Not so Boxing Challenge: Inoue, Nakatani notch wins

    It comes too late to be, but I wanted to write before it was too late. The biggest fight in Japanese history appears to be on the horizon, but not without some difficulty in Riyadh.

In the main event, undisputed world junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue retained his four titles with a dominant unanimous decision over mandatory contender Alan David Picasso.

No knockdowns scored with the champion winning by scores of 120-109, 119-109 (my score), and 117-111.

Former unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani made his junior featherweight bow a successful one. Still, he had to battle for it, as Nakatani barely repelled the unexpectedly firm challenge of Sebastian Hernandez by a close but unanimous decision.

Lots of action, and Nakatani's left eye was swollen shut by the end of the bout.

Scores of 115-113 on two cards (and mine) with the third an absurd 118-110 all for Nakatani.

Inoue and Nakatani are expected to meet in the spring at the Tokyo Dome for Inoue's titles in the biggest All-Japanese fight in the nation's history.

The other fight took place in Japan, where Masamichi Yabuki retained his IBF flyweight title with a final-round knockout of former light flyweight champion Felix Alvarado.

Yabuki scored knockdowns in the eleventh and twelfth rounds to cement the win.

Boxing Challenge :Roach-Cruz draw

   I've been away for a few days on a trip with Fred Landucci that I have planned for a while, and I'll be writing about it soon.

However, that trip has kept me from watching the PBC pay-per-view and writing about the Ohio State loss to Indiana and the Browns loss to Tennessee.

I am deciding today (my last day off) on either deciding to write short posts on either or both games or doing one post with a few thoughts on both games.

Results

Isaac Cruz majority draw Lamont Roach for Cruz's WBC junior welterweight title.

O'Shaquie Foster Unanimous Decision Stephen Fulton, fight not for Foster's WBC junior lightweight title after Fulton missed weight.

Jesus Ramos Unanimous Decision Shane Mosley Jr/

Boxing Challenge

TRS; 150 Pts (4)

Ramon Malpica: 142 Pts (4)

Vince Samano:  61 Pts (3)

Boxing Challenge

   The boxing challenge is based in San Antonio, Texas, with a four bout card from PBC on Amazon PPV that isn't really pay-per-view worthy at its $74.99 cost but will give four interesting and mostly evenly matched pairings.

The main event is for a minor title in the junior welterweight division as Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz meets WBA junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach.

Both fighters made their names as the two fighters who pushed Gervonta Davis to the edge, Cruz losing a close unanimous decision in 2021, and Roach drawing with Davis earlier this year when a knockdown that wasn't scored as such cost Roach the win.

Roach, who hasn't defended his title since June 2024, will be making his first attempt at 140 pounds, while Cruz has won decisions over Angel Fierro and Omar Salcido since losing his WBA version of the title to Jose Valenzuela.

Roach could outbox Cruz, but standing and fighting off the aggressive Pitbull would be an exciting capper to the evening.

The co-feature will unify three-quarters of the middleweight titles as IBF and WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly faces WBA titleholder Erislandy Lara.

Alimkhanuly has yet to meet a top-quality opponent in his five title defenses, but I don't blame him, as the 160-pound division is very weak right now, and I think he would fight anyone placed in front of him.

Lara has been one of the most derided champions since winning a minor version of the WBA title and being promoted to the full version.

Since winning the minor title with a one-round KO of the lightly regarded "Cornflake" LaManna in 2021, Lara has defeated journeymen Spike O'Sullivan and Michael Zerafa before a battering of former junior welterweight and welterweight champion Danny Garcia, who was fighting for the first time in the division.

As the 42-year-old Lara has aged, he's used his legs less and fought in the pocket more, but that would surely spell doom against Alimkhanuly, yet if he tries to move for twelve rounds, he'll likely fade and be hunted down.

I think Alimkahnuly wins in the most lopsided fight on the card, but the chance for a three-title unification and the biggest name on his resume, make it interesting.

Editor's Note: Janibek Alimkhanuly failed a PED test and has been replaced by Johan Gonzalez.

Gonzalez's biggest win was over former junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd.

No word on the status of the IBF and WBO titles held by Alimkhanuly at this writing.

Another interesting fight is O'Shaquie Foster defending his WBC junior lightweight championship against Stephen Fulton, who holds the WBC featherweight title.

