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Story by John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com

Former world champion Tevin Farmer bounced back from an extended layoff with a fluid and speedy unanimous decision over Avery Sparrow in the 10-round lightweight main event at the 2300 Arena. The entertaining, five-bout show was promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.

On Saturday night, all eyes were on Farmer after his three-and-one-half year career pause. Questions were aplenty regarding how Farmer, after such a lengthy respite, would perform against a tough opponent like fellow-Philadelphian Avery Sparrow. However, the former junior lightweight world champion displayed quick hands and feet, an energetic and elusive head, good stamina, and plenty of offense over the 10-round distance. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but given the layoff, it was impressive and suggested that Farmer is ready to return to the thick of either the 130 or 135-pound division. Sparrow, a tough assignment for any fighter, showed up and gave a good account of his ability. He pressed Farmer and landed his share of punches. However, Sparrow appeared in less-than-perfect condition, and this became a factor late in the fight. Continue reading “Farmer returns with win over Sparrow”

27-year-old former WBA super flyweight champion Joshua Franco has announced on social media that he is retiring from boxing. Franco (18-2-3, 8 KOs) lost his world title on the scale on Friday, then was defeated on Saturday by Kazuto Ioka.

Joshua Franco: I wanted to start off by saying thank you to everyone that has supported me in my career. I appreciate everyone for their continued support. I was able to live my childhood dream of becoming a world champion. I defended my title multiple times all over the world and always tried my best to represent San Antonio, TX proudly.

For the majority of my career, I have been going through a lot of mental problems that I was doing my best to control. I never talked about it publicly because I didn’t want anyone to think I ever made an excuse for anything or for anyone to look at me different. I battled through it as much as I could to still perform and give you guys some great fights. For anyone that battles through any type of mental health issues please know you are not alone. And you can’t let anything stop you from achieving your dreams Continue reading “Joshua Franco retires”

This past Friday at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA, super lightweights Jesus Saracho (13-1-1, 11 KOs) of Guanajuato, MX, and Tarik Zaina (12-0-1, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, MX, fought to a majority draw in Thompson Boxing’s Locked ‘N Loaded 10-round main event. Saracho, who was defending his WBO Latino title, lost his belt at the scale, giving Zaina a golden opportunity to capture his first belt. The title is now vacated. Continue reading “Late Results from California”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Previously four-division champ Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs), 114.75, Japan, acquired the WBA super flyweight belt when he defeated former titlist Joshua Franco (18-2-3-1NC, 8 KOs), 121.5, by a unanimous decision over twelve fast rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Franco had been stripped of his belt because of his failure to make weight, and Ioka thus won the belt despite a big weight difference by 6.75 pounds. The official tallies were as follows: Guillermo Perez Pineda (Panama) and Giuseppe Quartarone (Italy) both 116-112, and Pawel Kardyni (Poland) 115-113, all for the 34-year-old Japanese challenger. Referee was Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico).

Despite Ioka’s victory our impression on this title bout was in fact so complex and complicated that we couldn’t burst into pleasure or joy. We had a couple of very serious reasons. The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), just four days before the fight (June 21), abruptly announced that Ioka had tested positive for marijuana, not performance enhancer, for his first Franco bout last December, but the quantity was so small under the WADA standard level that it would go on as scheduled. What a mental shock Ioka took then and there! Continue reading “Full Report: Ioka defeats Franco”

By John Unland

Brandon Bea and his Wings Promotions presented a six bout card Saturday at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa. The main event was an eight rounder for the Iowa State super welterweight title between homegrown fighters Daijohn Gonzalez (8-3, 4 KOs) and Jason Phillips (3-5-2, 0 KOs). Continue reading “Results from Davenport, Iowa”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBC flyweight champ Daigo Higa (20-2-1, 18 KOs), 117.75, Japan, proved too powerful for WBA #3 super fly Sirichai Thaiyen (64-5, 24 KOs), 117.75, as he dropped the Thailander four times—twice in round two and each once in rounds three and four—finishing him for the count at 1:34 of the fourth session in a scheduled ten beneath the Ioka-Franco rematch on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Sirichai (AKA Yodmongkol CP Freshmart), who had failed to win the WBA 112-pound belt from Artem Dalakian via eighth round in Kiev in 2018, looked very fragile, often hitting the deck with Higa’s continual combinations upstairs and downstairs.

Having lost his WBC fly belt to Cristofer Rosales on a ninth round surrender in 2018 and also forfeited his WBO AP bantam title to puzzling lefty Ryosuke Nishida on points in 2021, Higa was said to get into a slump but this impressive victory over the highly ranked WBA contender Sirichai may open a way to win back a world belt in the near future.

