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Two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin has been appointed Chair of a new Olympic Commission by the World Boxing, the international federation established to try to ensure that boxing remains a part of the Olympic Movement.

Golovkin, 42, also the current President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, will work closely with World Boxing’s leadership to manage the organization’s relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and oversee the pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the sport program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Continue reading “Golovkin to head Olympic Commission”

Sandy Ryan 146.6 vs. Mikaela Mayer 146.8
(WBO female welterweight title)

Xander Zayas 153.4 vs. Damian Sosa 153.6
Bruce Carrington 125.8 vs. Sulaiman Segawa 123.8
Vito Mielnicki Jr. 153.8 vs. Khalil El Harraz 152.4
Floyd Diaz 117.8 vs. Mario Hernandez 117.2
Elvis Rodriguez 142.8 vs. Kendo Castañeda 142
Tiger Johnson 140.8 vs. Yomar Alamo 140.2
Rohan Polanco 143.4 vs. Marcelino Lopez 143

Venue: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBC strawweight champion Ricardo “Finito” Lopez (professional 51-0-1, 38 KOs; amateur 40-0) from Mexico, 58, revisited the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday after he captured the belt from Hideyuki Ohashi, now 59, thirty-four years ago. Finito, from the ring, said to the audience, “This is the Hall where I won the belt. I never forget this place with my deep nostalgia. It is truly my great pleasure to come back here and to be celebrated by Mr. Ohashi, Naoya Inoue and Japanese people like this.” It was an emotional moment that the WBC special belts for their reunion were awarded to Finito Lopez and Ohashi as well. The Hall resounded with the applause of the audience. They remembered the good old days and their historical encounter in 1990. Continue reading “Finito Lopez “This is the Hall I won the belt””

Puerto Rican amateur standout Juanmita López De Jesús, a 2024 Olympian, has signed a long-term professional contract with Top Rank and will make his pro debut as a junior bantamweight in early 2025.

The 18-year-old Juanmita is the son of former two-division world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, an explosive puncher who fought under the Top Rank banner in the 2000s and early 2010s.

“Juan Manuel Lopez is one of Puerto Rico’s great champions, and it brings me great pleasure to welcome Juanmita to the Top Rank family,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Juanmita is an exceptional talent, someone we feel will excel in the ring and, like his father, bring many championships to the great fighting nation of Puerto Rico.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was a night of all seven minimumweight bouts featuring three title bouts on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. In the first of the tripleheader, unbeaten southpaw prospect Takero Kitano (7-0-1, 3 KOs; amateur 7-0), 105, eked out a majority decision (77-75 twice, 76-76) over Japan’s youth minimum champ Rento Miyazawa (7-3-1, 2 KOs), 104.25, capturing the belt over eight fast-moving rounds. Moving to-and-fro, the shorter but faster Miyazawa, 21, occasionally connected with light combinations, while Kitano, 20, displayed a last surge to score a narrow margin that merited the belt. Continue reading “Kitano wins Japan’s youth 105lb belt from Miyazawa”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former kickboxer Takeshi Ishii (9-1, 7 KOs), 105, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF minimumweight belt as he mixed it up with previously unbeaten game Filipino John Kevin Jimenez (8-1, 3 KOs), 103.5, all the way and finally outhustled him with his superior power and stamina down the stretch, winning a unanimous nod (116-112 twice, 115-113) over twelve crowd-pleasing rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Jimenez, 20, took the initiative with a solid body shot in the first, but Ishii, a sturdy puncher, 24, accelerated his attack in the close range, which continued in the second half to have Jimenez retreating with their difference of physical power. It was a good give-and-take affair that fully entertained the crowd.

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was remarkable that unbeaten Ryusei Matsumoto (4-0, 2 KOs; amateur 77-15), 105, seized the vacant Japanese minimumweight belt in his only fourth outing by chalking up a TKO victory over JBC#1 Matsuki Mori (12-4, 3 KOs), 105, at 0:59 into the seventh round in a scheduled ten on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. The more experienced Mori recklessly kept boring in from the outset with lefty Matsumoto moving around and occasionally connecting with left counters. After the fifth, the open scoring system indicated Matsumoto leading on points—49-46, 50-45 twice. The seventh saw Matumoto deck him with a countering right hook, and his follow-up had the ref call a halt on Mori whose right optic was badly swollen and bleeding.

