Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA bantamweight champ Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), Monster Naoya’s brother, engaged in a public workout and looked sharp and speedy as usual today (Thursday) in Yokohama, Japan. Having greatly raised his stock by a spectacular ninth-round knockout of Jerwin Ancajas last February, Takuma will participate in the quadruple world title event at the Tokyo Dome featuring all the four contestants out of Ohashi gym and put his belt on the line against WBA#1 compatriot Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs) on May 6. Takuma confidently said, “I’d like to demonstrate such a good performance as shown in my last Ancajas fight.”

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Roman “Chocolatito” has announced live from a press conference in Managua, Nicaragua, that his much anticipated return to the ring will be on Friday, July 12 at the 15,000+ seat Alexis Arguello Arena. ESPN Knockout will televise. Roman will have the support of his fellow Nicaraguan people for the first time since his championship title run, claiming 5 world titles and dominating the “fly” divisions in the process, all while traveling on the road.

Gonzalez’ return to Nicaragua is the biggest boxing event since the legendary Alexis Arguello last fought on home soil in December 18th 1977.

Roman Gonzalez: “I am super happy and excited to be fighting in front of all my family, the Nicaraguan people. It will be a dream come true if I can crown myself a 6x champion in 5 different divisions here in Nicaragua. For me and my team the greatest all time will always be Alexis Arguello.” Continue reading ““Chocolatito” Gonzalez Returns July 12″

Sad to report the passing Gary Shaw, 79, who has been successful at many levels in the boxing business. As a boxing regulator, Shaw worked for 28 years with New Jersey Athletic Commission. He jumped across the aisle to then became Cheif Operating Officer for Main Events for 2.5 years, culiminating with the megafight between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. He then started Gary Shaw Productions, where he had a long successful run, mainly working with Showtime. In August 2021, Shaw joined the WBA as Chief of Staff to WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza. Shaw had struggled with health problems in his later years.

Super featherweights Jordan Gill and Zelfa Barrett faced off at the final press conference ahead of this Saturday’s showdown at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, live worldwide on DAZN.

Jordan Gill: “For sure it’s must-win. If either of us want to fight for a world title, we’ve got to win this fight. That’s why it’s so exciting because there’s a lot on the line. It’s a fight everyone has been looking forward to, two Brits that are above British and European level, it makes it exciting, there’s a lot on the line for us both.”

Zelfa Barrett: “Jordan is a good fighter and he’s got a good team around him, but I believe I’m better than him in every way, shape, and form. He said he’s going knock me out, crazy, but we’ll see…there’s only one winner, and that’s me…my left hook is crazy but we’re not relying on that. It’s hard work and dedication, but I’ve got the power to destroy him.”

Charlie Edwards 117.6 vs. Georges Ory 117.3
(WBC Silver International bantamweight title)

Tom Welland 126.4 vs. Marvin Solano 127
Christian Fetti 128 vs. Eliecer Quezada 132.2
Kingsley Egbunike 153.4 vs. Jordan Dujon 153.9
Harvey Dykes 255 vs. Milos Veletic 280.7
Elliot Whale 149.8 vs. Joseba Diaz 149.9
Jesse Brandon TBA vs. Jakub Laskowski TBA
Oliver Zaren 167.6 vs. John Harding Jnr 167.1
Robert Lloyd-Taylor Jr 142.5 vs. Denis Hnidek 141.4

Venue: York Hall, London
Promoter: Wasserman Boxing
TV: DAZN, Channel 5 (UK)

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with boxing trainer extraordinaire Kenny Adams as he is a part of the 2024 class for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this June in Canastota, NY, with the late Diego Corrales, Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer and Jackie Kallen. He talks about his life in boxing from a young kid who could throw hands to his long stint in the Army and eventually becoming the coach of boxing team. He talked about serving as an assistant on the famed 84 Olympic Team that had Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Evander Holyfield and Mark Breland to name a few and as head coach of the 88 team with Roy Jones Jr, Riddick Bowe and Michael Carbajal. He lit up about training the late, embattled star Edwin Valero and what a Super Fight with “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. would have looked like and much more with the legendary trainer.

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Former world champion and current WBA #7 featherweight Angelo Leo (24-1, 11 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over Eduardo Baez (23-6-2, 9 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Good two-way action. Scores were 97-93, 98-92, 98-92.

Eddie Hearn/Matchroom has signed IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to a multi-fight promotional deal in partnership with Boots Promotions. Ennis (31-0 28 KOs) is slated to make his much-anticipated return to the ring in the summer where he will make the first defense of his world title.

