Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japan’s Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs), 112, wrested the WBA flyweight belt as he kept stalking the previously unbeaten defending champ Artem Dalakian (22-1, 15 KOs), 111.25, Ukraine, from pillar to post, winning a unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 119-109) over twelve speedy rounds on Tuesday in Osaka, Japan. Dalakian kept circling to display his fast footwork and versatile upper body mobility rather than throwing punches to the willing mixer. Each had a tough time catching and punching the contestant, but it was Akui that remained more positive and aggressive, throwing more punches to the opponent. It was a question why Dalakian paid too much respect to WBA#1 Akui’s vaunted power punching and failed to be more aggressive to win points enough to defend his belt. The referee was Gullermo Perez (Panama). Continue reading “#1 Akui dethrones WBA 112lb champ Dalakian”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten Juiki Tatsuyoshi (15-0-1, 10 KOs), 119.5, earned a majority decision (77-75 twice, 76-76) against JBC#10 bantam Yuki Yonaha (13-6-1, 8 KOs), 120, over eight speedy rounds on Tuesday in Osaka, Japan. Juiki, 27, former WBC three-time 118-pound champ Joichiro’s son, appeared after a five-month hiatus, changed his style and displayed quick-fire combinations to the more experienced foe throughout the contest. Yonaha, 31, former amateur boxer with a 50-13 mark, had dropped a decision to former kick-boxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa in his sensational pro debut last April. We look forward to Juiki’s progress in his forthcoming bouts. Continue reading “Unbeaten Tatsuyoshi Jr. defeats Yonaha”

Unbeaten Miguel Esparza (13-0, 8 KOs) of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico kept his 0 intact Satuday night while decisioning countryman Angel Daniel Garcia Molina (16-1, 13 KOs) of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico in the 10 round main event. The show took place in Esparza’s hometown at the Gimnasio Municipal “Jose Neri Santos”, Ciudad Juarez. The bout was often fought at close quarters with both fighters having their moments. Esparza suffered a cut over his right eye and eventually the fight was stopped because of that in round 6. The official time of the stoppage was 1:54 seconds. Esparza won the IBF North American Super Feather previously held by Garcia. ESPN Knockout televised.

Former WBO super bantamweight champion Angelo Leo (22-1, 10 KOs), now campaigning at featherweight, takes on Mike Plania (29-3. 16 KOs) in a ten round main event on January 31 at the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida and streamed on ProBox TV.

The chief support will see super middleweight Christopher Pearson (17-3-1, 12 KOs) against unbeaten Trevor McCumby (27-0, 21 KOs)  in a ten-rounder. McCumby is 2-0 since returning from a five-year layoff.

Also seeing action is lightweight Romero Duno (26-3, 20 KOs) against Antonio Moran (29-6-1, 20 KOs) over ten rounds.

Unbeaten Welterweight Conor Benn (22-0, 14 KOs) has warned Peter Dobson (16-0, 9 KOs) that he’s bringing ‘sheer violence’ to their clash at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday February 3, live worldwide on DAZN.

“I never thought I would fight in Las Vegas, let alone headline, so it’s nothing but a blessing,” said Benn, who is currently completing his training camp at the Matchroom Churchill Gym in Santa Monica, California.

“I’m going to make an example of him. He can do the talking. Talk as much as you want, the outcome will be the same. Delusion is one hell of a thing and there’s a fine line between delusion and confidence. I know what I am bringing in and that’s sheer violence, sheer brutality, sheer spite. Whatever he does, I do better, and I am going in there to handle business and deal with him in serious fashion. Continue reading “Benn: I’m bringing violence to Vegas”

Undefeated WBA light heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol believes that a potential undisputed clash with IBF, WBC and WBO ruler Artur Beterbiev would be the toughest test of his career.

“To be honest I believe that it is the hardest test,” said Bivol on Matchroom Boxing’s ‘Flash Knockdown’ podcast. “Why? Because he is stronger. I know that he is physically stronger than Canelo. He has good technique too. Many people talk about his power but they forget about his technique because his power is so much better than his technique, but he still had good technique. Continue reading “Bivol: Beterbiev will be my hardest fight”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The weigh-in ceremony for tomorrow’s world title twinbill took place on Monday in Osaka, Japan.

