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Inoue’s brother #9 Takuma to face #3 Yap in WBC 118lb eliminator; IBF 122lb champ Iwasa to meet #1 Doheny

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat, Joe Koizumi

Every week some promoters make public announcements of forthcoming big events here in Japan. Ohashi Promotions, presided by former WBC/WBA 105-pound champ Hideyuki Ohashi, had a press conference on Thursday to announce a WBC bantamweight eliminator to decide the #1 official challenger to the championship that is still vacant at this moment to be disputed by the leading available contenders soon.

Unbeaten prospect Takuya Inoue (11-0, 3 KOs), the younger brother of the WBA bantam ruler “Monster” Naoya, will cope with OPBF titleholder #3 Mark John Yap (29-12, 14 KOs), a Japan-based Filipino import residing in Osaka, in Tokyo, Japan, on September 11. Yap’s OBPF belt will not be on the line. Continue reading “Japan Update”

Zlaticanin suffered both a broken nose and a broken jaw

In a shocker, former WBC lightweight world champion “Dynamite” Dejan Zlaticanin (23-2, 16 KOs) was annihilated in two rounds by massive underdog Tijuana fighter Roberto “The Rifle” Ramirez (18-2-1, 13 KOs) on Thursday night at the Melrose Ballroom in New York City. Action-packed fight. Ramirez was rocked himself but dropped Zlaticanin twice to get the second round stoppage. To give you an idea of how big of an upset this is, Ladbrokes listed Zlaticanin as a 10,000:1 favorite.

In the main event, unbeaten welterweight Mikkel Les Pierre (20-0-1, 9 KOs) halted Gustavo Vittori (20-4-1, 11 KOs) in round seven.

By Joe Koizumi

Somebody up there doesn’t like the Japanese bantamweight championship bout, which hasn’t taken place since January—with three cancellations. The national 118-pound title bout for the vacant throne of former world challenger Suguru Muranaka and Yuta Saito was scheduled to be held today (Friday), but it was abruptly cancelled yesterday since Muranaka, who reportedly failed to make weight, was hospitalized probably due to dehydration.

Before mentioning Muranaka, we pay our attention to the Japanese bantamweight title go at first. On January 18, defending champ Ryo Akaho, who had often committed an overweight incident, was hospitalized because of dehydration a couple of days before the fight and his defense with the top contender Yusuke Suzuki was therefore called off with Akaho’s belt vacant. Continue reading “Muranaka hospitalized; Japan’s bantam title bout cancelled”

Isaac Zarate 122.7 vs. Ramiro Robles 121.7
Manuel Mendez 136.5 vs. Gilberto Espinoza 135.6
Saul Sanchez 118.7 vs. Leonardo Torres 118.8
Brandon Valdes 122 vs. Jose Fabian Naranjo 122.4
George Acosta 134.9 vs. Alberto Castillo 130.7
Anthony Chavez 124.9 vs. Josafath Vazquez 124.1

Venue: Doubletree Hotel
Promoter: Thompson Boxing
TV: Facebook

Undefeated Puerto Rican contender Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz has only one goal on his mind: become a world champion. During a press conference held on Thursday afternoon at ‘The Island of Enchantment’, Díaz guaranteed that on July 28 he will leave the Kissimmee Civic Center as world champion.

On that night, in front of the fans of the city called “Little Puerto Rico” in the state of Florida, Díaz will compete for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Lightweight title against Japan’s Masayuki Ito. In the co-feature, undefeated Dominican welterweight Carlos “Caballo Bronco” Adames will face Artemio Reyes of San Bernardino, California. Continue reading “Pitufo Diaz: I’ll be the best 130lber in the world”

Weights by Brad Snyder
Photos: Bob Ryder

Claressa Shields 159.6 vs. Hanna Gabriels 159.6
(WBA and IBF female middleweight titles)

Christina Hammer 159.4 vs. Tori Nelson 157.6
(WBC and WBO female middleweight titles)

Umar Salamov 174.4 vs. Brian Howard 174.4
Bakhtiyar Eyubov 146.6 vs. Nicholas Givhan 145.6
Aslamber Idigov 170.8 vs. James Ballard 171.6
Apti Davtaev 261.4 vs. Cory Phelps 246.2
Ja’Rico O’Quinn 116.2 vs. Yaqub Kareem 120.8
Leon Lawson 153 vs. Javier Frazier 155.8
Joseph Bonas 148.6 vs. Michael Klekotta 148.6

Venue: Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan
Promoter: Salita Promotions
TV: Showtime

Photos

Tension was set on high when WBC super featherweight champion Miguel “Alacrán” Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) and Jonathan Víctor “Barros” (41-5-1, 22 KOs) came face to face at the final press conference in advance of their world title clash on Saturday at the Poliórum Zamná in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico on the Casa del Boxeo, Azteca 7 in Mexico and ESPN+ in the United States.

