Middleweight Aron “Iron Fist” Jahnsen who made a name for himself on the European MMA circuit, including a 2011 fight against Conor McGregor, has decided to transition from mixed martial arts to professional boxing. Jahnsen will face Sam Omidi (4-9-2) in his professional boxing debut on February 3. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to choke you out, I’m going to knock you out,” says the Oslo fighter ahead of their clash at the SØR Amfi in Arendal, Norway.
“All my fights have been away from home in Sweden, Denmark, England and Japan,” reveals Jahnsen. “It’s not legal to do MMA in Norway so when pro boxing was legalized, I thought to myself, yes, finally I can fight on Norwegian soil!”
Middleweight Aron “Iron Fist” Jahnsen who made a name for himself on the European MMA circuit, including a 2011 fight against Conor McGregor, has decided to transition from mixed martial… Read More »
1984 Olympic Super Flyweight Gold Medalist Paul Gonzales (16-4, 3KOs) of East Los Angeles was arrested December 29th for lewd acts upon a child at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club in East Los Angeles. 8 felony counts were filed against the 53-year-old former NABF flyweight champion as he is currently being held at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.
Gonzales was a trainer at the gym and became the 1st Mexican-American Olympic gold medalist in 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He had a rivalry with former world champion Hall of Famer Orlando Canizalez in which they split a pair of fights.
By Miguel Maravilla 1984 Olympic Super Flyweight Gold Medalist Paul Gonzales (16-4, 3KOs) of East Los Angeles was arrested December 29th for lewd acts upon a child at the Eddie… Read More »
WBA/IBF 108lb champ Taguchi to face Budler next; Koki Kameda to make a comeback
By Joe Koizumi
Photo: Boxing Beat
Newly unified 108-pound champion of the WBA and the IBF, Japan’s Ryoichi Taguchi will face Hekkie Budler of South Africa next. Hitoshi Watanabe, his manager/promoter of Watanabe Promotions, mentioned on Monday that it had been a condition of the IBF to sanction the Taguchi-Melindo unification title bout since the Filipino had been ordered to meet Budler again after his controversial defense with him last September. Taguchi said, “After my Budler defense I’ll pursue my third unified belt.” He is truly an up-and-coming titlist.
Formerly three-time world champ Koki Kameda, 31, declared on Monday that he had an unfinished business, and will make a comeback venture. Kameda, the eldest of Kameda brothers, lost to WBA 115-pound defending champ Kohei Kono, a busy-punching compatriot, in Chicago in October 2015, and it became his final showing as he said a farewell to the ring warfare after the unset defeat. Should his comeback target be Kono, Kameda need not go and fight in Chicago but do it here in Japan—before our audience.
WBA/IBF 108lb champ Taguchi to face Budler next; Koki Kameda to make a comeback By Joe Koizumi Photo: Boxing Beat Newly unified 108-pound champion of the WBA and the IBF,… Read More »
“This is the way I box – constant pressure, in your face boxing. Making the other man quit mentally is a very important for me and for all the fighters. Boxing is a clash of characters,” said undefeated heavyweight Adam Kownacki in a Fightnews.com® interview. Photo: Sylwek Wosko
On January 20, Kownacki (16-0, 13 KO) will be challenged by Iago Kiladze (26-1, 18 KO) in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as a part of Showtime Championship Boxing card headlined by the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Lamont Peterson welterweight championship clash. Kownacki-Kiladze will be streamed live on Showtime Sports digital platforms Facebook and YouTube. Continue reading “Kownacki aiming to stop Kiladze”
By Przemek Garczarczyk “This is the way I box – constant pressure, in your face boxing. Making the other man quit mentally is a very important for me and for… Read More »
With WBA, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua looking certain to be fighting WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker next, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn shared his thoughts on the fight with Stuff.co.nz. “It’s a very dangerous fight for both fighters,” said Hearn. “They have great styles for each other. Joseph Parker and his team will fancy this fight because he will know that AJ likes to stand and trade and get hit. Also AJ and his team know that if someone is willing to take chances, then they are going to get hit and AJ is technically a lot better than some tend to think. Both fighters can punch and they may get hurt. But I just feel AJ’s punching power and speed is underrated and I’m not sure whether Parker has the artillery to do enough damage if there is a gunfight. If they are standing in a gunfight and they are trading up, then I have to pick my man all day long.”
