According to Dab Rafael of espn.com, super flyweight titlist Naoya Inoue will defend his title on December 30th against Yoan Boyeaux in Yokohama, Japan.

“Within two months after this title bout, I wish to appear in the U.S. ring again, but will concentrate on this defense at first,” Inoue said Thursday.

Veteran cutman Rafael Garcia passed away at the age of 88 on Tuesday, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Garcia, instantly recognizable by the pin-adorned cap he always wore, became best known as the cutman and hand-wrapper for Floyd Mayweather. Garcia worked with Mayweather through most of Mayweather’s career. Mayweather, whose brittle hands were always an issue, raved about Garcia’s ability to wrap them in such a way that he was able to keep them protected as best as possible during his fights.

Garcia’s health began to decline earlier this year after he was stung more than 100 times by a swarm of Africanized bees, according to former welterweight and junior welterweight world titleholder Jessie Vargas, who was Garcia’s godson. Garcia later had a heart attack and was diagnosed with leukemia only about two weeks ago.

“He was my godfather and he was like a father figure to me,” Vargas told ESPN. “He’s been watching my back since as long as I can remember, taking care of me. Every fighter he ever worked with he did his best to make sure they were in top condition and at their best. Once he was with you he never left you. He never turned his back on anyone, win or lose. He was with you to the end. That was something that distinguished him from a lot of other people in this sport. He was honest, truthful and loyal to his friends, to his family and to his fighters, but he treated all of us like family.”

“He was sick but he didn’t want anyone to know,” Vargas said. “He was in our gym walking around and looking good but he was tired. He was a very unique gentleman inside and outside of the ring, and we all loved him. He was a very loving person. We lost a great person but we gained an angel.”

Cesar Juarez will take on Isaac Dogboe for an interim Hunior Featherweight title on January 6th in Accra, Ghana, according to Dab Rafael of espn.com.

Juarez will due to fight Jessie Magdaleno before Magdaleno pulled out with an injury.

“So we’re going to Ghana in Africa,” Juarez manager Sean Gibbons said. “I’m not concerned about Dogboe. I think Juarez has more heart and more determination and is a better fighter. I’m more concerned with the judging than the fight, and being in a country we’ve never been to. Dogboe is a nice fighter but he’s never been under the kind of stress Cesar Juarez will bring to the table.

“Are we happy to go to Ghana though? Not really. We’d rather have been in Fresno to fight Magdaleno like we were supposed to, like we signed to do. But it didn’t happen so we’ll be on our way to Africa.”

It was a battle of undefeated junior welterweights, but Jose Ramirez showed he was a cut above Mike Reed as he scored a 2nd round stoppage in round 2 of their scheduled 12-round bout in front of over 13,000 fans at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Ramirez came out firing as he landed hard shots to the body in round one. In round two, he continued his assault and dropped Reed after a barrage of punches. Reed was hurt, and Ramirez jumped on him by continuing to land hard shots and referee Jack Reiss jumped in at stopped the fight.

Ramirez of Avenal, CA is 21-0 with 16 knockouts. Reed of Waldorf, MD is 23-1.

Artur Beterbiev won the IBF Light Heavyweight title with a 12th round stoppage of Enrico Kolling.

Beterbiev dominated the action and won every round as he systematically beat down Kolling. Beterbiev scored a knockdown in round 12 with a hard flurry on the ropes. Beaten and battered, Kolling then took some more vicious shots that was capped off with a right to the head that sent Kolling down again, and the fught was stopped at 2:33 of round 12.

The dominance was shown in the punch stats as Beterbiev landed 322-1111 punches while Kolling was 64-252.

Beterbiev, 174.6 lbs of Montreal is 12-0 with 12 knockouts. Kolling of Germany is 19-2.

Alex Saucedo blitzed Gustavo Vittori in round three of his scheduled ten round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Saucedo was cut over the right eye from a headbutt. In round three, a left hook put Vittori to the canvas. Seconds later a right hand put Vittori on his knees. Saucedo finished the night with a perfect left hook to the jaw and Vittori dropped on his back and the bout was stopped at 1:16.

Saucedo of Oklahoma City, OK is now 26-0 with 16 knockouts. Vittori of Concordia, ARG is 20-3-1.

Maxim Dadashev stopped Clarence Booth in round four of their scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.

In round four, Booth was deducted a point for spitting out his mouthpiece. Later in the round, Dadashev landed a hard combination of punches and the fight was stopped at 1:20.

Dadashev, 141 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 9-0 with eight knockouts. Booth, 140 lbs of Auburndale, FL is 15-4.

Even Torres scored an upset as he won a four-round split decision over previously undefeated Quilisto Madera in a middleweight bout.

Torres took took cards 39-37. Madera took a card 39-37.

Torres, 162 lbs of El Paso, TX is 7-5. Madera, 161.5 lbs of Stockton, CA is 7-1.

Amir Imam tuned up for his Junior Welterweight title bout with a stoppage over Johnny Garcia after round five of their scheduled ten-round bout.

Imam, 144 lbs of Davie, Florida is now 20-1 with 17 knockouts. Garcia, 144.5 lbs of Holland. MI is 19-6-1.

Fernando Fuentes won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Vislan Dalkhaev in a featherweight bout.

In round five, Fuentes dropped Dalkhaev with a right hand.

Fuentes, 124 lbs of Riverside, CA won by scores of 60-53, 59-54 and 58-55, and is now 14-7-1. Dalkhaev, 123.5 lbs of Montreal, CAN is 9-1.

Brian Lua remained undefeated by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Eric Rodriguez in a lightweight bout.

Lua scored a knockdown in the last minute of the fight.

Lua won by scores of 40-35 on all cards.

Lua of Madera, CA is 2-0. Rodriguez of Los Angeles was making his pro debut

UNIONDALE, NY — Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (33-2, 29KO) earned a unanimous decision victory over Luis Arias (18-1, 9KO) in a twelve round middleweight contest at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The bout headlined the first ever fight card promoted on US soil by Britain’s lead promoter, Eddie Hearn, and his company’s newly created American branch, Matchroom Boxing USA. The fight also marked the first of a three fight HBO deal that Matchroom and Jacobs signed earlier this year.

The Brooklyn-born Jacobs started fast, landing a big right hand behind Arias’ head that buzzed his 27 year old counterpart. Jacobs followed up quickly, perhaps envisioning a Peter Quillin repeat, and quickly bombarded “Cuba” with lefts and rights. Jacobs was unable to replicate his first round magic, however, and Arias survive the barrage.

The 30 year old Jacobs controlled to early-middle rounds, out-boxing Arias, dishing out the more punishing blows, while slipping most of Arias’ return-fire. Jacobs kept his Milwaukee-born foe under pressure for most of the contest, forcing him to fight off his back foot, having to slip punches before he could throw any of his own.

The middle rounds saw quality boxing, with Jacobs consistently besting Arias, who is trained by John David Jackson, during their exchanges. But even when Arias had success, like he did in the sixth when he landed a nice clean one-two, Jacobs responded with his own combinations, and closed the round with a hellacious flurry that may have stolen the round on some judge’s cards.

In the tenth, a Jacobs left hand hurt Arias, who absorbed a few more blows before initiating a clinch. The 30 year old Jacobs continued to press the action for the rest of the tenth and for the two subsequent rounds, seemingly making a conscious effort to try and stop Arias. In the eleventh, a Jacobs punch knocked Arias off-balance to the point where his glove scraped the mat and a knockdown was scored. A stoppage, however, wasn’t meant to be, and the durable Arias fought till the final bell.

All three judges scored the contest in favor of Jacobs. Judge Julie Lederman scored it a shutout, 120-107, Steve Weisfeld had it 119-108, and Larry Hazzard, Jr., 118-109.

