Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi

Former Japanese champ Rikki Naito (18-2, 6 KOs), a slick-punching southpaw at 140, eked out a split decision (77-76, 77-75 and 75-79) over previously undefeated Chinese prospect Baishanbo Nasiyiwula (12-1-1, 5 KOs), 138.5, over eight close rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. It was a well-packed show of the second confrontations of Japanese and Chinese boxers at the Korakuen Hall with many Chinese witnesses.

Naito, in earlier rounds, utilized his faster footwork to outbox and outpunch the taller opponent, but Baishanbo, formerly WBC youth champ and currently WBC Asia 140-pound ruler, caught up with the shifty Japanese from the sixth round on. Naito was awarded a hairline victory thanks to his accumulation on points in the first half. Continue reading “Naito barely defeats Chinese Nasiyiwula”

By David Finger

Moises Calleros, the WBO #5 ranked mini-flyweight, dominated late sub Samuel Garcia on Friday, October 20th, scoring a knockout in the third round. Calleros fought in front of his hometown crowd in Monclova, Mexico against Garcia, who was billed as hailing from San Luis Potosi. Although Garcia came into the fight as a complete unknown he fought bravely, attempting to bull rush Calleros in the opening round and arguably winning that round with his aggression. But Calleros came alive midway through the second, jabbing effectively and counter punching with the taller man. Garcia tried again in round three to outwork Calleros but he was ultimately no match for the hard punching “Taz”. A left hook to the body late in the round send Garcia to the canvas, where he was counted out. With the win Calleros improves to 28-7-1, 16 KOs.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The result of weigh-in for Sunday’s world title tripleheader in Tokyo was as follows:

WBA middleweight title bout:
Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam 158.25 vs. Ryota Murata 160

WBC flyweight title bout:
Daigo Higa 112 vs. Thomas Masson 111.75

WBC light-flyweight title bout:
Ken Shiro 107.5 vs. Pedro Guevara 107.5
Continue reading “N’Dam, Murata Make Weight”

Photos: Pablo Lozano Reyes

In a rematch and local turf war, super featherweight Miguel “El Lobo” Montaño (13-6, 6 KOs) turned the tables on Carlos “El Fino” Ruiz (15-4-1, 5 KOs) on Friday night at the Auditorio Blackberry, in Mexico City.

Ruiz won their first fight by split decision. This time it was Montano prevailing by a majority nod after ten hard fought rounds. Scores were 96-93, 95-95 and 96-94 for Montano, who claimed the vacant WBO Latino super featherweight title.

Photos

By Bob Hough

World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) participated in a conference call Friday to discuss his Oct. 28 heavyweight fight against Carlos Takam (35-3-1, 27 KOs), a late replacement for Kubrat Pulev who withdrew from the fight with a shoulder injury.

“I feel like Takam, to have his kind of style, not many people who fight that way have long careers. He eats up a little bit of ground each round.” Continue reading “Joshua ready for late sub Takam”

Professional boxing returns to the city of San Francisco, CA, on Saturday as hometown hero Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (19-4-1, 11 KOs), takes on undefeated prospect Miguel Dumas (10-0, 7 KOs). The bout will take place at the beautiful historic San Francisco Armory. On the line with be the WBU Americas welterweight belt.

Karim Mayfield 147 vs. Miguel Dumas 147
Raquel Miller 157 vs. Lisa Noel Williams 154
Xavier Martinez 131 vs. Raymond Chacon 125
Ricardo Pinell 165 vs. Carlos Ruiz 169
Willie Shaw 137 vs. Lennard Davis 137

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Committee has ordered Mexicans Super Featherweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz, and regular champion of the same category Abner Mares, to negotiate their upcoming bout before November 6.

Both boxers had scheduled to fight on April 3. According to WBA Rule C.13, a champion cannot fight with a boxer who is not a mandatory designated contender within 60 days of his mandatory defense expiration date. The Committee gave them the timeframe from April 3rd to May 3rd to negotiate this matter; however, on July 4 they still didn’t have an answer. Continue reading “WBA orders Santa Cruz-Mares negotiations”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The press conference for the WBA middleweight title bout between Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam and Ryota Murata took place on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who holds Murata under his promotional agreement, was in attendance, mentioning his great expectation to the sensational rematch at the Ryogoku Sumo Arena (Kokugikan) on Sunday.

N’Dam said, “I’m 1,000% well-prepared. I’ll demonstrate a great performance. I’m eager to fight Murata.”

Murata said, “With Mr. Bob Arum and Mr. Jimmy Lennon Jr. besides me, it’s like a dream of a kid boxing mania. What I want is the championship belt. I’ll overcome mental pressure and win this fight.” Continue reading “N’Dam, Murata to collide again on Sunday”

Report/Photos: Scott Foster

To celebrate Evander Holyfield’s 55th birthday, his promotional entity The Real Deal Boxing held a 10 bout card Thursday night at The Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta, GA.

