Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese southpaw puncher Mikito Nakano (11-0, 10 KOs; amateur mark 68-9, 48 KOs), 126, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF featherweight belt when he connected with vicious body bombardments to finish Filipino Brix Piala (9-2, 3 KOs), 125, for the count at 0:34 into the fourth round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Nakano, from the start, aggressively attacked the cautious Filipino southpaw and quickly decked him with a left uppercut to the belly just before the gong to end the third session. Swarming over the still damaged opponent in the next round, Nakano landed wicked shots exclusively to the midsection to have him down in agony for the fatal ten. Teiken gym now dominates both Asian regional feather champs in WBO AP’s Kenji Fujita (7-0, 3 KOs; amateur 153-21) and OPBF’s Nakano. Both are worth watching.

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By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Elongated southpaw Kun-Tae Lee (8-0-1, 2 KOs; amateur mark 102-10), 140, successfully kept his Japanese 140-pound belt as he defeated Ryan Joshua Yamamoto (7-7, 1 KO), 139.25, by a unanimous decision (99-91 twice, 100-90) over ten on Saturday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Lee, a Japan-based Korean who had scored sixty-two consecutive victories to make it a national amateur mark, was in command almost all the way, but the challenger occasionally showed his strong heart to withstand the champ’s faster and more accurate combos and gamely retaliated toe-to-toe, winning the fifth round. Despite his retaliation Lee swept the second half and had him at bay down the stretch. In the super light category, in Japan, the 5’11” Lee may face tough opposition in the future against WBA mandatory contender Ghanan-Japanese Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs), OPBF and WBO AP ruler Daishi Nagata, unbeaten JBC contenders #1 Kotaro Sekine (9-0-1, 8 KOs) and #2 Mikyo Watarai (5-0, 3 KOs; amateur mark 77-15, 19 KOs).

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Former world title challenger Jose “Chon” Zepeda (38-5, 28 KOs) destroyed Ivan Redkach (24-8-1, 19 KOs) in a welterweight clash on Friday night at the Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California. Zepeda dropped Redkach with a body shot in round one and RedKach barely beat the count. The end came after two more knockdowns in round two. Time was 2:02.

Super lightweight Kevin Hayler Brown (6-0, 3 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over John Bauza (18-2, 8 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Brown dropped Bauza in round one battled to a 96-93, 98-91, 97-92 verdict.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with the legendary Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. as he has a big card coming up on Thursday, September 19 at the Legends Hotel Casino in Toppenish, Washington and shown live on Global Sports Streaming.com for $9.99.

The card is headlined by Roy’s fighter from India, Mandeep Jangra (10-0, 7 KOs), who faces fellow undefeated Nilo Guerrrero (9-0, 7 KOs) out of Nicaragua for the vacant NBA junior lightweight title.

Roy talked about his exciting card with many top prospects as well as a myriad of topics including Mike Tyson’s November clash with Jake Paul, Bivol vs Beterbiev, and potential super fights with Shakur vs Tank and Bud vs Canelo. He also shared his thoughts on.the impact of Turki Alalshikh on boxing and the downfall of Olympic boxing ever since his gold medal robbery at the 1998 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea in this exclusive interview.

The World Boxing Council has been notified that the mandatory fight between WBC bridgerweight champion Lawrence Okolie and interim champion Kevin Lerena could not be agreed upon. Therefore a purse bid will be held on September 20 in London, England.

Unbeaten heavyweight Johnny “The Romford Bull” Fisher has sustained an undisclosed injury and his September 28 clash with Andriy Rudenko at London’s Copper Box Arena, is cancelled.

But save the date.

Matchroom has announced a new DAZN steam to take place the same night at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield, England. In the main event, Rhiannon Dixon makes the first defense of her WBO female lightweight title against Terri Harper.

Heavyweight prospects Jeamie TKV (6-1, 3 KOs) and Franklin Ignatius (6-0-1, 1 KO) collide in an all-British heavyweight battle on Saturday, October 19th at the Copper Box Arena in London, presented by BOXXER, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Jeamie TKV: “I’m back and ready for violence. I’ve already beaten Franklin once in the amateurs and now I’m going to do it again in the pros.”

Franklin Ignatius: “Jeamie beat me by one point in the amateurs. I’m looking to avenge that defeat…and I’m confident that I’ll win.”

