Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda (to come soon)

Unbeaten two-division champ Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs), 117.5, very impressively captured the WBC bantamweight belt as he dropped defending titlist Alejandro Santiago (28-5-5, 14 KOs), 117.75, twice and scored a spectacular TKO victory at 1:12 of the sixth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Former WBO junior bantam ruler Junto had a weight problem due to his exceptional height in his previous division, and then had an ambitious crack at the world bantam belt against Santiago who had acquired the WBC title by beating veteran ex-champ Nonito Donaire last July.

But it was Nakatani’s night since Santiago couldn’t show anything out of his arsenal before the trick happened. Utilizing his height and reach, the tall southpaw handled the much shorter champ from the outset. After the fourth, the open scoring system indicated all 40-36 in his favor. Junto began to accelerate his attack from the fifth, and exploded his secret weapon—a lethal southpaw straight left. He landed it right to the face in round six, and Alejandro badly hit the deck. Though he managed to stand up and resume fighting, he had no power left to respond to the challenger’s attack. Nakatani again exploded his solid combinations to floor him again.

The champ’s cornerman Romuro Quirarte asked for a stoppage from the apron to the referee Laurence Cole, who then declared a halt. Following his splendid stoppage of Andrew Moloney last May, Junto again demonstrated his power punching to impress the crowd at Ryogoku Sumo Arena.

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda (to come soon)

Formerly three-division WBO champ Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs), 114.75, acquired the vacant WBO junior bantamweight belt as he had a tough time with durable Mexican warrior Christian Bacasegua (22-5-2, 9 KOs), 114.75, but earned a unanimous decision (116-111, 117-110, 119-108) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

It wasn’t Tanaka’s best performance despite prefight favorable odds for him, as he forgot to use his trademark footwork and was forced to mix it up almost throughout the contest. Bacasegua kept on going forward to exchange body shots in the close range, and Tanaka was forced to respond to his persistent attacks in the close quarter. But Tanaka caught the Mexican with good combinations and scored a knockdown midway in round eight. Since then, Tanaka regained his footwork and fought well with fast combinations to the fading foe.

For Tanaka it was his fourth WBO belt in as many different categories.

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda (to come soon)

Hard-punching southpaw prospect Riku Masuda (4-1, 4 KOs), 117.75, demonstrated his vaunted power punching in polishing off WBO#6 ex-world title challenger Jonas Sultan (19-7, 11 KOs), 117.5, at 2:21 of the opening session in a scheduled eight supporting a world title tripleheader on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Masuda, whose amateur mark was 52-14 including 22 stoppages, failed to win the national 118-pound belt from unbeaten world-rated Seiya Tsutsumi only to lose a close decision last August. The quick demolition was produced by a haymaker, a southpaw left to the midsection. Sultan fell to be unable to beat the count though he almost raised himself. The ref mercilessly tolled the fatal ten.

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

Undefeated welterweight Gor Yeritsyan (18-0, 14 KOs) outworked Quinton “Quickdraw” Randall, (13-2-1, 3 KOs) over ten rounds to claim the vacant WBC Continental Americas title on Friday night at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Technical fight that never really heated up. Scores were 99-91, 100-90, 100-90.

Unbeaten super lightweight knockout artist Cain Sandoval (12-0, 11 KOs) went the distance for the first time against 2008 Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (22-6, 9 KOs). Sandoval pressed the action and punished the body of Molina, who was savvy enough to not get caught. Scores were 100-90 3x.

In an upset, former world title challenger Blake “Il Capo” Caparello (35-4-1, 15 KOs) knocked out WBC #8, WBA #14 cruiserweight Simone “The Italian Tank” Federici (20-3-1, 8 KOs) in the fifth round on Friday night at the Paramount in Huntington, New York. A short left hook sent Federici to the canvas. The 37-year-old Caparello claimed the WBC Continental Americas and NABA Gold belts.

Caparello-Federici was elevated to the main event when the original headliner between super welterweights Wendy Toussaint and Mponda Kalunga was scrapped due to visa issues.

Hometown super middleweight hero Lester Martinez (17-0, 15 KOs) of Guatemala TKO’d Ruben Angulo (11-9-2, 5 KOs) of Colombia on Friday night at the Parque de la Industria, Guatemala City, Guatemala. Martinez steadlily broke down Angulo from round one with punches to the body and head. Martinez turned it up near the end of round two firing a rapid combination to the head that sent Angulo crashing to the canvas where he was counted out by the referee. Martinez won the vacant WBC Latino title. Martinez began his professional career debuting with a knockout of former world champion Ricard Mayorga back in 2019.