Headlining the event was Rhode Island’s Toka Khan Clary (23-1, 16 KO’s), who made short work of late replacement David Berna (13-1, 12KO’s) from Hungary. After measuring the Hungarian in the 1st frame, Clary asserted himself early in following round, dropping Berna 3 times before earning the stoppage at 1:32 of the 2nd. With the win, Toka Khan Clary laid claim to the vacant WBC Continental Americas Featherweight Title. Continue reading “Khan Clary, Diaz triumph in Atlanta”

By Boxing Bob Newman

After two hours, Jezreel Corrales lost only three-quarters of a pound, getting to 133.25 lbs. He loses his WBA “super” world super featherweight title in the scale. Only Machado can win the title. If Corrales wins the fight, the title becomes vacant. The two camps are meeting now to renegotiate purses and other details.

The WBA “super champion” status is now not on the line for tomorrow night. Should Machado win, he would become the regular WBA super featherweight champion.

Video: Przemek Garczarczyk

Murat Gassiev 199 vs. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk 199.5
(IBF cruiserweight world title)
(WBSS cruiserweight quarterfinal)

Jack Culcay 153 vs. Maciej Sulecki 153.4
Stivens Bujaj 200.6 vs. Mateusz Masternak 199.2

Venue: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Promoter: Ringstar
TV: Audience

More video

Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

Jezreel Corrales 134* vs Alberto Machado 130
(WBA super world super featherweight title)
*Corrales has two hours to make 130

Demetrius Andrade 159.5 vs. Alantez Fox 160

Lamont Roach 132 vs. Luis Hinojosa 131.5
D’Mitrius Ballard 171 vs. Jaime Solorio 172
Ruben Villa 127.25 vs. German Meraz 128
Luis Feliciano 139.75 vs. Istvan Dernanecz 136
Michael Dutchover 135 vs. Anthony De Jesus Ruiz 133.5
Alex Rincon 156 vs. Steven Andrade 153.5

Venue: Events Center at Turning Stone Resort & Casino
Promoter: Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy Promotions), Arthur Pellulo (Banner Promotions), Joe DeGuardia (Star Boxing), Miguel Cotto (Cotto Promotions), Ken Thompson (Thompson Boxing)
First Bell: 5:45 p.m.
HBO Boxing After Dark: 10:00 p.m.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig

Ryan Burnett 117.5 vs. Zhanat Zhakiyanov 117.25
(WBA/IBF bantamweight unification)

Venue: SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: HBO (delayed)

By Rick Scharmberg

“Joltin’” Joey Tiberi Jr. (15-2, 8 KOs) tops a big ten-fight card on Saturday, November 11 at the Hockessin PAL Center in Hockessin, Delaware. Tiberi will face Justin “The Vodou” Savi (31-14-2, 21 KOs) in the eight-round super welterweight main event, with the USBU title at stake. In the eight-round co-feature, Lamont “The Problem Solver” Singletary (8-2, 5 KOs) takes on Hafiz Montgomery (4-1, 2 KOs) for the USBU cruiserweight title. “Battle for the Belts” is being promoted by Night Night Promotions. Continue reading “Tiberi-Savi set for Nov. 11 in Delaware”

Former WBA super featherweight champion Jason “El Canito” Sosa (20-2-4, 14 KOs) takes on Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos (24-13, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on the televised undercard for Kovalev vs. Shabrankskyy. The event takes place Saturday, Nov. 25 and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

The 29-year-old Sosa, of Camden, NJ, had recently moved to Puerto Rico. “Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico,” said Sosa. “I have been living there for the last few months and I opened a business there. Now to see the destruction and devastation that my people are going through, it breaks my heart. It was very difficult for me to leave and begin my training camp back in New Jersey to get ready for the fight against Castellanos. Continue reading “Sosa-Castellanos clash Nov 25”

Carlos “El Fino” Ruiz (15-3-1, 5 KO´s) looks for a repeat victory as he rematches Luis Miguel “El Lobo” Montaño (12-6, 6 KO´s) tonight. The main event will air on Boxeo Telemundo Ford. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds and for the WBO latino super featherweight title. The site of the event will be the Auditorio Blackberry, in Mexico City, Mexico. The local crowd will be divided at both fighters are Mexico City natives. Ruiz defeated Montaño by split decision more than three years ago and looks to leave no doubt this time around. Continue reading “Ruiz looks for repeat win”

