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By Damien St.Pierre

“Brawlin N Nawlins” is bringing boxing back to the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS on April 26. The main event of the night will feature a local heavyweight brawl between current NABF heavyweight champion Jonathan “King” Guidry (20-1-2) of Dulac, LA and Bobby “Bobo” O’Bannon (10-7) in a bout scheduled for 8 rounds.

Guidry who is coming off of his 3 consecutive wins against notable opposition will look to continue his quest to a heavyweight title opportunity once again. He is currently ranked 14th by the WBA. In his last bout Guidry destroyed undefeated Jesus Escalera in 2 rounds, his most notable bout where he gained national attention he was narrowly defeated by Trevor Bryan in a bid for the WBA heavyweight crown. Continue reading “Heavyweight “King” Guidry headlines in Biloxi on Friday”

By Joe Koizumi

There will be another world title bout in Japan prior to the sensational encounter of Monster Naoya Inoue and Luis Pantera Nery on this coming May 6. Just two days before the super fight at Tokyo Dome. IBF bantamweight champ Emmanuel Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs), from Puerto Rico, arrived on Tuesday night in Osaka, Japan. He will face IBF#1 Ryosuke Nishida (8-0, 1 KO) at Edion Arena Osaka on May 4. Rodriguez reportedly stayed at a high altitude for four months in Mexico and directly came to Japan without returning his native Puerto Rico. The champ confidently said, “It’s hard for Nishida to beat me due to the difference of experience. I’m in very excellent shape after two hundred sparring sessions in Mexico.” Nishida may have a southpaw speedster’s chance.

Riyadh Season, the Saudi promotional outfit that has taken over big time boxing recently, has announced a megacard for August 3 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. This is their first boxing event to be staged outside Saudi Arabia.

The lineup includes:

• Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov
• Tim Tszyu vs. Vergil Ortiz
• Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela
• Andy Ruiz vs. Jerrell Miller
• David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic
• Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran

Unbeaten super welterweight Nikita Tszyu (9-0, 7 KOs) scored a mostly one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Danilo Creati (8-2-1, 1 KO) on Wednesday night in a clash for the Aussie domestic title at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, NSW, Australian. Tszyu dominated the first five rounds, including a knockdown in round two when Creati’s glove touched the canvas. A Creati right hand rocked Tszyu in round six and had Tszyu holding on. After that, Tszyu was back in charge for the rest of the fight to win comfortably.

Nikita is the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and brother of former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.

In an IBF light heavyweight eliminator, unbeaten IBF #14 Malik Zinad (22-0, 16 KOs) won a twelve round majority decision over IBF #4 Jerome Pampellone (18-1, 11 KOs). Score were 117-111, 117-111, and 114-114. Zinad becomes the mandatory IBF challenger for the winner of the undisputed clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on June 1.

Undefeated former world champion Jaime Munguía held a media workout in Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of his upcoming showdown against Canelo Álvarez for the undisputed super middleweight world title on Prime Video May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Jaime Munguia: “I’m going to go in there to do my job. I don’t care what anyone on the outside says. At the end of the day, I have to stay ready and make the most of this opportunity. I’ve always kept an eye on Canelo, even when we were in different weight classes. Eventually, you have to fight the best in your division and that’s where we are right now. I respect Canelo as a fighter, but when you step into that ring with me, I’m gonna do my best to do my job and get my hand raised.”

Oscar De La Hoya: “Canelo is going to come out guns blazing, but there’s a changing of the guard in every era and I think that this is the perfect scenario for Jaime Munguia to take over. Jaime is ready to go. He’s faced every adversary and every style. Whether they brawl or box, he’s taken them out. Now he’s ready for the biggest fish in the sea. Jaime has the youth, the punch output and the chin. I see all the cards stacked against Canelo.”