Former world title challenger David Jimenez (15-1, 11 KOs) of Costa Rica defeated local favorite Pablo Macario (8-6, 4 KOs) in the 10 round flyweight co-feature. Jimenez dominated the action and was in control of the bout overall. Macario fought gamely all night and had the support of the fans on hand but Jimenez was a bit too seasoned for him. The official judges scorecards read 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92 all in favor of Jimenez.

Immanuwel Aleem 167.6 vs. Malcolm Jones 166.4
(WBC Continental Americas & UBO Continental titles)

Jaqeem Hutcherson 122 vs. Brandon Chambers 121
(UBO Inter Continental title)

Joseph Veazy 144.2 vs Jose Belloso 142.6
Ahmad Muhammad Jones 146 vs Corey Champion 145.4
Vincent Mosca 179.2 vs Zak Kelly 175
Ezri Turner 157.4 vs Jeremiah Truhlar 160
Ishmael Dixon 154.6 vs Walter Sanders 163.8
Tanisha Faquiri 135.4 vs Kenneth Agnew 138.2
Courtney Brown 152 vs Victor Williams 147.6
Boris Nde 140.6 vs Carlos Marrero 139.2

Venue: Maryland Live Casino, Hanover, Maryland
Promoter: Christen & Tony Jeter (Jeter Promotions)
Matchmaker: Nick Tiberi

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® sat down with soon to be inducted Hall of Famer Michael Moorer, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion of the world. Moorer shared his memories of winning the WBO heavyweight title in 1992 when he stopped Bert Cooper and the upset of Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield in ’94 for his WBA and IBF belts. He also recalled the KO by “Big George” Foreman seven months later, a fight he was dominating through 9 rounds.

Moorer talked about training at the famous Kronk Gym with the late, great Emanuel Steward as an amateur then pro and opened up about his disgust for the business of boxing and the struggles that many fighters face today when their career is over including himself. He also shared insight of the heavyweight division today with thoughts on Fury-Usyk and Joshua-Ngannou plus the light heavyweight clash between Bivol-Beterbiev and much more in this riveting exclusive interview.

Kevin “BIg Gulp” Nagle 287.5 vs. Alfred Trevino 229
Anthony Andreozzi 177.5 vs. Igor Pessoa 170.5
Greg Bono 164 vs. Bruno Dias 166
Ryan Clark 158 vs. Jay Gregory 159
Ricky Ford 158 vs. Erick Alves 159
Joe Bush 147.5 vs. Rakim Johnson 151.5

Venue: Veterans Club, Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Promoter: Granite Chin Promotions

By Robert Coster

Former flyweight title contender Ignacio “Nacho” Espinal of the Dominican Republic passed away last week at the age of 75. Espinal, whose career spanned from 1969 to 1981, was called by many experts a world champion without a crown.

He decisioned future WBA flyweight king Betulio Gonzalez in his hometown of Caracas, Venezuela, but Ignacio will mostly be remembered for his three memorable WBC title fights in Merida, Mexico, against WBC champion and future Hall of Famer Miguel Canto in 1973, all in the same year (!). Continue reading “Remembering Ignacio Espinal”

IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez is determined to turn his third world title defense into a war of attrition. Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) will defend against Japanese contender Reiya Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs) on ESPN+ Saturday, March 2 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Lopez-Abe will serve as the co-feature to the vacant WBA featherweight world championship showdown between Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov and American standout Raymond Ford.

Following a recent training session in Santa Fe Springs, California, this is what Lopez had to say:

“I decided to do my camp here in Los Angeles so I can be a little closer to my family. I also like it because of the altitude I get to experience when I go to the mountains. There are a lot of good spots to run out here. I feel great out here.” Continue reading “Venado Lopez promises war”

Edgar Berlanga 167.8 vs. Padraig McCrory 167.8
Andy Cruz 135 vs. Brayan Zamarripa 135
Shakhram Giyasov 146.8 vs. Pablo Cesar Cano 146.2
Antonio Vargas 117.6 vs. Jonathan Rodriguez 118
Yankiel Rivera 111.8 vs. Andy Dominguez 111.6
Aaron Aponte 141 vs. Joseph Fernandez 140.4
Herich Ruiz 223.4 vs. Joshua Brice ??

Venue: Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

The grudge rematch between bitter rivals Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall taking place at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Saturday April 27, shown live on DAZN in the UK and around the world and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S., has sold out in less than a day after going on sale to the general public at midday.

“What an incredible response for an unmissable all-British grudge match,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “The First Direct Arena in Leeds is completely sold out. The controversy of the first fight will be settled in an unbelievable night on April 27, live and exclusive on DAZN in the UK and around the world, part of your subscription on the global home of boxing.”

By Héctor Villarreal

After closing 2023 with the most exciting and competitive card of the year in Panama, the promotion company Laguna Premium Boxing announced its premiere in 2024, Boxing Summer Fest, a festival of mostly unbeaten fighters which promises to be the best of the season. The company returns to the iconic Arena Roberto Duran for this 12-fight show scheduled for Thursday, April 4th.

