Unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson is out of action after undergoing hand surgery. As a result, Stevenson’s scheduled October 12 defense against former champion Joe Cordina is off. That bout was to take place October 12 as the co-feature for the Beterbiev-Bivol clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Stevenson said on social media “…unfortunately my hand gave out on me, but [in] 2025 let’s bounce back and take over boxing.”

Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions announced today an inaugural show that is part of their overall partnership. The event, “Latino Night,” will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 16 with the main event co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and BOXXER.

The lineup includes…

WBA/WBO cruiserweight unification
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs)
vs. Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs)

WBO super lightweight eliminator
Jose Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs)
vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs)

Lightweight ten-rounder
#1 rated William “El Camarón” Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs)
vs. Tevin “2X” Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs)

WBO minimumweight championship
Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (10-0, 7 KOs)
vs. Edwin “Canito” Hernandez (13-2-1, 4 KOs)

WBA super lightweight eliminator
Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs)
WBA #1 Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (21-2-1, 8 KOs)

* * *

Turki Alalshikh: “We are looking forward to staging our first event as part of our partnership with Golden Boy Promotions with Latino Night. This card features some of the best Latino fighters around and continues our drive to deliver top-tier boxing events by giving fans throughout the world the fights they want to see.”

Alalshikh also confirmed that Latino Night will be broadcast for free globally. Further details of where you can watch this card will follow.

By Joe Koizumi

Undamaged and unbruised, “The Monster” Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) is going to be a fighting champion. He will again defend his undisputed 122-pund belts here on Christmas—Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. His promoter and ex-world 105-pound champ Hideyuki Ohashi, 59, admitted Naoya’s schedule on the press conference on Wednesday at Ohashi Gym in Yokohama.

“I’ve had definitely no damage. As I had my last fight of indigestion and incomplete combustion, I wish to go forward to my next in December.” Between Inoue and Ohashi it seemed that they agreed to go and fight in Las Vegas next year, as Top Rank CEO Bob Arum mentioned from the ring on Tuesday.

Who’s next? Either Sam Goodman (IBF, WBO mandatory challenger) or Murodjon Akhmadaliev (WBA compulsory contender). Continue reading “Monster Inoue to fight next on Christmas”

Former world champion Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) will challenge unbeaten IBF super welterweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) in the 12-round main event of PBC on Prime Video action Saturday, October 19 live from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Tszyu will look to regain his status as world champion against the reigning unbeaten titleholder Murtazaliev, who beat Jack Culcay to earn the vacant IBF title in April,

Tim Tszyu: “At this level, you have to take everyone out and Bakhram is the next guy standing in my way. The world knows me and they know what I’m about. I’m thankful to my team for putting me in this position to prove why I’m still the man at 154 pounds. Bakhram has what I want and I plan on taking it from him in spectacular fashion. It’s time to become a two-time world champion.”

Bakhram Murtazaliev: “I’m extremely happy and excited to defend my world title on Prime Video against a strong opponent like Tim Tszyu. I just want Tim to be in the best shape possible and not get any injuries so we can give this fight to the fans.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda (to come soon)

Undisputed 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue kept his belts by halting TJ Doheny at 0:16 of the seventh round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Naoya maintained the pressure on the more experienced Doheny, who abruptly complained of his lumbago and his incapability to walk and fight. It might be a disappointing end, but Inoue showed his strength and kept his belts with no problem.

(More to come)

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Southpaw footworker Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs), 117.75, very barely kept his WBO bantamweight belt as he was awarded a hairline unanimous decision (114-113 twice, 115-112) over ex-WBC flyweight champ Daigo Higa (21-3-1, 19 KOs), 117.75, over twelve sizzling rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Takei kept circling to counter with uppercuts to the shorter but more powerful challenger. The tide turned busily as Takei and Higa scored with solid shots each other. The eleventh round saw Higa connected with a roundhouse shot at the neck of Takei, who went down to take the count. Takei, however, furiously went forward to overcome his deficit on point in the final session, when Higa didn’t show any of his aggressiveness only to try to keep his accumulation of points. It turned out to be a serious mistake for Higa. Though the judges eventually favored the defending champ, it wasn’t a good performance for Takei.