Jonathan Barros: “I will defeat Berchelt on the patio of his own house. There will be no doubt who is the best in the ring. Starting Saturday, I will be known as Jonathan “The Executioner of Mexicans” Barros.”

Miguel Berchelt: ”It’s a good thing you come well prepared to give a great fight. I want to tell you that the title will stay at home. It will not go with you or anyone who comes to my house to take my belt. I will win for the people of Merida!”

Photos

Julian “El Niño Artillero” Yedras opened the doors for the Mexican Media on Wednesday, June 20th, exactly one month before his Boxeo Telemundo debut, to show off his great conditioning as he concludes the last 4 weeks of camp in the high altitude of Mexico City, Mexico. The media workout included a sparring session, pad work, double bag, and finished off with a few interviews for the press.

Yedras is very confident of dethroning current WBO/NABO flyweight titleholder Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (20-2 12KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico in his U.S debut and feels’s he has the international experience to do so. Continue reading “Yedra gears up for Bomba Gonzalez”

Rising hot welterweight contender Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (19-0, 13 KOs) of Boston, Mass. will return to the ring in a 10-round welterweight fight against rugged Panamanian warrior Alberto “Metralleta” Mosquera (25-3-2, 16 KOs) in the main event of the June 29 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at the Oasis Arena in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will air the fights.

In the co-main event, Francisco Horta (16-3-1, 10 KOs) of Cancun, Mexico will face David Reyes (17-4-1, 6 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico in an eight-round super bantamweight fight. Eduardo Nunez (10-0, 10 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico will battle Hiram Gallardo (6-2-1, 1 KO) of Chetumal, Mexico across six-rounds of 126-pound action in the televised opener.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten prospect Hironori Mishiro (6-0, 2 KOs), 130, impressively captured the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) super-featherweight belt as he kept jabbing the shorter but sturdy defending champ Carlo Magali (23-8-3, 11 KOs), 130, Philippines, all night to earn a close but well-received split verdict (115-113 twice for Mishiro, 113-115 for Magali) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “Mishiro wins OPBF 130lb belt from Magali”

A good argument for spending $4.99 a month on ESPN+. On Saturday, the online streaming service will present a full day of boxing with a pair of broadcasts from two continents.

From the O2 Arena in London, Martin Murray will face off against Roberto Garcia in the main event for the WBC Silver middleweight title. Also appearing on the broadcast will be undefeated heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois (7-0, 7 KOs) against Tom Little for the vacant British title, unbeaten light heavyweight Anthony Yarde (15-0, 14 KOs) versus Dariusz Sek (27-3-3, 9 KOs) for the WBO Intercontinental light heavyweight title, and 140-pound contender Ohara Davies (17-1, 13 KOs) will challenge WBC International super lightweight champion Paul Kamanga (21-1, 12 KOs). The broadcast will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the Murray-Garcia bout expected to air shortly after 5:30 p.m. ET.

Then, at 11 p.m. ET, from Poliforum Zamna in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) will make the third defense of his title against Jonathan Barros (41-5-1, 22 KOs).

Undefeated world-ranked lightweight contender “Ferocious” George Kambosos Jr. (14-0, 8 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will return to battle in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday, July 15 (Sat. July 14 in the United States) in a 10-round clash against JR “Star Boy” Magboo (17-1-2, 8 KOs), of Batangas, Philippines, it was announced today by DiBella Entertainment.

Kambosos vs. Magboo will take place at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the undercard of the WBA welterweight world title bout between boxing legend and challenger Manny Pacquiao and champion Lucas Matthysse.

“I’m thrilled and very excited to get back in the ring on Manny Pacquiao’s undercard,” said the 25-year-old Kambosos. “Manny and I have had some excellent training sessions for this camp and I can’t wait to fight in Kuala Lumpur. I know that Magboo has lost only once, but I’ll be well prepared after training with Manny to be victorious.”

The public and media are invited to the Official Weigh-in for Salita Promotions’ “Shields vs. Gabriels” professional boxing event being held on Friday, June 22, at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.

