By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Fleet-footed Japanese Kenshiro Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs), 111.75, seized the vacant WBC flyweight belt when he battered Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales (37-7, 22 KOs), 112, from all angles, had him badly nose-bleeding and scored a TKO victory at 0:06 into the eleventh round on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. For ex-WBC 108-pound kingpin Kenshiro, it was his second acquisition of the world belt in the heavier 112-pound category. It was Teraji, 32, that controlled the contest all the way by making good use of his versatile jabs and right counters to the taller Nicaraguan. Continue reading “Teraji halts Rosales, wins WBC 112lb belt”

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

WBA flyweight champ Seigo Yuri Akui (21-2-1, 11 KOs), 112, kept his belt as he kept stalking Thai challenger #8 Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KOs), 112, and overcame his occasional retaliation and earned a split decision over twelve hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. The official tallies were as follows: Robert Hoyle (US) 115-113, Kwan-Ho Jang (Korea) 117-111, both for the champ, Guillermo Perez Pineda (Panama) 113-115 for the counterpunching challenger. The referee was Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico). Continue reading “Akui edges Charunphak, keeps WBA 112lb belt”

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

The curtain raiser of the quadruple world title event saw a quick but dramatic stoppage on Sunday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese hard-puncher #1 Shokichi Iwata (14-1, 11 KOs), 108, acquired the vacant WBO junior flyweight belt when he caught up with unbeaten Spaniard #2 Jairo Noriega (14-1, 3 KOs), 108, badly floored him twice and halted him at 3:00 of the third round in a scheduled twelve. Having failed to win the same belt from Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez on points two years ago, Shokichi this time looked so much determined to win the belt and turned loose in round three. Though Noriega made a good start, he absorbed a vicious long right uppercut and hit the deck. The damaged Spaniard barely regained his feet, but Iwata swarmed over him and landed a solid right to the belly followed by a wicked left hook. Noriega fell prone with the referee Raul Caiz Jr. promptly calling a well-timed halt. The flattened loser stayed there for a while, which showed Iwata’s lethal power punching. Shokichi, 28, became the ninth current world titleholder out of Japan.

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

Unbeaten WBC/IBF/WBO champion Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) became the light heavyweight division’s first undisputed ruler in the four-belt era with a twelve round majority decision over WBA champion Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Beterbiev pressed the action while the quicker Bivol tried to work the jab. Bivol stayed out of range and connected in spurts. Beterbiev tried to up the pressure even more midway but Bivol had success countering. Beterbiev had a big round seven but Bivol mostly managed to fight his fight down the stretch. Beterbiev tried desperately for the KO late, and managed to pull it out 114-114, 115-113, 116-112.

Unbeaten IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) successfully defended his world title by sixth round TKO against Jack Massey (22-3, 12 KOs) on the big Beterbiev-Bivol undercard Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Opetaia steadily broke down the game Massey, until finally Massey’s corner threw in the towel in round six. Time was 2:00.

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).

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.

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”

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.

Unified WBO/IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs) retained his world titles with a ninth round TKO over Andrei Mikhailovich (21-1, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Star in Sydney, Australia. Alimkhanuly dropped Mikhailovich hard in round two and Mikhailovich looked done but Alimkhanuly let him off the hook. After that, Mikhailovich gamely pressured Alimkhanuly and made the champion work hard, but it was Alimkhanuly who landed the harder shots. Alimkhanuly rocked Mikhailovich again in round nine and the bout was waved off by the referee. Time was 2:45.

Iwao Hakamata finally declared not guilty in retrial

By Joe Koizumi

It was a very sad story which, however, eventually turned dramatic and heart-warming in the end. Having been detained 48 years, former boxer and ex-convict on death row Iwao Hakamata, 88, was finally sentenced not guilty in a long-awaited retrial at the Shizuoka District Court in Japan on Thursday. It was in 1966 that he, an employee, was arrested and accused of murdering four persons of the employer’s family. It was the time that boxing itself was discriminated as poor people’s hungry sport and participants were also looked down by society. Hakamata was once forced to confess to have committed a murder due to the severe torture by the prosecutor twelve hours every day for nineteen days straight.

His elder sister Hideko, 91, had repeatedly appealed to the court that Iwao should not be guilty thanks to the nationwide support including warm and strong cooperation of former OPBF champ Shosei Nitta, then the secretary general of the JPBA (Japan Professional Boxing Association, that is, the club owners union) and other ex-boxers such as Satoshi Iida, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Yutaka Manabe, etc. They battled against the discrimination to boxing and fought against injustice forced on Hakamata. Continue reading “The “Japanese Hurricane Carter” is vindicated”

The bout between undisputed female super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) and former world champion Delfine Persoon (49-3, 19 KOs) ended in a no-contest on Friday night at Lux Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. The bout was stopped in round four due to a cut suffered by Persoon that was caused by an accidental head clash. Since the bout didn’t go the full four rounds, the result was a no-decision. Baumgardner remains undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO champion.

In a grudge fight, former champion Mikaela Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) dethroned WBO female welterweight champion Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) by majority decision on Friday night inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Good two-way action all the way. Early on, the aggressive Mayer took the fight to Ryan, connecting with punches but also getting hit. Ryan came on down the stretch, but it was too little, too late. Scores were 95-95, 97-93, 96-94.

There has been bad blood between the camps in the lead-up to the fight. Earlier, on her way to the fight, someone threw red paint on Ryan. Mayer denied any involvement.

In other action, WBO #3, WBC #6, IBF #7 junior middleweight Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Damian Sosa (25-3, 12 KOs). Zayas in command all the way but Santiago toughed it out for the full distance. Scores were 100-90 3x.