Foster regained his title last November from Robson Conceicao by split decision after losing the title to him by a very controversial split decision earlier in 2024.

Fulton held the WBC and WBO junior featherweight titles before a knockout loss to the Monster Naoya Inoue in 2023, and when his next fight saw him get a really bad split decision over Carlos Castro, Fulton looked like his best days were behind him.

Instead, Fulton beat Brandon Figueroa for a second time in February to take the WBC featherweight title and revitalize his career.

I like Foster in this one, but Fulton has surprised me before!

The opener is a middleweight eliminator between Jesus Ramos and Shane Mosley Jr.

Ramos has scored three knockouts in a row since his only loss, a controversial unanimous decision that I thought he deserved to Erickson Lubin in 2023.

Mosley Jr. has won five straight since his last loss and defeated the washed-up Daniel Jacobs in his last fight in July 2024, but is a cut below Ramos in my opinion.

Boxing Challenge

Junior Welterweights. 12 Rds

Isaac Cruz vs Lamont Roach

Ramon Malpica and Vince Samano: Roach Unanimous Decision
TRS: Roach Split Decision

Unification WBA- IBF and WBO Middleweight Titles.

Erislandy Lara vs Janibek Alimkhanuly

R.L: Alimkhanuly Unanimous Decision
TRS: Alimkhanuly KO 8
V.S:

WBC Junior Lightweight Title

O'Shaquie Foster vs Stephen Fulton

R.L and TRS: Foster Unanimous Decision
V.S: Foster KO 9

Middleweights. 10 Rds

Jesus Ramos vs Shane Mosley Jr.

All: Ramos Unanimous Decision

Boxing Challenge: Riyadh Rumbles!

      It's better than never coverage from me yet again, but this time it's not so bad, as there will be no boxing challenge action over the Thanksgiving weekend.

In the main event, David Benavidez stopped Anthony Yarde in the seventh round to retain his WBC light heavyweight title.

Benavidez bullied Yarde in the corners and ropes before scoring a knockdown and stoppage.

Benavidez announced that his next fight will be against WBA and WBO cruiserweight Gilberto Ramirez in 2026.

That is an interesting fight, but not as interesting to me as Benavidez against either Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev.

Devin Haney knocked down Brian Norman in the second round and outboxed him the rest of the way to take Norman's WBO welterweight title via unanimous decision.

The win gave Haney a title in a third weight division.

Haney won by scores of 117-110, 116-111, and a way too close 114-113, with my score at 117-111.

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez added the WBA crown to his junior bantamweight title (WBC and WBO) collection with a tenth-round KO of Fernando Martinez.

Rodriguez was way ahead when he ended the fight in the tenth.

The best fight was in the opener when Abdullah Mason won the vacant WBO lightweight title by a close unanimous decision over Sam Noakes.

Mason cut Noakes over his left eye early in the fight and forced the Briton to fight through the blood all evening.

The pair met toe to toe for much of the fight and produced an action-filled fight.

Mason won by scores of  115-113 on two cards (and mine) and 117-111 on the other.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 146 Pts(5)

Ramon Malpica: 138 Pts (5)

Vince Samano: 58 Pts (5)

Boxing Challenge

   The boxing weekend is all on one card, but it is a damn good card from Saudi Arabia.

The main event is a light heavyweight title fight as newly promoted WBC champion David Benavidez will defend that title for the first time against Anthony Yarde.

Benavidez hammered out a unanimous decision over David Morrell in February to keep his minor title and was promoted to full champion when undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol gave up the title in favor of a third fight with Artur Beterbiev rather than defend against Benavidez.

Yarde is a strong puncher and fought well in his title challenges against Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev, but was stopped in both losses.

The interesting points here will be seeing how Benavidez handles the punch of a hard-hitting light heavyweight and how Benavidez's punch affects a fighter at his natural weight.

WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman faces his toughest test against former lightweight and junior welterweight champion Devin Haney.

Norman has impressed since winning his title with two optional defenses, and his power could do well against Haney, who was battered in his "no contest" against Ryan Garcia and was timid in his win over Jose Ramirez.

Is Haney damaged goods? Or will he be revitalized in a new division?

Junior bantamweight titleholders Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez (WBC and WBO) and Fernando Martinez (WBA) will unify seventy-five percent of the division in their matchup.