The three main bouts will be nationally televised on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (10 p.m. ET/PT), which features two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and current Unified Women’s Super-Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields (5-0, 2 KOs) taking on unified 154-pound champion Hanna Gabriels for the vacant IBF and WBA Women’s Middleweight World Championships.

The weigh-in is open to everyone and will be held today, Thursday, June 21 in the Jack White Theater in the Masonic Temple. Fighters will be on the scales at 3:00 p.m.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBC #1 rated super featherweight Miguel “Micky” Román (59-12, 46 KOs) takes on unbeaten Venezuelan KO artist Michel Marcano (17-0-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday at the Fería de Juárez in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Roman will be Marcano’s first opponent with a winning record.

“There are many hours of work and preparation for a fight,” said Roman. “There are days in which you have to sacrifice a lot, but my single dream is to be world champion, the first from Ciudad Juarez, so every fight has a special value. Every fight is very important and this weekend I want to once again dedicate my fight to all my beautiful people of Ciudad Juarez. Everything I do is for them.”

By Brad Snyder

More quotes from Tuesday’s Shields-Gabriels press conference.

Claressa Shields:

[On the fight]  “I really hope Hanna has trained hard. Because it’s not going to be an easy task. And I really hope Christina Hammer has trained hard. Because in the future, it will not be an easy task for her. To beat me, you have to kill me. I am not going to go down.”

Hanna Gabriels:

[On if Shields has power] “We will see. We will see what her power is. If I feel that she could knock me down, I will be more careful. But if I feel like I can handle it, I will go all the way through. I think when you fight, you have to be smart. You have to adapt to the conditions that fight is presenting at that time.” Continue reading “Shields: To beat me, you have to kill me”

Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

The next chapter of Jose Ramirez’s career — this one as a world champion — will occur with a new voice in his corner. After a long and successful partnership with Freddie Roach, Ramirez (22-0, 16 KOs) hired Robert Garcia as his head trainer following his unanimous decision victory over Amir Imam on March 17 to win the vacant WBC super lightweight championship.

Ramirez, from Avenal, California, will make his first title defense on July 7 at the Save Mart Center in nearby Fresno against Danny O’Connor (30-3, 11 KOs).

Ramirez worked out for the media Wednesday at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. Continue reading “WBC Champ Ramirez now trained by Robert Garcia”

By Ron Jackson

Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions presents two top line bouts and three good matchups on the undercard at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night. In the main event, South African and WBC International welterweight champion Thulani Mbenge (13-0, 10 KOs) meets Diego Gabriel Chaves (26-3-1, 22 KOs) from Argentina in a clash for the vacant IBO welterweight belt. Mbenge is listed at #32 and Chaves at #28 in the latest IBO rankings.

In the main supporting bout, a ten round international cruiserweight fight, South Africa’s Thabiso Mchunu (18-4, 11 KOs) of Cato Ridge, KwaZulu/Natal takes on Ricards Bolotniks (11-4-1, 5 KOs) from Riga, Latvia. Continue reading “Two top line bouts at Emperors Palace”

WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel “Alacrán” Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) and Jonathan Victor Barros (41-5-1, 22 KOs) participated in a public workout Wednesday, leaving a great taste in the mouths of the press and fans. They fight Saturday at the Poliforum Zamna in Merida and televised on ESPN+ in the USA and Azteca 7 in Mexico.

Miguel Berchelt: “I feel very motivated to defend my championship in front of my people. We will provide a great fight. I will leave everything in the ring, but the belt stays home.”

Jonathan Victor Barros: I didn’t come from so far for sightseeing. I’ve come to become a world champion. I respect Berchelt. He’s had great fights, but he can’t cope with my style and my rhythm.”

Photos

Promoter Frank Warren today held the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s o2 Arena show topped by Roberto “Amenaza” Garcia’s WBC silver middleweight title defense against Martin Murray. ESPN+ will televise in the U.S.

Roberto Garcia:
“I have always been on the B side and built a career of pulling off upsets. This is something I’m used to and I am the last throwback fighter. We thought we had the Gennady Golovkin fight a couple months back, and it has been frustrating. I told Don King I wanted a big fight and I pleaded for a big fight and he got this overnight. I have a lot to fight for and I need this fight more than Martin. I go hard, as hard as I have to.”

Martin Murray: “When Billy Joe pulled out I thought I would’t fight, but getting a meaningful fight means a lot. I was gutted that Billy Joe pulled out, but never took my eyes off the ball. Garcia was calling for the fight on Twitter and he can bring that. He is the opposite of Billy Joe and I won’t have to go looking for him. It is about levels and I will show that on Saturday. Being so close before in world titles makes me more hungry and determined. As soon I feel I can’t offer anything to the sport I will gone.”