The victory marked another chapter written in the Danny Jacobs storybook. From his 2010 defeat via 5th round KO at the hands of Dmitry Pirog, to his battle with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, “The Miracle Man” has risen off the mat in both life and the ring. With two more dates guaranteed on HBO, Jacobs is now in position to take on some of the middleweight power players. Dates with David Lemieux, Canelo Alvarez, and GGG are all reasonable possibilities in 2018.

Huge Win For “Big Baby” — Miller Stops Wach In 8

In a battle of heavyweight contenders, Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (20-0-1, 17KO) wore down former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (33-3, 17KO), en route to a ninth round TKO victory. It was an impressive effort from the 6’4” Miller, who cut sixteen pounds off his previous fight weight, slimming down to a trim 283lbs.

Throughout the fight, the ex-kickboxer-turned-boxer Miller pressed forward, repeatedly forcing his 6’7” counterpart to choose between expending energy fending him off or finding himself on the receiving end of “Big Baby” barrages. By the third round, the constant pressure was beginning to get to the Polish native, Wach, who was visibly tiring and breathing through his mouth.

Sometime during the early rounds, perhaps during the fifth round, Wach seemingly suffered a left hand injury. He complained of pain to his corner and had a brief conversation with the ringside physician before continuing on.

In the seventh, Miller began to hurt Wach, reigning down a flurry of punches which forced Wach to retreat, while Miller pursued. The giant Pole was able to weather the seventh round storm and live to see another round.

But he wouldn’t live to make it out of the eight. About a minute into the round, the ringside physician stepped up onto the apron and advised referee David Fields to call a stop to the bout, which he did at the 1:02 mark of round eight.

The fight marked only the second time in Wach’s thirty-six fight career he was stopped. The other time coming courtesy of Alexander Povetkin.

Seldin Hammers Ortiz, Stops Him In Three

Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (21-0, 17KO) dazzled in his HBO debut, bloodying and battering Roberto Ortiz (35-2-2, 26KO) over the course of two-plus rounds. The 31 year old Seldin delivered loaded right after loaded right to his Mexican counterpart, who twice hit the mat in the bout’s opening round. Seldin, who riled up his hometown crowd early by entering the ring to Hulk Hogan’s theme song and sporting an American flag bandana, continued to throw fully-cocked rights in the second round and opened a nasty gash over Ortiz’s left eye that immediately started streaming blood. The veteran Mexican had no answer for the Seldon right hand, and continued to eat shots to the left side of the face. Eventually, after an accidental clash, referee Shada Murdaugh called timeout so a ringside physician could inspect Ortiz’s cut. The doctor ultimately advised Murdaugh to call a halt to the contest. The official time of the stoppage was 2:43 of the third round.

For Seldin, this marked only the sixth time he has fought outside of Huntington, NY’s Paramount Theater in his twenty-one fight career. For Ortiz, this was just his second fight on US soil, and his second loss. His other loss came at the hands of Lucas Matthysse in 2014.

Benn Destroys Sanudo In US Debut

Britain’s Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (10-0, 8KO) made quite the introduction to US boxing fans, scoring a vicious second round KO over Mexican Brandon Sanudo (7-7, 4 KO), in a welterweight contest originally slated for six. Benn, the son of former two-division world champion, Nigel Benn, became the first of Matchroom Sport’s British boxers to fight on a Matchroom Sport promotional card on American soil. Benn controlled the fight’s first round, operating in a composed manner, working well behind his jab. In the second, the 21 year old Brit picked up his offense, and moved forward with fury. With Sanudo backing up toward the ropes, Benn landed a thudding left to the liver that dropped Sanudo to all fours. With referee Tony Chiarantano administering a ten count over him, Sanudo spit out his mouthpiece, grimaced, and remained on all fours until the contest was waved off. The official time of the knockout came at the 1-minute mark of round two.

Hernandez Wins Hard Fought Decision Over Dezurn

Jesse Angel Hernandez (10-1, 7KO) handed Glenn Dezurn (9-1-1, 6 KO) his first career loss when he scored a unanimous decision victory in an eight round bantamweight contest. Hernandez used his height and reach advantage to keep the smaller Dezurn at bay, punishing him each time he tried to get inside his reach. Despite his physical disadvantage, Dezurn, a 30 year old Baltimore native, turned in a spirited effort against Hernandez, who was a clear step up in competition for Dezurn. For the Texas southpaw, Hernandez, 2017 continues to be a career-defining year, having seen him hand his previous two opponents their first career losses. In August, Hernandez stopped the formerly unbeaten Vladimir Tikhonov. Tonight, judges scorecards of 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75 for Hernandez resulted in Dezurn tasting defeat for the first time, and Hernandez cementing his contender status.

Rainone and Sosa Battle To Draw

Long Island native Tommy “Razor” Rainone and Dominican-born New Jerseyan George Sosa (16-10, 15KO) battled their way to a majority draw in a six round welterweight contest. It was a hard-fought, gutsy affair, that mostly saw Sosa the aggressor and the southpaw, Rainone, fighting off his back foot. At times, both boxers landed clean shots, though the 37-year old Rainone’s effective punches were fewer and farther between than those of his counterpart. At the end of six, there was little doubt Rainone’s face was worse for the wear, courtesy of Sosa’s two gloved fists. At the end of six, the judges were split, however. Tony Paolillo’s 59-55 scorecard for Sosa was overruled by John McKaie and Jim Pierce’s scores of a 57-57 draw. 15rounds.com scored the bout 59-55 for Sosa.

The draw was the first of Sosa’s career and adds more character to an already interesting record. Each of Sosa’s fifteen victories have come via stoppage and taken place in the Dominican Republic. On US soil, however, he hasn’t had much luck, winning only one time in ten attempts. The fight was a milestone for Rainone, as well. The “Razor” crossed over the 200 round mark in his career and now has 202 professional rounds under his belt.

Best Bet — Lucky Stays Unbeaten

Long Island native Tyrone James (6-0, 3KO) improved on his perfect record with a six round unanimous decision victory over “The Hudson Valley Kid”, Daniel Sostre (13-15-1, 5 KO). It was all James from opening to closing bell, as the hometown hero parlayed a minor height and reach advantage with superior athletic ability to dominate the contest for three minutes per round, for six rounds. Midway through the third James dropped his 33 year old counterpart courtesy of a right hand. Sostre, who has now lost 12 of his last 14 contests, was able to get off the mat and battle on till the final bell. In the end, all three judges scored widely for James, 60-53.

Lightning Strikes — Niyazov Stops Mauras In Five

Kazakh-born Staten Islander, Dimash “Lightning” Niyazov (13-0-3, 6 KO), disposed of hard-nosed Massachusetts native, Agustine Mauras (6-4-3, 3 KO), inside five rounds in a junior welterweight contest slated for six. The historic bout kicked-off the first US fight card promoted by Britain’s lead boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, and his company’s new American branch, Matchroom Boxing USA. Niyazov dominated the first four rounds of the scrap, before cranking up the heat in the fifth, dropping Mauras with two right hands before landing a clean left on the button, prompting referee Tony Chiarantano to stop the action at the 2:55 mark of the fifth round.

In a back in forth war, Yuandle Evans won a ten-round split decision over previously undefeated Luis Rosa in a featherweight bout at Masonic Temple & Performing Arts Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

The two trades hard shots on the inside throughout the ten round affair with each guy taking turns controlling the action.

Evans, 125.5 lbs of Cleveland took two cards by 97-93 and 96-94 tallies. Rosa, 125 lbs of New Haven, CT via Caguas, PR took a card 96-94.

Evans is now 20-1. Rosa is now 20-1-1-1.

“I’m tired but I’m feeling great,” Evans said. “My performance was great. I’ve never felt myself pushed that hard. He’s a tough Puerto Rican. He’s a very tough fighter. The crowd really propelled me to victory tonight, and I’m grateful for that.”

