Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Undisputed world 122-pound champion “Monster” Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) will put all his belts on the line against IBF#1, WBO#1 Aussie Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on Christmas Eve in Tokyo, Japan. Hideyuki Ohashi of Ohashi Promotions has announced the confrontation of the unbeaten super bantamweights at Ariake Arena here today (Thursday). Goodman, five years his junior at 26, defeated ex-titlist TJ Doheny and previously unbeaten Ra’eese Aleem in Australia last year. Goodman appearing on line at the press conference, Inoue called him, saying, “Let’s make it a hot affair.” Sam quickly responded, “Let’s meet in Tokyo.”

Beneath the Inoue-Goodman title go, WBO bantam ruler Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will make his second defense since dethroning Jason Moloney this May. His challenger will be announced soon.

Heavyweight Jerry “Slugger” Forrest (28-6-2, 20 KOs) hammered out an eight round unanimous decision over Earl Newman (10-4-1, 7 KOs) on Wednesday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Slow-paced fight with Forrest doing more to win 78-74, 79-73, 78-74.

In the main event, Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) dethroned IBF female bantamweight champion Miyo Yoshida (17-5, 0 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision. The taller Metcalf successfully operated from the outside to compile a 96-94, 97-73, 99-91 score. Metcalf previously outpointed Yoshida 11 months ago.

Undefeated super lightweight “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (22-0-2, 11 KOs) successfully defended the WBA Continental Americas Gold title with an eighth round KO against Lavisas “Red” Williams (10-2-1, 3 KOs). Mykquan dropped Lavisas twice in round one, and finished him with another knockdown in round eight. Time was 1:32.

Other Bouts:
Konrad Kaczmarkiewicz W6 Khainell Wheeler (light heavyweight)
Edward Vazquez TKO4 Kenneth Taylor (super featherweight)

“Gucci Manny” Flores 119 vs. Victor Olivo 117.8
Tito Sanchez 126 vs. Edwin Palomares 126
Grant Flores 154.2 vs. Luis Ramos 153.8
Daniel Garcia 135.2 vs. Jorge Villegas 135.2
Cayden Griffiths 141.8 vs. Markus Bowes 138.8
Johnny Cañas 137.2 vs. Pedro Cruz 140
Daniel Luna 129.8 vs. Giovanny Gonzalez 131
Kevin Gudiño 117.6 vs. Bryan Cox 119.4

Venue: Fantasy Springs Resort, Indio, California
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Jack Catterall believes he can “pick holes” in former two-time WBC World Champion Regis Prograis when the Super-Lightweight rivals clash over 12 rounds in the first ever headline fight at Co-op Live in Manchester this Saturday October 26, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

The Chorley man is just days away from the biggest test of his professional career to date and is all too aware that a win over his American rival would likely lead to a World Title shot against the likes of Teofimo Lopez Jr or Liam Paro, who puts his IBF crown on the line against Richardson Hitchins in December. Continue reading “Catterall: I can pick holes in Prograis”

Undisputed female minimumweight world champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada, the fighting pride of East Los Angeles, has announced her retirement following a decorated 13-year professional career.

Estrada (26-0, 9 KOs) won world titles in two weight classes and went 7-0 in title fights. A pound-for-pound mainstay who holds the world record for the fastest KO in women’s boxing history—seven seconds—Estrada saved her best for the final stretch of her Hall of Fame career. Continue reading “Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada retires”

Former world champion Murat Gassiev comes back after one-year break to fight against Denmark’s Kem Ljungquist on Saturday night at IBA Champions’ Night in Yerevan, Armenia. 31-year-old Gassiev has 30 victories, including 23 KOs, and 2 losses to his name. Ljungquist, 34, is an unbeaten professional with 18 wins and 11 KOs among them.

‘We prepared in the city of Serpukhov, and everything went well,’ Gassiev said. ‘Ljungquist is a tall southpaw, he’s undefeated. I’m taking this seriously, as I do with all my opponents. Regarding the change of date and location for the fight — these are simply personal issues related to arranging the match. I’m not making a big deal out of it.’ Continue reading “Gassiev returns Saturday”

In his first fight since his loss to Devin Haney nearly a year ago, former super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) will attempt to bounce back against Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs), who is rated WBC #2, WBO #2, IBF #3, WBA #5 in the 140lb division.

The bout can be seen on DAZN and will headline the first boxing event to take place at the new 23,000-seat Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.

