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In a clash between unbeaten super middleweights, WBC #5, IBF #7 rated Osleys Iglesias (13-0, 12 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Petro Ivanov (18-1-2, 13 KOs) on Thursday night at Casino de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Southpaw Iglesias dropped Ivanov with a straight left in round five. Ivanov beat the count but the referee ruled he was unable to continue. Time was :40. Iglesias retained his IBO title.

Two-time middleweight title challenger Steven Butler (35-5-1, 29 KOs) scored a first round knockout against Fernando Farias (12-3-3, 4 KOs) in a super middleweight bout. Time was 2:36.

Former world champion and IBF #5 ranked junior welterweight Subriel Matías “el Orgullo de Maternillo” (20-2, 20 KOs) and Roberto “El Rifle” Ramírez (26-3-1, 19 KOs) faced off at the final press conference in advance of Saturday’s ten round $39.99 PPV clash at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Roberto Ramírez: “I’ve come prepared and ready for a war, to represent Mexico and to give a good show in front of those present for this event of ‘Haitians’ against Mexicans.”

Subriel Matías: “Haha! He called me ‘Haitian’. This is the end, haha. First of all, I thank God for this opportunity following my defeat on June 15th. I’m active five months since that fight. I want to say so many things, but really, I want my next performances to speak for me, and I’m the pride of Maternillo, I’ll see you all on Saturday, and this is ‘Taínos vs. Aztecas’”.

IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and WBC super flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) and their respective opponents, Karen Chukhadzhian and Pedro Guevara, held their final press conference at the 2300 Arena today ahead of their world championship bouts on Saturday live on DAZN from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Boots Ennis: “I’m not going to lie, he’s getting knocked out on Saturday. We’re gonna have some fun, we’re gonna put on a show. It doesn’t matter what he does, we’re going to put on a show and make a big statement Saturday night. We’re gonna have a party.”

Karen Chukhadzhian: “I’m ready for Saturday night as the last two years we have worked so hard and have got better each day. I’m going to show my improvements to people. Of course I’m going to fight him (Ennis) you will see a great fight. I’m here to be a world champion and that’s why I’m here and to prove it to people.”

Jesse Rodriguez: “To share the card with “Boots” Ennis, one of the best in all of boxing, is an honor and a huge opportunity to expose my career to the East Coast fans. I’m just blessed to be sharing a card with Boots at the end of the day”

Pedro Guevara: “I really prepared for this bout as I’ve been waiting for this many times. I’m prepared physically and mentally for this bout and I know Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is a great fighter and the best in the division and we want to be an honorable opponent for him. We don’t take this easily and I respect this sport and my opponent. Boxing is a beautiful sport right now.”

Two-time world title challenger Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (31-3, 25 KOs) will defend his home turf when he battles Ricardo Adrian “Tyson” Luna (27-12-2, 17 KOs) in an eight-round light heavyweight bout in the main event on Friday, November 22 at the Liacouras Center on the University of Temple campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

All in all, on the card will be five Philly fighters, and two Pennsylvania fighters and three New Jersey fighters within driving distance of the Liacouras Center. The show will be streamed live on a PPV by Radiant TV.

Keyshawn Davis 134.2 vs. Gustavo Lemos 141.4
(WBO International, IBF Intercontinental and WBC USA lightweight titles, however Lemos was overweight and therefore ineligible to win the titles)

Troy Isley 158.9 vs. Tyler Howard 159.8
Abdullah Mason 135.7 vs. Yohan Vasquez 134.2
Kelvin Davis 142.5 vs. Yeis Solano 142.7
Austin Deanda 158.3 vs. DeAundre Pettus 159.9
Keon Davis 148.7 vs. Jalen Moore 150.4
Robert Meriwether III 131.7 vs. Eric Howard 131.4
Raeese Aleem 126.9 vs. Derlyn Hernandez 126.9

Venue: Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN+

WBC #3, IBF #3, WBO #3 lightweight contender and U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) will make his main event debut this Friday at Norfolk’s Scope Arena, where he’ll take on IBF #6, WBC #9, WBO #13 ranked Gustavo Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-round showdown. Davis will top the most significant boxing card at the storied venue since Norfolk legend Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker defended his welterweight crown against Buddy McGirt in October 1994.

Keyshawn Davis: “It’s not going to be beautiful. There’s going to be blood everywhere. His nose might be a little lopsided after. But, I respect you, Gustavo. You are an amazing fighter. I appreciate you for taking the fight in my hometown, but I’m going to f**k you up.”

Gustavo Lemos: “I don’t see any difference between this and my last fights…I wish him good luck on Friday, and tell him to be careful.”

