“King” Ryan Garcia has injured his wrist in training camp, temporarily postponing his much anticipated exhibition showdown against Japanese kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo that was set to take place on Monday, December 30 in Tokyo, Japan in an event presented by RIZIN and FANMIO. The event will be rescheduled for a date in early 2025.

“I’ve been eagerly preparing for my upcoming exhibition fight in Japan, training hard in Dallas over the past several weeks,” said the disappointed Garcia. “Unfortunately, I sustained a hand injury during training and returned to Los Angeles to be seen by the doctor, who has advised me to postpone my December 30 exhibition.”

Garcia says he does not expect the injury to prevent his eventual showdown with Anpo, who has traded increasingly nasty public barbs with Garcia throughout the past month. Continue reading “Kingry injures wrist; Japan exhibition delayed”

Former heavyweight title challenger Dillian “The Body Snatcher” Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs) stopped Ebenezer Tetteh (23-2, 20 KOs) after seven hard-fought rounds on Sunday night at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar. Whyte was busier, while Tetteh stalked him. Whyte gave Tetteh a beating, but the game African kept coming. The bout was finally halted after the seventh round.

Former cruiserweight title challenger Mike “The Rebel” Perez (30-3-1, 21 KOs) needed just 34 seconds to demolish Israel Duffus (20-13, 17 KOs). A straight left from southpaw Perez finished Duffus.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

IBF bantamweight champion Ryosuke Nishida (10-0, 2 KOs), 117.5, kept his belt as he scored a fine knockout over Thai challenger Anuchai Donsua (16-1, 7 KOs), 117, at 1:37 of the seventh round on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. It was the lanky southpaw champ’s first defense since he dethroned Emmanuel Rodriguez by an upset decision this May. The taller lefty controlled the contest by utilizing his advantageous reach, and floored the unbeaten Thailander with a southpaw right hook midway in round five. The seventh saw Nishida land a vicious left uppercut to the midsection to deck him again this time for the count. The referee was Katsuhiko Nakamura, Japan. Continue reading “Nishida finishes Anuchai, keeps IBF 118lb belt”

Former super flyweight champion Andrew Moloney (27-4, 17 KOs) scored a third round KO over Jakrawut Majungoen (47-7-2, 26 KOs) on Sunday night at the The Melbourne Pavilion, in Melbourne, Australia. Moloney laid out Majungoen (also known as Kongfah CP Freshmart, face first in the third to end it.

In an astonishing upset, unheralded Bruno Surace (26-0-2, 5 KOs) knocked out WBC #2, WBO #3, WBA #4, IBF #5 super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia (44-2, 35 KOs) on Saturday night at the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. Mangier dropped Surace in round two with a left hook to the chin. It was all Munguia until Surace connected with a right hand that put Munguia on his back.

“I know that he is an excellent boxer. So, we worked on our counter punches,” Surace said. “He is a true warrior. I want to thank him for the opportunity. This was a big experience for me. Middleweight is my true weight class. But we’ll see if {a rematch} can happen.”

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In the co-feature, WBC #1 super bantamweight Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) scored a third round knockout against late sub Yehison Cuello (13-3-1, 11 KOs), who replaced Picasso’s original opponent Isaac Sackey. Picasso took out Cuello with a brutal body shot. Time was 1:55.

By Joe Koizumi

Ohashi Promotions has announced the Naoya Inoue-Sam Goodman title bout will be postponed until January 24 because the Aussie challenger suffered a cut on the eye during a sparring session.

More to come

Former IBF and WBA super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) destroyed Ricardo Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs) for the interim WBA super bantamweight world title on Saturday night at the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Akhmadaliev dropped Espinoza three times in round three to end it. Time was 2:59.

In a clash for the vacant Euro cruiserweight title, unbeaten Leonardo Mosquea (16-0, 9 KOs) defeated British champion Chev Clarke (10-1, 7 KOs) by twelve round split decision. Mosquea dropped Clarke in round one and went on to win on two cards 116-112, 115-112. Clarke was up on the this card 117-113.

Lightweight Maxi Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs) shut out Gary Cully (18-2, 10 KOs) over ten rounds to seize Cully’s WBA Continental title. Scores were 100-90 3x.