Ramon Cardenas 121.2 vs. Jesus Ramirez Rubio 121.2
Marques Valle 152.6 vs. Damian Sosa 153.6
Ronny Rios 125 vs. Nicolas Polanco 127.4
Max Ornelas 122.2 vs. Alexander Mejia 122.2

Venue: Whitesands Events Center, Plant City, Florida.
Promoter: ProBox
TV: ProBox TV

At an IBF welterweight purse bid, Matchroom Boxing won the right to promote a clash between world champion Jaron Ennis and Cody Crowley. Matchroom outbid TGB Promotions $3.9 million to $2 million. Ennis will have an 85-15 split. The bout will reportedly have a July date and take place in Philadephia.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Undaunted and undeterred by Naoya Inoue’s reputation as a prefight favorite, Mexican challenger and ex-WBC bantam ruler Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) participated in a public workout on Tuesday at Teiken Gym in Tokyo, Japan. Some seventy press people gathered to watch Nery’s first training since Pantera is so notorious, so sensational and so dangerous to Naoya. The 29-year-old thick-bearded Mexican demonstrated just each one round of shadowboxing and hitting the mitt of trainer Samil Rosano. That’s all. But Nery talked a lot before the Japanese press. “It is rather warm and the weather is much better than my previous visits here against Shinsuke Yamanaka. I’m already 127 pounds. My condition is by far better than for all my previous fights. I don’t think Naoya is Michael Jordan. He has been overestimated, and I will beat him. I’ve already found some serious defects on Inoue, and will dethrone him without doubt.”

Should it been a speech contest, Nery might be more eloquent than Inoue. Naoya’s father/trainer Shingo and his promoter/manager Hideyuki Ohashi were in attendance to watch Nery’s workout, and they looked impressed with his motivation and eloquence as well. Time will tell. Continue reading “Luis Nery highly motivated to defeat Monster Inoue”

By Jeff Zimmerman

One of boxing’s best trainers, Robert Garcia, broke down Haney-Garcia, talked about his heavy hitters Jose Ramirez and Vergil Ortiz Jr fighting this weekend in Fresno and the return of Bam Rodriguez in June against Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.

On Saturday night at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Teflon Promotions will present a card filled with Philly favorites airing on BLK Prime.

The main event is heavyweight Andrew “Beast” Tabiti (20-2, 16 KOs) against Junior “Hurricane” Wright (20-5, 17 KOs) in a ten rounder. In the co-feature, light heavyweight Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (30-3, 24 KOs) meets Daniel Aduku (15-4, 11 KOs) over eight. Other notables include unbeaten middleweight Nikita “White Chocolate” Ababiy, unbeaten cruiserweight Muhsin Cason (Hasim Rahman’s brother), unbeaten bantamweight Dylan Priice, heavyweight Joey “Tank” Dawejko, and super lightweight “Hank” Lundy.

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Naoki Fukuda

The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) on Friday (April 19) announced to suspend WBC#8, WBA#10 featherweight Hayato Tsutsumi (5-0, 2 KOs), 24, for six months from April 16 (the weigh-in day) because he failed to make the contracted 126-pound by no less than three and a half pound. Also Tsutsumi was fined 20 percent of his purse due to his violation of JBC’s rules and regulations. Hayato, after the fight, explained that he suffered a fever caused by corona virus infection while training in Las Vegas on March 26. After he came home from Vegas, he couldn’t do good training and eventually had a difficulty making weight. The bright prospect who had won thirteen national amateur belts prior to his entry into the paid ranks, this time with a dark reputation due to this overweight incident, is hoped to make a sound comeback since we know he is so vastly talented that he will certainly follow “Monster” Inoue’s footstep.

By Joe Koizumi
Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Japan seems to be a hub port of smaller class super fights. WBA super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka (31-2-1, 16 KOs) has decided to fight IBF counterpart Fernando Martinez (16-0, 9 KOs) in Tokyo on July 7. It was publicly announced with the Argentinian in attendance. The unification bout will take place at Ryogoku Sumo Arena, where many aficionados will be expected to watch this showdown of the champions. Martinez said, “I like Ioka’s style as the opponent. I’ll defeat him and bring back both belts to Argentina.” Ioka said, “I have to cope with Martinez’s style and exchange punches with him to finally score a knockout victory.” It will be a very competitive fight without doubt.

More Photos

By Joe Koizumi

Former WBC bantamweight champ Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KOs), the Mexican southpaw challenger to “Monster” Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) on this coming May 6, arrived on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Accompanying his wife and three daughters, Nery said, “I’m fully aware that Inoue is an excellent boxer, but I’m not scared of fighting him. I don’t believe Naoya, in the pound-for-pound ratings, is superior to Terrence Crawford or Gervonta Davis. I’ll knock him out and win the world belts from him.” Reportedly he is already at 127, just five pounds over the super bantam class limit. He has a couple of weeks prior to the highly anticipated super fight at Tokyo Dome.