“We are going to show that there is a new generation of quality boxers in Panama, to whom we have given the opportunity to show their talent in our promotions and who are willing to face each other, the good ones against the good ones, most of them risking their undefeated status,” said company president Rousse Laguna de Moreno, whose husband, former super world champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno, continues to demonstrate skills as matchmaker. Continue reading “Laguna Premium announces Boxing Summer Fest”

WBA regular heavyweight champion Mahmoud Charr and Kubrat Pulev faced off at the kickoff press conference for their March 30 clash at the Arena Armec in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Mahmoud Charr: “Kubrat was a great amateur boxer and also had good fights as a professional. But when he comes under pressure, he collapses.”

Kubrat Pulev: “I will face a very serious opponent who, like me, has a lot of experience. He has a lot hard fights behind him. I approach the training process with absolute respect and awe for my opponent. Rest assured that I will go into the fight in top shape and then God will decide. I will do everything to win and become world champion!”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA bantamweight title bout
Takuma Inoue 117.75
Jerwin Ancajas 117.75

WBC bantamweight title bout
Alejandro Santiago 117.75
Junto Nakatani 117.5

WBO junior bantamweight title bout
Kosei Tanaka 114.75
Christian Bacasegua 114.75

Fight Venue: Ryogoku Sumo Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Promoter: Teiken Promotions
TV: ESPN+ (4am ET, 1am PT)

More Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

“Monster” Naoya’s cousin WBO AP 140-pound champion Koki Inoue (17-2, 14 KOs), 140, a hard-punching tall southpaw, attempted to avenge his previous 2020 TKO loss to Daishi Nagata (19-3-2, 6 KOs), now the OPBF counterpart, but lost all regional belts by a majority decision (115-113, 116-112, 114-114) over twelve give-and-take rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

The tide very busily turned after Koki battered Daishi with furious combinations in the first and the latter fought back hard to take back the initiative from the second round on. Nagata kept peppering the fading Inoue to pile up more points in the process and withstood Inoue’s last surge in the final two rounds. The crestfallen Koki told he would hang up gloves for good like last time he had lost to Nagata. It was Nagata that unified the OPBF and WBO AP belts to his credit. Continue reading “Nagata edges Inoue, unifies OPBF, WBO AP belts”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten hard-punching Filipino WBA#1 flyweight Dave Apolinario (20-0, 14 KOs), 111.5, came off the canvas in round three, and badly dropped formerly world rated ex-WBA Asia champ Tanes Onjunta (12-2, 6 KOs), 112.75, twice and for the count at 1:44 of the fourth round in a scheduled eight on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a very competitive undercard to a regional tripleheader at the Korakuen Hall. Onjunta scored with a well-timed right counter, decking the prefight favorite Apolinario to stun the crowd midway in the third. But Tanes sustained a bad gash at the side of his skull, bleeding profusely in the same third. The lefty Filipino, however, caught up with the Thailander with a beautiful southpaw left and sent him to the canvas. Though standing up quickly, Tanes took another vicious right hook to fall and was unable to beat the count. It’s a crowd-pleasing give-and-take affair. Continue reading “WBA #1 Apolinario survives, finishes Tanes”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former OPBF bantam champ Kazuki Nakajima (15-2-1, 12 KOs), 121.5, acquired the vacant OPBF 122-pound belt (renounced by his stablemate Yoshiki Takei) when he scored a nearly shutout decision (120-108 twice, 119-109) over Mugicha Nakagawa (28-10-3, 18 KOs), 122, over twelve lopsided rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Nakajima, a southpaw hard-puncher with a suspect chin whose WBO AP 122-pound belt was wrested by TJ Doheny via TKO route last year, made good use of footwork to keep his distance against the wild swinger. Nakagawa, who previously upset former world challenger and ex-OPBF super bantam champ Shingo Wake to raise his stock, kept stalking the footworker but failed to catch the crisp punching southpaw all the way. For Nakajima, formerly an Ashiya university amateur boxer, it was his third regional belt acquisition. Continue reading “Nakajima defeats Nakagawa for OPBF 122lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten IBF#13 Keisuke Matsumoto (10-0, 7 KOs), 126, barely kept his Japanese featherweight belt as he survived a last-round visit to the canvas and eked out a unanimous decision (all 96-92) over JBC#1 Jinki Maeda (13-2, 8 KOs), 125.5, over ten see-saw heats on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

The shaven skulled champ Keisuke, the son of former three-time world challenger and now his trainer Koji Matsumoto, utilized his hand speed and quick reflexes, comfortably piling up points almost in every round. He finely sent him to the deck with an eye-catching left-right combination to the southpaw ex-kick boxing champ in the fourth.