By Jeff Zimmerman

WBA light heavyweight champ David Morrell Jr. discussed his upcoming mega fight with the “Mexican Monster” David Benavidez slated for Feb 1 at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas and live on PBC PPV. Morrell Jr. shared how the fight finally got made once Canelo was out of the picture and both their moves to 175lbs. He also responded to the legend, Roy Jones Jr., take on the fight and how he sees Beterbiev-Bivol 2 playing out and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive.

By Damon Gonzalez/LatinBox Communications

In a clash for the vacant WBA interim bantamweight title, WBA #1 rated Antonio Vargas (19-1, 11 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO against previously unbeaten WBA #9 rated Winston Guerrero (22-1, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royal in Orlando, Florida. Vargas dropped Guerrero in round one. Guerrero responded and floored Vargas in round two. Vargas recovered and began to break down Guerrero. In round ten, Vargas rocked Guerrero and Guerrero’s corner pulled their man out. Time was 2:10. Continue reading “Vargas wins WBA interim bantam belt”

Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) dethroned IBF junior welterweight champion Liam Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Saturday night at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hitchins outboxed Paro and pulled away to a 117-111 Paro, 116-112, 116-112 Hitchins.

IBF #4 junior lightweight Henry Lebron (20-0 10 KOs) outscored WBA #7 Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz (29-6 19 KOs) over ten rounds in a bout for the vacant IBF Latino, WBO NABO and WBA Continental Latin America titles. Scores were 97-93, 97-93, 96-94.

WBA #3, WBC #9, WBO #11 flyweight and Puerto Rican Olympian Yankiel Rivera (7-0, 3 KOs) stopped Angel Gonzalez in round four in a bout for the vacant WBC Silver, WBA Continental Americas and WBO Intercontinental flyweight titles.

Lightweight Marc Castro (13-1, 8 KOs) suffered his first loss, dropping a ten round split decision against Agustin Quintana (21-1-2, 13 KOs). Scores were 97-93, 97-93 for Quintana, 96-94 for Castro.

Welterweight Jalil Hackett (9-1, 7 KOs) also came up short, losing a ten round split decision to Jose Roman Vazquez (14-1, 6 KOs). Scores were 96-94, 96-94 for Vazquez, 96-94 for Hackett.

WBC #1 cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs) and #2 rated Yamil Peralta (17-1-1, 9 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw in a clash for the vacant WBC interim title on Saturday night at the Centre 200 in Nova Scotia, Canada. Former world title challenger Rozicki pressed the action and did damage to the body while Peralta fought defensively. Despite his left eye being closed, Rozicki landed some big shots in round eleven. Scores were 115-113 Rozicki, 114-114, 114-114.

The pair have now fought a total of 24 hard fought rounds in their two bouts. The only winning scorecard in this bout was in favor to Rozicki 115-113 while the other two judges had it even 114-114. Rozicki’s promoter Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions) thought his guy (the puncher) beat Peralta (the boxer) at his own game. “Ryan outboxed the boxer” stated Otter.

Rozicki previously edged Peralta by controversial decision two years ago, but this time Rozicki landed the harder shots and seemed to be the winner.

Unbeaten Sam Arnold(11-0, 7 KOs) scored a highlight reel second round knockout of previously unbeaten Julian Delgado (4-1, 1 KO) to win the vacant WBC youth intercontinental super middleweight title.

In a rematch, WBO junior lightweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) defends his strap against former two-division king Oscar Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Glendale, Arizona. Navarrete dropped Valdez in round one with a shot to the temple. Another knockdown by Navarrete at the end of round four. The end came in round six when Navarrete floored Valdez again with a body shot. Time was 2:42.

In another rematch, WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) scored a sudden sixth round TKO over Robeisy Ramirez (14-3, 9 KOs) to retained his belt. Espinoza connected with a right hand to the head and Ramirez indicated that he could no longer continue. Time was :12. Ramirez corner cited an Espinoza elbow in round four gave him double vision and he couldn’t go on.

U.S. Olympic super heavyweight silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (12-0, 11 KOs) was again impressive, getting a third round referee’s stoppage against Issac Muñoz (18-2-1, 15 KOs).