Former two-time amateur world champion and WBA #15 ranked middleweight Yoenlis Hernandez (3-0, 3 KOs) of Cuba is currently training with undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Both are currently preparing for upcoming fights. Hernandez will fight June 7th against TBA in a 10 round bout at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Promoter Kris Lawrence believes Hernandez’ takeover of the middleweight division will happen more sooner than later. “If given the opportunity I know he could beat anyone at 160 right now,” said Lawrence. “Hopefully before the end of the year he could fight for a world title. He is ready to fight any of the beltholders right now.” Continue reading “Interview: Yoenlis Hernandez”

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat Magazine

WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight champ Jayson Vayson (12-1-1-1NC, 5 KOs) 107.75, retained his regional belt as he outscored Japanese challenger Takeru Inoue (4-1, 2 KOs), 108, by a unanimous decision (96-94 twice, 97-94) over ten hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Filipino Vayson upset ex-world champ Ryuya Yamanaka via stunning second round stoppage to wrest the WBO AP belt last December, and it was his initial defense. Inoue, formerly a policeman after graduating from Kinki university though he retired to enter the paid ranks, fought well, but Vayson showed his superior ring experience, and compiled points steadily. It is said that Vayson, in his second defense, will engage in a rematch with ex-champ Yamanaka.

Promoter: Muto Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat Magazine

Hard-punching perennial contender Tsubasa Narai (13-2, 10 KOs), 129.5, very impressively wrested the Japanese super feather belt when he dropped defending champ Yuna Hara (14-3-1, 8 KOs), 129.75, three times and scored a fine TKO victory at 2:10 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. Like a triangle, Narai previously put on a give-and-take performance with JBC 130-pound champ Kosuke Saka only to lose on a come-from-behind TKO defeat last September, and it was Hara that dethroned Saka via upset stoppage in April last year. Narai looked so sharp and powerful this night that he decked the champ with a vicious left hook in round four and twice more in the fatal fifth. Despite a five-inch height disadvantage Narai swarmed over the taller titlist and exploded touted strong shots to dispatch the prefight favorite.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.

After months of enduring ridicule and scorn from so-called experts who gave who him no shot at victory, Ryan “Kingry” Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) shocked the world Saturday night in Brooklyn, flooring Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) three times en route to a majority decision victory.

Ryan Garcia: “I shouldn’t have put too much pressure on myself to stop him, because every time I hurt him, I went crazy and I couldn’t stop him. I think the ref should’ve stopped the fight. He was really hurt. I felt bad, I even looked at Bill to stop the fight.”

[Regarding the point being deducted in seventh round] “The guy was holding me for dear life, and I felt the opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free. I should’ve knocked him out that seventh round. They stole that from me. I’m surprised he has so much heart and recovery. He got wobbled bad in the first round. I thought it was over. He even hurt me with a hook. At the end of the day, I’m going to fight him, win or lose.”

Photos: Emily Harney

“KingRy” Ryan Garcia (26-1, 20 KOs) scored a twelve round majority decision over previously unbeaten WBC super lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. With Garcia’s erratic behavior before the fight and failure to make weight by 3.2 pounds, on one knew what to expect. Garcia rocked Haney with a left hook in round one. Haney outboxed Garcia from round two to six. Garcia dropped Haney with a left hook in round seven, but Garcia was also deducted a point for hitting on the break. Garcia dropped Haney a second time in round ten. Garcia dropped Haney again in round eleven. Scores were 112-112, 114-110, 115-109. Since Garcia didn’t make weight, Haney remains champion.

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Unbeaten WBO #1, WBC #6, IBF #7 super lightweight Arnold Barboza Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs) scored a controversial ten round split decision over WBO #8 Sean “The Public Nuisance” McComb (18-2, 5 KOs). The lanky and awkward McComb controlled the action and never let Barbosa into the fight. Scores were 98-92 McComb, 96-94, 97-93 for Barbosa. The fans booed the decision.

WBA #5, WBO #10, WBC #14 super middleweight Bektemir “The Bully” Melikuziev (14-1, 10 KOs) took an eight round technical decision over previously unbeaten Pierre Dibombe (22-1-1, 12 KOs). Dibombe was cut over the right eye from a headbutt early on. Melikuziev later suffered a deep cut over the left eye. Melikuziev dropped Dibombe in round five. The bout was stopped at the beginning of round eight and went to the scorecards with Melikuziev winning 79-73, 79-73, 78-74.

