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By Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman´s son

This is the WBC 2023 Year in Pictures, enjoy and remember the good times and sensational year we all had in boxing.

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Super lightweight knockout Artist Cain Sandoval (11-0, 11 KOs) will face a tough test in a scheduled ten-round clash against Javier ‘El Intocable’ Molina, (22-5, 9 KOs) on February 23 at the Chumash Casino Resort and broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass. Sandoval-Molina serves as the chief support to the ten-round battle between undefeated welterweight Gor Yeritsyan (17-0, 14 KOs) and Quinton Randall (13-1-1, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas title.

By Oliver Duetschler

Unbeaten super featherweight Angelo Pena (8-0, 6 KOs) secured the vacant IBO Continental title on “Boxing Day 2023” at the Kursaal Arena in Berne, Switzerland. In an impressive fight, Pena stopped his French opponent Sofiane Takoucht (37-6-1, 13 KOs) by knockout in the fifth round. Pena dominated the action in the ring right from the start. He puts the former EBU European champion Takoucht, 38, under pressure with precise punch combinations. Pena impressively won his first title in his eighth fight. Promoter and manager Leander Strupler (Swiss Pro Boxing) is delighted with his well-deserved success and announced that the 29-year-old Pena will be back in action soon.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese prospect WBA#15 light fly Kanamu Sakama (9-0, 8 KOs), 108.75, withstood opening attacks of Filipino hard-puncher John Paul Gabunilas (10-3, 7 KOs), 107.25, and finally halted him with the referee’s intervention at 2:35 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight beneath the Inoue-Tapales undisputed unification bout on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Gabunilas came back from a shocking first round defeat by Miel Fajardo in an OPBF title bout for the vacant 108-pound belt this August, but couldn’t deck his first appearance here in Japan. Continue reading “WBA #15 Sakama halts Gabunilas”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten KO artist, ex-OPBF 122-pound champ WBA#10 bantam Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs), 120.25, sank Mexican Mario Diaz (21-7, 9 KOs), 120, with a single southpaw left to the belly at 2:23 of the second round in a scheduled eight under the Inoue-Tapales show on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Takei, a lanky ex-martial arts fighter, had renounced his OPBF belt to move down to the bantam category to follow up his stable mate Inoue’s bantam relinquishment. Takei’s Juan Martin Coggi-like Latigo (whiplash) long left uppercut was a haymaker. Continue reading “Takei sinks M. Diaz”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Ghanan-Japanese IBF#8 junior welter Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs), 142, decked Mexican Sebastian Diaz (18-7-1, 13 KOs), 141, with a southpaw right in round one, lopsidedly battered him from all angles and stopped him at 1:07 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Andy went to Ghana, his father Justice’s native place, and was training well at Azumah Nelson’s gym for months and came home to appear here after a one-year hiatus. The six-footer Andy had recently renounced his WBO AP and Japanese national 140-pound belts to pursue a world championship. Continue reading “IBF #8 Andy Hiraoka stops S. Diaz”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten puncher WBA#3 Seiya Tsutsumi (10-0-2, 7 KOs), 117.75, barely kept his Japanese national bantamweight belt as he dropped JBC#3 previously unbeaten speedster Kazuki Anaguchi (6-1, 2 KOs), 117.75, but had a tough time coping with his fast combinations, edging him by a close but unanimous decision (94-92 twice, 95-91) over ten hard-fought rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Former amateur star Anaguchi had the upper hand except in four rounds when he hit the deck four times with the champ’s busy and persistent combos in rounds four, seven, nine and ten. Exhausted after such a furious give-and-take affair, Anaguchi was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Continue reading “Tsutsumi barely keeps Japanese 118lb belt”

Former world title challenger and current WBA #4 middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (36-5-1, 15 KOs) will go against Nicolas Hernandez (27-7-3, 12 KOs) in a ten round fight on Friday night from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The card will be a $19.99 PPV streamed all over the world on TrillerTV (formerly FITE.TV).

In another ten-rounder, welterweight Michael Anderson (23-3-1, 17 KOs) meets Eudy Bernardo (25-6, 18 KOs). Fighting in an eight-round bout will be popular heavyweight Kristian Prenga (14-1, 14 KOs) against Christopher Arnold (5-3, 5 KOs).