“I thought I won the fight, he won maybe three or four rounds,” a disappointed Rosa said after the fight. “I won the fight 6-4, 7-3 at least. I won mostly all of the beginning rounds and I gave him a few after the first six. Four rounds is the most I give him, and that’s being nice. I feel like the judges were swayed by the hometown crowd.”

Evans is ready for his next challenge. “I want Gary Russell, I want [Carl] Frampton, I want [Leo] Santa Cruz,” said Evans, who had famed trained Barry Hunter in his corner. “I’m nothing but a contract killer. I’m a contract killer and I want one of those top five guys.”

Radzhab Butaev won an eight-round unanimous decision over Janer Gonzalez in a welterweight bout.

Butaev, 146 lbs of Los Angeles via Russia won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75 and is now 8-0. Gonzalez of Colombia is 19-1-1.

“I felt like I controlled the whole fight, but he was more durable than I expected,” said Butaev through a translator. “Gonzalez landed good shots but he couldn’t finish me.”

Junior Fa stopped Fred Latham in the first round of their scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

Fa rocked Latham with a hard right hand, and then he unloaded a barrage of punches in the corner and the fight was stopped at 1:07.

Fa, 262 lbs of Auckland, NZ is 13-0 with eight knockouts. Latham, 261 lbs of Pittsburgh, PA is 9-1-2-1.

“I was actually going to keep on going, continue fighting but then he dropped. He was out of it. The ref pulled me back,” said Fa, who earned a first-round knockout for the sixth time of his career.

“I’m hoping for a chance to get in to the top 15,” said Fa, who beat WBO Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker twice in the amateurs. “This fight gave me more confidence in my ability and power, and I think confidence is a great thing.”

2016 U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell went the distance for the first time, but easily won a six-round unanimous decision over Roque Zapta in a junior middleweight bout.

In round three, Conwell dropped Zapata twice. First with a counter right hand and then with a left hook to the body. In round four, Zapata was cut over the right eye. In round five, it was a left hook to the body that sent Zapata down for a 3rd time.

Conwell, 153 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 60-51 on two cards while a 3rd card read 60-53, and is now 6-0. Zapata, 155 lbs of Culpepper, VA via Panama City, PAN is 4-2-3.

“My game plan was to throw some jabs and go to the body, and I think I accomplished that. My jab was key tonight. I ended up dropping him three times,” said Conwell, who averaged 77 punches per round, but gave himself just a B-minus. “I would love to keep fighting on television. I want to showcase my skills.”

Zapata was impressed by his opponent’s talent. “I survived, so I’m happy,” he said. “I went the distance with an Olympian and that was the plan. I should’ve done better and cut my angles more instead of standing right in front of him, but I’m proud I went the full distance.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn, UFC President Dana White is getting into boxing promotion.

“No, no, no, I’m not leaving the UFC. I’m getting into boxing with [WME/IMG head] Ari [Emanuel], and the UFC will be doing boxing too,” White said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s still early. We’re still working on it. I’ve got to get my [stuff] together, but I’m getting into boxing, man. It’s coming.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Mikey Garcia will not fight Jorge Linares next after negotiations broke down on Wednesday.

Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez said he, Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya and Linares were particularly disappointed because Garcia is the one who went on social media and began calling out for the fight and when the company “gave Mikey basically everything he wanted he turned it down.”

“Mikey said it was a business decision,” Gomez said. “I got a text from him [Wednesday] morning, and then I called him right after. He said he’s got another offer so he’s going to take the other offer and we wish him well. The way I left it with Mike was, ‘Hey, let’s continue to communicate and if the fight can be made after the next fight and after Linares’ next fight then we’ll explore it.'”

“We wish Mikey well,” Gomez said. “He said it’s a business decision and I understand that, but Linares was willing to do the fight and we gave Mikey basically everything he wanted.”

Said De La Hoya: “It is disappointing that Mikey didn’t end up signing up for the fight. Everyone at Golden Boy Promotions believes that the best way for fighters to shine is to match the best versus the best. We wish Mikey well.”

“We couldn’t make it, but I agreed with Eric Gomez that we’d be in touch to make it after this fight,” Garcia told ESPN Deportes. “I have more options, really, compared to what I had. The guaranteed purse is better, even though I really want the Linares fight, but you have to take into consideration the business. As Golden Boy is looking to do the best for their company, so I look out for me.”

He also said Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has made an offer to bring Linares to the United Kingdom to fight England’s Luke Campbell in a rematch. Linares retained his title by split decision against mandatory challenger Campbell on Sept. 23 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

“Eddie made us a huge offer to fight Luke Campbell in the rematch, so we’ll discuss it with Linares and also talk to Peter about opponents for a fight in January on HBO,” Gomez said.

Tyron Zeuge will rematch Isaac Ekpo on December 2 in Germany for a super middleweight title.

“I really wanted the rematch with Ekpo,” Zeuge said. “This time around, I’m going to prove that I am not only the better boxer, but the wiser man in the ring.”

“In his preparation for Brant, I gave Juergen the best possible training,” Zeuge said. “Now, he will pay me back by giving me the best possible training, and then we can reward ourselves with a victory over Ekpo. It’s that easy.”

Deontay Wilder made the 6th defense of the WBC Heavyweight title with a 1st round annihilation of former champion Bermane Stiverne at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

After a lackluster first two minutes of the fight, Wilder dropped Stiverne with a right hand.  Stiverne got up only to be drilled with another blistering right that sent him to the canvas for a 2nd time.  Wilder jumped on Stiverne and landed a vicious combination that dumped Stiverne down on the canvas on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 2:59.

Wilder, 220 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is now 39-0 with 38 knockouts.  Stiverne, 254.75 lbs of Miami, FL is now 25-3-1.

“So much frustration, it just seemed like my career, it’s been crazy. So many guys using PED’s”, said Wilder, the only American heavyweight world champion. “I just want to prove that I am the best. I know I am the best but I want to prove I am the best.”

“You have to give props to Stiverne for getting in the ring,” said Wilder. “It takes a lot of courage and it takes a lot of pride to step in the ring with someone like me. We do what we have to do in the ring and at least he stepped up. He was a clean fighter.

“I’ve been waiting on that fight for a long time now,” said Wilder. “I declare war upon you. Do you accept my challenge? I’ve been waiting for a long time. I know I’m the champion. I know I’m the best. Are you up for the test?

“A king doesn’t chase the peasants. A king takes kings. I want Joshua. If he doesn’t give me the fight we have other plans. The world wants Joshua, the world wants Wilder, I want Joshua. Joshua come and see me baby. No more dodging, no more excuses. Make the date, don’t wait.”

Former world champion Shawn Porter took a 12-round unanimous decision over Adrian Granados in a rough welterweight contest.

The fight was fought on the inside with many entertaining scrums where both guys moved their hands and landed flush blows.

Porter, 146.5 lbs of Las Vegas, NV won by scores of 117-111 on all cards, and is now 28-3-1.  Granados, 146 lbs of Chicago, IL is now 18-6-2.

Porter, who hurt his hand in the 6th round landed 209-583 punches.  Granados was 166-680.

“He gave me a little trouble here and there,” said Porter. “I hurt my left hand in the sixth round, but I kept using it. I had to use my jab. It took a toll on me and by the 10th round I just couldn’t throw it anymore.

“The strategy was to keep working the jab. I knew he’d come at me periodically. I was prepared and dug deep to get the win.”

“I thought that I was controlling the fight and keeping up with him the whole time,” Granados told Jim Gray. “He was just trying to use his normal tricks. I rocked him multiple times and he never had me in any trouble.

“He’s a brute. I thought the referee [Gary Rosato] did a good job breaking up the fight at the right times. It was rough but I definitely thought I did better than the scorecards said.”

Sergey Lipinets won the vacant IBF Junior Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Akihiro Kondo.

In round two, Kondo began to bleed from his nose.  In round six, Lipinets was cut along his hairline due to an accidental headbutt.