In a fight for the WBA interim super flyweight title, WBA #5 David “Medallita” Jimenez (16-1, 11 KOs) outworked previously unbeaten WBA #1 John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) over twelve rounds. Scores were 117-111, 117-111, 116-112.

WBC #3 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (19-0, 14 KOs) won his Golden Boy debut by sixth round TKO against Nathaniel Gallimore (22-8-1, 17 KOs). Conwell battered Gallimore until a referee’s stoppage at :52 of the sixth.

WBC #7 super middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) shut out Vaughn Alexander (18-11-1, 11 KOs) over ten rounds. Derevyanchenko dropped Vaughn with a body shot in round eight en route to a 100-89 3x decision.

Unbeaten super middleweight Darius Fulghum (11-0, 10 KOs) stopped Cristian Olivas (22-11, 19 KOs) in round four.

Unbeaten super middleweight Amari Jones (12-0, 11 KOs) halted Armel Mbumba-Yassa (10-2, 7 KOs) in round six.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated super lightweight Cain Sandoval, (13-0, 11 KOs), of Sacramento, CA and Angel ‘Sharky’ Rebollar, (8-4, 3 KOs) of South Gate, California went the distance Saturday night at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California in headlining Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions Hollywood Fight Nights series. The fight saw Sandoval earn a hard fought decision against a very tough elusive Rebollar. Continue reading “Cain Sandoval remains unbeaten”

Unbeaten WBO #10, WBC #15 lightweight KO artist Sam Noakes (14-0, 13 KOs) dominated 38-year-old veteran Yvan Mendy (48-7-1, 22 KOs) over twelve rounds to claim the vacant EBU European title on Saturday night at York Hall in London. Noakes went the distance for the first time, winning 120-108 3x.

More than three years since his last ring appearance, former super welterweight world title challenger Brandon “The Cannon” Adams (24-3, 16 KOs) scored a third round KO against Ismael “Maelo” Villarreal (13-3, 9 KOs) on Friday night at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Adams, last seen stopping current WBC interim 154lb world champion Serhii Bohachuk in eight rounds back in March 2021, took out Villarreal with a brutal left hook to the liver. Time was 2:59.

Adams-Villarreal was a first round match in an 8-man OTX 154lb tournament. In another first round affair, unbeaten Olympian Francisco “Bebu” Veron 14-0-1, 10 KOs) outworked Angel “Relampago” Ruiz (18-3-1, 13 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 99-91, 100-90, 96-94.

In the main event, super lightweight gatekeeper Dakota “Lone Wolf” Linger (14-6-3, 10 KOs) upset previously unbeaten Kurt “Scooby” Scoby (13-1, 11 KOs). Linger pressed the action and turned the fight into a brawl. The bout was stopped with Linger punishing Scoby at 2:21 of round six. Scoby was a 50:1 betting favorite.

With several injuries forcing cancellations of several of the title fights planned for Don King’s “Quest for the Best” fight card slated for next Saturday, April 27th at Casino Miami Jai-Alai, the fight card has been postponed to a future date.

“Injuries are part of this game,” said King. “It’s unfortunate, but we’ll aim to get these championship fights together again to bring boxing fans another exciting night of boxing. Ian Green and Ahmed Elbiali will return to defend their respective titles. We appreciate Dan Licciardi and all our friends at Casino Miam Jai-Alai for their friendship and support and look forward to working again with them in the future.”

Fans who purchased tickets for the April 27th fight card can obtain refunds at the Casino Miami Jai-Alai box office.

Unbeaten IBF #13, WBC #14 super welterweight ‘King’ Callum Walsh (10-0, 8 KOs) will return to Southern California to defend his WBC Continental Americas title against Carlos Ortiz (14-5, 14 KOs) on June 7 at the Chumash Casino Resort and broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass.

Fighting in the ten-round co-feature, world-ranked featherweight Omar Trinidad (15-0-1, 12 KOs) makes the first defense of his WBC Continental Americas title against TBA.

The WBA Championships Committee has granted special permission for WBA regular super middleweight champion David Morrell to move up a division and fight for the WBA regular light heavyweight title against #6 ranked Radivoje Kalajdzic in June. The approval was made with specific conditions, among which is that Morrell must vacate his super middleweight title if he wins the 175-pound belt.

The committee also decided that with Morrell’s weight move, Edgar Berlanga will become the mandatory super middleweight challenger.

By Przemek Garczarczyk

All the fire before the fight: Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia weigh-in from Brooklyn.

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