on Monday.

Day Two (Monday, our Sports Day)

WBC bantamweight title bout

Unbeaten three-division champion Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs), Japan, will put his belt on the line against WBC#1 Petch Sor Chitpattana (AKA Petch CP Freshmart or Tasana Salapat; 76-1, 53KOs) from Thailand in the main event. Having captured the WBC bantam belt from Alejandro Santiago via spectacular sixth-round TKO this February, the lanky southpaw Junto already cleared his mandatory defense with a first-round knockout of Vincent Astrolavio in July. His single southpaw left to the belly was the haymaker in the only 157-second demolition. Petch, also a tall southpaw, tasted just a single defeat at the hand of Takuma Inoue by a unanimous verdict (all 117-111) in the WBC interim 118-pound title go in December 2018. Nakatani will be a prohibitive favorite thanks to his recent improvement under his US handler Rudy Hernandez.

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WBO junior bantamweight title bout

WBO 115-pound ruler Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) will face unbeaten #5 Phumelele Cafu (10-0-3, 8 KOs), South Africa, with his belt at stake. It was a pity that Tanaka, scheduled to defend his newly acquired belt against Mexican Jonathan Rodiriguez this July, was forced to have his initial defense abruptly cancelled due to the challenger’s terrible overweight. Eager to show his good form and fine victory, Tanaka will put on an aggressive performance, but the unbeaten South African should not be underestimated due to his unbeaten mark and his career of having gained the IBF international belt and national title as well.

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WBO flyweight title bout

Newly crowned just a couple of months ago, Anthony Olascuaga (7-1, 5 KOs), from California, is reported to be in tip-top shape prior to his initial defense against more experienced ex-WBO 108-pound champ Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (28-3-1-1NC, 14 KOs), from Puerto Rico. Bomba recently renounced his WBO 108-pound belt due to his difficulty to make weight, and now participate in a mandatory shot at Olascuaga. Though Olascuaga is a harder hitter than Bomba and is a prefight favorite as well, it is true that the Puerto Rican possesses his excellent footwork that may frustrate and confuse the new champ like Ivan Calderon.

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WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight vacant title bout

Also, future champion and tremendously popular here, unbeaten Tenshin Nasukawa (4-0, 2 KOs), former kick-boxing champ, will meet also unbeaten Filipino Gerwin Asilo (9-0, 4 KOs) in quest of the vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight belt. Tenshin is highly expected to deck a spectacular victory that will certainly pave the way to his near-future challenge to any of the world 118-pound championships, all of which are now dominated by his compatriots.

Promoter: Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi

Another new champion was born in Japan. Former WBC 108-pound champ Masamichi Yabuki (17-4, 16 KOs), 107.5, very impressively wrested the IBF junior flyweight belt when he took the initiative, dropped defending titlist Sivenathi Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KOs), 107.5, from South Africa, three times and finally halted him at 1:50 of the ninth round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokoname, Japan.

Yabuki, 32, controlled the fight with sharp jabs and left-right combinations from the outset, though Nontshinga, 25, responded with fewer jabs and occasional rights. Steadily piling up points, Masamichi exploded a vicious right to the head of the champ, who fell down in the closing seconds of the eighth to have a narrow escape. The eighth saw Yabuki turn very pugnacious with a fusillade of punches, badly decking the champ twice more. The ref Mark Calo-oy, US, then called a well-timed halt over the crestfallen ex-champ who couldn’t show any of his usual zip this night.

Promoter: Kameda Promotions.
IBF supervisor: Ben Keilty (Australia).

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

If you can very correctly list up who out of the eight bouts on Sunday and Monday will appear respectively, you are a boxing addict or a keen Japanologist. The weigh-in results of the Day One for the two-day world title events are as follows:

WBA bantamweight title bout
Takuma Inoue 118
#2 Seiya Tsutsumi 117.75

WBC flyweight vacant title bout
#1 Kenshiro Teraji 111.75
#2 Cristofer Rosales 112

WBA flyweight title bout
Seigo Yuri Akui 112
Thananchai Charunphak 112

WBO junior flyweight vacant title bout
#1 Shokichi Iwata 108
#2 Jairo Noriega 108

Promoter: Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions.
TV: Amazon Prime Video in Japan, ESPN+ in US.

