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The WBA Championships Committee has ordered negotiations for a middleweight world title fight between WBA champion Erislandy Lara and his mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa. Official communications were sent to both parties and that they have until February 15 to reach an agreement. In the event the parties cannot reach an agreement or one of them refuses to do so, the Committee may call for a purse bid with a purse split of 75% for the champion and 25% for the challenger.

Lara, 40, has been champion since May 1, 2021 and according to WBA rules he should have defended against the mandatory opponent after a period of nine months, which expired on February 1, 2022. Lara was allowed an optional defense against Gary O’Sullivan in 2022 and didn’t fight at all in 2023.

Heavyweight contender and Olympic silver medalist Joe “The Juggernaut” Joyce (15-2, 14 KOs) will return to action against Kash Ali (21-2, 12 KOs) on March 16 in Birmingham, England. According to TalkSPORT, the bout will take place on another one of promoter Frank Warren’s “Magnificent Seven” cards.

Reportedly, the full Magnificent Seven line-up is:

Nathan Heaney vs Brad Pauls (middleweight)
Liam Davies vs Erik Robles Ayala (super bantamweight)
Joe Joyce vs Kash Ali (heavyweight)
Sol Dacres vs David Adeleye (heavyweight)
Dennis McCann vs Brad Strand (super bantamweight)
Zach Parker vs Tyron Zeuge (super middleweight)
Eithan James vs Owen Cooper (welterweight)

2020 Olympic Silver medallist Ben “The Surgeon” Whittaker (5-0, 4 KOs) will look to steal the show as he returns to action on the undercard of the huge all-British showdown between unbeaten WBA #1 and #2 world-ranked light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez on Saturday, February 3rd at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. He takes on Swiss-based French fighter Khalid Graidia (10-13-5, 2 KOs) over eight rounds.

In other action, Adam Azim makes the first defense of his EBU European super lightweight title against undefeated former champion Enock Poulsen. Rising female featherweight Francesca Hennessy and heavyweight hope Jeamie TKV are also confirmed.

The WBA hampionships Committee has ordered an eliminator between #1 heavyweight Martin Bakole and highest available contender Cassius Chaney, who is sitting at WBA #7. The formal communication has been to both fighters’ teams, giving them 30 days to sign the bout contract and fight for the opportunity to become the next mandatory WBA challenger.

In the event that the parties do not reach an agreement, or either party refuses to sign the contract, the Championship Committee may open the fight to purse bid with a 50% purse split.

By Robert Coster

Smooth boxing Dominican WBA minimumweight world champion Erick “Mini-Pacman” Rosa (6-0, 2 KOs) has renounced his title as he plans to move up to the junior flyweight class.

The baby-faced 22-year-old Rosa, who won the WBA belt in only his fourth professional fight, said “My body has grown and now my desire is to acquire world title belts in the 108 and 112lb divisions.”

Rosa vacated the “regular” version of the WBA belt, leaving “super” champion Thammanoon Niyomtrongtha as the sole WBA 105lb beltholder.

WBC Statement: As it has been widely publicized, a sample collected from WBC [female] super featherweight world champion Alycia Baumgardner on July 12, 2023 in connection with her July 15, 2023 title defense against Christina Lnardatou in Detroit, Michigan yielded an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance (the “Adverse Finding”). In compliance with the governing WBC Rules & Regulations and WBC CBP Protocol, the WBC undertook an investigation of the specific circumstances, health concerns, and legal precedent surrounding the Finding. The WBC convened its Results Management Unit that included experts in scientific, nutrition, and legal matters to investigate, analyze, and evaluate all the available facts and evidence, and to recommend to the WBC how to proceed in that particular case. Continue reading “WBC puts Baumgardner on probation”

The heavyweight division will take further shape when WBO interim champion Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) defends his world title against former world champion Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) on the March 8 Joshua-Ngannou undercard at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Zhang is coming off two consecutive KO wins over Joe Joyce in 2023, while Parker upset former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in December.