Promoter: Shisei Promotions.

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By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBO AP feather champ Musashi Mori (14-1-1, 7 KOs), 129.75, participated in a grudge fight with Takuya Watanabe (39-12-2, 21 KOs), 130, defeated him this time by a unanimous decision (all 117-110) over twelve and seized the vacant OPBF 130-pound belt on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Having drawn with him by all 114-114 tallies last March, Mori, 23, a southpaw prospect and Kazuto Ioka’s stablemate, positively mixed it up from the outset, kept his lead on points with his aggressiveness despite Watanabe’s occasional retaliation and confirmed his victory with a significant knockdown in the final session. A southpaw left caught the 34-year-old veteran and sent him reeling to the canvas down the stretch. Continue reading “Mori beats Watanabe, wins vacant OPBF 130lb belt”

Unbeaten super welterweight Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas Jr. (11-0, 11 KOs), son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, was victorious when Andre “Thunder” Byrd (10-14-2, 1 KO) wasn’t allowed to continue after round three on Saturday night at the famed Cow Palace in the San Francisco suburb of Daly City.

Super featherweight Leonardo Alcala (22-5, 15 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over local favorite Andy “El Tiburon” Vences (23-5-2, 12 KOs). In round five, Vences was deducted a point for a shot to the back of the head. Alcala took five minutes to recover. Scores were 78-73, 78-73, 76-75.

Welterweight Evan “Yung Holy” Holyfield (11-1, 7 KOs), son of former world champion Evander Holyfield, edged Juan Meza Moreno (4-3, 3 KOs) over six rounds. Holyfield dropped Moreno in round five and that made the difference in a 57-56, 57-56, 57-56 unanimous decision.

WBO #4, IBF #4, WBA #6 super middleweight Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Jason “El Animal” Quigley (20-3, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Berlanga pressed the action and dropped Quigley in rounds three and five and twice in twelve. Quigley had his moments also, but Berlanga closed the show with a huge final round. Scores were 116-108, 116-108, 118-106. Berlanga, who opened his career with 16 straight first round KOs, went the distance for the fifth straight time.

In a war, heavyweight Joe Cusumano (22-4, 20 KOs) upset Adam “Babyface” Kownacki (20-4, 15 KOs) by eighth round TKO. Cusumano dropped Kownacki with a big right hand in round one. Cusumano swarmed over Kownacki in round two and seemingly punched himself out. After that, it became a battle of attrition. In round seven, both exchanged huge shots. Kownacki looked finished. Kownacki came out for round eight, but his corner threw in the towel after two minutes. Four straight losses for Kownacki.

More Results

WBC interim middleweight champion Carlos Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) halted former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (28-4-1, 16 KOs) in round nine on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis. Good fight. Adames pressed the action and mostly got the better of it before getting a referee’s stoppage in round nine. The Williams camp was not happy with the stoppage, which was arguably premature. Time was 2:45.

“I’m so thankful to everyone who came out here and gave me support today and all week,” said Adames. “We gave the fans a great fight and I accomplished my goal, which was walking out of here with the title.” Continue reading “Adames stops J-Rock in nine”

Undefeated IBF super flyweight champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez (16-0, 9 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Jade Bornea (18-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Martinez broke open the fight in round nine when he popped open Bornea’s earlobe. The bout was waved off at :29 of round eleven.

“I said before the fight that the tougher, stronger fighter was going to win and that was me,” said Martinez. Continue reading “Fernando Martinez retains IBF superfly title”

WBC #6 super welterweight Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over Luis “Cuba” Arias (20-4-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis. Lubin, returning from 14 months out of the ring, dropped Arias in round five. Arias stayed down until 9, then barely missed beating the count. Time was 2:11.

Unheralded light heavyweight Burley Brooks (7-2-1, 5 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over 39-year-old former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Golden” Truax (31-6-2, 19 KOs). Scores were 98-91, 96-93, 96-93. Brooks was deducted a point in round nine for repeatedly losing his mouthpiece, but still managed to get the win in the hometown of Truax.

Former IBF superfly champion Jerwin Ancajas (34-3-2, 23 KOs), now competing at super bantamweight, dominated Wilner Soto (22-13, 12 KOs) en route to a fifth round KO. Soto took a knee after taking a two hard bodyshots.

A super lightweight bout between Mickel Spencer (3-0, 2 KOs), the younger brother of super welterweight Joey Spencer, and Lyle McFarlane (2-1, 1 KO) ended in a no-decision after a head clash in round three.