By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing With WBA, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua looking certain to be fighting WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker next, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn shared… Read More »
WBO #3 and IBF #6 welterweight Bradley Skeete believes he is ready to step up in class. The outright British Champion is next out on Frank Warren’s February 10 show at London’s Copper Box Arena with an opponent set to be named soon. He was close to landing a world title fight against WBO titlist Jeff Horn, but the Australian’s team opted to face Gary Corcoran instead. Horn stopped Corcoran in the 11th round on December 13th.
“I’m ready to prove I’m a world class fighter,” said Skeete. “I’ve got the world rankings but now I need the right fights to back them up. Jeff Horn swerved the fight with me. I’m avoided for a reason! Horn took the easier fight in Corcoran and blatantly avoided me. I’d have taken him to school and his team knew that. If it wasn’t for Horn and his team swerving the fight, then I’d be a world champion. I’d have gone over there and got that world title.”
WBO #3 and IBF #6 welterweight Bradley Skeete believes he is ready to step up in class. The outright British Champion is next out on Frank Warren’s February 10 show… Read More »
At the end of 2017, EC Box Promotion and Team Sauerland decided that it was time for Swedish heavyweights Adrian Granat and Otto Wallin to finally collide in one of the biggest Swedish boxing fights in history. The fight will be for the vacant EU-title. The parties are in the final stages of closing the details of the agreement and the fight is already considered to be a “done deal.” Last night, however, Adrian Granat released a video from his Twitter account where he strongly criticized Otto Wallin for pricing himself out of the contract. Continue reading “Granat-Wallin showdown hits snag”
At the end of 2017, EC Box Promotion and Team Sauerland decided that it was time for Swedish heavyweights Adrian Granat and Otto Wallin to finally collide in one of… Read More »
Super Featherweight Frank De Alba (22-2-2, 9 KOs) will battle Carlos Padilla (16-6-1, 10 KOs) in the eight-round main event on February 13th at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center. The Fox-Garcia bout is scheduled for eight-rounds. Undefeated super lightweight Mykal “The Professor” Fox (15-0, 4 KOs) will take on Ricardo Garcia (14-1, 9 KOs) in the co-main event.
In another eight-round bout, heavyweight contender Joe Hanks (22-2, 14 KOs) will fight Nick Guivas (14-9-2, 9 KOs).
The card is promoted by King’s Promotions.
Super Featherweight Frank De Alba (22-2-2, 9 KOs) will battle Carlos Padilla (16-6-1, 10 KOs) in the eight-round main event on February 13th at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center. The… Read More »
IBF President Daryl Peoples traveled to Bangkok, Thailaind in late December to announce the IBF’s market entry plans into Muay Thai and to preside over the first IBF Muay Thai bouts for the Lightweight and Jr. Lightweight titles. The bouts took place at Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium to celebrate the 73rd Anniversary of the oldest boxing stadium in Thailand. President Peoples presented the belts to the winners Saeksan Or Kwanmung, who captured vacant IBF Muay Thai Lightweight title with his win over Panpayak Sithchefbuntham, and Petchuthong Or Kwanmung, who became the IBF Muay Thai Junior Lightweight Champion defeating Kaokai Sangchaimuaythaigym. Continue reading “IBF Branches into Muay Thai”
IBF President Daryl Peoples traveled to Bangkok, Thailaind in late December to announce the IBF’s market entry plans into Muay Thai and to preside over the first IBF Muay Thai… Read More »
A battle of unbeaten super middleweight prospects will headline a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader on Friday, Feb. 2, live on SHOWTIME from WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa, as two-time ShoBox veteran Ronald Ellis takes on New Yorker Junior Younan. Ellis (14-0-1, 10 KOs), of Lynn, Mass., and Brooklyn’s Younan (13-0, 9 KOs) will clash in the 10-round main event of a four-fight telecast that features eight fighters with a combined record of 113-3-3.
In the co-feature, former Dominican Olympian Wellington Romero (12-0-1, 6 KOs) will take on Philadelphia’s Sam Teah (12-1-1, 5 KOs) in a super lightweight scrap contracted at 141 pounds. Continue reading “Feb 2 ShoBox quadrupleheader announced”
A battle of unbeaten super middleweight prospects will headline a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader on Friday, Feb. 2, live on SHOWTIME from WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa, as two-time… Read More »
Super flyweight Srisaket Sor Rungvisai scored a controversial majority decision over Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in March to win the WBC 115lb belt. An immediate rematch was ordered and most thought Gonzalez would exact revenge when they met again in September. It didn’t work out that way. This time, Srisaket brutally knocked out Chocolatito, whom many pundits had rated as high as #1 P4P.
