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Today in London, heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius faced off for the first time in advance of their DAZN-streamed clash on Saturday night.

Following the postponement of the August 19 Artur Beterbiev against Callum Smith card, the duel between WBC #1, WBA #4, IBF #5 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs) and Demond Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs) will be moved to Eye of the Tiger’s September 8 card at the Casino du Lac-Leamy.

Headlining is NABF super lightweight champion, Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs) defend his title against Carlos “El Tiburon” Sanchez Valadez (24-1, 19 KOs).

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Why was it expected to be a competitive war? It’s because both are devastating hard-punchers prone to take punches. But it didn’t become competitive but one-sided. Japanese super light champ Homura Fujita (11-1, 9 KOs), 140, kept his belt by a quick demolition of JBC#1 Hayato Ono (12-5-2, 11 KOs), 139.75, at 2:48 of the third round in the main event of the national title twinbill on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The aggressive champ, from round one, caught up with the still nervous and stiff challenger, and almost stunned him with solid effective overhand rights. The second saw Fujita improve his precision in landing powerful shots upstairs and downstairs to obviously hurt Ono, who wobblingly returned to his corner. Fujita, a graduate from highly ranked Waseda university and now working in a renowned enterprise, swarmed over the damaged challenger, decking to the canvas with a furious combination. Though Ono resumed fighting, Fujita battered him from all angles so furiously that the ref stepped in and waved it off. Continue reading “Fujita halts Ono, keeps JBC 140lb belt”

IBF #3 world ranked bantamweight Melvin “Melo” Lopez (29-1, 19 KOs) of Nicaragua (now based in Miami) will get his long-awaited world title opportunity versus former world champion and IBF #2 world ranked Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico. (The number one slot is vacant). The twelve round main event will take place this Saturday at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland. The card will be promoted by Tom Brown (TGB Promotions) and televised live on Showtime.

Lopez is riding an eight-bout win streak since his upset loss at the hands of now former world title challenger Jose Velasquez of Chile in 2019. It has been a long back getting to the world title fight but Lopez is confident is ready to become a world champion. Continue reading “Interview: Melvin “Melo” Lopez”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

After a long career full of ups and downs, newly crowned 38-year-old workman Yuichi Ideta (17-16-1, 9 KOs), 153.25, very barely kept his Japanese super welter belt as he eked out a hairline split decision (96-94 twice, 94-96 against him) over interim champ Rei Nakajima (6-2, 1 KO), 154, over ten see-saw rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Ideta, a Yaqui Lopez stylist, annexed the national belt from Makoto Kawasaki in a grueling fight last December, but suffered a detached retina on the left optic and had to take an optical surgery with a necessary recovering interval.  During his inactivity the JBC approved an interim title bout with Nakajima eventually winning the secondary belt this April.  Now it’s a national unification bout.  Ideta, who had experienced a notoriously losing streak in eleven bouts, really had a tough time as Nakajima swept almost all rounds in the first half.  Ideta, however, kept battering the early starter with his persistent attack to see Nakajima fading down the stretch.  Overcoming his early deficits on points, Ideta finally earned a split verdict and managed to retain his belt in his first defense. Continue reading “Ideta barely defeats Nakajima”

Super featherweight contenders Otar Eranosyan (13-0, 6 KOs) and Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (27-4-1, 21 KOs) both made weight for their WBA eliminator fight on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Eranosyan weighed in at 129.4 lbs, while the former world champion Gutierrez stopped the needle at 129.8 lbs. ProBox TV will stream.

Two of Mexico’s most accomplished boxers, Oscar Valdez and Emanuel Navarrete, will square off in an all-Mexican super featherweight title fight on Saturday, August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Valdez, is managed by veteran manager Frank Espinoza who has helmed the career of 10 world champions. “I would be surprised if this doesn’t turn out to be a fight of the year candidate,” says the knowledgeable L.A. based manager. “Their styles will combine into something very exciting. These are extremely competitive, talented and hungry fighters. Mark my words. This will be an unforgettable fight.”

Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) is the former WBC and WBO super featherweight champion. He lost his WBC title to Shakur Stevenson in April 2022, but bounced back with a unanimous decision victory over Adam Lopez in May. Continue reading “Espinoza: Valdez-Navarrete will be a classic war”

Sad to announce that former heavyweight contender Roy Harris, from Cut and Shoot, Texas, passed away this morning at the age of 90. Harris was rated in the top 10 as a heavyweight from mid-1957 to mid-1960, and challenged Floyd Patterson for the world heavyweight title back in 1958. He also fought Sonny Liston, Henry Cooper, and many more. Harris finished with a record of 30-5 with 9 KOs. RIP.

This Tuesday, during the WBC weekly press conferencea, a purse bid was held for the rights to host the next mandatory bout in the super featherweight division. Matchroom Boxing was the only promotional company that participated in the purse bid, consequently, its offer of $466,666 USD, was the winner to acquire the promotional rights of O’Shaquie Foster vs. Eduardo “Rocky” Hernández.