Catterall is about a 4:1 favorite over Prograis, who is rated rated WBA #7, IBF #7, WBO #7, WBC #12.

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

The emotions and feelings experienced last week are difficult to put into words, but they will remain in my mind and heart for life.

My brother Héctor invited me to visit Holy Father Francis, accompanying Adrián Pallarols, who is the Pope’s goldsmith, and one of the most beloved and closest since his childhood.

It was an unforgettable meeting where he gave us a series of life advice and concepts in a few words and with a lot of meaning. He has a unique ability to synthesize like I had never seen in my life. Continue reading “The Greatness of Holy Father Francis”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the WBC cruiserweight Division has faced extremely complicated circumstances.

In February of 2023 Badou Jack conquered the WBC World Cruiserweight Championship by defeating then champion Ilunga Makabu. Soon thereafter, champion Jack petitioned the WBC to place him as champion in recess so he could try to schedule a fight for the WBC world bridgerweight title. Champion Jack’s attempts were unsuccessful. He is now looking to return to the cruiserweight division.

In the meantime, Noel Mikaelian won the vacant WBC world cruiserweight title knocking out Ilunga Makabu. The WBC ordered champion Mikaelian to make his first mandatory defense after having won a vacant title against mandatory contender Ryan Rozicki who had won a final elimination bout via knockout of Olanrewaju Durodola. Continue reading “Rozicki-Peralta clash for WBC interim cruiser title”

This past Saturday night, October 19, former WBA 130lb. world champion Andrew Cancio returned to the ring with a sixth-round knockout of Gustavo Molina in Sonora, Mexico. Cancio dropped Molina in the first and second round of the scheduled eight-rounder. The fight was contested at the 135lb. limit. Details of Cancio’s next fight will be forthcoming.

Former world champion O’Shaquie Foster(22-3, 12 KOs) has unfinished business. The 31-year-old will face Robson Conceição for the WBC junior lightweight world title on Saturday, Nov. 2, on ESPN+ at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Foster lost his title to Conceição via split decision in July, a controversial verdict that left him angered and motivated to become a two-time world champion.

Following a recent training session in Houston, this is what Foster had to say:

“The fight was easy. I didn’t see where the judges got that decision. But the fight was easy for me. I only saw that I could have been more active and let my hands go in certain situations more.” Continue reading “O’Shaquie: I’m looking to let my hands go”

By Zach Hirsch

Unbeaten WBA #12 featherweight Dominique Francis (16-0, 10 KOs) is fresh off of his impressive 4th round KO victory over previously unbeaten Julio Carrera Lugo (18-1-1, 14 KOs) of Mexico a week ago.

Francis a native of Miami, Florida again showed his willingness to go on the road, traveling cross country to California for his bout. This is nothing new for Francis, who has previously traveled and won multiple times internationally during his professional career. Francis will now campaign in the 130lb division where he expects to do big things in 2025. Continue reading “Francis ready to shine at 130”

By Héctor Villarreal
Photos: Martín Pérez/Magdiel González

In a clash of Panamanian proven warriors, Ricardo “The Scientist” Nuñez (25-6-2, 22 KOs), kept his WBC lightweight Continental Latino belt by the way of 8-round unanimous decision over former world champion Jezreel “Invisible” Corrales (26-8,10 KOs), in the main event of the KO to Cancer card, presented by Laguna Premium Boxing on Saturday night at the Arena Roberto Duran.

Corrales was knocked down in round 3 and referee Hector Afu deducted him a point in the sixth for holding. Even that disadvantage, the fight was so competitive that two judges scored 77-73 while the third had It 76-74. Continue reading “Nuñez edges Corrales in KO to Cancer”

Nigerian heavyweight Kingsley Black Lion” Ibeh (14-2-1, 12 KOs) turned in the best performance of his pro career in the main event of last night’s “EQC Fight Night,” card presented by Toro Promotions, Inc., and Whitfield Haydon Boxing, in the EQC Event Center at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. The 6’ 4”, 273-pound Ibeh only needed 49 seconds to stop 6’ 8”, 257-pound Jack “The Outlaw” May (10-1, 9 KOs) to capture the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino Silver title.

In the co-featured event, hometown favorite Marquice Weston (16-4-1, 9 KOs) registered a first-round stoppage of heavyweight John Shipman (5-8, 2 KOs) by way of a vicious body shot. It was Weston’s first victory in six years.