Lipinets, 139 3/4 lbs of Beverly Hills, CA won by scores of 118-110 and 117-111 twice and is now 13-0.  Kondo, 139.5 lbs of Tokyo, JAP is 29-7-1.

Lipinets landed 173 of 621 punches.  Kondo was 140 of 567.

“I think the scorecards were accurate but it was a good fight,” said Lipinets. “The head-butt really impaired my vision and it led to me walking into some stupid shots.

“I’m happy with my performance. I’m just going to keep getting better from here. I’m ready to take any on challenge thrown my way.”

Kondo, who was fighting for the first time in the United States, proved a worthy opponent on the night. “It was a fair decision,” said Kondo, through a translater. “He hit me with a lot of hard punches and I felt like I needed at least a knockdown in the last round.

“I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to show any pain or fear from his punches. I was determined to keep fighting all night.”

Dmitry Bivol retained the EBA Light Heavyweight championship with a 1st round stoppage over Trent Broadhurst in Monte Carlo.

Bivol was awarded a knockdown in the first minute, which turned out to be a push.  In the final seconds, Bivol landed a perfect right that dropped Broadhurst on his back and the fight was stopped as Broadhurst was bleeding around his left eye.  The time of the stoppage was 3:00.

Bivol of Kyrgyzstan is now 12-0 with 10 knockouts.  Broadhurst of Australia is 20-2.

By Norm Frauenheim-

TUCSON, Ariz. – It was a tough way to say goodbye, so tough that Jesus Soto Karass might want to try it all over again.

Juan Carlos Abreu knocked out any chance that Soto Karass might have had at celebrating a farewell with a victory Thursday night in an ESPN-televised fight at Casino Del Sol.

Abreu delivered a couple of huge lefts, dropping Soto Karass twice in the eighth round and nearly sending him through the ropes, if not into retirement, with the second knockdown in a powerful TKO of the popular Mexican.

For Abreu (20-3-1, 19 KOs), the victory gave him some hope to think that maybe he can still be a welterweight contender. For Soto Karass (28-13-4, 18 KOs), the crushing defeat looked like just another reason to walk away from his 16-plus years throwing – and taking — punches

But Soto Karass wasn’t ready say farewell. After he got up from the crushing finish at 1:07 of the eighth, he stood on the ring’s bottom rope and waved at the crowd almost as if he had won. It wasn’t a gesture of farewell. He was saying thanks.

“Thanks to my fans,’’ said Soto Karass, who wasn’t sure about retirement before opening bell.

He wasn’t sure after referee Rocky Burke had ended it , either

“I will sit down with my manager and my family, talk to them, then decide.’’

It was clear to Soto Karass that his Mexican fans haven’t given up on him. Maybe that’s because he never gives up, at keast not in the ring. It was evident in the early going that it would only be a matter of time before the stronger, more mobile Abreu would catch Soto Karass, who as a boxer is as pedestrian as he is fearless. He just kept moving forward.

“I just got caught, really caught by a punch from a guy who can really punch,’’ he said.

The finishing blows might have come earlier. However, Abreu, a Dominican, said he hurt his right hand in the second round. He said planned to have a physician examine the hand to determine whether he sustained a serious injury.

He said the pain made him cautious from the third round through the seventh. There were moments in the sixth and again in the seventh when it looked as if Soto Karass would simply try to wait him out, perhaps wear him out. In the eighth, the stubbornly persistent Soto Karass walked into the only good hand Abreu still had. Then, it landed once and then a second time, finishing a fight, if not a career.

In the co-main event, junior-lightweight prospect Ryan Garcia (12-0, 11 KOs) came into the ring to classical music. Garcia, of Victorville, Calif., wore black-and-white shorts that could of come out of the 1950s. They were black-and-white. They also were made in honor of the late Jake LaMotta, whose Raging Bull nickname was stitched across the back of the trunks alongside 1922-2017, the years of LaMotta’s birth and death.

It was an old-school look. It was an old-school win, too. Garcia’s power stole the show, overwhelming an overmatched Cesar Valenzuela (14-6-1, 5 KOs). A Garcia left, traveling at blinding speed, knocked down Valenzuela in the first round. Another finished him late in third of a bout referee Tony Zaino ended in the final second of the round.

In the telecast’s opening bout, the judges’ scores made it look easy. It wasn’t. Prospect Hector Tanajara Jr. (11-0, 4 KOs), a Robert Garcia-trained junior-lightweight, endured head-rocking shots and stubborn aggressiveness from Mexican Jesus Serrano (17-5-2, 12 KOs) for eight rugged rounds. In the end, Tanajara relied on his superior reach and bigger body, winning a unanimous decision that was a lot closer than the 80-72, 79-73, 80-72 scorecards.

Best of the Undercard

There were some questionable blows and some real ones. There was a lot of everything. And Mexican German Meraz has seen just about everything. Meraz’ documented record includes 105 fights. Yet he entered the ring with only one draw. Now he’s got two.

Meraz (58-45-2, 35 KOs), of Agua Prieta, danced, smiled, landed punches and took few, yet all of it was only enough for a majority draw with Los Angeles featherweight Rafael Gramajo (9-1-2, 2 KOs) in a wild fight that ended with him ahead on one card, 58-56, and 57-57 on the other two.

The Rest

California bantamweight Cesar Diaz, poised and precise, also improved on a perfect record (6-0, 6 KOs) with a stoppage of Pedro Melo (17-17-2, 8 KOs), a Tijuana fighter who surrendered at 1:10 of the fifth round an injury to his left shoulder.

Junior-welterweight Christopher Gonzalez (1-0), a national amateur champion from Tucson, threw a short hook for what was ruled a second-round knockdown of Jesus Arevalo (2-2) of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and went on to win a unanimous decision in his pro debut.

“I am little disappointed that I am not fighting (Miguel) Berchelt for the WBC belt, but injuries are part of boxing and these things happen all the time,” Salido said at a media lunch in Los Angeles to announce the fight on Wednesday. “But a fight with Miguel Roman is a good fight and it should be an all-action Mexican war between two guys that will fight from start to finish.

“I’m very happy that I will be in the main event in Las Vegas, and I want to give the fans another great fight. I know I need to beat Roman to stay on course to fight for a world championship next year and that is what I intend to do on Dec. 9.”

“Roman is a good fighter, but, honestly, I don’t care who is in front of me. I always come to fight,” Salido said. “This is no exception. I’m rested and ready for another war.”

“I guess in a way I am competing against Lomachenko, who is also on a TV card that night, but anyone that knows about fighting will know which fight will have drama and excitement and which one will have dancing,” said Salido, who turned down offers to fight Lomachenko in a rematch for career-high money.

“I know this is a tough fight and I am going against a tough fighter, but I know what I am capable of and I believe that I will beat Salido,” Roman said. “This is not an easy fight for either one of us, and the biggest winners will be the fans. This is a great opportunity for me and will take full advantage of it.

“I’m going to knock him out. I’m preparing for what could be a savage war with Salido because he is a tough fighter. But that doesn’t scare me and I know that ultimately I will be the fighter to raise his hand in victory.”
“It reminds me a lot of [Erik] Morales versus [Marco Antonio] Barrera I, two Mexicans fighting at Mandalay Bay,” he said of the legendary junior featherweight unification fight in 2000 that served as the first match of their epic trilogy. “We knew it would be fight of the year. We have the same feeling for this fight. We believe we have another fight of the year.”

Terrel Williams will finally make his ring return, two years after his fight with Prichard Colon ended in Colon’s permanent injuries.

Williams will fight on November 18th at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas on a card that is headlined by Ishe Smith battling Julian Williams on Bounce TV.

Williams bout is no scheduled to be televised.

Derek Brunson took out former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in round one of their middleweight bout in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Brunson landed a crushing left that sent Machida to the gorund. Brunson landed three hard shots and the fight was stopped at 2:30.