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Don King proclaimed “Only in America” in his prime. Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions may also describe his multiple title events “Only in Japan” since he stages no less than seven world title bouts at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Sunday and Monday (our national holiday named Sports Day).

Let’s start this preview on the star-studded championship fights:

For Day One (Sunday)…

WBA bantamweight title bout

Fast-moving and punching Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KOs) will risk his WBA 118-pound belt against WBA#2 compatriot Seiya Tsutsumi (11-0-2, 8 KOs) in the main event. It is a grudge fight for them since Inoue previously defeated Tsutsumi in the semi-final of national high school tournaments on August 3, 2012. This rematch after 4,454 days since their first amateur encounter is so highly expected as Takuma, the brother of Monster Naoya, has lately shown a rapid progress, while the unbeaten Tsutsumi, a gallant switch-hitter, recently scored four successful defenses of his national 118-pound belt to his credit. It will be a fierce battle of the sharpshooter (Inoue) and the road warrior (Tsutsumi). Is there a possibility that the challenger may upset the highly regarded champ like Glen Johnson upset Roy Jones Jr. twenty years ago?

WBC flyweight vacant title bout

Former WBC 108-pound champion Kenshiro Teraji (23-1, 14 KOs) renounced his belt after twelve defenses through his two reigns because of his serious weight problem, and now fights for the vacant WBC 112-pount throne. His opponent is ex-WBC flyweight titlist Cristofer Rosales (37-6, 22 KOs), Nicaragua, who once dethroned WBC ruler Daigo Higa on a ninth-round stoppage here in 2018. Teraji, faster on hand and foot, may have a tough time coping with the game and aggressive hard-puncher, but the Japanese star may be more skillful to outclass and counter him after a tough competition.

WBA flyweight title bout

Defending champ Seigo Yuri Akui (20-2-1, 11 KOs) will participate in his second defense since he dethroned Artem Dalakian this January. His challenger Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KOs), Thailand, is a Pone Kingpetch (who won the world flyweight belt three times) stylist that lately surprisingly upset previously unbeaten Kento Hatanaka (ex-WBC 122-pound champ Kiyoshi’s son) to seize the WBO AP belt this August. Akui may be more powerful and aggressive, but Charunphak may try to utilize his advantageous height and reach to outpunch the onrushing champ. This fight will be competitive.

WBO junior flyweight vacant title bout

Up-and-coming Japanese prospect WBO#1 Shokichi Iwata (13-1, 10 KOs) registered four victories all by impressive knockouts after he failed to win the WBO title from Jonathan Gonzalez on points here two years ago. Iwata is quite different from what he used to be as he has become a more decisive finisher. His unbeaten opponent WBO#2 Spaniard Jairo Noriega (14-0, 3 KOs) once acquired the European flyweight belt in 2022, and lately seized the vacant WBO Latino junior fly belt this March. If not outlegged by the fleet-footed Noriega riding his bicycle made in Europe, Iwata may have a puncher’s chance to finish him and celebrate his coronation. Continue reading “Part One: Preview for multiple title events in Japan”

By Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

Ebony and Ivory promotions put on a slam bang six bout show at The Venue in North Little Rock, Arkansas Friday night.

Headlining the show was Fayetteville, Arkansas’ Light heavyweight knockout artist, Kalvin “Hot Sauce” Henderson, taking on Los Angeles gatekeeper Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis in a scheduled eight rounder. With 46 bouts under his belt, Pendarvis looked to use every trick in his arsenal to frustrate Henderson. The action picked up in the third as both men landed telling blows. In the fourth, Pendarvis would back himself to the ropes to lure Henderson in, then neatly pivot away to safety. In the middle of the fifth, a heated exchange saw Henderson finally rock Pendarvis with a hard right in ring center. The crowd reacted as if the end was near, but Pendarvis moved, clinched and survived. It wasn’t however a total defensive effort by Pendarvis, as he did land his fair share of good shots, bloodying Henderson’s lower lip for good measure. In the end, It was Henderson who forced the action, and did enough work to take the nod via scores of 80-72 twice and 77-75. Henderson moves to 19-2, 13 KOs, while Pendarvis dips below .500 at 22-23-2, 9 KOs. Continue reading “Results From Fall Brawl In Arkansas”

