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April 10, 2025
TODAY: INFINITY – Ultimate Knockout Challenge
The countdown is over!
April 10 at Elorde Sports Center, Manila – come join us and witness an action-packed night of world-class boxing with FREE ADMISSION!
JUST ANNOUNCED:
Vincent Astrolabio vs. Prasitsak Phaprom – a firecracker clash between two battle-tested warriors has been moved at late notice from Phnom Penh to Manila !
Also featuring:
Yukinori Oguni vs. Jon Jon Estrada
Donnie Nietes vs. Miller Alapormina
Reito Takahashi vs. Erwin Banta
Jhon Rey Tariao vs. Glenn Mark Bejec
Lokmond Ngan vs. Crison Omayao
Jetro Pabustan vs. Mark Jequinto
Jenito Mabanan vs. Rovick Embuscado
Doors open at 4PM – come early, bring the crew, and feel the heat ringside!
This is not just boxing. This is INFINITY.
April 10, 2025
SUAREZ ONE MONTH OUT
Smiles all around as Charly Suarez completes some light sparring in preparation for his world title fight with Emanuel Navarrete on May 10th in San Diego.
Reports are that Suarez is looking faster than ever (if that is even possible !) and that the Mexican world champ is in for a world of trouble !
Charly worked today with Gerald Eederos and Arnel Baconaje, who also has a big upcoming bout in May against Japan's Rentaro Kimura.
April 9, 2025
SAM MINH PHAT - NEW DATE AND VENUE
Vietnam's Sam Minh Phat and the Philippines' firebrand Joey Canoy are set to meet in Mindanao later this month after a late change of date and venue for the main event fighter Marlon Tapales.
Phat will now head to General Santos City in the deep south of the Philippines for a bout scheduled on April 27th.
General Santos City is the home of many great Philippines 🇵🇭 boxers, including those from the famed Sanman stable, who will be the promoters for this month's epic event.
April 8, 2025
ONE MAN'S LOSS - IS UKC INFINITY'S GAIN !!
Vincent Astrolabio Returns to the Ring This Thursday in Manila
They say one man's loss is another man's gain, and Filipino boxing fans will have the privilege of witnessing the return of former world title challenger Vincent Astrolabio, as his comeback bout—originally scheduled for Cambodia, has been moved to Manila at very late notice.
The exciting news is that the fight will now take place this Thursday, April 10, as part of the Ultimate Knockout Challenge (UKC) "INFINITY" boxing event.
Astrolabio (19 wins, 5 losses), a standout from Mindanao, will face seasoned Thai opponent Prasitsak Phaprom (41 wins, 4 losses).
The bout marks Astrolabio’s first appearance since his world title defeat in July 2024 against the unbeaten freak Junto Nakatani . Prior to that loss, he had been on an impressive run, with his only other recent setback being a points decision to Australia's Andrew Moloney in a WBO world title bout.
UKC "INFINITY" features a strong lineup of talent, including former world champions and rising contenders.
The full fight card is as follows:
Yukinori Oguni vs. JonJon Estrada
Donnie Nietes vs. Miller Alapormina
Reito Takahashi vs. Erwin Banta
Vincent Astrolabio vs. Prasitsak Phaprom
Jhon Rey Tariao vs. Glenn Mark Bejec
Lokmond Ngan vs. Crison Omayao
Jetro Pabustan vs. Mark Jequinto
Jenito Mabanan vs. Rovick Embuscado
The official weigh-in and fighters' face-off will take place tomorrow.
April 6, 2025
JOEY CANOY TO FACE SAM MINH PHAT
A WBC International minimumweight title bout has been scheduled for April 14 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, featuring Filipino contender Joey Canoy against Vietnam’s Sam Minh Phat.
The match is set as the co-main event of the evening and will be held at a professional boxing event promoted in the Cambodian capital.
Joey Canoy (23-5-2, 14 KOs), a Sanman Gym boxer and stablemate of former world champion Marlon Tapales, enters the bout with strong momentum following a unanimous decision win over Ariston Aton. Canoy is currently ranked No. 3 by the IBF, No. 4 by the WBC, No. 8 by the WBO, and No. 13 by the WBA in the minimumweight division.
A victory in Phnom Penh would further position him for a potential world title opportunity in the near future.
His opponent, Sam Minh Phat (10-5, 8 KOs), represents Vietnam and is seeking his first win over a Filipino fighter.
Minh Phat has previously lost to Filipino boxers ArAr Andales and Esneth Domingo. Despite these setbacks, he remains active and is aiming to secure a breakthrough performance on April 14.
Phat lost in a very credible performance to world title aspirant Zhu DianXing, then resumed in February with a demolition win over a far lesser opponent Ne Lin Aung.
The participation of Sam Minh Phat has been made possible courtesy of the Vietnam Boxing Organization, who are the regulator of all professional boxing in the country.
Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxers are slowly starting to gain popularity outside of the country with foreign promoters, and a big performance by Sam Minh Phat in Phnom Penh will certainly consolidate the brand.
April 4, 2025
INFINITY - Ultimate Knockout Challenge
Elorde Sports Center Parañaque Manila
Thursday April 10th Starts 4pm
Catch the return of Jetro Pabustan, and a host of many other great fighters on show this month in Manila.
Admission is free - everyone welcome.
Yukinori Oguni v JonJon Estrada
Donnie Nietes v Miller Alapormina
Reito Takahashi v Erwin Banta
Jhon Rey Tariao v Glenn Mark Bejec
Lokmond Ngan v Crison Omayao
Jetro Pabustan v Mark Jequinto
Jenito Mabanan v Rovick Embuscado
April 1, 2025
THE PHOENIX THAT IS DONNIE NIETES
Look who's making a comeback !
