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Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez commented on his successful debut as a cruiserweight on Saturday night at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“This is a new beginning for me,” said Ramirez. “I came back stronger, faster and I came forward. I was a lot smarter in the ring. I think it was a great performance for me. I don’t have anything to say except thank you, Joe Smith, I think he’s a great fighter and tough opponent. I wish him all the best. We had to take care of business in the ring. I felt like I was ahead on the cards. I never took any chances because he has heavy hands and brings a lot of heat to the ring.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former OPBF/WBO AP middleweight champ Kazuto Takesako (16-1-1, 15 KOs), 160, regained the vacant OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) belt by chalking up a fine TKO victory over Korean Woo-Hyun Ma (6-2, 3 KOs), 158.75, at 0:53 of the tenth round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Having suffered his first defeat at the hand of unbeaten world-rated Meiirim Nursultanov of Kazakhstan via eighth round stoppage in Korea this April, Takesako faced the Korean early starter who aggressively took the initiative, leading on the open scoring after the fourth: 39-37 twice, 38-38. Takesako, however, started his engine late from the fifth, dropping Ma three times in rounds five, six and eight. The 32-year-old game Japanese puncher finally caught up with the durable Korean, 27, and floored him with a fusillade of punches with the ref’s prompt intervention in the fatal tenth. Continue reading “Takesako stops Ma, wins vacant OPBF 160lb belt”

Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

Bryant Pappas’ Valid Boxing LLC put on an entertaining card at the Berkeley Recreation Center in Martinsburg, WV Saturday night. Seven pro and one amateur bouts thrilled the fans, with several Mountaineer boxers on the card. Kudos to matchmaer Brian Dillon as there were upsets, close calls and thrilling KOs, something to satisfy every boxing fan’s palate.

Super welter Christopher Trae “Lights Out” Stout, Frametown, WV, locked horns with Seattle, WA born Izaiah “Ice-T” Vargas in the main event. Continue reading “Results From Mayhem in Martinsburg, WV”

In a WBA cruiserweight eliminator, Zurdo Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision against Joe Smith Jr. (28-5, 22 KOs) from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Ramirez moved well and outboxed Smith over the first half of the fight. Smith rallied down the stretch, but it was too little, too late. Scores were 99-91 3x.

WBA #7, WBO #9 super middleweight Bek “The Bully” Melikuziev (13-1, 10 KOs) broke down and stopped 6’4 Alantez “SlyAza” Fox (28-5-1, 13 KOs) to retain his WBA Intercontinental title. Melikuziev, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, dropped Fox to a knee in round four and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:44.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) destroyed Alan Campa (18-9, 12 KOs) in the first round. Body shots finished Campa. Time was 2:58.

Unheralded super welterweight Jose Sanchez (14-3-1, 4 KOs) upset previously unbeaten Eric Tudor (9-1, 6 KOs) by eight round unanimous decision. Sanchez gave Tudor all he could handle to win 78-74, 77-75, 77-75.

IBF #1 super middleweight William Scull (21-0, 9 KOs) shut out Cristian Fabian Rios (23-19-3, 7 KOs) over six one-sided rounds on Saturday night at the Stadthalle in Falkensee, Germany (a suburb of Berlin). Scores 60-53 3x. Scull is staying sharp while he waits for his mandatory shot against undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.

Other Results:
Haro Matevosyan W12 Mirko Natalizi (super welterweight)
Dusan Veletic TKO7 Erik Pfeifer (heavyweight)
Thomas Piccirillo W12 Marten Arsumanjan

IBO super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias (9-0, 8 KOs) knocked out previously unbeaten Artur Reis (11-1, 8 KOs) in the fourth round on Saturday night at the Maritim Hotel in Magdeburg, Germany. After dropping Reis in round one, Iglesias upped the pressure in round four and started teeing off. A left hook crumpled Reis to end it.