By Joe Koizumi

IBF junior flyweight champion Sivenathi Nontshinga (13-1, 10 KOs), from South Africa, will defend his belt against #2 Masamichi Yabuki (16-4, 15 KOs), ex-WBC 108-pound titlist, on Saturday in Tokoname city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Both tipped the beam half a pound lighter than the limit at 107.5. For Nontshinga it will be his first defense since he regained the IBF belt from Mexican grudge rival Adrian Curiel this February, while Yabuki will make his second world title shot since he forfeited his WBC light fly belt to Kenshiro Teraji in their rematch in 2022. It will take place at Aichi Sky Expo by Kameda Promotions.

Lightweight Gabriel Flores Jr (24-2, 8 KOs) returns tomorrow night in Stockton, Calif. against Dennis Contreras (24-14-1, 22 KOs) in an eight-round main event, streamed live on BLK Prime.

Weigh-in results:

Gabriel Flores Jr 135 vs. Dennis Contreras 136.6
Dominique Francis 130.8 vs. Julio Carrera 130.8
Andrew Rodriguez 114 vs. Marcelino Rangel 114.6
Jessie James Guerrero 112.8 vs. Bryan Santiago 114
Steve Canela 136.2 vs. David Music 136.8
Jennah Creason 148.8 vs. Roshetta Vatuvel 154.8
Tatiana Almaraz 110.6 vs. Vickie Zhao 108.8
Kyle Lacanlale 122.6 vs Ricardo Antonio Luna 124.8

Artur Beterbiev 174.9 vs. Dmitrii Bivol 174.12
(undisputed light heavyweight title)

Jai Opetaia 198.9 vs. Jack Massey 199.12
(IBF cruiserweight title)

Fabio Wardley 241.6 vs. Frazer Clarke 271.3
(British heavyweight title)

Chris Eubank Jr 159.12 vs. Kamil Szeremeta 159.12
Skye Nicolson 125.9 vs. Raven Chapman 125.9
Ben Whittaker 174.9 vs. Liam Cameron 174.6

Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Promoter: Matchroom, Queensberry, Top Rank
TV: ESPN+ (Beterbiev-Bivol), DAZN (undercard fights)

Jose Angel Garcia Rodriguez 130 vs. Maximo Toala Medina 132
Noli Valenzuela Tavera 129 vs. Victor Vazquez 127
Kevin Lara Acevedo 122 vs. TBA
Francisco J. Ramos Gomez vs. 160 Gustavo Boites 161
Alejandro Ledezma Esparza 132 vs. Oscar Romo Zaragoza 132
Carolina Alvarez Sanchez 123 vs. Grecia Fernanda Gutierrez Cabrera 123
Hector AlejandroHdz. Glez. 134 vs. Edyy Guzman Aldaco ?
Maximiliano Cortina Vega 109 vs. Aldo Yaiv 114
David Gutierrez Garcia 162 vs. Alan Yael Cerda Flores 159
Diego Garcia Molina 140 vs. Christopher Yamil Flores Flores 140
Saul Joel Renteria Barreto 135 vs. Jorge Alberto Martinez 136

Venue: Arena Jalisco Guadalajara, Mexico
Promoters: Ramon Arellano(Arellano Boxing)/Guzman Boxing promotions

Bryce Henry 158.2 Yoenlis Hernandez 159
Armando Martinez 129 D’Angelo Keyes 132

Venue: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Florida.
Promoter: Kris Lawrence (Heavyweight Factory)
Matchmaker: Henry Rivalta

WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) and WBA light heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) will meet on Saturday in a legacy-defining battle for the undisputed championship on Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The winner will become the division’s first undisputed ruler of the modern era and the first since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999. Beterbiev-Bivol will be a special one-fight presentation streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

Artur Beterbiev: “It’s not my business {to think about other fighters}. I have a fight this Saturday. I’m only focused on this fight…I want a good fight. I’m preparing for a good fight. We’ll see…Be ready, Dmitry. I will be ready.”