Four division world champ Donnie Nietes has been one of the most discussed Philippines greats in recent years, largely because the long reigning boxing icon had never "officially" retired.
Well the debate, and the wait, is over !
Donny Nietes will finally be making his return to the ring at the Ultimate Knockout Challenge event INFINITY this coming April 10th.
This will be the first time that the former champ has been in the ring since 2022, when he dropped a points decision to the world rated #7 Japanese star Kazuto Ioka.
Little is known about Nietes current form, and he will be taking on the lesser known but bigger Miller Alapormina.
Excited for this !!
But the great fights don't stop there !
Some big names dropping !!
Yukinori Oguni v JonJon Estrada
Donnie Nietes v Miller Alapormina
Reito Takahashi v Erwin Banta
Jhon Rey Tariao v Glenn Mark Bejec
Lokmond Ngan v Crison Omayao
Jetro Pabustan v Mark Jequinto
Jenito Mabanan v Rovick Embuscado
More news to come !
April 1, 2025
Koki Inoue v Mikhail Lesnikov Round Three
The world rated #32 Japan #2 Inoue advanced to 18-2 with his stoppage of Vietnam 🇻🇳 trained Mikhail Lesnikov.
It was a very good performance from Mikhail, especially in the first two rounds where he gave Inoue troubles and landed nice counters.
But Koki Inoue was noticeably "thicker" than Mikhail, so the jump in weight class at this level was telling. Inoue looked very big !! He is every ounce a 147lb fighter now !
It's fair to say that Mikhail Lesnikov handled his southpaw opponent extremely well and without issue prior to the stoppage.
He got caught late in the third when Inoue was able to put him off balance landing to the head when Mikhail got careless and dropped his left hand guard.
The strong Japanese fighter was then able to turn and lift him on the ropes, and land a crushing power hand liver shot.
Congratulations to both fighters. Lesnikov dud a lot of good things in this high level bout, and will draw valuable lessons.
Expect to see him bounce back impressively back in his own weight class.
Lots of wins to come !
April 1, 2025
GINJIRO SHIGEOKA SAYS : "IT'S PERSONAL" !!
GINJIRO SHIGEOKA SAYS : "IT'S PERSONAL" !!
A Family Feud in the Ring:
Ginjiro Shigeoka Declares War on Filipino Champs
Revenge is a dish best served in the squared circle, and Ginjiro Shigeoka is sharpening his fists for a feast !
Just days after Melvin Jerusalem dismantled his older brother, Yudai Shigeoka, in a dominant display, Ginjiro has vowed to settle the score—not just with Jerusalem, but with every Filipino standing in his way.
And obviously first on his hit list?
International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran, whom he faces on May 24 in Osaka.
"I can finally fight the way I want to fight," Ginjiro declared, brimming with confidence.
"I’ll hit him without getting hit. I’ve leveled up, and I’m coming for revenge."
The 24-year-old firebrand is still licking his wounds from last July’s ninth-round stoppage loss in Otsu City, a match that he was heavily favoured to win. In fact, many viewed the Japanese star as unbeatable.
But he’s not just out for payback—he’s out for total domination.
If he topples Taduran, Ginjiro has his sights set on the man who just humiliated his brother: WBC champion Melvin Jerusalem.
"If I win this match, I want to unify all four belts. I am going to beat up on Taduran, and then, I’m going to destroy Jerusalem."
The task ahead for Ginjiro Shigeoka is ominous, as it means stepping into a shark tank where Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo (WBA and WBO champion) and the Philippines' two reigning titlists Jerusalem and Taduran are also circling - each with the same goal:
Total control of the 105-pound division.
It's a super exciting time in the minimumweight division right now, with all four fighters bringing their unique style to the ring and ready to throw down the gauntlet.
But first things first !
Taduran v Shigeoka on May 24th.
Buckle up boxing fans—this one’s personal !!
March 31, 2025
VIETNAM ADOPTED SON MEETS AN INOUE
Mikhail Lesnikov fights the main event in Japan later tonight.
Mikhail a well loved fighter here in Vietnam, but has a big task tonight against Koki Inoue.
All Vietnam 🇻🇳 is wishing you a great performance Mikhail ! Go boy !!
March 29, 2025
"MARCH MAYHEM" IN SYDNEY TONIGHT
Huge card going down at The Grand Vaudeville event centre this evening, hosted by our great friend Paul Nasari of Neutral Corner Fight Promotions.
Some of Australia’s best young talent will be on show, and of special interest will be the bout of Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 visitor Jamie Chang .
Chang posted an outstanding performance at his Australian debut, losing a narrow points battle to the unbeaten Emmanuel Shemeza, who also will be fighting tonight.
The PNG fighter will jump weight classes tonight for his battle with Kian Utchitel, a promising type making his professional debut.
Jamie Chang 55.5kg Kian Uchitel 57kg at yesterday's weigh in.
Best of luck to all fighters !!
March 28, 2025
PHILIPPINES STAR A REAL UNDERDOG
PHILIPPINES 🇵🇭 STAR A REAL UNDERDOG
Betting markets have just gone up, and as you'd expect, Mexico's Emanuel Navarrete is quoted as an "unbeatable" favourite against the "King's Warrior" Charly Suarez.
But world boxing fans are not so well informed, and often fickle, and these opening markets offer huge value to those loyal to the chances of the Philippines' best boxer.
Here's how the two fighters line up according to BoxLive :
PREVIEW
When is Navarrete vs Suarez?
Emanuel Navarrete will face the challenge of Charly Suarez on Saturday, May 10th, 2025, at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.
