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By Joe Koizumi

Elongated Nicaraguan #2 Cristofer Rosales (27-3, 18 KOs), 111.5, impressively acquired the WBC flyweight belt as he aggressively battered former titlist Daigo Higa (15-1, 15 KOs), 114, with sickle-like uppercuts and Higa’s corner finally signaled a surrender at 1:14 of the ninth round on Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. From the outset, the taller Nicaraguan took the leadoff with solid left uppercuts following left-right combos and hurt the ex-champ who had forfeited his belt on the scale—from all angles. Higa exclusively fought back with body shots, but Rosales looked more effective in the close quarters. After the fourth, the open scoring system indicated 39-37 twice for Rosales, 39-37 for Higa. Continue reading “Rosales halts Higa, wins WBC 112lb belt”

Johnathon Banks has revealed the tough sparring tests Adrian Granat (15-1, 14 KOs) had to endure at the famous Kronk Gym ahead of his Viking showdown with domestic rival Otto Wallin (19-0, 13 KOs) on April 21 at the Gärdehov in Sundsvall, Sweden.

Having first met in Hamburg while Granat was sparring British heavyweight Dillian Whyte, Banks was suitably impressed to invite the Malmo-boxer to join one of former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko’s training camps. Continue reading “Banks training Granat the Kronk way”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Lightweight Marcos Villasana Jr (22-6, 13 KOs), son of former world champion Marcos Villasana, dominated then stopped longtime contender Jose Felix Jr. (36-3-1, 28 KOs) in the ninth round on Saturday night at the Oasis Cancun Arena, in Cancun, Mexico.

Also, WBC female heavyweight champion Alejandra “La Tigre” Jimenez (10-0-1, 8 KOs) dropped 44 pounds to compete at super middleweight, but only managed a draw against relative novice Irais “La Temible” Hernandez (2-1-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Scores were 77-75 Jimenez, 76-76, 76-76.

WBC #11 lightweight Francisco “Paquito” Rojo (22-3, 15 KOs) halted Galvis War (15-3-3, 13 KOs) in the eighth round.

Report by Brad Snyder The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

​The Night of Knockouts series at the Sound Board in Motor City Casino Detroit proves to be the strongest event series in boxing. The sellout/standing room only night sold out a week prior to the event. Promoter Carlos Llinas, once again, added local favorites to the A-side of the card and matched them with solid opponents on the other side.

Perhaps Detroit’s next star is Winfred “Hot Boy” Harris. Harris took on the challenge of tough fighter, Aaron Garcia, of Guadalajara, Mexico. Harris dominated the main event. With throwing from multiple angles and showing seasoned moves, Harris is displaying his growth in the ring. Garcia allowed Harris to work on his craft, as he had will power to continue to move forward. Garcia was able to eat the power that Harris brought. The fight was for the promotions middleweight title. Harris had all three judges scoring the bout (80-72, 80-72, 80-72) in his favor. Harris moves to (17-0, 9 KOs), as Garcia drops to (16-8-1, 11 KOs). Continue reading “Harris defeats Garcia in Detroit”

By Joe Koizumi

WBC flyweight champ Daigo Higa (15-0, 15 KOs) forfeited his belt as he couldn’t make the class limit of 112 pounds since he failed in his first trip to the scale, weighing at 51.7 kg (114 pounds). After ninety minutes Higa gave up reducing his weight because his body was too dry to reduce any more. His challenger Cristofer Rosales, Nicaragua, tipped the beam at 50.5 kg (111.5 pounds) and successfully made the weight.

WBA middleweight champ Ryota Murata scaled in at the class limit of 72.5 kg (160 pounds) to 72.3 kg (159.5 pounds) for Emanuele Blandamura from Italy.

(More to come)

WBA #4 welterweight contender Jamal “Shango” James (23-1, 10 KOs) ground out a ten round majority decision over Abel Ramos (18-3-2, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. James’ workrate made the difference. Scores were 96-94, 96-94, 95-95.

WBC #10 super featherweight Edner Cherry (37-7-2, 19 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Dennis Galarza (16-3, 9 KOs). Cherry closed strong to win 97-93, 96-94, 96-94.

Continue reading “James, Cherry victorious in Minneapolis”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Mexican star Saul Canelo Alvarez confirmed Friday that he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Guadalajara, Mexico, and will be in recovery for a month.

“I share with you that today I had to undergo arthroscopy surgery to repair the internal femoral cartilage and eliminate a pathological fold of my right knee,” Canelo wrote along with a photo from his hospital bed.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Jose Felix Jr 135 vs. Marcos Villasana Jr 134.20
Francisco Rojo 139.70 vs. Galvis Guerra 149.19
Alejandra Jimenez 176 vs. Temible Hernandez 174.90

Venue: Gran Arena Oasis Cancun
Promoter:Promociones del Pueblo and Cancun Boxing
TV: Televisa

By Gabriel F. Cordero

This is completely unofficial, but we’re passing along what we heard. The latest is that Mexican star Saúl Canelo Álvarez checked into a private hospital in Guadalajara on Friday morning to undergo arthroscopy knee surgery. He could possibly leave Saturday. More details to come if and when available.