Undefeated WBO #10 junior middleweight Slawa Spomer (18-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended his WBO Global title with an eighth round KO against Felice Moncelli (24-8-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night the Eisstadion in Spomer’s hometown of Heilbronn, Germany. Spomer dropped Moncelli in round seven and went right after him in round eight, blasting him to the canvas to end it at Time was :38.

Former WBA regular super middleweight champion Vincent Feigenbutz (36-3, 32 KOs), now competing at middleweight, knocked out Marcos Jesus Cornejo (19-8, 18 KOs) in round four. A left to the body finished Cornejo at 2:38. Feigenbutz has won five straight since losing to Caleb Plant in a 2020 IBF title fight.

By Joe Koizumi

Previously four-division champ Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs), 114.75, Japan, acquired the WBA super flyweight belt when he defeated former titlist Joshua Franco (18-2-3-1NC, 8 KOs), 121.5, US, by a unanimous decision (116-112 twice, 115-113) over twelve fast rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Franco had been stripped of his belt because of his failure to make weight, and Ioka thus won the belt despite a big weight difference of 6.75 pounds.

(More to come)

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn explains the high stakes for heavyweight Adam Kownacki in his ten-rounder against Joe Cusumano in the chief support to Saturday night’s Berlanga vs. Quigley main event at MSG Theater.

“If Kownacki loses this fight, his career is over,” said Hearn bluntly. “But if he wins well, he’s a big enough name to get a big fight. We will see. Cusumano is a big heavyweight, not an elite, and he thinks he won the lottery getting this fight because he’s convinced that Adam is finished, And they are convinced they will win. We will see.”

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Carlos Adames 159.6 vs. Julian Williams 159.2
(WBC interim middleweight title)

Fernando Martinez 114.6 vs. Jade Bornea 115
(IBF junior bantamweight title)

Erickson Lubin 156.6 vs. Luis Arias 155.8

Caleb Truax 174.8 vs. Burley Brooks 174
Jerwin Ancajas 121.8 vs. Wilner Soto 120.8
Mickel Spencer 141.4 vs. Lyle McFarlane 141.4

Venue: The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime, YouTube, Facebook

Three PPV undercard fights have been named for the big Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford showdown on July 29 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Lightweight contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) faces unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera (21-0, 7 KOs) in a 12-round WBC and WBA title eliminator in the co-main event, plus rising star Jesus “Mono” Ramos (20-0, 16 KOs) takes on Sergio Garcia (34-2, 14 KOs) in a 12-round WBC super welterweight title eliminator. Kicking off the pay-per-view, unbeaten rising heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan (4-0, 4 KOs) will duel the power-punching Viktor Faust (11-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round matchup.

“This pay-per-view lineup on July 29 is worthy of the mega-fight main event and will give fans high-stakes action leading up to the seismic showdown between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Isaac Cruz and Jesus Ramos Jr. are two rising stars who deliver fireworks every time they get in the ring, and they’ll be pushed to be at their best in tough matchups on Showtime PPV. Adding in an explosive heavyweight opener, and fans will want to make sure they get into their seats early at T-Mobile Arena.”

Edgar Berlanga 167.8 vs. Jason Quigley 167.6
(WBO NABO super middleweight title)

Adam Kownacki 251.8 vs. Joe Cusumano 238.2

Reshat Mati 140.6 vs. Dakota Linger 140.8
Yankiel Rivera 111.4 vs. Christian Robles 111.2
Khalil Coe 176.2 vs. Buneet Bisla 173.2
Pablo Valdez 154 vs. Demian Fernandez 154
Ofacio Falcon 134.8 vs. Pedro Vicente 133.6

Venue: Theater @ Madison Square Garden, NYC
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA super flyweight champion Joshua Franco has lost his belt on the scale since he couldn’t make the class limit of 115 pounds (52.1 kilogram) on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. He at first scaled in at 55.2 kilogram, 3.1 kg (some 6.8 pounds) over the limit. Given two hours for weight reduction, Franco, after one hour and fifty minutes, reduced only 200 gram, some half a pound, to his final weight of 55.0 kilogram (121.5 pounds by JBC). The challenger and former WBO ruler Kazuto Ioka has made weight at 52.0 kilogram (114.75 pounds by JBC) at his first trip to the scale. Their weight difference was no less than 3.0 kilogram (6.75 pounds by JBC), but the fight will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow.

Photos

By Przemek Garczarczyk

When Sugar Hill Steward worked with Charles Martin, he wanted to test Martin against the Polish brawler – Adam Kownacki. Martin fought Adam and lost. “I always admired Adam as a fighter, but I knew he had some things he needs to work on. When we started working together this year in Florida, almost 6 months now, I realized also how great an athlete he is. He will be all that on Saturday because he is having fun boxing again.” Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) fights Joe Cusaman (21-4, 19 KOs) on the undercard of Edgar Berlanga vs. Jason Quigley at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Canelo back with PBC

Canelo Alvarez has announced that he has a “done deal” with Premier Boxing Champions and will return in September. Reportedly Canelo inked a three-fight pact and will defend his undisputed super middleweight title on September 16, probably against WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo.