Other Results:
Roman Fress TKO3 Milosav Savic (cruiserweight)

In an all-British world title clash, WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) knocked out former two-time IBF champ Josh Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs) in round seven on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. Warrington had it going his way until round seven when Wood connected with a right hook that staggered Warrington. A barrage of punches from Wood then dropped Warrington and left him unable to continue.

Two-time featherweight world title challenger Michael Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) returns to the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to take on former European and Commonwealth beltholder Jordan Gill (27-2-1, 8 KOs) on December 2, live worldwide on DAZN.

Conlan has linked up with trainer Pedro Diaz and will return at super featherweight. He has two straight KO losses in world title fights against Luis Alberto Lopez and Leigh Wood.

WBA female super welterweight champion Terri Harper (13-1-2, 6 KOs) and 42-year-old former undisputed welter champ Cecilia Braekhus (37-2-1, 9 KOs) battled to a ten round draw on Saturday night on the Wood-Warrington undercard at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. In a fight that never headed up, scores were 97-93 Harper, 95-95, 95-95. Harper retained her WBA belt and the WBO belt remained vacant.

Other Results:
Kieron Conway TKO6 Linus Udofia (middleweight)
Hopey Price TKO12 Connor Coghill (featherweight)

Australian featherweight sensation Dana “Deadly” Coolwell captured the WBA Oceania title on Saturday night with a systematic beat down of Angelo “Axe Boy” Beltran at Club Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Coolwell dominated his opponent, breaking him down systemically before stopping him with a brutal body assault. Beltran slumped to the canvas and was counted out by referee John Watson at 2:48 of round seven.

Beltran gave a willing account of himself, launching left hooks and right hands but Coolwell was too crafty, boxing behind a lethal jab and savage body attack. The win should catapult the now 12-2, 8 KO Coolwell into the world rankings. Continue reading “Coolwell destroys Beltran”

By Joe Koizumi

South African Lerato Dlamini (20-2, 11 KOs), 125.5, eked out a split decision (116-112 twice, 113-115 against him) over formerly two-division champ Tomoki Kameda (40-4, 22 KOs), 125.75, over twelve see-saw rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. It was ballyhooed as an IBF eliminator to decide the #2 mandatory contender, and it was such a competitive contest that both speedsters kept swapping fast jabs and combinations all the way. The tenth saw Dlamini hitting the deck, but it was ruled as a slip and was verified by a video replay afterward. Tomoki, three years his senior at 32, accelerated his attack down the stretch, but it might not be enough to overcome his early deficits on points.

Promoter: KWORLD3 (AKA Kameda) Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese southpaw, WBC interim minimum champ Yudai Shigeoka (8-0, 5 KOs), 105, scored a nearly shutout decision (119-109 twice, 117-111) over defending WBC full ruler Panya Pradabsri (40-2, 24 KOs), 105, from Thailand, over twelve fast-moving rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Historically it was the second achievement that brothers acquire world belts in the same category in the same promotion, following Charlo brothers in Las Vegas in May 2016.

Yudai, three years his senior at 25, dethroned the formidable titlist just an hour after his younger brother Ginjiro, 23, did the same to IBF titleholder Daniel Valladares. Yudai, from the start, dominated the contest with his aggressiveness despite Panya’s occasional retaliation. The open scoring system indicated Yudai leading after the fourth—all 39-37 and after eighth—all 79-73. Yudai maintained the pressure to the still game and gallant champ, winning almost every round. Panya, 32, failed to score his fifth defense of the WBC belt, but he showed his heart and durability against the fast-rising southpaw puncher. The referee was Steve St. German (Canada).

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese southpaw, IBF interim minimum champ Ginjiro Shigeoka (10-0-1NC, 8 KOs), 105, impressively halted IBF full titlist Daniel Valladares (27-4-1-1NC, 15 KOs), 105, at 2:15 of the fifth round to unify the IBF belts on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Ginjiro quickly decked Daniel with a southpaw left in the first round to take the initiative. Sweeping all rounds, the Japanese lefty, 23, badly shook up the Mexican, 29, again with a solid left and swarmed over him with a flurry of punches to prompt the referee Charlie Fitch (US) to declare a well-received halt.