Brunson, 185 lbs of Wilmington, NC is 18-5. Machida, 185 lbs of Belem, BRA is 22-8.

Colby Covington upset 3rd-ranked Damien Maia via unanimous decision.

In round one, Covington suffered a bad cut over his right eye from a punch. In round three, Maia’s face was a bloody mess.

Covington, 171 lbs of Fort Lauderdale, FL won by scores of 30-26, 30-27 and 29-27 and is now 13-1. Maia, 171 lbs of Sao Paulo. BRA is 25-8.

Pedro Munhoz submitted Rob Font in the first round of their bantamweight bout.

Munhoz made Font tap out from a guillotine at 4:03.

Munhoz of Sao Paulo, BRA is 15-2-1. Font of Woburn, MA is 14-3.

Francisco Trinaldo won a unanimous decision over Jim Miller in a lightweight bout.

Trinaldo, 155 lbs of Basilia, BRA won by scores of 29-28 on all cards and is now 22-5. Miller, 155 lbs of Sparta, NJ is 28-11-1.

Thiago Santos stopped Jack Hermansson in the first round of their middleweight bout.

Santos landed five big shots that sent Hermannson to the deck. Santos landed five more strikes while a prone Hermansson was prone on the ground and the fight was stopped just before the bell sounded to end round one at 4:59

Santos, 186 lbs of Rio de Janeiro, BRA is 16-5. Hermansson, 185 lbs of Oslo, NOR is 16-4.

John Lineker won a unanimous decision over Marlon Vera in a bantamweight bout,

Lineker, 136 lbs of Paranagua, BRA won by scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice and is now 30-8. Vera, 135 lbs of Chiome, ECU is now 10-4-1.

Anthony Joshua retained the IBF/WBA Heavyweight titles with a 10th round stoppage over Carlos Takam in front ovf over 78,000 fans at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Joshua controlled the action from the outset. Joshua started to bleed from his nose in round two from a clash of heads. That was the only minor blemish for the champion as he kept the durable Takam at bay with hard jabs and right hands.

The fight started to take its course in round four when Takam suffered a cut over his right eye, and later in the round he was sent to the canvas when he ate a short left hand on the inside.

Joshua continued to land some solid shots, while Takam showed that he was deserving as he tried to fight back and would sneak in a right hand to keep Joshua honest.

In round eye, Takam suffered a cut over his left eye, and the fight was slowly slipping away from the late-replacement challenger.

In round ten, Joshua landed a good combination, and referee Phil Edwards stopped the bout at 1:34.

Joshua is now 20-0 with all wins coming early. Takam of France is now 35-4-1.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, undisputed 140 pound champion Terence Crawford will move to welterweight and already has been installed as the mandatory challenger for the winner of WBO champion Jeff Horn and Gary Corocoran that will take place in December.

“Crawford literally dominated and cleaned out a division,” Top Rank Vice-President Carl Moretti said. “There are no more challenges left for him at 140 pounds and, physically, his body is ready to move to 147 pounds and do the same thing he did at 135 and 140 — dominate a division.

“Now he’s pound-for-pound the best in the world and I think you’ll see more of that at 147 pounds. So he has vacated the WBO title and he will be notifying the WBC and WBA shortly.”

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who also co-promotes Horn, said Crawford would travel with him to Australia for Horn-Corcoran, which he said would be televised live on an ESPN network in the early morning United States time.

“I want Terence to see Australia and I want the people in Australia to see Terence,” Arum said.

“I think Crawford is an enormous talent,” Arum said. “I know that if he wins the welterweight title I am going to look to match him with him a number of fighters that are managed by Al Haymon, like (former titlist) Danny Garcia, (unified titleholder) Keith Thurman and a huge fight would be one with (titleholder Errol) Spence. That would be a big pay-per-view fight.”

Alantez Fox fought last Saturday’s middleweight bout with Demetrius Andrade with a torn rotator cuff, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“He was fighting with a serious injury,” Fox manager Mike Borao said. “He told me the pain was excruciating but that he did not want to quit in the fight. He’s known for throwing a great number of punches, which he didn’t do in this fight because of the shoulder. We’re waiting on the MRI report and hopefully the injury won’t keep him out of the ring for too long. “Under the circumstances, I’m very proud of him. All credit to Andrade though. He fought a great fight. I’d love to see him get a chance to fight Canelo (Alvarez) or (unified world champion Gennady) Golovkin.”

In round eleven, Burnett started to bleed from a cut on his forehead.

Burnett, who outlanded Zhakiyanov 214-132, won by scores of 118-110, 119-109 and 116-112.

NEWARK, NJ – IBF cruiserweight champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 KO) defeated longtime division Iron Man, Krzysztof “Diablo” Wlodarczyk (53-4-1, 37 KO), to retain his title and advance to the World Boxing Super Series semifinal. The definitive punch came early in the third round courtesy of a meaty Gassiev left hook to Wlodarczyk’s liver. The punch immediately shut down the former titlist’s system, forcing him at first to a knee, before his body collapsed face down on the canvas. The 36-year old Wlodarczyk failed to referee Earl Brown’s ten count, and the contest was halted at the 1:57 mark of round 3. It is only the second time in Wlodarczyk’s career he was stopped, the other coming in 2003 vs. Pavel Melkomyan.

At times, the Abel Sanchez trained Gassiev looked like a spitting image of his stablemate, Gennady Golovkin. Over the course of three rounds the 24-year old Gassiev methodically cut off the ring, wasting no movement, and landing the most effective punches. Gassiev forced Wlodarczyk to fight going backwards, and in doing so, never put himself in an unfavorable position.

Midway through the third round with Gassiev coming forward and Wlodarczyk backing up toward the ropes, Gassiev unloaded two lefts to the body. The first landed straight to the sternum. It was followed quickly by a show stopping left-hook to Wlodarczyk’s liver that ended the fight.

“He threw a short uppercut and then a left hand that Wlodarczyk turned right into and it hit him flush. It’s something we work on a lot,” Sanchez said after the fight. “I know that when Gassiev lands a punch correctly, the opponent isn’t getting up.

It was a raucous environment inside Newark’s Prudential Center where a split crowd made up of Polish Wlodarczyk fans and Russian Gassiev supporters cheered on their fighter. Many of the Gassiev supporters wove Ossetian flags, which is the region of Russia where Gassiev hails from.

Gassiev will now go on to face will go on to face undefeated Cuban knockout artist, Yunier Dorticos, in the World Boxing Super Series semifinals. The winner of that contest will take on the winner of Oleksander Usyk vs. Mairis Briedis in the tournament finals in May 2018.

“I had a great opponent tonight,” Gassiev said afterward. “I prepared myself for a tough fight but it is boxing and anything can happen…We do a lot of work in the gym and I just listened to my coach round after round and he told me what I needed to do. That’s all I needed.”

A visibly disappointed Wlodarczyk also spoke afterward. “We worked hard to try to avoid this kind of shot but unfortunately he got a really hard shot through and hurt me,” the veteran fighter said.

He continued, “We knew how good he was and we prepared hard for it. I wanted to use the jab as much as possible. My strength is the second part of the fight and we were hoping to bring him to the later part of the fight and take advantage.”

Gassiev’s semifinal opponent, Yunier Dorticos also spoke after the bout.

“I really wanted Gassiev to win, because he’s going to taste the power of a real man against me. His opponent tonight was past his time, I’m ready to show him what a champion looks like and give him a challenge he’s never faced before.”

“I want to take his belt. I want to get in the ring and destroy Gassiev.”

Taking the high road, Gassiev said, “Dorticos is a very good fighter with great experience. He’s undefeated and I can’t wait to give all the boxing fans the gift of a great fight against Dorticos.”

