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Unified IBF/WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and challenger Andrei Mikhailovich faced off at the final press conference for this clash on Saturday night at the

Janibek Alimhkanuly: “The reason I’m here is to fight for all four titles. It doesn’t matter if I’m going to defend one title or two titles. I’m looking to get and defend all four titles. I have to be critical of Erislandy Lara and Carlos Adames because they are champions and they do not want to fight other champions. I think that a real champion fights other champions. However, I think in the future, they will be sitting here as well.”

Andrei Mikhailovich: “Everyone tells me that this is a huge fight and asks me how I’m going to handle the pressure of fighting in Las Vegas for the unified WBO and IBF middleweight championship. But the fight of life is a lot tougher than this. This is just another day in paradise for me. This is what I love to do.”

IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and David “Ava” Avanesyan pose at the final press conference ahead of their DAZN bout on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

David Avanesyan: [on this being a 50/50 fight] Yes. I have many good fights. This is a good chance for me. I’ll give everything.

Boots Ennis: [on stopping Avanesyan early] Most definitely. I’m not going to look for him. I’m going to have my fun and put on a show and let the knockout come to me.

Golden Boy Promotions announced today the multi-year contract extension of undefeated super welterweight world title contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs). Ortiz Jr. has been signed to Golden Boy since his promotional debut in 2016 and boasts a 100-percent knockout ratio. The 26-year-old will fight Serhii Bohackuk for the WBC interim super welterweight title on August 10 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

“There is not a more dedicated fighter in the sport of boxing than Vergil Ortiz, Jr, and we are incredibly proud to re-sign him at such an important time – right before his first shot at a world title,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “With this signing, Vergil is sending a clear message about his commitment and loyalty to Golden Boy and we will reward that commitment by working shoulder-to-shoulder with him as he becomes the next superstar of boxing.”

Undefeated Japanese bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi (11-0, 2 KOs) scores a ninth round TKO against Eduardo Ramirez (22-4, 16 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida. Akitsugi pounded on Ramirez until the bout was stopped. Time was 1:48. Ramirez down in round four.

Welterweight Nicklaus Flaz (13-2, 9 KOs) stopped late replacement Alfredo Escarcega (15-2-1, 7 KOs) in round four. Escarcega was down once in round three and twice in round four.

In a clash between unbeaten light heavyweights, Najee Lopez (12-0, 6 KOs) recovered from a fourth round knockdown hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over Steven Sumpter (9-1, 7 KOs). Scores were 77-74, 78-73, 78-73.

Filipino middleweight standout Weljon Mindoro (12-0-1, 12 KOs) impressed in his US debut with a second round KO against against Tyler Goodjohn (13-6, 4KOs). Goodjohn down three times.

WBC bridgerweight champion Lawrence Okolie has reached an agreement with interim champion Kevin Lerena for the mandatory fight that they must hold soon. Okolie (20-1, 15 KO) comes into this fight after winning the WBC bridger title, defeating former champion Lukasz Rozanski in the first round via an impressive performance last May. Lerena (30-3, 14 KO) is coming off a close heavyweight loss against Justis Huni. He claimed the WBC interim bridgerweight title by defeating Ryad Merhy in 2023. Details will be announced soon.

IBF #1, WBO #1, WBC #7 super bantamweight Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) pounded out a twelve round unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten WBC #8 Chainoi Worawut (25-1-1, 15 KOs) on Wednesday night at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Scores were 117-111, 117-113, 119-109, however Goodman came away with an injury to his left hand. He is the mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Naoya Inoue.

Former two-time world title challenger Liam Wilson (14-3, 8 KOs), now competing at lightweight, scored a brutal eighth round KO against Youssef Dib (21-2, 11 KOs). Tough fight that ended with Wilson connecting with a left hook that spectacularly laid out Dib.

Also in action, 47-year-old former rugby star Barry Hall was annihilated in the first round by fellow rugby player Curtis Scott, 26. Scott needed only 34 seconds to finish Hall.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japanese southpaw WBO#9 Katsuya Yasuda (14-1, 9 KOs), 134.75, successfully kept his WBO Asia Pacific lightweight belt when he landed a vicious left and sank WBO AP#3 Filipino Presco Carcosia (12-4-1, 9 KOs), 133.75, for the count at 1:58 of the eighth round in a scheduled twelve on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Yasuda, making his third defense since acquiring the vacant belt by defeating unbeaten Thailander Apichet Petchmanee in June of the previous year, had the upper hand from the start, but he remained cautious against Carcosia’s occasional solid shots. The fatal eighth saw Yasuda turn loose and land a wicked southpaw left that dropped the game Filipino prone to the deck to be unable to beat the count. Yasuda, formerly an amateur campaigner, needs more aggressiveness. Continue reading “WBO #9 Yasuda finishes Carcosia”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Former USA amateur star, Jonny “Magic” Mansour jumps back in the ring for his 2nd pro fight after a successful pro debut in May in front of his hometown fans in San Diego. He will face Edgar Uvalle this Friday, July 12 on the Overtime Boxing card in Atlanta. Jonny shared his thoughts on the recent rants from Ryan Garcia, a potential super fight between Shakur Stevenson and Tank Davis and his desire to keep an active fight schedule as he builds his promising career.

