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Three showdowns featuring a rising prospect and two former title challengers will highlight the Showtime Boxing Countdown show this Saturday from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in National Harbor, Maryland.

Live action streamed on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and Facebook page will be topped by rising prospect Michael Angeletti (8-0, 7 KOs) against fellow unbeaten Jonathan Lopez (8-0-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight affair. The lineup will also see former title challenger Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-2-1, 18 KOs) against Sladan Janjanin (36-15, 26 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout, plus former title challenger Damien Vazquez (16-3-1, 9 KOs) against Jeronil Borres (12-8-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight showdown.

These fights precede a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader headlined by former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez against streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF bantamweight title.

The non-televised undercard lineup will feature former title challenger Jesse Hart (28-3, 22 KOs) facing Elio Trosch (15-10-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight clash.

The World Boxing Council has confirmed that a purse bid will be held tomorrow for the rights to organize the match between WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster (20-2, 11 KOs) and mandatory challenger Eduardo “Rocky” Hernández (34-1, 31 KOs), ranked #1. The proceeding will take place during the WBC weekly Tuesday press conference in Mexico City. Interested promoters can participate via Zoom.

Still no announcement for a new opponent for former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this Saturday. Original foe Dillian Whyte was ruled out due to an adverse finding for a banned substance. Matchroom is hoping to save the card, which also has three additonal heavyweight bouts including Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean, Derek Chisora vs. Gerald Washington, and Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong. The event will stream on DAZN if it happens.

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Unbeaten super welterweight ‘King’ Callum Walsh (7-0, 6 KOs) will now face ‘El Pitbull’ Juan Jose Velasco, (24-4-0, 15 KOs) in the scheduled ten-round main event on August 26 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, and broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass. The original opponent for Walsh, Livan Navarro, suffered a training injury and had to withdraw from the fight. Velascois coming off a split decision loss against Flavius Blea on May 5. Walsh’s WBC US silver belt will be on the line.

Tatsuyoshi, Kunimoto, Maeda victorious

By Joe Koizumi

Three shows took place at as many different arenas on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

Unbeaten Juiki Tatsuyoshi, the son of legendary three-time WBC bantam champ Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, made a return after two years and nine months, and impressively disposed of Taketo Yamahara, formerly a university amateur boxer, at 1:35 of the fourth round in a scheduled featherweight eight on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Juiki, now 14-0-1, 10 KOs, floored the less experienced Taketo with a vicious left hook in the opening session, and maintained the pressure at his disposal. His manager says Juiki will fight another in a 122-pound bout this year, and aim at the national belt next year, hopefully. Continue reading “JAPAN UPDATE”

By Joe Koizumi

Unheralded Filipino underdog Jake Amparo surprisingly dethroned WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight champ Goki Kobayashi, Japan, by a close but unanimous decision (114-112 twice, 117-109) over twelve heats on Saturday in Kobe, Japan.   The taller counterpuncher Amparo landed solid counters, dropped the champ Kobayashi twice in round one and seized his rhythm from then on.  WBO#4, WBC#5 previously unbeaten Kobayashi had to use four rounds before he regained his usual equilibrium, and he eventually couldn’t overcome the huge deficits on points despite his surge in middle rounds.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.

By Joe Koizumi

Japanese southpaw Yuko Kuroki unified the WBA and WBO female 102-pound belts when she eked out a hairline majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95) over Mexican Montserrat Alarcon over ten heats on Saturday in Kobe, Japan. WBA ruler Alarcon kept swinging roundhouse hooks to the midsection, while WBO champ Kuroki occasionally landed accurate overhand southpaw lefts over the onrushing Mexican. Kuroki scored with more effective lefts to the shorter but game Mexican from outside to take the initiative in later rounds. It’s a good fight.

In his fifth attempt to win the regional belt, 37-year-old veteran Toshimasa Ouchi finally acquired the vacant Japanese light-flyweight belt by turning the tables with an impressive come-from-behind stoppage of JBC#1 Rikito Shiba with a couple of knockdowns at 1:55 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.

Polar Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox (WooSox), hosted its first boxing event at home plate under the stars on Saturday night. In the main event, local light heavyweight Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (21-1-3, 12 KOs) sent the fans home happy, pitching an 80-72 3x shutout against Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-17-3, 16 KOs). Continue reading “Ball bounces Riojas. Bey still unbeaten”

By Jeff Zimmerman

“The Problem Child” Jake Paul held court after defeating MMA superstar Nate Diaz by unanimous decision on Saturday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

UFC and MMA superstar Nate Diaz spoke to the media after his UD loss to “The Problem Child” Jake Paul at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

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By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

“The Problem Child” Jake Paul (7-1, 4 KOs) defeated MMA superstar Nate Diaz (0-1) by unanimous decision in a bout fought at a 185lb catchweight in the main event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

The scores read 97-92, 98-91 twice.