The fight will be contested over 12 rounds in the Super Featherweight division, which means the weight limit will be 130 pounds (9.3 stone or 59 kg).
This contest is for the WBO super featherweight championship of the world.
FIGHTER STATS
Emanuel Navarrete steps into the ring with a record of 39 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, 32 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Charly Suarez will make his way to the ring with an unblemished record of 18 wins and 0 draws, with 10 of those by knockout.
The stats suggest Navarrete has a large advantage in power over Suarez, boasting a 82% knockout percentage compared to Suarez's 56%.
Emanuel Navarrete is the younger man by 6 years, at 30 years old.
Navarrete has a height advantage of 1 inch over Suarez. This also extends to a 7-inch reach advantage.
Both Emanuel Navarrete and Charly Suarez fight out of an orthodox stance.
Navarrete is the more experienced professional fighter, having had 24 more fights, and made his debut in 2012, 7 years earlier than Suarez, whose first professional fight was in 2019. He has fought 123 more professional rounds, totaling 246 compared to Suarez's 123.
Emanuel Navarrete goes into the fight ranked number 1 by The Ring at super featherweight.
Charly Suarez is currently ranked number 15 by the WBC, 1 by the WBO, and 4 by the IBF in the 130lb division.
CURRENT FORM
Navarrete has beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance once.
In his last fight, he beat Oscar Valdez on December 7, 2024, by knockout in the 6th round in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Footprint Center, Phoenix, United States.
Prior to that, he had been beaten by Denys Berinchyk on May 18, 2024, by split decision in their WBO World Lightweight championship fight at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.
Going into that contest, he had drawn with Robson Conceicao on November 16, 2023, by majority draw in their 12 round contest in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Before that, he had beaten Oscar Valdez on August 12, 2023, by unanimous decision in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale.
He had won against Liam Wilson on February 3, 2023, by technical knockout in the 9th round in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale.
Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) had several hundred fights as an amateur, representing his homeland at the 2016 Olympics and several World Championships.
A six-year pro, he won a pair of regional titles in March 2023 when he scored a come-from-behind 12th-round stoppage over Paul Fleming on hostile turf in Sydney, Australia.
The Fleming triumph paved the way for a deal with Top Rank, and Suarez has won three straight fights in America. He knocked out Jorge Castañeda in three rounds last September, which came five months removed from a hard-fought eight-round decision over Louie Coria.
ACTIVITY CHECK
Navarrete's last 5 fights have come over a period of 2 years, 3 months and 7 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 5 months and 14 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 51 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 10.2 rounds on average.
Navarrete will be making his 4th defense of the WBO World Junior Lightweight Championship. He won this belt against Liam Wilson in February 2023.He had held this belt for 2 years, 1 month and 23 days.
Suarez has had 2 fights in 2023, and 2 fights in 2024. His most recent was a knockout victory in September of last year against Jorge Castañeda. This will be his first attempt at the WBO World Title.
#VSPPromotions #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #Elorde #ElordeTV
March 28, 2025
WHEN YOU DREAM OF WINNING A WORLD TITLE, Every little bit helps !
Charly Suarez and Coach Delfin Boholst were joined by the Philippines' superstar Manny Pacquiao at the Elorde Sports Awards night last week in Manila.
The trio took a quick "time out" to devote some quiet prayer in aid of a better world - which surely must include success for the "King's Warrior" in his upcoming world title bid !!
Suarez will take on legendary Mexican Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO 130lb strap in San Diego on May 10th.
March 26, 2025
SUAREZ "BUT I KNOW I AM BETTER"
Statistics hardly favour challengers in world title fights, with champions winning by a landslide of more than 70% of those contested.
The task of taking on a highly recognizable star like Emanuel Navarrete in front of a very supportive and perhaps biased "home" crowd in San Diego makes a successful assault on a title even more formidable.
The Philippines' best fighter will start a despised "outsider" in the betting at his World Title debut.
Or put simply - Charly is a real LONGSHOT !
Yet those that have been close to Suarez - watched him, fought him, or even sparred him, quite rightfully ask
"How the hell can Navarrete beat this guy ??"
“San Diego is an incredible fight town, and we are thrilled to return with Emanuel Navarrete, who will go down as one of the great Mexican champions of his era,” said promoter Bob Arum.
“Charly Suarez is a determined, unbeaten contender who will have everyone in the Philippines cheering him on."
“I’m at a new stage of my career, and I’m fired up for another defense of my world title,” Emanuel Navarrete said.
“This fight motivates me.
Suarez is undefeated and dangerous. He’s ranked No. 1 in the world for a reason. He’s exactly the kind of challenge that fuels me.
I owe the fans in San Diego a win, and on May 10, I’ll settle that debt with a dominant victory.”
36-year-old Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) makes his first attempt to become champion. The unbeaten contender from Asuncion, Davao del Norte stopped Jorge Castaneda in the third round last September and landed the WBO International 130-pound strap.
“I am thankful to Top Rank for this opportunity,” Charly Suarez said. “When I enter the ring on May 10, I will show the world I have what it takes. I won’t waste this opportunity.
Navarrete is a monster in the ring, but I know I am better.”
March 24, 2025
BAD INTENTIONS IN BOTH GLOVES
Former IBF Super Bantamweight World Champion Yukinori Oguni is set to fly into the Philippines to face Jon Jon "Wolverine" Estrada this April 10 at the Elorde Sports Center, Parañaque.
Yukinori Oguni is a Japanese professional boxer from Akō, Hyōgo. The rangy orthodox won his first 10 bouts straight, before later capturing the IBF super world title belt.
He holds a 21-3 record as a pro.
Oguni will be making his debut jump to the featherweight division by taking on the ever dangerous Jonjon Estrada.
