Former world title challenger Cristian Gonzalez (15-2-1, 5 KOs) of Mexico and unbeaten Tobías “Pitbull” Reyes (13-0-1, 12 KOs) of Argentina fought to an exciting draw Saturday night at the Arena Ring Central de la Ciudad de México with Producciones Deportivas de Ricardo Maldonado promoting. The fight had good two way action with many exchanges. The offical scores were 96-94 for Gonzalez, 97-93 for Reyes, and 95-95 even. Both fighters seemed in agreement with the decision. Gonzalez had previously fought unbeaten world champion Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez very tough, losing on points.
Unbeaten Kaneko stops China’s Cai
By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Unbeaten Japanese feather prospect Kota Kaneko (4-0, 3 KOs), 125, displayed a good form and impressively halted China’s Fan Cai (5-5-1, 3 KOs), 125.25, at 1:06 of the sixth round in a scheduled eight on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Kaneko, whose amateur mark was 56-13, caught the taller Chinese with a smashing left hook, dropping him twice in round two with Cai having a narrow escape saved by the bell. Cai, a durable southpaw puncher, was in command in the third, but Kaneko, 25, took back the initiative and hurt him with steady and accurate lefts in rounds four and five. The sixth saw Kota furiously swam over him to prompt the referee’s well-timed stoppage. Kaneko of Teiken gym, who can punch, looked promising. Continue reading “Unbeaten Kaneko stops China’s Cai”
By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda Unbeaten Japanese feather prospect Kota Kaneko (4-0, 3 KOs), 125, displayed a good form and impressively halted China’s Fan Cai (5-5-1, 3 KOs),…
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O’Shaquie: I had to dig deep
O’Shaquie Foster talks about salvaging his WBC super featherweight title with a dramatic final round TKO over Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez in Cancun, Mexico. Going into the final round, Foster was behind 110-99 (0-11 in rounds) on the card of judge Nicolas Hidalgo, and 107-102 (3-8) on the card of judge Ed Pearson. Judge Jorge Gorini had Foster up 106-103 (7-4).
“My coaches were telling me that I was behind around the eighth round so I knew I had to push it before I lose my belt, I have to give it all, so that’s what I did,” said Foster. “Rocky is a hell of a puncher and a hell of a fighter, I had to dig deep, but I knew I could catch him. Around the ninth or tenth round, I started seeing his body limp when I hit him with the right hand, so I just kept having faith in it.
“In the 11th round I hurt him, but he came back and hit me with a good shot so it gave him a little more hope, but in the 12th round I knew I could catch him.
“With the comeback KO I rate my performance an eight out of ten, but I really wasn’t too satisfied with how I fought. But it was a fun fight, I had fun in there.
“I want the winner of the fight next week with Cordina and Vazquez, that should be next, unify, let’s do it. I’ve proved I’ll go anywhere to fight, so if it’s the UK, let’s do it!”
O’Shaquie Foster talks about salvaging his WBC super featherweight title with a dramatic final round TKO over Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez in Cancun, Mexico. Going into the final round, Foster was…
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Tyson Fury: One of my toughest fights
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and pro debuting MMA star Francis Ngannou spoke about Fury’s split decision win on Saturday evening at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury: “That definitely wasn’t in the script. He’s one hell of a fighter. He’s strong, a big puncher, and a lot better as a boxer than we thought he would ever be. He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher. I respect him a lot, before the fight and afterward.
“He was very awkward. He wasn’t coming forward. He was standing back and waiting for me to land my punches and then try to counter. He’s a good fighter. He’s given me one of my toughest fights in the last 10 years.
“[The knockdown] is part of boxing. I got caught behind the head again. My legs weren’t hurt or nothing. I was alright. And I got back up and it was what it was. And I got back to my boxing. I don’t know how close it was. But I got the win, and that’s what it is.”
Francis Ngannou: “We can run it back again, and I’m sure I will get better. This was my first boxing match. It was a great experience. I’m not giving any excuse. I know I came up short. But I’m going to go back and work harder with a little more experience and a little more feeling of the game. And I will come back even stronger.
“At first, I was a little nervous. This is a new sport that I never did. Now I know I can do this sh*t. So, get ready!”
