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By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Akani Phuzi was most impressive in scoring a unanimous 12 round points decision over Afinni Abiodun of Nigeria to retain his WBA Pan African cruiserweight title for the first time at the Sibaya Casino in Durban on Friday night. Phuzi (90,55kg) from the Alan Toweel stable was in control throughout as he outboxed and outclassed Afinni (87,50kg) from the opening round through to round twelve. All that the challenger had was courage and guts as he managed to survive through to the last bell. Phuzi improved his record to 7-0, 3 KOs, and Afinni’s reported record dropped to 6-1-1, 5 KOs. Continue reading “Phuzi outclasses Abiodun”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight Randall Rayment (9-4, 3 KOs) scored a decision victory over formerly world rated Bowie Tupou (26-6, 18 KOs) on Friday at the Entertainment Centre in Hurstville, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Rayment, 246 pounds, outworked Tupou, 295 pounds, in most of the rounds to be awarded a six round split decision. Continue reading “Rayment outpoints Tupou”

Photos: Pablo Lozano Reyes

Former WBC world light flyweight champion Ganigan “La Maravilla” Lopez (35-8, 19 KOs) scored a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger and fellow Mexico City native Ricardo “Meserito” Rodriguez (16-7, 5 KOs) on Friday night at the Blackberry Auditorium in Mexico City.

Lopez showed his greater experience to go out with his hand raised by scores of 97-73, 98-92, 98-92. Lopez claimed the WBC Latino flyweight title. Continue reading “Ex-champ Ganigan Lopez wins in Mexico City”

Carlos “Chuko” Diaz 141 vs. Jesus “Ricky” Pérez 141
Guadalupe “Lupita” Martinez 114.8 vs. Yulihan Luna 114.8
(WBC female super flyweight title)
Carlos Ortíz 149 vs. Eduardo Canales 149
Bryan Figueroa 136 vs. Emmanuel Herrera 136
Darwin Barrón 147 vs. David Rojas 147

Venue: Oasis Arena, Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico
Promoter: Zanfer
TV: TV Azteca (Mexico), beIN Sports Español (USA)

More photos

Dmitry Bivol 174.4 vs. Jean Pascal 174.6
(WBA light heavyweight title)

Murodjon Akhmadaliev 121.2 vs. Issac Zarate 122
Israil Madrimov 152.8 vs. Vladimir Hernandez 157.2
Miguel Zamudio 142.2 vs. Shakhram Glyasov 141.2
Sergiy Kuzmin 244.2 vs. Laron Mitchell 244.6
Christian Mariscal 246.4 vs. Evgeny Tishchenko 212
Karl Dargan 134.2 vs. Moises Delgadillo 135
Logan Yoon 143.4 vs. Hamzrah Sempewo 141.2

Venue: Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City
Promoter: Main Events
TV: HBO

Adam Abdulhamid 145.9 vs. Joel Camilleri 145.9
(WBC ABCO welterweight title)
Victor Ordindo 138.7 vs. Terry Tzouramanis 140
(WBC ABCO super lightweight title)

Venue: Town Hall, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Promoter: Peter Maniatis/Hosking Promotions
TV: Epicentre.tv

Christopher Díaz 126 vs. David Berna 126
Luis Lebrón 124 vs. Luis May 125
Joseph Adorno 132 vs. Luis Gerardo Ávila 133
Henry Lebrón 131 vs. Mark Szoros 131

Venue: Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in San Juan
Promoter: PR Best Boxing Promotions/Spartan Boxing
TV: WAPA Deportes (Puerto Rico)

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

We have never heard of any professional boxer from Afghanistan, the political situation of which is reportedly so unstable and turbulent that numerous refugees have moved to various countries all over the world.

A refugee from Afghanistan, 20-year-old novice Kudura Kaneko (9-0, 6 KOs; whose real name is Kudura Tura), 146, stunned the sparse crowd at the Korakuen Hall, when he astoundingly disposed of former Japanese national welterweight champ Toshio Arikawa (15-6, 13 KOs), 147, with a devastating left hook at 1:44 of the third round in a scheduled eight on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “Afghanistan’s Kudura Kaneko blasts out Arikawa”

This Saturday night, light welterweight contender Carlos “Chuko” Diaz and WBC female super flyweight world champion Guadalupe “Lupita” Martinez will headline the two matches to air live from Cancun on beIN SPORTS en Español.

Diaz (26-1, 13 KOs) will face Jesus Antonio “Ricky” Perez (22-1, 17 KOs). At Thursday’s press conference, Chuko vowed to win and stated that he wants to avenge his loss against Jose “Chon” Zepeda in 2019. Perez warned that he would knock out Diaz and proclaimed that Zanfer made a mistake in choosing him as an opponent. Continue reading “Cancun press conference heats up”

Former WBA heavyweight world champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne came in at a career low weight of 110.4kg / 243.3lbs ahead of tomorrow night’s WBC Asian Boxing Council silver belt fight against Auckland’s Junior Pati.