Former two-time IBO super middleweight and WBA interim middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. and BOXXER have today announced a major partnership deal.

Chris Eubank Jr: “I’m very excited to have signed with BOXXER and Ben Shalom. They fit the direction I want to go in. We have big plans over the next 12 to 24 months. There are big fights in the pipeline and these guys can make it happen. This is a partnership. I have the freedom and the leeway to work how I want to work, which is very rare. I’m in a position of power. I’m in a position to really control the direction that I want to go in so I’m excited.

“I’ve been in the game for 12 years now and I’m still hungry. I’m still excited. I’m still in love with the sport of boxing. I’m in a blessed position right now where there are 4 or 5 different names out there that are mega fights that everybody wants to see. Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, Conor Benn, Billy Joe Saunders – and that’s just off the top of my head. Continue reading “Eubank Jr targets Canelo, Bud, big fights”

Undefeated Albanian heavyweight Nelson Hysa (17-0, 15 KOs) hopes to have a triumphant homecoming against Germany’s Thorsten Fuchs (13-1, 10 KOs) in the 12-round main event for the vacant WBO European belt this Thursday, July 11, at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania.

Hysa-Fuchs and undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Undercard action includes the return of Top Rank-promoted junior welterweight prospect Hugo “The Fresh Prince of Monaco” Micallef (9-0, 2 KOs), who will take on Bogdan Draskovic (9-14-1, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Heavyweight Junlong “Dragon King” Zhang (19-1, 18 KOs) will highlight the July 27th Three Lions card at the historic Masonic Temple, now called The Concert Hall, in Toronto Canada. Zhang, 42, came up short in his last outing with the bout being stopped due to an injury sustained in the third round. He had previously been ranked within the WBC’s top 15. Opponent is TBA.

The co-main event will see a pair of Canadian middleweights, Three Lions newest signee Triston Brookes (6-0, 6KOs) and Mikhael Miller (9-3-2, 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

“We are excited to get Zhang back in the ring, he is really focused in training and is looking stronger then ever,” stated Daniel Otter (Three Lions Promotions). Continue reading “Boxing Back in Toronto”

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

One of the greatest concerns my father, José Sulaimán, always had was seeing and lamenting how the vast majority of boxers end their lives in precarious, reduced circumstances and even in misery after having been idols due to their extraordinary performances in the ring.

This phenomenon is by no means exclusive to boxers, as the vast majority of athletes and entertainment personalities have that shadow which silently lurks and stalks them without them realizing it, stealthily creeping up throughout their career and as it winds down.

It is a given fact that many of those who reach the pinnacle of stardom come from humble backgrounds, and that they find in their discipline the opportunity to excel and become someone in life. In boxing, it is an absolute reality. It’s a given that most, if not all boxers come from the tough neighborhoods of their city in every country throughout the world. Continue reading “The End of a Boxer’s Career”

Russia’s Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (3-0, 2 KOs) and China’s Zhaoxin Zhang (12-2-1, 7 KOs) will fight for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) bridgerweight title on Friday in Serpukhov, Russia. The title became vacant after former champion Evgeny Tishchenko tested positive for banned substances. Gadzhimagomedov is a Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist. Zhang is looking to make another splash in Russia after previously knocking out Evgeny Romanov on February 10.

In the co-feature, Tokyo 2020 Olympian Albert Batyrgaziev (10-0, 7 KOs) and Jono Carroll (24-2-1, 7 KOs) will step into the ring to fight for the WBA interim super featherweight belt.

Unifies WBA, IBF 115lb belts

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Argentine Fernando “Puma” Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs), 115, unified the WBA and IBF super flyweight belts as he fought a grueling battle with skillful Japanese speedster Kazuto Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs), 114.75, all the way, winning a unanimous decision over twelve see-saw rounds on Sunday at Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo,

Japan. Stanley Christodoulou (South Africa) and Jean Pierre Van Imschoot (Belgium) scored 117-111 and 116-112 respectively, while Edward Hernandez (US) viewed it 120-108—all in favor of the fast and strong Argentine. The referee was Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico).

For Martinez it was his third defense since he dethroned IBF ruler Jerwin Ancajas in Las Vegas in 2022, while for dour-division champ Ioka it was his second defense since he wrested the WBA belt from Joshua Franco here about a year ago. Continue reading “FULL REPORT: Martinez defeats Ioka”

Former WBA world title challenger Rober “El Huracan” Barrera (27-5, 17 KOs) of Monteria, Colombia landed in Managua, Nicaragua earlier today as he faces 5x former world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (51-4 41 KO’s) on Friday night from the Alexis Arguello Arena staring at 9:00PM / EDT on ESPN+ and ESPN Knockout.

Barrera had added motivation to this camp as he aims to get his family revenge of His brother defeat in the hands of Choclatito 11 years ago. “I feel great I’m on weight and ready for war Friday night” stated Barrera “We are coming to spoil his homecoming party and even the score.”