With the situation getting sorted out in London, we are in store for a Super Saturday with DAZN, ESPN, and Showtime all delivering terrific shows.

DAZN has four heavyweight fights from London’s O2 Arena featuring former WBA/IBF/WBO unified champion Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) against credible late sub Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs), IBF #1 Filip Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs) vs. unbeaten Demsey McKean (22-0, 14 KOs), a collision of former world title challengers between Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs) and Gerald Washington (20-5-1, 13 KOs), and “The Romford Bull” Johnny Fisher (9-0, 8 KOs) against Harry Armstrong (5-1-1, o KOs).

ESPN has the must see clash between reigning WBO junior lightweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. On paper, this looks like an epic matchup. In that vein, Top Rank is bringing in Mexican ring legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales for the fight week festivities.

Showtime has a nice card at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, headlined by former world champion Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KOs) taking on Melvin “Melo” Lopez (29-1, 19 KOs) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title formerly held by Naoya Inoue.

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

I must have been about three or four years old when my dad first took me to a boxing show, and I remember walking down a corridor seeing the illuminated ring, as well as the rest of the arena in dim light, with smoke everywhere and euphoric people screaming while two men were hitting each other inside the ring.

My first impression was of great shock and considerable nervousness, but as the rounds went by, I calmed down and that’s when the passion for boxing kicked in and took hold for the rest of my life. From that day on, it was my dream to be a boxer. It was usual that on Saturday nights I went with my dad to the Arena Coliseo. I remember approaching in the car and seeing from a couple of blocks away the huge sign in the street of Peru, Number 77, in the heart of Tepito, Mexico City. Continue reading “The Legendary Coliseo Arena”

OTX – Overtime’s boxing platform – is back in action Friday with a slate of matches featuring undefeated super featherweight Albert Bell (23-0, 6 KOs) against Presco Carcosia (11-2-1, 9 KOs) at OTE Arena in Atlanta and live on DAZN. In the co-main event, Raul “Money” Salomone (12-1, 10 KOs) will fight Tyler “Hercules” Howard (19-1, 11 KOs).

Also seeing action in separate bouts are super lightweight David Navarro (5-1, 3 KOs), nephew of US Olympian and world title challenger Jose Navarro, plus welterweight Giovanni Marquez (5-0, 3 KOs), trained by his father former Olympian and world champion Raul Marquez. Continue reading “Bell-Carcosia collide Friday”

Mick Francis, co-promoter of IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and head of Australian promotional outfit Tasman Fighters has reacted with disappointment to the news that mandatory contender Richard Riakporhe has withdrawn from the scheduled purse bid hours before it was due to be held.

“It’s clear to us that Jai Opetaia is the most avoided Cruiserweight in the world. Twice we’ve had mandatory challengers pull out on us at the last minute. Once with Mateusz Masternak and now with Richard Riakporhe.
I’ve been in regular contact with Ben Shalom from Boxxer the whole way during this negotiating period.

“I was amused to read that Richard stated he had accepted offers for the fight on two occasions. That’s news to me. If he accepted, then why were we going to purse bids in a couple of hours’ time? Continue reading “Riakporhe withdraws from Opetaia purse bid”

Following the announcement of the postponement of the event scheduled for August 19, featuring the unified WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) against former world champion Callum Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank confirm that the fight will now take place on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event, set to be held at Centre Videotron as originally planned, will be broadcast simultaneously on ESPN and Punching Grace.

Due to the emergency dental surgery Artur Beterbiev underwent on Sunday, July 31, preventing him from taking blows to the jaw for 2 to 4 months, it was impossible for the Quebec-based team to consider a closer rescheduling date. For Eye of the Tiger’s president, Camille Estephan, presenting the event without its headliner was inconceivable, so they decided to postpone the event. Continue reading “New Date for Beterbiev-Smith”

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will face “The Nordic Nightmare’ Robert Helenius in a 12-round main event at The O2 in London this Saturday, shown exclusively live worldwide on DAZN. This follows the news Joshua’s original opponent Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol. As a result, their fight was immediately cancelled with a full investigation underway.

Anthony Joshua: “This wasn’t in the script. I respect Helenius and may I say, I respect any male or female who steps into the ring. I am laser-focused on the win. I can make steps forward to bigger and better things but the road map has a checkpoint, Saturday night. May the best man win.”

