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By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Super featherweight Kenneth Taylor (14-2, 3 KOs), fighting out of Tyler, TX showed off his fancy footwork and array of punches to outwork Jorge Ramos (8-5, 1 KO) from Laredo over eight entertaining rounds in the main event Friday night at College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. Taylor got off to a fast start in round one and dropped Ramos with a big right hand. Ramos recovered and over the next several rounds went toe to toe with Taylor. Taylor switched gears over the second half and used his legs and threw punches from different angles to keep the hard charging Ramos at bay. Taylor punctuated the night with a big flurry to end the fight and won a unanimous decision going away by scores of 79-72, 80-71 and 79-72. Continue reading “Taylor tops Ramos in Arlington, TX”

By Héctor Villarreal

Panamanian lightweight prospect Jonathan Miniel (4-0, 4 KOs) overcame a knockdown to stop Colombian Luis Fabra (7-6,4 KOs) on the main event of the “Boxeo del Patio” show promoted by Laguna Premium on Friday night to wrap up the boxing season in Panama.

Miniel sent Fabra to the canvas in round one but a strong right hook by the Colombian surprisingly knocked the local down in the second. With the scorecards even, Miniel trapped Fabra in a neutral corner with powerful combinations, forcing the visitor to put a knee on the canvas for the 10 count. Refeee Héctor Afú called the KO at 1:39 of round 3. Continue reading “Miniel overcomes adversity, stays unbeaten”

Featherweight Kevin Barron Crespo (13-1, 9 KOs) defeated Hector Garcia Dolores (10-8, 5 KOs) in the eight round main event on Friday night. The show took place at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Garcia was credited with a knockdown of Crespo in the eighth and final round. However, Crespo was in control of the bout overall in route to winning by way of unanimous decision . There were no official scores read.

Popular YouTuber-turned-cruiserweight boxer Jake Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) annihilated Andre August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Paul connected with a vicious uppercut that laid August out flat on his back. Time was 2:32.

In a grudge match for the WBC world and WBA interim female super middleweight titles, former undisputed champ Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Shadasia Green (13-1, 11 KOs). Crews-Dezurn, an 8:1 underdog, was simply busier as she pulled away 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

Unbeaten super welterweight Yoenis Tellez (7-0, 6 KOs) scored a brutal tenth round knockout over Livan Navarro (15-2, 9 KOs). Tellez dropped Navarro in round three and knocked him out cold with a left hook in round ten. Time was 1:21.

Unbeaten heavyweight Lorenzo Medina (9-0, 8 KOs) recovered from a second round knockdown to stop Joshua Temple (12-3, 10 KOs) in round six. A barrage of punches prompted a referee’s stoppage. Time was :29.

Video of an altercation at the WBA Convention in Orlando is virally making the rounds on social media. Turns out that after a heated disagreement over mandatory bouts and interim titles, the parties took the issue outside where the son of WBA #1 middleweight Michael Zerafa’s manager Elvis Grant Phillips allegedly spit in the face of promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. Parties had to be kept apart after a huge argument erupted with ring legend Bernard Hopkins and WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza getting involved.

Lewkowicz, who has since filed battery charges with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office over the incident, issued a statement to clarify that Zerafa himself was in no way involved in the altercation.

Jesse Rodriguez 111.6 vs. Sunny Edwards 111.6
(WBO and IBF Flyweight unification)

Murodjon Akhmadaliev 121.6 vs. Kevin Gonzalez 121
(WBA super bantamweight eliminator)

Galal Yafai 111.8 vs. Rocco Santomauro 111.4
Peter McGrail 121.6 vs. Ja’rico O’Quinn 122
Arturo Cardenas 123.4 vs. Carlos Mujica 122
Junaid Bostan 155.2 vs. Gordie Russ Ii 155.2
Albert Gonzalez 127.2 vs. Alexis Molina 126.2
Joe McGrail 125.8 vs. Edgar Ortiz Jr. 123

Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

David Morrell Jr. 167.6 vs. Sena Agbeko 167
(WBA super middleweight title)

Chris Colbert 134.6 vs. Jose Valenzuela 134
(WBA lightweight title eliminator)

Robert Guerrero 148.2 vs. Andre Berto 148.2

Alberto Puello 143 vs. Ector Madera 143.2
Kyrone Davis 161.4 vs. Cruse Stewart 160
Lawrence King 182.2 vs. Alex Theran 182.4

Venue: The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Promoter: TGB Promotions, Warriors Boxing
TV: Showtime, YouTube/Facebook