Super flyweight Srisaket Sor Rungvisai scored a controversial majority decision over Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in March to win the WBC 115lb belt. An immediate rematch was ordered and most thought… Read More »
Ring legend Roy Jones Jr. is winding down his Hall of Fame career, but the UK’s Boy Jones Jr (14-1-1, 8 KOs) says he’s feeling fitter and stronger than ever after making the jump from super featherweight to lightweight. The six-foot Jones returns February 10 of promoter Frank Warren’s card at the Copper Box Arena in London. “I always say it but people need to realize that I only had a handful of unlicensed fights before I turned pro back in 2015,” stated Jones. “I’ve had a lot of fights for a 21-year-old and I’m constantly learning and improving. This is the year that everyone will get to see the real Boy Jones Jr.”
Ring legend Roy Jones Jr. is winding down his Hall of Fame career, but the UK’s Boy Jones Jr (14-1-1, 8 KOs) says he’s feeling fitter and stronger than ever… Read More »
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has reportedly entered the marijuana business. “Iron Mike” is involved with a 40-acre cannabis farm located in California City, according to theblast.com. Marijuana became legal in the state on Monday, January 1.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has reportedly entered the marijuana business. “Iron Mike” is involved with a 40-acre cannabis farm located in California City, according to theblast.com. Marijuana became legal… Read More »
Another round in the Bob Arum vs. Dana White (UFC President) mega-feud … this time, it’s the legendary boxing promoter throwing major shade at White for his plans to get into boxing in 2018. Arum tells TMZ Sports he welcomes the UFC honcho into the boxing community … but then he fires this shot …
By TMZSports.com Another round in the Bob Arum vs. Dana White (UFC President) mega-feud … this time, it’s the legendary boxing promoter throwing major shade at White for his plans… Read More »
Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions has a winner in female superstar, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and WBC and IBF Super Middleweight World Champion, Claressa “T Rex” Shields, who has secured an impressive list of victories in the 2017 year-end awards. In just her first full year as a professional, Flint, Michigan’s Shields was named USA Today: Female Fighter of the Year, Yahoo Sports: Female Fighter of the Year, WBAN: Hottest Rising Star and WBAN: Most Inspirational.
After turning professional in November 2016, Shields appeared three times in 2017, making boxing history by headlining two separate Showtime telecasts. In August, Shields won the WBC and vacant IBF Super Middleweight Championships from previously unbeaten and highly regarded champion Nikki Adler in dominant fashion. And in March, also on Showtime, she stopped Hungary’s Szilvia Szabados in four rounds. Continue reading “Claressa Shields Nets 2017 Year-End Honors”
Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions has a winner in female superstar, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and WBC and IBF Super Middleweight World Champion, Claressa “T Rex” Shields, who has… Read More »
Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Boxing has announced ‘Real Deal Showcase Series I’, set for Friday, January 26, 2018 at the Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia. Headlining is undefeated Philadelphia prospect Steven Ortiz (7-0, 2 KOs) against Joshua Davis (11-2, 5 KOs) in an eight round lightweight clash. Co-featured is an eight round super middleweight clash between Brazil’s Isaac Rodrigues (22-2, 19 KOs) and Andy Mejias (15-1-0, 6 KOs) of Utica, New York.
Said Boxing Legend Holyfield, “I fought many times in Atlantic City and know first-hand how passionate and knowledgeable the boxing fans from Philadelphia are and look forward to presenting an entertaining card on January 26th.”
Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Boxing has announced ‘Real Deal Showcase Series I’, set for Friday, January 26, 2018 at the Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia. Headlining is undefeated Philadelphia prospect Steven… Read More »
Former world champion Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs), of Chubut, Argentina, is set to return as he takes on undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KOs) of Thailand. Matthyse will square off against Kiram Saturday January 27th at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, California live on HBO Boxing After Dark. We caught up with the Machine as he talked about his upcoming fight and hookup with trainer Joel Diaz.
Photo: Tom Hogan- Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
“This is a good fight. I am coming to this fight well prepared to be ready January 27th, against a very tough fighter,” Lucas Matthysse told Fightnews.com®.
