McDonnell still bantamweight champ

Bantamweight Jamie McDonnell is having second thoughts about giving up the World Boxing Association (WBA) regular bantamweight championship. It was announced earlier this week that McDonnell gave up the belt to go up a division. Now word is McDonnell is merely studying the possibility of going up a division, but it’s not a final decision. So he will retain the WBA bantamweight regular belt for now. McDonnell’s countryman Ryan Burnett holds both the WBA (unified) and IBF titles.

Bantamweight Jamie McDonnell is having second thoughts about giving up the World Boxing Association (WBA) regular bantamweight championship. It was announced earlier this week that McDonnell gave up the belt…
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Mundine returns January 17

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine returns to the ring on January 17 against former world title challenger Tommy Browne at the Star City Casino, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Mundine said after the Tommy Browne fight he will target Jeff Horn, Gennady Golovkin, Saul Canelo Alvarez and WBO middleweight champion Billy Saunders.

“I’ve got to win. Against Tommy Browne, against the next guy, I’ve just got to keep winning,” Mundine said. “They’re the big dogs, they know who I am, I’ve just got to keep winning and look impressive.” Continue reading “Mundine returns January 17”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing Former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine returns to the ring on January 17 against former world title challenger Tommy Browne at the…
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Boxing Odds (and Ends)

WBO jr lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko is a 3:1 betting favorite to defeat unbeaten rival Guillermo Rigondeaux in a very intriguing ESPN fight taking place Saturday in New York City.

Lomachenko’s 130lb arch-rival Orlando Salido is a 2:1 pick over Miguel “Mickey” Roman on HBO in Las Vegas.

IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby is 16:1 to beat Eduardo Ramirez and IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale is a 41:1 favorite to handle Caleb Truax in a world title twin bill in London, which will be streamed on Showtime’s Facebook page.

Heavyweight Luis Ortiz is “off the board” against Daniel Martz on Friday night on FS1

Former female boxing world champion Leatitia “Baby Girl” Robinson has been seen back in the gym and is said to be considering giving it another try.

Heavyweight Raphael Zumbano, from Brazil, is training in Las Vegas. Zumbano (39-16-1, 31 KOs) doesn’t currently have a manager or promoter and he’s looking for an opportunity.

Not only is Manny Pacquiao a senator, he has just become a full colonel in the Philippines Army. Pacman is also working on establishing a Manny Pacquiao International Boxing Academy in Beijing, China. And for boxing? He’s still calling out Jeff Horn, but wants the rematch to take place in the Philippines.

WBO jr lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko is a 3:1 betting favorite to defeat unbeaten rival Guillermo Rigondeaux in a very intriguing ESPN fight taking place Saturday in New York City.…
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Boxing back in Portland, Oregon

By Ricardo Ibarra

It’s been over twelve years since a pro boxing event has taken place in Portland, Oregon, but this Saturday former IBF Jr. lightweight world champion Steve “2 Pound” Forbes does his part to rekindle interest in the sport in his hometown, organizing the first of what is expected to be an ongoing series in the once busy fight town. Working under the promotional banner of 2 Pound Sports and Entertainment, Forbes and partner Christina Lunzman will stage a nine-bout pro-am card at the Jackson Armory, focused on showcasing regional professional and amateur fighters.

Topping the card will be Pacific Northwest cruiserweight prospect Marquice “Tree” Weston (11-1-1, 6 KOs) squaring off with Ohio’s Armando Ancona (8-6-2, 5 KOs) in a scheduled six round match-up. Originally, Weston was set to face Missouri’s Gary Tapusoa but after Tapusoa pulled out in early November, Ancona stepped up to fill the slot. Continue reading “Boxing back in Portland, Oregon”

By Ricardo Ibarra It’s been over twelve years since a pro boxing event has taken place in Portland, Oregon, but this Saturday former IBF Jr. lightweight world champion Steve “2…
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Ortega stops Herrera in Panama

By Héctor Villarreal

Former WBC Silver light flyweight champion, Panamanian Carlos “Arañita” Ortega, (13-5-2, 5 KOs) survived a knock down in round two to stop his countryman Amrit “Kung Fu” Herrera (10-2, 4 KOs) by KO at 2:23 in the second round on the main event of the Mall and Boxing Night card presented by G&V Entertainment at Los Andes Shopping Mall in Panama City, Panama.

