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WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith came face to face with today with WBO #5 Mateusz Masternak, the man who aims to dethrone him when they meet in the BOXXER main event on Sunday, December 10th, at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England. The bout can be seen on Peacock in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

Chris Billam-Smith: “He does everything very well. He’s the most well rounded fighter I will have faced to date. He‘s very well rounded and has no obvious weaknesses. I think stylistically we are very similar in a lot of areas and I think it will be a great fight. It will be an entertaining fight, our styles will mesh really well.”

Mateusz Masternak: “I’ve been waiting for 17 years to get a world title shot. It’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs but now I am ready to take a belt. I’ve been very patient but the wait is almost over. Chris has heart but he’s not faced anyone with my experience and my toughness.”

The Superior Court of Quebec has issued its judgment in the case initiated by Eye of the Tiger against welterweight Custio Clayton for breach of the contract between the two parties. Clayton was ordered to pay a sum of $193,293.86 (plus interest and costs) to Eye of the Tiger.

Through its legal action filed against Clayton in 2021, Eye of the Tiger sought a conviction for the breach of the exclusive promotional agreement agreed upon in 2017 and for the loss of income resulting from the athlete’s refusal to honor a three-fight deal negotiated in his favor. Continue reading “Eye of the Tiger wins lawsuit”

Keeps WBO AP 122lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former IBF world junior feather champ, WBO#4, WBC#15 TJ Doheny (25-4, 19 KOs), 121.75, impressively scored a hat trick by decking his third victory at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, when he successfully kept his WBO Asia Pacific 122-pound belt by halting previously unbeaten prospect Japhethlee Llamido (11-1, 4 KOs), 121.75, at just 2:28 of the opening session in a scheduled twelve on Tuesday.

“I wish to have an opportunity here to challenge “Monster” Naoya Inoue,” said the 36-year-old victor. TJ, who will celebrate his birthday in a couple of days on Thursday, said in the ring, “Happy birthday to me.” Continue reading “Ex-champ Doheny halts Llamido”

Keeps JBC 122lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Elongated 5’11” southpaw 122-pounder IBF#5, WBO#14 Toshiki Shimomachi (17-1-3, 11 KOs), 122, very barely kept his Japanese super-bantam belt as he struggled to fight to a grueling draw (95-95 twice, 96-93 for him) with JBC#1 Toshiki Ishii (6-1-1, 4 KOs), 121.75, over ten extremely hard-fought rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. It was truly the Fight of the Month since they kept non-stop punching each other for full thirty minutes. Continue reading “IBF#4 Shimomachi draws with Ishii”

ESPN has announced that the planned December 23 undisputed title showdown between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been delayed. Fury suffered a cut on his forehead and a rougher than expected outing in his split decision win over Francis Ngannou last weekend, so “The Gypsy King” needs some extra time to recover. The bout is now mooted for February at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Last weekend the focus was on heavyweights and super featherweights. This weekend it’s again heavyweights and super featherweights in the spotlight with a cruiserweight world title fight in the bargain.

DAZN kicks off the action with IBF super featherweight world title clash between champion Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 KOs) and Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KOs) from the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco.

ESPN+ presents heavyweight Efe Ajagba (18-1, 13 KOs) against Joe Goodall (10-1-1, 9 KOs) from the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. This will be the first boxing event at the venue, which opened earlier this month. In the 10-round co-feature, lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) takes on Diego Torres (18-0, 17 KOs). Heavyweights Brandon Moore (12-0, 8 KOs) and Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (8-0, 7 KOs) will see action in separate bouts.

On a $19.99 Don King Productions PPV, Noel Mikaelyan (26-2, 11 KOs) will face Ilunga Junior Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title at Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami, Florida. Plus, in a pair of heavyweight bouts, Jonathan Guidry (19-1-2, 11 KOs) meets Jesus Escalera (19-0, 19 KOs) and former WBA world champion Trevor Bryan (22-1, 15 KOs) takes on Cassius Chaney (22-1, 15 KOs).