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and pro debuting MMA star Francis Ngannou spoke about Fury’s split decision win on Saturday evening at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tyson Fury:…
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O’Shaquie KOs Rocky to retain WBC 130lb title
WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 11 KOs) scored a come-from-behind stoppage of KO artist Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (34-2, 31 KOs) in the twelfth round on Saturday night at the Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Hernandez pressed the action, was busier, and was ahead on the cards. Round eleven was a round of the year candidate. Foster rocked Rocky, who then came back to shock O’Shaquie. Foster then dropped Hernandez twice in round twelve and the bout was stopped. Time was 2:38.
WBO #15 heavyweight Justis Huni (8-0, 4 KOs) hammered out a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over former cruiserweight title challenger Andrew Tabiti (20-2, 16 KOs). Scores were 100-90, 98-92, 98-92.
IBF #4, WBO #10 super featherweight KO machine Eduardo Nunez (25-1, 25 KOs) knocked out 39-year-old former world title challenger Oscar Escandon (27-7, 18 KOs) in the second round. A huge right hand laid out Escandon at :38.
WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 11 KOs) scored a come-from-behind stoppage of KO artist Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (34-2, 31 KOs) in the twelfth round on Saturday night at…
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Fury dropped, barely beats Ngannou
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) got all he could handle from MMA star Francis Ngannou (0-1) in a ten round non-title fight on Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “The Gypsy King” suffered a small cut on his forehead in round two. Ngannou dropped Fury with a left hook in round three.
Fury started to outbox Ngannou in round four. Rounds were competitive with Fury’s jab saving him. Ngannou won the exchanges in round eight. Fury went back to the jab in rounds nine and ten and won by split decision. Scores were 95-94 Ngannou, 96-93, 95-94 Fury.
With the win, Fury set up a December 23 clash against WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title at the same venue.
In a grudge fight between undefeated British heavyweight standouts, WBA #11 Fabio Wardley (17-0, 16 KOs) halted WBO #9 David Adeleye (12-1, 11 KOs) in round seven. Wardley dropped Adeleye with a left hook and got a referee’s stoppage moments later. Time was 2:43. Adeleye didn’t like the stoppage and shoved the referee.
Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (33-3, 23 KOs), currently rated WBO #6, IBF #6, WBC #10, knocked out Simon Kean (23-2, 22 KOs) in round three. An uppercut put Kean on the deck where he was counted out. Time was 2:04.
WBC #3, WBA #5, IBF #10, WBO #13 heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-0, 17 KOs) needed just 70 seconds to steamroll Junior Anthony Wright (20-5-1, 17 KOs). Makhmudov dropped Wright with a right hand, then got a referee’s stop when he connected with another crushing right.
Hot heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma (6-0, 4 KOs) demolished Istvan Bernath (10-2, 8 KOs) in the first round. Itauma dropped Bernath, then got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 1:53.
WBA #2, WBC #9 heavyweight Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over 42-year-old Carlos Takam (40-8-1, 28 KOs). 299lb Bakole overpowered and battered Takam to get a referee’s stoppage at 2:15.
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) got all he could handle from MMA star Francis Ngannou (0-1) in a ten round non-title fight on Saturday at Kingdom Arena…
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WBA champ Takuma Inoue suffers rib fracture
Injured WBA 118lb titlist cancels his defense with Ancajas
By Joe Koizumi
WBA bantamweight champ Takuma Inoue has suffered a rib fracture to be obliged to cancel his first defense with Filipino ex-titlist Jerwin Ancajas scheduled on November 15. The whole card including a semi-windup WBA flyweight title bout of Artem Dalakian against Japanese challenger Seigo Yuri Akui have been also cancelled and will be re-scheduled to another date in accordance with Takuma’s recovery. It was announced by Ohashi Promotions today.
Injured WBA 118lb titlist cancels his defense with Ancajas By Joe Koizumi WBA bantamweight champ Takuma Inoue has suffered a rib fracture to be obliged to cancel his first defense…
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Santiago wins WBO interim 108lb title
In a bout upgraded to the WBO interim junior flyweight title, WBO #4 Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (13-3, 10 KOs) scored a twelfth round KO over previously undefeated #15 Kevin Vivas (7-1, 2 KOs) at the famed Alexis Arguello Arena in Managua, Nicaragua. It was a close fight until a Santiago jab to the breadbasket finished Vivas at 1:18.