Ennis was promoted to IBF champion in November after former undisputed welterweight ruler Terence Crawford was forced to relinquish the title.

“Wow – What a signing!” said Hearn. “I’ve watched this young man for many years, and I always believed he would become a pound-for-pound great, and I have no doubt he is already the greatest fighter in the division. To win the race to sign Jaron is a massive coup for Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. Continue reading “Matchroom inks Boots Ennis”

Ohashi reserves Doheny as a substitute for Nery in case

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

“Monster” Naoya Inoue, undisputed four-belt 122-pound champion, celebrated his thirty-first birthday at Ohashi Gym on Wednesday in Yokohama, Japan. Naoya said, “I have been world champion for the last ten years, and it is my honor to be able to defend my belts at the gigantic Tokyo Dome (whose capacity is 55,000 for a boxing event).”

His manager/promoter Hideyuki Ohashi, ex-WBC, WBA 105-pound titleholder, revealed his counterplot against Luis Nery in case he should fail to make weight. He reserves former champion TJ Doheny as a substitute for Nery, and TJ is prepared to fight unbeaten Filipino Bryl Bayogos (7-0-1, 2 KOs) in the curtain raiser bout on May 6. Doheny, 37, is also a southpaw like Nery. Continue reading “Happy Birthday, Monster Inoue”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury held a press conference Wednesday in his hometown of Morecambe, England. With 38 days remaining before Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Gypsy King looked to be in great shape and in good spirits.

Fury said his size advantage will be decisive.

“He couldn’t do anything with Derek Chisora. We all saw the fight. It was a 50/50 fight, could have gone either way. So not unless he’s come on at 38 or 39 years old over the last two years, like leaps and bounds.”

On reports that former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has offered advice to Usyk, Fury said, Wlad’s advice would be on how to lose to the Gypsy King. 

“How could my old pal Wlad give anybody any advice? Because he would have used it himself if he had any advice or any idea how to beat me.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Faster jabber Hironori Mishiro (15-1-1, 4 KOs), 134.5, wrested the Japanese national lightweight belt as he made good use of hand speed and agility and scored a unanimous decision (97-93, 96-94 twice) over defending champ Shuma Nakazato (14-3-3, 8 KOs), 134.5, over ten hard-fought rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Formerly world rated Mishiro, ex-OPBF 130-pound titlist, had defeated the hard-punching son of Shigeru Nakazato, three-time world 122-pound challenger some twenty years ago, on points in 2017. The sturdy champ maintained the pressure to take the initiative after the fifth—all 48-47 for Nakazato on the open scoring system. Mishiro, however, utilized his superior and sharper jabs to dominate the second half to have the tide turn in his favor. Continue reading “Mishiro dethrones Japanese 135lb champ Nakazato”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten lefty prospect whose amateur mark being 102-10, JBC#1 Kuntae Lee (7-0-1, 2 KOs), 140, managed to capture the Japanese national super light belt from Homura Fujita (12-2, 10 KOs), 140, by a unanimous decision (all 97-93) over ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Lee had a tough time coping with the rough-and-tumble swinger, suffered a cut over the right eyebrow but handled the brutal aggressor with counters and footwork. Continue reading “Lee defeats Fujita, wins Japanese 140lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Do you remember ex-WBA world junior middleweight champ Koichi Wajima, who acquired the belt on three occasions by defeating Carmelo Bossi, Oscar Shotgun and Jae-Do Yuh in 1970s? His welterweight grandson Taishin Isotani (6-3, 5 KOs), 146.75, impressively pounded out a unanimous decision (58-54 twice, 57-55) over Kota Matsuno (3-3, 2 KOs), 146.5, as the six-footer dropped his grudge rival twice in rounds two and four—with a one-two combo and with a vicious left hook respectively. Continue reading “3x world champ Wajima’s grandson Isotani victorious”

By Jeff Zimmerman

KingRy addresses Devin camp vs Tank without the rehydration clause, weight draining and much more at his media day in Dallas.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

KingRy addresses David Benavidez DAZN interview where he had “one too many” and making amends with Canelo at his media day in Dallas as he prepares for Haney at Barclays Center April 20 and live on DAZN.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

One-on-One with Golden Boy CEO and boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya at the Ryan “KingRy” Garcia Media Day at trainer Derrick Jame’s World Class Boxing Gym in Dallas ahead of the Haney-Garcia showdown on April 20 at Barclays Center and live on DAZN.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