Continue reading “Still more boxing in 2023”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

“Monster” Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), 121.75, impressively collected the four championship belts as he, WBC, WBO titleholder, finally caught up with WBA, IBF ruler Marlon Tapales (37-4, 19 KOs), 121.5, and dropped him with a devastating right for the count at 1:02 of the tenth round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue, in round four, floored Tapales with a solid combination of a left-right followed by a vicious left hook, and we thought it would be a matter of time for the Monster to finish it soon. But Tapales survived and displayed his gameness and durability to make it a longer fight than expected.

The tenth, however, witnessed Naoya turn loose and connect a direct strong right without a left lead, which had Tapales reeling backward and down with the ropes behind him. The Filipino southpaw was unable to beat the count. Continue reading ““Monster” Inoue becomes undisputed 122lb champ”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Prior to tomorrow’s undisputed unification bout, the weigh-in ceremony took place on Monday in Yokohama, Japan. WBC, WBO super bantam champion Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs), Japan, tipped the beam at 121.75, a quarter pound lighter than the class limit, while WBA, IBF ruler Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs), Philippines, scaled in at 121.5 pounds. Each looked in good shape to make us expect a great fight. Bob Arum, 92, CEO of Top Rank Inc., was in attendance.

The officials are as follows:

Referee Celestino Ruiz (US), judges Robin Taylor (US), Raul Caiz Jr. (US), Craig Metcalfe (Canada).

Supervisors: Michael George (US, WBC), Jose Oliver Gomez (Panama, WBA), Ben Keilty (Australia, IBF), Leon Panoncillo (US, WBO).

The undercard weigh-in results were as follows:

Japanese bantamweight title bout
Defending champion Seiya Tsutsumi (9-0-2, 7 KOs) 117.75
JBC#3 Kazuki Anaguchi (6-0, 2 KOs) 117.75

IBF#8 super light Andy Hiraoka (22-0, 17 KOs) 142
Sebastian Diaz (Mexico; 18-6-1, 13 KOs) 141

WBA#10 bantam Yoshiki Takei (7-0, 7 KOs) 120.25
Mario Diaz (Mexico, 21-6, 9 KOs)
The unbeaten sensational southpaw Takei lately renounced his OPBF 122-pound belt to move down to the 118-pound category.

WBA#15 light fly Kanamu Sakama (8-0, 7 KOs) 108.75
John Paul Gabunilas (Philippines, 10-2, 7 KOs) 107.25

This show will be presented by Ohashi Promotions to be shown on Lemino streaming in Japan and on ESPN+ in US.

More Photos

Photos: Naoki Fukuda

WBC/WBO world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) and WBA/IBF king Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for Tuesday’s showdown for the undisputed junior featherweight championship at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Inoue is attempting to become only the second man — following Terence Crawford — to become a two-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

In the U.S., the fight can be seen at a special early morning start time, 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT, exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

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Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) stopped Otto Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) after five one-sided rounds in the main event of the super card on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua, rated WBO #1, WBC #2, IBF #3 looked sharp as be battered and bloodied IBF #2, WBC #9, WBO #12 Wallin. AJ rocked Wallin in round five and Wallin stayed on his stool after the round.

In a huge upset, former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) stunned WBC #1 and WBA #1 rated and former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) by winning a twelve round unanimous decision on the super card Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Slow start for Wilder, 38, who may have been rusty or have grown old overnight. He was outworked by Parker in almost every round. Parker, 31, rocked Wilder in round eight with a series of overhand rights and he never let Wilder get untracked as he won 118-111, 118-110, 120-108. The result likely scuttled a planned Wilder-Joshua showdown in March.

Undefeated WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) retained his world title for the 12th time with a twelve round unanimous decision over WBA #8 with a Lyndon Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs) on the super card Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bivol came out aggressively and was in command all the way. Bivol dropped Arthur at the end of round eleven. Scores were 120-107 3x. Bivol’s last knockout was nearly six years ago.

Former WBA “regular” champion Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over previously unbeaten 333lb Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) on the super card Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WBA #7, IBF #8, WBO #8, WBC #14 Dubois moved around the ring and kept his hands moving. WBA #6 Miller applied pressure and tried to maul Dubois on the inside. Good exchanges in the next few rounds, but as the fight progressed, Miller slowed down and Dubois got his second wind. In the final moments, Dubois unleashed a barrage of punches and got a referee’s stoppage with eight seconds left in the fight.

In an upset, IBF #12, WBC #13, WBO #13 heavyweight Agit Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) ended the reign of terror of previously unbeaten WBC #3, WBA #4, IBF #7, WBO #14 Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) on the super card Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Kabayel outboxed Makhmudov and made him look clumsy during the first two rounds. Kabayel then took the fight to Makhmudov landing big shots in round three. In round four, Kabayel dropped Makhmudov three times to end it. Time was 2:03.