Welterweight contender Giovani Santillan (33-1, 18 KOs) mauled Fredrick Lawson (30-6, 22 KOs) for three minutes and Lawson called it quits at the end of round one.

Unbeaten junior welterweight contender Lindolfo Delgado (22-0, 15 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO against Jackson Marinez (22-4, 10 KOs).

WBA #7 rated Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (32-3, 14 KOs) dethroned WBA “regular” world champion Mahmoud “Diamond Boy” Charr (34-5, 20 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Arena Sophia in Sofia, Bulgaria. Pulev got the jab going early and outworked Charr in a good action fight. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 116-112. The third time was the charm for the 43-year-old hometown favorite Pulev, who previously challenged twice for world titles.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Undisputed 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) showed a public workout before Japanese press people this Wednesday at Ohashi gym in Yokohama. “Monster” Inoue is scheduled to make a mandatory defense against also unbeaten IBF#1, WBO#1 Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on Christmas Eve at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Despite very favorable odds for him why has Naoya been training so strenuously? It is because he doen’t take the Aussie lightly as his father/trainer Shingo wisely says, “A boxer, unbeaten in his career, might have something to respect and for us to be cautious about.” Shingo also said, “Goodman is a good boxer who knows how to win. We will never underestimate him.”

Naoya cooly said, “I would like to show why boxing is so interesting to general people who don’t know boxing so well by scoring a spectacular knockout, and also wish to demonstrate a high standard of boxing on speed and skills for knowledgeable fight fans.” Continue reading “Inoue sharp before Christmas Eve defense”

By Boxing Bob Newman

Three time Super Bantamweight champion Israel “Magnifico” Vázquez Castañeda has passed at the age of 46. Vázquez fought his final battle against stage IV Sarcoma, as he did all his battles in the ring- with heart and fearlessness.

An IBF, WBC and Ring Magazine champion at 122 lbs., Vázquez began his ring career at 17, reeling off nine straight wins before suffering a a shocking first round KO loss to Ulises Flores. He would notch another eleven straight victories before losing an NABO title bid to Marcos Licona. Another thirteen wins would come before losing a WBC interim title shot to previous victim Oscar Larios via TKO12. Four fights later, Continue reading “Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez Passes”

The 10 round main event saw former WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt (41-3, 36 KOs) decision Mauro Alex Hasan (16-10-1, 8 KOs) of Argentina . The event took place Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros La Esperanza in Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. The southpaw showed early that he had come to fight as he rocked the former champ with some right hooks. The tide would turn in round seven as Berchelt landed a short left hook that sent Hasan to the canvas. Hasan beat the count but appeared stunned by the punch. Has was deducted a point by the referee in round eight for his mouthpiece falling out of his mouth. Hasan had been warned multiple times by the referee earlier in the fight. Berchelt pushed hard to get the knockout the last two rounds but Hasan was very game. The pair slugged it out hard the last minute of the fight. In the end, the official scorecards read 98-90, and 97-91 twice all in favor of Beltran. Three straight wins now for Berchelt, who is aiming for another title shot.

Unbeaten 2020 Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai (9-0, 7 KOs) won by a one-sided six round beatdown over former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards ((21-2, 4 KOs) on Saturday night to claim the WBC interim flyweight title on Saturday night at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England. Edwards was never in the fight as Yafai overpowered and punished him until the referee waved it off. Time was 1:10 in round six.

After the fight, Edwards announced his retirement.

Former super middleweight champion Callum “Mundo” Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) scored a fifth round KO against Carlos Galvan (20-15-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at BP Pulse Live in Birmingham, England. Smith floored Galvan in round four, then put him on the canvas twice in round five to end it. Time was 1:19. This was Smith’s first fight since his TKO loss to Artur Beterbiev in January.

WBA lightweight world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis will go face-to-face with WBA super featherweight world champion Lamont Roach at a press conference on Tuesday in Brooklyn to kick off the build-up for their lightweight world championship clash that headlines a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Former world champion Elwin Soto (22-3-1, 13 KOs) of Mexico and countryman/ local Moises Caro (11-3-4, 5 KOs) fought to an exciting 10 round split draw Saturday night in a bout for the WBO Latino light flyweight title. The main event took place at the Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Mexico. The bout was actually backed with many heated exchanges. Many close rounds where one dominated the rounds beginning and the other closed the round strong. The official scores were 97-93 Soto, 96-94 Caro, and 95-95 even.