The Japanese star had previously fought with the Filipino's three division world champion John Riel Casimero on October 12, 2023, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The bout ended unfortunately - with a controversial technical draw because of an accidental headbutt.
Two judges had it for Casimero, and the other judge for Oguni, in what was developing into a see-sawing battle.
JonJon Estrada has proven to be one of the Philippines most popular fighters in recent years. The man known as the Wolverine is renowned for his low crouching style in stalking opponents, and his penchant for blunt force trauma ahead of flashy skills. He is definitely no fan of leaving it in the hands of the judges.
Estrada has knocked out 14 of his 18 victims, and has fought some of the best boxers in the Philippines - including world title aspirants Michael Dasmarinas and Charly Suarez.
Be in no doubt that come May 10th, Estrada has the baddest intentions embedded in both gloves, and will be looking to offer his decorated Japanese opponent a very hostile welcome to the 126lb division.
March 21, 2025
WHAT'S NEXT FOR EMAN BACOSA PACQUIAO ?
Eman Bacosa Pacquiao, the 21-year-old son of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, continues to make strides in his professional boxing career.
Last night at the Okada Manila Hotel and Casino, Bacosa secured a unanimous decision victory over Arnaud Darius Makita from the Congo, advancing his record to 6-0.
Despite the Unanimous Decision, the bout was very closely contested, with both fighters having moments of dominance.
Bacosa faced early adversity, being knocked down in the first round, although the incident was controversially ruled a slip. Despite this setback, he demonstrated enough to secure the win against an African opponent that turned up in super shape.
Many observers felt that Bacosa's performance was a little subpar, and lacked the expected advances on his previous efforts. But there may have been good reasons, and it was rumored that the lack of energy was due to a "challenging" weight cut that Eman experienced prior to last night's bout.
Makita, who presented in excellent condition, pushed Bacosa to his limits, highlighting multiple areas requiring improvement in Bacosa's game.
Last night's showing has also sparked discussions about the immediate future of the young Philippines boxer, and the caliber of his next opponents.
Whilst there is little argument that Eman Bacosa performed below his best, there is equally compelling evidence to suggest that the son of the great Pacman is far better than that !
As an unbeaten 6-0 with 4 knockouts, this marketable prospect has both potential and power - and is continuing to attract plenty of new supporters.
An interesting potential matchup which would generate huge interest is against Vietnam's Nguyen Van Hai, who boasts identical win stats, and generates big views in his home country.
Such a bout could provide Bacosa with a platform to showcase his skills against a more experienced and formidable opponent, further solidifying his standing in the boxing community.
As Bacosa continues to develop under the shadow of his father's legendary career, he faces the dual challenge of carving out his own identity while meeting unreasonably high expectations.
His recent performances indicate both his upside and the areas needing refinement - but in spite of some of the criticism leveled at last night's performance, no one can argue that he was given victory on a silver platter !
A soft win it wasn't - and boxers can grow from those sort of bouts.
Last night was another small and necessary step and we eagerly await what's next for Eman Bacosa Pacquiao.
March 19, 2025
CHARLY SUAREZ WORLD TITLE MAY 10
Philippines best fighter Charly Suarez first came to Vietnam 🇻🇳 in 2019 to fight at Victory8 in Hanoi again the legendary Nguyễn Văn Hải. He loved his experience so much, he vowed to return, but tge pandemic conspired. It wasn't until late 2022 that the unbeaten Suarez got his opportunity, where he successfully secured belts at the FORTUNES OF WAR held in Vung Tau.
Those trips to Vietnam 🇻🇳 and training at VSP Gym were an important part of a very long journey in boxing for Charly Suarez.
It began as a 10 year old training with his papa, a long and decorated amateur career, folliwed by a long run of unblemished success in the professional ranks.
And now, at the tender age of 37, finally one of the most avoided boxers on the planet gets his WORLD TITLE shot !!
Big congrats to Charly and Coach Delfin - Navarrete is in trouble !!
Dan Rafael has revealed via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack tonight that WBO super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) will make the fourth defence of his title against the Philippines 🇵🇭 Charly Suarez 18-0, 9 KO)
Navarrete will defend his WBO strap against Suarez on May 10 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, according to “sources with knowledge of the plans.”
The card will be promoted by Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.
Navarrete, a three-division world champion, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. The 30-year-old Mexican warrior is coming off a savage knockout victory over former world champion Oscar Valdez, reaffirming his reputation as an elite finisher. His relentless pressure and unorthodox style have made him a dominant force from 122 lbs to 130 lbs.
Charly “The King’s Warrior” Suarez, has been ducked twice by Top Rank stars previously, and finally gets his well deserved world title shot this May.
A former Olympian, and one of the most technically gifted boxers the country has ever produced, Suarez has long been revered for his ring IQ, slick counterpunching, and elite movement.
Despite being the big betting underdog, the Davao native has every intention of putting on a clinic against the hard-hitting Mexican champion.
Expect the ethereal Suarez to take Navarrete to school !
“I respect Navarrete as a great champion, but this is my moment,” said Suarez.
“I’ve spent my entire career preparing for this chance, and on May 10, Philippines will have a new world champion.”
March 17, 2025
SUAREZ WINS SHOT AT WORLD TITLE GLORY
Dan Rafael has revealed via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack tonight that WBO super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) will make the fourth defence of his title against the Philippines 🇵🇭 Charly Suarez 18-0, 9 KO)
Navarrete will defend his WBO strap against Suarez on May 10 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, according to “sources with knowledge of the plans.”
The card will be promoted by Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.