Ring legend Roy Jones Jr., now a trainer and promoter, will have a selection of his prized fighters headline a January 25 fight card at Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington. In the main event, undefeated Yakima-born Andrew Murphy (7-0, 5 KOs) will fight in a ten-round super middleweight bout. Female welterweight champion Ikram Kerwat (13-3, 5 KOs) will fight in the co-main event. The third of Jones’ fighters on the card is former Commonwealth Games and Asian Games Silver Medalist, lightweight Mandeep Jangra (6-0, 4 KOs). Opponents are TBA. Promoted by Roy Jones Jr. Boxing, tickets, priced at $60, $50 and $40, are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Legends Casino Gift Shop or on-line at Ticketmaster.

Sandor Martin 140.6 vs. Mohamed El Marcouchi 139.3
Francesco Grandelli 125.5 vs. Stefan Voda 125.5
Maxim Prodan 147 vs. Miguel Cesario Antin 149
Biagio Grimaldi139.1 vs. Darwin El Badaouy 137.7

Venue: Palasport Le Cupole, Turin, Italy
Promoter: OPI Since 82 (Cherchi family) in association with Top Rank
TY: DAZN (Italy and Spain) 08:30 pm local time, ESPN+ 02:30 pm ET, ESPN Latino, TVP (Poland),
Diema Sport (Bulgaria), SK Fight (Ex Jugoslavia)

Unbeaten super bantamweight Jose “Tito” Sanchez (12-0, 7 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Walter Santibanes (12-3, 2 KOs) on Thursday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Sanchez went ten tough rounds with the rugged Santibanes, winning 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.

Unbeaten middleweight Eric Priest (12-0, 8 KOs) blew away Paul Mendez (21-5-2, 11 KOs) in the first round. Priest dropped Mendez in round one and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:09. Continue reading “Tito Sanchez still unbeaten”

In a clash of former heavyweight title challengers, Kubrat Pulev (30-3, 14 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Andrezej Wasrzyk (34-3, 20 KOs) on Thursday night at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California. Pulev pressed the action and kept a jab in Wasrzyk’s face. Wasrzyk fought in spurts and usually moved in reverse. Pulev scored knockdowns in round six and round eight. Scores were 99-89, 100-88, 100-88.

Pulev, 42, previously challenged for the WBA/IBF/WBO belts against Wladimir Klitshko in 2014 and again against Anthony Joshua in 2020. Wawrzyk, 36, challenged Alexander Povetkin for the WBA belt in 2013.

* * *

Former world title challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas (24-2-1, 19 KOs) scored a third round KO over Jose Marruffo (14-13-2, 2 KOs) in a super welterweight fight. Kavaliauskas dropped Marruffo in round two, but moments later was cut over the left eye by an accidental headbutt. Kavaliauskas dropped Marruffo again in round three to end it. Time was 2:10.

Full Report

By Héctor Villarreal

Puerto Rican Jedrier Reyes-Cosme (6-0, 3 KOs) and Colombian Juan Coronel (6-2, 5 KOs collide for the WBA Continental championship in lhe light flyweight division, Friday night in the main event of the international card promoted by Laguna Premium Boxing at the Combat Center to wrap up the 2023 boxing season in Panama.

In the co-main event, unbeaten Panamanian light weight, Jonathan Miniel (3-0, 3 KOs) faces Colombian Luis Fabra (7-5, 4 KOs).

The weigh in ceremony was held at Hooters restaurant on Thursday afternoon.

Jedrier Reyes 106.75 vs Juan Coronel 107
Jonathan Miniel 137 vs Luis Fabra 133
Angel Bethancourt 113 vs Aris Rodríguez 108
Hugo Vásquez 122 vs Eliécer Arcia 122.5
Jeffrey Martínez 120 vs Carlos Bonilla 119
Pedro Veitía156 vs Addir Sánchez 159
Yaneth Otero 124.5 vs Yaremis Reluz 122.5
Adrián Morales 131.25 vs Yovani Casasola 132
First fight 7:30 pm.

WBO flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and IBF champion Sunny Edwards faced off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s unification battle at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, live worldwide on DAZN.

Jesse Rodriguez: “I said yesterday though that on social media he likes to talk but in person he doesn’t. If I didn’t want this fight, I wouldn’t be here. We wanted it and that’s why we’re here. I am going to do you like Julio Cesar Martinez did to your brother…my hand will be raised in victory, and I am taking his belt, his ‘0’ and it’s time…Bam Rodriguez, unified champion on Saturday night.”

