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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.

Report and Photos by Sumio Yamada

• Nonito Donaire asked the rating committee members for his reinstatement into the bantamweight ratings.
• Jorge Linares announced his retirement at the end of opening banquet.
• Among those in attendance were Bernard Hopkins, Rolly Romero, Jessie Vargas, and Roberto Duran.

By Joe Koizumi

WBA #1 bantam Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs), 118, quickly chalked up a TKO victory over Filipino James Pagaling (8-2, 5 KOs), 115.75, at 1:51 of the third round in a scheduled eight on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Ishida, an elongated boxer-puncher, made good use of his favorite left jab, took the initiative and swarmed over the Filipino with a flurry of punches. Pagaling fell and beat the count, but couldn’t resume fighting only to be stopped by the referee. Ishida’s target is WBA 118-pound ruler Takuma Inoue, the Monster’s younger brother. Sho had acquired the IBF mandatory right by edging unbeaten Victor Santillan, Dominican Republic, in the IBF eliminator here this June.

Promoter: Taisei Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi

Perennial WBO top flyweight contender, ex-WBO AP champ Riku Kano (17-3-1, 8 KOs), 113.5, exploded a quick combination, badly dropped previously unbeaten Thailander Khomsan Kaewruean (5-1, 3 KOs), 115.75, and scored a fine TKO victory at 1:25 of the second round in a scheduled eight on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Kano is gunning for a WBO mandatory shot at the winner of the forthcoming unification bout between Jesse Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards in Arizona this coming Saturday. Kano, a southpaw puncher, previously help the WBO AP belts in the 108 and 112 pound categories, and is willing to have an ambitious shot next year.

Also, fast-rising WBC light-fly youth champ WBA#13 Yuga Ozaki (5-0-1, 4 KOs), 109.25, defeated compatriot Kenshi Noda (3-3, 2 KOs), 108.75, by a unanimous decision (all 78-74) over eight.

Promoter: Taisei Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japan’s super light champ Homura Fujita (12-1, 10 KOs), 140, retained his national belt as he proved too strong and powerful for JBC#6 Shoma Sekine (6-8-2, 2 KOs), 140, scoring an impressive stoppage at 1:24 of the fourth session in a scheduled ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Having acquired the vacant belt by a very quick demolition over Cristiano Aoqui this April, Fujita decked his second defense but looked a bit too nervous and stiff despite scoring three knockdowns. Should he face unbeaten world-rated Andy Hiraoka, it will be a crowd-pleasing matchup without doubt. Continue reading “Homura demolishes Sekine, keeps Japan 140lb belt”

Logistics issues have compelled Eye of the Tiger to postpone its gala initially planned for February 23 at the Colisée Desjardins in Victoriaville. While the plans to present a boxing gala in the Centre-du-Québec region, in partnership with Victoriaville’s Tigers, are still in place, the event will be held on a date to be announced later.

The highly anticipated bout between Montreal slugger ranked 1st in the Canadian middleweight category, Steven Butler (33-4-1, 27 KOs), and his Ontario rival, #2 Steve Rolls (22-3, 12 KOs), will still take place, now scheduled for March 7 at the Casino de Montreal. On this date, Thomas Chabot (9-0, 7 KOs), Luis Santana (10-0, 4 KOs), Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (6-1, 2 KOs), Wilkens Mathieu (5-0, 3 KOs), Jhon Orobio (5-0, 5 KOs), and Moreno Fendero (2-0, 1 KO) will also be in action as originally planned.

By Miguel Maravilla

Oscar De La Hoya speaks on Jaime Munguia vs John Ryder, Ryan Garcia’s future, Golden Boy Promotions.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Jaime Munguia says he’s ready for John Ryder and believes he’s taking a risk.

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The 102nd edition of the World Boxing Association (WBA) Convention began Tuesday with the General Assembly, the first official activity held at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida. With the presence of the WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, the entire WBA board met to welcome the hundreds of guests and start the discussions.

Mendoza began with a recognition to the city of Orlando and the growth it has had recently in boxing. He welcomed those present and offered words of thanks to the attendees.

