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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).

Fighters faced off at today’s final ‘Day of Reckoning’ Press Conference ahead of Saturday’s loaded DAZN PPV card at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua: “I’m here to fight, I’m not here to party and get caught up in the glitz and glamour. I want to fight. I want to perform well. I put that pressure on myself. Of course I’m tense because I want to perform. I want to win. I’ve got that urge to win. I want to hurt my opponent as well.”

Otto Wallin: “People talking about upsets, I’m going to win the fight and you shouldn’t call it an upset. It’s not really an upset, it’s just natural. This is my time so I’m ready for it…he used to be a happy guy but from what I see now he seems very stiff and tense. Maybe he’s fed up with all of this stuff.”

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Deontay Wilder: “I come here to do what I do best and give the fans what they want to see. At the end of the day, no one wants to see a twelve-round fight…Don’t blink. I’m gonna give you what you want to see. Nowadays I’m called Dr. Sleep and I definitely got the NyQuil in the right hand so I hope you bring a pillow and a blanket.”

Joseph Parker: “He’s a tough kid, but I know I can knock him out. 100 percent.”

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Dmitry Bivol: “Everything is possible but I’m not usually focused on a knockout because it distracts me from my plan. Of course, if I see the moment I will use this moment. I’m not a fighter who only thinks about one punch. I like to enjoy the process. I like to follow my tactics.”

Lyndon Arthur: “I’m enjoying it and I’m looking forward to Saturday…I don’t believe nobody has seen the best of me yet.”

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Daniel Dubois: “Yo, Big Baby. Every baby has a daddy and I’m gonna beat you like I’m your daddy!”

Jerrell Miller: “I’m gonna cook this shrimp. The two-time quitter.”

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Jai Opetaia: “Putting the politics aside and the best fight the best. This is a massive change and the name Opetaia will have its print on it. I’m here to make a statement…man, I’m ready to go to war.”

Ellis Zorro: “I’m just focused on Saturday at the moment. Like I’ve been saying all week, it’s a massive opportunity for me and I’m going to take it with both hands.”

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Arslanbek Makhmudov: “I’m ready. That’s why I’m here. I need this kind of fight. I need this kind of opponent. I respect him, but Saturday I’ll go there to destroy like I usually do. That’s my job.”

Agit Kabayel: This is the biggest challenge of my career. I respect Arslanbek. He’s a good opponent, a strong guy. I think I’m also the biggest challenge in his career.”

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Frank Sanchez: “I’m coming here to win. If a knockout comes, it comes.”

Junior Fa: “I’m gonna bring the best version of myself and get him out of there…win by any means necessary.”

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Filip Hrgovic: “I had planned with this guy to let him box for a few rounds, but because of his nasty words, I will nee to punish him earlier…I need to punish this guy really, really bad. Like he stole something.”

Mark De Mori: “It’s a ten round scheduled fight. I’ve got absolutely no desire to go ten rounds. I’ve got the arms of a Tyrannosaurus rex, I’m not gonna out-jab him. I’m gonna get in close and I’m gonna try and break him in half.”

Sad to report the passing of promoter Andre Kut at the age of 71. Kut had a great love for professional boxing and worked in the business as a trainer, manager and promoter. His KEA Boxing company ran regular shows for more than a decade in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Kut was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.

CES Boxing returns to the Mohegan Sun Arena on February 3 with three title fights. The main event features the return of Chordale “The Gift” Booker (21-1, 10 KOs) as he makes the second defense of his WBC Silver super welterweight title against former world title challenger Greg “The Villain” Vendetti (23-5-1, 12 KOs).

In the co-feature, undefeated southpaw Francis “Frank the Tank” Hogan (15-0, 14 KOs) battles Paul “El Gallo Negro” Mendez (21-5-2, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBC USA silver middleweight title. The third title fight of the night features Ricky de los Santos (11-1, 3 KOs) against Nathan Martinez (8-2, 2 KOs) in an 8-round bout for the vacant WBC US silver featherweight title. Continue reading “Feb 3 boxing card at Mohegan Sun”

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol returns for the first time in 13 months against Lyndon Arthur (23-1, 16 KOs) on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – shown live on DAZN as a pay-per-view event. With a win over Arthur, Canelo-conqueror Bivol is looking forward to another career-defining fight in 2024 should his long-awaited undisputed clash with IBF, WBC, WBO world champion Artur Beterbiev get over the line.

Bivol sent fight fans into a frenzy when he came face-to-face with Beterbiev at a glitzy gala event in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou event back in October, and he believes they will finally share a ring in 2024.

“It’s a big goal and when we signed the contract we discussed not only fighting against Lyndon Arthur, we discussed about another fight too – for four belts. We discussed undisputed. They want to make this fight and they can make this fight. This is really good for me. It’s what I need,” said Bivol.

WBA #9, IBF #11, WBC #12 light heavyweight Conor Wallace (12-1, 9 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over Mose Auimatagi Jr (16-4-2, 11 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Wallace dropped Auimatagi in round two. The heavy-handed Auimatagi responded well and caught Wallace with some big shots. Wallace mostly outboxed Auimatagi after that although Auimatagi had his moments also. Wallace landed some some cracking straight lefts in round six and the bout was suddenly stopped by the referee. Time was 1:14.
It seemed like a premature stoppage.

Boxlab Promotions has announced the signing of unbeaten heavyweight Dainier “The Fear” Pero (5-0, 3 KOs). Pero was a top amateur, winning the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championship in 2016, 2018 Teofilo Stevenson Cup and the Cuban National Championship in 2018 and 2019. He represented Cuba at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning his first match before losing to eventual Silver Medalist Richard Torrez Jr. Pero’s Boxlab Promotions debut will take place in February.