The original main event between WBO junior flyweight champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez and Gerardo “Cascabel” Zapata was scrapped when Bomba withdrew due to illness.
In the co-feature, welterweight puncher Harvin “Manimal” Aguirre (9-0, 6 KOs) took an eight round majority decision over crosstown rival Israel Lopez (11-4-1, 8 KOs). Scores were 78-74, 76-76, 78-74
In a bout upgraded to the WBO interim junior flyweight title, WBO #4 Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (13-3, 10 KOs) scored a twelfth round KO over previously undefeated #15 Kevin…
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Serrano dominates Ramos, wins UD12
Report/Photos: Scott Foster
Undisputed female featherweight champion Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over WBO interim champ Danila Ramos (12-3, 1 KO) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Serrano pressed the action the whole way and punished Ramos for 36 minutes instead of the normal 20. Scores were 120-108 3x.
Only Serrano’s WBA, IBF, and WBO belts were on the line as the WBC wouldn’t sanction the match because they view the duration of twelve 3-minute rounds as unsafe for women.
* * *
Unbeaten WBA #14 welterweight Damian Lescaille (6-0, 4 KOs) scored a spectacular ninth round KO against Ray Barlow (7-4, 4 KOs). A right hook laid out Barlow at 2:58.
2016 Olympian Antonio Vargas (17-1, 9 KOs) outscored rugged former world champion Hernan “Tyson” Marquez (47-11-2, 33 KOs) over ten rounds in a bantamweight bout. Scores were 99-89 3x. Marquez down twice.
Report/Photos: Scott Foster Undisputed female featherweight champion Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over WBO interim champ Danila Ramos (12-3, 1 KO) on Friday…
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Weights from Washington, PA
Michael Manna 199 vs. Joe Turk 197.6
Moses Johnson 243.2 vs. Lemir Isomvs.Tiley 260.4
Theodore Mrkonja 136.2 vs. Kevin Hicks 136
Devon Siegfried 183.4 vs. Christoper Crockett 185.8
Ivan Dancha 153.8 vs. Anthony Rutkowski 157.8
Clark and Tommy Parker will take part in an exhibition.
Venue: Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Promoter: Integrity Fighter Management
Stream: BXNGTV.com
1st Bell: 7 PM ET
Michael Manna 199 vs. Joe Turk 197.6 Moses Johnson 243.2 vs. Lemir Isomvs.Tiley 260.4 Theodore Mrkonja 136.2 vs. Kevin Hicks 136 Devon Siegfried 183.4 vs. Christoper Crockett 185.8 Ivan Dancha…
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Weights from Long Island
Alex Vargas 139.4 vs. Julio Rosa 138.2
Wendy Toussaint 153.4 vs. Jermone Jones 152
Erick Perez 129.2 vs. Keslaire Exavier 128.8
Louis Maietta 170 vs. Frank Monaco 169.4
Dominic Breen 131.4 vs. Joe Elzey 128
Emmanuel Etienne 184.2 vs. Oluwale Bamgbose 183.2
Venue: The Paramount, Huntington, New York
Promoter: Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing
TV: Swerve.tv
Alex Vargas 139.4 vs. Julio Rosa 138.2 Wendy Toussaint 153.4 vs. Jermone Jones 152 Erick Perez 129.2 vs. Keslaire Exavier 128.8 Louis Maietta 170 vs. Frank Monaco 169.4 Dominic Breen…
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Foster, Hernandez make weight
O’Shaquie Foster 130 vs. Rocky Hernandez 130
(WBC super featherweight title)
Justis Huni 237.2 vs. Andrew Tabiti 221.2
Venue: Poliforum Benito Juarez, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN
Fury-Ngannou weights
Tyson Fury 277.7 vs. Francis Ngannou 272.1
Fabio Wardley 241 vs. David Adeleye 232
Joseph Parker 250.1 vs. Simon Kean 255.1
Arslanbek Makhmudov 260 vs. Junior Anthony Wright 229.5
Moses Itauma 236.1 vs. Istvan Bernath 257.1
Martin Bakole 299.4 vs. Carlos Takam 257
Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Promoter: Top Rank, Queensberry
TV: PPV
Tyson Fury 277.7 vs. Francis Ngannou 272.1 Fabio Wardley 241 vs. David Adeleye 232 Joseph Parker 250.1 vs. Simon Kean 255.1 Arslanbek Makhmudov 260 vs. Junior Anthony Wright 229.5 Moses…
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Fury-Ngannou Odds
These boxing matches between boxers and MMA fighters will likely continue to be one-sided – and people will likely keep ordering the PPVs. And with viewership come wagers. So with no further ado, here are some props for Saturday’s fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou courtesy of BetOnline.ag.
Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury
Francis Ngannou +700 (7/1)
Tyson Fury -1250 (2/25)
Note: These odds equate to a 92.6% chance of Fury winning.
These boxing matches between boxers and MMA fighters will likely continue to be one-sided – and people will likely keep ordering the PPVs. And with viewership come wagers. So with…
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Fight Club OC results
By Evan Jacobs
Englebrecht Promotions & Events returned to the Hangar at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA for their fifth sell out show of 2023. Fight Club OC put on a 7 bout card that featured a clash for the Tequila Mandala “Young Champions” super welterweight belt as Jesse “Lobito”Gonzalez 7-1-1 (2KOs) took on outgunned Josias Gonzalez 2-2.
Lobito Gonzalez was quicker on the draw in round one, simply being just a step ahead of his opponent in the first stanza. The fight continued this way, with each round being a virtual carbon copy of the next. With the crowd cheering him on, Lobito Gonzalez went on to pound out a majority, 6th round decision over his game foe and take home the coveted Tequila Mandala strap.
Jordan Panthen 6-0 (5KOs) went the distance for the first time against the highly capable Cameron Krael 20-30-3 (7KOs). Panthen jumped on Krael and stalked him for the majority of the fight. However, Krael used his experience and ring IQ to remain competitive and give Panthen fits. Ultimately, Panthen’s consistent, Canelo-like pressure earned him a well-deserved 8 round decision. He was bound to go the distance at some point, and this bout will help him in the long run. Continue reading “Fight Club OC results”
By Evan Jacobs Englebrecht Promotions & Events returned to the Hangar at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA for their fifth sell out show of 2023.…
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Fury: I will knock him out
Tyson Fury: “How do I prepare for a guy like this? It’s pretty difficult, but in America, we say a statement like this, ‘I’m gonna knock a motherf***er out!’ And that’s how we do it. I’ve been working with SugarHill {Steward} to knock him out cold on Saturday night, and I have no doubt in my mind that I will knock him out…he’s a big, strong guy. Obviously, he’s got a good punch. But so am I. I’m a big, strong guy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the world heavyweight champion. But I believe there’s levels to the game. And he’s going to find out my level on Saturday night.”
Francis Ngannou: “This is a dream come true. And I remember four years ago, when I first met Mike Tyson, my only request was for him to be in my corner if I fight Tyson Fury. People thought I was losing it. They thought I was crazy. They thought it would never happen. But here we are…we got Mike Tyson in, and the first thing he said that stuck in my mind is when he said, ‘Listen, he has two hands and two feet like you.’ And I got that. And that’s enough for Saturday night. Tyson Fury is definitely the best in boxing, but that’s stopping on Saturday night.”
Tyson Fury: “How do I prepare for a guy like this? It’s pretty difficult, but in America, we say a statement like this, ‘I’m gonna knock a motherf***er out!’ And…
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Foster: You’ve only seen 50% of me
O’Shaquie Foster is ready to make the first defense of his WBC super featherweight title against Rocky Hernandez on Saturday night in Cancun, Mexico, live worldwide on DAZN – and the champion believes he will display his full arsenal on the night as he sent a chilling KO message to IBF ruler Joe Cordina.
Foster (20-2 11 KOs) landed the vacant title by widely outpointing another Mexican, Rey Vargas, in San Antonio in February, and in facing mandatory challenger Hernandez (34-1 31 KOs) on Saturday night, ‘Ice Water’ will fight twice in a calendar year for the first time since 2019.
