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IBF Statement: Late last evening the IBF received notice from Michael Francis representing Jai Opetaia advising that Opetaia has decided to relinquish his title as IBF World Cruiserweight Champion. In an email to IBF President Daryl Peoples and the IBF Board of Directors, Francis noted the team’s disappointment in having to reach this decision but acknowledged the IBF rules that affect this situation should be adhered to.

The IBF accepts Jai Opetaia’s decision to vacate the title and wishes him well.

Mairis Briedis, who is ranked #3 in the IBF Cruiserweight ratings, will be ordered to negotiate with the next leading available contender for the vacant IBF Cruiserweight World Championship bout.

Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia will be without his IBF world title on Saturday’s ‘Day Of Reckoning’ show in Riydah, Saudi Arabia, having been forced to vacate the belt earlier today.

With mandatory rival Mairis Briedis currently injured, a special appeal was requested by Matchroom, Tasman Fighters, Queensberry and Wasserman Boxing to the IBF to allow Opetaia to defend his crown against Britain’s Zorro this weekend. But with the IBF denying Opetaia that opportunity, the Aussie has reluctantly relinquished his championship.

Fired up, Opetaia now vows to do his talking in the ring and showing why he is rated as the best cruiserweight on the planet.

Continue reading “Jai Opetaia vacates IBF cruiser title”

Hollywood Fight Nights returns to the Chumash Casino Resort on February 23, headlined by a ten-round main event featuring undefeated Gor Yeritsyan (17-0, 14 KOs) against Quinton Randall (13-1-1, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title, broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass.

Yeritsyan, a native of Armenia, returns to action following a career-best victory on November 9, in New York City, an eight round unanimous decision over Luis Alberto Veron. The 28-year-old Yeritsyan is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.

…Wins WBO AP 108lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

Unheralded Filipino puncher Jason Vayson (11-1-1-1NC, 6 KOs), 108, surprisingly captured the WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight belt as he upset defending champ Ryuya Yamanaka (19-3, 6 KOs), 107.5, via stunning TKO win at 1:14 of the second round in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Kobe, Japan. A vicious right uppercut was a haymaker that exploded at the ex-WBO world titlist Ryuya’s chin with a perfect timing. Down went the champ. He almost stood up but was unable to resume fighting due to a bad equilibrium. The ref grabbed him not to see him go down again. Vayson, who had lost a lopsided shutout decision to Seigo Yuri Akui in his last fight here, displayed a do-or-die attack that paid off well. Continue reading “Vayson upsets ex-world champ Yamanaka”

By Joe Koizumi

Japan’s middleweight champ Riku Kunimoto (10-1, 4 KOs), 160, collected another WBO AP 160-pound belt when he caught up with elongated compatriot 6’1” Katsuhiro Nakata (9-5-1, 5 KOs), 159, at 1:25 of the ninth round in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

Promoter: Muto Promotions.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Rodriguez-Edwards photo gallery for some incredible shots + the scorecard, + action from the Akhmadaliev-Gonzalez, Yafai-Santomauro, and O’Quinn-McGrail fights.

Photos

In a flyweight unification clash, WBO champion Jesse “BAM” Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) stopped IBF champion Sunny Edwards (20-1, 4 KOs) in round nine on Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. In a good fight, Rodriguez steadily broke down and busted up Edwards. BAM finally dropped Edwards at the end of round nine and the bout was stopped.

In a WBA super bantamweight eliminator, former unified champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs) dealt an eight round beating to previously unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez (26-1-1, 13 KOs). Akhmadaliev dropped Gonzalez twice in round six and two more times in round eight to end it. Time was 2:49. Gonzalez was game and tough, but Akhmadaliev was too much.

Olympic gold medalist and flyweight contender Galal Yafai (6-0, 4 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over rugged Rocco Santomauro (22-3, 6 KOs). Yafai was mostly in control, but Santomauro got some of his licks in also. Scores were 99-91, 98-93, 97-93.

