Better late than never… 5/2 - Jesus Marcelo Andres Cuellar (24-1, 18 KO’s) vs. Rico Ramos (23-4, 12 KO’s) - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada This is the second defense of the interim WBA World featherweight title for Cuellar, who is riding a six fight winning streak since his loss to Oscar Escandon in 2011. Ramos held the WBA World super bantamweight title, but … [Read more...]
Ioka, Takayama receive Japanese Honors
Friday night at the Tokyo Dome Hotel in Tokyo, Japan held its annual boxing awards. Undefeated WBA light flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka (14-0, 9 KO’s) took shared honors for the Fighting Spirit award, which was also awarded to WBC flyweight champ Akira Yaegashi. IBF minimum weight titlist Katsunari Takayama (26-6, 10 KO’s) won the Award for Efforts. Other awards : Boxer of … [Read more...]
The Friday Grab Bag: A Little of This, A Little of That
By Jim McGrady As always, the holidays bring a lull in the fight game, little action over the last few weeks brings little to write about, but this is a perfect opportunity to catch up. World Title Action in Japan Despite the overall lack of fight activity, three world title bouts took place in Japan on New Year’s Eve. In Tokyo, Takashi Uchiyama (21-0-1, 17 KO’s) … [Read more...]
Boxing Rankings Updates: Lopez Debuts, Matthysse and Ioka Move Up, More…
There were several changes in the world rankings this week and a couple of fighters made their Top 10 debuts. Josesito Lopez, with his upset RTD9 win over Victor Ortiz, makes his debut in the welterweight division at #8. Ortiz, who was ranked fifth, falls to #9. To accommodate the move, Paulie Malignaggi falls from #9 to #10 and Jan Zaveck falls from the Top 10. At junior … [Read more...]
Ioka vs. Yaegashi in All-Japan World Title Unification
Title unifications are rare in boxing these days, but those with the persistence and wherewithal to search out overnight Japanese internet streams or day-after videos will be treated to a good one on Wednesday. WBC strawweight champ, Kazuto Ioka (9-0,6 KOs) will put his title on the line against his WBA counterpart, Akira Yaegashi (15-2, 8 KOs) at the Bodymaker Colosseum in … [Read more...]