Terry Flanagan and Maurice Hooker will clash for the vacant WBO jr welterweight championship at the Manchester Arena on June 9 on the same card that features the return of former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. Flanagan is stepping up to 140 pounds after vacating his WBO lightweight world title, and is confident of becoming a two-weight world champion.

He currently holds the longest undefeated record in British boxing (33-0, 13 KOs) and will be aiming to unify the 140lb division once he triumphs at his ‘home’ Arena on June 9th.

“Winning this fight will prove that I’m a legitimate 140 pound fighter,” said Flanagan. “I’ll be looking to unify all of the belts later in the year. I’m looking for the likes of Mikey Garcia after I win the WBO belt on June 9th. It’s a massive unification fight and I hope those are the fights Frank can make. Continue reading “Flanagan-Hooker lands on Fury comeback card”

Undefeated and world ranked light heavyweight Mike Lee (20-0-0, 11 KOs), of Chicago, IL will face battle-tested Mexican Jose Hernandez (19-3-1, 9 KOs), of Lancaster, CA In the ten round main event on June 8 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, just outside of Chicago and live on CBS Sports Network. Currently world ranked #3 by the WBO and #12 by the WBA and IBF, Lee returns to battle following a first round knockout over Aaron Quattrocchi last September. Lee opened up training camp in Santa Monica, CA earlier this month.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unheralded underdog, Filipino southpaw Alvin Lagumbay (10-2, 9 KOs), 146.5, astoundingly wrested the WBO Asia Pacific welterweight belt as he overcame his first visit to the deck in the opening round and his second trip to the canvas after an eye-catching double knockdown, and raised himself up earlier than the badly damaged defending champ, WBO#6/IBF#9 Keita Obara (19-3-1, 17 KOs), 146.75, scoring a spectacular knockout win at 2:36 of the second round on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

The Filipino attempted a go-for-broke attack from the start, kept stalking the circling champ and hit the canvas with Obara’s countering left hook in the first round. The second round witnessed Lagumbay keep on swinging southpaw lefts, when the champ Obara attempted to counter him again but Lagumbay also landed a vicious, more powerful shot with his left hand.

Both hit the deck, but Lagumbay could pulled himself up, while Obara whose back of the head badly hit the canvas couldn’t resume fighting though he barely stood up wobblingly. The champ was mercilessly counted out. Continue reading “Filipino Lagumbay dethrones WBO#6 Obara after double knockdown”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Free-swinging Filipino WBO#12 Richard Pumicpic (21-8-2, 6 KOs), 125.5, proved too strong and durable for previously unbeaten Japanese prospect Yoshimitsu Kimura (9-1, 4 KOs), 125.75, as he comfortably retained his WBO Asia Pacific featherweight belt by a unanimous decision (116-112 twice, 115-13) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Pumicpic took the initiative with an opening attack and maintained his aggressiveness to the hard-hitting but less experienced 21-year-old rival throughout the contest. Kimura, handled by ex-WBA 108-pound champ Yoko Gushiken, occasionally fought back hard, but was often overwhelmed by Pumicpic’s rough-and-tumble tactics in the close quarter. The Filipino’s strong heart and abundant stamina carried him to a victory after their hot exchanges of solid punches.

Photos

Two-division world champion Jessie Vargas hosted a media workout in Las Vegas Thursday as he prepares for his main event showdown against four-division world champion Adrien Broner on Saturday, April 21 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The fight will be Vargas’ second fight being guided by head trainer and former three-division world champion Mike “The Bodysnatcher” McCallum.

Vargas conducted the media workout from Mayweather Boxing Club as he prepares for the pivotal matchup against Broner. Here is what Vargas, McCallum and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe had to say Thursday. Continue reading “Vargas: I’m planning on having my hand raised”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Former WBA, WBO, IBF heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is confident of defeating the current WBA, WBO, IBF champion Anthony Joshua. “I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. Timing, reflexes, everything is better than it’s ever been. I kid you not,” Fury said. “Everything is still there. I’m 29 years old, coming into the prime of my life, I’m stronger and faster, holding more muscle mass than ever. I’m more confident looking at the competition.”

“It’s (Joshua) going to be an easy fight, no contest. He is looking for one punch all night. Anybody who can move a little bit, and throw feints, he struggles with. He can’t land. I’d outbox him for a few rounds then I’d knock him out.”

WBC featherweight champion “Mister” Gary Russell Jr. (28-1, 17 KOs) will defend his title against mandatory contender Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. (26-0, 14 KOs) on May 19. The card will take place in Montreal on a card that will be aired on Showtime.