The results were as follows:

WBC, WBA light flyweight title bout
Champion Kenshiro Teraji (Japan) 107.5
Challenger Carlos Canizales (Venezuela) 107.75

WBA flyweight title bout
Champion Artem Dalakian (Ukraine) 111.25
Challenger Seigo Yuri Akui (Japan) 112

Special event
Tenshin Nasukawa (Japan) 121
Luis Robles (Mexico) 119.5

Officials

WBC, WBA light flyweight title bout
Referee Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico)
Judges Heremy Hayes (Canada), Jun-Bae Lim (Korea), Omar Mintun Sr. (Mexico)
Supervisors: WBA Renzo Bagnariol (Nicaragua), WBC Thanapol Bhakdibhumi (Thailand)

WBA flyweight title bout
Referee Guillermo Perez Pineda (Panama)
Judges Raul Caiz Jr. (US), Jeremy Hayes (Canada), Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico)
Supervisor: Renzo Bagnariol (Nicaragua)

Promoter: Akihiko Honda, Teiken Promotions

Photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The press conference of the forthcoming world title doubleheader was held today (Sunday) in Osaka, Japan. All look in good shape physically and verbally as well.

WBC light flyweight title bout
Kenshiro Teraji vs. Carlos Canizales

Teraji: I wish to score my fourteenth victory in world title bouts to tie the record of former world champion Yoko Gushiken.

Canizales: I have been unbeaten here in Japan. I wish to defeat Teraji and bring home the belt.

WBA flyweight title bout
Artem Dalakian versus Yuri Akui

Dalakian: I couldn’t fight for a year, but I have made my best condition. Though Akui is a good and strong challenger, I believe I will defend my best successfully.

Akui: I truly appreciate the champion having come to defend his belt against me. I would like to dedicate this fight to people in Ukraine as well as in the Noto area (which suffered a terrible earthquake on New Year’s Day with more than 200 victims pitifully having passed away).

The promoter is Teiken Promotions.

More photos

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In a grudge fight after a hard-fought draw in the Philippines three months ago, rugged Japanese puncher Masahiro Suzuki (10-1-1, 7 KOs), 135, stunned the crowd with a very quick one-punch demolition of Filipino champ Roldan Aldea (18-10-2, 10 KOs), 134, at just 1:22 of the opening session in a scheduled twelve round main event on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. They had fought in quest of the vacant OPBF belt in Manila to a majority draw (114-114 twice, 116-112 for Roldan) last October. Though a tough competitive rematch was expected, Suzuki’s short but crisp right hook caught Roldan’s chin and had him almost paralyzed on the deck. The ref Sugiyama tolled the fatal ten over the fallen southpaw Filipino, who looked mentally willing to fight on but whose paralyzed body refused to resume fighting. It was a shocking knockout scene. Continue reading “Suzuki ices Roldan in one, wins vacant OPBF 135lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Once-beaten ex-world challenger, WBC, WBO#1 Shokichi Iwata (12-1, 9 KOs), 107.75, proved too powerful and accurate in dropping former IBF world minimum champ Rene Mark Cuarto (21-5-2, 12 KOs), 108, Philippines, four times before the referee’s intervention at 2:21 of the sixth round in a scheduled eight on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Having failed to win the WBO 108-pound belt from Jonathan Gonzalez in 2022, Shokichi improved his physical power since and displayed it in decking Cuarto twice in the second, each once in the fourth and the fatal sixth. Curato, nicknamed Mighty Mouse, kept swinging roundhouse hooks but often missed the target only to be countered effectively by the hard-hitting Japanese. Continue reading “WBC, WBO#1 Iwata demolishes ex-IBF champ Cuarto”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Ten-time national amateur champ, unbeaten feather prospect Kenji Fujita (6-0, 3 KOs), 125.75, acquired the vacant WBO Asia Pacific featherweight belt when he fought a tough-and-tumble battle with Filipino Joseph Ambo (13-4-1, 8 KOs), 124.75, and pounded out a unanimous decision (120-107 twice, 118-109) over twelve turbulent rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. An accidental low blow of Fujita, in round five, had Ambo flat for five minutes before the Filipino reluctantly resumed fighting. Showing shifty mobility in every round, Fujita, a southpaw speedster, 30, steadily piled up points but couldn’t finish the fading Filipino, though he floored Ambo, 27, just once in the twelfth and final session. Continue reading “Fujita beats Filipino Ambo, wins WBO AP 126lb belt”

In a clash between unbeaten cruiserweights, Oswaldo Nieto Camara (4-0, 3 KOs) of Mexico surprised and stopped local hero Blake “Shake n’ Blake” Anderson (5-1, 4 KOs) in the first round of the main event on Saturday night at the River Cree Resort & Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Camara rocked Anderson in round one, then unleashed a furious barrage of unanswered punches to get a referee’s stoppage. Time was 1:52.

