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Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs) is an ever so slight favorite over Joe Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs) in their rematch this Saturday at the OVO Arena in London. Sportsbooks have the bout anywhere from pick’em to -141 for Zhang, who won the first fight by sixth round TKO. The WBO interim heavyweight title is on the line.

ESPN+ will stream the bout in the US, while TNT Sports will air the fight in the UK.

Hot 21-year-old super lightweight prospect Adam Azim (9-0, 6 KOs) will challenge EBU champion Franck Petitjean (24-6-3, 6 KOs) for the Euro belt on November 18 at The Halls in Wolverhampton, England.

Also in action is EBU European middleweight champion Matteo “Il Giaguaro” Signani (32-6-3, 12 KOs). He will defend his title against Tyler Denny (17-2, 3 KOs).

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC, WBA light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji (22-1, 14 KOs), 107.25, kept his belts as he patiently kept stalking game and busy South African veteran Hekkie Budler (36-5, 11 KOs), 107.75, formerly a two-division titleholder, and finally accelerated his attack and battered the challenger to the ropes to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:19 of the ninth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese footworker, 31, averted Budler’s busy but less accurate combinations and fought back with better precision to have the South African, 35, gradually slowing down as the contest progressed.

The tallies prior to the stoppage were as follows: Raul Caiz Jr. (US) 80-72, Jose Manzur (Mexico) and Joel Scobie (Canada) both 79-73, all in favor of the defending champ. The third man was Lupe Garcia (Mexico). Continue reading “Full Report: Teraji halts Budler”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Japanese southpaw Junto Nakatani (25-0, 19 KOs) , 114.75, made his first defense of the WBO 115-pound belt as he dropped Mexican Argi Cortes (25-4-2, 10 KOs), 114.5, three times–twice in the fifth and once more in the ninth—to score a lopsided decision (119-106 twice, 118-107) over twelve hot frames on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. The referee was Steve Willis (US). The challenger Cortes seemed greatly befuddled by Nakatani’s awkward southpaw style with superior height and reach to be unable to show his retaliation. But the Mexican dominated one and only round in the sixth, when he almost stunned the champ with a very solid right and had him reeling to the ropes. Nakatani had a narrow escape by grabbing the shorter challenger with his long arms. Continue reading “Full Report: Nakatani defeats Cortes”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Sensational Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa (2-0), 123, decked his second pro bout by pounding out a shutout decision (all 80-70) over Mexican bantamweight ruler Luis Guzman (10-3, 6 KOs), 122.25, over eight on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Tenshin, 25, looked impressive as he floored the durable Guzman twice in rounds one and seven. Continue reading “Full Report: Nasukawa-Guzman”

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

Japanese southpaw veteran Yuki Nonaka (36-12-3, 10 KOs), 168, former OPBF and WBO AP middleweight champ, proved too fast and strong for WBO AP#14 light heavyweight Thoedsak Sinam (21-12, 17 KOs), 167, scoring a shutout decision (all 80-70) over eight one-sided rounds on Sunday in Sakai, Japan. Nonaka, a clever southpaw technician, outjabbed and outpunched the slower Thailander all the way, winning all rounds with ease. Nonaka, 45, proved he can still fight well.

Promoter: Mitsuki Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi

WBC, WBA light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji (22-1, 14 KOs), 107.25, kept his belts as he patiently kept stalking game and busy South African veteran Hekkie Budler (36-5, 11 KOs), 107.75, and finally accelerated his attack and battered the challenger to the ropes to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:19 of the ninth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese footworker averted Budler’s busy but less accurate combinations and fought back with better precision to have the South African gradually slowing down at the game progressed.

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

(More to come)

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese southpaw Junto Nakatani made his first defense of the WBO 115-pound belt as he dropped Mexican Argi Cortes three times–twice in the fidth and once more in the ninth—to score a lopsided decision (119-106 twice, 118-107) over twelve hot frames on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Cortes seemed greatly befuddled by Nakatani’s awkward southpaw style with superior height and reach to be unable to show his retaliation.

(More to come)

By Joe Koizumi

Sensational Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa (2-0), 123, decked his second pro bout by pounding out a shutout decision over Mexican bantamweight ruler Luis Guzman (10-3, 6 KOs), 122.25, over eight on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Tenshin looked impressive as he floored the durable Guzman three times in rounds one, seven and eight.