The 30-year-old champion respects the task in front of him in the form of traveling to the backyard of the Mexican KO machine, but Foster says that those tasks are the ones that will get the best of him as he plans to breakout in style and move closer to the unification bout he craves with Cordina, who defends his title next weekend in Monaco against Edward Vazquez, live on DAZN. Continue reading “Foster: You’ve only seen 50% of me”
O’Shaquie Foster is ready to make the first defense of his WBC super featherweight title against Rocky Hernandez on Saturday night in Cancun, Mexico, live worldwide on DAZN – and…
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Weights from Nicaragua
By Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox Communications
WBO interim jr flyweight title between #4 ranked contender Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (11-3, 8 KOs) against the undefeated #15 Kevin Vivas (7-0, 2 KOs) at the famed Alexis Arguello Arena in Managua, Nicaragua over 12 rounds. ESPN+ will televise in the U.S.
Kevin Vivas 107.4 vs. Rene Santiago 107.6
(WBO Interim jr. flyweight title)
Harvin Aguirre 146.4 vs. Isreal Lopez 146.4
Eveling Ortega vs. 107.6 vs. Silvia Duran 110
Geraldo Sanchez 107.4 vs. Eduardo Ajito 106.6
Alex Vallecillo 120 vs. Cristian Jimenez 121.6
Michael Carmona 104.6 vs. Miguel Torcero 107.8
Venue: Alexis Arguello Arena in Managua, Nicaragua
Promoter: All Star Boxing, Inc.
TV: ESPN+
By Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox Communications WBO interim jr flyweight title between #4 ranked contender Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (11-3, 8 KOs) against the undefeated #15 Kevin Vivas (7-0, 2…
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Foster-Hernandez Final Press Conference
WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster and Rocky Hernandez faced off at the final press conference for the Matchroom Boxing card taking place on Saturday in Cancun, Mexico. DAZN will televise.
O’Shaquie Foster: “They say they have been calling for this fight, it kind of sounds crazy because we could have fought in the summertime, he fought Hector Garcia because he wanted a tune-up fight instead of coming for the world title. I hadn’t fought for a year when I went into the world title fight with Vargas, no excuses. They have nothing but excuses and those that know the background know that they have been running from me.”
Rocky Hernandez: “On Saturday you are going to see a new world champion, and that’s me. I don’t know why he is saying I was scared to fight him; I’m not scared of anyone, and it is his fault that the fight went to purse bids. I’m bringing the war on Saturday, and I hope he is ready for it because I am taking that title home and will show exactly who Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez is.
WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster and Rocky Hernandez faced off at the final press conference for the Matchroom Boxing card taking place on Saturday in Cancun, Mexico. DAZN will…
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Weights from Orlando
Amanda Serrano 125.7 vs. Danila Ramos 124.6
(WBA, IBF, WBO female featherweight title)
Antonio Vargas 117.6 vs. Hernan Marquez 117.5
Damian Lescaille 147.6 vs. Ray Barlow 145.7
Venue: Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Most Valuable Promotions
TV: DAZN
Amanda Serrano 125.7 vs. Danila Ramos 124.6 (WBA, IBF, WBO female featherweight title) Antonio Vargas 117.6 vs. Hernan Marquez 117.5 Damian Lescaille 147.6 vs. Ray Barlow 145.7 Venue: Caribe Royale…
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Fury-Ngannou Final Press Conference
Foster-Hernandez Face Off
WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster and Rocky Hernandez face off for the first time on the beach in Cancun, Mexico. The two will meet in the main event of the Matchroom boxing card on Saturday in Cancun.
WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster and Rocky Hernandez face off for the first time on the beach in Cancun, Mexico. The two will meet in the main event of…
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Fury: Ngannou is a big, fat sausage
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, MMA star Francis Ngannou, and undercard combatants hosted their public workouts today ahead of Saturday’s PPV at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury: “I showed the best version of me, and if he can deal with that, best of luck to him. I was in there floating like a butterfly. Nineteen stone, can you believe that? And 6-foot-9. And moving like that! That’s shocking. It’s not fair, really! It’s happening. He’s the bull, I’m the matador! 99.999 percent of the time, the matador wins! Francis Ngannou is a big, fat sausage. That’s why he won’t take his top off. He’s embarrassed of his body. If it was up to Francis, he’d fight with his t-shirt on. Facts!”