This will be Matthysse’s second fight with trainer Joel Diaz training in Indio, California. Diaz has trained former world champions Timothy Bradley, Omar Figueroa, and currently trains former world champion Francisco Vargas. Matthysse talked about his experience with the respected trainer as he prepares in the desert town. Continue reading “Lucas Matthysse Clicking with Joel Diaz”
By Miguel Maravilla Former world champion Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs), of Chubut, Argentina, is set to return as he takes on undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0,… Read More »
Australia’s leading boxer is the WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (18-0-1,12KO’s) who shocked the boxing world when he defeated boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane with over 51,000 fans in attendance in July and made his first successful defence in December stopping Englishman Gary Corcoran in eleven rounds. Horn is scheduled to defend the title against mandatory contender Terrence Crawford early in 2018. There has been a AUD$2 million offer to fight Anthony Mundine.
Former WBA light-heavyweight champion Danny Green (36-5,28KO’s) outpointed former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine (47-8,27KO’s) in 2017 that attracted a live gate of over 28,000 fans. This was there second meeting with Mundine winning there first encounter in 2006 with over 30,000 fans in attendance. Mundine is scheduled to clash with former world challenger Tommy Browne on January 17.
Former IBF middleweight champion Sam Soliman (45-14,19KO’s) stopped Balazs Horvath in three rounds in April. Soliman captured the world title in 2014 defeating Felix Sturm. Continue reading “Australian Boxing Roundup 2017”
By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing Australia’s leading boxer is the WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (18-0-1,12KO’s) who shocked the boxing world when he defeated boxing legend Manny Pacquiao… Read More »
By Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son
The bell has rung and we are starting a new journey through this 12 round fight of 2018. Last year represented the rebirth of our great sport as the fans from around the world witnessed some spectacular matches and I am certain that boxing will carry-on and promoters and television networks will work and join forces to give fans the fights they deserve.
The WBC will cooperate and will work towards trying to make the best fights possible throughout the year. We are nearing the spectacular celebration of the WBC’s 2000 world championship fight. We enter this year with 1989 sanctioned fights in our 55 year history some of them being the best fights with legendary champions including Muhammad Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran, Chavez, Mayweather, Pacquiao, and so many other great champions who have fought for the green and gold WBC belt. Continue reading “The 12th Round: 2018”
By Mauricio Sulaiman WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son The bell has rung and we are starting a new journey through this 12 round fight of 2018. Last year represented… Read More »
This coming Saturday, January 6, 2018 is the announcement of the 10th Class of Inductees for the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. As part of the 8th Annual Open House at the SJC Boxing Gym in Fort Myers, the FBHOF will officially announce the inductees for the Class of 2018. The Open House is from 12:00 noon until 5:00pm with the official announcement at 3:00pm. A huge group is expected of past and new inductees. They will be on hand to meet the public, take pictures with and sign autographs. The public is invited – free of charge.
This coming Saturday, January 6, 2018 is the announcement of the 10th Class of Inductees for the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. As part of the 8th Annual Open House… Read More »
Three-time world champion Kazuto Ioka (22-1, 13 KOs), a still 28-year-old Japanese boxer, astoundingly announced his retirement from the ring at a press conference in Yokohama, Japan, on New Year’s Eve. Ioka previously gained the belts in the minimum, light-fly and flyweight categories to his credit.
Photo by Boxing Beat
The baby-faced skillful boxer married famous singer Nana Tanimura this May, which reportedly produced his split with his father/manager/promoter/trainer Kazunori. His father announced Kazuto’s relinquishment of the WBA 112-pound belt without the champ’s attendance in Osaka on November 9, and it’s Kazuto’s turn that he publicly announced his farewell to boxing without his father’s appearance. There is an uncertified rumor that Kazuto may have a possibility to go and fight in the US.
By Joe Koizumi Three-time world champion Kazuto Ioka (22-1, 13 KOs), a still 28-year-old Japanese boxer, astoundingly announced his retirement from the ring at a press conference in Yokohama, Japan,… Read More »
Lanky Japanese speedster Ryoichi Taguchi (27-2-2 12 KOs), 107.75, unified the WBA and IBF 108-pound belts when he displayed a late surge to pound out a unanimous decision over Filipino Milan Melindo (37-3, 13 KOs), 107.5, over twelve hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. The official tallies were as follows—Gustavo Jarquin (Nicaragua) 116-112, Francis Jackson (US) and Ignacio Robles (Panama) both 117-111, all in favor of Taguchi. The referee was Mark Nelson (US) who handled the fast-paced unification bout very well.