In a war, undefeated super welterweight Andreas “Katz” Katzourakis (15-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over world-rated former world title challenger Brandon “The Cannon” Adams (25-4, 16 KOs) in the final of the OTX 154lb tournament on Friday night at the Corey Studios in Atlanta. Georgia. After ten hotly contested rounds, scores were 97-93, 96-94 for Katzourakis, and 97-93 Adams. With the win, Katzourakis gets a $100,000 bonus and a promotional contract with OTX.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Four-division champ Kazuto Ioka (31-3, 16 KOs) has announced to square off against his conqueror and current WBA superfly ruler Fernando Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) with his belt on the line in Tokyo, Japan, on New Year Eve. The grudge fight will take place at Ota-city general gymnasium after their first encounter in July, when the Argentine puncher defeated the Japanese technician by a unanimous verdict (116-112, 117-111, 120-108) over twelve hard-fought rounds.

Ioka, 35, said, “I’ll demonstrate how I rebound and regain the world championship.” “Pumita” Martinez, 33, also appeared at the on-line press conference, saying, “I welcome this revancha (rematch). I’ll fight more carefully against Ioka this time.” It will be a very technical fight with the highly skilled 115-pounders with their pride and belt at stake since Fernando recently renounced his IBF belt by prioritizing this rematch than the IBF-ordered mandatory defense. Probably Martinez may prefer a better payday here in Japan. Continue reading “Ioka-Martinez to collide again on New Year’s Eve”

By Jeff Zimmerman

It was a record-breaking night for Netflix. 60 million households watched the Paul vs. Tyson main event live around the world, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams. Nearly 50 million households globally tuned in live for the co-main event of Taylor vs. Serrano 2. Additionally, Taylor-Serrano is likely to be the most watched professional women’s sporting event in US history.

The event shattered records, achieving the following milestones:

• Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions made AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the epicenter of boxing last night as 72,300 total attendees gathered to witness the fight card.
• Paul-Tyson/Taylor-Serrano 2 produced the largest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas in US history, surpassing $18 million, double the previous Texas gate record for combat sports in both boxing and MMA, and smashing Canelo Álvarez’s record of $9 million.
• #PaulTyson was the top trending topic worldwide on X on Friday with #Serrano at number 2 in the US, Brazil, Spain, and Canada. The fight dominated social conversation, accounting for 11 of the Top 11 trending topics in the US.
• Joe Hand Promotions distributed last night’s event to over 6,000 bars & restaurants in the US, setting the record for commercial distribution of a combat sports event in the company’s 50+ year history.

In a unification fight for the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles, WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) took the title of WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-2, 13 KOs) via twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Zurdo simply outworked Billam-Smith en route to a 116-112, 116-112, 116-113 win. Zurdo now has two belts with Noel Mikaelyan (WBC) and Jai Opetaia (IBF) holding the other big four championships.

“Me and my team were prepared, we knew that he’s a tough fighter and a strong guy. It was an honor for me to fight him and get the belt,” Ramirez said following the fight. “I tried to use my distance as much as I could. He’s tough, he comes forward all the time and he’s a strong fighter. I just have respect for him, he’s a great champion. Of course, I want to unify with all the champions. That’s the main goal for me and other champions.”

In a clash between former stablemates, undefeated WBO #1-ranked Arnold Barboza Jr. (31-0, 11 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over 2012 U.S. Olympian and former unified super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in an important non-title encounter on Saturday night at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Barboza never let Ramirez get untracked in a technical bout that never heated up. Scores were 97-93, 96-94, 96-94.

In a minimum unification fight, WBO Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (11-0, 8 KOs) knocked out long-reigning WBA minimumweight champion Thammanoon “Knockout CP Freshmart” Niyomtrong (25-1, 9 KOs) in round seven. Collazo dropped Niyomtrong in round six and twice in round seven to end it. Time was 1:29.

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WBA #9 super lightweight Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over Botirzhon Akhmedov (10-4, 9 KOs). Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 96-94.

Local hero Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0, 1 KO) and Juan Garcia (5-6-1, 0 KOs) battled to a split draw in a six-round welterweight bout.