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The annual Christmas Day boxing card in Izegem, Belgium, returned to the Sporthal De Krekel returned after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. In the main event, light heavyweight Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano (6-2, 4 KOs) stopped Thibault George (1-2-1, 1 KO) in round four of a bout for the Vlaams (Flemish) title. The most accomplished boxer on the card was light heavyweight Timur Nikarkhoev (26-4, 15 KOs), who outpointed Serhii Ksendzov (4-10, 2 KOs) over six rounds by scores of 59-55, 60-54, 59-55. Female flyweight Amy Naert (8-1, 2 KOs) smoked Tetiana Perevezentseva (0-5) in two rounds. Super lightweight journeyman Mikheil Gabinashvili (9-32-3, 6 KOs) stopped pro-debuting Manolito Strynckx in round four.

Other Results:
Shamshad Aramkhel W6 Brice Bula Galo (super lightweight)
Denis Rosescu W6 Levan Ulikhaniani (super middleweight)

The card was promoted by Team Houtland.

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

On Christmas eve, WBA super-flyweight champ Joshua Franco arrived in Tokyo, Japan, to participate in a unification bout with WBO ruler Kazuto Ioka, Japan, here in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve.

Accompanied by his brother and ex-WBC titlist Jesse Rodriguez, Franco confidently said, “I have been strenuously training to fight in Ioka’s home turf. I haven’t fought such a skillful puncher as Ioka, so I expect a toe-to-toe fight. I’m 100% confident of my victory and unification of the two belts.”

BoxRec: Joshua Franco

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

“I’m very disappointed,” said WBO #1 154lb contender Tim Tszyu upon hearing news that undisputed world champion Jermell Charlo could be out for probably the first half of 2023 with a broken hand. “I felt like the stars aligned for undisputed…but we move on. I’m ready to take on the next mandatory challenger. I’ll be back for Charlo once he is ready and healed.”

Tszyu, who is currently training in Las Vegas, is now expected to face another opponent on Showtime January 28, possibly for an interim title.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Premier Boxing Champions has confirmed that undisputed 154-lb world champion Jermell Charlo suffered a broken left hand in training and his much-anticipated, high-stakes defense against WBO #1 contender Tim Tszyu, which was scheduled for January 28, has been postponed.

Charlo broke his left hand in two places – between the pinkie and ring finger and at the base of the thumb – after landing a punch in sparring at his gym in Houston on Tuesday. After visiting two doctors and a hand specialist in Houston, his hand has been placed in a cast. It will remain in a cast for two months and after it is removed, he will begin rehabilitation before resuming his training.

“I was sparring, and I threw this nice punch and as soon as it landed, I knew something was wrong. I felt my hand throbbing right away,” said Charlo. “I had two X-rays and an MRI to see what was wrong. It showed it was broken in two places. I hate this feeling. My hand will be in a cast for two months. I’m as disappointed as the fans, maybe more, because this was my first chance to defend the undisputed title. Continue reading “Charlo injured, Tszyu fight postponed”

Boxxer has confirmed that the rematch between WBO junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall will take place at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland in March. The official announcement will come soon, but the reported date is March 4. Taylor, who won a controversial decision over Catterall last February, is a pretty heavy 2.5 to 1 favorite to win the rematch.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already left boxing off the program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and is now threatening to remove the sweet science from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

IOC Statement: “The recent IBA Congress has shown once more that IBA has no real interest in the sport of boxing and the boxers, but is only interested in its own power. The decisions and discussions to keep boxers away from the Olympic qualifiers and the Olympic Games cannot be understood differently. It has also become clear again, that IBA wants to distract from its own grave governance issues by pointing to the past, which has been addressed by the IOC already in 2019. There is no will to understand the real issues, the contrary: the extension of the sponsorship contract with Gazprom as the sole main sponsor of IBA reinforces the concerns, which the IOC has expressed since 2019 over and over again. This announcement confirms that IBA will continue to depend on a company which is largely controlled by the Russian government. The concerns also include the recent handling of the CAS decision which did not lead a new Presidential election, but only a vote not to hold an election. The IOC will have to take all this into consideration when it takes further decisions, which may – after these latest developments – have to include the cancellation of boxing for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

IBA Response: “It is not with joy or pleasure that we write to you today as many of our member nations head into their holiday season. However, it is imperative that we address the latest attack on IBA’s athletes and IBA by the IOC for the new leadership’s continued commitment to becoming a sound and independent organisation, purged of prior governance issues and ultimately a financially independent sustainable organisation. Continue reading “IOC threatens to remove boxing in 2024 Olympics”

The WBO World Championship Committee has announced that undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue has been designated as WBO “Super Champion” with the rights and privileges afforded by such designation. The privileges include an extension of mandatory title defenses to take big fights, eligibility to be considered for designation as the mandatory challenger in higher or lower divisions, more favorable purse bid splits and other benefits.