By Héctor Villarreal Former WBC Silver light flyweight champion, Panamanian Carlos “Arañita” Ortega, (13-5-2, 5 KOs) survived a knock down in round two to stop his countryman Amrit “Kung Fu”…
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Salido Promises a Fight to Remember

By Miguel Maravilla

Four time world champion and two-division world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (44-13-13-4, 31 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico is set to headline this Saturday as takes on Miguel “Mikey” Roman (57-12, 31 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico in a ten-round super featherweight contest at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas live on HBO Boxing After Dark.

Photo: Zanfer

“December 9th, against Miguel Roman, I will give the fans another fight to remember,” Salido promised in an exclusive interview with FightNews. “This fight has the making of a war. It’s a competitive fight between Mexican warriors.”

Having trained for three months in his hometown of Ciudad Obregon with his longtime trainer Santos Moreno and newly added conditioning trainer Guillermo Heredia, Salido is well prepared to take on his fellow Mexican rival. Continue reading “Salido Promises a Fight to Remember”

By Miguel Maravilla Four time world champion and two-division world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (44-13-13-4, 31 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico is set to headline this Saturday as takes…
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Weights from Rhode Island

Listed below are weights for all the participants in Thursday night’s CES Boxing 2017 season finale at Twin River Casino. The official start time Thursday is 7 p.m. ET. Doors open at 6. The FIGHTNIGHT LIVE stream on Facebook begins at 8.

Khiary Gray 148 vs. Greg Jackson 148
Natasha Spence 145 vs. Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes 147
Anthony Marsella Jr. 137 vs. Oscar Eduardo Quezada 135
Jamaine Ortiz 134 vs. Derrick Murray 135
Kendrick Ball Jr. 163 vs. Alshamar Johnson 164
Michael Valentin 137 vs. Efren Nunez 133
Bobby Harris III 167 vs. Amadeu Cristiano 167
Jarel Pemberton 162 vs. Rene Nazare 165

Listed below are weights for all the participants in Thursday night’s CES Boxing 2017 season finale at Twin River Casino. The official start time Thursday is 7 p.m. ET. Doors…
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Lomachenko-Rigondeaux Fight Week Is On

Top-rated pound-for-pound fighters and Olympic legends Vasily “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko.and Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux looked sharo today during media workouts at the Mendez Boxing Gym in New York City. They will collide this Saturday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

This historic battle will mark the first time two-time Olympic gold medalists have fought each other professionally at the highest level.

Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs), of Ukraine, will be defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight world title against the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion and Cuban native Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs). The fight will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Top-rated pound-for-pound fighters and Olympic legends Vasily “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko.and Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux looked sharo today during media workouts at the Mendez Boxing Gym in New York City. They will…
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Fenech warns Horn not to lose edge

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech has warned WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn that WBO #10 Gary Corcoran is a dangerous opponent and he must stay focused. “Success can ruin a fighter pretty quickly,” Fenech told Grantlee Kieza of the Courier Mail. “It happened to me. You end up going to so many functions and doing appearances and book signings that you lose that edge that got you to number one in the first place. Against a dangerous opponent like Gary Corcoran you only need to be one per cent off your game for disaster to happen. Continue reading “Fenech warns Horn not to lose edge”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech has warned WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn that WBO #10 Gary Corcoran is a dangerous opponent and he…
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WBSS: Usyk-Briedis clash in Latvia Jan 27

The Ali Trophy semi-final bout in the cruiserweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series between WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) and WBC World Champion Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs) hits the Arena Riga, Latvia on January 27, 2018.

Aleksandr Usyk: “I do not care where I fight. In Riga, there will be 10.000 fans and that’s great. The fans should expect a beautiful and interesting battle between two world champions.”

Mairis Briedis: “I had a gut feeling that the World Boxing Super Series might return to Riga because of the incredible crowd at the Arena Riga in the quarter-final bout against Mike Perez…now it’s all about preparing for Usyk and put up a great show when January comes.”

The Ali Trophy semi-final bout in the cruiserweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series between WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) and WBC World Champion Mairis Briedis…
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Tete-Narvaes deal made, purse bid averted

UPDATE: Per Paco Valcárcel, Tete and Narvaez teams have come to an agreement, purse bid canceled. Tete-Narvaes probably will take place in London in early February 2018.