Both fighters have had an exciting recent win, with Rodriguez stopping Phumlele Cafu in ten rounds to take Cafu's WBO title, with Martinez repeating his unanimous victory over Kazuto Ioka.

The unification fight might be the best battle on the card.

Unbeaten contenders Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes will face off for the WBO lightweight belt that was vacated by Keyshawn Davis when Davis missed weight for a scheduled defense against Edwin De Los Santos earlier this year.

Mason has been tabbed as a future champion with his fast fists and power punches, but his chin has looked vulnerable, while Noakes has looked strong against fighters at the European level.

Boxing Challenge

WBC Light Heavyweight Title. 12 Rds

David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde

Ramon Malpica: Benavidez KO 10
TRS: Benavidez KO 8
Vince Samano: Benavidez Unanimous Decision

WBO Welterweight Title. 12 Rds

Brian Norman vs Devin Haney

R.L: Norman KO 9
TRS and V.S: Norman Unanimous Decision

Unification WBA- WBC & WBO Junior Bantamweight Titles. 12 Rds

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez vs Fernando Martinez

R.L: Rodriguez KO 6
TRS: Rodriguez KO 11
V.S: Rodriguez KO 9

Vacant WBO Lightweight Title. 12 Rds

Abdullah Mason vs Sam Noakes

R.L: Mason KO 8
TRS: Mason KO 4
V.S:  Mason Unanimous Decision

Boxing Challenge: Benn Avenges loss to Eubank Jr.

    The boxing challenge boasted two cards outside the United States this weekend, with one fighter avenging his only defeat and another retaining his world championship.

Conor Benn evened his series with Chris Eubank Jr with a dominant unanimous decision win in London.

Eubank, who won the first fight earlier this year in what might be the fight of the year, looked spent as Benn outboxed the older man throughout and avoided any counters.

Benn dropped Eubank twice in the final round and would have likely stopped his foe with even a few more seconds remaining in the fight.

Benn announced plans to return to welterweight for potential title challenges of either WBC champion Mario Barrios or IBF titleholder Lewis Crocker, both of which Benn would be favored against.

Eubank Jr should consider retirement, but likely will not, even if a third fight seems unlikely after Benn's easy victory.

On the undercard in a fight I have yet to watch, Jack Catterall knocked Ekow Essuman in the eleventh round of a welterweight eliminator.

Catterall was fighting in the division for the second time, while Essuman had scored his biggest career win in his previous fight over former champion (and Catterall foe) Josh Taylor.

In Mexico, Rafael Espinoza retained his WBO featherweight title when challenger Arnold Khegai was unable to answer the bell for round eleven.

Espinoza hammered the gutsy Khegai throughout the fight, rendering Khegai's face into a swollen mask.

I didn't see the co-feature, but most seem to believe Lindolfo Delgado was given a split decision in his junior welterweight eliminator against Gabriel Valenzuela

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 141 Pts (4)

Ramon Malpica: 133 Pts (3)

Vince Samano:  53 Pts (0)

Boxing Challenge

  A just-the-facts version of the boxing challenge.

I've had some time constraints and have limited my time here.

Middleweights. 12 Rds  

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn

Ramon Malpica and TRS: Eubank Unanimous Decision

Vince Samano:

Welterweights 12 Rds

Jack Catterall vs Ekow Essuman

R.L and TRS: Catterall Unanimous Decision

Vince Samano:

WBO Featherweight Title. 12 Rds

Rafael Espinoza vs Arnold Khegai

R.L: Espinoza Unanimous Decision

TRS: Espinoza KO 8

Vince Samano:

Junior Welterweights. 

Lindolfo Delgado vs Gabriel Valenzuela

R.L and TRS: Delgado Unanimous Decision

Vince Samano: 

Boxing Challenge: Ortiz rips Lubin

      Vergil Ortiz wanted to make a statement in his defense of his minor junior middleweight title in front of potential future opponent Jaron "Boots" Ennis, who was at ringside with his promoter, Eddie Hearn, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ortiz did more than that in tearing apart Erickson Lubin in less than two rounds, finishing a helpless Lubin along the ropes to force the early ending. 

Other than not scoring a knockdown before the conclusion, there was nothing that Ortiz could have done to Lubin, who has now been stopped in all three of his losses and two of those in less than two rounds.

Ortiz and Ennis did the obligatory face-to-face in the ring after the fight, and the match has been anticipated since the two were fellow welterweight prospects moving through that division.