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten southpaw Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs), 140, impressively acquired the right of the WBA 140-pound mandatory challenge against Jose Valenzuela, as he kept outjabbing WBA interim champ Ismael Barroso (25-5-2, 23 KOs), 140, from Venezuela, floored him three times and halted him at 2:58 of the ninth round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The younger, taller and faster Andy kept sticking and moving to frustrate the older Venezuelan, 41, who kept stalking the Fancy Dan. Andy, thirteen years his junior at 28, sent him to the deck with a countering southpaw right hook in the sixth, and finally accelerated his attack to deck him twice more in the fatal ninth. For Andy it was an impressive victory over the dangerous hard-puncher Barroso, whose interim belt wasn’t at stake. The referee was Christopher Young. Photos

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Boxing was back at the “War Grounds” as local undefeated WBO #1 super middleweight Diego Pacheco (22-0 18 KOs) of Los Angeles made a statement in knocking out the always durable Maciej Sulecki (32-3, 12 KOs) of Poland in the sixth in headlining on DAZN from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Firing away the jab in the opening round, Pacheco boxed and kept Sulecki at a distance. Pacheco kept pumping the jab and boxed patiently in round two as Sulecki pressed and looked to work his way in. Sulecki slipped to start round three and pressed, Pacheco continued to work the jab and began to let go of the right hand. Continuing to box in the fourth, Pacheco stuck to the plan as Sulecki kept going forward, Pacheco peppered away with the jab and follow up with the right as Sulecki kept pressing.

Stepping up the pace, Pacheco hurt Sulecki late in the fifth round and followed up with powerful right hands as the Polish fights was saved by the bell. A crunching left hook to the body by Pacheco did it in the sixth as Sulecki hit canvas and referee Ray Corona reached a ten count at 54 seconds of the sixth. Continue reading “WBO #1 Pacheco KOs Sulecki in six”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

We saw a press conference of the forthcoming quintuple event today (Saturday) in Yokohama, Japan. All were eloquent, so this reporter summarizes their confident comments. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum was in attendance, saying he would highly expect a great show.

Undisputed world super bantamweight title bout

Naoya “Monster” Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs, Japan):
“I’m in tiptop shape after strenuous training for months since my victory over Luis Nery this May. I’ll never take Doheny lightly as he is a well-experienced strong fighter that I respect. It won’t be an easy fight for me.”

TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs, Ireland, residing in Australia):
“I’m in perfect condition and am happy to be here to make history. I know Inoue is a very excellent boxer. I respect him, but I have a strong determination to regain the world junior feather belt.”

_

* * *

WBO world bantamweight title bout

Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs, Japan, former K-1 champion):
“This is my first defense since I dethroned Jason Moloney last May. I know Higa is a hard-punching ex-world champion, but I’ll knock him out.”

Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs, Japan):
“I’m in great shape. I’m more experienced than Takei and show the difference of career to win back the belt.”

* * *

WBA super lightweight eliminator for #1

Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs, Venezuela):
“I’m very fit physically and mentally. It will become a great spectacle by hard-punchers. Andy is a good boxer, but I’ll finish him.”

Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs, Japan):
“My condition is great after good training for months. Barroso is a very dangerous hard-hitter, but it is me that will be victorious.”

* * *

OPBF/WBO AP welterweight title bout

Jun Sasaki (17-1-1, 16 KOs, Japan):
“I’ll be the very first world welterweight champion out of Japan. I’m aware of Balla’s strength with his great muscles. I wish to entertain customers and media watchers.”

Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8 KOs, Japan):
“I’m happy to fight on the same show with “Monster” Inoue. I’ve had a very good condition, and you can expect a great fight with young and strong Sasaki.”

* * *

This deluxe show at Ariake Arena (the capacity of which is 15,000) will be presented by Ohashi Promotions.

TV: Lemino in Japan; ESPN+ in US.

Wins mandatory right against Angelo Leo

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat Magazine

Formerly two-division champ IBF #3 feather Tomoki Kameda (42-4, 23 KOs), 125.75, eked out a split decision (114-113, 116-111, 113-114) over #2 Lerato Dlamini (20-3, 11 KOs), 125.25, from South Africa in a twelve round eliminator to win the mandatory right to challenge newly crowned IBF 126-pound ruler Angelo Leo on Saturday in Osaka, Japan.