A WBO bantamweight title purse bid for a clash between current world champion Zolani Tete and #1 contender (and former two-division world champion) Omar Narvaes will be held on Friday in New York City. The minimum acceptable bid for the fight is $100,000. WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel will oversee the proceedings. Tete set a record for quickest KO when he defended his title against Siboniso Gonya three weeks ago. Total time of the bout was 11 seconds.

UPDATE: Per Paco Valcárcel, Tete and Narvaez teams have come to an agreement, purse bid canceled. Tete-Narvaes probably will take place in London in early February 2018. A WBO bantamweight…
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Klitschko, Morales, Wright in IBHOF

The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the members of the Class of 2018. Inductees include three Modern category boxers who all enter the Hall in their first year of eligibility; heavyweight champion “Dr. Ironfist” Vitali Klitschko, four-division world champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales and light middleweight champion Ronald “Winky” Wright. Non-participants and observers to be inducted include German promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl and broadcasters Steve Albert and Jim Gray.

Among those not making the cut this year were Ricky Hatton, Ivan Calderon, Darius Michalczewski, Nigel Benn and Donald Curry. Continue reading “Klitschko, Morales, Wright in IBHOF”

The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the members of the Class of 2018. Inductees include three Modern category boxers who all enter the Hall in their…
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New Date for Bellew-Haye Rematch

The much-anticipated rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye will take place on Saturday May 5 at The O2, London. Haye and Bellew were set to renew hostilities on December 17, however the fight was postponed after David Haye injured his bicep in a freak accident.

Tony Bellew commented “I’m pleased to get a new date in the diary and I look forward to giving boxing fans a great night on May 5. To be honest I was looking forward to a great victory in December and a relaxing family break over Xmas but my mind is still very much on this fight and I will punish him for that. Continue reading “New Date for Bellew-Haye Rematch”

The much-anticipated rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye will take place on Saturday May 5 at The O2, London. Haye and Bellew were set to renew hostilities on December…
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Gassiev-Dorticos set for Russia on Feb 3

World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight semi-final bout between IBF World Champion Murat Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) and WBA World Champion Yunier Dorticos (22-0, 21 KOs) will take place at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia on February 3, 2018.

Murat Gassiev: Dorticos is a very good dangerous fighter. It is going to be great to test my skills against an opponent like him. I am confident we will deliver great boxing for fans around the world.

Yunier Dorticos: I believe I am the best in the world and the future winner of the Muhammad Ali Trophy. I can’t wait to show Gassiev and the fans in Russia and all over the world what ‘The KO Doctor’ is about!

The cruiserweight final of the World Boxing Super Series will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in May 2018.

World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight semi-final bout between IBF World Champion Murat Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) and WBA World Champion Yunier Dorticos (22-0, 21 KOs) will take place at the…
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Barry: We are close to reaching an agreement

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker’s proposed unification bout with WBA, IBF champion Anthony Joshua looks closer to happening according to Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry, who told RadioLIVE’s Sunday Sport fans can expect an official announcement in the next 7-10 days.

“We are very close to reaching an agreement and, like I said, we have made several concessions, because we want this fight,” Barry said. “We want Joseph’s body in the right shape to enter our biggest-ever training camp. Hopefully, in the next week to 10 days, we will be able to say it’s Anthony Joshua!”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker’s proposed unification bout with WBA, IBF champion Anthony Joshua looks closer to happening according to Parker’s trainer Kevin…
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Horn: Bob Arum should not underestimate me

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn is confident he will defeat WBO mandatory contender Terrence Crawford in 2018 and has warned Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum to not underestimate him.

“Bob Arum wants to keep my world title in his control,” Horn said to Courier Mail. “He wants one of his fighters to hold on to that belt. He’s got a two-fight deal with me, so Terence Crawford would be my last one. It depends if we are going to renegotiate a contract or whether he wants Terence to win because of their long-term deal. Continue reading “Horn: Bob Arum should not underestimate me”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn is confident he will defeat WBO mandatory contender Terrence Crawford in 2018 and has warned Hall of Fame…
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Nemushungwa upsets Studdard

By Ron Jackson

Heading the “Christmas Cracker” tournament, in what was considered an upset, bantamweight Rofhiwa Nemushungwa beat Joshua Studdard on a ten round split decision at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Monday night.