Both possess fight-ending power, although I think Ortiz has a small edge in pop, and both have ring skills as well. I'd give Ennis a slight advantage there, and while both fighters are listed at 5'10, Ennis will have a 4-inch reach advantage (74 to 70).

I lean slightly towards Ennis, but this fight might be what boxing fans hoped that they would see from the long-awaited Terence Crawford-Errol Spence match in 2023.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 137 Pts (2)

Ramon Malpica: 130 Pts (2)

Vince Samano: 53 Pts (0)

Boxing Challenge

   The boxing challenge will have only one bout this weekend, but it's a very interesting one with major ramifications for 2026.

Fort Worth, Texas, will be the site of a top junior middleweight clash as Vergil Ortiz defends his minor title against Erickson Lubin in a pairing of two hard punchers.

The unbeaten Ortiz heard the final bell in each of his last two fights, for the only times in his career, with decision wins over quality opponents in Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk, and looks to be in prime condition for his match against Lubin.

Lubin has been stopped in both of his losses as he was knocked out by Jermell Charlo and Sebastian Fundora, but has won three fights since losing to Fundora, two of those over unbeaten contenders Jesus Ramos and Ardreal Holmes.

The victory over Ramos was undeserved, in my opinion. Lubin looked good in knocking out Holmes in eleven rounds, and certainly has the power to hurt Ortiz, who was knocked down twice by Serhii Bohachuk in his majority decision win.

I see the two styles meshing well and giving fans an entertaining battle, and I could see Lubin building a lead on the scorecards before Ortiz's steady pressure gradually wears Lubin down as his way to a stoppage in the middle to late rounds.

Junior Middleweights. 12 Rds 

Vergil Ortiz vs Erickson Lubin

Ramon Malpica: Ortiz KO 7

TRS: Ortiz KO 9

Vince Samano: Lubin KO 4

Boxing Challenge: Wardley rallies again!

    For the second fight in a row, Fabio Wardley rallied from behind to score a miracle knockout win, and in this win, he defeated the best opponent of his career to earn a chance at undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Wardley's eleventh-round stoppage of Joseph Parker won him a minor title, but his victory in London has replaced Parker as the next opponent for Usyk.

The fight was action-filled and competitive, but two of the three judges had Parker ahead (by two and six points), with the third scoring it even after ten rounds (I had Parker ahead 97-93).

Both fighters landed heavy shots throughout the fight, but Parker had Wardley in mild trouble in the ninth and tenth rounds.

I thought the stoppage by referee Howard Foster was premature, as Parker looked to be hurt worse earlier in the round, and Wardley wasn't connecting solidly (if at all) with the flurry that ended the fight.

A rematch seems to be a good idea, but I can't see Wardley risking his now mandatory shot at Usyk, although Parker took that risk to face Wardley.

I don't see Wardley having more than a puncher's chance against Usyk, who will likely handle Wardley in the same manner that he disposed of the similarly styled Daniel DuBois.

However, as Wardley has proven in his two recent bouts, you always have a chance when you possess the power to end a fight at any time.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 135 Pts (0)

Ramon Malpica: 128 Pts (0)

Vince Samano; 53 Pts  (0) 

Boxing Challenge

    Only one bout in the boxing challenge as the top heavyweight contender meets a hard-punching young challenger.

Former WBO champion Joseph Parker is on a six-fight winning streak including wins over Martin Bakole, Zhihei Zhanf, and Deontay Wilder, which has moved Parker into the top challenger position to world champion Oleksandr Usyk. 

Fabio Wardley was part of a great fight against Frazer Clarke that ended in a draw before dusting Clarke in the first round of their rematch.

Wardley seemed to be taking a step back in his last fight against Justtis Huni as Wardlley was far behind on the scorecards against Justis Huni before landing one right hand in the tenth round to save his ranking and add to his status as a power puncher.

Parker can make exciting fights and Wardley has a flair for the dramatic, so this could be a very fun fight to watch.

However, Parker might be better served to outboc Wardley, take the win, and happily move on to a title shot.

Heavyweights 12 Rds 

Joseph Parker Vs Fabio Wardley

All: Parker Unanimous Decision

Boxing Challenge: Boots knocks out Lima

    It was an expected squash match in Philadelphia, and at least it ended quickly as Jaron "Boots' Ennis made a successful entry into the junior middleweight division with a first-round stoppage of Ulsma Lima.