Sandor Martin (41-3-0, 14KO) is coming back in the squared circle the 16th of December in Turin, Italy, as part of a boxing card organised and promoted by Italy’s Opi Since 82. He will fight Mohamed El Marcouchi (29-3, 12KO) for 8 rounds in the super lightweight division. Currently, Sandor Martin is the WBC #1 in the 140lbs and the mandatory challenger for the winner of Regis Prograis vs Devin Haney.

The full fight card will be shown live on DAZN for Italy and on ESPN+ in the USA with the support of Top Rank Boxing and it will have four professional boxing fights, with the main event being local boxer Francesco Grandelli (17-2-2, 3KO) who will face undefeated Stefan Voda (14-0, 5KO) for the vacant Ebu Silver Featherweight Title. The other two fights include the former IBF International Welterweight Champion Maxim Prodan (21-2-1, 16KO) and the young lightweight prospect Biagio Grimaldi (5-1, 3KO) who has the opportunity to avenge the only loss on his record against Darwin El Badaouy (2-2-1, 1KO). Continue reading “WBC #1 Sandor Martin returns Dec 16”

Two high-stakes showdowns top the bill on a special Top Rank on ESPN card Saturday, Dec. 9 at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

In the main event, Cuban WBO featherweight king Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) puts his belt on the line against unbeaten Mexican contender Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (21-0, 18 KOs).

In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, Puerto Rican sensation Xander Zayas (17-0, 11 KOs) squares off against Spain’s Jorge Fortea (24-3-1, 9 KOs).

Ramirez-Espinoza and Zayas-Fortea will be broadcast live on ESPN.

The ESPN+ undercard will showcase some of Top Rank’s usual cast of characters. Continue reading “Top Rank announces full Dec 9 card”

Former WBO super bantamweight champion Angelo Leo (21-1, 9 KOs) returns to the ring Wednesday night against Nicolas Polanco (20-4-1, 11 KOs) at the ProBox Event Center in Plant City, Florida on ProBox TV. Leo says he wants to put the featherweight division on notice.

“All of the world champions are in my sights — Rey Vargas and Robeisy Ramirez — they’re great fighters but I know I can handle my own, and I can beat them,” Angelo Leo said. “I want all of them belts, whichever comes first, I’ll be ready.”

To stay sharp in his time away from the ring, Leo has been sparring Nonito Donaire and Shakur Stevenson.

Fernando Vargas Jr. will be fighting Columbia’s Wilfrido Buelvas in a six round super welterweight clash on Saturday, November 11 at the Thunder Studios in Long Beach, CA. Buelvas will be the most experienced opponent Vargas Jr. will be fighting on to date. Coming off a victory in his most recent fight, Buelvas enters this fight with a record of 24-17, 18 KOs. Vargas is 12-0, 11 KOs.

All Star Boxing made history in Nicaragua on Friday night as it presented a world class show from the famed Alexis Arguello Arena in Managua, Nicaragua. The program was toppled by a thrilling 12 round Knockout of Rene “Chulo” Santiago over Nicaraguan Kevin Vivas to claim the WBO interim jr flyweight title in front of a rowdy crowd, it was the first world title fight in Nicaragua after 21 years. Santiago looked impressive, boxing his way through the first half of the fight and later closed the show with a knockout in the final round.