Former WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker will return from his brutal KO loss to Joe Joyce on the January 21 undercard of Chris Eubank Jr against Liam Smith at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Parker (30-3, 21 KOs) will face Jack “One Smack” Massey (20-1, 11 KOs).

Also added to the Eubank-Smith undercard is unbeaten IBF #2, WBC #5, WBO #11 cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe (15-0, 11 KOs), who meets former WBO champion Krzysztof Głowacki (32-3, 20 KOs).

Last weekend heavyweight Mahmoud “Diamond Boy” Charr was supposed to meet Lucas Browne in a duel between ex-WBA world champions, but the event fell apart at the last minute suddenly stranding all the athletes and officials in Dubai. Charr’s promoter Erol Ceylan, however, had Charr flown in from the UAE and with the support of the BDB was able to hastily arrange a fight for Charr on Wednesday in Hamburg’s ECB Gym against “The Albanian Tyson” Nuri Seferi, who was in training for another fight that had fallen through. Charr (34-4, 20 KOs) punished Sefari (42-11, 24 KOs) for the better part of two rounds and got the TKO2 win when Seferi’s corner threw in the towel. Continue reading “Charr stops Seferi in two”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #3 super featherweight Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) is training and sparring at the HeadBangers Boxing Gym in Washington DC, run by leading trainer Barry Hunter, in preparation for his February 3 clash for the vacant WBO 130-pound title against WBO featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) at the Diamond Desert Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

In camp with Wilson is Isaac Dogboe, who has faced Navarrete twice, going 24 rounds. “Obviously Isaac and Barry know exactly what I’m up against, so so they’ve really taken the lead on helping me prepare,” Wilson told Fox Sports. “I’ve also got my trainer Benny Harrington here and we’re all working together to implement a game plan for this fight. Continue reading “Wilson training in DC for Navarrete”

Undefeated WBA “regular” lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis held a media workout at the 5th Street Gym in Miami on Wednesday as he prepares to defend against undefeated WBA 130lb world champion Héctor Luis García on Showtime PPV January 7 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. If Tank wins January 7, he’s in line to face Ryan “Kingry” Garcia on April 15.

Tank Davis: “I think Ryan Garcia’s being lazy not taking a fight before our fight. I don’t know. When he was coming up, he was in the gym and everything and now he’s got some money and a little bit of fame and he’s partying and stuff like that. It happens to the majority of us, but it’s up to him to tighten up before it’s too late…I am hoping that the Ryan Garcia fight will open up doors for everyone to make more big fights. It also shows that I’m not ducking anybody.” More quotes

Unbeaten flyweight Andy Dominguez (9-0, 6 KOs) hammered out an eight round unanimous decision over Marvin Solano (24-8, 8 KOs) in the main event on Wednesday night in front of a full house at Sony Hall in Manhattan’s Times Square. Scores were 78-73, 76-75, 78-73. Solano was deducted a point in round eight.

Light heavyweight Nadim Salloum (10-1, 4 KOs), the first and only professional boxer born and raised in Lebanon, took an eight round majority decision over Decarlo “3mendo” Perez (19-7, 6 KOs). Good action fight. Scores were 76-76, 78-74, 77-75.

Journeywoman super flyweight Indeya Smith (6-6, 1 KO) surprised former world title challenger Sulem Urbina (13-3-1, 2 KOs), taking a spirited eight round unanimous decision. Scores were 77-75, 79-73, 79-73.

Middleweight Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr. (23-1, 20 KOs) outpointed Anthony Todd (14-7, 8 KOs) over eight workmanlike rounds. Scores were 79-73, 80-72, 80-72.

In the only kayo of the night, unbeaten middleweight Alejandro Luis Silva (20-0-1, 15 KOs) destroyed Issa Samir (19-2, 16 KOs) in the first round. Silva sent Samir to the canvas for the count at 2:20.

The card was promoted by Boxinginsider.