Sunny Edwards: “The reason I laid off you was I know how hard it was to get you and your team to accept this fight. You didn’t want this fight. On Saturday night you are going to be like your brother, retired. You have no heart for this…everyone says ‘game plan, game plan, game plan’ but it all goes out of the window when you can’t lay a glove on me. Facts. I’m not worried about this kid.”

Undefeated WBA super middleweight champion and challenger Sena Agbeko went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in the Showtime main event this Saturday at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

David Morrell Jr: “When you disrespect me, you’re gonna suffer. When you talk like that to my face, now it’s time for the punishment. I’m going to knock his ass out in the sixth or seventh round this Saturday night. My Christmas present for him is gonna be a knockout. I was ready for him in April and I’m ready for him now. I’ll show him and anyone who doubts me…it’s going to be worse for him now. I’m better now than if we had fought in April. I’m taking him right out now.”

Sena Agbeko: “I truly believe that his team thinks I’m a sheep coming to the slaughter house. But they don’t know that I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing…this will be the culmination of everything I’ve ever dreamed of. It’s been a long 12 years. I’ve trained the whole time like I’m fighting for a world title. To win this fight Saturday night will mean everything to me. I want to add my name to a long line of Ghanaian champions.”

The press conference also featured lightweight contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, who meet in a 12-round WBA eliminator, plus former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto, who square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch.

Chris Colbert: “He’s a sore loser, but he comes to fight. He’s gonna come to fight. I want to prove to the world and to his fans that he didn’t win. I’m gonna come dominate. I want him to take his loss like a man.”

Jose Valenzuela: “I’m gonna knock this clown out. It’s over for him. I can see in his eyes that he’s scared. He said he had different plans after the first fight. But he had to come back here to face me.”

* * *

Robert Guerrero:  “We’re ready to go…the last time we fought, I was really a 135-pounder fighting at 147. I’ve grown into the weight now. It’s gonna be a lot different match now. ”

Andre Berto: “I shouldn’t have even stepped into the ring against Guerrero when we first fought. I’m on a revenge tour now before I leave this game…I wasn’t in the right space mentally or physically when we first fought. I only gained four pounds after the weigh-in. Even then he barely beat me.”

Jake Paul 199.4 vs. Andre August 198.6
Shadasia Green 167.2 vs. Franchon Crews Dezurn 167.6
(WBC/WBA female super middleweight title)
Yoenis Tellez 153.6 vs. Livan Navarro 153.8
Lorenzo Medina 244.4 vs. Joshua Temple 221.8
Elijah Flores 149 vs. Javier Mayoral 148
Alex Gouache 116.4 vs. Clayton Ward 116.6
Zachary Randolph 186.8 vs. Michael Manna 191

Venue: Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Most Valuable Promotions
TV: DAZN

Saturday night’s scheduled matchup between WBC flyweight world champion Julio Cesar Martinez and unbeaten Angelino Cordova has been postponed. Martinez experienced visa issues trying to enter the country, forcing the bout to be rescheduled for next year. The fight had been set to take place on the final Showtime Championship Boxing telecast headlined by undefeated WBA super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. against Sena Agbeko from The Armory in Minneapolis. The telecast will continue as a tripleheader.

Lightweight contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela will meet in a 12-round WBA eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, while former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.

IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (20-0, 4 KOs) believes he’s unbeatable when he is at his best – and plans to prove that in his unification battle with WBO champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (18-0, 11 KOs) at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

“I don’t have to overthink it; I know the best of me is capable of beating anyone at this weight and the weights above,” said Edwards. “After I beat Bam, I feel there’s a lot more still to come. That’s the first step, unified champion of the world, it sounds good. Bam has got quick hands, good feet, heavy hands as well. He’s a great fighter, but he’s not been in with me yet. Continue reading “Edwards: I am genuinely raring to go”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Teiken Promotions of Japan has announced a couple of deluxe shows in January and February. On January 23, at Edion Arena Osaka, Osaka, WBA, WBC 108-pound champion Kenshiro Teraji will defend his belt against ex-WBA titlist Carlos Canizales over twelve. Artem Dalakian, Ukraine, will put his WBA flyweight belt on the line against former Japanese champ Seigo Yuri Akui in the semi-final. Sensational prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa will participate in his third pro bout against world rated Mexican Luis Robles Pacheco over a super bantam eight.