This is the first in a series of undercard fights to be confirmed for the super lightweight showdown between Adam Azim and Ohara Davies

Undefeated NABF super lightweight champion Arthur Biyarslanov (16-0, 14 KOs) against previously unbeaten late sub Tamas Kiliti (10-1, 6 KOs) on Thursday night at the Casino de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Biyarslanov dropped Kiliti twice in round one and once at the end of round two. The bout was finally stopped after a fourth knockdown in round three. Time was 1:38.

Unbeaten NABF light heavyweight champion Imam Khataev (8-0, 8 KOs) pounded on game Ezequiel Maderna (31-13, 21 KOs) until Maderna took a knee in round seven. Time was :45.

In a clash for the vacant WBA interim female super welterweight title, hometown hero Mary Spencer (9-2, 6 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Naomi Mannes (7-3-1, 4 KOs). Close fight with the 39-year-old Spencer scoring a questionable tenth round knockdown in a 96-93 3x win. This was Spencer’s third attempt to win a world title.

By Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox

Kevin Brown 139.8 vs. John Bauza 139.4
Hendri Cedeno 141 vs. Enriko Gogokhia 142
Yoelvis Gomez 159.2 vs. Diego Ferreira 159.2
Carlos Lebron 118 vs. Luis Quiles 117.4
Antraveous Ingram 153.2 vs. Cruse Stewart 154
Bree Howling 119 vs. Beata Dudek 118
Nat Dove 117 vs.Wendy Villegas 115.6
Harley Mederos 134.4 vs. Nikoli Buzolin 134.2

Venue: Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: BoxLab
TV: DAZN

Puerto Rico’s iconic Coca-Cola Music Hall will make history as it hosts its first-ever boxing event on Friday, October 18, as Salita Promotions presents “Big Time Boxing – Puerto Rico” streamed live and worldwide on DAZN.

“Puerto Rico has been the cradle of boxing greatness for generations, producing some of the greatest stars the sport has ever seen,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “I am excited to partner with PR Best and 21 Events to develop and discover the next superstars ready to emerge from this great island.”

The fight card, featuring up to eight matches, will be revealed in the coming days.

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”

Unbeaten super lightweights Adam Azim (11-0, 8 KOs) and former world title challenger Ohara ‘Two Tanks’ Davies (25-3, 18 KOs) are set for a clash on Saturday, October 19th at The Copper Box Arena in London, presented by BOXXER, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Adam Azim: “I’ve known Ohara Davies for many years. I respect him and what he’s achieved in the sport but when we meet in the ring, he’s just another opponent and another step on my journey to the top. He’s a good fighter. I think our styles will make for an exciting fight but there’s only going to be one outcome. I’m ready to make a statement and show everybody that I’m ready for the biggest names in the division.”

Ohara Davies: “It’s a shame that I have to hand him his first defeat. No needle, no hate, I want us to go back to our families happy and healthy after the fight. But this is where it all changes for him. I’m sorry Adam. This is where it ends.”

The WBO Championship Committee has ordered negotiations for a WBO mandatory featherweight clash between current world champion Rafael Espinoza and #1 rated former champion Robeisy Ramirez. The camps have 15 days to reach an agreement or a purse bid proceeding will be ordered with a minimum bid of $150,000. This bout is a rematch, with Espinoza having dethroned Ramirez for the title by majority decision back in December.

Arthur Biyarslanov 139.6 vs. Tamas Kiliti 139.1
(NABF super lightweight title)

Imam Khataev 175 vs. Ezequiel Maderna 174.5
Mary Spencer 153.4 vs. Naomi Mannes 153.3
Christopher Guerrero 146.7 vs. Courtney Pennington 145.7
Jhon Orobio 138.7 vs. Joel Manriquez 139.3
Avery Martin Duval 134.8 vs. Jesus Daneff 133.3
Wilkens Mathieu 171.5 vs. Rolando Mansilla 171
Moreno Fendero 167.6 vs. Carlos Ronner 167.5

Venue: Casino de Montreal
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger
TV: ESPN+

Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis is closing in on a world title shot, but first, he must defend his home turf. The lightweight contender and U.S. Olympic silver medalist will face Argentina-born puncher Gustavo Lemos in the 10-round main event on Friday, Nov. 8, at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

In the world championship co-feature, WBO welterweight king Brian Norman Jr. will defend his crown against Puerto Rican puncher Derrieck Cuevas.