The WBC has received official confirmation that Jose Ramirez has decided to withdraw from fighting against WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis, a fight which was mandated by the WBC. The WBC will now allow Prograis to make a voluntary defense until they can analyze the future steps to be taken in the division.

World-ranked super welterweight Serhii ‘El Flaco’ Bohachuk (21-1, 21 KOs) will defend his WBC Continental Americas title against Nathaniel ‘Nate the Great’ Gallimore (22-6-1, 17 KOs), in a ten-round clash on Friday, January 27. The show will originate from the Quiet Cannon / Montebello Country Club and will be broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass.

“We’re very excited for the quick return of Serhii Bohachuk in the first defense of his title against battle-tested Nathaniel Gallimore,” said Tom Loeffler, President of 360 Promotions. “Serhii looked tremendous last month in his return to the ring following his extensive time spent with his family in Ukraine during the war.”

Veteran super welterweight Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner (35-17-2, 22 KOs) returned to the ring for the first time in three years on Sunday night at the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The 47-year-old Detroit native dropped an eight round decision to unbeaten Joshuah Lupia (9-0, 7 KOs) by scores of 80-72 3x.

In the co-feature, super lightweight Lee Reeves (10-1, 10 KOs) stopped Larone Whyte (6-6-1, 5 KOs) in round two.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former world champion Anthony “The Man” Mundine and Australian Hall of Fame promoter Peter Maniatis are the special guests for a professional boxing event in Papau New Guinea where Prime Minster James Marape is a big sports and boxing fan. Plans are in the works with promoter Marryanne Millie to present an exhibition between ring legend Manny Pacquiao and 3x WBA world champion Anthony Mundine, one of most famous athletes in Australia, being a champion rugby footballer as well as a boxer.

Maniatis, representing Mundine, has been in talks with Manny Pacquiao advisor Sean Gibbons to lock the bout in July in Papau New Guinea. “We would like to thank the Papau New Guinea government for showing support to a big event which has been compared to the landmark bout Thriller in Manila Ali vs Frazier and will bring in people from all over the world to promote Papau New Guinea tourism after covid!,” said Maniatis.

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It’s official. Reigning WBO featherweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) and WBO #3 contender Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) will fight for the vacant WBO junior lightweight world title on February 3 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Emanuel Navarrete: “This is my opportunity to become a three-division world champion. I am going for that crown. Liam Wilson is a good fighter, but this is my moment, and everyone will see a much more complete ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete that has a lot of thirst for victory. My ideal weight is 130 pounds, and that will be demonstrated on February 3rd when I become world champion for Mexico and San Juan Zitlaltepec. Wilson will not get in the way of my dream.”

Liam Wilson: “He’s a champion, a warrior, and a household name around the world, but now it’s my time. I’m coming to upset the parade. I’ve waited my entire life for this moment, and I won’t let it slip because it means more to me. I swore an oath to my father on his deathbed that I would one day win a world title for him. I’m looking forward to fulfilling this promise on February 3rd.”

Continue reading “Navarrete-Wilson kickoff quotes”

Andy Dominguez 113.8 vs. Marvin Solano 114
Sulem Urbina 114.8 vs. Indeya Smith 113.4
Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr. 158.4 vs. Anthony Todd 159.2
Nadim Salloum 170.2 vs. Decarlo “3mendo” Perez 169.4
Alejandro Luis Silva 156.4 vs. Issa Samir 156

Venue: Sony Hall, Times Square, Manhattan
Promoter: Boxinginsider
TV: YouTube

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

A great personality of Mexican sports died this past Wednesday. Antonio Murrieta was a brilliant supporter of sports throughout his life. Dear friend of my father José Sulaimán and many more.

His memory will be eternal, and we wish his family a life full of pride, because Toño Murrieta most certainly left his mark on his era and on this Earth.

The Holy Father Francisco celebrated his 86th birthday this past Saturday. It is amazing to see his energy and passion to serve, which keeps him as active as when he took on this role as a world leader.

He is the Pope of Sports, who has created world programs through his Scholas Ocurrentes foundation, in order to educate and teach values through sports, art and technology. Continue reading “2022 A Great Year in many aspects”

Rick Mirigian, manager of former world champion Jose Ramirez, has explained on social media why Ramirez passed on a mandatory title challenge against current WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis due to the 65/35 purse split the WBC has designated in Prograis’ favor. Mirigian stated they would have taken 60/40. Instead, the Ramirez camp will take aim at an ESPN fight in March against Richard Commey.