Mendoza highlighted the systematic development of boxing and the growth of fighters from different regions, and spoke about the WBA Future Champions program, a tool that seeks to provide opportunities to young fighters from different countries through monthly events in Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Andorra and Argentina. Continue reading “102nd WBA Convention Day 1”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

I am returning from San Francisco, where I witnessed an incredible display of brilliance from our now super lightweight champion, Devin Haney, who completely dominated two-time champion Regis Prograis.

Haney, undefeated in 31 fights, joined the list of pound-for-pound popularity list and will certainly be on the shortlist for Boxer of the Year by achieving tremendous victories over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Prograis in this 2023.

This year was full of successes for our beloved World Boxing Council.

Let’s take a tour of what this wonderful process has achieved. Continue reading “A Successful 2023 for the WBC”

A somewhat pleasant surprise for DAZN’s fully stacked “Day of Reckoning” event on December 23 featuring Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in separate bouts from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rather than the $74.99 PPV price point, which has all become all too common these days, the price for DAZN subscibers will be $39.99.

The full lineup:
Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin (heavyweight)
Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker (heavyweight)
Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller (heavyweight)
Dmitry Bivol vs. Lyndon Arthur (light heavyweight)
Jai Opetaia vs. Ellis Zorro (cruiserweight)
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Agit Kabayel (heavyweight)
Frank Sanchez vs. Junior Fa (heavyweight)
Filip Hrgovic vs. Mark De Mori (heavyweight)

Looks like the WBA will adpopt the “bridgerweight” name for their super cruiserweight division. Over the weekend, Evgeny Tishchenko (13-1, 8 KOs) made history by officially becoming the first WBA bridgerweight champion by defeating Leon Harth (22-6-1, 13 KOs) this weekend at the Agenda Arena in Dubai. Tishchenko dropped Harth in round two and finished him in the sixth round to claim the belt in the 200-224 pound weight class.

This week the eyes of boxing will be on Orlando, Florida, with the 102nd World Boxing Association (WBA) Convention at the Caribe Royale Hotel. Last Friday was the WBA’s KO Drugs, the first official activity of this convention, which will continue on Tuesday with the first meetings and ceremonies, which will continue until Thursday. Continue reading “WBA Convention kicks off this week”

By Joe Koizumi

Former WBC female flyweight champ Go Shindo (16-4, 11 KOs) became a man in 2017 and this time made a comeback as a male boxer in a semi-official test bout on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Shindo, however, lost to Katsuyuki Ishibashi (2-2-1, no KO) by a unanimous decision (all 29-27) over three bantamweight rounds for three minutes. Shindo, 36, looked as sharp as previously, took the first round, but seemingly lost the second. The third and final session saw Shindo aggressively leading on his way to victory, but took a left hook and hit the deck. Shindo quickly raised himself, but obviously lost a 10-8 round.

Tsuyoshi Yasukochi of JBC said, “Shindo stepped up to get licensed as a male boxer and the JBC will need to consider licensing him.”

It wasn’t an official bout, so the win-loss result wasn’t officially registered but it was experimentally scored as a test bout.

Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.

BoxRec: Shindo Go

WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) retained his title with an eighth round TKO over Mateusz Masternak (47-6, 31 KOs) on Sunday night at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England. Masternak beat hometown hero Billam-Smith to the punch and outworked him for most the fight. Billam-Smith, however, got the win when Masternak suddenly quit on his stool after round seven due to an apparent rib injury. Official time :02 of round eight. Masternak was ahead 5-2 on two scorecards at the time of the toppage.

2020 Olympic medallist Ben “The Surgeon” Whittaker (5-0, 4 KOs) scored a brutal fourth round KO against Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj (11-3-1, 3 KOs) in a light heavyweight bout. A battered and bloody Dredhaj took a knee in round three and Whittaker laid him on his back in round four to end it. Time was :54.

2020 Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price (6-0, 1 KO) shut out former European champion Silvia Bortot (11-4-1, 3 KOs) in an eight round female welterweight clash. Score was 80-72.

Super welterweight Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KOs) outscored Obi Egbunike (8-3-1, 1 KO) over ten rounds for the \vacant English title. Scores were 97-93, 97-93, 96-95.

Welterweight Michael McKinson moved to 26-1, 4 KOs by outpointing previously unbeaten Musah Lawson (11-1, 9 KOs) over ten. Scores were 100-90, 100-90, 99-91. McKinson’s only loss was to Vergil Ortiz.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Espinoza-Ramirez photo gallery for some incredible shots + the scorecard, + action from the Zayas-Fortea, Carrington-Sanchez, and Torrez-Harper fights.