Dmitry Bivol: “In my training camp, in my head, I always try to visualize how it will go. And there are a lot of different scenarios. And usually, that fighter will be more calm when he realizes that he’s ready for everything. If he trains for some things in his training camp, and this happens in the ring, he’s more confident in those situations. And, of course, against Beterbiev, we had to do a great camp. We had to think about different scenarios, and we did. And now I’m just curious how it will be in the ring.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was an affair of a 40-year-young national champ defending his belt against a challenger, 39. Veteran late-bloomer Yuichi Ideta (19-6-1, 10 KOs), 153, impressively kept his Japanese super welterweight belt when he swarmed over JBC#3 Hisashi Kato (12-13-2, 8 KOs), 153.5, and finally halted him at 2:44 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Taking the pace from the outset, the champ caught up with the southpaw challenger, dropping him twice in round four. Despite his persistent retaliation Ideta accelerated his attack to prompt the referee Yoshida’s well-received intervention. It was Ideta’s third successful defense to his credit. Continue reading “Ideta, 40, halts Kato, 39; keeps Japanese 154lb belt”

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is a narrow -140 favorite to defeat WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (+120) in their clash on Saturday for the undisputed world championship. Bivol-Beterbiev headlines a big card at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. starting at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT.

The Best Panamanian prospects support Nuñez-Corrales

By Héctor Villarreal

For its most important card of the season, Laguna Premium Boxing reunites most of the Panamanian talented fighters to face opponents of their same level to support the Pink-blue Ribbon, cancer awareness campaign.

In a long awaited clash, world-ranked lightweight, Ricardo “The Scientist” Núñez (24-6, 22 KOs) faces former WBA super featherweight titlist Jezreel “Invisible” Corrales (26-7, 10 KOs) to head the KO to Cancer card scheduled for Saturday, October 19 at the Arena Roberto Durán. Continue reading “KO to Cancer card in Panama Oct 19”

The WBC has received official confirmation from bridgerwieght champion Lawrence Okolie that he has decided to relinquish his world title in order to pursue his dream of becoming heavyweight champion. Consequently interim champion Kevin Lerena is hereby confirmed as WBC world bridgerwieght champion.

Former junior welterweight champion Subriel Matías (20-2, 20 KOs), from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, returns to the ring on November 9 at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico in a 10 round bout in the junior welterweight division against world contender Roberto Ramírez (26-3-1, 19 KOs), of México.

The anticipated return of Matías headlines a a event presented by Fresh Productions, where all undercard fighters will face top Mexican contenders. Taínos vs. Aztecas will be distributed live on a $39.95 pay per view.

The co-main event will be a world title final eliminator for the number one ranking position of the IBF at bantamweight division (118 pounds), when two-time world champion Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Rodríguez (22-3, 13 KOs), from Vega Baja and ranked number three by the organization, faces Mexican ranked number five José Salas (15-0, 10 KOs), from Tijuana in a 12-round fight. Continue reading “Subriel Matías returns Nov 9 on PPV”

The WBO has ordered middleweight world champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly and mandatory challenger Hamzah Sheeraz to commence negotiations and have 15 days to reach an agreement. Failure to reach an agreement within the time provided herein will result in this Committee ordering purse bid proceedings. The minimum acceptable bid is $200,000. Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid ceremony at any time during the negotiation process.

Former WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu held a Las Vegas media workout on Monday ahead of his showdown against unbeaten IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev
on Prime Video Saturday, October 19 live from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Tim Tszyu: “I bring the heat every time I get in the ring. I’m coming in with aggression on October 19 and I’m leaving with that IBF belt. Continue reading “Tszyu: I’m leaving with that IBF belt”

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol during today’s Media Day ahead of Saturday night’s show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev was also on hand a little later.

Beterbiev and Bivol look to crown the first undisputed light heavyweight world champion this century. That bout will stream on ESPN+.