The two will go head to head in Auckland, New Zealand. Pati, the cousin of former contender David Tua, weighed in at 109.7kg / 241.8lbs.

“I’ve had a tremendous training camp for this fight. We went to Thailand and I got absolutely punished. I’m not underestimating Junior Pati one bit,” said Browne. “I’m really happy with my weight and after the Dillian Whyte fight I knew I had to make some serious changes. I came in lighter for my last fight and lighter again today.”

Former WBC world light flyweight champion Ganigan “La Maravilla” Lopez (34-8, 19 KOs) returns to the Telemundo tonight. He will face former world title challenger and fellow Mexico City native Ricardo “Meserito” Rodriguez (16-6, 5 KOs).

The two will battle it out for the WBC Latino flyweight title. The site will be the Blackberry Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico. Continue reading “Ganigan Lopez returns to Telemundo tonight”

Former world title challenger Ricardo “Meserito” Rodriguez (16-6, 5 KOs) of Mexico City is looking to get back on the winning track. He has another tough task in front of him in crosstown rival and former WBC world light flyweight champion Ganigan “La Maravilla” Lopez (34-8, 19 KOs).

The two will battle it out for the WBC Latino flyweight title. The site will be the Blackberry Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico. Rodriguez has dropped three in row, but is refreshed after a nice break from the ring. He still feels he has another world title run in him. Continue reading “Rodriguez in must-win fight tonight”

On a card full of big men who rule the heavyweight division, the main support bout will come from the smallest boxing weight class when Mark Anthony Barriga of the Philippines takes on Carlos Licona of Los Angeles for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimum Championship belt (105 lbs) before Deontay Wilder defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavy weight world championship against Tyson Fury in the main event.

Barriga (9-0, 1 Ko) is a 2012 Olympian trained and managed by Joven Jimenez, who also trains IBF Superfly weight champion Jerwin Ancajas. The team will arrive this Thursday to Los Angeles for its final week of preparation after a long training camp in the Philippines. Continue reading “Little guys featured Dec 1 at Staples Center”

Ganigan “La Maravilla” Lopez 111 vs. Ricardo “Meserito” Rodriguez 112
(WBC Latino flyweight title)

Jerson Aguilar 134.5 vs. Eduardo Hernandez 133
Martin Escamilla 135 vs. Cesar Soriano 135
Kevin Salgado 154 vs. Marco Chino Valentin 152
Adolfo “Explosivo” Granados 123.5 vs. Luis Ortiz 126
Juan Gonzalez Rosas 116.5 vs. Jesus Figueroa 116
Bryan Olvera 136.5 vs. Victor Loma 137

Venue: Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City
Promoter: All Star Boxing/Producciones Deportivas
TV: Telemundo

Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has asked authorities to replace the troubled AIBA with the WBA to ensure the future of Olympic boxing.

“For the first time in the sport of boxing the worst has happened,” said Klitschko. “In an unprecedented shift that would rock athletics and the Olympics, boxing is in danger of being halted due to current disfunction, leading to losing the Olympic licensing…I’m pleading with the national federations to continue signing with the pioneers of boxing, the world renowned WBA. I’m also asking the IOC to consider the WBA as the organization that will centralize the sport while continuing to improve the protections and interests of its athletes, fans, and grant the Olympic license to the WBA to represent the sport for the upcoming games in to Tokyo!”

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Scott Harrison will face Ghana’s Tackie Annan in his comeback fight at Glasgow Club Bellahouston on Saturday the 8th of December. Harrison and Annan will contest the vacant Professional Boxing Council International Main lightweight title over ten rounds in what will be former two-time WBO featherweight champion Harrison’s first contest since April 2013.

Ghanaian Annan brings a record of ten wins (nine inside the scheduled distance) and six losses (all inside the distance). Annan’s only previous bout outside of his homeland came when he travelled to China to take on Baishanbo Nasiyiwula for the vacant WBC Youth World super-lightweight title in February 2016. Continue reading “Scott Harrison set for comeback fight”

Former WBC, WBO and IBO world light heavyweight title challenger Tommy Karpency (29-6, 18KOs) continued his winning streak by stopping durable veteran Marlon Hayes (23-21, 12KOs) on Wednesday night at the Castleton Banquet Center in Windham, New Hampshire. Weighing 181 pounds, Karpency used his superior handspeed and effective combinations to dominate his opponent from the opening bell.