Unbeaten WBA #1, WBC #2, WBO #2, IBF #8 featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (13-0, 8 KOs) got past Sulaiman Segawa (17-5-1, 6 KOs) in a slow-paced fight. Scores were 95-95, 97-93, 97-93. Continue reading “Mayer dethrones Ryan, Zayas wins”

By TMZ

Devin Haney’s clearly still not over how his superfight with Ryan Garcia went down earlier this year … as TMZ Sports has confirmed he’s now suing the star boxer over it all. The 25-year-old pugilist filed the lawsuit against his nemesis in New York on Friday … alleging Garcia committed battery and fraud in the leadup to — and during — their big April 20 tilt at Barclays Center.

You’ll recall, Garcia won the fight after knocking down Haney multiple times … but the outcome was later ruled a no-contest after officials said Garcia had Ostarine in his system.

Haney said if he had known Garcia had ingested the performance-enhancing drug prior to stepping into the ring … he wouldn’t have agreed to the fight. Therefore, he says he never consented to being on the wrong end of Garcia’s punches. Continue reading “Haney Sues Kingry for Battery & Fraud”

Hall of Fame boxing promoter Don King is working with the WBC and Three Lions Promotions to get a new date for the WBC cruiserweight title match between Noel Mikaelian and Ryan Rozicki.

King, 93, who has recently suffered some health setbacks, wants to let all his friends and boxing fans know that he is doing fine at his home in Palm Beach County.

“Tell everyone I am doing fine and I love Mike Tyson,” said King.

By Boxing Bob Newman

WBC strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem easily retained his title Sunday evening, with a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Luis Castillo, in front of a partisan crowd at Mandaluyong City College, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

It looked as if it was going to be a short night when Jerusalem sent Castillo crashing to the canvas with a straight right in the very first round. Castillo beat the count with 15 seconds left and managed to survive the round.

It was easy going the rest of the way, although Jerusalem could not capitalize and finish his foe. He makes his first defense a successful one, moving to 23-3, 12 KOs. Castillo falls from the ranks of the undefeated, dropping to 21-1-1, 13 KOs.

This is Jerusalem’s second title reign at 105 lbs. Last year he briefly held the WBO crown, losing in his first defense to current champ Oscar Collazo.

IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) dropped Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) four times before a record 96,000 fight fans at Wembley Stadium in London. Dubois came out aggressively and dropped Joshua at the end of the first round with an overhand right. Dubois continued to work over Joshua in round two. Dubois floored Joshua again at the end of round three. Joshua down again early in round four but survived. In round five, Joshua rocked Dubois, but then was caught and floored again for the count. Time was :59. Joshua was a 5:1 favorite.

WBC #2, WBO #5, IBF #6, WBA #10 super middleweight Jaime Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) scored a spectacular tenth round knockout against previously unbeaten WBO #2, WBA #4, WBC #7, IBF #7 Erik Bazinyan (32-1-1, 23 KOs) in the 12-round main event on Friday night at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Munguia broke open a close fight in round ten with a barrage of shots that put Bazinyan down for the count. Time was 2:36.

In an interesting heavyweight bout, unbeaten Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) stepped up in class to get a fifth round DQ win over veteran Joey “The Tank” Dawejko (28-12-4, 16 KOs). Torrez progressively broke down Dawejko. Dawejko was deducted two points and eventually disqualified for repeatedly losing his mouthpiece. Time was 2:02 in round five. The result ended Torrez’ 10-fight knockout streak.

Junior welterweight prospect Emiliano Vargas (12-0, 10 KOs) stopped spoiler Larry Fryers (13-7-1, 5 KOs) in round five. A straight left ended the beatdown. Vargas is the son of former world champion Fernando Vargas.

By Boxing Bob Newman

WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, Jr. took time out after receiving his fighter of the Year award at the NYSBHOF induction ceremonies in Queens, New York, to speak to Fightnews.com®. Lopez dished on his fellow champions in his division, future potential matchups and when he might fight again.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated contender Edgar Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Canelo pressed forward from the opening bell and landed the harder shots. Berlanga fought cautiously early on. In round three, Canelo dropped Berlanga with a left hook. Berlanga survived the round. Things heated up in round five when both fighters were warned for low blows. Berlanga had some success with his jab, with Canelo connecting with the harder shots. In round eight, Canelo started punishing Berlanga for the rest of the way.

Scores were 117-110, 118-109, 118-109. Fifth straight decision win for Canelo.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBA middleweight world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (31-3-3, 19KO’s) of Miami by way of Guantanamo, Cuba retained his title as he stopped two-division world champion Philadelphia’s Danny “Swift” García (37-4, 21 KO’s) in the ninth round in the Canelo-Berlanga co-feature on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Feeling each other out in the opening round, Garcia countered and waited for openings as the southpaw Lara stuck the right jab. Working patiently in the second and third round Lara and Garcia continued to figure each other out as they began drawing whisltes from the crowd. It was still a strategic fight on the part of Lara and Garcia in the fourth but Garcia began pressing late in the round as Lara shot the straight left Continue reading “Lara halts Garcia, retains WBA middle belt”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) returned to the ring as he scored a spectacular ninth round knockout handing Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) of Glendale, Arizona his first defeat in a wild fight for the vacant WBA interim super middleweight title on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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It was a slow first round but things got started in the second as McCumby connected with the left hook numerous times and appeared to stagger Plan in the second. Prompting McCumby to shake and rattle at the end of the round. McCumby showboated in the third and was fighting with more confidence as he outworked Plant. McCumby sent Plant to the canvas in the fourth. Continue reading “Plant stops McCumby, wins WBA interim”

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”