Navarrete, a three-division world champion, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. The 30-year-old Mexican warrior is coming off a savage knockout victory over former world champion Oscar Valdez, reaffirming his reputation as an elite finisher. His relentless pressure and unorthodox style have made him a dominant force from 122 lbs to 130 lbs.
Charly “The King’s Warrior” Suarez, has been ducked twice by Top Rank stars previously, and finally gets his well deserved world title shot this May.
A former Olympian, and one of the most technically gifted boxers the country has ever produced, Suarez has long been revered for his ring IQ, slick counterpunching, and elite movement.
Despite being the big betting underdog, the Davao native has every intention of putting on a clinic against the hard-hitting Mexican champion.
Expect the ethereal Suarez to take Navarrete to school !
“I respect Navarrete as a great champion, but this is my moment,” said Suarez.
“I’ve spent my entire career preparing for this chance, and on May 10, Philippines will have a new world champion.”
The bout adds another chapter to the storied Mexico vs. Philippines boxing rivalry, which has produced legendary battles over the years. From Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera to Nonito Donaire vs. Fernando Montiel, some of the sport’s greatest fights have emerged from their classic match ups.
That said, the champion Navarrete will surely be supremely confident in his ability to overpower his lesser known challenger.
Despite the odds, Suarez’s technical brilliance and discipline will present a serious challenge to Navarrete’s relentless attack.
With Filipino and Mexican pride on the line, this world title fight promises to be one of the iconic bouts of 2O25.
But fight fans expect an upset - and a new Philippines world champion named Charly Suarez this coming May 10th.
March 17, 2025
NAVARRETE PUMPED FOR MAY DEFENSE
The Mexican superstar Emanuel Navarrete is already in outstanding shape, and confident of a dominant WBO world title defense in San Diego on May 10th.
"I don't know who I'll face in the future, but I'm sure I'll fight to be the best always!!!!"
#purovaquero 🤠🤠❤️❤️🇲🇽🇲🇽
Names in the frame are Andres Cortes and Charly Suarez.
But the Andres Cortes team ducked Suarez, so really, does he deserve a shot at Navarrete ?
Obviously NO !!
Let's hope the Philippines 🇵🇭 best fighter Charly Suarez gets to take on this Mexican cowboy 🇲🇽 Emanuel Navarrete !!
March 15, 2025
"VIETNAM" BOY IN SOUTHPAW SHOWDOWN
Adones Cabalquinto vs. Victor Nagbe:
Southpaw Showdown in Melbourne
Filipino veteran Adones Cabalquinto (26-4), is set for another major test on April 11 in Melbourne, Australia, where he will take on Liberia-born, Australia-based prospect Victor "Hot Chilli" Nagbe (9-1).
The opportunity to fight abroad has been made possible by the combined efforts of Robert Hill of VSP Promotions and Jayson Lau of DEF Promotions in Hong Kong.
Cabalquinto, a former standout under Manny Pacquiao Promotions, took a break from active competition to train and develop some of Vietnam’s top fighters whilst at Cocky Buffalo in Ho Chi Minh City. During his tenure, he stayed sharp by sparring with elite talent, including participating in VSP’s “Sparring with the Stars” sessions.
He was even regarded as an adopted Vietnam 🇻🇳 son !
Adones returned to his native Davao Philippines last year, and made a surprise comeback to the ring in August.
Despite obvious ring rust, Cabalquinto was dominant in a 6 round effort that saw him grind out a hard-fought victory over the very experienced Jose Ocampo.
That hastily organised bout was followed by a controversial early stoppage loss to world-ranked Roarke Knapp (world #40) in South Africa, in a bout where he looked quite comfortable before the referee blew his whistle.
Now ranked #2 in the Philippines at super welterweight, Cabalquinto steps up again against Victor Nagbe, a relentless pressure fighter known for his incredible work ethic—training up to five times a day.
Like Cabalquinto, Nagbe is also a southpaw, setting the stage for a highly technical, high-paced battle.
With VSP and DEF Promotions backing his comeback, Cabalquinto is looking to prove he still belongs among the best.
But Victor Nagbe, ranked #115 in the world, and is obviously hungry to make a statement of his own.
Predictions are never easy - but what we do know for sure is
April 11— Melbourne Australia - you are in for a Smorgasbord of Southpaw action !!
March 12, 2025
SANDSTROM WINS IBF TITLE IN SYDNEY
Linn Sandstrom, a professional Swedish boxer based in Australia , secured a unanimous decision victory over Yoselin Fernandez with scores of 98-83, 99-91, and 100-90 moments ago.
This impressive win tonight at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney earned Sandstrom the IBF International Super Flyweight title.
Sandstrom, a former world-title challenger, was always in control of a feisty Fernandez.
Trained by Tony Del Vecchio at the renowned Bondi Boxing Club in Australia, Sandstrom's hard work and dedication is reaping dividends despite only taking up the sport in her mid 20s.
VSP Promotions invited Sandstrom to compete in Vietnam in 2018 at the iconic Victory8 tournament.
Sandstrom's win tonight kicks off the Thurman-Jarvis prelims in Sydney, and marks a triumphant return to the ring for the Swedish boxer.
March 11, 2025
VICTORY8 HCMC - CLASS REUNION
Back in 2018, at the very first VSP Promotions Victory8 event in Ho Chi Minh City, two talented Australian fighters—Mateo Tapia and Linn Sandstrom—showcased their skills on an international stage.
Both fighters were part of a strong Australian contingent that traveled to Vietnam to test themselves against the country’s elite boxing talent in what became a landmark event for the sport in the region.
Mateo Tapia, now an undefeated rising star with a current professional record of 17-0, headlined the Victory8 card in a highly anticipated showdown against Vietnamese boxing cult hero Truong Dinh Hoang.