Having dropped an a split nod to Dlamini in their first encounter here last October, Tomoki, 33, this time changed his style to be much more aggressive all the way, decking his grudge rival with a fusillade of punches midway in round five. Dlamini, 30, kept moving and countering with a fewer but well-timed uppercuts against the onrushing Japanese. This time Tomoki looked like a winner since he kept stalking Dlamini with busier combination from the outset and scored an impressive knockdown.

Ex-WBC minimum champ Yudai Shigeoka, 106.75, won a unanimous decision (97-93 twice, 96-94) over WBO#11 Samuel Salva, 106.5, over ten. Yudai had the upper hand over the less aggressive Filipino, though he couldn’t score a knockdown.

WBO#11 Kenbun Torres (14-5, 10 KOs), 115.75, Mexico, upset WBO#1 junior bantam Filipino KJ Cataraja (17-1, 13 KOs), 115, winning a split decision (96-93 twice, 94-95) over a close ten. Having upset then WBO #1 bantam Reymart Gaballo in the first round in the Philippines this May, the Mexican son of ex-world champ German Torres, 36, seemed to have a big resurgence in his turbulent career of having been in jail twice in eleven years in total.

Promoter: Kameda Promotions.

47-year-old ring legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. made his Mexico City debut in an exhibition on Saturday night at the iconic Arena Ciudad de México. The affair was a rematch of a June 2023 exhibition between Mayweather and MMA fighter John Gotti III. Mayweather schooled Gotti over the eight two-minute rounds. In round two, the referee warned Floyd for hitting behind the head was promptly replaced by another ref.

WBC #1 super bantamweight and silver beltholder Alan David Picasso (29-0-1, 16 KOs) hammered out a twelve round unanimous decision over Azat “Crazy A” Hovhanisyan (21-5, 17 KOs). Good two-way action with local favorite Picasso winning 118-110, 118-110, 120-108.

Former WBC welterweight champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (33-7-3, 25 KOs) returned from a two-year layoff to go eight two-minute rounds against Rodrigo Damián Coria (13-6, 2 KOs) in an exhibition match.

18-year-old lightweight prospect Curmel Traymayne Moton (5-0, 4 KOs) needed just 55 seconds to annihilate Victor Vazquez (5-3-1) in the first round.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions on Thursday announced seven world title bouts to take place in a couple of days at the same Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, as follows:

October 13, Sunday

WBA 118lb title bout
Takuma Inoue vs. Seiya Tsutsumi

WBC 112lb title bout for the vacant belt
Kenshiro Teraji vs. Cristofer Rosales

WBA 112lb title bout
Seigo Yuri Akui vs. Thananchai Charunphak

WBO 108lb title bout for the vacant belt
Shokichi Ishida vs. Jairo Noriega

October 14, Monday

WBC 118lb title bout
Junto Nakatani vs. Tasana Salapat

WBO 115lb title bout
Kosei Tanaka vs. Phumelele Cafu

WBO 112lb title bout
Anthony Olascuaga vs. Jonathan Gonzalez

WBO Asia Pacific 118lb title bout for the vacant belt
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Gerwin Asilo

TV: Amazon Prime Video in Japan; ESPN+ in US

Is it possible to stage no less than seven world title goes in just two days under recession? Yes, Teiken can.

Photos

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”

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.

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)

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has ordered that IBF #1 super middleweight William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs) face Vladimir Shishkin (16-0, 10 KOs) for the vacant world title formerly held by Canelo Alvarez. Scull’s promoter AGON Sports and Shishkin’s promoter Salita Promotions have been instructed by the IBF to reach an agreement by August 27 or the fight will go to purse bid. Fomerly undisputed 168lb champion Canelo was recently stripped for not facing IBF mandatory Scull.

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”

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”

IBF Statement: In lieu of the recent announcement made regarding the upcoming bout between Saul Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga, the IBF seeks to clarify the status of the IBF super middleweight title and how the organization reaches decisions in situations such as this based on its rules.

Saul Alvarez became the undisputed super middleweight champion on November 6, 2021, in a TKO victory over then IBF champion Caleb Plant. At the time of this bout, Saul Alvarez held the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles. In circumstances where there is an undisputed champion, the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO have agreed on a “rotation system” to determine the order of mandatory defenses. The mandatory defense of the IBF super middleweight title is now due based on this agreement. Continue reading “IBF vacates Canelo’s 168lb title”