Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat

Thick-bearded Santa Claus-like WBC, WBO 122-pound champ Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs), 28, arrived on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan to put his belts on the line against also unbeaten Japanese “Monster” Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs), 30, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on July 25. Fulton confidently said, “I’m in great shape, and I’ve come to win and defend my titles.” Will Santa Fulton bring a gift to the hungry Monster who is eager to win his fourth division title?

Also arrived here today (Wednesday) WBO featherweight ruler Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs), 29, who will face 2012 Olympic bantam bronze medalist Satoshi Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs), an elongated Japanese southpaw at 37, on the same bill as Fulton and Inoue will collide. Having dethroned Isaac Dogboe this April, the WBO 126-pound champ Ramirez previously won the Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. It will be a confrontation of the ex-Olympians to be staged by Ohashi Promotions.

WBC President Mauricio Suliaman has clarified the details of the Fury-Ngannou fight.

“Last night it was announced that heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will be fighting in Saudi Arabia against the UFC’s former champion in a ten round fight. He asked for special permission from the WBC. As you know, Fury did everything possible to fight Usyk since December of last year, has tried everything possible to fight Joshua, to fight against Andy Ruiz…anyway he wasn’t able to land a top-tier fight and because of that, and not having an official challenger, he has been granted permission to do a fight on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.”

So Fury’s next fight will be a ten round, non-title affair.

The WBA Championships Committee has called for a purse bid to grant the promotional rights for the super lightweight world title fight between champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero and challenger Ohara Davies on July 24 in Panama City, Panama. The event will be held at the WBA’s office and will be directed by the Committee’s vice-president Julio Thyme. The minimum amount to win the rights to promote the fight is US $110,000 and the purse split will be 75% for the champion Romero and the remaining 25% will go to the challenger Davies.

Romero won the belt against Ismael Barroso last May 13, in Las Vegas, and now he must face Davies as ordered by a resolution issued by the WBA prior to his coronation.

According to the World Boxing Council, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed that Tyson Fury received special permission to face MMA fighter Francis Ngannou on October 28, as there is no official challenger. Sulaiman mentioned that the Fury camp tried to close fights against Andy Ruiz, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, but no agreement was reached. So Fury won’t be stripped of the title, but it’s not clear whether the bout will be sanctioned as an official WBC world title fight.

The WBO World Championship Committee has ordered the commencement of negotiations for a jr. welterweight clash between Arnold Barboza, Jr. and Jose Carlos Ramirez, Jr. The parties are granted 20 days to reach an agreement or purse bid proceedings will be ordered with a minimum bid of $150k.

As of now, Teofimo Lopez, Jr., who has declared his retirement, is still officially the reigning WBO junior welterweight champion, however, he has 24 hours to notify the WBO if he intends to keep the title. Otherwise the title will become vacant and the Ramirez-Barboza bout will determine the new champion.

If Teofimo decides to come back within one year, he will immediately become WBO mandatory challenger at 140 pounds.

Welterweight Marlon “La Furia” Aguas (14-1, 9 KOs) of Quito, Ecuador has inked a multi-year exclusive promotional agreement with Tuto Zabala Jr’s All Star Boxing, Inc. He is slated to appear this fall in the United States, marking his first fight under the promotional banner.

“We are happy to welcome Marlon Aguas as keep adding worldwide talent to the All Star Boxing roster,” States President Tuto Zabala Jr “Aguas is a crafty veteran who I first met in Mexico City after a hard-fought win, not every fighter can win abroad and he showed his quality that night.” Continue reading “All Star Boxing inks Aguas”

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou
October 28 in Saudi Arabia
Tyson Fury -1000 (1/10)
Francis Ngannou +600 (6/1)

Canelo Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo
September 30 in Las Vegas
Canelo Alvarez -300 (1/3)
Jermell Charlo +240 (12/5)

Odds courtesy of BetOnline.ag

Undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight on October 28th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The clash to find out who is the “Baddest Man on the Planet” will take place under the official rules of professional boxing in a regulation boxing ring with three judges ringside adopting the 10-point must system. Both fighters, however, are promising to meet in the middle of the ring, go to war and win by knockout in devastating fashion.