(More to come)

By Joe Koizumi

Fast-rising super bantam prospect WBO AP#3 Ryuya Tsugawa (11-1, 7 KOs), 122, displayed a good form in finally demolishing GAB#3 Filipino Jhunrille Castino (13-4, 4 KOs), 121.25, at 2:08 of the seventh round in an eight-round main event on Sunday in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. They incessantly exchanged hot rallies from the outset with Tsugawa winning each session by a close margin. It was Tsugawa, Japan’s youth champ, that turned loose so furiously in the seventh that he battered Castino from all angles and finally sank him to the deck. The ref called a halt without bothering to count as Castino was apparently unable to beat the count. Tsugawa, 23, looked promising with good technical improvements.

Promoter: Mitsuki Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC, WBA light flyweight title bout
Kenshiro Teraji 107.25
Hekki Budler 107.75


WBO junior bantamweight title bout
Junto Nakatani 114.75
Argi Cortes 114.5

Tenshin Nasukawa 123
Luis Guzman 122.25

Fight venue: Ariake Arena, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Promoter: Teiken Promotions
TV: ESPN+

Continue reading “Teraji, Budler, Nakatani, Cortes make weight”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Unbeaten WBA #2, WBC #5, IBF #6, WBO #7 lightweight William “El Camarón” Zepeda (29-0, 25 KOs) battered and stopped two-time world title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (34-3-3, 17 KOs) on Saturday night headlining on Mexican Independence Day at the Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, California. Zepeda attacked with non-stop punching and relentless pressure from the opening bell. Gesta was under fire until his corner stopped it midway through round six. Continue reading “Zepeda bludgeons Gesta”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

What a way to celebrate Mexican Independence Day as Pacific Northwest featherweight, Victor Morales (19-0-1, 9 KOs) of Vancouver, Washington and Mexico City’s Edwin “Pupo” Palomares (18-5-2, 9 KOs) went to battle in the DAZN co-feature bout.

Ripping away with a combination to start, Morales connected as Palomares pressed. The Mexico City fighter came out aggressive in round two as Morales boxed, kept his distance connecting with one-two combinations as Palomares kept coming. In the third, Palomares closed some distance and kept Morales close, landing with straight rights and backing the Northwest fighter. Morales could not keep Palomares away in the fourth, despite connecting with solid punches up top, Palomares kept coming and worked as Morales retreated to close the round. Circling the ring in the fifth, Morales boxed ripped with combinations as Palomares kept coming and bringing the pressure.

The non-stop pressure from Palomares wasn’t making it easy for Morales as it continued in the sixth, Morales suffered a nasty cut on his left eye from a punch as Palomares was on the hunt. Before beginning the seventh, the ringside physician looked at Morales momentarily as the fight resumed. Palomares did not stop coming, targeting the cut as Morales kept his distance letting his hands go but the Mexican was relentless. Staying busy and keeping his distance, Morales avoided Palomares’s attack and fended off with the jab. With the final two rounds possibly determining the winner, it was Palomares that kept pressure as Morales let his hands go and stood busy in the ninth. Sensing the urgency to determine the winner, the final round it was Palomares applying the pressure as Morales kept the distance and boxed, the Mexico City fighter was making it a street fight doing anything he can to pull away, but Morales connected with big punches. What a finish it was as Palomares and Morales battled to the final bell.

In the end the judges scored the bout a shocking 100-90, 99-91, and a reasonable 96-94 as all three scorecards were in favor for Morales. Continue reading “Zepeda-Gesta Undercard Results”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In the opening bout from the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, making his pro debut, lightweight Jordan Cervantes (1-0) of East Los Angeles put in work in going the distance four rounds and defeating El Paso, Texas’s Giovanny Meza (0-5). Cervantes was off to slow a slow and patient start as he sticked Meza with the jab in the opening round. On the attack in round two, Cervantes connected Meza with a straight right hand and continued to box. Coming out strong in the fourth and final round, Cervantes pressed Meza in route to the decision win. All three judges scored the bout 40-36.

Mexican Olympian super bantamweight Gael “El Terror” Cabrera (2-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico won a unanimous decision over Nicaragua’s Juan Centeno (8-10-3, 1 KO). Coming out aggressive and firing in round one, Cabrera relentlessly attacked Centeno with sharp punches. Keeping up the fast pace, Cabrera let his hands go in the second, scoring with combinations and outworking the Nicaraguan fighter, Centeno. The Olympian Cabrera was in control as he continued to work Centeno through three rounds. It was all Cabrera as he tallied up points in connecting with vicious shots inside and boxing effectively, outhustling Centeno in route to the decision victory. After completing four rounds, all three judges scored the bout 40-36.

