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By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Newly crowned WBA middleweight champ Ryota Murata (13-1, 10 KOs), also 2012 Olympic gold medalist in London, will make his initial defense against Italian Emanuele Felice Blandamura (27-2, 5 KOs), former European titlist, in Yokohama, Japan, on April 15.

It was announced with both contestants in attendance today (Monday) in Tokyo by Teiken Promotions. Murata dethroned Frenchman Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam via a fine stoppage at the end of the seventh round in their grudge fight here last October. Blandamura, six years his senior at 38, was previously halted by Billy Joe Saunders with the European belt at stake in 2014, but recently acquired the vacant EBU 160-pound belt by a split duke over Matteo Signani in 2016 and kept it once against Alessandro Goddi in Italy last June. Murata said, “I’ll devote all myself to the first defense to concentrate on this fight.” Blandamura jubilantly said, “Today is the happiest day of my life. I’m happy to fight Murata for the world championship.” We may witness a full-house crowd at the Yokohama Arena. Photos

2016 Olympic bronze medalist and hometown hero Nico Hernandez (3-0, 2 KOs) has fully recovered from an injury that postponed his December 2nd fight to Saturday, February 10, versus Hungarian champion Jozsef “Little Red” Ajtai (19-9, 12 KOs) in the the eight-round main event for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas flyweight title, headlining the “KO Night Boxing: Gold & Glory” card, at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas. The action will be taped live for future airing on CBS Sports Network. Continue reading “Olympic medalist Nico Hernandez returns Feb 10”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker says he’ll smile at IBF, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua when he lands his best shots and Parker is still standing on March 31 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

“If he hits me in the chin and doesn’t hurt me then obviously I’ll smile and try my best to hit him back,” Parker exclusively told Sky Sports. “I think some fighters when they throw a punch and throw everything they have and it doesn’t affect the other person, it might crush them a bit. Continue reading “Parker: Joshua’s power will not be a problem”

The IBF/USBA is starting the new year with a new look and a formal name change. During a recent Board of Directors meeting, it was unanimously voted to drop “United States Boxing Association” (USBA) from its official moniker, which was the organization’s original name when it was founded in 1977.

In 1983, however, members of the then USBA voted to expand the organization and create an international division. The vote resulted in the formation of the United States Boxing Association-International (USBA-I). One year later, in 1984, a vote was passed to change the name to the one it has operated under until now. Continue reading “IBF makes official name change”

By Robert Coster

There are 10 foreign boxers pursuing their career in Japan. One such boxer adopted by Japanese fans is Dominican-born jr welterweight Vladimir Baez (24-3-1, 22 KOs), a hard-punching, lanky battler who settled in Japan in 2015.

Baez, signed up by Puma Toguchi Gym, has had five fights in Asia, winning four and losing one (in Thailand). He is unbeaten in Japanese rings and is getting ready to fight for the Japanese National title. A man with two nations, Baez is married to a Japanese woman and is the proud father of a little girl. Fightnews.com® interviewed Baez about how it is to live, train and fight in Japan. Continue reading “Vladimir Baez, a Foreign Boxer in Japan”

Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin (18-0, 12 KOs) is back in action on January 27 fighting on the undercard of the World Boxing Super Series semi-final between cruiserweight world champions Aleksandr Usyk and Mairis Briedis in Riga.

The undefeated 27 year-old returns to the ring for the first time since claiming the WBA Continental title against Gianluca Mandras in April, and will meet Bosnia And Herzegovina’s Srdan Govedarica (6-5, 5 KOs) over eight-rounds. Continue reading “Wallin fighting on Usyk-Briedis undercard”

Long time boxing promoter and Newport Beach resident Roy Englebrecht announced today that he will seek the District 4 council seat currently held by Kevin Muldoon in the November 2018 election. Continue reading “Boxing Promoter Enters Politics”

By Nick Giongco

Two weeks before his US debut, Jerwin Ancajas has applied the brakes on his high-octane training in Magallanes, Cavite in the Philippines. “We are starting to slow it down,” said Ancajas, who puts his International Boxing Federation super-flyweight title against Israel Gonzalez of Mexico on Feb. 3 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In fact, the focus is now on Ancajas’ weight as his handlers want him to be around 120 lbs by the time they fly to Los Angeles this Thursday.