Two knockdowns preceded Ennis's pounding of Lima along the ropes to force the ending. 

With this fight in the past, Ennis can now face a sterner challenge in fellow unbeaten Vergil Ortiz in a fight that has been talked about for years, should Ortiz win next month against Erickson Lubin.

Ennis vs Ortiz ranks with the best fights to be made in the sport and in a division thriving with young champions (WBA champion Abass Baraou doesn't count), in WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, WBO champion Xander Zayas, and IBF boss Bakhram Murtazaliev, the winner will have a claim as the best in the division and could make top unification fights with any of the thtee.

Hopefully, we will see this long-awaited clash early next year.

The co-feature was a fun slugfest as former Olympian Guido Vianello rebounded from his loss to Richard Torrez with a fifth-round KO of previously unbeaten Alexis Barriere.

Barriere did well over the first three rounds with both fighters landing woth power before Vinello knocking Barriere down later in the fourth round.

Vianello closed the fight quickly in the fifth after another knockdown.

In Sheffield, England, Arslanbek Makhmudov outslugged and survived two lost points for holding to outpoint Dave "The White Rhino" Allen over twelve rounds in another heavyweight battle.

Makhmudov was the more technically skilled fighter and held off a late Allen rally to win by scores of 117-109, 116-110, and 115-111.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 135 Pts (3)

Ramon Malpica: 128 Pts (3)

Vince Samano: 53 Pts (1) 

Boxing Challenge

    There is finally some boxing of note this weekend, and while none of the fights are of earth-shattering importance, one stands out for 2026.

Jaron "Boots" Ennis vacated his WBA and IBF welterweight titles to move to the junior middleweight division and immediately will fight for a minor title in his hometown of Philadelphia.

The problem is that the fight is a squash match, and anything short of a spectacular outing will be a disappointment against Uisma Lima.

Ennis is coming off the biggest win of his career after his knockout win of Eimantas Stanonis, while Lima has fought one opponent, Aaron McKenna, of note, and McKenna handed Lima his only loss.

Ennis requires an explosive win, so anything short of one will be a disappointment.

The co-feature pits heavyweight Guido Vianello against unbeaten Canadian Alexis Barriere.

Vianello lost his last fight in a close battle to prospect Richard Torrez, while Barriere will be taking his first step forward against tougher competition.

What might be the best fight of the weekend is in Sheffield, England, as a scheduled twelve-round heavyweight bout is unlikely to see close to the distance.

Two fighters with big punches and questionable chins, David "White Rhino" Allen and Arslanbek Makhmudov, should produce an explosive and likely short match.

Allen knocked out Johnny Fisher in the fifth round of their rematch (Allen lost a split decision in their first bout, which he deserved), and will be the crowd favorite.

Makhmudov was once a top ten contender before knockout losses to Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello showed his vulnerability in taking punches.

Boxing Challenge

Junior Middleweights. 12 Rds 

Jaron "Boots" Ennis vs Usima Lima

Ramon Malpica: Ennis KO 9
TRS: Ennis KO 6
Vince Samano: Ennis Unanimous Decision

Heavyweights 10 Rds

Guido Vianello vs Alexis Barriere

R.L and TRS: Vianello Unanimous Decision
V.S: Barriere Unanimous Decision

Heavyweights.12 Rds

David Allen vs Arslanbek Makhmudov

R.L: Allen KO 10 
TRS: Allen KO 5
V.S.: Allen Unanimous Decision

Boxing Challenge: Inoue marches through MJ

   We recapped the Las Vegas side of the boxing weekend earlier, so now it's onto the remainder of the weekend, which saw the world junior featherweight title retained and two new champions taking their place at the table.

Nagoya, Japan, was the site as Naoya "The Monster" Inoue dominated Murodjon "MJ" Akhmadaliev and won an easy unanimous decision to retain his undisputed junior featherweight titles.

Inoue never hurt or knocked down Akhmadaliev, which speaks volumes about the challenger's quality. However, the Monster was far too fast and skilled for Akhmadaliev, and aside from two or three rounds, Inoue dominated the fight.

Akhmadaliev did wobble Inoue in the waning seconds of the fight, but had little time to follow up.

Inoue earned the judges' nod by scores of 118-110 twice and 117-111, which was my score.