Photos

“I want to fight the best and move up to 147.”

By Miguel Maravilla

Newly crowned WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney talks about his total domination of now former champ Regis Prograis and his plans. for the future.

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“I want to become a three-time world champion and do MMA after.”

By Miguel Maravilla

Former WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis talks about his his future after his one-sided defeat to Devin Haney.

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Heavyweight Joey “Tank” Dawejko (27-10-4, 15 KOs) stopped Jesse Bryan (21-8-2, 16 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City. Is straight wins for Dawejko, who already has another fight scheduled for January.

Former WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (25-2, 17, KOs) scored a spectacular third round KO against Isacc Avelar (17-7, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at Infinite Reality Studios in Long Beach, California. Magsayo, now fighting at junior lightweight, connected with a flush left hook that laid Avelar out cold.

Unbeaten Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (22-0, 18 KOs) dethroned WBO featherweight champion Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) by twelve round majority decision on Saturday night at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The 6’1 Espinoza was in control until Ramirez dropped him at the end of round five. Ramirez continued to rock Espinoza for several rounds. Espinoza, however, roared back down the stretch, dropping Ramirez in round twelve. Scores were 113-113, 114-112, 115-111.

Unbeaten WBO #2 junior middleweight Xander Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs) impressively demolished Jorge Fortea (24-4-1, 9 KOs) in round five. Zayas dropped Fortea with a body shot in round one and finished him with another body shot in round five. Time was 1:37.

Rising featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (10-0, 6 KOs) impressively knocked out former world title challenger Jason Sanchez (16-5, 9 KOs) in the second round. Carrington dropped Sanchez twice to end it. Time was 2:59.

U.S. Olympic super heavyweight silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (8-0, 8 KOs) battered Curtis Harper (14-11, 9 KOs) until the bout was stopped in the eighth round. Time was 2:03. Torrez suffered a cut over his left eye. Continue reading “Espinoza beats Ramirez for WBO feather title”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) dismantled and dethroned WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) on Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Haney dropped Prograis in round three and never let him into the fight. Haney won all twelve rounds 120-107 3x.

In the super lightweight co-feature bout of the evening, Australia’s Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KO’s) annihilated Montana Love (18-2-1, 9 KO’s) in scoring a sixth round stoppage. The fans showed their dissatisfaction early on as it was slow paced and lacked action with Paro stalking and Love keeping his distance. However in the sixth, Paron connected with an uppercut and dropped Love. He got up but the Aussie sent Love to the canvas for a second time with a combo. Continuing to fight, Paro attacked and was all over Love when referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to stop the fight at 1:49 of the sixth.

Cuba lightweight Andy Cruz (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Jovanni Straffon (26-6-1, 19 KO’s) of Mexico in the third round. Cruz landed a huge right in to start the fight as he backed Straffon to the ropes opening round. Banging it out in the second, Cruz attacked but Straffon and began to chop him down, landing a series of punches as the referee began keeping a close eye. Closing it out in the third, Cruz continued where he left off as the referee finally stepped in to stop the fight at 53 seconds.

Myo Yoshida (17-4) of Japan defeated Australia’s Ebanie Bridges (9-2, 3 KO’s) in a bout for the IBF bantamweight title. Yoshida kept swarming Bridges attacking on the inside and outworking the Australian. Late in the fight in the ninth, Yoshida relentlessly attacked as Bridges could not keep her away. The tenth and final round, it was all Yoshida as she was all over Bridges up to the final bell. In the end after completing ten rounds the judges scored it, 99-91, 99-91, and 97-93 all in favor for Yoshida.

Continue reading “Haney dominates, dethrones Prograis”

In a crossroads fight, former WBA cruiserweight champion Ryad Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka (11-3, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France. The 6’7 Yoka tried to keep the fight at a distance with his jab against Merhy, who is listed at 5’11. Merhy was the aggressor and was able to get inside at times to land big punches. Yoka’s punch output diminished as the fight progressed with Merhy pulling away 96-94 3x. Three straight losses for Yoka, while Merhy gets back into the mix after a loss to Kevin Lerena.