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By Ron Jackson

On November 3, it will be 49 years since Arnold Taylor became only the third South African fighter in history to win a version of a world title.

The first South Africans to hold a version of a world title was Willie Smith who captured the British Version of the world bantamweight title, when on 6 October 1927 he outpointed England’s Teddy Baldock over 15 rounds at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Vic Toweel, who is rated as one of South Africa’s greatest fighters of all time, won the Universal/ undisputed world bantamweight title when there were only eight divisions, on 31 May 1950 after outpointing the 116 fight Mexican/American Manuel Ortiz over 15 rounds at the Wembley Stadium on a historic night in South African boxing.

According to my records, 88 South African fighters have won one or other version of a world title but Vic Toweel is still the only fighter to be recognized as a universal/undisputed world champion. Continue reading “One of the greatest fights in SA boxing history”

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol during today’s public workout ahead of his fight with Zurdo Ramirez this weekend on DAZN from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC light-flyweight champ Kenshiro Teraji (20-1, 12 KOs), 107.25, impressively unified the 108-pound belts as he controlled the fight from the outset, dropped WBA super champ Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-1, 11 KOs), 107.75, with a solid right in the fifth and finally floored him again en route to a fine stoppage at 2:36 of the seventh round on Tuesday in Saitama, Japan. Some 11,500 spectators were in attendance at the Saitama Super Arena in an adjacent prefecture to Tokyo.

Now it is the internet age when people can watch the same title bout live at the same time all over the world. If so, this local scribe may show the difference of data on this unification bout. Do you know the following? Both Teraji and Kyoguchi were amateur university boxers. Teraji, Kansai university, met Kyoguchi, Osaka University of Commerce, four times with the former victorious three to one in four encounters. Their amateur marks were: Teraji 58-16, 20 stoppages, while Kyoguchi 52-14, 8 stoppages. For your reference, Teraji once faced Naoya Inoue with Monster scoring a third-round stoppage in 2009 (when Teraji, two years his senior, and Inoue were both high school students). Continue reading “Teraji-Kyoguchi Full Report”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Fast-moving Puerto Rican southpaw Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (27-3-1-1NC, 14 KOs), 108, retained his WBO 108-pound belt as he kept moving to-and-fro all night, countered game Japanese challenger Shokichi Iwata (9-1, 6 KOs) and earned a unanimous decision (117-111, 116-112 twice) on Tuesday over twelve rounds in Saitama, Tokyo, Japan. Judges Pat Russell and Jesse Reyes (US) both tallied 116-112, and Danrex Tapdasan (Philippines) scored 117-111, all in favor of the defending champ. The referee was Raul Caiz Jr. (US). Continue reading “Bomba-Iwata Full Report”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten WBO Asia Pacific lightweight champ, WBO#9 Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs), 135, impressively kept his regional belt as he withstood the opening attack of WBC#10 six-footer Masayoshi Nakatani (20-3, 14 KOs), 134.5, and finally caught up with him to score a fine KO victory at 1:14 of the sixth round in a scheduled twelve on Tuesday in Saitama, Japan. Continue reading “Yoshino-Nakatani Full Report”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee issued a resolution on Tuesday ordering a fight for the undisputed female featherweight title between Erika Cruz, the WBA champion, and Amanda Serrano, who holds the IBF, WBO and WBC titles.

The committee determined that there is no need for special permissions and that the best will be facing each other in the ring, so it set Serrano as the mandatory challenger to the title held by Cruz. Now they will have a period of 30 days to negotiate the fight and if they do not reach an agreement or any of the parties refuses to do so, the committee could send the fight to auction with a 50% split for each of the champions.

On the other hand, the winner of the fight will have 12 months to make her next mandatory defense. The resolution issued this Tuesday leaves without effect any previous resolution.

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

This past Sunday, Mexican Formula 1 Super Star, Sergio “Checo” Pérez, added another great achievement to his career as he made the podium with third place in the Mexico City Grand Prix. Checo already has 25 podium places in his career in the highest category of motorsports.

Checo Perez is a phenomenon. He is just wonderful. Mexico has always found in sports an outlet to feel pride; Hugo Sánchez and his glories at Real Madrid; Fernando Valenzuela and his feats in the Dodgers, and Julio Cesar Chavez, who always crowded the Angel of Independence when he fought, as thousands of people would gather around the monument to celebrate his victories.

Today Saúl Álvarez, Julio Urías and Checo are the ones who move the passion and glory, among other great stars of Mexico. Continue reading “Mexico lives a historic moment”

Showtime Boxing will stream three undercard bouts live on their YouTube channel and Facebook page this Saturday from The Armory in Minneapolis preceding its Showtime Championship Boxing telecast headlined by WBA super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. against unbeaten mandatory challenger Aidos Yerbossynuly.