Tyson Fury: “As soon as that bell goes, it’ll be bombs away! This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by the Big GK. I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights. I’m looking forward to showing the world that The Gypsy King is the greatest fighter of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft. Francis looked tough when he jumped in the ring after the Whyte fight, but there is no one tougher than me, and you’ll all see that in devastating fashion on October 28…it’s going to be a fight for the ages. Get up!”

Francis Ngannou: “I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years. My dream was always to box, and to box the best. After becoming the undisputed MMA heavyweight champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet… all I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.”

The event will be promoted by Queensberry, Top Rank and Ngannou’s promotional banner, GIMIK Fight Promotions, in partnership with Riyadh Season.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
WBC President – Son of José Sulaimán

One of today’s great prospects was unable to fight this past weekend due to a medical situation that the Texas Boxing Commission rightly detected. Vergil Ortiz Jr. received the order from the medical services to withdraw from the bout, in which he was going to fight Eimantas Stanionis, for the WBA title.

Boxing is a complicated sport, it is not a game and there are no teams; It is an individual sport that does not allow substitutions, and in history there have been many tragedies with boxers who entered the ring with medical issues, injuries from the gym or from private life or illnesses which were not reported.

It is a reality that many of the ring accidents have happened due to injuries prior to the fights.

There are other cases in which boxers entered the ring, with the knowledge that they would give their rival an advantage, due to various circumstances. What would have happened if those fighters had decided not to enter the ring, postpone the fight or even cancel it? Continue reading “Protecting the boxer”

Victor Hernandez 133.6 vs. Mike Fowler TBA
Desmond Lyons 139.6 vs. Ivan Reyes 140.2
Eric Arellano 224.4 vs. Javier Frazier 204
Ermes Orta 139 vs. Jason Page Jr. TBA
Kevin Torian 198.4 vs. Raphael Carolina 200.6

Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions
Venue: Troubadour Nashville
1st Bell: 7 PM CT (8 PM ET)
Free Stream: countrybox247.com / FITE.TV (Marc Abrams & Former NFL All-Pro Albert Haynesworth on the call)

The WBA Championships Committee has issued a new resolution for the minimumweight in which it ordered a purse bid to be held via Zoom on July 21 for a fight between super champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong and regular champion Erick Rosa.

The situation has been unprecedented due to a series of events that have prevented both fighters from stepping into the ring to fight for the world championship. For that reason, the WBA decided to make an unprecedented decision with the intention of resolving the situation and leave the 105lb division with only one champion. Continue reading “WBA orders minimumweight purse bid”

Three Lions Promotions has announced a September 30th card in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, headlined by a twelve-round cruiserweight clash between former world title challenger and WBC #7 Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (18-1, 17 KOs) of Sydney, NS and current WBC NABF champion, WBC #18 Alante “Bam Bam” Green (10-1-1, 7 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Rozicki, ranked in the top 10 by all four major sanctioning bodies, suffered his only loss against Oscar Rivas (28-1, 19 KOs) in October of 2021 when he challenged for the vacant WBC bridgerweight title. Since, Rozicki has gone on to win all of his last five scheduled bouts, four of them being stopped before the end of the third round. Continue reading “Rozicki-Green clash Sept 30”

Saturday night in Managua, Nicaragua, unbeaten super lightweight Tito Mercado (11-0, 10 KOs) stayed perfect with a dominant 10-round decision over South African veteran Xolisani Ndongeni (31-3, 18 KOs). Scores were 99-91 on all three judges’ scorecards. The 21-year-old Mercado, fighting out of Pomona, CA, controlled the action from the opening bell. Details of Mercado’s next fight will be announced shortly.

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and domestic rival Dillian Whyte faced off at a press conference today in London to announce their rematch at The O2 in London on August 12, shown exclusively live on DAZN around the world and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland.