The WBA ruler Taguchi had a tough time coping with the shorter but sharp IBF counterpart in earlier rounds, but the Japanese almost swept the second half by utilizing his advantageous height and reach. They often made head collisions to see Melindo bleeding from gashes over both eyebrows and Taguchi from a cut on the forehead. In later rounds Melindo was visibly fading and slowing down only to have Taguchi take the initiative to pile up important points down the stretch. Continue reading “Full Report: Taguchi Beats Melindo in unification”
By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda Lanky Japanese speedster Ryoichi Taguchi (27-2-2 12 KOs), 107.75, unified the WBA and IBF 108-pound belts when he displayed a late surge to… Read More »
Unbeaten Japanese puncher, Hiroto Kyoguchi (9-0, 7 KOs), 105, successfully scored his initial defense of the newly acquired IBF 105-pound belt when he kept battering perennial top contender Carlos Buitrago (30-3-1-1NC, 17 KOs), 104, from the outset, often pinned him to the ropes with a fusillade of punches and finally halted him with the referee Roberto Ramirez Jr.’s intervention at 2:28 of the eighth round on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan.
Kyoguchi, a sturdy hard-puncher who dethroned Mexican Jose Argumedo this July, took the leadoff and maintained the pressure to the more experienced challenger, piling up points in every round. Kyoguchi showed his best in round six, when he exploded a big right to the face and forced him to the ropes with a barrage of punches to obviously weaken the Nicaraguan. Kyoguchi, two years his junior at 24 and formerly amateur boxer of Osaka Commercial University, accelerated his attack upstairs and downstairs to make it nearly lopsided as the contest progressed. Hiroto’s persistent body attacks were effective enough to have him slowing down, and when he kept whipping Buitrago midway in the seventh, the third man declared a well-received halt though there were no knockdowns before the stoppage. Continue reading “Full Report: IBF champ Kyoguchi halts #1 Buitrago”
By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda Unbeaten Japanese puncher, Hiroto Kyoguchi (9-0, 7 KOs), 105, successfully scored his initial defense of the newly acquired IBF 105-pound belt when he… Read More »
Newly crowned WBO flyweight champ Sho Kimura (16-1-2, 9 KOs), 112, retained his belt as he kept boring in, bloodied ex-Olympian Toshiyuki Igarashi (23-3-3, 12 KOs), 112, and scored a well-received TKO at 2:34 of the ninth round on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Having upset two-time Olympic champ Shiming Zou to capture the WBO belt in Shanghai last July, Kimura successfully scored his first defense over the more experienced mandatory challenger.
Igarashi, recently a frequent bleeder from his scar tissues, had red ribbon streaming from a cut over the left eyebrow in the third and from another over the right optic in the sixth. He was forced to go on fighting in a bloody mess. Kimura, 29, recklessly kept going forward with roundhouse shots, while Igarashi, 33, only kept circling and retreating without throwing effective punches to the onrushing champ. Continue reading “Full Report: Kimura stops Olympian Igarashi”
By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda Newly crowned WBO flyweight champ Sho Kimura (16-1-2, 9 KOs), 112, retained his belt as he kept boring in, bloodied ex-Olympian Toshiyuki Igarashi… Read More »
Unbeaten cousin of Naoya, super-light southpaw prospect Koki Inoue (10-0, 9 KOs), 140, scored an important victory when he dropped OPBF#10 Korean Dong-Hee Kim (8-3-3, 3 KOs), 139.75, three times and decked a fine TKO triumph at 1:25 of the fourth round in a scheduled eight on the undercard of Naoya’s WBO title bout on Saturday in Yokohama, Japan. Having been coached by Naoya’s father Shingo since his professional debut two years ago, the tall ex-amateur lefty Koki steadily showed his progress in every fight. Koki landed a southpaw left to the belly to floor Kim midway in the third, and sent him to the canvas twice more in the fatal session. The talented Koki is willing to fight in quest of the national 140-pound belt next year.
By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda Unbeaten cousin of Naoya, super-light southpaw prospect Koki Inoue (10-0, 9 KOs), 140, scored an important victory when he dropped OPBF#10 Korean Dong-Hee… Read More »