Robert Helenius: “I am excited about fighting Anthony Joshua on August 12. I am a true Viking that is willing to face any challenge at a moment’s notice. This is not an opportunity I was going to let slip away. I plan to make the most of it!” Continue reading “Helenius steps in to face Joshua”

Shadow Entertainment (Jenny Do) presents another edition of the LEAD event series August 20 at the Saigon Sports Club, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The show will feature four title fights including unbeaten Long Trinh (4-0, 4 KOs) of Vietnam versus Chayanon Phothijun (7-3, 5 KOs) of Thailand in the main event. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds with the vacant WBC Asian Silver middleweight title on the line. Continue reading “Title Quadrupleheader in Vietnam Aug 20”

Erick Arellano 226 vs. Javier Frazer (will weigh in Tuesday)
Victor Hernandez 128 vs. Weusi Johnson 128
Da’Velle Smith 160.8 vs. Dedrick Bell 159.2
Yoelys Leal Molina 148 vs. Henry Hewig 148

Venue: Troubadour Nashville
Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions
Free Stream: FITE.TV (Marc Abrams & Former NFL All-Pro Albert Haynesworth on the call)
1st Bell: 7 PM CT (8 PM ET)

Three showdowns featuring a rising prospect and two former title challengers will highlight the Showtime Boxing Countdown show this Saturday from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in National Harbor, Maryland.

Live action streamed on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and Facebook page will be topped by rising prospect Michael Angeletti (8-0, 7 KOs) against fellow unbeaten Jonathan Lopez (8-0-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight affair. The lineup will also see former title challenger Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-2-1, 18 KOs) against Sladan Janjanin (36-15, 26 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout, plus former title challenger Damien Vazquez (16-3-1, 9 KOs) against Jeronil Borres (12-8-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight showdown.

These fights precede a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader headlined by former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez against streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF bantamweight title.

The non-televised undercard lineup will feature former title challenger Jesse Hart (28-3, 22 KOs) facing Elio Trosch (15-10-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight clash.

The World Boxing Council has confirmed that a purse bid will be held tomorrow for the rights to organize the match between WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster (20-2, 11 KOs) and mandatory challenger Eduardo “Rocky” Hernández (34-1, 31 KOs), ranked #1. The proceeding will take place during the WBC weekly Tuesday press conference in Mexico City. Interested promoters can participate via Zoom.

Still no announcement for a new opponent for former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this Saturday. Original foe Dillian Whyte was ruled out due to an adverse finding for a banned substance. Matchroom is hoping to save the card, which also has three additonal heavyweight bouts including Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean, Derek Chisora vs. Gerald Washington, and Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong. The event will stream on DAZN if it happens.

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Unbeaten super welterweight ‘King’ Callum Walsh (7-0, 6 KOs) will now face ‘El Pitbull’ Juan Jose Velasco, (24-4-0, 15 KOs) in the scheduled ten-round main event on August 26 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, and broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass. The original opponent for Walsh, Livan Navarro, suffered a training injury and had to withdraw from the fight. Velascois coming off a split decision loss against Flavius Blea on May 5. Walsh’s WBC US silver belt will be on the line.

Tatsuyoshi, Kunimoto, Maeda victorious

By Joe Koizumi

Three shows took place at as many different arenas on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

Unbeaten Juiki Tatsuyoshi, the son of legendary three-time WBC bantam champ Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, made a return after two years and nine months, and impressively disposed of Taketo Yamahara, formerly a university amateur boxer, at 1:35 of the fourth round in a scheduled featherweight eight on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Juiki, now 14-0-1, 10 KOs, floored the less experienced Taketo with a vicious left hook in the opening session, and maintained the pressure at his disposal. His manager says Juiki will fight another in a 122-pound bout this year, and aim at the national belt next year, hopefully. Continue reading “JAPAN UPDATE”

By Joe Koizumi

Unheralded Filipino underdog Jake Amparo surprisingly dethroned WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight champ Goki Kobayashi, Japan, by a close but unanimous decision (114-112 twice, 117-109) over twelve heats on Saturday in Kobe, Japan.   The taller counterpuncher Amparo landed solid counters, dropped the champ Kobayashi twice in round one and seized his rhythm from then on.  WBO#4, WBC#5 previously unbeaten Kobayashi had to use four rounds before he regained his usual equilibrium, and he eventually couldn’t overcome the huge deficits on points despite his surge in middle rounds.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi

Japanese southpaw Yuko Kuroki unified the WBA and WBO female 102-pound belts when she eked out a hairline majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95) over Mexican Montserrat Alarcon over ten heats on Saturday in Kobe, Japan. WBA ruler Alarcon kept swinging roundhouse hooks to the midsection, while WBO champ Kuroki occasionally landed accurate overhand southpaw lefts over the onrushing Mexican. Kuroki scored with more effective lefts to the shorter but game Mexican from outside to take the initiative in later rounds. It’s a good fight.

In his fifth attempt to win the regional belt, 37-year-old veteran Toshimasa Ouchi finally acquired the vacant Japanese light-flyweight belt by turning the tables with an impressive come-from-behind stoppage of JBC#1 Rikito Shiba with a couple of knockdowns at 1:55 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.