Two judges scored in favour of Nemushungwa whilst the third judge had a questionable card in favour of Studdard. Continue reading “Nemushungwa upsets Studdard”

By Ron Jackson Heading the “Christmas Cracker” tournament, in what was considered an upset, bantamweight Rofhiwa Nemushungwa beat Joshua Studdard on a ten round split decision at Emperors Palace near…
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Akkawy Returns Friday

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian super middleweight Bilal Akkawy (15-0-0) will clash with Rogerio Damasco (16-7-1) over eight rounds on Friday at Club Punchbowl, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Promoter Paul Nasari said, “Bilal Akkawy has been impressive in sparring sessions which I witnessed last week with former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine who is also in good shape for his scheduled contest in January. Bilal was in the WBA world ratings in 2016 after defeating world class Kerry Hope of Wales in what was regarded as one of the best fights in Australia that year. Continue reading “Akkawy Returns Friday”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing Australian super middleweight Bilal Akkawy (15-0-0) will clash with Rogerio Damasco (16-7-1) over eight rounds on Friday at Club Punchbowl, Sydney, NSW, Australia.…
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Cotto to undergo surgery on bicep injury

Ring legend Miguel Cotto fought the second half of Saturday night’s loss to Sadam Ali in intense pain due to a torn left bicep. The future Hall of Famer arrived back in Puerto Rico on Monday and is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the injured arm later this week. He is expected to make a full recovery. Cotto didn’t attend the post-fight press conference and went directly to the hospital for a medical evaluation of the injury. He did confirm after the bout that this indeed was his last fight.

Ring legend Miguel Cotto fought the second half of Saturday night’s loss to Sadam Ali in intense pain due to a torn left bicep. The future Hall of Famer arrived…
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McDonnell vacates WBA bantamweight title

The World Boxing Association (WBA) regular bantamweight championship is now vacant as Jamie McDonnell gave up the belt to go up a division. McDonnell owned the belt at 118-pounds since 2014, when he beat Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat and since then he made 6 defenses. Thus, the WBA’s bantamweight rankings now have only one champion, McDonnell’s countryman Ryan Burnett, who holds both the WBA (unified) and IBF titles.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) regular bantamweight championship is now vacant as Jamie McDonnell gave up the belt to go up a division. McDonnell owned the belt at 118-pounds since…
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Luis Ortiz returns Friday on FS1

Top-rated heavyweight title contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz will take on Daniel “The Mountain” Martz in an added 10-round featured bout on Friday night’s FS1 boxing telecast at Hialeah Park in Miami, Florida. Ortiz-Martz replaces the Chad Dawson-Edwin Rodriguez light heavyweight bout on the card. The match was cancelled after Dawson suffered an injury in training camp.

Ortiz is returning to the ring one week after the World Boxing Council lifted a sanction that it had imposed against the Cuban heavyweight contender in October. Ortiz was pulled from a match against world champion Deontay Wilder scheduled for Nov. 4, after Ortiz failed a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association drug test. Last week the WBC ruled that Ortiz had failed to disclose two medications that he was taking, which triggered his positive test. He was fined $25,000 for failing to make the disclosure, and re-instated into the organization’s rankings. Continue reading “Luis Ortiz returns Friday on FS1”

Top-rated heavyweight title contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz will take on Daniel “The Mountain” Martz in an added 10-round featured bout on Friday night’s FS1 boxing telecast at Hialeah Park…
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The 12th Round: The Abuse of Power

By Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son

The abuse of power has once again hit our sport in a dramatic way, as Orlando Salido and Micky Roman will be prevented of accomplishing their dream of winning the WBC title due to a decision taken by a man sitting on a desk mandating terms of their bout.

HBO has mandated their fight to be only for 10 rounds.