The fight was a thrilling contest, cementing Tapia’s reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting prospects.
It also confirmed the world class credentials of SEA Games gold medalist Truong Dinh Hoang, who took on the challenge at very short notice.
Linn Sandstrom, originally from Sweden but now fighting out of Australia, also faced a formidable challenge that night, taking on Nguyen Thi Tam, Vietnam’s golden girl and former world number one.
Sandstrom’s willingness to fight the best early in her career (only 2 years boxing experience) has since shaped her into a serious contender in the professional ranks.
Fast forward to tomorrow night at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, and both fighters are stepping into the ring for major title opportunities.
Mateo Tapia will take on Sergei Vorobev (20-2) of Russia for the IBF Intercontinental Middleweight title. This fight marks a crucial step toward a world title shot for Tapia, as a victory would propel him into the upper echelon of the division.
Linn Sandstrom is set to battle Yoselin Fernandez of Venezuela for the IBF International Super Flyweight belt. A win here would put Sandstrom on the path to a world title opportunity, solidifying her place among the best in the division.
Adding to the significance of the event, the night will be headlined by the return of former world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman.
The American boxing star, known for his power and skill, has only one loss in his much fabled career—a split decision defeat at the hands of the legendary Manny Pacquiao.
With Tapia and Sandstrom both fighting for prestigious IBF titles, this event could mark a defining moment in their careers, proving once again that they belong on the world stage.
March 10, 2025
ENDAR EDGES TRINIDAD IN THRILLER
Davao City's Dennis Endar secured a hard-fought split decision victory over Palawan's Jahzeel "The Technician" Trinidad last night, March 9, at the Calinan Gym in Calinan, Davao City.
Endar, a 24-year-old southpaw from Glan, dropped Trinidad in the 1st round with a knockdown that proved pivotal in the outcome. The Davao home boy dominated the early rounds, landing solid body blows until the 5th round. However, he began to tire, allowing Trinidad to gain momentum and control in the later rounds.
Trinidad, an Elorde prospect, showcased his skills and heart, winning over many new fans with his impressive performance. Despite the early knockdown, he demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, adjusting his strategy to target Endar with short punches until the final bell.
The judges' scorecards reflected the closely contested nature of the fight, with Endar ultimately emerging victorious by split decision. This win marks his 8th victory, against two losses and two draws.
Endar's performance reinforces his status as a world contender, building on his impressive draw against top-class Chinese boxer Hu Longyi in Vietnam last year. His tendency to fade in later rounds, however, may indicate that a move up in weight class is on the horizon.
Trinidad, despite suffering his second setback against 12 wins, demonstrated that he belongs in the world contender category alongside Endar. His showing last night will undoubtedly earn him more recognition and opportunities in the future.
The exciting bout was promoted by Firmo Aligato of Ring Master Boxing Promotion, delivering on predictions of being a fight of the year contender. The non-stop punching action from start to finish showcased the skillset, fitness, and heart of these two young champions.
March 6, 2025
CHANG READY TO GO "BANG" DOWN UNDER
Jamie Chang vs. Kian Uchitel: Sydney Showdown Set for March 29
Papua New Guinea’s rising boxing star, Jamie Chang, is gearing up for a highly anticipated Featherweight clash against professional debutant Kian Uchitel at The Grand Vaudeville Center in Sydney on March 29.
The four-round bout is expected to deliver an exciting showdown between two promising young fighters.
Chang (1-1) is making a bold move up two weight divisions from Bantamweight, embracing the dual challenge of size disadvantage and late call up. However, facing a debutant in Uchitel might offer a more favorable matchup compared to his last fight against Kenya’s undefeated Emmanuel Shemeza.
That bout, held in Sydney, was a high-intensity contest between two elite prospects.
Shemeza (3-0) entered as the favorite, but Chang’s southpaw stance and sharp counterpunching created problems. Chang landed significant shots, even hurting Shemeza in the fifth round, but ultimately fell short in a razor-close majority decision, with one judge scoring it a draw.
Uchitel, representing the well-regarded Darkside Boxing club, is making his first professional appearance but brings a strong amateur pedigree. His last amateur bout in December showcased his skill and composure, and with a natural size and weight advantage over Chang, he poses a serious test for the PNG fighter.
The bout is part of Paul Nasari’s March Mayhem event, a night dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming talent. Set to take place at The Grand Vaudeville Center in Condell Park, Sydney, the card promises fireworks.
These are exciting times for Papua New Guinea boxing.
Chang’s fight isn’t the only PNG boxing highlight this month—his compatriot Fidelis Laia is also set to make his professional debut against Jayden Buan at Qudos Bank Arena just a week earlier. With Nasari’s push to promote emerging prospects, Papua New Guinea’s boxing scene is gaining momentum.
Will Chang’s experience and technical skills help him overcome Uchitel’s physical edge?
Or will the debutant’s fresh approach and amateur pedigree be the difference-maker?
One thing’s for sure— this bout is shaping up to be a thrilling contest between two rising talents, and big thanks must go out to one of Australia's best promoters - Mr. Paul Nasari.
March 6, 2025
HEY - KEITH THURMAN IS IN TOWN !
Former multiple world champion Keith "One Time" Thurman is in Sydney Australia and will end a three year lay off when he takes on Brock Jarvis (22-1) next Wednesday.
Despite the extended break,Thurman is favored to beat the heavy punching Jarvis, and face off with Aussie Tim Tszyu later in the year.
Thurman (30-1) only has one career loss - that was at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in a cracking fight.
Keith Thurman did rounds on the pads at the world famous Bondi Boxing Club and is pictured with a man well known in Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxing -
Tony Del Vecchio aka Tony "Map" !!