Unbeaten IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) destroyed former WBO champion Tim Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) in three rounds on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Both fighters went right at each other in round one. Murtazaliev got to Tszyu in round two, dropping him three times. Murtazaliev floored Tszyu again in round three and the towel came in soon after. Time was 1:55.

Unbeaten super welterweight Yoenis Tellez (9-0, 7 KOs) impressively knocked out Johan Gonzalez (35-4, 34 KOs) in round seven. Tellez dropped Gonzalez in round six and twice more in round seven to end it. Time was 1:57.

In a knockdown-filled war, unbeaten middleweight César Mateo Tapia (16-0-1, 10 KOs) and Endry Saavedra (16-1-1, 13 KOs) battled to a ten round majority draw. Saavedra dropped Tapia twice in round three. Tapia floored Saavedra in round five. Saavedra dropped Tapia again in round nine. Scores were 94-92 Tapia, 93-93, 93-93.

Super bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell (20-1, 13 KOs) returned from a two-year layoff to knock out Jaden Burnias (6–3, 4 KOs) in the fourth round.

Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Dainier Pero (9-0, 7 KOs) stopped Willie Jake, Jr. (11-6-2, 3 KOs) in round three.

Unbeaten super featherweight Justin Viloria (7-0, 5 KOs) stopped journeyman Diuhl Olguin (16-41-7, 10 KOs) in round seven. Yes, Justin is the nephew of nephew of former two-weight world champion Brian Viloria.

Promoter Lamont Roach, Sr’s NoXcuse Promotions presented a “Prospect Show” on Saturday night at the Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Maryland. In the main event, lightweight Eric “El Toro” Hernandez (12-1, 5 KOs) of Ashburn, VA defeated Dewayne Zeigler (11-2-1, 5 KOs) of Montgomery, AL by eight round unanimous decision. Scores were 80-72, 79-73, 78-74. Continue reading “Results from Fort Washington, Maryland”

In a clash for the vacant IBF super middleweight title formerly held by Canelo Alvarez, IBF #1 William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) claimed the famed red belt with a twelve round unanimous decision over IBF #2 Vladimir Shishkin (16-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the Stadthalle in Falkensee, just outside of Berlin, Germany. Shishkin pressed the action in a close, slow-paced fight. Scull seemed hurt in the final round, but in the end judges scored it 116-113, 116-112, 115-113 for Scull.

Unheralded light heavyweight Lewis Edmondson (10-0, 3 KOs) remained unbeaten with an upset twelve round majority decision over WBA #4, WBC #10, WBO #11, IBF #12 rated Dan Azeez (20-2-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London. Azeez struggled with awkward Edmondson, who won 114-114, 114-113, 115-112 despite having a point deduction in round eight. The British and Commonwealth titles were on the line.

Unbeaten super lightweight prospect Adam Azim (12-0, 9 KOs) scored a brutal eighth round KO over Ohara Davies (25-4, 18 KOs). Azim battered Davies to a knee in round five, then put him on his knees again in round eight to end it. After the fight, Davies announced his retirement.

WBO #1 light heavyweight Anthony Yarde (26-3, 24 KOs) scored a knockdown with his first punch of the fight, but them was forced to go the full ten round distance against Ralfs Vilcans (17-2, 7 KOs). The referee scored it 98-92 for Yarde.

Welterweight Tulani Mbenge (21-2, 15 KOs) claimed the IBO 147lb title by hammering out a twelve round unanimous decision over Michael McKinson (26-2, 4 KOs). Scores were 116-112, 117-111, 117-111.

Michigan lightweight Joshua “Double J” Pagan (11-0, 4 KOs) outdueled cagey veteran Haskell Rhodes (31-7, 16 KOs) over ten rounds with a unanimous decision victory on Friday night at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Scores were 100-90 and 99-91 twice.

The co-feature saw light heavyweight Juan Carrillo (13-0, 9 KOs) win the IBF Latino title as he scored a decisive unanimous decision over Lenin Castillo (25-6-1, 19 KOs). The judges scored the fight 98-92, 99-91, 100-90.

Female super featherweight Kiria Tapia (5-0, 0 KOs) won for the fifth time against no defeats as she recorded a dominating six-round unanimous decision over Beata Dudek (4-5, 4 KOs). Scores were 60-53 3x.