The streaming bouts feature longtime contender Andre Dirrell (28-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight clash against Yunieski Gonzalez (21-4, 17 KOs). The action also includes former unified world champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) taking on Rolando Mansilla (18-11-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight affair, plus unbeaten super lightweights Kent Cruz (16-0-2, 10 KOs) and Enriko Gogokhia (13-0-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of their split-draw in February.

Unbeaten IBF #7, WBO #11, WBA #12 heavyweight Agit Kabayel (22-0, 14 KOs) will headline a January SES boxing card at the RuhrCongress Hall in his hometown of Bochum, Germany. Kabayel’s opponent and the rest of the card is TBA. Tickets go on sale soon.

Agit Kabayel: “I’m really impatient now and I’m really looking forward to this home game. I can promise my people in the Ruhr area a great start to the year with an exciting evening of great boxing!”

By Joe Koizumi

WBC light-flyweight champ Kenshiro Teraji (20-1, 12 KOs), 107.25, impressively unified the 108-pound belts as he controlled the fight from the outset, dropped WBA super champ Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-1, 11 KOs), 107.75, with an overhand right in the fifth and finally floored him again en route to a fine stoppage at 2:36 of the seventh round on Tuesday in Saitama, Japan.

(More to come)

By Joe Koizumi

Fast-moving Puerto Rican southpaw Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (27-3-1-1NC, 14 KOs), 108, kept his WBO 108-pound belt as he kept moving to-and-fro all night, countered previously unbeaten Japanese challenger Shokichi Iwata (9-1, 6 KOs), 107.75, and earned a unanimous decision (117-111, 116-112 twice) on Tuesday over twelve rounds in Saitama, Tokyo, Japan.

(More to come)

Having recently renounced his WBO flyweight belt, unbeaten Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision over ex-minimumweight ruler Francisco Rodriguez (36-6-1, 25 KOs) in his first super-fly bout.

Unbeaten WBO Asia Pacific lightweight titlist Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs) retained his regional belt against elongated ex-OPBF ruler Masayoshi Nakatani (20-3, 14 KOs) via sixth round KO. Nakatani down in rounds five and six

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The weigh-in results of tomorrow’s quadruple event in Japan are as follows:

WBC/WBA 108lb unification bout
Kenshiro Teraji 107.25
Hiroto Kyoguchi 107.75

WBO 108lb title bout
Jonathan Bomba Gonzalez 108
Shokichi Iwata 107.75

Junto Nakatani 114.5 vs. Francisco Rodriguez Jr. 115

WBO Asia Pacific 135lb title bout
Shuichiro Yoshino 135 vs. Masayoshi Nakatani 134.5

The officials are as follows:
For the WBC/WBA unification bout
Referee Michiaki Someya; Judges Yuji Fukuchi, Nobuto Ikehara, Kazunobu Asao (all of Japan)

For the WBO title bout
Referee Raul Caiz Jr. (US); Judges Pat Russell (US), Danrex Tapudasan, Jesse Reyes (both Philippines)

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

More photos

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Nhlanhla ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’ Tyirha completely dominated Filipino Orlie Rojas Silvestre over 12 rounds to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation junior flyweight title at the International Convention Centre in East London on Sunday afternoon. The 23-year-old South African from Mdantsane who fights from the southpaw stance took control from the opening round as he used his educated right jab to pile up the points. This was the pattern throughout the fight, and it was difficult to find a round where Silvestre could have shaded it.

This is the fourth Filipino in a row that Tyirha has beaten as he added the IBF title to his WBO Global and South African light flyweight titles. Tyirha improved his record to 8-1, 2 KOs, and the 28-year-old Silvestre’s record dropped to 17-7-2, 9 KOs. Continue reading “Tyirha wins IBF Intercontinental jr fly title”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

A press conference of the forthcoming quadruple event took place on Sunday with all the participants attending in Tokyo, Japan. The headliners were WBC 108-pound champion Kenshiro Teraji (19-1, 11 KOs) and WBA super champ Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-1, 11 KOs), both of Japan, who will square off for unification at the Saitama Super Arena on Tuesday. The boyish-looking Kenshiro, 30, said, “If victorious, I wish to fight the WBO champion to unify three belts.” The unbeaten hard-puncher Kyoguchi, 28, said, “I wish to prove I’ll be physically and biologically superior to Teraji, and will concentrate on this fight.”