The promoters have no say in the matter, and simply take the orders from the Power force of the sport, the TV Network. Tom Loeffler, Fernando Beltran, and Oswaldo Kuchle simply have to bow down and remain quiet and accept to go against the essence of our sport. I wonder how will they look into the eyes of their fighters to explain that they will not be competing for the WBC green belt, that their fight is a simple 10-round fight with no meaning whatsoever. It will be like watching a pre-season game of the NFL. Continue reading “The 12th Round: The Abuse of Power”

By Mauricio Sulaiman WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son The abuse of power has once again hit our sport in a dramatic way, as Orlando Salido and Micky Roman will…
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Akiyama upsets Tyson to win OPBF, WBO ASPAC 160lb belts

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

Unheralded underdog Yasuyuki Akiyama (12-7-1, 9 KOs), 158.75, impressively won the OPBF and vacant WBO Asia Pacific middleweight belts when he floored defending OPBF champ Tyson Koki (13-2, 11 KOs; AKA Koki Maebara), 160, three times to prompt the loser’s corner tossing in the towel at 1:46 of the fifth round in a scheduled twelve. Akiyama, recently traded from Yonekura Gym (which was closed due to the club owner Kenji Yonekura’s retirement) to Watanabe Gym, previously failed to win the OPBF throne from Akio Shibata via eighth round TKO loss in 2015, but his second crack at the belt resulted in a stunning upset.

OPBF bantam champ Mark John Yap (28-11, 14 KOs), 118, kept his belt by scoring a fine knockout over Seizo Kono (19-9-1, 12 KOs), 118, at 2:44 of the tenth round in a scheduled twelve. Continue reading “Akiyama upsets Tyson to win OPBF, WBO ASPAC 160lb belts”

By Joe Koizumi Photo by Boxing Beat Unheralded underdog Yasuyuki Akiyama (12-7-1, 9 KOs), 158.75, impressively won the OPBF and vacant WBO Asia Pacific middleweight belts when he floored defending…
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WBO#4 Arakawa defeats Filipino Aguelo

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBO#4 veteran southpaw lightweight Nihito Arakawa (31-6-1, 18 KOs), 137.75, pounded out a unanimous verdict (97-93 twice, 98-93) over durable Filipino Adonis Aguelo (28-17-2, 19 KOs), 138, over ten non-title frames on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Arakawa, a shaven skulled warrior, took the initiative with his faster combinations, but whenever he mixed it up, Aguelo furiously retaliated with persistent body shots to the Japanese lefty, who had to return to his original outboxing strategy. Aguelo displayed a better performance than expected, having Arakawa take a tough time in the close quarter.

Elongated JBC#8 super-welter Yuto Shimizu (12-3-2, 5 KOs) hit the canvas with an opening left hook from Indonesian Maxi Yeninar, but fought back hard with a vicious body shot to sink him for the count at 2:39 of the first round in a scheduled eight. photos

By Joe Koizumi Photos by Naoki Fukuda WBO#4 veteran southpaw lightweight Nihito Arakawa (31-6-1, 18 KOs), 137.75, pounded out a unanimous verdict (97-93 twice, 98-93) over durable Filipino Adonis Aguelo…
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Maruki sinks Indonesian champ Rangga

By Joe Koizumi

JBC#2 ranked super-welter Ryosuke Maruki (15-4-1, 10 KOs), 154, scored an eye-catching knockout over Indonesian welter champ Filipus Rangga (23-18, 13 KOs), 152.75, at 1:33 of the third round in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Kariya, Japan. The son of former world junior lightweight challenger Takao against Samuel Serrano previously failed to win the national belt from puzzling southpaw Yuki Nonaka in July of last year, but thus registered three victories in a row since. Ryosuke floored the Indonesian with a short left hook, and when it resumed, he swarmed over the damaged opponent with a flurry of punches and finally sank him for the count. Maruki demonstrated his improvement thanks to his father’s earnest coaching.

Heavyweight Kotatsu Takehara, 248, had a tough time coping with the hand speed of Korean Hoo-Won Lee, 200.75, but earned a unanimous nod (58-56 twice, 59-55) over six. Tall heavyweight southpaw Ryu Ueda, 221, halted Korean Sang-Ho Kim, 200.75, with a southpaw right hook at 2:00 of the second session of a scheduled six. Lightweight prospect Shogo Yamaguchi, 135, needed just 1:00 of the opening session to flatten Indonesian Sam Puadi, 132.75, in a scheduled eight. His left hook was a haymaker.

By Joe Koizumi JBC#2 ranked super-welter Ryosuke Maruki (15-4-1, 10 KOs), 154, scored an eye-catching knockout over Indonesian welter champ Filipus Rangga (23-18, 13 KOs), 152.75, at 1:33 of the…
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