March 3, 2025
PHILIPPINES BOXING LIVE TODAY
Watch all the FULL BLAST action here today !!
Monster card with 22 great fights coming your way from the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque Manila.
Starts at 10am Philippines 🇵🇭 9am Vietnam 🇻🇳
#elordegym #elorde #vspboxing
March 3, 2025
WORST HAIRDRESSING "FAILS"!!
Tank "TANKS" blames the barber.
Gervonta Davis reports that a combination of grease and faecal matter was placed in his braids before the fight, resulting in - THAT KNEE !!
March 1, 2025
FULL BLAST - WEIGH IN AND FACE OFF
All fighters made weight today and look ready for cracking performances at tomorrow's event in Parañaque Manila.
Catch all the best up and coming boxing talent this coming Sunday in Manila.
Event Details: FULL BLAST UKC: Ultimate Knockout Challenge
- Date: This Sunday
- Location: Flash Grand Ballroom, Elorde Sports Center, Parañaque
- Entrance: FREE
- Time: Arrive early to secure a good seat
Fight Card
1. Michael Orano (#263) vs Jessie Bell Goltiano (#306)
2. Carlo Diaz VII (#73) vs Ramcie Mondala (#94)
3. Dan Dacles (#348) vs Leonardo Doronio (#803)
4. Erson Trinidad (#100) vs Harry Omac (#175)
5. Argelo Samson (#377) vs TBA
6. Enrique Magsalin (#243) vs Jerico Tanate
7. Eljin Hemo (#119) vs RJ Candole (#123)
8. Alezer Trinidad (#170) vs Jerry De Vera (#381)
9. Ricardo Sueno (#356) vs Danny Tampipi (#766)
10. Zyvyr John Medecilo (#52) vs Michael Asuncion (#173)
11. Daniel Nicolas vs TBA
12. Rudy Britanico (#628) vs Kean Batanglawin
13. Jonniel Laurente (#299) vs Jason Dogelio (#787)
14. Lance Carreon vs Edrian Borja (#336)
15. Virgel Serrano vs Glenn Mark Bejec
16. Jeff Santos (#780) vs Reynald Condes (#704)
17. Cholo Alvarez vs Christopher Alonzo
18. Wendel Babasol (#1281) vs Lemar Rigor
19. Arjhon Ruiz vs TBA
20. Alvin John Salinas vs Mateo Caparoso
21. Jenito Mabanan (#1053) vs TBA
22. Mark Tanggan vs Rodel Basay
23. Lokmond Ngan (#1548) vs Alfredo Tesing Jr (#2407)
24. Anthony Galan vs Kenneth Delos Santos
25. Judy Genes vs Warlito Porras Jr
26. Jade Sumatra vs Jayco Octaviano
27. Bryan Macamay (#1177) vs Marlon Bacalando (#1186)
Don't miss this action-packed event!
February 27, 2025
ELORDE TEAM SET TO TURN IT UP FULL BLAST
Dressed for success !!
Catch all the best up and coming boxing talent this Sunday in Manila - Elorde team are ready to go BANG !
Event Details: FULL BLAST UKC: Ultimate Knockout Challenge
- Date: This Sunday
- Location: Flash Grand Ballroom, Elorde Sports Center, Parañaque
- Entrance: FREE
- Time: Arrive early to secure a good seat
Fight Card
1. Michael Orano (#263) vs Jessie Bell Goltiano (#306)
2. Carlo Diaz VII (#73) vs Ramcie Mondala (#94)
3. Dan Dacles (#348) vs Leonardo Doronio (#803)
4. Erson Trinidad (#100) vs Harry Omac (#175)
5. Argelo Samson (#377) vs TBA
6. Enrique Magsalin (#243) vs Jerico Tanate
7. Eljin Hemo (#119) vs RJ Candole (#123)
8. Alezer Trinidad (#170) vs Jerry De Vera (#381)
9. Ricardo Sueno (#356) vs Danny Tampipi (#766)
10. Zyvyr John Medecilo (#52) vs Michael Asuncion (#173)
11. Daniel Nicolas vs TBA
12. Rudy Britanico (#628) vs Kean Batanglawin
13. Jonniel Laurente (#299) vs Jason Dogelio (#787)
14. Lance Carreon vs Edrian Borja (#336)
15. Virgel Serrano vs Glenn Mark Bejec
16. Jeff Santos (#780) vs Reynald Condes (#704)
17. Cholo Alvarez vs Christopher Alonzo
18. Wendel Babasol (#1281) vs Lemar Rigor
19. Arjhon Ruiz vs TBA
20. Alvin John Salinas vs Mateo Caparoso
21. Jenito Mabanan (#1053) vs TBA
22. Mark Tanggan vs Rodel Basay
23. Lokmond Ngan (#1548) vs Alfredo Tesing Jr (#2407)
24. Anthony Galan vs Kenneth Delos Santos
25. Judy Genes vs Warlito Porras Jr
26. Jade Sumatra vs Jayco Octaviano
27. Bryan Macamay (#1177) vs Marlon Bacalando (#1186)
Don't miss this action-packed event!
February 24, 2025
DANIEL DUBOIS WITHDRAWS FROM RIYADH
Recent Anthony Joshua conqueror Daniel Dubois has sensationally withdrawn from Saturday's co-feature in Riyadh with popular New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker.
Many gave Parker a great shot of upsetting the more favored Dubois, but despite coming in at only two hours notice, a fight with incoming Martin Bakole seems a tougher proposition.
This a classic case of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire, as Martin Bakole is the most avoided guy in pro heavyweight boxing.