Many former world champions were on hand to support the show including Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, the Alvarado Brothers, Adonis Rivas, amongst others. There was also an exciting tribute to the late Alexis Arguello, right before the main event ring walk glaring over the Jumbotron. Continue reading “More on Santiago-Vivas”

Report, photo by Joe Koizumi

It is a very interesting matchup that former IBF world champ WBO#4, IBF#11 TJ Doheny (24-4, 18 KOs), an Irishman now residing in Australia for years, will make his initial defense of the WBO Asia Pacific 122-pound belt against unbeaten Japhethlee Llamido (11-0, 4 KOs) tomorrow (Tuesday) in Tokyo, Japan. For TJ, Japan is a lucky place that he dethroned then IBF ruler Ryosuke Iwasa on points in 2018 and also wrested the WBO AP belt from Kazuki Nakajima via fourth round TKO this July. But the challenger Llamido also upset ex-titlist Ryosuke Iwasa by a lopsided decision in Korea last April. The US prospect Japhethlee, thirteen years his junior at 23, served as a sparring partner for “Monster” Naoya Inoue before his Fulton title go and performed very well in sparring sessions according to Naoya’s promoter/manager Hideiyuki Ohashi. It will be a competitive confrontation of the veteran ex-champ versus the fast-rising speedster. Ironically, the television commentator will be their mutual victim, former IBF titleholder Ryosuke Iwasa (who hung up gloves for good after his Llamido defeat).

Unbeaten super lightweight Alex “El Toro” Vargas (14-0, 5 KOs) outpointed Julio “El Pantera” Rosa (8-4, 4 KOs) over eight rounds to claim the vacant WBA Continental USA title on Saturday night at The Paramount in Huntington, New York. Scores were 78-73 x2, 77-74).

In the co-feature, super welterweight Wendy “Haitian Fire” Toussaint (15-2, 7 KOs) stopped Jermone “Quadruple J” Jones Jr (7-2, 6 KOs) in round three in a bout for the WBA Continental USA 154lb belt. Toussaint wasted no time getting to work as he staggered Jones in the first thirty seconds, before unloading an onslaught of punches. A Toussaint one-two combination at the end of the first round sent Jones to the canvas for the first time. Then with 29 seconds left in the third round, and Jones pinned in the corner, Toussaint dropped Jones for the second time. With just 2 seconds left in the third round, and another Toussaint onslaught, referee Pat Sullivan stepped in to call a stop to the fight.

Former world title challenger Cristian Gonzalez (15-2-1, 5 KOs) of Mexico and unbeaten Tobías “Pitbull” Reyes (13-0-1, 12 KOs) of Argentina fought to an exciting draw Saturday night at the Arena Ring Central de la Ciudad de México with Producciones Deportivas de Ricardo Maldonado promoting. The fight had good two way action with many exchanges. The offical scores were 96-94 for Gonzalez, 97-93 for Reyes, and 95-95 even. Both fighters seemed in agreement with the decision. Gonzalez had previously fought unbeaten world champion Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez very tough, losing on points.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese feather prospect Kota Kaneko (4-0, 3 KOs), 125, displayed a good form and impressively halted China’s Fan Cai (5-5-1, 3 KOs), 125.25, at 1:06 of the sixth round in a scheduled eight on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Kaneko, whose amateur mark was 56-13, caught the taller Chinese with a smashing left hook, dropping him twice in round two with Cai having a narrow escape saved by the bell. Cai, a durable southpaw puncher, was in command in the third, but Kaneko, 25, took back the initiative and hurt him with steady and accurate lefts in rounds four and five. The sixth saw Kota furiously swam over him to prompt the referee’s well-timed stoppage. Kaneko of Teiken gym, who can punch, looked promising. Continue reading “Unbeaten Kaneko stops China’s Cai”

O’Shaquie Foster talks about salvaging his WBC super featherweight title with a dramatic final round TKO over Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez in Cancun, Mexico. Going into the final round, Foster was behind 110-99 (0-11 in rounds) on the card of judge Nicolas Hidalgo, and 107-102 (3-8) on the card of judge Ed Pearson. Judge Jorge Gorini had Foster up 106-103 (7-4).

“My coaches were telling me that I was behind around the eighth round so I knew I had to push it before I lose my belt, I have to give it all, so that’s what I did,” said Foster. “Rocky is a hell of a puncher and a hell of a fighter, I had to dig deep, but I knew I could catch him. Around the ninth or tenth round, I started seeing his body limp when I hit him with the right hand, so I just kept having faith in it.