Matsumoto, a hard-punching prospect, reached the record of those who won the national belt in the fourth pro bout: James Callaghan, Modest Yushin Napuni, Akinobu Hiranaka, Joichiro Tatsuyoshi and Naoya “Monster” Inoue. Continue reading “Matsumoto wins Japanese 105lb belt in 4th pro bout”

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.

Former WBO champion Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) held a virtual press conference Tuesday before he challenges unbeaten IBF super welterweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) in the main event on Prime Video action Saturday, October 19 from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Here are the highlights…

“This is another big opportunity for me to come back to the U.S. in front of a big audience and fight for another world title. I can’t wait to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“I’m bringing the heat. Hopefully he doesn’t take a step back, because everyone knows my style. Hopefully there’s less blood from me this fight, but we’re definitely going to bring the fans a fight to remember. Continue reading “Tim Tszyu: I’m bringing the heat”

All Star Boxing is back on the beautiful Island of Puerto Rico, joining forces with Miguel Cotto Promotions and H2 Entertainment to air a live boxing show from Coliseo Marcelo Trujillo in Humacao. The event billed “WBO Night of Champions” will be held on Wednesday October 30th as part of the activities of the 37th WBO Annual Convention.

The evening’s event is headlined by Humacao’s favorite fighter, former WBO interim jr flyweight champion and #7 ranked Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (12-4, 9 KOs) will face world-ranked WBA #7, WBO #13 Azael “Candelilla” Villar (21-3-4, 15 KOs) of Panama City, Panama in a 10-round clash for the vacant WBO International belt.

The Co-Main event features another Puerto Rican contender, Juan Carlos “El Indio” Camacho (17-1, 8 KOs) defending his WBO/NABO flyweight belt against former title challenger Jayson “The Smasher” Mama (20-1 10 KOs) of General Santos City, Philippines in a 10 round clash.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The heavyweight division will always be the one that moves the world of boxing and sports fans in general.

The world heavyweight champion is considered the most fearsome and powerful man on the planet, ever since the beginning of the sport of fists.

John L. Sullivan was the last heavyweight champion when gloves were not used and fights were bare-knuckle, and he was also the first world heavyweight champion with gloves.

He was a legend, the first athlete in the history of the United States to become a celebrity, and the first to earn a million dollars. Continue reading “Heavyweight Division”

Former world champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford (15-1-1, 8 KOs) will return to action up at super featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez (23-2, 12 KOs) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday November 9, live worldwide on DAZN. The undercard that also features light heavyweight Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe (9-0-1, 7 KOs) taking on Manuel Gallegos (20-2-1, 17 KOs), Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) making his Matchroom debut, and middleweight Austin “Ammo” Williams (16-1, 11 KOs) vs. TBA.

All are in support of the world championship doubleheader featuring hometown hero Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis defending his IBF welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defending his WBC super flyweight title against Pedro Guevara.

By Joe Koizumi

After thirty-four years former rivals, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez and Hideyuki Ohashi will make a reunion today (Tuesday) in Tokyo, Japan. Tomorrow there will be a promotion featuring all minimumweight or strawweight competitions at the Korakuen Hall in the center of our capital Tokyo. On the eve we will see a special ceremony of their reunion since Lopez dethroned then WBC 105-pound titleholder Ohashi at the Hall on October 25, 1990. Finito went to score 21 defenses thereafter to his credit, while Ohashi established his gym and cultivated five world champs including Naoya “The Monster” Inoue. The MC and interpreter will be yours truly.

Promoter of this event: Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT photo gallery from Saturday’s spectacular fight between super middleweight contenders Jaime Munguia and Erik Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

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The undercard is set for the November 8 clash between 2020 Olympic silver medalist and world-ranked contender Keyshawn Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) and Gustavo Lemos at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Davis-Lemos will be a ten-rounder.

The co-feature sees WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) make his first title defense against Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs). Continue reading “Davis-Lemos undercard set”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was a customary Japan-China confrontation, and the Japanese team was victorious over Chinese team, but it is remarkable that Chinese boxers showed their rapid progresses and their good performance fully entertained the crowd at the Korakuen Hall on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Hard-punching super-light prospect Hiroki Horiike (3-0, 2 KOs; amateur mark 21-7, 5 stoppages), 139.75, proved more powerful and skillful than China’s Le-Quan Wang (8-2, 5 KOs), 139.25, winning a unanimous decision (78-73 twice, 77-74) over eight. The southpaw Chinese hit the deck midway in round six, but he displayed his admirable recovery and resilience to demonstrate his last surge. The victor Horiike became cautious and defensive in the last round when Wang turned very loose down the stretch. Continue reading “Japan defeats China 3-1”

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.