Mateusz Masternak vs. Stivens Bujaj – 10 rounds, cruiserweight

The night’s cruiserweight co-feature witnessed Poland’s Mateusz Masternak (40-4, 25 KO) steamroll past New York’s Stivens Bujaj (16-2-1, 11 KO) en route to a late round stoppage victory. It was domination from the start by the tough Pole, who fought each minute of each round on his terms. Masternak fought patiently and with purpose, fighting at a comfortable distance, and landing cleanly and effectively round after round. Bujaj never seemed to get comfortable and failed to mount any significant offense in any round. In the seventh, with Bujaj fatiguing quickly, Masternak blasted a perfect one-two that crumbled Bujaj to the mat. The Albanian-born New York transplant barely beat referee Shada Murdaugh’s ten-count and, standing on wobbly legs, hung on to survive the round. In between rounds, however, after examining the state of Bujaj, the ringside physician advised Murdaugh to stop the contest.

The fight marked Masternak’s second victory at the Prudential Center, the previous victory coming back in 2009 on the undercard of Tomasz Adamek vs. Bobby Gunn.

“I got stronger as the fight went on,” Masternak said. “I was ready to go hard rounds and use my attack to overwhelm him. Once I started using combinations I was very effective in hurting him. That made the difference for me.

“I stayed focused and kept my right hand ready to deliver damage. I’m ready to fight with anyone they put in front of me. I’m always ready in the gym and I can’t wait to get back in the ring.”

A dejected Bujaj also spoke after the fight. “I’m disappointed in myself,” he said. “I know I could have fought better than that and performed better. I just didn’t feel like myself tonight.”

Maciej Sulecki vs. Jack Culcay – 10 rounds, super welterweight

In a back and forth WBC super welterweight eliminator, Poland’s Maciej Sulecki (26-0, 10 KO) stayed undefeated, earning a unanimous decision victory against Germany’s “Golden” Jack Culcay (22-3, 11 KO). Throughout the bout, the Polish-born Sulecki tried to use his height and reach advantage to his benefit, snapping jabs at his counterpart in an attempt to keep him at bay. Early on, however, it was quite clear that the smaller Culcay would not be easily tamed. When Culcay punched, he punched with purpose. His punches were thrown with ferocity, with more steam. They also came from more angles. Culcay looped lefts around Sulecki’s gloves early, and over the duration of the contest, threw numerous windmilling rights, that would surely end the fight if he connected cleanly.

It was a classic seesawing contest that saw momentum swings inside each round. As the fight progressed, it became more entertaining, with Cuclay initiating, but not always getting the better of, the exchanges.

At the open of the seventh round, Culcay raced off his stool and immediately bombarded an unsuspecting Sulecki with lefts and rights. The Ecuadorean-born German threw wildly, and continually tried to land his homerun punch, the looping overhand right. About 30 seconds into his onslaught, “Golden Jack” cleanly connected with a right that momentarily wobbled Sulecki. The hard-nosed Pole hung on to survive the onslaught and dish out some punishment of his own before the round commenced.

In the ninth, Culcay again buckled Sulecki a bit and backed him into the ropes. But this minor victory would be short-lived and the hard-nosed Pole came right back with a right hand of his own that landed behind Culcay’s ear and briefly wobbled him.

The ebb and flow continued into the tenth and final round, when with time ticking down, Culcay landed a monstrous right stunned Sulecki. The German immediately followed up with more ill intended punches until the final bell sounded.

In the end, however, all three judges scored the contest in favor of the unbeaten Pole.

Lindsey Paige saw the fight 98-92, Paul Wallace, 97-93, & James Kinney, 96-94. 15rounds.com scored the contest 95-95.

“It was a close fight. Hard to tell but I felt like I was winning,” Culcay said after the fight. “It was very close but I really thought I was winning.

He continued, “I felt like I was strong. I thought that I hurt him. But this is boxing. I would love a rematch, but either way I will be back even stronger.”

Sulecki credited his counterpart afterward. “It was a very tough fight and I had to be at my best,” Sulecki said. “I didn’t think he’d be quite as tough, but I wanted to fight him and I got him.

He added, “I prepared for about four or five weeks for this opponent. The seventh round was the toughest round for me. I got hit with a couple big shots, but I wanted a war. I was never going to let down.”

Money Powell IV vs. Brandon Adams – 6 rounds, super welterweight

In an entertaining 6 round super welterweight scrap, Money Powell IV (5-0, 2 KO) scored a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Adams (4-5-1, 2 KO). From the get-go, both fighters came off their stools firing at will and during an early exchange, the southpaw, Adams, connected with a looping left that caught Powell off-guard, sending him to the canvas. Powell easily beat the ensuing ten-count and enjoyed his own share of success in the bout’s opening round. The following rounds saw the two prizefighters continuing to engage, willing to eat a few punches to land some of their own, with Powell tending to get the better of Adams. In the fourth, the 19-year old Powell threw a straight right that exploded on Adams’ chin, wobbling and spinning him around all at once. Powell turned up the heat on his legless foe, applied more pressure to the body, and continued to connect with purposeful head shots. Adams was able to weather the storm, however, and escape the round on two feet. Powell continued to get the better of Adams in the fight’s final rounds and at the end of the contest, all three judges scored the bout for Powell. Debra Barnes saw it 59-55, Lawrence Layton 59-56, and Robin Taylor 58-55.

Efe Ajagba vs. Luke Lyons – 6 rounds, heavyweights

Former Nigerian Olympian, Efe Ajagba (2-0, 2 KO) made quick work of formerly undefeated Luke Lyons (5-1, 2 KO), dropping him twice in the opening round of their heavyweight bout en route to a TKO victory. The 6’3” Ajagbe, who is now based in Houston and trained by Ronnie Shields, dominated Lyons from the opening ding until the 2:19 mark of round one, when referee Harvey Dock called a halt the contest. Initially, it was a sledgehammer of a left-hook that Ajagbe dug to Lyons’ liver that forced him to a knee for the first time. Less than a minute later, Ajagbe finished off his Kentucky-born counterpart with a left-hook to the body, straight-right to the head combo that brought Lyons to a knee for the second time. Although he beat Dock’s ten-count, the referee deemed Lyon’s was in no condition to continue and stopped the contest.

Skender Halili vs. Samuel Amoako – 6 rounds, super welterweight

Skender Halili (15-2, 13 KO) easily outpointed Samuel Amoako (19-16, 16 KO) in a six round super welterweight contest, kicking off a night of fights that will culminate when IBF cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev squares off against former two-time cruiserweight titlist, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, in a World Boxing Super Series quarterfinal. It was a nice bounceback performance for Halii, who suffered a setback in Mexico his last time in the ring, when he was outpointed by relative novice, Adrian Haro Campos. The Kosovo-born Bronx resident, Halili, was back on his game tonight, however, working well behind his jab, using it to control range and the ring. At the conclusion of six, judges Debra Barnes, Lawrence Layton, and Robin Taylor all had it a shutout for Halili, 60-54.

Gabriel Rosado stopped Glen Tapia in round six of a scheduled 10 round middleweight bout at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

It was all Rosado as he cut Tapia in the first round and an ugly welt started to form on the forehead in round three. Rosado continued to wale away on Tapia with little resistance from Tapia.

Finally in round six, Rosado wobbled, hurt and put down Tapia with a furious combination. Rosado was all over a basically defenseless Tapia and referee Robert Byrd stopped the bout at 1:15.

Rosado of Philadelphia now 24-11 with 13 knockouts. Tapia of Passaic, NJ is 23-5.

“Tapia’s the type of guy that when you hurt him, he’ll come forward,” said Rosado. “It was very important to get the win. It was important to make a statement, to be impressive, to put myself back into the mix. I want Canelo Alvarez, Danny Jacobs, or a rematch with David Lemieux. I want to prove that I still have something.”

KeAndre Gibson won a 10-round majority decision over Alejandro Barrera in a junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Barrera started to bleed from his nose. In round four, Gibson was cut over his left eye.