Let me break this down for all you shit talkers with the facts on why @jcramirez2012 vs. @regisprograis didn’t happen:

1) Ramirez pursued the fight immediately and moved to a purse bid and simply asked for a fair split.

2) Regis is an incredible fighter that is respected by us all and a true talent but in comparison to the business Ramirez does (this is a business) Regis does not and has never came close to what Ramirez earns, his drawing power to over 130,000 people that have attended his 12 arena fights, his endorsements, network-backed promoter, equity built in him and brings a resume that includes an Olympian moniker, world champion with multiple defenses, unified world champion and beaten former world champions, etc.

Continue reading “Ramirez rejects Prograis challenge”

WBC/WBA/IBF welterweight champion commented on stalled negotiations for a unification fight with WBO champ Terence Crawford during Saturday’s Showtime telecast.

“Goddammit. If he did everything he could to make the fight happen, the fight would’ve happened,” stated Spence. “You know what I’m saying? Of course, he didn’t, and he went about it the wrong way. If he’d just been on the up and up and said ‘hey, I’m fighting this guy for ten million dollars, it’s an easy fight, I wanna make this money right quick and I’ll be right back,’ we’d probably have let him do it. ‘Go out and get your money man.’

“But the way he went about it, and trying to blame my side for messing up the negotiations, I felt like that wasn’t right at all. So hopefully I can spin that block again and go to negotiations and try to fight him because that’s a fight I really want and hopefully we can make it happen next year.”

<em>By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing</em>

Australian boxing got off to a bad start in April when George Kambosos was defeated by Devin Haney to lose the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO 135-pound titles, but in July heavy underdog Jai Opetaia captured the IBF cruiserweight crown by defeating Maris Breidis who was regarded as the best of all the cruiserweight champions. Aussie Golden Girl Ebanie “Blonde Bomber” Bridges based herself in Leeds, England, then captured the IBF bantamweight crown. Female super bantamweight Cherneka Johnson also captured the IBF 122-pound crown. There are now several Australians rated in the top fifteen ratings of the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. On January 28, Tim Tszyu challenges Jermell Charlo for all the belts in Las Vegas. Just like his former stablemate George Kambosos did in 2021 when he upset heavy favorite Teofimo Lopez, Tszyu plans to shock the boxing world and take the four belts from Charlo at the Mandalay Bay Resort. WBO #3 super featherweight Liam Wilson will challenge Emanuel Navarette for the vacant WBO 130-pound championship on February 3 at the Diamond Desert Arena in Glendale. Wilson has replaced an injured Oscar Valdez. Continue reading “Aussie Boxing Roundup 2022”

Sad to announce the passing of famed Atlantic City-based referee Steve Smoger at the age of 79 after a long illness.

Smoger refereed over 200 world title fights and was considered one of the best third men to ever do it. He was known as a referee who gave a fighter every chance to win before stopping a fight.

Among the fights he worked were epics like Pavlik-Taylor I, Ward-Augustus, Trinidad-Hopkins, Forrest-Mosley I, and many more. Smoger was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015. RIP.

An IBF light heavyweight title eliminator between IBF #4 Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) and IBF #6 Michael Eifert (11-1, 4 KOs) is set for February 9 at Bell Place in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The winner will be the official IBF mandatory contender for IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev. The 40-year-old three-time world champion Pascal will have the hometown advantage. The 24-year-old Eifert, who hails from the SES stable in Magdeburg, Germany, has never faced anyone close to the level of Pascal, so it’s a big step up.

Undefeated top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin (25-0, 14 KOs) wants to get into the crowded lightweight world title mix after his dominant win over previously unbeaten Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera on Saturday night in Las Vegas. “I just believe in myself and I believe in our team,” said Martin. “We know what we’re doing and we’re working consistently. We believed in it and believed that we’re ready for any of the top fighters, so let us get them. We’re ready to eat.”

As for the fight against Rivera, Martin said, “This is just what I do. I felt good tonight. There were some things that I saw in there that I didn’t capitalize on, but we went in there and got the job done. My corner was telling me to stay on the outside, watch out for the right hand and work the game plan. I was using my legs and I could have done it a lot more. It worked for us tonight, but there’s a lot of room for improvement and we’re going to keep working.” Continue reading “Martin: We’re ready for any of the top fighters”