Anthony Joshua: “[Dillian] is just another body. They’ve got a lot of hate for me. But I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about my lane and what I’m trying to do. I don’t focus on other peoples opinions…forget Wilder and all them lot. They’ve been doing my head in for years. Even with Fury. You can see all the lies that have been going on. I’m 34 this year and I’m not wasting my time chasing people.”

Dillian Whyte: “I just prepare for the best version of him. I don’t care what people are saying about him. I’m still coming to fight and I haven’t got anything to lose. I’m calm now – but the more you f*** about, we’ll soon find out.”

WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Uysk and WBA “regular” champion Daniel Dubois faced off for the first time at the kickoff press conference for their August 26th clash in Wroclaw, Poland.

Oleksandr Uysk: “I’ve been traveling around the world fighting in the different backyards of my opponents, but this fight here in Poland will be the closest one to my home. I hope you’re going to enjoy everything that’s going to happen on the 26th of August.”

Daniel Dubois: “This has been a long time coming and I’m ready to take it on. He’s been a great champion, but everything with a beginning has an end.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Fast-rising Japanese sensation, WBA#11, WBO#8 Jin Sasaki (16-1-1, 15 KOs), 146.5, kept his WBO Asis Pacific welterweight belt by battering compatriot Hiroto Hoshi (5-3-3, 3 KOs), 147, into submission at 1:44 of the eleventh round on Saturday in Hachioji, Japan. Sasaki, a young tiger at 21, had dethroned Ryota Toyoshima by an upset stoppage, and impressively flattened world rated Keita Obara in his initial defense. Though an early knockout win was expected, Jin took time to halt Hoshi due to his tremendous durability. Finally Sasaki caught up with him with a flurry of punches that prompted the referee’s well-received intervention. Continue reading “WBO#8 Sasaki halts Hoshi, keeps WBO ap 147lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Newly crowned Japanese minimumweight champ Yuni Takada (12-8-3, 6 KOs), 105, came off the canvas in round six and fought hard to retain his national 105-pound belt by a unanimous decision (97-92 twice, 96-93) over Tatsuro Nakashima (11-5-1, 7 KOs), 105, over ten hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Hachioji, Japan. Having acquired the vacant national belt, Takada, handled by former world challenger Tetsuo “Lion” Furuyama, controlled the bout almost all the way except in round six when the champ hit the deck with a vicious right counter to have a narrow escape. Continue reading “Takada barely keeps Japanese 105lb belt”

Undefeated IBF interim welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) scored a spectacular knockout against rugged IBF #2 contender Roiman “Flaco de Oro” Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ennis said Villa was tailor-made for him and he was pretty much correct. Ennis rocked Villa in round six and then dished out punishment in every round until he knocked out Villa with a barrage of punches in round ten. Time was 1:27. Villa was game and tough as they come, but Ennis was simply on another level.

“I want the winner of Errol Spence and Terence Crawford,” said Ennis. “Let’s make it happen. I’ll take on Eimantas Stanionis in a heartbeat. I want to get into the ring one more time before the end of the year to make it three fights. Stanionis, Keith Thurman, Yordenis Ugas, all the top guys out there. Let’s make these fights happen.” Continue reading “Ennis KOs Villa in ten, remains unbeaten”

Former world champion and current WBC #2 super bantamweight Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) destroyed former world title challenger Froilan Saludar (33-7-1, 23 KOs) in round two on Saturday night at the Recinto Ferial Metepec in Metepec, Mexico (90 minutes west of Mexico City). Nery dropped Saludar three times in round two to end it.

Unbeaten lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (15-0, 11 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Haskell “Hackman” Rhodes (28-5-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Schofield dropped Rhodes twice in round seven and once in round eight. In round nine, Schofield suffered a ghastly cut under his left eye, but he finished the fight. Scores were 100-87 3x. Schofield-Rhodes was moved into the main event after the original headliner, Stanionis-Ortiz Jr., fell out just days before fight night.

“It’s boxing, you’re supposed to face adversity inside the ring,” said Floyd Schofield. “I didn’t feel anything when I got the cut, I told the referee, please don’t stop this fight. Rhodes can take a hell of a punch, and I am glad that he’s going back to his family.”