Inoue will make his next defense against another mandatory challenger (Akhmadaliev was the WBA's mandatory challenger) before the end of the year against the WBC's Alan David Picasso in Saudi Arabia.

Should Inoue retain those titles, he would face Junto Nakatani next year in the Tokyo Dome in the biggest All-Japanese fight in history.

The co-feature saw an upset as Christian Medina knocked out Yoshiki Takei in the fourth round to win the WBO bantamweight title.

Medina floored Takei in the first round and battered him throughout before finishing him in the fourth.

Paddy Donovan met Lewis Crocker for the second time, and for the second time, Crocker emerged with a controversial victory. 

Donovan was dominating the first fight but was disqualified for hitting Crocker after the bell in an IBF welterweight eliminator.

Since then, Jaron "Boots" Ennis vacated the title, and the IBF mandated rematch was for the vacant title.

This time, Crocker scored knockdowns in the third and fifth rounds, but I thought Donovan was ahead (114-112 on my card) at the end of the fight.

The official decision differed, with Crocker winning on two cards (114-112 and 114-113), with Donovan winning on one card (115-111).

I'd be fine with a third fight eventually between these two.

Roman Gonzalez continued his comeback with a unanimous decision win over Hector Robles in Nicaragua.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 132 Pts (2)

Ramon Malpica: 125 Pts (2)

Vince Samano: 52 Pts (1) 

Boxing Challenge: Bud!

    Terence Crawford shocked the world (although not me) in Las Vegas by winning a unanimous decision over Canelo Alvarez to take all four of the world's super middleweight titles. 

Crawford won by scores of 116-112 and two scores of 115-113 (I scored 116-112 for Crawford), and Crawford needed to win the final two rounds to win on the scorecards, which I didn't think was needed, but it's Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, funny scorecards seem to arrive in his fights.

Crawford outboxed Canelo, but he did so by fighting on his front foot and not by running, as recent Canelo victims Jermell Charlo and William Scull tried.

Canelo tried to stalk Crawford but wasn't quick enough or able to outmuscle Crawford in close.

Crawford is now the first fighter to be an undisputed champion in three divisions (Junior welter, welter, and super middleweight) and has won titles in five divisions (Lightweight and junior middle) after his victory that established him as the best of his generation.

Crawford mentioned an interest in winning a title at middleweight rather than defending his titles at 168 or a return to 154 to defend his WBA title or face other champions, Sebastian Fundora, Bakhram Murtazaliev, and Xander Zayas.

Alvarez might be a man without a fight, as a rematch appears to lack interest; the defeat may take away the prospects of a David Benavidez match, and the rest of the division doesn't have anyone with mass appeal to face a comebacking Canelo.

Bud Crawford cemented himself as the king of his generation, and I wouldn't be disappointed to see him call it a day.

He has nothing to prove, and by walking away, he will raise the question (which can never be answered): who was better- Crawford or Floyd Mayweather?

Crawford-Canelo may have brought the people, but the best fight of the night came on the undercard (and should have been the co-main) as Christian Mbilli retained his minor super middleweight title in an absolute thriller with a draw against Lester Martinez.

The fight was filled with tremendous action and a deserved draw that requires a rematch.

The judges' scores were 97-93 for Martinez, 96-94 for Mbilli, and 95-95, which was my score.

The actual co-feature was mildly disappointing as unbeaten junior middleweight Callum Walsh won a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Fernando Vargas Jr.

The fight suffered from following Mbilli-Martinez but wasn't that bad, with Walsh winning by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 times two.

My score was closer for Walsh at 97-93.

The final fight of the challenge saw an upset as number one junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk was upset for the second time by Brandon Adams.

Adams had knocked out Bohachuk in 2021, and Bohachuk had since become a contender with a near-win against Vergil Ortiz.

Styles make fights, and some fighters have their kryptonite, and Adams must be Bohachuk's.

Bohachuk tried, but Adams was consistently better throughout the fight and won a deserved unanimous decision by scores of 99-91 and two scores of 98-92, the same as mine.

I will be back tomorrow with the rest of the weekend in boxing

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 130 Pts (3) 

Ramon Malpica:  123 Pts (1)

Vince Samano: 51 Pts(3) 

Boxing Challenge

    Early Sunday morning, the undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue will meet the one fighter that he has yet to meet to complete his cleaning out of the division.