West LA Westside Boxing’s super lightweight Alejandro “Pinpon” Reyes (10-0, 5 KO’s) of Mexicali, Mexico won a sixth round majority decision over Roberto Gomez (5-2, 5 KO’s) of Mexico City. On the offensive to begin, Reyes boxed and fired the jab in the opening round as he outworked Gomez (5-1, 5 KOs) in the early rounds. Keeping his distance and shooting away combinations in round three Reyes tallied up points as Gomez stalked and mixed it up. Fighting on the inside in round four, Reyes and Gomez didn’t take a step back as they exchanged. The fight continued in a phonebooth on the inside in the fifth with Reyes and Gomez staying busy as Reyes suffered a cut on the left eye. Fight was up for grabs heading into the sixth and final round as the cut on Reyes’s eye was stabilized, Gomez pressured and stood busy as Reyes with the cut boxed and kept his distance staying busy. In the end after six rounds,59-55, 58-56, and 57-57 as Reyes pulls the majority decision.

Super Featherweight prospect Daniel “Junebug” Garcia (7-0, 5 KO’s) of Denver, Colorado won a six round unanimous decision over Guadalajara, Mexico’s Erick “Aidahoe” Benitez (4-5, 1 KO) in headlining the You Tube stream. From the opening bell neither shied away from the offense as Garcia and Benitez traded away early on, with Garcia shooting the straight shots as Benitez ripped away. Pressing behind the jab in the fourth and stalking Garcia was on the hunt as Benitez stood in the pocket trading. Garcia was the aggressor late in the fight as he pressed and stood busy, but Benitez did not take a step back and stood his ground mixing it up. Stalking in the sixth and final round, Garcia timed Benitez with straight shots as Benitez stood busy finishing strong. After completing six rounds, all three judges scored the bout 60-54.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The press conference of a forthcoming world title doubleheader took place on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The show will be held by Teiken Promotions at Ariake Arena on Monday (our national holiday named Respect for the Aged Day). WBC, WBA light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji will put his belt on the line against South African veteran WBC#1 Hekkie Buddler in the main event. The semi-windup will see sensational prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa, in his second pro outing, against Mexican bantam ruler Luis Guzman Torres in a 122-pound eight. The first world title go will be fought by unbeaten WBO 115-pound defending champ Junto Nakatani and Mexican Argi Cortes.

All looked very fit and express their confidence to show a great performance on Monday. Photos

Photo: Sumio Yamada

While most felt Friday’s clash between IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez and challenger Joet Gonzalez was relatively close (ESPN even had Gonzalez winning), judges scored overwhelmingly for Lopez. Here’s the round-by-round breakdown.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Lopez-Gonzalez photo gallery for some incredible shots + action from the Zayas-Valenzuela and Vargas-Guardado fights.

Photos

Heartbreaking scene in the final round of Friday’s fight between Skye Nicolson and Sabrina Perez in Tijuana. With about 30 seconds left in the fight, Perez’ husband and trainer Diego Arrua collapsed at ringside in full view of a worldwide audience on DAZN.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman later announced the following: It is with deep sadness that we have been informed of the sudden death of Argentine trainer Diego Arrua, who suffered a devastating heart attack during the Sabrina Pérez fight in Tijuana. The medical services did everything possible but he died at the QDEP general hospital.

Arrua was 58 years old. Rest in peace.

IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) retained his title by twelve round unanimous decision over two-time world title challenger Joet Gonzalez (26-4, 15 KOs) on Friday night at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Tough, gritty fight. Tough gritty fight with Venado prevailing 118-110, 117-111, 116-112.

WBO #4 lightweight Angel Fierro (22-1-2, 17 KOs) got all he could handle against Brayan Zamarripa (13-2, 4 KOs) on Friday night at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutierrez Moreno in Tijuana, Mexico. After a ten round slugfest, Fierro escaped with a split decision. Scores were 96-94, 96-95 Fierro, 96-94 Zamarripa. Fierro retained his NABO title.

Other Results:
Erika Cruz W10 Melissa Odessa Parker (female super bantamweight)
Christian Olivo W10 Kevin Barron Crespo (featherweight)
Skye Nicolson W10 Sabrina Maribel Perez (female featherweight)
Federico Pacheco KO3 Carlos Cardenas (heavyweight)

Heavyweight Jerry “Slugger” Forrest (27-6-2, 20 KOs) hammered out a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over Robert Hall Jr. (14-2, 11 KOs) on Friday night at the John Marshall Hall in Richmond, Virginia. Scores were 79-73, 77-75, 79-73.