In round six, Barrera was cut over his left eye. In round seven, he was cut over the right eye.

Gibson won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 95-95, and is now 18-1-1. Barrera is 27-4.

“I feel good, you know. I feel great,” said Gibson. “I beat an experienced guy, though I think that I could’ve done a better. I’m going to box a little more next time. I’m going to control my distance more and relax. It was a good fight.”

“I feel sad because of the defeat,” said Barrera. “I should’ve done more defensive movements, so I’ll work on that for next time.”

Toka Khan Clary stopped David Berna in round two of a scheduled ten round WBA NABA Featherweight bout at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta, Georgia.

In round two, Clary scored three knockdowns and the fight was stopped at 1:32.

Clary, 124.8 lbs of Providence, RI is now 23-1 with 16 knockouts. Berna, 125.6 lbs of Budapest, HUN is 13-1.

Ray Lampkin remained undefeated by winning a six-round unanimous decision over Joshua Davis in a lightweight bout.

In round three, Lampkin landed a left that sent Davis to a knee.

Lampkin, 130 lbs of Portland, OR won by scores of 60-53 twice and 58-55 to raise his perfect mark to 11-0. Davis, 130.2 lbs of Washington, DC is 11-2.

In a battle of undefeated cruiserweights, Joshua Temple won a six-round unanimous decision over Bryan Daniels.

Temple, 196 lbs of St. Louis, MO won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice and is now 5-0. Daniels, 197 lbs of Worcester, MA is 5-1.

Mario Diaz stopped Rayonta Whitfield in round seven of their scheduled ten round Bantamweight bout.

Diaz hurt Whitfield with a right hand in round seven and finished him off with a hard flurry on the ropes at 32 seconds.

Diaz, 118 lbs of Aguascalientes, MX is now 17-1 with seven knockouts. Whitfield, 118 lbs of Augusta, GA is 28-2.

Marquise Moore stopped Zachary Bunce in round one of their scheduled six-round super middleweight bout.

Moore dropped Bunce with a hard right hand. Moore finished Bunce off with a hard flurry and the fight was stopped at 2:18.

Moore, 167 lbs of Colorado Springs, CO is now 6=0 with four knockouts, Bunce, 168.6 lbs of Las Vegas is now 2-3.

WBC Bantamweight champion Luis Nery will take on Arthur Villanueva on November 4 in Tijuana. Mexico.

Nery won the title in Japan in August but failed a post fight drug test, and he is taking the stay busy fight while he waits for an outcome by the WBC.

“Personally, and on behalf of my company Zanfer, we thank Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council, for the opportunity that was given to Nery to become world champion,” said promoter Fernando Beltran said at a news conference announcing the fight. “We will wait and respect the resolution made by the WBC, but for now, we announce that Nery will face a tough opponent, Artur Villanueva.”

“It is a joy to fight in Tijuana. It was always my dream to fight before my people as world champion, and I will be granted this opportunity on Nov. 4,” Nery said. “I hope that the fans of Tijuana will be present at the Gasmart Stadium and we’ll be able to give them a great fight.”

WBO Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders will defend his title against David Lemieux on December in Quebec, Canada in a bout that will be televised by HBO, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“It’s a done deal, live from Montreal on HBO,” Lemieux promoter Oscar De La Hoya said, adding that he is speaking with two venues about hosting the fight — the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal or the new Place Bell, a 10,000-seat arena that opened earlier this year in Laval, which is just outside Montreal.

“Like gentlemen, we worked out the agreement and we’re on the same page with Warren,” De La Hoya said. “We want to see this year finish strong for boxing. It’s been a great year for the sport and for Golden Boy. We’re extremely proud we can deliver not only Miguel Cotto’s final fight but also Saunders-Lemieux, both live on HBO.

“We’re willing to work with everybody. We believe that David Lemieux has a great shot to win this fight. Frank Warren believes that his guy, Saunders, has a great shot as well. It was a matter of a little give and take and we made the deal. But all business aside, it’s great for both parties what we negotiated. Both sides are happy. We wanted to make sure we delivered an exciting fight to end the year.”

“I strongly believe David Lemieux is the missing piece of the puzzle in the middleweight division,” De La Hoya said. “David Lemieux looking great against Billy Joe Saunders will create excitement in the division.”

“David Lemieux against a fighter who is tough, who is durable and who is a trash-talker will make the fight week quite interesting. We’re looking forward to it,” De La Hoya said. “When David heard we had a deal for him to fight Saunders, he was ecstatic. He cannot wait to bring the title back to Canada.”

“Saunders is a middleweight who is dangerous, who can box, who can move, who can make things difficult for you,” De La Hoya said. “Obviously, David Lemieux cannot take this guy lightly whatsoever. David Lemieux has to make a statement on Dec 16 by knocking out Saunders.”

Abner Mares defended the WBA Featherweight title with a 10th round technical decision over Andres Gutierrez due to cuts.

In round two, Gutierrez was cut around the left eye from a headbutt. Gutierrez tried to fight through it, but Mares dominant and the cut worsened to the point where the fight was stopped.

Mares, 126 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice is 31-2-1.. Gutierrez, 126 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is 35-2-1.

Former world champion Antonio Demarco stopped previously undefeated Eddie Ramirez in round one of their scheduled ten-round super lightweight bout.

DeMarco landed a huge barrage of punches on the ropes, and the bout was stopped at 1:56.

Demarco, 141.8 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 33-6-1 with 24 knockouts. Ramirez, 142 lbs of Aurora, IL is 17-1

BROOKLYN, NY–BROOKLYN (Oct. 15, 2017) – WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Erislandy Lara knocked down previously unbeaten Terrell Gausha en route to a 12-round unanimous decision in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday on SHOWTIME at Barclays Center.

The Premier Boxing Champions event featured three world title fights in the stacked 154-pound division, a lineup including five fighters ranked in the top 10, and four in the top five.

The southpaw Lara used a precise jab to set up a sharp left hand in the sixth defense of his world title. The supreme technician, known for his elusiveness, put on a clinic as expected. He fought mostly in the pocket and picked apart the 2012 U.S. Olympian Gausha, a Cleveland native getting his first shot at a world title.

Lara landed 45 percent of his power shots and threw 200 more total punches in the bout that was scored 116-111 and 117-110 twice.

“We want to give a lot of credit to Gausha. He’s an Olympian and he came to fight,” Lara said. “I take the rhythm of the boxing match and that’s when I take over. He’s fighting with the best in the division. He’s not a stupid fighter, but he knew who he was facing today.

“I’m ready to box anyone that comes my way. I’m the best boxer at 154 pounds and I won’t shy away from anyone that wants to fight me. I’ll box whoever, just line them up. I’m not afraid. I have proven that I’m a true champion. I’ll fight (Jermell) Charlo if I have to. We are friends, but business is business.”

One of the most anticipated fights of the year lasted only 2:41 seconds as WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Jermell Charlo knocked out Erickson Lubin with a brutal right uppercut to the chin in the opening round in the second of three 154-pound world title fights. VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/2yoXIU6

While the matchup of young, undefeated Americans was regarded as one of boxing’s best fights in a year of marquee matchups, Jermell Charlo had other plans. After feeling each other out Charlo, the twin brother of undefeated former champion Jermall, unloaded a strong right uppercut that the highly touted Lubin leaned into. With Lubin struggling to return to his feet, referee Harvey Dock waived off the contest and helped a dazed Lubin return to his corner.

“They were giving him a lot of attention,” a fired up Lubin told SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray. “I was quiet the whole time. They said they were going to come take my title. I had to defend it. They didn’t know what I was brining into this and I think (Lubin) was worried about the wrong things.

“We’re going to unify. The other champions want to fight me and I’ll take any of them. Give me another title. I want Hurd. Hurd just won. Give me Hurd.”

