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Huge Labor Day Weekend for boxing on tap with big events on both Saturday and Sunday. Let’s get to it…

WEDNESDAY
WBC strawweight champion Nakhon Ratchasima (38-1, 23 KOs) defends against late sub Norihito Tanaka (20-8, 10 KOs) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. A live stream will likely be available.

SATURDAY
DAZN presents WBC franchise super flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) defending against Argi Cortés (23-2, 10 KOs) at the Centro de Usos Múltiples in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

The undercard features a rematch between WBA female featherweight champion Erika Cruz (14-1, 3 KOs) and Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-11-2, 19 KOs), a clash for the vacant IBF light flyweight title between Hector Flores (20-0-4, 10 KOs) and Sivenathi Nontshinga (10-0, 9 KOs), and super featherweight terror Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (32-1, 29 KOs) against unbeaten Jorge Mata (14-0-2, 10 KOs).

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FITE has a $19.99 PPV topped by “Prince” Albert Bell (21-0, 6 KOs) against Nicolas Polanco (20-2-1, 11 KOs) from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

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Also, Sky Sports in the UK has a card headlined by former WBO champion Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith (31-3-1, 18 KOs) against Hassan Mwakinyo (20-2, 14 KOs) from the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. It’s possible some US outlet could pick up that feed. Stay tuned.

SUNDAY
FOX has a $74.99 PPV featuring heavyweight contenders former unified champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. (34-2, 22 KOs) and longtime contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

In the co-feature, lightweights Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (23-2-1, 16 KOs) and Eduardo Ramírez (27-2-3, 12 KOs) collide in a 12-round WBC eliminator. Also, three-division champion Abner Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs) in his first action in three years as he battles former title challenger Miguel Flores (24-4, 12 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight attraction, plus unbeaten lightweight José Valenzuela (12-0, 8 KOs) duels former world champion Jezreel Corrales (26-4, 10 KOs) in the 10-round opener.

There will also be not one, but two boxing telecasts leading into the PPV.

FS1 will air a bout between undefeated super bantamweight contender Ra’eese Aleem (19-0, 12 KOs) against Mike Plania (26-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Then the FOX network will air a ten-rounder between unbeaten super welterweights Joey Spencer (15-0, 10 KOs) and Kevin Salgado (14-0-1, 9 KOs).

Note: In a non-televised eight-rounder, former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin faces former Olympian Devin Vargas.

Sad to announce the passing of legendary Copenhagen, Denmark-based boxing manager and promoter Mogens Palle at the age of 88 from cancer. He promoted the likes of Mikkel Kessler, Jimmy Bredahl, Thomas Damgaard, Brian Nielsen, and many more. Palle was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

“The toughest man I know has passed away! Despite his fragile health in the end, he fought on – strong-willed, sharp-headed and stubborn – to the final bell. He was inventive, creative and brave like few! He was unique. My father! Love you forever,” said his daughter Bettina Palle in a message. Continue reading “Promoter Mogens Palle passes”

Formerly undisputed super lightweight world champion Josh Taylor started the year with all four belts, but he has now relinquished his WBC, WBA, and most recently IBF titles and holds only the WBO title as he aims for a return match with Jack Catterall, whom he defeated controversially in February.

“Yes I vacated and I will continue to do whatever it takes to be in a position to make the rematch with Jack Catterall happen,” Taylor told Sky Sports. “He is with BOXXER now and therefore it should be easy-peasy to make seeing as they work so closely with Top Rank.”

The IBF has ordered #1 Jeremias Ponce and #2 Subriel Matias to fight for the vacant IBF world title.

Lightweight Pedro Bernal (10-1-2, 3 KOs) of Mexico City successfully defended his WBC world youth title versus Georgie Payne (5-3, 2 KOs) of Australia on Saturday night by ten round unanimous decision. The event took place at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with Daniel Otter, Managing Director of Three Lions Promotions promoting the event.

Other Results:
John Mannu SD Jake Daoust (super welterweight)
Diana Tapia SD Carolyn Redmond (female super welterweight)
Antonio Napolitano UD Viktor Rangel (middleweight)
John Michael Bianco TKO Tommy Houle (super middleweight)
Derek Kuchmey UD Hector Hurtado (light heavyweight)

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated featherweight prospect Nathan Rodriguez (9-0, 8 KOs) scored a first-round knockout over former world title challenger and veteran Moises Flores (25-7-1, 17 KOs) Saturday night at Smith Park in Pico Rivera, California in headlining the MarvNation Promotions card. Rodriguez wasted no time as he made quick work of Flores stopping him at 2:11 of the opening round.