45-year-old former two-division world champion “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera and his 25-year-old pro-debuting son, A.J. Rivera will headline the August 17 Rivera Promotions Entertainment/Granite Chin Promotions show at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Rivera, fighting as a middleweight, will face Ryan “Dangerous” Davis (24-19, 9 KOs) in the eight-round main event. It will be Rivera’s first fight since 2011. A.J. will fight an opponent to be determined in a four-round welterweight match. Cruiserweight Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (8-0, 7 KOs) will also be on the card.

“I am boxing at 45 years old because of this great opportunity that has arisen for my son and I,” Jose explained. “Boxing on the same card with my son is going to be exciting and, even more so, because we will be a part of history! I am fortunate to be healthy, physically, and I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for not having any brain issues from my prior years of boxing. I’ve lost 20 pounds, so far, and need to lose 12 more to make the 160-pound weight class.”

Mikkel LesPierre 144.2 vs. Gustavo Vittori 146.6
Dejan Zlaticanin 135.4 vs. Roberto Ramirez 135.8
Jude Franklin 127.6 vs. Enrique Aguilar 130
Raquel Miller 159.8 vs. Szilvia Szabados 154.8
Jose Roman 149.6 vs. Marcus Beckford 151.4

Venue: Melrose Ballroom, Astoria, NY
Promoter: DiBella Entertainment
Stream: dbe1.com (PPV)

Photos: Bob Ryder

Unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields and unified 154-pound champion Hanna Gabriels met face to face during the final press conference in advance of their fight to decide the IBF and WBA Women’s Middleweight World Championships this Friday live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT).

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast features the #1 fighter at 168 pounds facing the #1 fighter at 154 pounds as they both attempt to become champions for the first time in the middleweight division. In the telecast co-feature unified women’s middleweight champion Christina Hammer defends her WBC and WBO titles in her U.S. debut against former world champion Tori Nelson. Also, light heavyweight prospects Umar Salamov and Brian Howard will meet in a 10-round matchup that will open the tripleheader from Masonic Temple in Detroit. Continue reading “Shields-Gabriels Final Press Conference”

By TMZSports.com

The heavyweight fight everyone wants to see — Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua — could happen in the next 6 months … says the man in charge of broadcasting the event. TMZ Sports spoke to Stephen Espinoza — Showtime’s president of sports and event programming — who tell us the “ball is rolling” on making the fight happen in 2018. “Things are moving. Discussions are happening,” Espinoza tells us.

Wilder and Joshua have been calling each other out publicly for the last year — with Wilder recently saying he’d even fly to England to fight Joshua on his home turf. Both guys seem down to fight — it’s just a matter of locking up a deal.

Espinoza tells us the fight would be massive — bigger than Canelo Alvarez vs. GGG — and only rivaled by Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis in 2002 and the super fights of the 1980s.

Fingers crossed he’s right!

Just a short distance from Manhattan, Astoria, Queens’ premier entertainment venue, Melrose Ballroom, is prepped and ready to shine this Thursday night, June 21, as it hosts DiBella Entertainment’s long-running and acclaimed Broadway Boxing series for the first time. In the 10-round welterweight headliner, undefeated Brooklyn fan favorite Mikkel Les Pierre (19-0-1, 8 KOs) takes on Gustavo Vittori (20-3-1, 11 KOs). Also, newly crowned WBA female super middleweight champion Alicia “The Empress” Napoleon (9-1, 5 KOs) battles former world title challenger Vashon “Lady V” Living (6-3, 1KO), and former WBC lightweight champion “Dynamite” Dejan Zlaticanin (23-1, 16 KOs) meets Roberto “The Rifle” Ramirez (17-2-1, 12 KOs). If you can’t make it to the Melrose Ballroom, there is also a PPV stream available.

By Brad Snyder
Photos: Bob Ryder

Claressa Shields’ Trainer, John David Jackson:

On where Shields’ development wise when he began training her and where she is at now:

“She had a great amateur background. All i do is come in and polish her up, to make her become a better professional fighter. I’m teaching her to go to the body more, to get those knockouts.”

On Shields’ new diet and how much influence he had on this:

“That’s all her. Most of the fighters I train I don’t worry about their weight. Most fighters will tell you, ‘I know my body.’ With Shields, she understands she needs to get her weight down. She is doing that. Doing it very well.” Continue reading “Shields/Gabriels Media Workout”