Super bantamweight Ja’Rico O’Quinn (17-1-1, 9 KOs) scored a spectacular fifth round knockout over previously unbeaten Peter McGrail (8-1, 5 KOs). McGrail was dominating the fight until he was laid out by a counter right. Time was 2:19. O’Quinn claimed the WBA Continental belt.

Ending a 37-year run of boxing on the Showtime network, WBA “regular” super middleweight champion David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) scored a second round TKO over Sena Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bout was waved off at 1:43 of round two with Morrell teeing off off on a helpless Abgeko. Another impressive performance for Morrell.

In a WBA lightweight eliminator, Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs) scored a spectacular sixth round knockout over Chris “Primetime” Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs). The end came when Valenzuela connected with a huge right hook that laid out Colbert face first avenging his controversial loss to Colbert in March. Time was 1:46.

In a blast from the past between 40-year-old former world champions, welterweights Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (38-6-1, 20 KOs) and Andre Berto (32-6, 24 KOs) fought ten entertaining rounds with Guerrero moving to 2-0 against Berto. Scores were 98-92, 98-92, 99-91. The bout was a rematch of Guerrero’s 2012 triumph over Berto.

Former WBA super lightweight champion Alberto Puello (22-0, 10 KOs) returned from a 16-month layoff outpoint previously unbeaten Ector Madera (11-1, 6 KOs) over eight rounds. Scores were 80-72, 80-72, 79-73. Continue reading “Morrell crushes Agbeko, retains WBA belt”

2016 Olympian super featherweight Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (8-0, 4 KOs) remained unbeaten with an eighth round KO against Yohan “La Fiera” Vasquez (25-5, 20 KOs) on Saturday night at New York City’s Sony Hall. Erdenebat battered Vazquez in round two but Vazquez survived the round and then managed to continue. The bout ended in round eight when Erdenebat dropped Vazquez to end it. Time was 2:29.

By Joe Koizumi

Fast-rising super bantam WBO AP#3 Ryuya Tsugawa (12-1, 8 KOs), 123.25, impressively scored a fine KO win over Filipino Prince Andrew Laurio (12-6-1, 9 KOs), 121.5, at 1:36 of the second round in a scheduled eight on Saturday in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Tsugawa, Japan’s youth champ previously employed as a sparring partner of “Monster” Naoya Inoue, displayed crisp punching in dropping the game Filipino twice in the opening session and once more in the fatal second. Tsugawa, a lanky hard-puncher, registered seven stoppages in latest eight consecutive wins, and will zoom up to top in the near future.

Former OPBF 160-pound champ Yuki Nonaka (37-12-3, 11 KOs), 167.75, was awarded a bizarre TKO victory over Thailander Pathueang Sikun (16-15, 12 KOs), 164.5, at 1:19 of the second round in a scheduled eight. Pathueang sprained his knee when he moved side-to-side, fell down and became unable to raise himself. Nonaka, a veteran southpaw, is gunning for a shot at the vacant OPBF 168-pound belt next spring.

Promoter: Mitsuki Promotions.

Matchroom Boxing has announced three February fight dates across the globe to kick off their 2024 boxing schedule on DAZN.

Unbeaten super middleweight Edgar ‘The Chosen One’ Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs) faces Padraig McCrory (18-0, 9 KOs) on February 24 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

IBF light flyweight champion Adrien Curiel (24-4-1, 5 KOs) will defend his belt against former champion Sivenathi Nontshinga (12-1, 9 KOs) in a direct rematch at a site to be named in Mexico. Curiel scored a shocking one-punch knockout against Nontshiunga last month in Monaco.

On February 10 at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, England, welterweights Conah Walker (12-2-1, 4 KOs) and Cyrus Pattinson (6-1, 4 KOs) do battle again following their exciting clash back in August.

WBO #1 super welterweight Josh Kelly (15-1-1, 8 KOs) won by third round knockout against Placido Ramirez (24-4, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland, England. Kelly connected with an uppercut that dropped Ramirez to a knee in round three and Ramirez stayed down for the count. Time was 2:38. Kelly is in line for a title shot against WBO champion Tim Tszyu.