Maeda, whose left optic was badly puffed with his absorption of the champ’s sharp combinations, showed his determination as he turned loose and displayed an incredible last surge. Jinki decked the champ with a southpaw left and had him at bay with the bell coming to his rescue.

This fight may be a good candidate for Fight of the Year in the domestic category with each hitting the deck in dramatic fashion. Continue reading “Matsumoto beats Maeda, keeps Japan’s 126lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The press conference of the forthcoming world title tripleheader was held on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. All the participants look so fit and confident that they eloquently express their will to be victorious, as follows:

WBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT

Defending champion TAKUMA INOUE (18-1, 4 KOs), Japan:
“I am in a career-best shape and also have done a very best training. I know Ancajas is the strongest opponent that I exchange gloves with. I’ll concentrate on beating him with my best effort.”

Challenger and ex-IBF junior bantam champion having defended his belt nine times JERWIN ANCAJAS (34-3-2, 23 KOs), Philippines:
“Now we don’t have no Filipino world champion. That makes me hungry for the championship belt. I’ll win.

WBC BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT

Defending champion ALEJANDRO SANTIAGO (28-3-5, 14 KOs), Mexico:
“I’m in very best condition mentally and physically. I’ve done a strenuous training to defend my title successfully. I’m sure to win and keep my belt.”

Challenger and former two-division titlist JUNTO NAKATANI (26-0, 19 KOs), Japan:
“I’ve done 276 sparring sessions. I wish to demonstrate a good performance and become a new WBC champion. Having moved up to the bantamweight class, I feel very fit and believe I’m physically stronger.”

WBO JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT for the vacant championship

Former three-division champ and WBO#1 KOSEI TANAKA (19-1, 11 KOs), Japan:
“I have fully studied my opponent’s style. I’m ready to win my fourth world championship.”

WBO#2 CHRISTIAN BACASEGUA (22-4-2, 9 KOs), Mexico:
“I’ve been training very hard. My condition is perfect. I’m very much confidence to acquire the world belt.”

Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions is the promoter of this deluxe show at Kuramae Sumo Arena.

More photos

The World Boxing Council has approved a fight between WBC interim super middleweight champion David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) and former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) for the vacant IBF interim light heavyweight title. Benavidez comes into this fight after successfully defending his WBC 168lb belt against Demetrius Andrade last November. Former 175lb champion Gvozdyk is 3-0 since coming off a three-year layoff. More information regarding this fight will be released in the coming days.

Gor Yeritsyan 146.4 vs. Quinton Randall 146.4 – 10 Rounds
WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title
Cain Sandoval 139.2 vs. Javier Molina 140 – 10 Rounds
Daniel Barrera 114 vs. Jonathan Almacen 138.8 – 6 Rounds
Jorge Maravillo 152.2 vs. Jesus Gonzalez 151 – 6 Rounds
Alfredo Castro Villafuerte 122 vs. Ezequiel Flores 122 – 6 Rounds
Osvel Caballero 127.6 vs. Jason Buenaobra 122

Venue: Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California
Promoter: 360 Promotions
TV: UFC Fightpass

Unfortunately, due to visa issues, the Wendy Toussaint vs. Mponda Kalunga main event bout has been postponed. Federici-Caparello has been elevated to the main event, and the Gonzalez-McMahon bout has been elevated to the co-feature.

Simone Federici 198 vs. Blake Caparello 195.8
(WBC Continental America cruiserweight title)

Danny Gonzalez 149.2 vs. Keane McMahon 147.8
Kamil Bednarek 170.2 vs. Victor Hugo Exner 170.8
John “Warrior” Gjini 134.6 vs Manuel Guzman 135.4
Frank Monaco 166.6 vs. Levan Loutsoupitze 166.4
Ronny Reyes 129.4 vs. Markus Bowes 132.6
Lous Maietta 169.6 vs. Tevin Terrance 170

Venue: The Paramount, Huntington, NY
Promoter: Star Boxing
TV: StarBoxing.TV

Unbeaten super middleweights Edgar Berlanga and Padraig McCrory faced off today at the final press conference for Saturday’s fight in Orlando, Forida, on DAZN.

Edgar Berlanga: “At this time, Saturday is my focus, Padraig McCrory. I don’t give a f**k about Canelo, Munguia, it’s this man across from me that’s trying to take my ‘0’, so I have to put my focus on him and handle my business and then eventually, we can focus on those guys.

Padraig McCrory: “I’m just a guy from West Belfast, no-one expects anything from me. But I think I have got what it takes to win this fight, we’ve trained hard and meticulously gone through tactics so whether it’s Game A, B or C, we’re ready for what he brings.”