In the co-feature bout, Alejandro Reyes (9-0, 5 KOs) of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico won a unanimous decision over Raymundo Rios (4-9-2, 3 KOs) of Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. After dominating each round, Reyes won with scores of 59-55, 60-54 and 60-54. Continue reading “Results from Pico Rivera”

YouTube boxer KSI stopped two opponents in one night Saturday before PPV audience on DAZN and a crowd of 20,000+ at London’s O2 Arena. One opponent was a rapper, the other was a real pro boxer named Luis Alcaraz Pineda, who brought in a record of 2-5, 0 KOs with four KO losses.

On that telecast, it was announced that boxer Hasim Rahman Jr. will face Vitor Belfort on DAZN PPV October 15 in the UK.

YouTube boxer Jake Paul says he’s signed an unnamed opponent for October.

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has announced the next Hollywood Fight Nights boxing card set for Thursday, November 3 at the Quiet Cannon / Montebello Country Club will again feature ‘King’ Callum Walsh in an eight-round junior middleweight bout. UFC Fightpass will stream live.

The NSAC has assigned Russell Mora to be the third man in the ring for the September 17 trilogy fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin. Judges are Steve Weisfeld, Dave Moretti and David Sutherland. Moretti and Weisfeld both worked Canelo-GGG 2 and both scored that fight for Canelo. Moretti also worked Canelo-GGG 1, scoring that one for GGG.

In a super lightweight clash between two former world champions, crafty Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-4-1, 14 KOs) and power-punching Richard “RC” Commey (30-4-1, 27 KOs) battled to a ten round split draw on Saturday night at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Close fight until Pedraza seemingly pulled away late. Commey was hampered from a cut over his left eye suffered in round six. Scores were 97-93 Pedraza, 96-94 Commey, 95-95.

Jose Pedraza: “Even though my eye was inflamed, we understood that it was done because he has a good right hand. The entire night, the whole point was to neutralize that right hand. Despite the fact that it was inflamed, I was able to do that.”

[on rounds 9 and 10] “I landed a great body shot. I felt that I hurt him, and that gave me the inspiration to keep going after him. I actually believe those were the rounds that gave me the victory tonight, despite what the scorecards say.” Continue reading “Pedraza-Commey ends in a draw”

Four big heavyweight bouts on Top Rank’s card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. All four resulted in explosive knockouts within two rounds.

The long-awaited return of unbeaten heavyweight terror Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (12-0, 12 KOs) ended quickly against Miljan “The Serbian Stallion” Rovcanin (24-3, 16 KOs). Anderson broke down the game Rovcanin and knocked him out with a right hand at the end of round two. Time was 3:00.

After the fight, Anderson said, “Realistically, we don’t know how far we are from a {Filip Hrgovic} fight. I would love that fight. Filip Hrgovic or anybody in the top 10 of the IBF or WBO, WBC. We’re just looking to get some bigger names. Everybody keeps asking for bigger fights. We would love to have those bigger fights.”

2020 Olympic super heavyweight silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) needed just 44 seconds to demolish Marco Antonio Canedo (4-3, 2 KOs) in the first round. Torrez bumrushed Canedo, dropped him, then put him down and out face first. Canedo was down for several minutes, but able to walk out of the ring. Torrez landed 8 of the 10 power blows he threw.

Heavy-handed heavyweight destroyer Efe “The Silent Roller” Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) blew away Jozsef “The Gladiator” Darmos (14-5-3, 10 KOs) in two rounds. Pretty much one-way traffic. Ajagba dropped Darmos twice in round two to end it. Time was 1:15.

Torrez stated, “I am happy with the result, but my thoughts right now are with Canedo. He’s a tough man, and I have the utmost respect for him. It happens to the best of us.”

Unbeaten local heavyweight prospect Jeremiah “Dreamland” Milton (6-0, 5 KOs) laid out Nick Jones (9-5, 6 KOs) with a right hand in round two. Jones missed a wild roundhouse punch leaving himself open and Milton turned out the lights. Time was 2:49.

WBO interim middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been elevated by the WBO Championship Committee to “full champion” status, effective immediately. The belt was declared vacant after no deal could be reached between the now former middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade and Alimkhanuly.

As for Andrade, WBO Committee again sanctioned an interim super middleweight title fight between Andrade and Zach Parker. The WBO previously allowed Andrade to keep the middleweight title when he chose to move up to super middleweight to fight Parker for the WBO interim belt in May. That bout was postponed due to a shoulder injury suffered in training by Andrade. The WBO then ordered Andrade to defend his middleweight belt against Alimkhanuly. That didn’t happen and Andrade is now beltless for the moment.

Unbeaten 2020 Olympian super lightweight Tiger Johnson (5-0, 4 KOs) busted up the rugged Harry Gigliotti (8-4, 3 KOs) until referee Mark Nelson stepped in to end the beatdown at 2:17 of round five.