In other bouts:

• WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas (36-1, 22 KOs) will make the first defense of his belt when he takes on #1 contender Nick Ball (19-0, 11 KOs).
• Unbeaten WBA #14, IBF #14, WBO #15 heavyweight Justis Huni (8-0, 4 KOs) will face TBA.
• Unbeaten lightweight Mark Chamberlain (14-0, 10 KOs) will challenge European champion Gavin Gwynne (17-2-1, 5 KOs).
• Cruiserweight Roman Fury (3-0, 1 KO), super welterweight Jack McGann (9-0-1, 6 KOs) and local super lightweight Ziyad Almaayouf (4-0, 1 KO) will also see action.

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou faced off at the kickoff press conference in London to announce their upcoming fight in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 8.

Anthony Joshua: “I will be ready to go once the first bell rings. I will approach this mission with laser focus until the job is complete. I am looking forward to returning to Riyadh and I would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the passion they have shown to myself and the sport of boxing.”

Francis Ngannou: “People have always doubted me and I always proved them wrong. It is clear I am a trouble for elite boxers and AJ should prepare himself for a battle because I am like nothing he has ever faced. It is going to be another spectacle for boxing fans in Riyadh, only this time I have no intention of leaving it in the hands of the judges.”

John Ryder believes he’s in with another top-level fighter in Jaime Munguia at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27, live worldwide on DAZN – but says that the unbeaten Mexican has weaknesses he can exploit.

Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) is back in action following his courageous effort against Canelo Alvarez in Guadalajara, Mexico in September. He now heads to Phoenix against unbeaten former super welterweight king and defending WBC silver super middleweight champion Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs).

Munguia thrilled fight fans in his last outing with Sergiy Derevyanchenko in June, with a 12th round knockdown proving the difference. Ryder knows Munguia is eyeing up his own clash with Canelo, but ‘The Gorilla’ believes Derevyanchenko exposed flaws in Munguia’s game that he can expose. Continue reading “Ryder: I rate Munguia … but he is vulnerable”

Lightweights Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) and George Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) will reportedly fight for the vacant IBF world title on May 12 at the 15,000-seat RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. ESPN announced that it will carry the fight, which will air on the night of May 11 in the U.S. It was also announced that the Moloney twins, Jason and Andrew, will appear on the undercard.

Unified WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev, boxing’s only undefeated world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, took care of business against Callum Smith on Saturday night in Quebec City. All eyes are now on an undisputed showdown between Beterbiev and WBA champion Dmitry Bivol.

“Yes, of course {I want the Bivol fight}. I need another belt. It would mean a lot to me,” said Beterbiev after the fight.

Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn told reporters this week that Bivol has already signed to fight Beterbiev in Saudi Arabia, but Beterbiev has to agree to his own deal to finalize the fight.

Beterbiev’s promoter Bob Arum confirmed that a Beterbiev-Bivol clash is in the pipeline.

“It’s not done yet, but absolutely we want to do it,” said Arum. “I’ll be talking to my friend, his Excellency Turki Alalshikh. I know he wants to do it, but Ramadan is coming. Ramadan ends sometime around the middle of April, so about three months after the end of Ramadan we’ll be ready to fight Bivol, probably in Riyadh.”

Unbeaten light heavyweight destroyer Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) defended his unified WBC/WBO/IBF world titles with a brutal seventh round KO against former super middleweight champion Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-2, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Smith boxed smartly but Beterbiev’s powerful punches caused damage whenever they landed. Beterbiev battered Smith in round four but Smith rallied later in the round. Beterbiev continued to punish Smith, who showed a great fighting heart. Beterbiev finally dropped Smith twice in round seven. After the second knockdown trainer Buddy McGirt entered the ring to stop the fight in case Smith would have beat the count. Time was 2:00.

Heavyweight Malik “The Ring King” Titus (10-1, 9 KOs) snapped the six fight win streak of Joey “The Tank” Dawejko (27-11-4, 15 KOs) by taking an eight round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dawejko stalked the 6’5 Titus the whole fight, but Titus stayed out of range and frustrated Dawejko with his long jab. Scores were 78-74, 78-74, 79-73.