Inoue will battle former WBA and IBF champion Murojon Akhmadaliev in Nagoya, Japan, and some think that Akhmadaliev could be the man to push Inoue with a slick southpaw style, which is the style that has given Inoue the most issues in his unbeaten career.

Inoue was knocked down by Ramon Cardenas before rebounding with a knockout win, so some may think he's vulnerable.

Akhmadaliev was a decorated amateur and possesses the skills to make Inoue work for the win, beyond his past victories, except perhaps his first win over Nonito Donaire.

The question is this: Did the tougher-than-expected win over Cardenas show the first crack of vulnerability in Inoue, and Akhmadaliev will be the person who takes advantage?

Or does Inoue show his all-time great talent and repel perhaps his most difficult challenge in years?

The co-feature will pit WBO bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei against Christian Medina.

Boxing Challenge

World Junior Featherweight Title. 12 Rds

Naoya Inoue vs Murojon Akhmadaliev

Ramon Malpica:Inoue KO 6

TRS: Inoue KO 11

V.S: Akhmadaliev KO 9

WBO Bantamweight Title. 12 Rds

Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina

R.L and TRS: Takei Unanimous Decision

V.S: Medina Unanimous Decision

Boxing Challenge

   After quite a few tepid boxing weekends, we have a massive one on tap with two of the top three pound-for-pound best in the world in action.

The biggest match will be for the undisputed super middleweight title as Canelo Alvarez, the holder of all four titles, meets WBA junior middleweight and former undisputed junior welterweight and welterweight champion Terence Crawford on Netflix in Las Vegas.

Alvarez regained his undisputed title when he won the IBF version by unanimous decision over William Scull in an incredibly boring bout, while Crawford hasn't fought since 2024, winning a close unanimous decision over Israel Madrimov to win his WBA junior middleweight title.

Alvarez is the naturally larger man and the heavier puncher, but I've always thought of Crawford as a special fighter, and there are some parallels between Canelo-Crawford and another famous fight- Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

A bigger, heavier, and slowing champion against a smaller man attempting to move up in weight to outbox the larger fighter.

It's asking a lot, but Terence Crawford is capable of the task.

The undercard isn't filled with major fights, but all are interesting and competitive matches.

Unbeaten junior middleweights Callum Walsh and Fernando Vargas Jr meet in a ten-rounder that will be the first test of each fighter since turning professional.

This should be an action fight with the winner moving up the ladder with their best win to date.

The most important undercard bout is a super middleweight for a minor title as Christian Mbilli faces Lester Martinez in a match between two unbeaten contenders with big punches.

Mbilli is a bit more proven against better competition, with wins over Sergey Dereyvenchenko, Maciej Sulecki, and Carlos Gongora, while Martinez owns a notable win over Gongora.

The winner could have either the next chance at the Alvarez-Crawford winner or, more likely, pick up a vacant belt.

Junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk battles Brandon Adams in a rematch at middleweight.

Adams knocked out Bohachuk in the eighth round in 2021 to hand Bohachuk his first loss in a fight that saw Bohachuk way ahead on the scorecards.

Since then, Bohachuk has become a contender and has almost beaten Vergil Ortiz, losing a majority decision and knocking Ortiz down on two occasions.

Friday in Nicaragua, former multi-division champion Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez continues his comeback in a ten-rounder against Hector Robles.

Gonzalez hasn't fought since July 2024, but could land a bout against Nonito Donaire with a victory over the journeyman Robles.

On Saturday afternoon on DAZN, a rematch will be of more value than the initial fight, as the IBF welterweight title vacated by Jaron "Boots" Ennis is at stake. The fight will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Paddy Donovan dropped Lewis Crocker and seemed to be on his way to stopping Crocker before hitting him after the bell and being disqualified.

The disqualification was not overturned, but the IBF ordered a rematch ( the first fight was an IBF eliminator) and after Ennis vacated the title to move to junior middleweight, the fight was ordered for the vacant title.

Boxing Challenge

Bantamweights. 10 Rds 

Roman Gonzalez vs Hector Robles

Ramon Malpica: Gonzalez KO 8

TRS: Gonzalez KO 6

Vince Samano: Robles Split Decision

World Super Middleweight Title. 12 Rds

Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

R.L and TRS: Crawford Split Decision

V.S: Crawford KO 11

Super Middleweights. 10 Rds

Christian Mbilli vs Lester Martinez

R.L: Mbilli KO 9

TRS: Mbilli Unanimous Decision

V.S: Mbilli KO 6

Junior Middleweights 10 Rds

Callum Walsh vs Fernando Vargas Jr.