Barrera was greeted by Vice President of All Star Boxing, Inc Felix Zabala III who is the lead promoter of the event on Friday night in association with Teiken Promotions.

The fight between WBC interim super welterweight champion Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs) and Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) will take place at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 10, broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Vergil Ortiz Jr: “This fight is the fight that solidifies me as a top 154 fighter. This is also the fight that shows everyone that nothing has changed: I am still one of the best fighters in the world.”

Serhii Bohachuk: “I fought hard to win the WBC interim world title and now i am looking to defend this title for my goal of becoming the ultimate world champion. I know Vergil Ortiz, he is a very tough competitor, but on August 10 I will show that I am the best in the division.”

The day will eventually come when world junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez will get inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. However, that is a long way off as Lopez from Brooklyn, is not only still an active fighter, but in the prime of his career, as well.

For the first time in its 12 year history, the NYSBHOF is giving official recognition to an active boxer by naming Lopez as its 2023-2024 Fighter of the Year. During that time frame Lopez defeated Josh Taylor to win the undisputed junior welterweight crown. He then followed it up with title defenses against contenders Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett.

“There is no one more worthy than Lopez to get this award” said NYSBHOF president Jack Hirsch. “There is not another active boxer residing in New York who has accomplished as much as Teofimo has. New York State should be proud to recognize him as one of its own.” Continue reading “Teofimo named NYSBHOF Fighter of the Year”

By Miguel Maravilla

Oscar De La Hoya: “William Zepeda is one of the most exciting fighters in boxing. Especially at 135.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC, WBO#1 light fly Japanese Shokichi Iwata (13-1, 10 KOs), 107.5, had a tough time coping with unbeaten Filipino GAB#1 Jahzeel Trinidad (11-1, 6 KOs), 108, but finally dropped him twice and halted the game warrior at 1:10 of the sixth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Having failed to win the WBO 108-pound belt from Jonathan Bomba Gonzalez in 2022, the hard-hitting Shokichi scored three victories all within the distance. He impressively collected another victim by kayo, decking the gallant Filipino with vicious left hooks in round three and six. Now that Bomba renounced his belt to move up to the 112-pound category, Iwata will participate in a WBO 108-pound title bout for the vacant crown within this year. The up-and-coming Shokichi may have a good chance to seize the championship. Continue reading “WBC, WBO#1 Iwata halts Filipino Trinidad”

By Miguel Maravilla

Ricardo Sandoval speaks on his controversial stoppage over Tito Acosta.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda (to come soon)

Unbeaten Argentine Fernando Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs), 115, unified the WBA and IBF super flyweight belts as he fought a grueling battle with skillful Japanese Kazuto Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs), 114.75, all the way, winning a unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111 and 120-108: this score questionable) over twelve give-and-take rounds on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Martinez, 32, was more aggressive, while Ioka, 35, was more technical, scoring with counters and body shots. The Argentine’s abundant stamina was amazing, as he withstood Ioka’s persistent body bombardments and furiously retaliated with a two-fisted attacks upstairs. They kept exchanging solid punches from the outset to the end and fully entertained the audience.

Promoter: Shisei Promotions.

Former WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster outlanded Robson Conceição 109-76 and vehemently disagreed with the split decision verdict that cost him his title on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey.

“I don’t know, man. I thought it was easy,” Foster said. “I thought it was an easy fight. I didn’t get touched except with a headbutt. I don’t know, man. I’ll be back. But I want the rematch. They stole this from me. They stole this fight from me. I just wanted to show the world I could bang it out, and if I want to, I don’t have to get touched. I guess it wasn’t good enough for the judges.”

By Miguel Maravilla

William “El Camarón” Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, spoke to the media about his win over Giovanni Cabrera (22-2, 7 KOs) of Chicago Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Zepeda scored a third round knockout over Cabrea in bold fashion. Here is what he said at the post-fight press conference (mostly in Spanish, but some English too).

Super middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. (22-4, 12 KOs) took a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over two-time world champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (37-4, 30 KOs) on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Mosley pulled away to a 99-91, 99-91, 100-90 nod against the 37-year-old Jacobs, who appeared to have lost a step.

Unbeaten lightweight Amado “AFV” Vargas (11-0, 5 KOs), son of former champion Fernando Vargas, scored a sixth round TKO against Sean Garcia (7-1-1, 2 KOs), brother of Ryan Garcia. Garcia came in three pounds heavy, but when not showboating Vargas won every minute of every round, dropping Garcia in round four with an uppercut. Ryan Garcia was removed from ringside by security.

Teenage lightweight prospect Curmel Moton (4-0, 3 KOs) kept his unbeaten record intact with a dominating stoppage of Nikolai Buzolin (9-9-1, 5 KOs) as he dropped his opponent in round one before stopping him in the second round of their super lightweight matchup.

The main event was a boxing match betwen longtime MMA rivals as Nate Diaz took home a majority decision victory over Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal. The event attracted a sold out crowd of 18,040.