* * *

Keyshawn’s two brothers will also be featured. His older brother, junior welterweight Kelvin Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), will fight Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder, while his younger brother, Keon Davis, makes his professional debut in a four-round junior middleweight tilt versus Jalen Moore (1-1, 1 KO).

By Mauricio Sulaimán
WBC President – Son of José Sulaimán

Upon returning from this recent trip, a friend told me, perhaps ironically, that he was jealous of me for traveling so much. It was a wonderful trip, but what you don’t see is what happens on each individual trip with travel time, waiting at airports, sleeping in hard or soft beds, away from your family and all that goes with the usual travel of all of us who belong to the boxing industry.

On Wednesday I got up at 3:00 a.m. to take the flight to Miami, where I waited three hours to board the flight to Puerto Rico. I arrived at the Island of Enchantment to attend a dinner that ended at midnight.

On Thursday I was up by 7 am, which is 5 am Mexico time, I attended the WBO Convention all day, with many meetings and gatherings, the day closed with the awards dinner as I was in my room getting ready to go to bed, Salvatore Cherchi called me and demanded I came down for the farewell to friends, as you may imagine this ended quite late. Continue reading “A great trip to Puerto Rico and Miami”

The latest chapter in the storied boxing rivalry between México and Puerto Rico will take place this Saturday from Rubén Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The main event will feature the return of former IBF world junior welterweight champion Subriel “El Orgullo de Maternillo” Matias (20-2, 20 KOs) against Roberto “Rifle” Ramírez (26-3-1, 19 KOs) in a junior welterweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds. This will be Matias’ first fight since losing the title to Liam Paro on June 15.

In the co-main event, an IBF world bantamweight title elimination bout, former two-time IBF world bantamweight champion Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez (22-3, 13 KOs) will go against Jose “El Chapulin” Salas Reyes (15-0, 10 KOs).

The will be available via a $39.99 pay-per-view on PPV.COM.

Osleys Iglesias 167 vs. Petro Ivanov 167.2
(IBO super middleweight title)

Steven Butler 165.3 vs. Fernando Farias 165.5
Thomas Chabot 129.5 vs. Jesus Daneff 129.3
Wilkens Mathieu 171.6 vs. Marcos Karalitzky 171.7
Dimitry Asanau 134.7 vs. Matias Rueda 133.9
Jhon Orobio 138.3 vs. Jacopo Colli 139.7

Venue: Casino de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger
TV: ESPN+

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is ready to shine bright on home soil once again as he prepares to defend his IBF World Welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian on Saturday night (November 9) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, live worldwide on DAZN – on a card where Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends his WBC flyweight title against Pedro Guevara.

Ennis (32-0 29 KOs) steps back through the ropes in his hometown arena for the second time following a spectacular homecoming night in July, where he forced David Avanesyan to retire after five rounds in the first defense of his title.

The 27-year-old’s clash with mandatory challenger Chukhadzhian (24-2 13 KOs) will be the first time he’s had back-to-back fights in Philadelphia since an eight-round fight in December 2017 was followed by a six-round outing in January 2018. ‘Boots’ is determined to keep filling his new home after having a blast in July against Avanesyan and is even eyeing up a fight at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, if he can keep collecting belts and growing in his city. Continue reading “Boots vows to have fun and get the KO”

Boxing returns to the iconic Fox Theater in Redwood City, California, on November 16 with former IBF heavyweight champion “Prince” Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) headlines the card, and will face Matthew “El Matador” McKinney (17-8-3, 13 KOs). Martin, 38, is coming off an injury-induced layoff after a unanimous decision loss to Jared “Big Baby” Anderson in July 2023.

“I couldn’t jump rope, run, do the things I needed to do,” Martin said of the injury. “I got a lot of rest, let it heal and slowly got back to it.” Continue reading “Ex-heavyweight champ Charles Martin returns”

By Joe Koizumi

Hideyuki Ohashi of Ohashi Promotions has sent an astounding information to us in Japan. “Monster” Naoya Inoue and Ohashi were invited with a presidential airplane to Saudi Arabia and had a very important meeting with Turki Alalshikh there. Riyadh Season made a deal with Inoue and inked a lucrative sponsorship deal of some twenty million USD.

Sir Turki said, “Next year we, Saudi Arabia and Japan, will celebrate the seventieth anniversary since both countries established our diplomatic relationship. With the presence and participation of Mr. Naoya Inoue we would like to stage a big surprising event.”

Does it mean Monster Naoya will fight in Saudi Arabia next year? If so, which has a priority between his title defenses in Las Vegas, in Saudi Arabia and at the Tokyo Dome against unbeaten compatriot Junto Nakatani? Anyway, three times a year. Monster will welcome a very tight schedule next year.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Super lightweight rising star Ernesto “Tito” Mercado faces Jesus Saracho on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, and shown live on DAZN. Tito talks about signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing after fighting without a promoter to date. He shares his thoughts on the stacked 140lb division and his desire to fight Tank Davis and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.