All the judges had Ginjiro leading on points: identically 40-34. They had once exchanged gloves to a technical draw with Valladares unable to go on due to an accidental butt. In their anticipated rematch Ginjiro finally seized the unified belts with a fine TKO victory.

By Boxing Bob Newman

Marcos Suarez 140.6 vs. Wesley Rivers 139.6
Daniel Castro 169.8 vs. Raekwon Williams 165.6
Keynan Williams 184.8 vs. Taylor Bohrer 184.2
Emanuel Lee 122.4 vs. Kenneth Sabino 120
Christopher Trae Stout 154 vs. Isaiah Vargas 154.6
Kevin Spraggs 157.6 vs. Jeremy Melvin 155.4
Nick Papanicolas 137.4 vs. Vonshetha Miller (to weigh in late)
John Fox 285.5 vs. Hearl Collins 302.4 (Amateurs)

Commission: West Virginia Athletic Commission
Promoter: Bryant Pappas (Valid Boxing LLC)
Matchmaker: Brian Dillon
Venue: Berkeley Recreation Center
Doors Open: 5:30
First Bell: 6:30

ESPN+ has picked up the October 11 card taking place at the Casino de Montréal in Montreal, Canada. The card includes an interesting ten round super middleweight clash between unbeaten southpaw Erik Bazinyan (30-0, 21 KOs), rated #3 by the WBA, WBC, and IBF, and Ronald Ellis (18-3-2, 12 KOs). Bazinyan defends his NABF and NABA titles.

The main event is a rematch for the vacant IBF female junior middleweight title between Mary Spencer (7-1, 5 KOs) and Femke Hermans (16-4, 7 KOs) in a ten round rematch for the vacant IBF junior middleweight world title. Hermans beat Spencer via decision ten months ago.

Report/Photos: Sumio Yamada

Panya Predasbsri 104.75 vs. Yudai Shigeoka 105
(WBC strawweight title)

Daniel Valladares 104.75 vs. Ginjiro Shigeoka 105
(IBF minimumweight title)

Tomoki Kameda 125.75 vs. Lerato Dlamini 125.5
(IBF featherweight eliminator)

Venue: Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo
Promoter: Kameda Promotions

More Photos

Joe Smith Jr 191.8 vs. Zurdo Ramirez 191.6
(WBA cruiserweight eliminator)

Bektemir Melikuziev 167.6 vs. Alantez Fox 167.2 Ibs.
Darius Fulghum 170.2 vs. Alan Campa 168.8
Eric Tudor 153.4 vs. Jose Sanchez 153.8
Tristan Kalkreuth 199.2 vs. Aaron Casper 193
Daniel Luna 133.8 vs. Erick Benitez 134.2
Jahyae Brown 152.4 vs. Victor Toney 156.4

Venue: Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Promoter: Golden Boy, Star Boxing
TV: DAZN

Evelin Bermudez 106.6 vs. Kim Clavel 107.8
(WBO/IBF female junior welterweight titles)

Sebastien Bouchard 147.2 vs. Mazlum Arkeniz 146.8
Marie-Pier Houle 138.5 vs. Cindy Reyes Espinoza 140
Caroline Veyre 125 vs. Jessica Bellusci 125.2
Derek Pomerleau 159 vs. Michal Chludil 158

Note: Arturo Gatti Jr. will fight in an amateur bout on the undercard.

Venue: Place Bell in Laval, Canada.
Promoter: Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM)
TV: PPV ($29.99)

CBN Promotions (headed by former Thompson Boxing exec Alex Camponovo) has announced its second edition of “New Blood” taking place November 4 at Infinite Reality Studios in Long Beach, California, formerly known as Thunder Studios. Televised fights will broadcast live in Spanish on FOX Deportes, and the entire card will stream live on, www.FightStars.Network.