Unbeaten super lightweight Kelvin Davis (6-0, 4 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over Sebastian Chaves (5-5, 2 KOs). Davis dropped Chaves in rounds two and four, but Chaves lasted the full distance. Scores were 60-52 3x.

Lightweight Frevian Gonzalez (6-1, 1 KO) won a six round unanimous decision over Gerardo Esquivel (3-3-1, 1 KO). Gonzalez dropped Esquivel in round one. Gonzalez was deducted a point for holding in round six. Scores were 58-55, 59-54, 59-54.

In a clash of unbeaten lightweights, Abdullah Mason (4-0, 3 KOs) got all he could handle against Angel Rebollar (5-1, 3 KOs). Mason was credited with a flask knockdown in round one and won 39-36, 40-35, 40-35. First time Mason has gone the distance.

Light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) outscored Leandro Silva (3-6, 2 KOs) over four. Scores were 40-36 3x.

Unbeaten heavyweight Viktor Faust (10-0, 7 KOs) scored a one-sided eight round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (35-21-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the ECB Gym in Hamburg, Germany. Scores were 80-72.

It was the 42-year-old Kingpin’s second bout against an unbeaten foe in a 14 day span. He dropped a decision to Ihor Shevadzutskyi (10-0, 8 KOs) in the same ring two weeks ago.

Unbeaten featherweight Kamil Łaszczyk (30-0, 11 KOs) knocked out Kevin Leonel Acevedo (21-5-3, 6 KOs) in the second round on Saturday night at Studio ATM, Wroclaw, Poland. The 31-year-old Łaszczyk has been a force on the Euro scene for years, but isn’t currently in the world ratings despite his lofty recond.

Tahmir Smalls 162 vs. Joel Guevara 155.6
Danny Murray 140.1 vs. Michael Gibbons 139.7
Eliezer Olmeda 147.9 vs. Aaron Newmones 148.4
Timothy Tyler 168.8 vs. Davon Hall 171.4
Tyrone Arzeno 119.8 vs. Eder Clervoix 120
Anthony Dil 152.7 vs. Ramses Brown 150.5
Greg Hackett 199.6 vs. Tunde Fatiregun 190.3
Drew Aguilar 136.5 vs. Carlos Nunez 138.3

Venue: Battleship New Jersey docked in Camden, New Jersey
Promoter: R&B Promotions
PPV Stream: www.bxngtv.com, 1st Bell: 5 PM ET

Super bantamweight Ernesto Salcedo (13-2, 10 KOs) stopped Hytan Ramos (11-5-2, 3 KOs) at 52 seconds in the 10th round to take home the WBC Fecarbox silver title on Friday night at the Foro Zina in Zinacantepec, Mexico. Salcedo avenged last year’s TKO4 loss to Ramos, dominating the fight and finally getting a referee’s intervention.

In the co-main event, Ricardo Tellez González from the State of Mexico was unable to defeat a brave Eduardo “Choco” Cortés from Puebla, who took the win by unanimous decision, 73-78, 74-78 and 75-76, in an 8-round lightweight fight. Continue reading “Salcedo avenges loss to Ramos”

Rising 154-pound Mexican contender Damian “Samurai” Sosa (21-1, 11 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over Ronald “Diablo” Cruz (18-2-1, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event of a Toscano Boxing Promotions card on Friday evening at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California. Sosa was quicker, stronger and more effective with his combinations throughout fight. The native of Mexico City, Mexico who lives in Tijuana and represents both cities won with scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93.

In the co-main event, Giovannie Gonzalez (15-6-1, 12 KOs) of Stockton California defeated Arturo Cortez (7-1-2, 6 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico via unanimous decision in an eight-rounder in the lightweight division. Gonzalez won with scores of 79-73, 77-75 and 77-75. Continue reading “Sosa tops Cruz in Stockton”

Wins OPBF 122lb belt in fifth pro bout

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

“Japanese Naseem Hamed” former K-1 Grand Prix champ Yoshiki Takei (5-0, 5 KOs), 121.75, impressively wrested OPBF 122-pound belt as he dropped defending champ Pete Apolinar (16-3, 10 KOs), 121.75, a hard-punching Filipino, three times and quickly halted him at 2:07 of the fifth round in a scheduled twelve on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading ““Japanese Hamed” Takei stops Apolinar”

While the main event tonight on ESPN features super lightweights Jose Pedraza and Richard Commey, the undercard in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is stacked with three big name heavyweights plus a hot up-and-coming heavyweight prospect.

The co-main event on ESPN features the long-awaited return of unbeaten heavyweight terror Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) against Miljan Rovcanin (24-2, 16 KOs) in an eight round bout. Opening the show, 2020 Olympic super heavyweight silver medal winner Richard Torrez Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) looks to make it three knockouts in a row versus Marco Antonio Canedo (4-2, 2 KOs) in a bout scheduled for six.