Former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (33-4-1, 15 KOs) scored a spirited ten round unanimous decision over Jerry Perez (14-3-1, 11 KOs). Scores were 97-93, 97-93, 98-92. The bout was shifted from lightweight to welterweight after Diaz weighed in six pounds heavy. Continue reading “Schofield remains unbeaten”

Middleweight “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor (15-1-2, 1 KO) shocked previously unbeaten 6:1 favorite Yoelvis Gómez (6-1, 5 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision on Saturday night in the Ennis-Villa co-feature on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The awkward Marquis dropped Yoelvis in round two and frustrated him all night. Scores were 96-93, 96-93, 99-90.

“We’re fighting at 154 and 160 to keep the window of opportunity as wide as possible,” said Taylor. “Right now we’re calling myself a two-weight division fighter. I’d fight Tim Tszyu because he’s not getting that Jermell Charlo fight. I would like to fight him or anyone in the top five or top 10. It’s time for me to fight the best.”

Meanwhile, it was Heartbreak Hotel for the highly regarded Yoelvis. “I’m frustrated,” he said. “The ref kept getting in the way and wouldn’t let me work in the range I wanted, which was short distance and making Taylor feel me. This is professional boxing, it’s not too much to ask for him to let me go do my job. I’m gonna keep working hard and come back even better. You can count on that.” Continue reading “All Shook Up: Marquis upsets Yoelvis”

IBF interim welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis gives a scouting report of tonight’s Showtime opponent Roiman Villa, who has scored knockouts in 24 of his 26 victories.

“Roiman Villa is a good fighter but he don’t move his head, no jabs, all he throws is hooks,” said Ennis. “He wants to come forward, come forward and he stands right there in front of you. He’s slow. He’s flat-footed. He just wants to get you on the ropes and things like that. I’ve seen a lot of things and he’s going to be in for a rude awakening. You have to bring something else to the table if you think you’re going to be able to do something with me. I can’t wait.”

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WBO #3 super middleweight Diego Pacheco (19-0, 16 KOs) won by impressive fourth round TKO over Manuel Gallegos (19-2-1, 16 KOs) on Friday night at Cintermex in Monterrey, Mexico. Great fight between two big punchers. Pacheco finally dropped Gallegos in round four and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:45. Pacheco, 22, continues to show improvement each time out.

“I’m just that guy,” said Pacheco. “I’m getting better, wiser, stronger. The opposition is getting better, but that’s just raising the level of my performance and you are going to keep seeing that.”

WBC #1 super featherweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (34-1, 31 KOs) scored a spectacular third round knockout over late sub Hector Garcia (20-8-4, 13 KOs). Both came out in round one slinging bombs. Rocky staggered Garcia at the end of round two and finished him with a brutal barrage in round three. The ref stepped in just as Garcia was going down 25 seconds into the round.

“It’s a great victory for me,” said Hernandez. “I’m number one in the WBC and it brings me closer to the fight that I want, O’Shaquie Foster.”

In an exciting clash between former world title challengers, WBO #13 super flyweight Jonathan Rodriguez (24-2-1, 16 KOs) and WBC #11 Israel Gonzalez (28-5-2, 11 KOs) battled to a ten round draw. Good fight with back and forth action and both fighters having their moments. Scores were 96-94 Gonzalez, 96-94 Rodriguez, 95-95.

Other Results:
Neider Valdez KO3 Isaias Ortiz (light flyweight)
Federico Pacheco Jr TKO3 Oscar Heredia (heavyweight)

Thompson Boxing Promotions, founded by the late Ken Thompson, has made the difficult decision to conclude its operations. Thompson Boxing will be holding its final “Path to Glory” show on July 21 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. This will mark the end of a Southern California boxing series that spanned over two decades and was the spawning ground for numerous champions and contenders.

In the final show, Louie Lopez (13-2-1, 4 KOs) will headline in a welterweight 8-round main event against an opponent TBA. George Acosta (15-1, 2 KOs) will fight an opponent TBA in an 8-round super featherweight co-feature.