Francis Ngannou: “To be honest, I haven’t gotten any respect from the boxing community, so I am not expecting anybody to respect me. I think I need to claim my own respect…anything is possible. It’s possible. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. In fact, see how we are talking about Tyson Fury? Who would’ve believed that a couple years ago?”
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, MMA star Francis Ngannou, and undercard combatants hosted their public workouts today ahead of Saturday’s PPV at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi…
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Kingry-Duarte Kickoff Press Conference
“King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) and knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) of Parral, Mexico hosted a press conference today ahead of their 12-round, super lightweight collision. The fight will take place at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on December 2 and broadcasted worldwide on DAZN.
Ryan Garcia: At this new weight I feel more confident, just stronger and just more aware…if I expect to become a champion, I can’t take easy fights and think that’s going get me there. So, I knew that Oscar was a challenge. He’s fast. He’s strong. He’s got good timing. So it just made sense for me, you know, this fight, to show what I could do to prepare me for the bigger fights.”
Oscar Duarte: “Come December 2, I’m going to win and I’m going to be the next idol in Mexican boxing with the preparation that I am doing. I have a big rival in front of me, I have an incredible team behind me. They are my strength, and I am ready for the big challenges ahead of me. This is my best moment for me not only physically but mentally too.”
“King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) and knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) of Parral, Mexico hosted a press conference today ahead of their 12-round, super lightweight…
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Inoue aims to unify four belts in just two fights
By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
If successful, “Monster” Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs), Japan, will completely unify four belts in just two fights after moving up to the 122-pound category—within a year. WBC, WBO super bantam champion Inoue will collide with WBA, IBF counterpart Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) in Tokyo on December 26. It was announced on Wednesday by Hideyuki Ohashi of Ohashi Promotions, who emphasized the new chapter of the Monster legend. It will take place at the Ariake Arena (constructed for the previous Olympic Games here) the capacity of which is 15,000.
Naoya took four years, seven months to complete bantamweight unification of the four belts since he at first dethroned Jamie McDonnel via first round demolition in May 2018 until he collected the fourth belt from Paul Butler in December of the previous year. But Inoue, 30, quickly seized the two titles from WBC, WBO ruler Stephen Fulton in his first engagement this July after he outgrew the 118-pound category. In only five months the Monster may acquire the other two belts from the hard-punching Filipino southpaw Tapales, a year his senior at 31, if successful.
Inoue said at the press conference, “Fulton was a very skillful boxer, while Tapales is a crafty southpaw with good defensive ability based on his flexible body movement. He also can counterpunch with excellent timing. He seems very hungry for fame and fortune.” Sean Gibbons, the representative of MP Promotions on behalf of Tapales, said, “We know Inoue is an explosive puncher with full of confidence. Tapales, however, wishes to become the first Filipino boxer to unify four belts. Marlon is training in the US, but will come home in the Philippines this November to make himself fit and finally prepared.”
Again if successful, Inoue will follow the footsteps of Terrence Crawford who impressively accomplished his complete unification of the four major belts in a couple of weight divisions (super-light and welter categories). Asked how long he will stay in the 122-pound class, Naoya replied, “I may move up to the featherweight division in 2025. If possible, I’d like to fight three times next year—probably against Luis Nery, John Riel Casimero and Murodjon Akhmadaliev.”
Tapales is unbeaten here in Japan, having beaten Shohei Omori twice, won a technical decision over Hayato Kimura, but lost to Ryosuke Iwasa via eleventh round TKO with the vacant IBF interim belt at stake in New York in 2019. When in the teens, Marlon came to Japan to serve as a sparring partner for Kazuto Ioka, the current WBA 115-pound titleholder.
Boxing has passed the age of radio, television, cable TV and pay-per-view to have the industry bigger and bigger as time goes by. Now it is the age of internet, in another word, streaming. You can enjoy watching boxing bouts with your hand phone or PC from all over the world, which realistically produces gigantic money. Naoya Inoue, now a world famous phenomenon thanks to streaming or YouTube, is truly a special product of the internet age.
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By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda If successful, “Monster” Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs), Japan, will completely unify four belts in just two fights after moving up to the…
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