Fernando Cuza 226 vs. Keith Barr 210.2
Ryan Zempoaltecatl 141 vs. Ryan Schwartzberg 141
Koby Khalil Williams 141.8 vs. Blake Witcher 142.4
Gianni Ligouri 140.6 vs. Jashawn Hunter 140.8

Venue: Troubadour, Nashville, Tennessee
Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions
TV: USA Today, USA Today Sports, Countrybox247.com, itube24.com, Triller.TV (Marc Abrams and Albert Haynesworth on the call)
1st Bell 7PM CT (8 PM ET)

Lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis, born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, returned to where it all began to kick off fight week. Davis visited his alma mater, Jacox Elementary School, on Monday afternoon. As he arrived, a welcoming parade of kindergartners through fourth graders chanted the name of their hometown hero. Davis made his way to the school auditorium, where he spoke to more than 50 fifth-grade students, encouraging them with stories about his upbringing, years attending Jacox, and the journey from Norfolk to professional success. He brought a student down from the bleachers for a brief boxing demonstration. Davis then signed posters for the students and faculty, many of whom taught him nearly two decades prior.

Davis (11-0, 7 KOs), who captured Olympic silver at the Tokyo Olympics, makes his main event and homecoming debut Friday evening in a 10-rounder against Gustavo Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs). The entire card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. Continue reading “Keyshawn Davis in spotlight Friday”

Photos: Emily Harney

Alejandro “El Abusador” Paulino (19-0, 14 KOs) passed the toughest test of his young career on Saturday, pounding out a 10-round majority decision over a tough Toka “T-Nice” Kahn (29-4, 19 KOs) to retain his WBC USA Silver Lightweight title. The 11-fight card took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Heading into the bout, Paulino vs. Kahn was seen as a crossroads fight between a grizzled contender and a rising prospect. The question was whether Paulino had learned enough in his 3 years as a professional to beat a savvy veteran of 31 bouts who had shared the ring with the likes of pound for pound star Shakur Stevenson and former world champion Kid Galahad. Continue reading “Paulino edges Toka Kahn”

By Héctor Villarreal

Year 2024 has been very successful for Dominican pugilism, achieving a lot of positive results, locally and internationally specially for Shuan Boxing, the only promotional company in the country history, headed by a woman, Belgica Peña, a clear example that the female gender can also make its way to success in this sport, previously dominated entirely by men.

Due to the above, no one should be surprised by the responsibility that Shuan places on unbeaten Vivian Rodríguez for the season closing event, to be held on December 19 at the Fencing Pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo.

Promoter Peña recently announced that Vivian Bianelis Rodriguez (7-0, 3 KOs), will risk for the second time her WBA Fedelatin featherweight belt, against Magali Rodriguez (25-7-4, 11 KOs), an experienced Mexican who has been WBC Silver superbantam and NABF superlightweight champion. Continue reading “Rodriguez faces toughest challenge in DR”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Hard-punching southpaw WBA#9 Riku Masuda (6-1, 6 KOs; amateur 52-14, 22 stoppages), 117.75, had a tough time coping with tricky and unorthodox 40-year-old challenger Yoshihiro Usami (17-12-6, 10 KOs), 117.75, but finally bloodied and halted him at 0:26 into the seventh round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. It was Masuda’s initial defense since he dethroned Fumiya Fuse via fourth round knockout this July. Riku wishes to avenge his sole blemish on his credentials that he suffered a setback on points by the current WBA bantam ruler Seiya Tsutsumi last year.

OPBF 130-pound champ WBC#19 Yamato Hata (16-2, 15 KOs), 131.75, engaged in a non-title go and demolished Filipino Presco Carcosia (12-5-1, 9 KOs), 130.5, with three knockdowns at 1:31 of the fourth session in a scheduled eight.

Unbeaten IBF#7 elongated light fly Kyosuke Takami (8-0, 6 KOs; amateur 43-4), 107.75, needed just 78 seconds into the opening session to send Filipino Jomar Caindog (12-5, 5 KOs), 106.75, to the deck in agony for the count. A single body shot was the haymaker sending him to dreamland.

Continue reading “WBA#9 Masuda halts Utsumi”

Queensberry Promotions (“Queensberry”), founded by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, has entered into a multi-year media rights agreement with DAZN. The deal will make DAZN the exclusive home of Queensberry’s elite boxing events starting in April 2025. Queensberry’s stable includes heavyweights champions Daniel Dubois, Zhilei Zhang, Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma, middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz and leading female boxer Chantelle Cameron. Queensberry joins Matchroom, Golden Boy Promotions and others on DAZN.