Cruiserweight Dusty Hernandez Harrison (35-0-1, 21 KOs) knocked out Ronald Montes (19-19-1, 17 KOs) with a body shot in round three. It was Dusty’s first fight in three-and-a-half years.

Super bantamweight Glenn Dezurn (17-3-1, 12 KOs), husband of undisputed female super middleweight champion Franchón Crews-Dezurn, stopped Ernesto Guerrero (34-39, 23 KOs) in round five. Guerrero down twice in round five.

In a rematch, heavyweight Joey “The Tank” Dawejko (26-10-4, 14 KOs) made it 2-0 against Colby Madison (11-6-2, 7 KOs) on Friday night at the Event Center at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. Dawejko stalked the 40-year-old Madison the whole fight, landing heavy shots in every round. In round eight, Dawejko was credited with a knockdown when he blasted Madison into the ropes, he then dropped Madison again with moments left. Joey won a more competitive six round unanimous decision over Madison in May. This was a one-sided affair.

Super bantamweight Ramon “Dinamita” Cardenas (23-1, 12 KOs) scored a second round KO over previously unbeaten Rafael Pedroza (15-1, 11 KOs) on Friday night at the Boeing Center at Tech Point in San Antonio, Texas. Cardenas dropped Pedroza twice in round two to end it.

In a clash between unbeaten featherweights, Mirco Cuello (13-0, 11 KOs) outscored Rudy Garcia (13-1-1, 2 KOs) over ten rounds. Score was 99-90 3x.

Wndefeated welterweight KO artist Freudis Rojas (12-0, 11 KOs) went the distance for the first time in taking an eight round unanimous decision over Saul Bustos (15-2-1, 8 KOs). Scores were 79-73, 79-73, 80-72.

Unbeaten junior middleweight Xander Zayas (17-0, 11 KOs) successfully defended his NABO and NABF belts against Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (21-5, 20 KOs) on Friday night in the Venado-Joet co-feature at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Zayas dropped Valenzuela twice in round one. By round four, Valenzuela’s face was a bloody mask and the bout was halted by the ring doctor at :42 in round five.

Lightweight prospect Emiliano Vargas (7-0, 6 KOs), son of former world champion Fernando “Feroz” Vargas, punished previously unbeaten Alejandro Guardado (5-1, 1 KO) until the bout was stopped in round three.

Welterweight Julio Luna (20-1-2, 11 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over KO artist Omar Aguilar (25-2, 24 KOs). Scores were 79-73, 78-74, 77-75.

Local welterweight John Rincon (8-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Bryan Ismael Rodriguez Rivera (4-2-1, 2 KOs) over six uneventful rounds. Scores were 60-54, 60-54, 58-56.

Junior welterweight Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) outscored Antonio Moran (29-6-1, 20 KOs) over eight in a good fight. In his first action since last year’s loss against Vasiliy Lomachenko, Ortiz prevailed 99-91, 98-92, 97-93

Former world title challenger Ruben Villa IV (21-1, 7 KOs) hammered out an eight round unanimous decision over Brandon Valdes (15-4, 7 KOs) in a featherweight clash. Scores were 78-74 3x.

U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (10-0, 5 KOs) edged Ricardo Quiroz (13-3, 7 KOs) by eight round majority decision. Scores were 76-76, 78-73, 79-73.

Broner-Howard, Mikaelian-Makabu, Guidry-Escalera, Bryan-Chaney

Hall of Fame promoter Don King just celebrated his 92nd birthday, and he’s been working non-stop to put together another boxing card that is a night that fans will remember. That birthday celebration will continue in his “Only in America 92 Celebration” as he has put together a boxing extravaganza set for November 4 at Casino Miami Jai Alai.

“We are bringing the public a boxing card, where all the fights will be co-feature events,” said King. “One great fight after another. It will be an action-packed night to remember and we have more to come.”

Adrien “The Problem” Broner, a four-time world champion in four weight divisions, meets another Cincinnati, OH fighter in Chris Howard (18-2-1, 8 KOs) for the “People’s Championship”. Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) made his return to the ring on June 9th a successful one in winning a unanimous decision over William “Hutch” Hutchinson. It was Broner’s first fight in nearly 26 months, who is on a mission to secure the 140-pound world title. Continue reading “Don King announces Nov 4 extravaganza”