The 22-year-old Lubin, boxing’s consensus 2016 prospect of the year, had his hopes of becoming the second youngest titlist in boxing dashed in less than three minutes.

“I’m fine. He caught me with a blind shot. I didn’t see it coming. He landed it. I felt like when I got up I could have kept fighting, but it’s boxing. It happens.

“I’m young and I’m hungry. I know I’m one of the best out there. He caught me with a blind shot that I didn’t see. Like I said, it’s boxing. I’m just going to remain hungry, get back in the gym and become the champion I know I am.

“I’m young and have plenty of fight left in me. This is just a minor setback. I’ll be back sooner than later and hungrier than ever.”

IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion Jarrett Hurd became the first person to stop veteran former champion Austin Trout with a 10th round technical knockout in the first defense of his world title in the opening bout of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast.

The 27-year-old Hurd did what Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Erislandy Lara and Jermall Charlo could not after the ringside doctor stepped in to stop the bout following a brutal closing 20 seconds of the 10th frame.

The Accokeek, Md., native often neglected defense in the early rounds and fought back after a slow start to wear down the toughest opponent of his career. The championship affair shifted in the sixth as Trout tired and Hurd picked up his output of power shots despite a bloody cut over his left eye. Trout was practically saved by the bell in the 10th round and trainer Louie Burke did not protest as he was advised that the fight should be stopped.

“It’s most definitely tougher to defend the title than win it,” Hurd said. “I’m always the one that comes on stronger at the end of the fight. We knew we were going to wear Austin Trout down in the later rounds and eventually stop him. My cut made me a little better with my head movement.

“Team Swift, we don’t run from anyone. I’m ready to unify. 2018 is the year for unifications. It doesn’t matter who it is. I’m ready to fight anyone.”

Hurd had a 89-31 edge in power punches landed over the last three rounds and connected on 43 percent of his power shots over 10 rounds.

Trout was taken to Lutheran Hospital for observation after the bout.

Saturday’s telecast will replay on Monday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

Julian Sosa remained undefeated by winning a four round unanimous decision over Erick Daniel Martinez in a welterweight bout.

In round three. Sosa dropped Martinez with a hard right hand.

Sosa is now 10-0-1.  Martinez is 14-10-1.

Tony Harrison won an eight-round unanimous decision over Paul Valenzuela, Jr. in a middleweight bout.

In round two, Valenzuela was cut over the left eye from an accidental headbutt.  In round five, he was deducted a point for hitting Harrison on the break.

Harrison, 156 lbs of Detroit won by scores of 80-71 and 78-73 on two cards, and is now 25-2.  Valenzuela, 1558.8 lbs of Santa Rosalia. MEX is 20-6.

Cindy Serrano won an eight-round split decision over Edina Kiss in a super featherweight bout.

Serrano, 128.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 79-73 & 78-74, while Kiss took a card 78-74.

Serrano is now 27-5-3.  Kiss, 127.8 lbs of Budapest, HUN is 13-6.

Chrodale Booker remained undefeated by winning a eight round unanimous decision over Malcolm McAllister in a battle of undefeated super welterweights.

In round seven, Booker landed a hard left hook that knocked Mcallister between the bottom and second ropes.

Booker, 154.2 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 79-72, and 78-73 twice and is now 8-0.  McAllister, 151.8 lbs of Long Beach, CA is now 9-1.

Richardson Hitchins remained undefeated by winning a four round unanimous decision over Jordan Morales on a welterweight bout.

Hitchins, 143.6 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 40-36 on all cards, and is now 3-0. Morales, 142 lbs of Pennsylvania is 2-3.

George Arias stopped Mario Heredia in round six of a scheduled eight round heavyweight bout.

It was a back and forth brawl, and Heredia could not continue.

Arias, 230 lbs of Bronx, NY is 9-0 with five knockouts. Heredia, 288.8 lbs of San Diego, CA is 14-6.

WBO Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has been ordered to defend his title against Billy Joe Saunders, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We got the letter from the WBO and Frank Warren reached out to me in an email and I responded back to him, so we’ve started dialogue and it will continue. We’re going to start negotiating,” Golden Boy Promotions Eric Gomez told ESPN.

“You can’t do it on that undercard. It’s a little too expensive,” Gomez said. “Frank’s got the champion, so he’ll make us an offer. Most likely he’ll want to do the fight in the U.K. Depending on the offer, we’ll react. We’ll discuss it with David, but it’s a good fight for HBO. I notified [HBO Sports executive vice president] Peter Nelson and he has interest in it.”

“We have 30 days to negotiate a deal, and then if they call for a purse bid it would be within two weeks after the 30 days,” Gomez said. “Then from the date of the purse bid it’s 90 days to put on the fight, so you’re looking at maybe February or March. But David is ready to fight in December, so that will be part of our conversation with Frank. It’s all open to discussion and negotiation.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com. Miguel Cotto will fight Sadam Ali on December 2nd in Madison Square Garden in what will be Cotto’s farewell fight.

“The fight has been agreed to verbally,” Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes Cotto, told ESPN on Tuesday. “We’re working on the contracts now and we’ll be making official announcement shortly.”

Cotto’s preferred opponent would have been the winner of the Sept. 16 middleweight world title showdown between Gennady Golovkin and Alvarez, but they fought to a disputed draw and likely will face each other in a rematch on May 5 without any intervening bouts.

Cotto has no plans to wait for either of them or any of the other bigger names who turned down offers to fight him before Ali accepted the bout. “I am leaving the ring Dec. 31,” Cotto told ESPN in September in Las Vegas during Golovkin-Alvarez fight week. “I will have the last fight of my career in December.”

Super Bantamweight world champion Jessie Magdaleno had to pull out of his November 11 title defense with Cesar Juarez with a wrist injury, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m disappointed for Jessie Magdaleno, I’m disappointed for Cesar Juarez and I’m disappointed for the fight fans who wanted to see this fight,” duBoef said. “We’ll reschedule the fight and probably see it after the first of the year. It’s not the end of the world. It happens. It’s part of the business and you have to accept it.

“It’s unfortunate because there would be fireworks with that fight. So we’ll see the fireworks in 2018 instead of in 2017.”

Frank Espinoza, Magdaleno’s manager, told ESPN that the injury was a reoccurrence of an injury Magdaleno, a southpaw, suffered about a month ago as he opened training camp.

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“At the beginning of camp he had hurt his hand and it seemed to get better,” Espinoza said. “We took him to the doctor. Nothing was broken. It felt better and he continued to work. Then it happened again the other day in sparring. His left wrist is swollen. He was kind of bummed out about it when I talked to him. He was down. It’s a shame, but you can’t prevent injuries. I’m certainly not going to put my fighter in the ring unless he’s 100 percent.”

Lewis Ritson won the British Lightweight title with a 7th round stoppage over Robbie Barrett

In round two, Ritson dropped Barrett with a cruching left and right to the head. Ritson continued to batter Barrett all over the ring for the balance of the round. In round six, it was an accumulation of punches of punches that sent Barrett down again. Seconds later, It was a straight right to the body that sent the champ down again.

In round seven, it was another body shot that sent Barrett down to the ground, and Barrett’s corner threw in the towel at 2:27.

Ritosn, 133.9 lbs of Forest Hall is now 13-0 with seven knockouts. Barrett, 134.4 lbs of Darfield is 15-3-1.

Hosea Burton needed just 80 seconds to dispose of late-replacement Daniel Latinearaa.

Burton scored two knockdowns and the fight was stopped as Latinierarra wobbled while throwing a punch.

Burton, 179.4 lbs is now 20-1 with 10 knockouts.

Scott Cardle won a six-round decision over Lee Connelly in a lightweight bout.

Connelly started to drip blood from his nostrils in a rough round five, where he was buckled and hurt by a big onslaught of punches from Cardle.

Cardle, 136.4 lbs won by a referee score of 59-56, and is now 22-1-1. Connelly is 7-28-3.