Although Hayes had previously gone the 8 round distance with Adonis Stevenson and even 4 rounds with heavyweight Deontay Wilder, a straight left by Karpency at 18 seconds into the 3rd round dropped Hayes for the 10 count forcing referee Leo Gerstel to waive off the scheduled 8 rounder. Continue reading “Karpency, Martz win in Windham, NH”

Regis Prograis watched Season I of the World Boxing Super Series and the quest for the Muhammad Ali Trophy and wants to follow the footsteps of the Cruiserweight Ali Trophy winner, Ukraine’s Aleksandr Usyk. “The World Boxing Super Series is great not only for me but for the sport,” he said. “I saw what it did for Usyk winning all the belts so I know what is possible. Winning the tournament would mean that I’m the legitimate best in the world at 140lb.” Continue reading “Prograis: I want to be the legitimate best”

By Miguel Maravilla

With just over a week to go, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama is geared up for England’s Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury (27-0, 19 KOs). Wilder takes on Fury December 1st at the Staples Center in Los Angeles live on Showtime PPV. The champ recently spoke to Fightnews.com® about his upcoming title defense.

“I’m ready. I’m feeling wonderful. My mindset, I feel like a killer,” Wilder said. “I just want to get in the ring and show action.” Continue reading “Wilder: This Fight is Going to be Crazy”

New England cruiserweight champion Chris Traietti closed tonight’s Thanksgiving Day show, “Championship Boxing at the Armory”, in grand style, picking apart challenger Nick Lavin on the way to an impressive eight-round unanimous decision win in the main event. The “Championship Boxing at the Armory”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), has become an annual tradition at the National Guard Armory in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Fighting out of nearby Quincy, MA, the popular 33-year-old Traietti (27-4, 21 KOs), is an Irag War veteran and college graduate, who defeated the Lavin by way of an eight-round unanimous decision August 5, 2017 for the N.E. title. Continue reading “Traietti shuts out Lavin in rematch”

By Jason Marchetti at ringside

In the main event of the evening, Anthony Marsella, Jr. (11-0, 5 KO’s) peppered Mexican Jorge Rodriguez (10-4, 10 KO’s) into submission after three short rounds. The card was promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI.

Marsella cut off the ring, established his jab, and landed his signature quick combinations on Rodriguez who claimed he tore his bicep during the bout. Rodriguez hung tough for a few rounds but was totally outclassed and overmatched by Marsella’s pedigree. Marsella earned the vacant local IBA Americas Junior Welterweight Championship with the victory. Continue reading “Marsella, Jr. improves to 11-0 in Rhode Island”

With five fights and the world ranked Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz and Luis “Popeye” Lebrón in the main bouts, this Saturday, November 24, returns the series “Sabado de Campeones en Casino Metro Boxing Nights”, to take place in the San Juan Ballroom at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in San Juan, in a presentation of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP), in association with Spartan Boxing and Top Rank, to be broadcast live on Wapa Deportes.

In the main event of the evening, Barranquitas native Pitufo Diaz (23-1, 15 kos), who comes from defeat in a July dispute for the WBO world title at 130 pounds against the Japanese Masayuki Ito, will fight Hungarian David Berna (17-5, 16 kos) in a ten-rounder at 127 pounds. Diaz, 23, is ranked sixth by the WBO at 126 pounds right now. Continue reading ““Pitufo” Diaz returns Saturday”

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol defends his world title against former champ Jean Pascal on HBO this Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Both fighters spoke to the media.

Continue reading “Bivol-Pascal Media Roundtable Quotes”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

IBF #6/WBO #7 free-swinging but notorious for weight-making failures, Ryo Akaho (33-2-2, 22 KOs), 122, displayed his trademark rough-and-tumble performance in dropping over-matched Naoto Mizutani (5-5-1, 2 KOs), 121.5, twice to halt him at 2:45 of the sixth round in a scheduled eight on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.

Akaho, 32, had tasted a couple of defeats with world belts at stake, only losing to compatriot Yota Sato (L12) and Thailand’s Pungluang Sor Singyu (KO by 2). Ryo, as usual, threw a brutal, wild and round-house swing at a time, and demonstrated his superior power to the less experienced Mizutani, formerly a captain of Rikkyo University’s boxing club prior to entering the paid ranks. Continue reading “IBF #6 Akaho halts Mizutani”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Ex-WBA female atomweight champ Ayaka Miyao (23-7-1, 6 KOs), 101.5, acquired the vacant WBA interim 102-pound belt when she badly dropped 49-year-old veteran campaigner Nao Ikeyama (18-5-3, 5 KOs), 100, in the opening session, utilized her faster footwork and hand speed, and pounded out a unanimous verdict (97-92 twice, 96-93) over ten speedy rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Having demolished Miyao twice within the distance in 2006 and 2016, Ikeyama, former WBO 102-pound champ having defended her belt six times prior to her forfeiture to Mika Iwakawa this July, was obviously a prefight favorite. Continue reading “Miyao wins WBA female interim 102lb belt”