Undefeated WBA #2, IBF #14 lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. (18-0, 12 KOs) came off the canvas to win a twelve round unanimous decision over Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Girón (20-4, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Girón briefly staggered Schofield in round three, but overall Schofield was mostly in charge. Giron dropped Schofield in round eleven but Schofield recovered and finished the fight. Scores were 118-109, 118-109, 116-111.

“I feel good. It was my first time going 12 rounds, especially with a fighter that wasn’t going to back down,” said Schofield afterward. “It was a shot to the back of the head. I kind of turned my head, so he took the shot. I just had to get up, I’m not going to quit. (Talking about the knock down) I give myself a B+ only because I went 12 rounds with a fighter that had a lot of power. He’s a good, rough, tugged fighter that wouldn’t back down.”

In a WBA super middleweight eliminator, Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) scored a hard fought twelve round split decision over David “Dynamite” Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs). Scores were 116-112 for Stevens and 118-110, 117-111 for Melikuziev. Unfortunately for Bektemir, he missed weight yesterday and therefore will not reap the benefits of winning an eliminator.

In a historic clash for the undisputed female flyweight championship, undefeated IBF champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (15-0, 7 KOs) took the belts of WBA, WBC, WBO champion Gabriela “LA Chuky” Alaniz (15-2, 6 KOs) via seventh round knockout. Competitive fight until Fundora dropped Alaniz twice in round seven to end it. Time was 1:40.

Defending his WBA Intercontinental super middleweight title, undefeated Darius “DFG” Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) stopped Christopher Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs). Fulghum dropped Pearson in round one and punished Pearson until the bout was stopped by the referee in round three. Time was 1:02.

By Boxing Bob Newman
Photos: Bob Newman

In a highly anticipated rematch of their controversial July 6, 2024 fight, O’Shaquie Foster looked to right a wrong by recapturing his WBC super featherweight title from the man who controversially lifted it from him, Robson Conceição.

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If you didn’t have the privilege of seeing the first fight, it was evident from the first round that this was going to be a highly technical, skilled affair. While Conceição definitely brought his defensive skill set to this fight, he seemed to pick up his game offensively where he lacked in their previous match. Continue reading “Foster edges Conceição, regains WBC 130lb title”

In his third fight in less than 3 months, former WBC, WBO and IBO world title challenger Tommy Karpency (32-9, 20KOs) returned with another win on Saturday night after stopping journeyman Ulisses Jimenez (24-36, 18KOs) in the first round of a scheduled eight-rounder at the Berkeley 2000 Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

From the start, the southpaw Karpency landed combinations at will using his superior speed and skills. A straight left from Karpency sent Jimenez to the canvas a minute into the bout followed by a 2nd knockdown coming from a right hook to the head of Jimenez. After Jimenez beat the count again, Karpency dropped his opponent a 3rd time with a right hook to the body prompting referee Brian Hiles to halt the onslaught at 2:16 of the opening stanza. Continue reading “Karpency wins in WV, eyes Joe Smith Jr.”

In the 12 round super bantamweight main event of unbeatens, Shabaz Masoud (14-0, 4 KOs) defeated Liam Davies (16-1, 8 KOs) in a domestic showdown at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom. Davies applied steady pressure from the first bell while Masoud had his success boxing and moving. Davies was cut over his right eye in round 4. Masoud begain to stand his ground more in the middle rounds. Round 8 and 9 saw multiple heated exchanges with both fighters having their moments. Big round 10 for Masoud who landed mutiple headed snapping shots to Davies. Good two-way action by both in round 11. Prior to the start of round 12 Davies corner told him he needed a knockout to win and he did all he could but came up short. The divided crowd were on their feet at the bouts in. The official scores were 115-113 and 116-112 for Masoud and 115-113 for Davies. Split decision win for Masoud who won the IBO super bantamweight title. Frank Warren promoted the event.

Local favorite Yoka Valle (32-3, 10 KOs) of Costa Rica defeated Elizabeth Lopez (11-7-5, 2 KOs) of Mexico by ten round unanimous decision. Valle was credited with a knockdown of Lopez in round 2 which appeared to be a slip. Good two way action as Lopez was very game but Valle was more efficent. Valle won the WBC female minimum world title in her third attempt. The official scores were 100-89 and 98-91 twice. The event took place at the Camara de Ganaderos, Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

By Jeff Zimmerman

WBA #2 rated super lightweight contender Kenneth Simms Jr. gears up to take on one of his stiffest tests to date, Oscar Duarte, on Saturday, November 16th. The fight will take place at The Venue Riyadh Season, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Simms Jr discusses the fight and his goal for a world title shot in 2025 in the stacked 140 pound division. He also shared his happiness signing with Golden Boy and how he may surprised them with his ability to box and bang in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.