The 6’5 24-year-old Pero lives and trains out of Las Vegas, NV under top trainer Bob Santos. Pero’s brother is world-rated heavyweight Lenier Pero.

Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and the rest of the fighters on Saturday’s “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, made their grand arrivals to today.

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Here are the latest betting odds:

Anthony Joshua 4:1 Otto Wallin (heavyweight)
Deontay Wilder 7:1 Joseph Parker (heavyweight)
Daniel Dubois 3:1 Jarrell Miller (heavyweight)
Dmitry Bivol 20:1 Lyndon Arthur (light heavyweight)
Jai Opetaia 25:1 Ellis Zorro (cruiserweight)
Arslanbek Makhmudov 10:1 Agit Kabayel (heavyweight)
Frank Sanchez 20:1 Junior Fa (heavyweight)
Filip Hrgovic 50:1 Mark De Mori (heavyweight)

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

The Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon has already begun in our beloved Mexico. But what is this? December 12 is a major celebration of the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Millions come to Mexico City from all over the country to sing happy birthday to our Virgin, who appeared 500 years ago. With such also comes a great party, as it is a national holiday.

Reyes is the day in which the three wise kings come to deliver the toys to all children in Mexico, which is January 6. So, in between December 12 and January 6, it is known as a marathon of festivities, parties, and celebrations in which we usually gain from 10 to 15 pounds!

The cold weather we are having makes me feel the Christmas spirit even more, which we unfortunately usually forget, being from one side to the other, forever occupied, and busy. Everyday life does not allow us to pause, value, cherish, and appreciate what is happening and just how much we should be thankful for. Continue reading “Christmas and International Boxing”

Top Rank’s featherweight world title doubleheader on March 2 has landed at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. In the main event, Otabek Kholmatov (11-0, 10 KOs) will fight Raymond Ford (14-0-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBA featherweight world title. This duel of unbeaten southpaws will see the WBA’s #1 and #2 contenders making their inaugural world title appearances.

In the co-feature, IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) will defend his world crown against IBF #1 ranked Reiya Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs).

Kholmatov-Ford and Lopez-Abe will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

“Kholmatov and Ford are deserving challengers for the WBA world title. That is a true 50/50 fight,” said promoter Bob Arum. “Lopez believes he is the top featherweight in the world, and I know he’ll want to make a huge statement against a tough out in Abe. The fans at Turning Stone Resort Casino will be in for a real treat.”

By Joe Koizumi

WBA, IBF 122-pound champion Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) arrived in Japan today (Tuesday) to participate in an ultimate unification bout with WBC, WBO counterpart “Monster” Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) at Ariake Arena, Tokyo next Tuesday.

Having dethroned Murodjon Akhmadaliev to wrest the WBA and IBF belts this April, Tapales will welcome a big payday and an opportunity to acquire all the four belts with his high motivation. Marlon reportedly trained two months in Las Vegas and then moved to his native Philippines to work a month more there, having engaged in more than one hundred sparring sessions in total.

Tapales said, “I’m in very good shape, and wish to win over Inoue clearly. I know Inoue is an excellent boxer with high IQ, but I’ll do everything possible to be victorious.” Time will tell.

IBF Statement: Late last evening the IBF received notice from Michael Francis representing Jai Opetaia advising that Opetaia has decided to relinquish his title as IBF World Cruiserweight Champion. In an email to IBF President Daryl Peoples and the IBF Board of Directors, Francis noted the team’s disappointment in having to reach this decision but acknowledged the IBF rules that affect this situation should be adhered to.

The IBF accepts Jai Opetaia’s decision to vacate the title and wishes him well.

Mairis Briedis, who is ranked #3 in the IBF Cruiserweight ratings, will be ordered to negotiate with the next leading available contender for the vacant IBF Cruiserweight World Championship bout.

Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia will be without his IBF world title on Saturday’s ‘Day Of Reckoning’ show in Riydah, Saudi Arabia, having been forced to vacate the belt earlier today.

With mandatory rival Mairis Briedis currently injured, a special appeal was requested by Matchroom, Tasman Fighters, Queensberry and Wasserman Boxing to the IBF to allow Opetaia to defend his crown against Britain’s Zorro this weekend. But with the IBF denying Opetaia that opportunity, the Aussie has reluctantly relinquished his championship.

Fired up, Opetaia now vows to do his talking in the ring and showing why he is rated as the best cruiserweight on the planet.

Continue reading “Jai Opetaia vacates IBF cruiser title”

Hollywood Fight Nights returns to the Chumash Casino Resort on February 23, headlined by a ten-round main event featuring undefeated Gor Yeritsyan (17-0, 14 KOs) against Quinton Randall (13-1-1, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title, broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass.

Yeritsyan, a native of Armenia, returns to action following a career-best victory on November 9, in New York City, an eight round unanimous decision over Luis Alberto Veron. The 28-year-old Yeritsyan is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.

…Wins WBO AP 108lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

Unheralded Filipino puncher Jason Vayson (11-1-1-1NC, 6 KOs), 108, surprisingly captured the WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight belt as he upset defending champ Ryuya Yamanaka (19-3, 6 KOs), 107.5, via stunning TKO win at 1:14 of the second round in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Kobe, Japan. A vicious right uppercut was a haymaker that exploded at the ex-WBO world titlist Ryuya’s chin with a perfect timing. Down went the champ. He almost stood up but was unable to resume fighting due to a bad equilibrium. The ref grabbed him not to see him go down again. Vayson, who had lost a lopsided shutout decision to Seigo Yuri Akui in his last fight here, displayed a do-or-die attack that paid off well. Continue reading “Vayson upsets ex-world champ Yamanaka”