The undercard will feature the other members of “DB3.” Keyshawn’s older brother, rising junior welterweight Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), fights Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Keyshawn’s younger brother, U.S. Olympic Trials champion Keon Davis, will make his pro debut in a four-round welterweight contest.

The entire Davis-Lemos card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Undisputed 122-pound champion “The Monster” Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs), 122, kept his four belts by halting TJ Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs), 121.5, at 0:16 into the seventh round on Tuesday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Naoya, 31, maintained the pressure on the more experienced Doheny, six years his senior at 37, who abruptly complained of his lumbago that made him unable to fight on. It might be a disappointing end of indigestion despite people’s strong expectations for a big win by a knockout, but Inoue showed his strength and kept his belts with no problem.

The officials tallies before the halt were as follows: David Sutherland (US, WBC) 59-55, Robert Hoyle (US, WBA) 58-56, Pawel Kardyni (Poland, IBF) 59-55, all in favor of Naoya, who was just about to complete his obligation as a knockout artist. The referee was Bence Kovacs (Hungary, WBO).

Inoue looked cautious against Doheny, who had scored four victories to acquire a good reputation here in Japan, in the first round. Naoya, in round two, started to throw fast and light combinations to the defensive Irishman with his high guard. Continue reading “Inoue-Doheny Full Report”

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 Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

We are starting September, in addition to being the Patriotic Month for Mexico, it is also the time in which two important awareness campaigns are activated worldwide.

The World Boxing Council (WBC), with its global WBC Cares platform, joins in seeking awareness of bullying, as well as the terrible Alzheimer’s disease.

Today I will touch on the first topic. Currently known as bullying, in my time, it was basically systematic mockery, abuse, hooliganism, or the cruel taking advantage of someone vulnerable in various ways.

We were all bullied and we were all bullies at some point in our lives, but that never ends for some and there are those who forge their lives based on this terrible practice.

Bullying is cowardly, vindictive, and those who inflict take advantage of someone else’s condition. Continue reading “Bullying and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.”

WBA/WBO #5 super bantamweight Mikiah Kreps (8-0, 3 KOs) is headlining for the first time in her hometown of Niagara Falls on Friday October 4th against #3 world-ranked and former 2x WBA world champion Mayerlin “La Monita” Rivas (17-5-3, 11 KOs) of Maracaibo, Venezuela. The ten round main event will take place at the Seneca Niagara Events Center and broadcast to all of Latin America on ESPN Knockout. The card is promoted by Tuto Zabala Jr’s All Star Boxing, Inc. Continue reading “Boxing back in Niagara Falls”

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

Keeps OPBF, WBO AP 147lb belts

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Free-swinging WBO#3, WBC#5, WBA#4, IBF#4 Jin Sasaki (18-1-1, 17 KOs), 146.25, kept his OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific welterweight belts as he decked muscular Australian Qamil Balla (15-2-1, 8 KOs), 147, twice and finally blasted him out at 0:52 of the seventh round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Sasaki pressed the action with his whirlwind attack from the start, and dropped Balla with a vicious left hook in round three. They mixed it up in the close quarter and swapped roundhouse blows, but Jin had the upper hand over the fading Qamil. The fatal seventh witnessed Sasaki pin him to the ropes and swam over him with his favorite left hooks, decking him again to prompt the referee Someya’s halt. Photos

Keeps Japanese 122lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA#9, WBC#10 elongated southpaw Toshiki Shimomachi (19-1-3, 12 KOs), 121.75, had a tough time but defeated up-and-coming challenger Ryuya Tsugawa (13-2, 9 KOs), 122, by a unanimous decision (96-93 twice, 97-92) to retain his Japanese national super bantam belt on Tuesday at Ariake Arena, Tokyo. The 5’10” lanky champ made good use of his advantageous height and reach, and made himself a difficult target for the hard-punching challenger to catch up with. Shimomachi was leading on points after the fifth on the open scoring system: identically 49-46. Tsugawa, however, caught him with a left hook followed by a solid right, dropping Shimomachi midway in round eight. But the lefty champ survived the last two sessions and barely kept his national title.

Continue reading “WBA #9 Shimomachi defeats Tsugawa”