IBF female welterweight champion Natasha Jonas (15-2-1, 9 KOs) won a hometown ten round split decision over former unified junior lightweight world champion Mikaela Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Good action bout with good exchanges throughout. Mayer pressed the action and closed strong. After ten see-saw rounds, Jonas, 39, prevailed by scores of 96-94 (Frank Lombardi, USA), 96-95 (Michael Alexander, UK) on two cards, while Mayer was up 97-93 (Diana Drews Milani, Germany) on the third card.

Super middleweight Zak Chelli (15-2-1, 7 KOs) outworked and dethroned British and Commonwealth titleholder “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (22-5-1, 10 KOs) over twelve uneventful rounds in a rematch of their 2020 draw. Cullen never got untracked as Chelli pulled away to a 116-113, 116-112, 115-114 verdict. Continue reading “Jonas retains IBF belt by split decision”

Unbeaten super welterweight Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez (13-0-1, 7 KOs) of Uruguay decisioned Jose Hugo Acevedo (14-6-3, 8 KOs) of Argentina on Friday night at the Estadio Polideportivo Carlos Saul Menem, La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina. The pair previously fought this past October to a 10 round draw in Argentina. This fight was another closely contested affair with multiple heated exchanges throughout the bout. The corner of Rodriguez urged him to close the 10th and final round strong which he did and that appeared to be the difference in final tally. The official scorecards were 96-94 twice for Rodriguez and 95-95 even giving Rodriguez the majority decisión win. Rodriguez won the vacant WBA Fedelatin super welterweight title.

Unbeaten WBC #4 bantamweight David “El General” Cuellar (26-0, 17 KOs) hammered out a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Pablo Ariel “Huracan” Gomez (18-15-3, 1 KO) on Friday night at the Centro de Convenciones in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Scores were 100-90, 100-90, 98-92.

After defeating Jermell Charlo last year, there are strong rumors that Canelo Alvarez will face Jermell’s brother Jermall Charlo in May.

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has indicated that Ryan Garcia against Golden Boy’s newly signed Jose Ramirez is coming together. Apparently WBA 140lb champ Rolly Romero priced himself out.

Kingry, however, tweeted, “No Ramirez. Let’s make that clear…Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar De La Hoya at this point!”

Natasha Jonas 146 vs. Mikaela Mayer 146.5
(IBF female welterweight title)

Jack Cullen 167.5 vs. Zak Chelli 166.5
(British & Commonwealth super middleweight titles)

Karriss Artingstall 124.5 vs. Lila Dos Santos Furtado 124
Aaron McKenna 168 vs. Micky Ellison 171
Mark Jeffers 167 vs. Germaine Brown 167
Jack Massey 204 vs. Steve Eloundou Ntere 201
Mikie Tallon 111 vs. Adamu Yahaya 113
Ste Clarke 160 vs. Vasif Mamedov 166.5

Venue: M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England
Promoter: BOXXER
TV: ESPN+ (US), Sky Sports (UK/Ireland)

By Joe Koizumi
Photo: Boxing Beat Magazine

The Japanese culture might be so bizarre. Our people strongly hate ominous news mentioned before the new year coming. People wish to welcome 2024 in our fresh mind so that we eliminate bad memories of the past year and then reboot the prosperous new year. Having entered January, we have seen some information on celebrities or athletes having already passed in December. So, this is not an excuse that this reporter has thus delayed reporting the death of some boxing persons.