WBC #1 super lightweight Sandor Martin (42-3, 15 KOs) knocked out Mohamed El Marcouchi (29-4, 12 KOs) in round four on Saturday night at the Palasport Le Cupole in Turin, Italy. Martin dropped Marcouchi in round two and put him done for the count in round four. Time was 2:02.

After the fight, Martin, who is WBC’s the official mandatory challenger, immediately called out recently crowned WBC champion Devin Haney.

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Super featherweight Kenneth Taylor (14-2, 3 KOs), fighting out of Tyler, TX showed off his fancy footwork and array of punches to outwork Jorge Ramos (8-5, 1 KO) from Laredo over eight entertaining rounds in the main event Friday night at College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. Taylor got off to a fast start in round one and dropped Ramos with a big right hand. Ramos recovered and over the next several rounds went toe to toe with Taylor. Taylor switched gears over the second half and used his legs and threw punches from different angles to keep the hard charging Ramos at bay. Taylor punctuated the night with a big flurry to end the fight and won a unanimous decision going away by scores of 79-72, 80-71 and 79-72. Continue reading “Taylor tops Ramos in Arlington, TX”

By Héctor Villarreal

Panamanian lightweight prospect Jonathan Miniel (4-0, 4 KOs) overcame a knockdown to stop Colombian Luis Fabra (7-6,4 KOs) on the main event of the “Boxeo del Patio” show promoted by Laguna Premium on Friday night to wrap up the boxing season in Panama.

Miniel sent Fabra to the canvas in round one but a strong right hook by the Colombian surprisingly knocked the local down in the second. With the scorecards even, Miniel trapped Fabra in a neutral corner with powerful combinations, forcing the visitor to put a knee on the canvas for the 10 count. Refeee Héctor Afú called the KO at 1:39 of round 3. Continue reading “Miniel overcomes adversity, stays unbeaten”

Featherweight Kevin Barron Crespo (13-1, 9 KOs) defeated Hector Garcia Dolores (10-8, 5 KOs) in the eight round main event on Friday night. The show took place at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Garcia was credited with a knockdown of Crespo in the eighth and final round. However, Crespo was in control of the bout overall in route to winning by way of unanimous decision . There were no official scores read.

Popular YouTuber-turned-cruiserweight boxer Jake Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) annihilated Andre August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Paul connected with a vicious uppercut that laid August out flat on his back. Time was 2:32.

In a grudge match for the WBC world and WBA interim female super middleweight titles, former undisputed champ Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Shadasia Green (13-1, 11 KOs). Crews-Dezurn, an 8:1 underdog, was simply busier as she pulled away 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

Unbeaten super welterweight Yoenis Tellez (7-0, 6 KOs) scored a brutal tenth round knockout over Livan Navarro (15-2, 9 KOs). Tellez dropped Navarro in round three and knocked him out cold with a left hook in round ten. Time was 1:21.

Unbeaten heavyweight Lorenzo Medina (9-0, 8 KOs) recovered from a second round knockdown to stop Joshua Temple (12-3, 10 KOs) in round six. A barrage of punches prompted a referee’s stoppage. Time was :29.

Video of an altercation at the WBA Convention in Orlando is virally making the rounds on social media. Turns out that after a heated disagreement over mandatory bouts and interim titles, the parties took the issue outside where the son of WBA #1 middleweight Michael Zerafa’s manager Elvis Grant Phillips allegedly spit in the face of promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. Parties had to be kept apart after a huge argument erupted with ring legend Bernard Hopkins and WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza getting involved.

Lewkowicz, who has since filed battery charges with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office over the incident, issued a statement to clarify that Zerafa himself was in no way involved in the altercation.