KingRy works out with trainer Derrick James at his Media Day in Dallas as he prepares to fight amateur rival Devin Haney on Sat, April 20, at Barclays Center and shown live on DAZN.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Henry Garcia, father of boxing superstar Ryan Garcia, talks about their history with the Haney’s and what to expect when his son faces Devin on Sat, April 20 at the Barclays Center and shown live on DAZN.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Sean Garcia, Ryan’s brother, talks about Ryan’s upcoming fight vs Devin Haney and addresses his mental health in the lead up to this Super Fight on Sat, April 20 at Barclays Center and live on DAZN.

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

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently expressed its position regarding boxing and its future in the Olympic Games.

The IOC categorically confirmed that IBA, formerly called AIBA, is excluded from any recognition as the International Association in charge of administering Olympic boxing. In addition, it announced that it’s looking for a new group to acquire the administration of our sport, otherwise, boxing will be excluded from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Continue reading “The future of Olympic boxing”

The PPV undercard is set for the Canelo Álvarez vs. Jaime Munguía event taking place May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the co-main event, former world champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs) will defend his WBC interim welterweight title against Fabián “TNT” Maidana (22-2, 16 KOs), younger brother of former world champion Marcos Maidana. Former world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) puts his WBC interim featherweight title on the line against former world champion Jessie Magdaleno (29-2, 18. KOs). In the PPV opener, WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) battling unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs).

Heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr., (9-0, 9 KOs) the U.S. Olympic silver medalist who has knocked out every man he’s faced, hopes to extend his streak of fallen foes. Torrez steps up against fellow unbeaten Brandon Moore (14-0, 8 KOs) on Saturday, May 18 at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

The eight-round televised opener joins a loaded bill headlined by the vacant WBO lightweight world title showdown between Mexican three-weight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk. The 12-round welterweight co-feature, a match of undefeated contenders, will see San Diego native Giovani Santillan fight Brian Norman Jr.

Navarrete-Berinchyk, Santillan-Norman and Torrez-Moore will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN.

Eye of the Tiger has postponed its April 11 card headlined by WBC #3, WBA #3, WBO #3, IBF #6 super middleweight Erik Bazinyan against Shakeel Phinn for the NABF and WBA International titles. The new date is Thursday, May 2 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal. Bazinyan has been suffering from sinusitis for a few days, so Eye of the Tiger decided to postpone the fight.

“We waited a few days before making the decision, hoping that his antibiotics would help him recover, but unfortunately, that’s not the case, and he’s still too unwell,” said EOTTM general manager Antonin Décarie. “However, we are relieved to be able to offer boxing fans this long-awaited fight within a reasonable timeframe,” he added.

Tickets for the originally scheduled gala on April 11 will be honored on May 2. Customers who are not available on this new date will also be offered the option of a refund by Ticketmaster. The deadline for refund requests is April 19.

World-ranked light heavyweight Richie “Popeye the Sailor Man” Rivera (26-2, 19 KOs) won a ten round unanimous over Devaun Lee (11-12-1, 6 KOs) in the main event in front of over 4,000 fans at Mohegan Sun Casino on Saturday night. Scores were 100-90, 97-93 and 97-93.

In a clash between undefeated super bantamweights, Travon Lawson (6-0, 3 KOs) edged out a controversial and minor upset split decision over Rajon Chance (8-1-1, 6 KOs). The scores were 78-73 Chance, 77-75 twice for Lawson. Continue reading “Rivera defeats Lee”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat Magazine, Joe Koizumi

Veteran campaigners of Japan and Australia furiously competed with the vacant OPBF super middleweight title at stake on Saturday in Sakai, Osaka, Japan. Japanese southpaw, ex-OPBF 160-pound champ Yuki Nonaka (38-12-3, 11 KOs), 167.5, seized the regional 168-pound belt by pounding out a close but unanimous decision (115-114, 115-113, 118-110) over former IBF world middle ruler Sam Soliman (49-19-1, 19 KOs), 166.5, over twelve hard-fought rounds.

It was a close affair with each seldom catching the opponent with precision. Nonaka, however, was a bit more aggressive, occasionally scoring with southpaw straight lefts to the tricky and unorthodox Aussie. Sam tasted his first setback here despite his previous victories in a couple of bouts in 2003. Continue reading “Nonaka defeats Soliman, wins vacant OPBF 168lb belt”