“In the 11th round I hurt him, but he came back and hit me with a good shot so it gave him a little more hope, but in the 12th round I knew I could catch him.

“With the comeback KO I rate my performance an eight out of ten, but I really wasn’t too satisfied with how I fought. But it was a fun fight, I had fun in there.

“I want the winner of the fight next week with Cordina and Vazquez, that should be next, unify, let’s do it. I’ve proved I’ll go anywhere to fight, so if it’s the UK, let’s do it!”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and pro debuting MMA star Francis Ngannou spoke about Fury’s split decision win on Saturday evening at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Tyson Fury: “That definitely wasn’t in the script. He’s one hell of a fighter. He’s strong, a big puncher, and a lot better as a boxer than we thought he would ever be. He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher. I respect him a lot, before the fight and afterward.

“He was very awkward. He wasn’t coming forward. He was standing back and waiting for me to land my punches and then try to counter. He’s a good fighter. He’s given me one of my toughest fights in the last 10 years.

“[The knockdown] is part of boxing. I got caught behind the head again. My legs weren’t hurt or nothing. I was alright. And I got back up and it was what it was. And I got back to my boxing. I don’t know how close it was. But I got the win, and that’s what it is.”

Francis Ngannou: “We can run it back again, and I’m sure I will get better. This was my first boxing match. It was a great experience. I’m not giving any excuse. I know I came up short. But I’m going to go back and work harder with a little more experience and a little more feeling of the game. And I will come back even stronger.

“At first, I was a little nervous. This is a new sport that I never did. Now I know I can do this sh*t. So, get ready!”

WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 11 KOs) scored a come-from-behind stoppage of KO artist Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (34-2, 31 KOs) in the twelfth round on Saturday night at the Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Hernandez pressed the action, was busier, and was ahead on the cards. Round eleven was a round of the year candidate. Foster rocked Rocky, who then came back to shock O’Shaquie. Foster then dropped Hernandez twice in round twelve and the bout was stopped. Time was 2:38.

WBO #15 heavyweight Justis Huni (8-0, 4 KOs) hammered out a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over former cruiserweight title challenger Andrew Tabiti (20-2, 16 KOs). Scores were 100-90, 98-92, 98-92.

IBF #4, WBO #10 super featherweight KO machine Eduardo Nunez (25-1, 25 KOs) knocked out 39-year-old former world title challenger Oscar Escandon (27-7, 18 KOs) in the second round. A huge right hand laid out Escandon at :38.

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) got all he could handle from MMA star Francis Ngannou (0-1) in a ten round non-title fight on Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The Gypsy King” suffered a small cut on his forehead in round two. Ngannou dropped Fury with a left hook in round three.

Fury started to outbox Ngannou in round four. Rounds were competitive with Fury’s jab saving him. Ngannou won the exchanges in round eight. Fury went back to the jab in rounds nine and ten and won by split decision. Scores were 95-94 Ngannou, 96-93, 95-94 Fury.

With the win, Fury set up a December 23 clash against WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title at the same venue.

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In a grudge fight between undefeated British heavyweight standouts, WBA #11 Fabio Wardley (17-0, 16 KOs) halted WBO #9 David Adeleye (12-1, 11 KOs) in round seven. Wardley dropped Adeleye with a left hook and got a referee’s stoppage moments later. Time was 2:43. Adeleye didn’t like the stoppage and shoved the referee.

Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (33-3, 23 KOs), currently rated WBO #6, IBF #6, WBC #10, knocked out Simon Kean (23-2, 22 KOs) in round three. An uppercut put Kean on the deck where he was counted out. Time was 2:04.

WBC #3, WBA #5, IBF #10, WBO #13 heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-0, 17 KOs) needed just 70 seconds to steamroll Junior Anthony Wright (20-5-1, 17 KOs). Makhmudov dropped Wright with a right hand, then got a referee’s stop when he connected with another crushing right.