Jesse Rodriguez 111.6 vs. Sunny Edwards 111.6
(WBO and IBF Flyweight unification)

Murodjon Akhmadaliev 121.6 vs. Kevin Gonzalez 121
(WBA super bantamweight eliminator)

Galal Yafai 111.8 vs. Rocco Santomauro 111.4
Peter McGrail 121.6 vs. Ja’rico O’Quinn 122
Arturo Cardenas 123.4 vs. Carlos Mujica 122
Junaid Bostan 155.2 vs. Gordie Russ Ii 155.2
Albert Gonzalez 127.2 vs. Alexis Molina 126.2
Joe McGrail 125.8 vs. Edgar Ortiz Jr. 123

Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

David Morrell Jr. 167.6 vs. Sena Agbeko 167
(WBA super middleweight title)

Chris Colbert 134.6 vs. Jose Valenzuela 134
(WBA lightweight title eliminator)

Robert Guerrero 148.2 vs. Andre Berto 148.2

Alberto Puello 143 vs. Ector Madera 143.2
Kyrone Davis 161.4 vs. Cruse Stewart 160
Lawrence King 182.2 vs. Alex Theran 182.4

Venue: The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Promoter: TGB Promotions, Warriors Boxing
TV: Showtime, YouTube/Facebook

Ring legend Roy Jones Jr., now a trainer and promoter, will have a selection of his prized fighters headline a January 25 fight card at Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington. In the main event, undefeated Yakima-born Andrew Murphy (7-0, 5 KOs) will fight in a ten-round super middleweight bout. Female welterweight champion Ikram Kerwat (13-3, 5 KOs) will fight in the co-main event. The third of Jones’ fighters on the card is former Commonwealth Games and Asian Games Silver Medalist, lightweight Mandeep Jangra (6-0, 4 KOs). Opponents are TBA. Promoted by Roy Jones Jr. Boxing, tickets, priced at $60, $50 and $40, are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Legends Casino Gift Shop or on-line at Ticketmaster.

Sandor Martin 140.6 vs. Mohamed El Marcouchi 139.3
Francesco Grandelli 125.5 vs. Stefan Voda 125.5
Maxim Prodan 147 vs. Miguel Cesario Antin 149
Biagio Grimaldi139.1 vs. Darwin El Badaouy 137.7

Venue: Palasport Le Cupole, Turin, Italy
Promoter: OPI Since 82 (Cherchi family) in association with Top Rank
TY: DAZN (Italy and Spain) 08:30 pm local time, ESPN+ 02:30 pm ET, ESPN Latino, TVP (Poland),
Diema Sport (Bulgaria), SK Fight (Ex Jugoslavia)

Unbeaten super bantamweight Jose “Tito” Sanchez (12-0, 7 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Walter Santibanes (12-3, 2 KOs) on Thursday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Sanchez went ten tough rounds with the rugged Santibanes, winning 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.

Unbeaten middleweight Eric Priest (12-0, 8 KOs) blew away Paul Mendez (21-5-2, 11 KOs) in the first round. Priest dropped Mendez in round one and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:09. Continue reading “Tito Sanchez still unbeaten”

In a clash of former heavyweight title challengers, Kubrat Pulev (30-3, 14 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Andrezej Wasrzyk (34-3, 20 KOs) on Thursday night at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California. Pulev pressed the action and kept a jab in Wasrzyk’s face. Wasrzyk fought in spurts and usually moved in reverse. Pulev scored knockdowns in round six and round eight. Scores were 99-89, 100-88, 100-88.

Pulev, 42, previously challenged for the WBA/IBF/WBO belts against Wladimir Klitshko in 2014 and again against Anthony Joshua in 2020. Wawrzyk, 36, challenged Alexander Povetkin for the WBA belt in 2013.

* * *

Former world title challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas (24-2-1, 19 KOs) scored a third round KO over Jose Marruffo (14-13-2, 2 KOs) in a super welterweight fight. Kavaliauskas dropped Marruffo in round two, but moments later was cut over the left eye by an accidental headbutt. Kavaliauskas dropped Marruffo again in round three to end it. Time was 2:10.

Full Report