Former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) spectacularly knocked out previously unbeaten Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night on the super card at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Opetaia connected with a straight left that laid out Zorro to end it. Time was 2:56. Opetaia was stripped of his world title earlier this week, but he looked every bit a champion.

In a mismatch, current IBF mandatory heavyweight title challenger Filip “El Animal” Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) crushed Mark “The Viking” De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night on the super card at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. IBF #1, WBO #5, WBC #11, WBA #12 Hrgovic dropped De Mori in round one, then punished him until the towel came in. Time was 1:46. Hrgovic promised he would punish De Mori and he did.

Unbeaten WBC #4, WBO #4, IBF #6, WBA #8 heavyweight Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) knocked out WBA #10 Junior Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) in round seven on Saturday night on the super card at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It took Sanchez half the fight to figure things out. He finally dropped Fa in round six, and twice in round seven to end it. Time was 2:42.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC, WBO super bantamweight champion “Monster” Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) participated in a public workout at Ohashi Gym in Yokohama, Japan. Naoya said, “I’ve finished 116 sparring sessions with good Mexican partners. That’s more than in preparation for my previous fight against Stephen Fulton last July. I’ve trained hard to refrain from overconfidence against Marlon Tapales and try to concentrate on training itself.” Asked about his motivation to his ultimate unification with Tapales, Inoue replied, “I’m very highly motivated to win all the four championship belts. The winner can take all.” Continue reading ““Monster” Inoue in Public Workout”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

On the next day of his arrival in Japan, WBA, IBF 122-pound titleholder Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) also showed a public workout before Japanese press people at Ohashi Gym in Yokohama, Japan. Southpaw counterpuncher Tapales demonstrated just light training, but displayed speed and sharpness in a short workout.

Sean Gibbons, of MP Promotions, said, “Marlon is 200 percent confident to win.” The southpaw Filipino champ responded to his words, saying, “I’m 2,000 percent to win over Inoue. I’m more experienced and more motivated to win.” Gibbons said, “Fulton looked a little intimidated against Inoue, but Marlon has been to Japan several times (as a sparring partner for Kazuto Ioka or Shinsuke Yamanaka). He will never be intimidated against Monster Inoue as Fulton.” Continue reading “Tapales: I’m 2000% confident to win over Inoue”

WBC #5 welterweight Conor Benn (22-0, 14 KOs) will return to action on February 3 against unbeaten Peter Dobson (16-0, 9 KOs) at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The fight will air live worldwide on DAZN – with Benn headlining early afternoon in Las Vegas for prime time viewing in the UK. This is the second consecutive U.S fight for Benn, who is having problems getting licensed in the UK due to a dispute with the British Boxing Board of Control.

In the co-feature, WBA #3 middleweight Austin “Ammo” Williams (15-0, 10 KOs) takes on WBA #6 Connor Coyle (20-0, 9 KOs) for the WBA International and IBF North American titles. Also, unbeaten heavyweight Johnny “Romford Bull” Fisher (10-0, 9 KOs) will face an opponent to be named.

Anthony Joshua 251 vs. Otto Wallin 238.6

Deontay Wilder 213 vs. Joseph Parker 245.3

Daniel Dubois 239 vs. Jarrell Miller 333

Dmitry Bivol 174.6 vs. Lyndon Arthur 174.2

Arslanbek Makhmudov 262 vs. Agit Kabayel 241.3

Jai Opetaia 198.4 vs. Ellis Zorro 197.4

Filip Hrgovic 246 vs. Mark De Mori 242.6

Frank Sanchez 238 vs. Junior Fa 278.9

Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Promoter: Queensberry and others
TV: DAZN PPV and ESPN PPV (US), TNT Sports Box Office (UK)

Toro Promotions and Whitfield Haydon Boxing will kick off the 2024 pro boxing year on January 4th, showcasing six heavyweight prospects at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. The event will be streamed as a $19.99 PPV.

The 10-round main event pits Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (4-0, 4 KOs) against Colby Madison (11-6-2, 7 KOs). Hall of Famer Joe Goossen trains the 6’ 7”, 275-pound “Big Gug.”

Another heavyweight trained by Goossen, Olympian Tsotne Rogava (3-0, 3 KOs) faces undefeated Dante Williams (4-0, 4 KOs) in the six-round co-feature.

The opener of the streamed heavyweight fights, Dante Stone (14-1, 10 KOs) takes Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-3-1, 16 KOs).