The division limit is 115 lbs and Ancajas currently weighs 125 lbs. Continue reading “Ancajas slows down in training”

Hometown favorite Jayson Mama pummeled into submission Michael Camelion of Bukidnon via a technical knockout in the 9th round to capture the vacant WBO Oriental Youth flyweight title on Sunday night at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in General Santos City, Philippines. International referee Danrex Tapdasan stopped the fight in 1:43 of Round 9 after Camelion already had suffered too much punishment from Mama, who was connecting left-right combinations since the start of the title fight. Continue reading “Mama stops Camelion in nine”

By Terrell Groggins

Those following boxing already know that the heavyweight division is making a comeback, with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Unifying the heavyweight titles is clearly on the horizon which makes this an exciting time to be in this division, and for fighters with the right set of skills, technique and drive, championship belts may be ripe for the taking. More

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Former WBC featherweight champion Johnny Famechon, 72 years, had a statue erected in his honor on Sunday January 21st in Frankston, Victoria, Australia with with more than 1000 people including former world champions Azumah Nelson, Barry Michael and Sam Soliman in attendance at Ballam Park to witness the unveiling, which marks the 49-year anniversary of the boxing great defeating Cuba’s Jose Legra to win the world featherweight title in 1969. Continue reading “Statue in former WBC champ’s honor”

By Miguel Maravilla

Leo Santa Cruz’s Last Round Promotions kicked off the year hosting the first boxing card of the year in Southern California Friday night at Ontario’s California Education & Performing Arts Center as super featherweight Jerry Perez (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Oak Hills scores a huge knockout over Giovannie Gonzalez (3-1, 3 KOs) of Sacramento. Perez landed the right hand numerous times on Gonzalez and it dropped him in round two. A huge left hook by Perez did it as he knocked Gonzalez out at 2:04 of the third round Continue reading “Results from Ontario, California”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Veteran 36-year-old American residing in Japan, former OPBF 154-pound champ Charles Bellamy (27-3-2, 18 KOs), 146.5, returned to ring warfare after a one-year hiatus, and impressively displayed a single-punch stoppage of Thai #4 super-light Chairak Tor Silachai (10-2, 3 KOs), 146.5, at 1:10 of the second round in a scheduled eight on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Originally scheduled for a semi-windup contest, it eventually elevated to a main event since Ryo Akaho, world-rated Japanese bantam titleholder, became so suddenly sick that he was hospitalized by ambulance at night two days before. Akaho had been slated to defend his national belt against mandatory challenger Yusuke Suzuki, but this unfortunate incident will reportedly force him to renounce his belt to pave the way for Suzuki to fight for the vacant title against Suguru Muranaka. Continue reading “Ex-OPBF 154lb champ Bellamy returns, stops Chairak”

By Joe Koizumi

Newly crowned WBO minimumweight champ Ryuya Yamanaka (15-2, 4 KOs; not former WBC bantam ruler Shinsuke Yamanaka), Japan, will defend his belt against #4 Moises Calleros (28-7-1, 16 KOs), a Mexican puncher, in Kobe, Japan, on March 18. It was announced by Masato Yamashita of Shinsei Promotions last week.

Calleros failed to win the vacant WBO belt, losing a split verdict to Japanese southpaw Tetsuya Fukuhara in Japan last February. It was Yamanaka that fully utilized his footwork and outpunch Fukuhara in his first defense to earn a unanimous nod and capture the WBO championship. Continue reading “Yamanaka to defend WBO 105lb belt against Calleros”

By Matt Richardson

Robert Easter: “I’ve been calling out these champions for so long. I want these champions on top.”

Barry Hunter: “I thought we took too much damage early in the fight and we got too far behind. If he never fight another day in his life it’s OK by me.”

Lou DiBella: “Errol Spence has an argument as pound-for-pound. This kid is the highest level of talent. In the ring, he is a dangerous man. There’s a lot of things that reminds me of Ray Leonard. He’s the whole package…I’ve never seen a guy like him, who’s a champion as good as him, running around calling out everybody on earth.”

Derrick James: “He looked good. He fought a very tough guy. He was able to keep coming, keep pressuring and do what he gotta do to be successful.”

Errol Spence: “I’m not going to say I’m pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world but I’m definitely heading that way. I’m looking to come back in May or June. Looking for a homecoming in Dallas. But at least fighting three times this year…I’ve been telling people I can do it all.”

DiBella said it’s more likely that a Keith Thurman-Spence fight would occur down the line than a Spence-Terence Crawford bout. But, if the money is there, a Spence-Crawford is also possible, he said. “I have no doubt that Keith Thurman is going to fight Errol Spence,” DiBella said. “It’s going to happen. Relax.”

WBA #3, WBO #9 super bantamweight Emmanuel “El Vaquero” Navarrete (23-1, 20 KOs) showed why he is a serious contender with a spectacular second round knockout Glenn “The Rock” Porras (32-7, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Deportivo de los Trabajadores del Metro in Mexico City. Navarrette dropped Porras twice in round one and again in round two before the Mexico vs. Philippines-themed bout was halted. Time was 1:37. “We are ready for a title shot when Zanfer tells us,” said Navarrete.