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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.

Undefeated welterweight Tahmir Smalls (12-0, 8 KOs) kept his perfect professional record intact with a hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Seantorious Martin (10-1, 6 KOs) on Friday night at the Red Owl Boxing Arena in Houston, Texas.

The 25-year-old Smalls, who held a significant three-inch reach advantage over Martin, worked well behind his jab early and often at the urging of his trainer and father Lawrence Smalls. The strategy paid off as the three judges’ scorecards saw Smalls winning the fight 77-75, 77-75 and 78-74. Continue reading “Smalls defeats Martin to stay unbeaten”

Two-time world title challenger Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (18-2-1, 9 KOs) scored a fourth round knockout over Christian Rubio Mino (24-10-2, 17 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Ortiz, rated IBF #15 at junior welterweight, dropped Mino once in each of the four rounds. In round four, Mino deducted a point for tackling Ortiz. Moments later, Ortiz dropped Mino again to end it. Time was 2:00.

“This victory is a huge step forward for me,” stated Ortiz. “Securing the WBA Continental USA title shows that all my hard work and commitment are paying off. It’s a great feeling to add this belt to my journey, and I’m just getting started. I’m ready to face all the champions in the division. Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela is at the top of my hit list, but I want everyone. My goal is to keep climbing and prove that I belong with the best at 140 pounds. I want to make my mark on this division and move one step closer to a world title.” Continue reading “Ortiz annihilates Mino in four”

Alejandro Paulino 134.5 vs. Toka Kahn 135
Kevin Walsh 129 vs. Irvin Gonzalez 130
Jacob Marrero 137 vs. Placido Hoff 132
Mike Kimbel 147 vs. Sebastian Chaves 143
Stevie Jane Coleman 144 vs. Suzanne Griffin 144
Cassius Chaney 270 vs. Onoriode Ehwarieme 226
Amelia Moore 139.5 vs. Michaele Nogue 140
Carlos Nunez 122 vs. Anthony Elliotti 123
Jeff Gonzalez 148 vs. Robert DeGaetano 149
Douglas Marroquin 162 vs. Travis Floyd 161
Joseph Chisholm 125 vs. Semaj Flextcher 121
Kevante Wineglass 145 vs. Jesus Salas 145

Venue: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Promoter: CES Boxing
TV: SwerveTV

Local light heavyweight Padraig McCrory (19-1, 9 KOs) scored a ten round decision over Leonard Carrillo (17-6, 16 KOs) on Friday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Coming off a KO defeat against Edgar Berlanga, McCrory dropped Carrillo in round one, but was forced to go the full ten, winning by a 98-91 margin.

In the co-main event, welterweight Robbie Davies Jr. (25-5, 15 KOs) scored a ten round decision over former two-weight world champion Javier Fortuna (38-5-1, 27 KOs). Fortuna dropped Davies in round ten, but came up short in a 95-94 referee’s verdict.

Floyd Schofield 134.4 vs. Rene Tellez Giron 134.4
(WBA international lightweight title)

Bektemir Melikuziev 170 vs. David Stevens 167.4
(WBA super middleweight eliminator)
*Melikuziev not eligible for title eliminator

Gabriela Fundora 111 vs. Gabriela Alaniz 110.4
(WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF female flyweight titles)

Darius Fulghum 167 vs. Christopher Pearson 166.4
Joel Iriarte 146.4 vs. Xavier Madrid 147
Eric Tudor 145.8 vs. Harold Calderon 146.6
Asa Stevens 125 vs. Garen Diagan 125
Dalis Kaleiopu 130.8 vs. Manuel Lerma 131.8
Jordan Fuentes 119 vs. Roberto Pena 119.8

Venue: The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

By Boxing Bob Newman

Robson Conceição 129.7 vs O’Shaquie Foster 129.9
(WBC super featherweight title)

Raymond Muratalla 136.6 vs Jesus Perez 136.2
Yan Santana 126.8 vs Eduardo Baez 125.7
Abraham Nova 131.4 vs Humberto Galindo 131.3
Jahi Tucker 161.8 vs Quilisto Madera 161.8
Damian Knyba 259.1 vs Richard Lartey Harrison 288
Bryce Mills 139.8 vs Mike Ohan, Jr. 140.7
Ali Feliz 224.1 vs Orlando Rashad Coulter 252.1

Venue: Turning Stone Resort & Casino Events Center
Commission: Oneida Indian Nation Athletic Commission
Promoter: Bob Arum (Top Rank)
Matchmaker: Brad Goodman
Media: ESPN+

Gets JBC 115lb mandatory shot

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

JBC#1 super fly Kantaro Juri (7-0-2, 2 KOs), 114.5, and JBC#2 Jinya Yamaguchi (5-0-1, 2 KOs), 114.75, battled to a split draw (77-75, 75-77, 76-76) in an eliminator for #1 over eight busily see-saw heats on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan, but Yamaguchi was awarded a right to advance to the Japanese 115-pound mandatory shot against national champ Suzumi Watanabe (8-0, 7 KOs) in the Carnival of Champions next year. It was a give-and-take encounter of the southpaws, and Juri at first had the upper hand with solid left crosses, but it was Yamaguchi that displayed his last surge to take the initiative down the stretch. The 76-76 judge was forced to take one out of the contestants and took Yamaguchi due to his superior aggressiveness.