The WBO junior flyweight defending titleholder Jonathan Gonzalez (26-3-1-1NC, 14 KOs), Puerto Rico, confidently said, “It’s hard to beat and dethrone me.” His Japanese challenger Shokichi Iwata (9-0, 6 KOs) said, “He will move well, but I’d like to catch up with him and finish him.” Continue reading “Press Conference for Quadruple Event in Japan”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Unbeaten Australian heavyweight Justis Huni (6-0, 4 KOs) has been accused of being “a hype job” ahead of Friday’s bout against Kiki Toa Leutele (8-1-2, 7 KOs) at the Nissan Arena, Nathan, Queensland, Australia, televised on Foxtel Main Event Pay-Per-View.

It was recently reported that Huni had punished American sparring partners, but that didn’t impress Isaac Peach, the trainer of Leutele. “Who gives a shit?” Peach told Wide World of Sports. “Jerome Pampellone (fighter in Peach stable) went to Australia to spar Jai Opetaia and broke his rib, but (Huni promoter) Dean (Lonergan) doesn’t want to talk about that does he? Everything they say is full of shit. Continue reading “Trainer: Huni is a hype job”

By Ricardo Ibarra
Photos by Mike Blair/Boxingprospects.net

In a tight five round lightweight bout, Portland’s Bryan Sanchez (3-0, 2 KOs) claimed a split decision victory over local crowd favorite Troy Wohosky (4-3, 1 KO) on Saturday night at the Medford Armory in Medford, Oregon. The bout was closely contested from the start, but it was the busier and more accurate punching of Sanchez that carried more weight with the judges. Continue reading “Sanchez defeats Wohosky in Medford, Oregon”

Photos: Emily Harney

Check out this GIANT Lomachanko-Ortiz photo gallery for some incredible shots.

Photos

“They’re going to find something to say,” proclaimed YouTube boxer Jake Paul after defeating 47-year-old MMA legend Anderson Silva on Saturday night in Phoenix. “‘Fight a real boxer.’ I tried. If I were walking on water, people would say that I can’t swim. There’s always going to be haters. There’s always going to be critics. It’s an everyday part of life if you’re doing something and being successful. I don’t worry about it.

“This is just the start. I want Nate Diaz. Canelo, you too. You guys said, ‘You can’t beat a striker, you can’t beat a legend like Anderson Silva.’ I just did it. So why can’t I beat Canelo?”

Courtesy of Jim Jenkins, Sacramento Bee

In a showdown of promising welterweights at Cache Creek Casino & Resort, Alan Sanchez (22-5-1) of neighboring Fairfield won Saturday night’s main event, spoiling the unbeaten record of Los Angeles’ Saul Bustos (15-1-1) by 10-round majority decision. The WBA Fedecentro title went to the winner, bleeding from a late head butt yet delivering the more telling blows. Judges’ scores were 97-93, 96-94, 95-95. It’s Sanchez’ hope that defeating an opponent from the touted Freddie Roach Gym will lead to bigger opportunities.

The Brooks, Calif., card virtually filled the 1,300-seat events center and the promotional label of Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents was a nostalgic theme. Chargin, late Hall of Fame promoter, mentored Paco Damian, based in nearby Woodland.

Bill Caplan, longtime Chargin associate, assisted with the show, also attended by Tony Lopez and Loreto Garza, two former world champions who fought for Chargin. Continue reading “Results from Cache Creek Casino”

Unbeaten lightweight Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (16-1-1, 8 KOs) nearly spoiled the long-awaited ring return of former three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) on Saturday night before a crowd of 4,586 inside the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ortiz gave 25:1 favorite Loma all kinds of early problems with his speed and mobility. The former champ quickly had noticable bruising under his right eye. After six rounds, Ortiz was up by two points on one card and the other two were even. However, after that two of the judges had Lomachenko sweeping the final six rounds and all three had Loma pulling away to win 115-113, 116-112, 117-111.

“I’m happy. I’m happy to come back in the ring and make this a great show. Thank you to my fans for the support,” commented Lomachenko afterward. “You know what motivated me? Four belts! …look, I’m ready. I’m ready for any option.”

Undisputedlightweight champion Devin Haney was in attendance. “I think it wasn’t the best performance,” said Haney, “but I know if me and Loma were to fight, we’d see a better version on the night. Congratulations, and hopefully we can get it on.”

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum stated, “The fight to make in the lightweight division is Haney versus Lomachenko, and we will do everything we can to make the undisputed championship showdown that all fight fans want to see. They are the world’s premier lightweights, and it would be a fantastic battle.”