Unbeaten NABF bantamweight beltholder Dylan Price (17-0, 11 KOs) was victorious when Gilberto Mendoza (20-18-4, 10 KOs) couldn’t continue after the end of the eighth round.

Other Results:
Rashad Bogar SD6 Fernando Bunch (super lightweight)
Antonio Dunton El Jr W6 Devin Gantt (featherweight)
Francisco Rodriguez KO1 Joseph Cole (lightweight)
Miguel Roman TKO3 Hector Becerra (super bantamweight)
Saud Clark W4 Henry Mendez (middleweight)
William Briscoe KO1 Alvin Davis (middleweight)

WBO bantamweight champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) scored a hotly contested twelve round majority decision over Saul Sanchez (20-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Close rounds with both fighters having their moments. Brutal toe-to-toe exchanges down the stretch. Scores were 114-114, 116-112, 116-112. Great fight!

Unbeaten WBC #1, WBA #1, IBF #3, WBO #5 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (26-0, 22 KOs) impressively scored a sixth round TKO over tough as nails Rohan Murdock (27-3, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec Canada. It was a firefight from the opening bell with Mbilli steadily breaking down the rugged Murdock. By round five it was target practice for Mbilli. Murdock gamely came out and finished round six before his corner pulled him out of the fight. Another impressive performance for Mbilli, who is knocking on Canelo’s door.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Imam Khataev (6-0, 6 KOs) stopped Michal Ludwiczak (17-13-1, 9 KOs) in round two. Khataev dropped Ludwiczak in the second stanza and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:17. Khataev claimed the NABF title with the win.

Other Results:
Leila Beaudoin W8 Elizabeth Chavez (female super featherweight)
Wilkens Mathieu W4 Jose Arias Alvarez (super middleweight)
Mehmet Unal TKO1 Dragan Lepei (light heavyweight)
Christopher Guerrero W8 Sergio Herrera (welterweight)
Moreno Fendero KO1 Victor Hugo Flores (super middleweight)

4’10 “Tiny” Tina Rupprecht (13-1-1, 3 KOs) outpointed and dethroned previously unbeaten WBC female atomweight champion Fabiana Bytyqi (20-1-2, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision over ten rounds on Saturday night at the Verti Music Hall in Berlin, Germany. Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

In what was billed as his final fight, 39-year-old German super welterweight favorite Ronny Gabel (30-8-1, 21 KOs) lost a twelve round majority decision to Ilias Essaoudi (22-2, 15 KOs) in a clash for the vacant WBO European title. Essaoudi won by scores of 114-114, 117-110, 118-110. The bout was a rematch of their clash in May that ended in a no-decision after an accidental headbutt.

The WBA Championships Committee has ordered a fight between WBA super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka and #1 rated John “Scrappy” Ramirez. Both parties have until February 12 to reach an agreement to make the fight. If no agreement is reached, the WBA will likely call for a purse bid with a split of 75% for Ioka and 25% for Ramirez.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) granted a special permit requested by Arsen Goulamirian to fight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for their super cruiserweight title. Goulamirian sent a formal request for the fight against Zurdo, to be held on March 16. The WBA granted Goulamirian permission to face Ramirez on the condition that the winner of the fight must fight #1 rated Yunier Dorticos within a period of no more than 120 days after the victory.

The WBO Championship Committee has denied a request by Disrupt Promotions to approve a fight between #1 junior lightweight Albert Bell and #3 Archie Sharp for an interim title and/or the winner be designated as the mandatory challenger for Emanuel Navarrete’s next title defense.

Due to his “super champion” status, Navarrete isn’t required to make a mandatory defense until February 2025, therefore the WBO ruled that at this time an interim title and/or elimination bout is not warranted or justified.

The Committee indicated that they may sanction Bell-Sharp for a regional title if the parties voluntarily agree to do so. In any event, both camps were strongly recommended to keep active.