The ESPN+ stream will include heavyweight destroyer Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) against Jozsef Darmos (14-4-3, 10 KOs) in an eight round affair. Also seeing action is unbeaten local heavyweight prospect Jeremiah Milton (5-0, 4 KOs) against Nick Jones (9-4, 6 KOs) in a six rounder.

Somewhere Cedric Kushner is smiling.

Pedro Bernal 134.2 vs. George Payne 133.8
Jake Daoust 154 vs. John Mannu 153.4
Diana Tap 153.4 vs. Carolyn Redmond 153.4
Viktor Rangel 158.8 vs. Antonio Napolitano 158.6
JM Bianco 167.8 vs. Tommy Houle 160
Hector Hurtado 173 vs. Derek Kuchmey 175

Venue: Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Promoter: Daniel Otter (Three Lions Promotions)

Nathan Rodriguez 130.6 vs. Moises Flores 135
Alejandro Reyes 142.4 vs. Raymundo Rios Cardiel 141.8
Hongke Zeng 145.6 vs. Keith Carson 142.6
Raquel Miller 167.2 vs. Irais Hernandez 167
Daniel Cruz 142.8 vs. Antonio Wattell 147.6
Jacob Macalolooy 147 vs. Josue Zamora 144.4
Scott Alexander 218.6 vs. Jaime Solorio 233.4

Venue: Smith Park, Pico Rivera, California
Promoter: MarvNation Promotions
TV: FITE TV Pay-Per-View

Jose Pedraza 139.8 vs. Richard Commey 138.8
Jared Anderson 241.4 vs. Miljan Rovcanin 230.6
Richard Torrez Jr. 225.4 vs. Marco Antonio Canedo 215.8
Tiger Johnson 141.8 vs. Harry Gigliotti 140.6
Efe Ajagba 232.2 vs. Jozsef Darmos 239.2
Jeremiah Milton 245.6 vs. Nick Jones 217.2
Kelvin Davis 141 vs. Sebastian Gabriel Chaves 142.6
Frevian Gonzalez 135.8 vs. Gerardo Esquivel 135.6
Abdullah Mason 135.2 vs. Angel Rebollar 133.6
Dante Benjamin Jr. 174.2 vs. Leandro Silva 175

* The Haven Brady Jr.-Manuel Guzman fight was called off after Brady missed the 128-pound contract weight by three pounds.

Venue: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Former cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (29-1, 22 KOs), now campaigning at heavyweight, blew away 42-year-old Carlouse Welch (21-3-1, 18 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at The Waterfront in Belgrade, Serbia. A lead right put Welsh down and out. Time was 1:20. Gassiev claimed the vacant Eurasian Boxing Parliament (EBP) heavyweight title.

The WBC has confirmed that WBC, IBF and WBA bantamweight champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs) will fight WBO bantamweight champion Paul Butler (34-2, 15 KOs) for all four titles on Tuesday, December 13 at a venue to be determined in Japan. Inoue will be an overwhelming favorite. The Inoue-Butler winner will be the first undisputed bantamweight champion in almost 50 years.

The World Boxing Council acknowledging the tragedy which happened in the Fury Family and in respect of their grief has decided to extend one week until Friday, September 2, the official decision of Tyson Fury regarding his status as heavyweight champion. Fury recently announced that his cousin Rico Burton died after a stabbing.

Ismael “Maelo” Villarreal (12-0, 8 KOs) coming off the biggest win of his professional career, has re-upped on a new promotional deal with Main Events. The two-time New York Golden Gloves Champion’s original Main Events deal began with his 2017 pro debut and lasted till January 31, 2020.

“One of the best parts of having a fighter like Ismael in your stable is that he treats every fight like it’s a title fight, and you know he’ll be in phenomenal shape,” said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. “He’s a true professional with an old school work ethic and excellent mental strength that will take him places in this sport. It won’t be long before he moves up the rankings and starts to build some enthusiasm in the Super Welterweight division.”

Unbeaten lightweight Keyshawn Davis (5-0, 4 KOs) now has an opponent. Davis, the Olympic silver medalist, will fight Omar Tienda (25-5, 18 KOs) in an eight-rounder on September 23 in the co-feature to WBC/WBO junior lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson’s hometown title defense against Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. ESPN will televise.

The undercard, streaming live on ESPN+, features an eight-round junior lightweight bout between unbeaten prospect Henry “Moncho” Lebron (16-0, 10 KOs) and Andy “El Tiburon” Vences (23-3-1, 12 KOs). Continue reading “Keyshawn Davis opponent named”