In the opening round of this much anticipated showdown, Pual landed a left hook to head and right to body to put Diaz on the ropes. Diaz held on as his right eye began to redden.

Diaz found success in round two as he landed inside with left and right hooks. Paul countered with shots to the head and body. Diaz scores with a straight left to open round three as Paul came back and is started to find his mark.

In round four, both had their moments landing uppercuts and body shots. Diaz snapped Paul’s head back midway through the round after a small flurry of punches.

Paul landed a left hook to the temple and dropped Diaz in round five. Paul attacked Diaz and landed more shots and was clearly going for the KO, but Diaz stood his ground. Continue reading “Jake Paul defeats Nate Diaz”

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Undisputed featherweight champ Amanda Serrano (45-2-1, 30 KOs) battered the gritty Heather “The Heat” Hardy (24-3, 4 KOs) for ten rounds to win a unanimous decision and retain her titles at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX, as the co-main event to Paul-Diaz.

The multi-divisional world champ, Serrano, was on point all night with her stiff jab, left and right hooks to the head and body as Hardy had no answer. Serrano punished the game but outmatched Hardy all ten rounds. Hardy did all she could to counter and hung in the pocket to score her own shots to the head and body from time to time, but not enough to slow down the superior Serrano. Continue reading “Serrano defeats Hardy again”

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

In a boxing match between former MMA stars, super middleweight Chris Avila (4-1) fighting out of Stockton, CA, beat Jeremy Stephens (0-1-1) from Chula Vista, CA, over six rounds. The judges scored it 59-55 twice and 60-54 for a unanimous decision for Avila.

Stephens was the aggressor early, but it was Avila who was landing the cleaner blows. In the second round, Avila cracked Stephens with two overhand rights as he clearly found his range. Avila snapped the head back of Stephens in round three and was in control for the rest of the fight. Stephens kept pushing forward swinging for the fences but could not land the big shot to hurt Avila. In the sixth and final round, Avila ended the fight with big right hands and walked away with a convincing victory.

Avila is a teammate of Nate Diaz and is looking for bigger opportunities in boxing. He shared this before the fight.

“I’m going to see how far I can take it in the boxing ring. I’m going to try and fight the best guys that I can right now, the biggest names – boxers, MMA guys, UFC … I want everybody. So one fight at a time, and that’s what I’m coming with.”

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Rising lightweight sensation Ashton “H2O” Sylve (10-0, 9 KOs) out of Long Beach, CA and now residing in Las Vegas knocked out William Silva (30-5, 18 KOs) from Sao Paulo, Brazil with a vicious body shot in round four of the scheduled eight. Time of stoppage 2:59. “H20” also dropped Silva in the second round with a body shot.

The Jake Paul-promoted Sylve showed off his blazing speed in the opening round with double left hooks and switched from orthodox and southpaw throughout the fight. In round two, Silva found his mark with a left hook to the body as Silva hit the canvas and rolled over in obvious pain. Silva got to his feet before the round ended. Sylve teed off in round three and four with well-placed combinations to the head and body. Silva did his best to counter, but “H2O” was too quick. After a quick flurry upstairs, “H20” landed the final left hook to the body to end the fight.

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Super middleweight star Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (13-0, 11 KOs) out of Paterson, NJ battered the tough Olivia Curry (7-2, 2 KOs), from Chicago over ten rounds to win a unanimous decision. Continue reading “Paul-Diaz Undercard Results”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC#2, WBO#3 light flyweight Shogo Iwata scored a fine TKO victory over Filipino southpaw Jason Brillo at 1:28 of the sixth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Having failed to win the WBO 108-poound belt from Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez last November, Iwata had a tough time coping with the taller Filipino lefty but finally caught up with him, decking him twice.

Former WBO 105-pound champ Masataka Taniguchi unfortunately sustained a jaw fracture, endured the pain and struggled to earn a well-received majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95) over veteran Kenichi Horikawa over ten. Continue reading “WBC#2 Iwata halts Brillo, Taniguchi edges Horikawa”

Former heavyweight contender Robert Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs) had no problems dismissing previously unbeaten 41-year-old Mika Mielonen (6-1, 6 KOs) in round three on Saturday night at the Operastage Olavinlinna in Savonlinna, Finland. Afterward, Helenius, 39, stated “It feels great to box in Finland and I hope the next match is here as well!”

Official Statement: I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by VADA of adverse findings relating to me. I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it. I have also just seen that the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.

I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life. I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media.