Luis Miguel “El Lobo” Montaño (12-6, 6 KO´s) will get his long awaited rematch vs fellow Mexico City native Carlos “El Fino” Ruiz (15-3-1, 5 KO´s). The two will square off in the Boxeo Telemundo Ford main event this Friday. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds with the vacant WBO Latino super featherweight title at stake. The site of the event will be the Auditorio Blackberry, in Mexico City, Mexico. Ruiz defeated Montaño by split decision more than three years ago. Montaño feels that he has much improved since their first fight and is confident of victory this time around. Continue reading “Montaño debuts on Telemundo tonight”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It might be a good policy to separate a press conference of multi world title promotions according to a governing organization. Only for the WBC title bouts there was a press conference with four contestants in attendance on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. All of them confidently said they were in good shape and would be victorious on Sunday. Continue reading “First press conference of Japan’s tripleheader”

Stevie Massey, of Charlotte, NC, won the vacant North Carolina lightweight title tonight by smashing hometown favorite Marko Bailey, of Durham, NC, to the canvas at 1.09 of the first round before a stunned capacity crowd at the Armory in downtown Durham. Massey connected with a pair of right hands and Bailey was out on his feet before the second one landed.

“Bailey has to understand that Durham is his city but North Carolina is my state,” said Massey, whose 5-1 record includes five first-round knockouts.

Bailey also is 5-1, 3 K0s. Continue reading “Massey crushes Bailey in N Carolina”

Super middleweight “King” Gabriel Rosado (24-11, 14 KOs) scored an impressive sixth round TKO over Glen Tapia (23-5, 15 KOs) on Thursday night at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Former middleweight title challenger Rosado dropped Tapia in round six, then finished Tapia with his follow-up barrage. Time was 1:15. It was the fourth straight loss for Tapia.

In the co-feature, welterweight KeAndre Gibson (18-1-1, 7 KOs) scored a ten round majority decision over Alejandro Barrera (29-4, 18 KOs). Barrera was busted up and bloodied, but fought hard until the end. Scores were 95-95, 97-93, 98-92.

Carlos “Fino” Ruiz 130 Vs. Miguel “Lobo” Montano 130
(10 Rounds WBO Latin Jr. Lightweight vacant Title)

Omar Solano 130 Vs. Luis Daniel Flores 130
Joel Cordoba 115 Vs, Juan Cabrera 115
Arturo Ivan Hernandez 118 Vs. Ivan Carrillo 118
Miguel Angel Flores 135 Vs. Luis Fernando Valtierra 135
Jonathan Meza 112 Vs. Porfirio Gonzalez 112
Cristian Edwin Luna 118 Vs. Juan Daniel Peralta 118

Venue: Auditorio Blackberry, Mexico City, Mexico
Time: Doors Open 7:30 PM First Fight 8:00 PM
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.mx or at door
Promoter: Tuto Zabala, Jr.-All Star Boxing, Inc in association with Producciones Deportivas
TV: Telemundo Network 11:35 PM

Isaac Zarate 123 vs. Christian Esquivel 122.5
Mohammed Rodriguez 138.5 vs. Cesar Villarraga 137.2
Saul Sanchez 117.6 vs. Nestor Ramos 118
Daniel Guzman 118.5 vs. Jose Mora 121.5
Brandon Trejo 131.7 vs. Carlos Apodaca 132.8

Venue: Doubletree Ontario
Promoter: Thompson Boxing

Video: Przemek Garczarczyk

IBF Champion Murat Gassiev and former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they enter the ring this Saturday, October 21 in World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight quarter-final action from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. live on AUDIENCE Network.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from BB King’s Blues Club & Grill:

Murat Gassiev: “When we faced-off I looked inside his eyes and saw that he is very serious. He’s ready for a big fight and I will make sure this is a great fight on Saturday…I don’t like to think ahead to a potential matchup with Yunier Dorticos. It would be a great fight but my focus is fully on Wlodarczyk.”

Krzysztof Wlodarczyk: “What I can say is, we are going to find out who is better in the ring on Saturday. We’ll see who has what it takes to make the next round of this tournament. My training has been very good and I feel completely ready for Saturday night. I’m going to be ready for anything Gassiev throws at me. We will find out who the better man is.”

Top Rank on ESPN debuted July 1 when Manny Pacquiao met Jeff Horn down under in Brisbane, Australia, resulting in the most-watched boxing telecast on cable television since 2006. Each of the four Top Rank on ESPN telecasts (7/1, 8/5, 8/19 and 9/22) have been world championship fights, and they have delivered top tier ratings, scored big with Hispanic fans and led to significant Out-of-Home viewing. Two more Top Rank on ESPN fights are on the horizon for 2017—November 11 and December 9. Both are regarded as some of the better fight cards remaining on the 2017 boxing calendar. Continue reading “Top Rank on ESPN is Winning Big”

By Ron Jackson

Promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions presents a bumper tournament at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night in what potentially could one of the best tournaments seen in recent years, in the Super 4 featherweight competition, involving Tshifiwa Munyai vs Azinga Fuzile and Simphiwe Vetyeka vs Lerato Dlamini. Continue reading “Super 4 featherweight tourney in South Africa”