The eight-round main event will showcase welterweight Louie Lopez (14-2-1, 5 KOs) against Salvador Briceno (17-7, 11 KOs). Undefeated super welterweight Alejandro Luis Silva (20-0-1, 15 KOs) will face TBA in the eight round co-main event.

Undefeated Tim Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs), now elevated to full WBO junior middleweight champion, makes the first defense of his world title when he battles Brian Mendoza headlining action live on Showtime October 14 (Sunday, October 15 in Australia) from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.

Tim Tszyu: “There was no celebration, no nothing when Charlo stepped in the ring against Canelo and I became world champion. I’ll feel like a world champion once this fight with Mendoza is done. I want to earn it that way Brian and I are both in that top one percent of fighters in the world. He’s a style I haven’t faced before and I know he thrives on that underdog mentality. So, he of course has my respect. But he’s in there with someone that’s a different breed and it’s not going to end well for him. I promise to turn any remaining non-believers into believers. This is my time and my division now.”

Osleys Iglesias 168 vs. Artur Reis 167.8
(IBO super middleweight title)

Roman Fress 199.9 vs. Milosav Savic 196.2
Julian Vogel 153.2 vs. Milan Ganoska 152.1
Max Suske 167.1 vs. Aliaksandr Dzemka 169.1
Tom Laske 139.8 vs. Ondrej Toman 136.7
Ilias Mitaev 152.6 vs. Bazargur Jugder 148.2
Abdul Kader Kimba Issaka 175.5 vs. Tomas Podlac 181.9

Venue: Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany
Promoter: SES Boxing
TV: MDR (Germany)

Undefeated middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz, will face the most severe test of his career to date when he takes on former world title challenger Liam Williams at the Copper Box Arena on December2 live on TNT Sports. Sheeraz (18-0, 4 KOs), the WBC Silver champion, comes into the fight off the back of two quick stoppages over River Wilson-Bent and Dmytro Mytrofanov, who were both brutally dispatched in the second round. Williams (24-4-1, 19 KOs) returned to winning ways in November with a quick-fire victory over Nizar Trimech at York Hall after being on the wrong end of two 12 round points decisions against then middleweight world champion Demetrius Andrade and Chris Eubank jr.

Leigh Wood 125.7 vs. Josh Warrington 125.3
(WBA featherweight title)

Terri Harper 150.4 vs. Cecilia Braekhus 153.9
(WBA/WBO female super welterweight titles)

Koby Mcnamara 117.8 vs. Francisco Rodriguez 118.8
Cameron Vuong 137.4 vs. Engel Gomez 138.1
Nico Leivars 123.5 vs. Ryan Walker 123.1
Junaid Bostan 155.7 vs. Corey Mcculloch 154.9
Hopey Price 125.3 vs. Connor Coghill 125.4
Kieron Conway 159.6 vs. Linus Udofia 159.4

Venue: Utilita Arena, Sheffield, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

WBO #10 lightweight contender Miguel Madueno (30-1, 28 KOs) will come to Quebec on November 14 to challenge WBC #15 Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (36-7-2, 25 KOs) for his NABF title. The bout will take place at the Cabaret du Casino in Montreal. This will be a terrific fight.

Also in action will be middleweight Steven Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs), coming off a loss to Janibek Alimkhanuly in a world championship bout last May.

This Saturday (October 7) Danish boxing promoter Bettina Palle once again presents an edition of Danish Fight Night in the magnificent Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the main event former IBF world champion Sarah Mahfoud (13-1, 3 KOs) defends her WBC Silver featherweight title against former multiple world champion Marcela Eliana Acuña (53-9-2, 20 KO’s) of Argentina. This will be the third fight for Sarah Mahfoud since losing a points decision to now undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano in Manchester in September 2022. Continue reading “Danish Fight Night returns this Saturday”