I insisted on 24/7 VADA testing for this fight, as I have done voluntarily and at my own expense for all of my fights for many, many years.

This is not the first time that I have been reported as having an adverse finding for a substance which I have not taken, and as I did last time I will again prove that I am completely innocent.

In the meantime all I can do is express my extreme disappointment to boxing fans, who will miss out on what was sure to be a great event.

Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Matchroom, the Association of Boxing Commissions, and the British Boxing Board of Control that Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol. In light of this news, the fight will be cancelled, and a full investigation will be conducted.

Matchroom is looking for a new opponent for Joshua.

WBC #14, WBO #15 super bantamweight Elijah Pierce (18-2, 15 KOs) brutally knocked out IBF #14 Mike Plania (28-3, 15 KOs) in round three on Friday night at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. A lead left hand caught Plania on the chin and put him on his back unable to continue. Time was :53. Pierce won the inaugural WBC OTX title.

WBA #12, WBO #14 welterweight Derrieck “Pretty Boy” Cuevas (26-1-1, 18 KOs) defeated local fan favorite Alberto “Metralleta” Mosquera (28-6-2 16 KOs) by fourth round TKO on Friday night at the Coliseo de Combates in Panama City, Panama. Cuevas dropped Mosquera twice in round two and also cut Mosquera over his right eye. The bout was stopped due to the cut in round four even though Mosquera had fought his way back into the fight. Time was 2:36.

WBA #8 super middleweight Uwel Hernandez (16-1, 9 KOs) knocked out Rodolfo “Poroto” Juarez (21-9, 15 KOs) in round two with a vicious left to the body to claim the vacant WBA Gold Super Middleweight title. Time was 1:48.

In a high stakes clash between world ranked light flyweight contenders, WBC #9, WBO #12 Azael “Candellila” Villar (19-2-3, 15 KOs) and WBO #15 Gerardo “Cascabel” Zapata (14-1, 5 KOs) battled to a ten round draw. Scores were 96-94 Zapata, 96-94 Villar, 95-95, Promoter Tuto Zabala Jr had hinted at the possibility of the winner challenging WBO world champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez in his next defense this fall. Now what?

Super featherweight Jordan White (15-1, 11 KOs) annihilated previously undefeated Eridson Garcia (17-1, 11 KOs) in the first round on Friday night at the Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. An explosive counter left hook laid out Garcia. Time was 1:57.

Undefeated super welterweight Paul Kroll (10-0-2, 6 KOs) and Guido Schramm (16-1-2, 9 KOs) battled to an eight round draw. Scores were 77-75, 76-76 and 76-76.

In a clash between unbeaten featherweights, Julian Gonzalez (11-0-1, 9 KOs) outscored Johnny Spell (8-1, 4 KOs) over eight rounds. Scores were 78-74, 78-74, 79-73.

Jake Paul 185 vs. Nate Diaz 184.9

Amanda Serrano 124.6 vs. Heather Hardy 125.8
(undisputed female featherweight title)

Chris Avila 170.3 vs. Jeremy Stephens 167
Ashton Sylve 134.5 vs. William Silva 134.6
Shadasia Green 166.9 vs. Olivia Curry 166.7
Alan Sanchez 147 vs. Angel Beltran 144.4
Kevin Newman II 161.8 vs. Quilisto Madera 164.9
Noel Cavazos 148.6 vs. Jose Aguayo 149.4
Luciano Ramos 140 vs. Cee Jay Hamilton 136.9

Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Promoter: MVP Promotions
TV: PPV

Undefeated WBA #4, WBC #15 super middleweight Padraig McCrory (18-0, 9 KOs) pounded out a ten round unanimous decision over Steed Woodall (18-2-1, 11 KOs) on Friday night outdoors at Falls Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland. McCrory got credit for a knockdown when Woodall’s glove touched the canvas in round eight. Scores were 96-93, 96-93, 98-92.

In the co-feature, super lightweight Sean McComb (17-1, 5 KOs) outpointed Alejandro Moya (17-2, 10 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 97-93, 97-93, 99-92.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Strength & Conditioning Coach Larry Wade, who has worked with the likes of world champs Badou Jack, Caleb Plant & Shawn Porter, talks about working with former Disney star and social media guru Jake Paul for his upcoming fight versus Nate Diaz. Coach Wade expects a Jake knockout versus the MMA superstar this Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Super middleweight star Shadasia Green (12-0, 11 KOs), ranked #1 across the board by all four sanctioning bodies, and would like a crack at undisputed champ Savannah Marshall. first has to get by Olivia Curry (7-1, 2 KOs), who is on 5 fight winning streak, this Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Green talks Claressa Shields and her challenge to fight Keith “One Time” Thurman and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.

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