IBF super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs) defeated former two-time featherweight champion Josh Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs) over twelve rounds with the IBF title not at stake

. Scores were 117-111, 118-110, 117-111 as Cacace successfully defended his IBO 130lb belt.

Unbeaten WBO #1 light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) won by twelve round split decision over WBO #2 Willy Hutchinson (18-2, 13 KO) in a clash for the vacant WBO interim 175lb world title. Buatsi dropped Hutchinson twice en route to a 115-110, 117-108 on two cards. Hutchinson, who also had a point deduction, was somehow up 113-112 on the third card.

WBO #2, IBF #5, WBC #12 super welterweight Josh Kelly (16-1-1, 8 KOs) struggled with unbeaten late replacement fighter Ishmael Davis (13-1, 6 KOs), taking a 115-113, 115-114 and 114-114 majority decision.

Middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 16 KOs) blitzed EBU European champion Tyler Denny (19-3-3, 1 KO) in two rounds.

WBC #2 super middleweight Jaime Munguia rebounded from May’s defeat to Canelo Alvarez with a 10th-round knockout Friday evening over the previously unbeaten Erik Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

“It was a fight I had to do intelligently,” said Munguia afterward. “He’s strong. He hits hard. So, we had to break him down and be careful with shots to the body. And in the 10th round, that’s when I decided to come out with everything. And that’s how we got the knockout.

“There are great things to come, great fights at 168 pounds. There’s Caleb Plant, {Edgar} Berlanga, Christian Mbilli. There are great fights, and we will give great wars as well.”

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.

IBF #8, WBC #10 super welterweight “King” Callum Walsh (12-0, 10 KOs) made quick work of Przemyslaw Runowski (22-3-1, 6 KOs) on Friday night at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. In round two, the fighters exchanged and a Walsh left hook dropped Runowski for the count, sending the large partison crowd home happy. It was the first time Walsh has fought as a professional in his native Ireland.

World-rated super middleweight Ali Akhmedov (21-1, 16 KOs) won a ten round split decision over Pierre Hubert Dibombe (22-2-1, 12 KOs). Akhmedov down once but managed to survive with scores of 96-93, 95-94. The third card was 97-92 for Dibombe.

IBF heavyweight champon Daniel Dubois weighed a few pounds less than former unified champion Anthony Joshua for their clash on Saturday at the sold out Wembley Stadium in London. Dubois weighed 248.6 lbs. while Joshua weighed 252.5.

On November 9, hometown hero Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (32-0 29 KOs) headlines at Philadephia’s Wells Fargo Center once again, defending his IBF welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs), live worldwide on DAZN.

In the co-feature, WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) defends his world title against Pedro Guevara (42-4-1 22 KOs).

“I’m excited to be back headlining in my city again,” said Ennis. “I’m ready to continue dominating the division, making a big statement and showing everyone why I’m the best welterweight in the world…it’s time to have some fun, keep crushing whoever is in front of me, put on a beautiful, dominant, crushing performance in front of my family, friends and supporters, while defending and retaining my IBF world title in spectacular fashion. It’s time!”

IBF #8 super middleweight Osleys ‘El Tornado’ Iglesias (12-0, 11 KOs) will defend his IBO title in a 12-round fight against undefeated IBF #11 Petro Ivanov (18-0-2, 13 KOs) on November 7 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal and broadcast live on Punchinggrace.com and ESPN+.

“Osleys Iglesias is on the fast track because, as seen in his recent performances, he has quickly proven that he is ready for the toughest challenges. Petro Ivanov is one of them. We’re bringing two ranked, undefeated, and hungry boxers into the same ring on November 7, and I won’t hide the fact that we’re aiming to make this an IBF eliminator bout,” revealed Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan.

Two-time world title challenger Steven Butler (34-5-1, 28 KOs) will return in the co-main event against former interim world title challenger Diego Chaves (30-10-1, 24 KOs). Continue reading “Unbeaten super middleweights collide Nov 7”