Hot heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma (6-0, 4 KOs) demolished Istvan Bernath (10-2, 8 KOs) in the first round. Itauma dropped Bernath, then got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 1:53.

WBA #2, WBC #9 heavyweight Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over 42-year-old Carlos Takam (40-8-1, 28 KOs). 299lb Bakole overpowered and battered Takam to get a referee’s stoppage at 2:15.

Injured WBA 118lb titlist cancels his defense with Ancajas

By Joe Koizumi

WBA bantamweight champ Takuma Inoue has suffered a rib fracture to be obliged to cancel his first defense with Filipino ex-titlist Jerwin Ancajas scheduled on November 15. The whole card including a semi-windup WBA flyweight title bout of Artem Dalakian against Japanese challenger Seigo Yuri Akui have been also cancelled and will be re-scheduled to another date in accordance with Takuma’s recovery. It was announced by Ohashi Promotions today.

In a bout upgraded to the WBO interim junior flyweight title, WBO #4 Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (13-3, 10 KOs) scored a twelfth round KO over previously undefeated #15 Kevin Vivas (7-1, 2 KOs) at the famed Alexis Arguello Arena in Managua, Nicaragua. It was a close fight until a Santiago jab to the breadbasket finished Vivas at 1:18.

The original main event between WBO junior flyweight champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez and Gerardo “Cascabel” Zapata was scrapped when Bomba withdrew due to illness.

In the co-feature, welterweight puncher Harvin “Manimal” Aguirre (9-0, 6 KOs) took an eight round majority decision over crosstown rival Israel Lopez (11-4-1, 8 KOs). Scores were 78-74, 76-76, 78-74

Report/Photos: Scott Foster

Undisputed female featherweight champion Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over WBO interim champ Danila Ramos (12-3, 1 KO) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Serrano pressed the action the whole way and punished Ramos for 36 minutes instead of the normal 20. Scores were 120-108 3x.

Only Serrano’s WBA, IBF, and WBO belts were on the line as the WBC wouldn’t sanction the match because they view the duration of twelve 3-minute rounds as unsafe for women.

* * *

Unbeaten WBA #14 welterweight Damian Lescaille (6-0, 4 KOs) scored a spectacular ninth round KO against Ray Barlow (7-4, 4 KOs). A right hook laid out Barlow at 2:58.

2016 Olympian Antonio Vargas (17-1, 9 KOs) outscored rugged former world champion Hernan “Tyson” Marquez (47-11-2, 33 KOs) over ten rounds in a bantamweight bout. Scores were 99-89 3x. Marquez down twice.

Photos

Michael Manna 199 vs. Joe Turk 197.6
Moses Johnson 243.2 vs. Lemir Isomvs.Tiley 260.4
Theodore Mrkonja 136.2 vs. Kevin Hicks 136
Devon Siegfried 183.4 vs. Christoper Crockett 185.8
Ivan Dancha 153.8 vs. Anthony Rutkowski 157.8
Clark and Tommy Parker will take part in an exhibition.

Venue: Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Promoter: Integrity Fighter Management
Stream: BXNGTV.com
1st Bell: 7 PM ET

Alex Vargas 139.4 vs. Julio Rosa 138.2
Wendy Toussaint 153.4 vs. Jermone Jones 152
Erick Perez 129.2 vs. Keslaire Exavier 128.8
Louis Maietta 170 vs. Frank Monaco 169.4
Dominic Breen 131.4 vs. Joe Elzey 128
Emmanuel Etienne 184.2 vs. Oluwale Bamgbose 183.2

Venue: The Paramount, Huntington, New York
Promoter: Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing
TV: Swerve.tv

O’Shaquie Foster 130 vs. Rocky Hernandez 130
(WBC super featherweight title)

Justis Huni 237.2 vs. Andrew Tabiti 221.2

Venue: Poliforum Benito Juarez, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN