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Undefeated WBA #6, WBC #6 heavyweight terror Arslanbek Makhmudov (15-0, 14 KOs) took a harder-than-expected ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Carlos Takam (39-7-1, 28 KOs) on Friday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Makhmudov dropped Takam 20 seconds into the fight and also put him down in round seven. Takam won four rounds on two cards, but with the two knockdowns scores were 96-92, 97-91, 96-92. Makhmudov added the vacant WBC silver title to his NABF and NABA titles.

In a middleweight crossroads clash, former world title challenger Steven “Bang Bang” Butler (31-3-1, 26 KOs) crushed Mark “The Bazooka” DeLuca (28-4, 16 KOs) in two rounds. DeLuca down twice in round two. Time was 1:59. Butler retained the NABF title. Continue reading “Makhmudov defeats Takam, remains unbeaten”

WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford opened as a slight favorite over WBC, WBA, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. for their rumored November 19th megafight in Las Vegas. BetOnline.ag has listed Crawford at -130 (10/13), while Spence backers can get +110 (11/10). The camps have reportedly agreed on the money issues and are now ironing out the final details.

By Rick Scharmberg

Dante Cox 135 vs. Rackwon Butler 134
(ABF lightweight title)
Jessica Camara 137 vs. Maria Vega 135.1
Eslih Owusu 158 vs. Dewayne Williams 159.5
(ABF middleweight title)
Logan Holler 156.6 vs. Olivia Gerula 163
Jalique Holden 128.9 vs. Charles Clark 132.8
Antonio Lucaine 127.2 vs. Carlos Gonzales 127.6
Tariq Green 170.7 vs. Yohanes Rezene 176.4

Venue: Chase Fieldhouse
Promoter: Dee Lee Promotions, LLC
Matchmaker: Nick Tiberi
Tickets $30 at the door
First Bell: 7pm

Canelo Alvarez 167.4 vs. Gennadiy Golovkin 167.8
(undisputed super middleweight championship)

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez 114.8 vs. Israel Gonzalez 114.6
(WBC super flyweight title)

Gabriel Rosado 167.6 vs. Ali Akhmedov 167.8
Austin Williams 160 vs. Kieron Conway 159.2
Diego Pacheco 167 vs. Enrique Collazo 167.8
Marc Castro 134.4 vs. Kevin Montiel Mendoza 135.2
Aaron Aponte 139.8 vs. Fernando Molina 140
Anthony Herrera 114.8 vs. Delvin McKinley 116

Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN PPV

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Teiken Promotions announced a long-anticipated world title unification bout of WBC light-flyweight titlist Kenshiro Teraji (19-1, 11 KOs) and WBA super champ Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-0, 11 KOs), both of Japan, at the Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, on November 1.

Teraji, who recently regained his belt from compatriot Masamichi Yabuki, said, “I wish to unify all belts and this is the first step for ultimate unification.” Kyoguchi, two years his junior at 28, also confidently said, “I feel highly motivated to face Kenshiro to acquire another belt in green color.”

When both were amateur university boxers, Teraji won three times to one for Kyoguchi. We will see a unification bout between Japanese contestants since WBC 105-pound ruler Kazuto Ioka defeated WBA titleholder Akira Yaegashi after a grueling battle in 2012. Continue reading “Teraji-Kyoguchi unification press conference”

Joshafat Ortiz 129.8 vs. Mario Ezequiel Sayal Lozano 132.3
Jan Carlos Rivera 142.9 vs. Ganzalo Carlos Dallera 145
John Leonardo 127.5 vs. Pedro Hernandez 127.2
Carlos Ramos 131.1 vs. Diuhl Olguin 130.1
Jeffrey Villanueva 117.9 vs. Jose Torres 119.8
LeAnna Cruz 113.9 vs. Lillian Almarez 114
Abdiel Padilla 142.1 vs. Axl Malendez Salgado 149.3

Venue: The Fillmore, 1st Brll: 7 PM ET
Promoter: Hard Hitting Promotions (Ortiz vs Lozano is in Association w/DiBella Entertainment)
Tickets: $60, $75, $100 and $175

By Brad Snyder/The Undercard

Derick Miller 182 vs. Demetrius Banks 185.6
Kara Ro 129 vs. Elizabeth Tuani 127.2
Vernon Webber 211.8 vs. Daniel Haney 255.6
Alfonzo Linares 325.4 vs. Dennis Vance 271.6
Darryl Cunningham 155.8 vs. Andre Byrd 154.4
Luis Quintero 151 vs. Brian Sztykiel 152
Jermarco Holloway 149.9 vs. Kevin Womack 155.2
Garrett Ross 155.4 vs. Mike Johnson 153.8
Nermin Zalic 131.4 vs. Marcello Williams 133.2

Venue: Motor City Casino, Detroit, Michigan
Promoter: Carlos Llnas
Tickets: available at the Soundboard Ticket Office or Ticketmaster.com

Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez and arch-rival Gennadiy Golovkin faced off at the final press conference for Saturday’s trilogy clash at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas.

Gennadiy Golovkin: “We are both professional athletes. His strategy is more aggressive. My strategy is more experience. In the ring we’ll show who is better. This is the biggest fight for us.”

Canelo Alvarez: “Thank you for the support you always give to me. And I hope that on Saturday night, we’ll all be shouting ‘Viva Mexico Cabrones.'”

Arslanbek Makhmudov 263.2 vs. Carlos Takam 261.4
(WBC Silver, NABA and NABF heavyweight titles)

Venue: Casino Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger Management and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing
TV: ESPN+

A match-up between undefeated prospects headlines Friday night’s “Canela Boxer” stream from the Expo Palenque in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, as local lightweight Luis “Koreano” Torres (16-0, 10 KOs) takes on Cesar “Torito” Gutierrez (14-0-2, 5 KOs) in a ten-rounder. Torres is the reigning WBC Latino champion and a former WBC Youth silver titleholder.

The co-feature pits unbeaten lightweight Marco Moreno Cota (8-0, 6 KOs) against Kevin Piedrahita (6-1, 6 KOs) in an eight round affair. Cota was a standout amateur who compiled a 146-4 record.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Rugby league football legend and current Australian heavyweight PPV star Paul Gallen added not one but TWO wins to his ledger on Thursday night at the Nissan Arena in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

In a wild fight, 41-year-old Gallen (14-2, 8 KOs) scored a thrilling come-from-behind third round TKO over Justin Hodges (5-2, 2 KOs). Hodges rocked Gallen with some big shots in round one. Hodges then knocked down Gallen in round two, but Gallen recovered and had Hodges reeling by the end of the round. Gallen came on strong in round three and punished Hodges until referee Tony Kettlewell waved it off.

Earlier, Gallen cruised past Ben Hannant (0-2) in a four round bout. Scores were 40-36, 40-36, 40-37.

Other Results:
Heavyweight Joe Goodall (9-1-1, 8 KOs) stopped Arsene Fosso (4-2, 3 KOs) in round three. After two rounds of punishment, Fosso finally took a knee to escape Goodall’s aggressions midway through in round three and the bout was halted. Time was 1:27.

In a pair of upsets, light heavyweight Renold Quinlan (15-11, 10 KOs) knocked out previously unbeaten Jack Bowen (7-1, 7 KOs) in round five, then middleweight Lachlan Higgins (8-5-2, 3 KOs) stopped IBO Oceania-Orient titleholder Ben Hussain (6-3, 3 KOs) in round two.

No deal has been reached between the camps of former two-weight world champion Demetrius “BooBoo” Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) and Zach Parker (22-0, 16 KOs) for the WBO-ordered interim super middleweight title clash, therefore the WBO Championship Committee has scheduled a purse bid for September 20 at WBO Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The minimum purse bid is $300,000. If the fight lands in the home country of one of the combatants, the purse split will be 60/40 for the visitor. If the fight takes place in a neutral country, the split is 50/50. Both fighters must respond in writing within 48 hours confirming that they will participate.

Unbeaten featherweight Bryan Acosta (18-0, 8 KOs) scored a sixth round KO against Jon Martinez (12-7-5, 2 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Acosta put a beatdown on Martinez from the get-go and finally put him down and out at :59 of round six.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

The undercard is shaping up for the rematch between undisputed lightweight world champion Devin “The Dream” Haney and former champion “Ferocious” George Kambosos Jr. on Saturday, October 15 (Sunday afternoon, October 16 local time) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.

In the co-feature, two-time world title challenger Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (24-2, 19 KOs) takes on Nawaphon Kaikanha (56-1-1, 46 KOs) in a 12-round final eliminator for the WBC bantamweight world title.

Former world champion Andrew Moloney (24-2, 16 KOs), Jason’s twin brother, battles two-time world title challenger Norbelto Jimenez (31-9-6, 16 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO International junior bantamweight title.

In other action, cruiserweight Olympic bronze medalist David Nyika (4-0, 3 KOs), heavyweight Hemi Ahio (19-0, 14 KOs), and junior middleweight Amari Jones (7-0, 7 KOs) will take on opponents to be named.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Sad to announce the passing of former flyweight world champion Horacio “Roquiño” Accavallo at the age of 87 in his native Argentina after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. On March 1, 1966, Accavallo defeated Katsuyoshi Takayama by split decision in Tokyo, Japan, to become WBA and WBC flyweight world champion. He defended the title three times and retired as a world champion in 1968 at the age of 33 with a record of 72-2-6 and 34 KOs. His legacy will live on for a long time to come.

Unbeaten super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo previewed their showdown for Fundora’s WBC interim super welterweight title during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they meet live on SHOWTIME October 8 from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Sebastian Fundora: “I want to fight for the title and I feel like I deserve that. I’m the WBC mandatory and, of course, I have to get past Ocampo first. But our goal is to fight for the title…we’ve been watching Ocampo and we’ve noticed that he’s been on a long win streak. Of course, we’re not going to let it continue.”

Carlos Ocampo: “I’m definitely feeling underestimated. It’s funny how one mistake four years ago (against Errol Spence) can shape the perception that people have of me. I’m a completely different person and you’re going to see how much I’ve matured both physically and mentally. We’re going to give you a great fight that you won’t want to miss.”

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

A week in which the news that shook the world saw the death of Queen Elizabeth II of England. It was the end of an entire era.

I had the opportunity to see some reports about her life and it is amazing what she was able to achieve. I invite you to look for some of those programs that are really illustrative, since her experience during World War II and the way in which her destiny brought her to the throne is something that should not be overlooked. An example of resilience, intelligence, wit, tact, diplomacy and dedication. An anchor of stability in a rapidly changing world.

We had a very intense week. We begin with the visit to Mexico City of three legendary champions who have now joined forces in a promotion company that has all the ingredients to be a resounding success with Roy Jones Jr., Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Márquez. Continue reading “An Intense Week at the WBC”

The light flyweight division takes center stage Tuesday, November 1, as two championship fights with three world titles at stake headline a loaded card from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

WBC champion Kenshiro Teraji attempts to unify titles against WBA king Hiroto Kyoguchi in the main event. In the co-feature, Puerto Rico’s WBO champion, Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez, will defend his strap versus Japanese contender Shokichi Iwata. Continue reading “Teraji-Kyoguchi unification on ESPN+ Nov 1”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Hamed-stylist WBO#13 Andy Hiraoka (21-0, 16 KOs), 140, retained his WBO Asia Pacific 140-pound belt with ease when he demolished Filipino lefty Alvin Lagumbay (13-6-1, 11 KOs), 139.75, with a solid left at 2:27 of the second session of a scheduled twelve rounder on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. In a confrontation of southpaws, the taller and more flexible Andy, 26, kept outjabbing the hard-punching but slower Alvin, 27, and finally caught up with him with a single devastating left, which had him unconscious while standing. The ref Nakamura promptly held the loser at the ropes and called a halt to save him from further punishment. Continue reading “Hiraoka blasts out Lagumbay, keeps WBO AP 140lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

On the undercard of the WBO AP 140-pound title bout, talented 115-rounders made a very competitive collision to a split draw (77-75, 75-77, 76-76) over eight on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Unbeaten ex-amateur bright prospect Kantaro Juri (4-0-1, 2 KOs), 114.5, was surprisingly held to a draw with WBO AP#14 junior bantam Danrick Sumabong (12-2-1, 9 KOs), 114, over a give-and-take eight. It was a see-saw affair with taller southpaw Juri occasionally connecting with solid lefts, while Sumabong landing sharp right counters to the Japanese rival. Juri recently upset formerly two-time world challenger Masayuki Kuroda (retired afterward) in his just fourth pro bout this January and aimed to take the Filipino’s WBO AP rating in this opportunity. They may exchange gloves in the near future. Continue reading “Juri, Sumabong fight to split draw”

Gennadiy Golovkin arrived first and did a short interview. Then he hung around until Canelo Alvarez arrived and they did a pretty intense 20-second face-off.  No smiles. No handshakes. Golovkin then left and Alvarez did a quick interview.

Gennadiy Golovkin

On fighting at 168:
“It feels the same. Maybe one or two more dinners…more burgers, more tacos.”

On what a win would mean:
“This is not only for me, this is for the sport. I want to bring back boxing’s position. I want a clean sport.”

Canelo Alvarez

On fighting Golovkin for a third time:
“I’m always 100% focused on whatever fight I go into. That’s where I have my head. To be 100% focused on this fight.”

On what a win would mean:
“It’s really important for me, this type of fight, for my legacy and for all these people that are here. I’m really hoping I can put on a good show for the people.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBO super welterweight champion Sam Eggington (32-7, 18 KOs) will defend his belt against former three-time world title challenger Dennis Hogan (30-4-1, 7 KOs) on October 8 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports.

Eggington claimed the IBO strap against Przemyslaw Zysk in June, and his all-action style makes him a fan favorite on the UK boxing circuit. Hogan is coming off a ten round decision victory against Wade Ryan in March. In 2021, Hogan was stopped by WBO #1 154 pounder Tim Tszyu in five rounds, and in 2019 he dropped back-to-back world title bouts against Jaime Munguia and Jermall Charlo respectively.

Unbeaten WBA #6 middleweight Austin “Ammo” Williams (11-0, 9 KOs) has his career back on track after he took time out from the sport in April 2021 to concentrate on his mental health. The 26-year-old says he’s now in a great frame of mind in and out of the ring and plans to show it against Kieron Conway (18-2-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday’s Canelo-GGG card in Las Vegas.

Williams stated, “Eddie [Hearn] signed me as a young kid, I was just 22, and they introduced me to the world. Everyone has seen my maturation into a man, and the team understands that you sign kids, and you are watching them grow. You learn every day and you learn what you go through and become a man from it. Continue reading “Ammo Williams reveals mental health battle”

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin face off after making their “Grand Arrivals” for their trilogy fight on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo is about a 5:1 favorite.