WBA #15 flyweight Daiya Kira (2-0, 2 KOs; amateur 46-6, 16 stoppages), 112, scored a one-punch knockout over Venezuelan Orlando Pino (15-3, 9 KOs), 111.5, with a wicked left to the belly at 1:19 of the opening session in a scheduled eight.

Former WBO AP 130-pound champ Musashi Mori (15-1-1, 7 KOs), 134.5, was awarded a technical decision (all 79-72) over Chinese bull fighter Peng Huang (10-10-3, 5 KOs), 134.5, at 0:58 of the eighth and final session. After a long layoff since last June Mori bled so profusely from a gash at the right cheek caused by an accidental butt that the referee called an intervention to eventually take a technical decision.

Continue reading “Yamaguchi draws with Juri”

On Tuesday, October 29 the IBF received notification that IBF junior bantamweight champion Fernando Martinez was vacating his IBF title. In a letter addressed to President Daryl Peoples, Martinez thanked Peoples for the opportunity to represent the organization with honor and respect since he earned the title in February of 2022. In turn, the IBF wished Martinez continued success and all the best in his future endeavors.

Tahmir Smalls 147.6 vs. Seantorious Martin 147.2
Dion Jones 139.8 vs. Elijah Williams 145
Joshafat Ortiz 128.8 vs. Travis Crawford 128.6
Nosa Divine Nehikhare 181.6 vs. Saundre Simmons 182.2
Steve Cunningham Jr. 156 vs. Rudy Reveles 154.6
Gustavo Rivera Rio 130.8 vs. Joseph Cruz 128.6
Santana Draper 145.4 vs. Keith Foreman 146.2

Venue: Red Owl Boxing Arena, Houston, Texas
Promoter: Red Owl Boxing
TV: DAZN

By David Finger

In what would be a historic day for the WBO and the sport of boxing, the final day of the 37th Annual World Boxing Organization Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico concluded with the resignation and retirement of WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel and the emergence of a new President in Gustavo Olivieri Miranda, an energetic and young attorney who had worked as a defense attorney and as in-house counsel for the WBO for the last seven years.

Also at hand to celebrate the career of President Valcarcel and offer congratulations to the new incoming WBO president were the presidents of the other three major sanctioning organizations. Continue reading “37th Annual WBO Convention Final Day”

Golden Boy Promotions hosted a final press conference today ahead of the return of undefeated lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. (17-0, 12 KOs) against Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Girón (20-3, 13 KOs) on Saturday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, streamed worldwide on DAZN.

Floyd Schofield: “I’m ready to fight. The preparation was difficult, we had a hard training camp but I’m ready to show what I’m capable of on Saturday…I’d like to thank Rene for taking the fight, but I hope he’s ready to give his life in that ring like I am.”

Rene Tellez Giron: “I’m so excited for my first main event fight in Las Vegas. I’m ready, thanks again for being here. The truth is that I’m super happy. I just fought in Vegas, but now I’m the main event. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. I’m super happy and grateful.”

Jamaine Ortiz 140 vs. Christian Mino 139.8
(WBA Continental USA jr. welterweight title)

Kaipo Gallegos 129.4 vs. Iron Alvarez 130
Alexander Rios Vega 135.2 vs. Felix Santana Jr 135
Chavez Barrientes 121.8 vs. Noah Contreras 121.4
Tayre Jones 142.2 vs. Willmank Brito 141.6
John Laryea 126 vs. Alejandro Majia 126.2
Marcus Harris 118.6 vs. Jesus Martinez 119.4
Miguel Diaz 167.4 vs. Caleb Hall 167.8
Tristan Gallichan 137.2 vs. Malik Lewis 136.6
Danilo Diez 139.6 vs. Adam Hach 134.4
Zayveon Mitchell 121.6 vs. Jose Fernandez 120

Venue: Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Boxlab Promotions
TV: DAZN

Josniel Castro 153 vs. Denzel Whitley 153
Kevin Nagle (266 vs. Jake Paradise 248
Dan Docimo 148 vs. Jaequez Jones 142
Edwine Humaine, Jr. 156 vs. Jimmy Williams 152
Khiary Gray 156 vs. Daniel Sostre 160
Justin Laporte 150 vs. Rakim Johnson 155
Jhon Devers Rodriguez 160 vs. Tymar Miles 156
Adrian Valdez Reyes 150 vs. Tracey Coppedge 157

Venue: DCU Event Center in Worcester, Massachusetts
Promoter: Granite Chin Promotions
TV: Bxngtv.com