In the co-feature, WBO #3 featherweight Robeisy Ramirez (11-1, 7 KOs), a two-tome Olympic gold medalist), stopped late sub Jose Matias Romero (26-3, 9 KOs) in round nine. Ramirez dropped Romero in round one, then cruised for seven workmanlike rounds before wobbling Romero and getting a referee’s stoppage in round nine. Time was 2:20. Ramirez may now face #1 Isaac Dogboe for the WBO belt when current champion Emanuel Navarrete moves up to 130. Continue reading “Lomachenko edges Ortiz”

Undefeated WBO #6, WBA #8, WBC #13 lightweight KO artist William “El Camarón” Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) scored a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over former IBF super featherweight champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr (32-3-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Zepeda simply overwhelmed Diaz with non-stop power punches in most rounds and pulled away to a 119-109, 119-109, 118-110 win.

“I have learned that boxing gives back what you put in,” said Zepeda. “I have trained hard, have been disciplined, and have listened to my team. Now it is time to rest up and await for what is next for us at this division.”

WBO #7, IBF #13 welterweight Alexis “Lex” Rocha (21-1, 13 KOs) took a hard-fought ten round unanimous decision over tough-as-nails Jesus “Ricky” Perez (24-4, 18 KOs). It was a more difficult fight than expected for 20:1 favorite Rocha as Perez hadn’t fought in nearly three years. Rocha won by scores of 100-89, 100-90, 99-91 as he successfully defended his NABO title.

Former world champion Arely Mucino (32-3-2, 11 KOs) dethroned previously unbeaten IBF female flyweight champion Leonela Yudica (17-1-3, 0 KOs) by split decision in a close fight. Scores were 97-93, 96-94 Mucino, 96-94 Yudica.

In a clash of unbeaten super bantamweights, Hector Valdez, Jr. (16-0, 8 KOs) and Max Ornelas (15-1-1, 5 KOs) fought ten workmanlike rounds with Valdez taking a split decision. Scores were 97-93 for Ornealas, 97-93, 97-93 for Valdez.

Other Results
Jorge “El Niño” Chávez W6 Adrian Leyva (super featherweight)
Japhethlee Llamido KO1 Pablo Cruz (super featherweight)
Jan “Nito” Salvatierra W4 Robert Ledesma (flyweight)
Asa “Ace” Stevens W4 Mychaquell Shields (featherweight)

YouTube boxer Jake “The Problem Child” Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over 47-year-old UFC legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva (3-2, 2 KOs) in an eight-round bout at a catchweight of 187 pounds on Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena, just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Paul appeared headed to a decision win when he dropped Silva in the final round. Silva rallied after the knockdown, but it was too little, too late. Scores were 77-74, 78-73, 78-73.

“We were just fighting in the clinch, and he got caught on the way out,” Paul said of the knockdown. “He took so many hard shots throughout the whole fight. The dude is a real dog. You see what happens to everyone else that gets hit with that. He’s the toughest guy in the world but I just wanted it more. I’m a real dog and I left it all in the ring.”

Unbeaten 18-year-old lightweight Ashton “H2O” Sylve (8-0, 8 KOs) made quick work of former contender Braulio Rodriguez (20-5, 17 KOs). A short left hook finished Rodriguez after just 61 seconds.

WBC #9, WBA #12 bantamweight Alexandro “El Peque” Santiago (27-3-5, 14 KOs) was victorious when WBO #13, IBF #14 Antonio “Carita” Nieves (20-4-2, 11 KOs) couldn’t continue after round seven. Santiago was taking over the fight when the bout ended. This was a rematch of a 2016 draw.

MMA fighter Uriah Hall and former NFL star running back Le’Veon Bell made their pro debuts in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 195 pounds. Hall outworked Bell by scores of 40-36 3x in a bout that never heated up until the last few seconds.

UFC fighter Chris Avila pretty much beat up pro debuting Internet personality “Doctor Mike” Varshavski in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 185 pounds. Scores were 40-36 3x.

Other Results:
Danny Barrios Flores TKO6 Edgar Ortiz Jr. (super bantamweight)
Shadasia Green TKO5 Ogleidis Suarez (female super middleweight)
Jeremiah Milton TKO5 Quintin Sumpter (heavyweight)

Unbeaten heavyweight Sonny Conto (11-0, 9 K0s) scored a second round stoppage of James Bryant (6-2, 4 K0s) in a scheduled six-round headliner on Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. Bryant shot right out of his corner, and went after Conto. The Philadelphia native engaged in a back-and-forth brawl and dropped Bryant with a hard left hand just before the bell sounded to end the opening frame. In round two, Conto continued to pound away until Bryant was gassed out and the fight was stopped by the corner at 2:13.

In the co-feature, junior welterweight Bryce Mills (10-1, 4 KOs) outpointed Larry Fryers (11-6-1, 4 KOs) over six rounds 60-54 3x.

Diaz-Zepeda undercard bouts on Golden Boy YouTube Channel:

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Paul-Silva undercard bouts on Showtime YouTube Channel:

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