Unbeaten super middleweight Da’Velle Smith (10-0, 8 KOs) scored a first-round technical knockout over Gilberto Santos (16-16, 12 KOs).

By Héctor Villarreal

Former WBA super feather world champion, Jezreel “Invisible” Corrales (26-7, 10 KOs) and his opponent, former World title challenger, Ricardo “The Scientist” Nuñez (24-6-2, 22 KOs), both hit the scale at 134.25 pounds, to dispute the WBC Continental Latino belt on the main event of the KO to Cancer card, schedulled for Saturday night at the Arena Roberto Durán.

Laguna Premium Boxing presents a very competitive 9-fight all Panamanian show.

Jonathan Miniel 135 vs. Fernando Martinez 135
Hibrahim Valdespino 126 vs. Daniel Lezcano 126
Samir Cuentas 143 vs. Jonathan Torres 147
Jeffrey Martinez 117.25 vs. Hector Ortega 117.25
Yovani Casasola 130.25 vs. Gregorio Francis 134
Leiner Rodriguez 119 vs. Carlos Bonilla 119
Abdiel Mojica 118 vs. Nazario Camarena 118
Angel Flores 115.25 vs. Julio Martinez 111.25

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten prospect Keisuke Matsumoto (12-0, 8 KOs), 126, impressively made his fourth defense of his Japanese national feather belt when he decked JBC#7 Kimihiro Nakagawa (10-7-2, 5 KOs), 126, three times and for the count at 2:25 of the second session of a scheduled ten on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Shaven skulled Keisuke such as Isaac Pitbull Cruz (the son of formerly three-time world challenger Koji) connected with a beautiful right to the button of the challenger, sending him to the deck. He overwhelmed him with his follow-up attack to have him go down twice more and out. The unbeaten son, 25, is currently ranked #7 by IBF and #13 by WBO. Continue reading “WBC #9 Matsumoto demolishes Nakagawa”

Next Wednesday, October 23, Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment presents “Heroes on the Hudson 2,” including three title fights, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden. ProBox will stream.

The evening will kick off with a heavyweight clash between Jerry “Slugger” Forrest (27-6-2, 20 KOs), of Newport News, VA, and Brooklyn, NY’s Earl Newman (10-3-1, 7 KOs), scheduled for eight rounds.

World-ranked super lightweight contender “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (21-0-2, 10 KOs), of East Hartford, CT, squares off against Rochester, NY’s Lavisas Williams (10-1-1, 3 KOs) in the co-main event.

The main event features a rematch between IBF female bantamweight champion Miyo Yoshida and Shurretta Metcalf.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC #6 elongated southpaw Japanese Masanori Rikiishi (16-1, 11 KOs), 134.25, displayed his strength in dispatching former Philippine champ Arnel Baconaje (17-9, 12 KOs), 133.5, with a vicious body shot at 2:38 of the second round in a scheduled ten on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Masanori annexed the WBC silver 130-pound belt by scoring a come-from-behind twelfth-round TKO victory over Michael Magnesi in Italy this March. IBF #3, WBO #8 Rikiishi lately moved to Ohashi gym from Midori gym to anticipate his long awaited world title shot, and scored a fine triumph in his first under Ohashi. The tall southpaw connected with a lethal left to the belly followed by a right hook to the head with the Filipino dropping in agony for the count. Continue reading “WBC #6 Rikiishi sinks Baconaje”

Undefeated IBF super welterweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and former WBO 154-pound world champion Tim Tszyu both weighed in ahead of their showdown this weekend on Prime Video from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Murtazaliev weighed 152.8 lbs., while scaled in at 153.4 lbs.

Other Weights:
Yoenis Téllez 153.8 vs Johan Gonzalez 153
César Mateo Tapia 160 vs. Endry Saavedra 159.8
Jocksan Blanco 153.8 vs. Ángel Ilarraza 154
Roberto Rivera Gómez 129.8 vs Jenn Gonzalez 127.2
Dainier Pero 235 vs Willie Jake, Jr. 264.8 Ibs.
Justin Viloria 130 vs. Diuhl Olguin 128.8
Gary Antonio Russell 121.6 vs Jaden Burnias 122.6 Ibs.
Mikey Garcia 145.2 Ys Carlos Aguilera. Jr. 144.4
Carlos Jackson 125.6 Ys Ryan Lee Allen 124.4
Daniel Blancas 167.2 vs. Marco Delgado 169