On February 24, at Ryogoku Sumo Arena, Tokyo, former WBO 115-pound champ Junto Nakatani will challenge WBC bantam ruler Alejandro Santiago over twelve. WBA bantam titleholder Takuma Inoue, the Monster Naoya’s brother, will risk his title against ex-IBF super fly ruler Jerwin Ancajas over twelve. In pursuit of the vacant WBO junior bantam belt lately renounced by Nakatani, #1 Kosei Tanaka and #2 Christian Bacasegua, Mexico, will exchange gloves over twelve. We may experience a very hot night in winter.

More Photos

WBA #14 super lightweight Batyrzhan Jukembayev (22-1, 16 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over Mohamed Mimoune (23-4, 4 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Jukembayev staggered Mimoune in round four en route to a 98-92, 98-92, 99-91 win.

Unbeaten lightweight Kelvin Davis (11-0, 6 KOs), brother of Olympic medalist Keyshawn Davis, scored a controversial eight round unanimous decision over journeyman Clarence Booth (21-9, 13 KOs). Booth pressed the action and Davis mostly moved and held with limited engagement. Both fighters were deducted point for wrestling themselves (and the referee) to the canvas. Scores were 78-72, 79-71, 79-71 for the A-side. The fans booed.

In a clash between undefeated light heavyweights fan-favorite Najee Lopez (8-0, 7 KOs) Yildo Depestre (7-0, 5 KOs). Lopez dropped Depestre at the end of round one and finished him with a barrage of punches in round three. Time was :48.

Unbeaten super featherweight Dominic Valle (8-0, 7 KOs) stopped Jensel Lausa (11-2, 7 KOs) with a body shot in round two.

Kubrat Pulev 257 vs Andrezej Wasrzyk 247
Tervel Pulev 207 vs Dionardo Minor 209
Luke Santamaria 146.6 vs Cameron Krael 147
Rene Moreno 131.6 vs Diuhl Olguin 128
Nate Palencia 139 vs Dorian Mendez 140
Daniel Park 129.8 vs Humberto Duarte 130.8
Dan Hernandez 133 vs Parley Jessop 133.6
Egidijus Kavaliauskas 152.6 vs Jose Marruffo 156.2
Samuel Arnold 167.2 vs Andres Martinez 167
Victor Slavinskyl 130 vs Darel Harros 129.2

Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Englebrecht Promotions
TV: Fite.tv PPV and Bulgaria Television
First bout 6pm PST

Peter Kahn, President of Fight Game Advisors, has announced today the signing of undefeated featherweight prospect John Laryea, (12-0-1, 10 KOs), from the boxing rich country of Ghana. Ranked #15 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), the 23-year-old Laryea has already claimed victory in four bouts scheduled for twelve rounds. Most recently he defended the WBO African Featherweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Gabriel Odoi Laryea (no relation) on October 7, 2023 at the famed Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.

Jose Sanchez 124.8 vs. Walter SANTIBAnES 124.4
Eric Priest 161.4 vs. Paul Mendez 160
Jorge Chavez 123.6 vs. Jerson Ortiz 123.8
Ricardo Ruvalcaba 141.6 vs. Irvin Macias 142
Justin Figueroa 153.4 vs. Jerome Clayton 154
Fabian Guzman 155 vs. Rueben Johnson 153

Venue: Fantasy Springs Resort/Casino, Indio, California
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Former world champion Alberto Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) will return to take on fellow unbeaten Ector Madera (11-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight showdown as they headline the final Showtime Boxing Countdown show this Saturday from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Action live on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and Showtime Boxing Facebook page will also feature middleweights Kyrone Davis (17-3-1, 6 KOs) and Cruse Stewart (8-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round attraction, plus light heavyweight contender Lawrence King (13-1, 11 KOs) duels Alex Theran (23-12, 15 KOs) in a six-round fight.

These fights precede a four-fight Showtime Championship Boxing telecast headlined by undefeated WBA super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. battling Sena Agbeko.

Opi Since 82 (Cherchi family) in association with Top Rank will present an interesting six-bout card this Saturday from the Palasport Le Cupole in Turin, Italy. The main attraction is WBC #1 super lightweight Sandor Martin, who is now the official mandatory challenger for WBC’s recently crowned 140lb champion Devin Haney. Martin (41-3, 14 KOs), is best known for upsetting and retiring Mikey Garcia in 2021, and losing a controversial split decision against Teofimo Lopez 12 months ago. He will face Mohamed El Marcouchi (29-3, 12 KOs).

The bout will have global coverage on ESPN+ in the USA and Canada, DAZN in Italy and Spain, ESPN Latino in Latin America, TVP1 Poland, and many other countries.