The undercard can be seen on DAZN (no PPV in the US). Fights include:

• IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will defend his title against British fighter Jack Massey.
• Middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. competes for the first time since September 2023 when he fights Kamil Szeremeta.
• British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke will rematch after the two men did battle back in March.
• Also, unbeaten 2020 Olympian Ben Whittaker meets Liam Cameron, WBC female featherweight champion Skye Nicolson collides with Raven Chapman, and Mohammed Alakel faces Jesus Gonzalez.

Saturday night’s super middleweight fight between Omar Chávez and Misael Rodríguez was cancelled at the last minute at the Vicente Segura Bullring in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Both fighters made weight on Friday and were on hand for the bout, however the Rodriguez camp chose not to fight when Chavez rehydrated some ten pounds over an agreed rehydration weight. Omar Chávez is the son of ring legend Julio Cesar Chavez.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former IBF junior light champ Kenichi Ogawa (29-2-1-1NC, 20 KOs), 131.75, returned to the ring warfare and scored a lopsided knockout of Filipino Alan Alberca (13-9, 8 KOs), 127, after three knockdowns at 1:04 of the fourth round in a scheduled eight on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The veteran Ogawa, 36, forfeited his IBF belt to Joe Cordina via one-punch second-round demolition in Cardiff, Wales in 2022. Having registered three victories since, Ogawa, a muscular hard-puncher, had a thirteen-month hiatus, but displayed a spectacular finish to impress the audience. His very first left-right shot in the first session badly dropped Alberca flat, but the Filipino barely resumed fighting gamely only to sink with a couple of visits to the deck with vicious body shots in the fatal third. Ogawa is expected to get another title shot to win back the world belt. Continue reading “Ex-IBF champ Ogawa returns, finishes Alberca”

Wins vacant WBO AP 122lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese KO artist Subaru Murata (8-0, 8 KOs; amateur 68-12, 15 stoppages), 121.75, impressively acquired the vacant WBO Asia Pacific junior feather belt when he put on a give-and-take performance and finally decked also unbeaten Kaito Yamasaki (9-1, 5 KOs; amateur 24-15, 5 stoppages), 121.75, for the count at 2:46 of the ninth round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The fast-moving southpaw took the initiative and floored the game compatriot with a southpaw right hook that had Yamasaki hit the canvas with the glove. But it was Yamasaki that connected with a countering right, badly dropping the aggressor midway in round seven. Busily moving to-and-fro, Murata (no relation to ex-Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata) had the upper hand again and finally battered him down for the full count. Continue reading “Unbeaten Murata demolishes Yamasaki”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by The Won Promotions

Hard-punching southpaw Thailander Phongthep Homjui (15-1-2, 8 KOs), 139, acquired the vacant WBA Asia super lightweight belt when he edged previously unbeaten Korean KO artist Yoon Tak (7-1, 7 KOs), 139.5, by a hairline split decision (95-94, 96-94, 94-95) over ten hard-fought rounds in on Thursday in Seoul, Korea. It was such a give-and-take affair that it might be called Korea’s Fight of the Year. Phongthep scored an eye-catching knockdown with a southpaw left hook in the end of the opening session. The Thailander was in command in the first three rounds, but the taller Korean took back the initiative from the fourth on with solid combinations upstairs and downstairs. The fading Thailander, however, showed his last surge down the stretch, eking out a very close verdict. The Korean judges might be influenced by Phongthep’s opening attack, though this reporter saw it 95-94 for Yoon Tak, a game hard-hitting prospect. The Korean 140-pounder may deserve a rematch. Continue reading “Homjui edges Tak, wins vacant WBA Asia 140lb belt”

Unbeaten WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) stopped challenger Ronny Rios (34-5, 17 KOs) in the tenth round on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Ball’s hometown of Liverpool, England. The aggressive Ball came out throwing hard. He dropped Rios in round three, then battered Rios for the rest of the round. Rios was game and he bloodied Ball’s nose, but Ball’s brutal attack continued. Ball floored Rios again in round ten to end it. Time was 2:06.