R.L and V.S.: Vargas Unanimous Decision
TRS: Walsh Unanimous Decision

Junior Middleweights. 10 Rds

Serhii Bohachuk vs Brandon Adams

R.L and TRS: Bohachuk Unanimous Decision

V.S.: Adams Unanimous Decision

Vacant IBF Welterweight Title 12 Rds

Paddy Donovan vs Lewis Crocker

R.L and V.S.: Donovan Unanimous Decision

TRS: Donovan KO 10

Boxing Challenge: Nunez outslugs Diaz

      Sometimes in boxing, fighters exceed their abilities because they know that they could be down to their final chance.

Christopher Diaz had failed in two title tries, and before his third attempt, Diaz was the opponent for the homecoming of the first title defense for IBF junior lightweight champion Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez.

Nunez won the fight and retained his title via unanimous decision, but Diaz won the night with a gallant effort in providing Nunez with a severe test in an all-action brawl.

Nunez looked to be ready to finish Diaz off in the seventh round when he knocked the veteran down twice, but Diaz survived the round and gave as good as he got in the late rounds.

Nunez won by scores of 117-109 (times two) and 116-110, which were a little wider than my card of 115-111 for Nunez.

Nunez is rumored to possibly face WBO champion Emanuel Navarette in a unification fight next, in what is a can't-miss all-Mexican action battle.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 127 Pts  (1)

Ramon Malpica: 122 Pts (2)

Vince Samano: 48 Pts (2)

Boxing Challenge

    After an inactive week in the boxing challenge, this week, we return with one fight, but it's a championship fight as Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez defends his IBF junior lightweight title for the first time against veteran Christopher Diaz from Los Mochis, Mexico, on DAZN.

Nunez won the vacated title via unanimous decision over Masanori Rikiishi in May, winning a title that Anthony Cacace gave up rather than defend against Nunez. 

Nunez's win over Rikiishi was his 29th overall, but the first one that he won by a decision after twenty-eight stoppage victories.

Diaz is an experienced veteran who has lost two title attempts (Emanuel Navarette and Masayuki Ito), as well as a loss to Shakur Stevenson.

Diaz has only been stopped once in his five losses, so Nunez's power may not overwhelm Diaz, at least in the early rounds.

Still, Diaz is the exact type of opponent that promoters like to schedule for boxers making their first title defense- willing to fight on the road, tough enough to give rounds but not good enough to seriously threaten for the win.

Boxing Challenge

IBF Junior Lightweight Title, 12 Rds

Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez vs Christopher Diaz

Ramon Malpica and Vince Samano: Nunez Unanimous Decision

TRS: Nunez KO 9

Boxing Challenge: Itauma Wallops Whyte

   Dillian Whyte looked in good shape, and he's always given a good effort even in his losses, so Whyte appeared to be ready to test Moses Itauma for the first time.

That didn't happen as the youthful bomber walked through Whyte from the bell, wobbled him badly, and dropped him to the floor.

Whyte got up, but the fight was concluded.

For Itauma, it was the latest in a list of spectacular victories. While the talk has started of a challenge to the undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, Itauma said that he would accept such a fight. Itauma admitted that contenders Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel were currently more deserving of the chance and stated that he would be willing to fight either man next to qualify for a Usyk fight.

As for Dillian Whyte, he appears to be finished at the top level and is headed for journeyman status, where his name is used to pad the records of young prospects like Itauma.

It's the cycle of life in boxing, and Dillian Whyte is completing the life cycle.

Junior lightweight Raymond Ford defeated veteran Abraham Nova by unanimous decision in a competitive fight.

Ford won by two scores of 97-93 and one of 96-94; I agreed with the latter.

Ford may be headed for a challenge of IBF champion Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez, which is quite intriguing.

Nova fought well in taking the fight on short notice and still maintains his status in the division.

I haven't seen the other two fights in the boxing challenge as of the time of this writing.

Nick Ball retained his WBA featherweight title by a unanimous decision over Sam Goodman 

Editor's Note- I scored the fight for Ball 115-113.

Filip Hrgovic won a unanimous decision over David Adeleye.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 126 Pts (7)

Ramon Malpica: 120 Pts (7)

Vince Samano; 46 Pts (0)