Edwards-Bam is signed

Promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that a flyweight unification clash between IBF champion Sunny Edwards and WBO champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is signed and will take place “in November or December on the West Coast in America.”

Clase y Talento, the Guadalajara-based promotional firm founded by Canelo Alvarez’s trainer Eddy Reynoso, won the promotional rights to promote the rematch between WBC flyweight champion Julio César Martínez and McWilliams Arroyo at a WBC purse bid. Clase y Talento bid $345,000. The purse split will be Martinez 65% / Arroyo 35% with 10% of the total bid reserved to be paid as a bonus to the winner of the fight.

In 2021, Martínez and Arroyo clashed in a contest that prematurely ended in round three being declared a no contest after an accidental clash of heads. Prior to that, both visited the canvas, leaving expectations at the highest level towards this second meeting. Martínez-Arroyo II has been postponed on several occasions due to injuries and other factors suffered by both fighters, but now it will hopefully happen.

 

Jesus Saracho 143.7 vs Tarik Zaina 139.8
Nelson Oliva 159.5 vs Miguel Angel Barajas 159.5
Jesus Gonzalez 150.6 vs Levy Josue 150.6
Traden Beltran 136.3 vs Gerardo Alberto Fuentes 137
Emilliano Moreno 141.9 vs Cristian Dominguez 141.2
Angel Beltran 144.5 vs Abraham Afful 146.6

Venue: Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA
Promoter: Thompson Boxing
TV: Thompson Boxing YouTube channel/Facebook page

Unbeaten super middleweight Edgar Berlanga (20-0, 16 KOs) and Jason Quigley (20-2, 14 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their clash inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

Edgar Berlanga: “It’s a big night on Saturday. It’s been a year layoff, we’re home with a new promoter, and I am ready to perform…for me there are bigger fish out there, the GGGs, the Charlos, these are the guys I want to get in the ring with, I feel I am ready and seasoned to get in with them, but I must beat the shit out of Jason Quigley this weekend, that’s what it is.”

Jason Quigley: “I know I am the better man. Edgar is a great fighter, I’ve come here to win, and that’s going to make it a great fight. But I am the man, I’m here to progress my career and my life.”

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Heavyweight Adam Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) ripped off his shirt to display his new svelte physique. He and Joe Cusumano (21-4, 19 KOs) fight in the co-feature.

Adam Kownacki: “It’s must-win, but for me. My two options are win averagely or win amazingly. I want to look amazing, I’ve had a great camp with Sugar Hill, so we’re ready. I’m in great shape, I want to look brilliant, get the win and get another fight quickly.”

Joe Cusumano: “We’re Heavyweights, we’re big punchers, and we’re going to show that.”

WBC interim middleweight champion Carlos Adames and former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams traded barbs at Thursday’s final press conference before they trade blows in the Showtime main event this Saturday from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Carlos Adames: “Williams is bait on a hook ready to get devoured by the big fish. He should know that he’s in a bad spot right now…I can feel him shaking…Julian has no idea what he’s getting into. I’m gonna overwhelm him.”

Julian Williams: “I’ve seen him down, I’ve seen him tired and I’ve seen him hurt. He’s no boogeyman…I’m locked in. I know what this is and I know what he is. It’s gonna show up in the fight. I’m a man and you cannot scare me…I’m getting my hand raised.”

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Thursday’s press conference also featured fighters competing on the undercard including super welterweight contender Luis “Cuba” Arias, who meets Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (not on hand) in the 10-round co-main event, plus super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez and unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea, who battle for Martinez’s IBF world title in the telecast opener.

Luis Arias: “I’m the worst type of fight for Lubin. We’re gonna find out immediately how that chin is holding up because I’m in dog shape. So I’m coming to make my statement and put my name in the mix…once I knock Lubin off, that’ll be two top contenders I’ve knocked off.”

Fernando Martinez: “He thinks he’s hungry, but I’m hungrier. I’m going to put on a show and prove to everyone that I’m not only the champion, but I’m the champion who’s going to be here for years to come…the fans here are going to see that I’m the ‘mini Mike Tyson’!

Jade Bornea: “I’m not going to give an inch. I know that I can’t waste this opportunity to become world champion. I am ready for anything that Martinez brings to me in the fight. I’ve prepared for this for a long time, so I know exactly what I have to do.”