Shoji Tsujimoto, 75, former Japanese welterweight champ, passed away on December 23. Having scored an excellent amateur mark of 92-10, 46 stoppages and gained some national amateur belts, the tall, handsome and stylish southpaw turned professional as he entered Yonekura Gym presided by former world challenger Kenji Yonekura (who failed to win the world fly and bantam belts from Pascual Perez and Jose Becerra in 1959 and 1960). Tsujimoto entered the world top ten by defeating ex-champ Eddie Perkins on points (unanimous; 49-48, 49-47, 50-47) in 1974, and became the very first Japanese boxer to have an ambitious crack at the world welterweight belt against Jose Pipino Cuevas in his first defense, though, only to be demolished in six hard-fought rounds in Kanazawa in 1976. Continue reading “Ex-world challenger Tsujimoto, promoter Matsuda pass”

Ramon Arellano (Arellano Boxing) presented a night of boxing Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee at his popular San Jose Fiesta Mexican restaurant in front of the excited locals in attendance. The six round main event saw unbeaten super lightweight prospect Stacey Selby (5-0, 4 KOs) of Washington D.C. stop local Tennessee veteran Marlon Lewis in round two. Selby dropped Lewis five times in the bout. The official time of the stoppage was 1:16.

Rounding out the undercard:

Maria Arellano UD Eskemberli Casique Duarte
Mike Nelson KO Romundus Taylor
Brandon Hughes Draw Travis Floyd

H.E. Advisor Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, announced an agreement has been reached between rival boxing promoters Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing which will see the promotional outfits face-off in an historic five-versus-five fight night.

The date and fighters will be announced at a press conference during the Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou fight week in March. Continue reading “Queensberry vs. Matchroom card set”

In this weekend’s big TV fight, two-division world champion Natasha Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) will defend her IBF welterweight world title against former unified junior lightweight world champion Mikaela Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) on Saturday at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.

In the co-feature, “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (22-4-1, 10 KOs) will put his British and Commonwealth titles on the line against Zak Chelli (14-2-1, 7 KOs) in a 12-round rematch of their all-action 2020 slugfest that ended in a draw.

Jonas-Mayer and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Continue reading “Jonas-Mayer Final Press Conference”

Salita Promotions will launch the “Big Time Boxing USA” series on DAZN on February 20 (a Tuesday) headlined by a ten round all-Michigan showdown between unbeaten Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes Jr. (14-0, 5 KOs) against Marlon Harrington (10-1, 9 KOs). Holmes defends his USBA super welterweight belt topping the card from Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit.

The live streaming action will also see unbeaten USBA light heavyweight champion Ali Izmailov (11-0, 7 KOs) against Britton Norwood (13-4-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round co-main event. Also on tap is an eight round lightweight battle of unbeaten between Joshua Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) and Dwane Taylor (7-0, 7 KOs), plus undefeated middleweight Da’Velle Smith competes in a six round affair.

 

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA flyweight champ Artem Dalakian (22-0, 15 KOs), from Ukraine, arrived in Japan to defend his belt against top contender Yuri Seigo Akui (18-2-1, 11 KOs) next Tuesday （January 23） in Osaka, Japan. Dalakian reportedly took eighteen hours to move to Warsaw, and then flew far away to Tokyo this Sunday.

The unbeaten titleholder, who had successfully kept it six times, engaged in a public workout at Teiken Gym on Monday, and showed he’s in good shape despite a long trip from Ukraine. Once postponed from November 15, Dalakian, 36, said, “I could study Akui’s style two months more. I’m confident to defend my belt to dedicate my victory to my mother Marina who will celebrate her birthday on the fight day.” Continue reading “WBA 112lb champ Dalakian, Akui both look sharp”

Stacey Selby 146 vs. Marlon Lewis 140
Maria Arellano 149 vs. Eskemberli Casique Duarte 145
Mike Nelson 181 vs. Romundus Taylor 173
Brandon Hughes 142 vs. Travis Floyd 142

Venue: San Jose Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
Promoter: Ramon Arellano (Arellano Boxing)

Undefeatd super lightweight “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (20-0-2, 9 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Luis Feliciano (17-1, 8 KOs) in round six on Wednesday night the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida. Williams dropped Feliciano twice in round two but Feliciano survived the round. Williams floored Feliciano again in round six. Feliciano got up wobbly and the bout was halted at 1:43. Williams looked good.

A clash between welterweight knockout artists ended up going the ten round distance with unbeaten Freudis Rojas (13-0, 11 KOs) winning a unanimous decision over Cristian Baez (19-4, 17 KOs). Scores were 98-92, 99-91, 99-91. The bout seemed very close and the crowd reacted to the scoring with boos.

In a clash between unbeaten super featherweights, Jaycob Gomez (9-0-1, 6 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Ezequiel Borrero (6-1, 2 KOs). Gomez dropped Borrero in round one and got a referee’s stoppage with a barrage of punches at 1:40 of round five.