Super featherweight Moussa Gholam (21-1, 12 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Lunga Sitemela (15-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Yas Links Golf Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Gholam dropped Sitemela with a hook to the liver to end it. Time was 1:23.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Mohammed Bekdash (27-0, 23 KOs) had to go the distance for the first time since 2017 with an eight round unanimous decision over Shaban Hamadi Jongo (11-4-2, 10 KOs). Southpaw Bekdash overcame a badly swollen left eye and an injured left hand to win 78-74, 77-75, 77-75.

Unbeaten lightweight Bader “The Master” Samreen (10-0, 8 KOs) edged Jeff Ofori (13-5-2, 4 KOs) over ten rounds, taking a majority decision by scores of 95-95, 96-94, 96-94.

Lightweight Fahad Al Bloushi (13-1, 3 KOs) was victorious when Milner Marcano (24-13, 20 KOs) remained on his stool after round six. Al Bloushi dropped Marcano in round six.

Agustin Mauro Gauto (21-1, 14 KOs) of Argentina stopped Ernesto Martinez (15-5-2, 8 KOs) of Venezuela in the third round on Friday night at the Biblioteca Popular Nicolas Avellaneda, in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Gaut caught Martinez with a left while the two were exchanging punches. Martinez remained on his feet but was hurt and taking a lot of punches from Gauto prompting Martinez’corner to throw in the towel.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It might be called “Night of Upsets” as we watched three new champions in five female title bouts on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. In the main event, fast-moving Rie Matsuda (7-1-1, 1 KO), a southpaw counterpuncher, surprisingly dethroned WBA, WBO atomweight champ Yoko Kuroki (22-8-2, 9 KOs), 101.5, by eking out a split decision (96-94, 97-94 for Matsuda, 94-96 for Kuroki) over ten speedy rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Kuroki, 32, kept stalking the elusive footworker, 29, all the way with Matsuda occasionally countering the willing mixer. The verdict seemed controversial since Kuroki was an aggressor in almost all rounds, while Matsuda kept circling and only occasionally countering the aggressive champ. Kuroki may deserve a rematch. Continue reading “Matsuda dethrones WBA, WBO female 102lb champ Kuroki”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten WBO female junior bantam champ Mizuki Hiruta (6-0, 2 KOs), 113.75, proved too powerful and aggressive for 38-year-old Korean legendary ex-champ Ji-Hyun Park (26-4, 8 KOs), 112.25, halting Park at 1:45 of the sixth round in a scheduled ten on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Hiruta, 27, a strong southpaw puncher with a good amateur mark, scored her second defense with ease as she battered ex-WIBA atomweight titlist Park from all angles from the outset. Having her groggy and exhausted, Hiruta accelerated her attack so that the ref promptly made an intervention to save the 38-year-old Park from further punishment. Continue reading “Hiruta stops Park, keeps WBO female 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten southpaw puncher Sumire Yamanaka (8-0, 3 KOs), 101, captured the IBF female atomweight belt as she kept battering defending champ and compatriot Mika Iwakawa (12-7-1, 4 KOs), 101.5, to win a unanimous decision (97-93, 96-94, 99-91) over ten two-minute rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The 22-year-old Sumire, the younger sister of ex-WBO minimum champ Ryuya Yamanaka, became the very first in Japan that the brother and sister both acquired the world championship belts. Sumire, a short but stout-built southpaw hard-puncher, took the initiative with southpaw right hooks all the way despite the 40-year-old Iwakawa’s too late retaliation down the stretch. Continue reading “Yamanaka becomes first Japanese sister/brother world champ”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Veteran Japanese Terumi Nuki (14-5, 10 KOs), 117, acquired the female WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight belt by lopsidedly halting India’s Monica Singh (4-1, 2 KOs), 117.25, at 0:17 into the sixth and final session on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Nuki, more powerful and aggressive, dropped the taller Indian twice with body shots prior to the referee’s well-timed stoppage.

Unheralded Mayumi Nakano (6-1, 3 KOs), 104.5, upset defending titlist Riyuna Yoshikawa (6-2-1, 1 KO), 104.75, by an eight-round majority decision (77-75 twice, 76-76) to wrest the WBO AP 105-pound belt in the champ’s second defense.

Continue reading “Nuki, Nakano win female WBO AP belts”