Quoted from news sources :
Martin Bakole is replacing Daniel Dubois in the fight against Joseph Parker this Saturday night in Riyadh because Dubois has fallen ill.
According to reports, Dubois was being evaluated by doctors on Thursday and was eventually ruled out of the fight.
As a result, Bakole, a Congolese heavyweight based in Scotland, has stepped in on short notice to face Parker. Bakole's promoter, Ben Shalom, arranged the fight in record time, and Bakole is flying over 2,000 miles from the Congo to Riyadh to make the fight happen.
The fight will no longer be for Dubois' IBF heavyweight title, but instead, Parker will defend his WBO interim heavyweight title against Bakole.
February 18, 2025
ENDAR v TRINIDAD - "RIYADH" IS IN DAVAO !
The humble Calinan Gymnasium in Davao may very well play host to what is arguably one of the most anticipated bouts in the Philippines' flyweight division this year !
Dennis Endar, the explosive southpaw from Davao, is slated to face off against Jahzeel Trinidad, the Lion Hearted from Palawan, for the coveted PBF Flyweight title on March 9th in the beautiful island of Mindanao.
Dennis "Machine Gun" Endar is known for his relentless pressure and awkward fighting style, and has already proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in his short 7-2 career.
VSP Promotions signed Endar to fight in Vietnam in August of last year, and his impressive draw against China's world-rated Longyi Hu at the Hoiana Resort alerted the boxing community to his rapid improvement.
Endar's ability to switch hit and swarm from both angles made him a nightmare to face for the higher ranked Chinese star, and served as an ominous warning for future rivals.
Jahzeel Trinidad shapes here as the higher rated and more experienced fighter, boasting an impressive 12-1 record in a career that commenced back in 2018.
The "Lion Hearted" has emerged as one of the most exciting talents to come out of Palawan since former world champion Gretchen Abaniel. He also hails from a talented boxing family, where brothers Alezer and Erson are top prospects.
Trained by the renowned Elorde stable, Trinidad has consistently honed those skills which were responsible for his 11 consecutive wins.
And his recent performances have been nothing short of electric - with four fights of his last six bouts ending in stoppage victories.
This matchup promises to be an instant classic, pitting two of the hottest talents in the Philippines' flyweight division against each other.
Endar's unorthodox style and Trinidad's precision and power will make for a thrilling encounter very reminiscent of a Riyadh style match up.
These are two of VSP Promotions very favourite fighters so don't miss this epic showdown on March 9th at the Calinan Gymnasium in Davao.
We are making an early call on this absolute banger and saying it's gonna be candidate for FIGHT OF THE YEAR !!
Get your popcorn ready !!
#elordegym #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #elordetv #vietnamboxingorganization
February 11, 2025
YOU CAN RUN - BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE !!
Whoever originally authored this quote definitely used Artur Beterbiev as their inspiration !
The first bout between light heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev and Dimitri Bivol was undoubtedly a classic match up, with both putting on master class versions of their respective styles.
But the closely contested match result wasn't without controversy, and it seems obvious the judges preferred the come forward style of Beterbiev, who appeared to land the more significant shots and was arguably the better ring general.
That said, it is stating the obvious that Dimitri Bivol will need to make changes if he wishes to get a different result in the second rendition of this great rivalry.
BUT CAN HE ? BIVOL SAYS YES !
In just 10 days, Dmitry Bivol will face off against Artur Beterbiev in a highly anticipated rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bivol, who boasts a 23-1 record with 12 KOs, is feeling confident about his chances, and it's all because of a change in his game plan.
Bivol believes that he can stand his ground and trade punches with Beterbiev, the undisputed light heavyweight champion, who has a formidable record of 21-0 with 20 KOs.
This new mindset is a departure from their previous fight on October 12th, where Bivol's constant movement ultimately led to his defeat.
Dimitri Bivol believes his best moments against Beterbiev were when he traded - and perhaps he is correct. But it's debatable whether he can maintain that mindset for 12 rounds without the very real scenario of getting himself knocked out.
Bivol's promoter, Eddie Hearn, still maintains that Bivol won the fight, but the judges disagreed. This time around, Bivol knows that he needs to prove to the judges that he can trade with Beterbiev if he wants to win.
Bivol's decision to stand and fight is a bold move, especially considering that Beterbiev hurt him in the seventh round of their previous fight. However, Bivol is undeterred, and he believes that he can out-punch Beterbiev to secure a victory.
If Bivol emerges victorious, he'll set himself up for a lucrative trilogy match, which would be a huge opportunity for him to showcase his skills. On the other hand, if he loses, it's likely that his chances of a third fight will be slim, and he'll have to face contenders like David Morrell and Joshua Buatsi.
One thing is certain: Bivol's new game plan has added an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming rematch.
Will he be able to pull off a stunning upset, or will Beterbiev's formidable punching power prove too much for him?
We'll have to wait until February 22nd to find out.
February 7, 2025
FIREWORKS PLANNED FOR CEBU PHILIPPINES
Two of the most popular international boxing identities to have competed in Vietnam are the Philippines 🇵🇭 Genesis Servania and China’s Aketelieti Yelejian.
Both boxers have scored impressive wins in Vietnam 🇻🇳, and in fact, Servania has moved from his home in Bacolod to train in Ho Chi Minh City.
In different circumstances, these two would be cheering each other on.
But tomorrow at the Nustar Resort and Casino in Cebu - these two are sworn enemies !
The two star boxers have gone on record to say that they boast the firepower to knock their adversary out - and it's high stakes !
Genesis Servania and Aketelieti Yelejian will duke it out for the WBO Oriental title, and no matter which way it goes, you can be certain you are gonna get plenty of BANG BANG for your buck with this one !
February 5, 2025
THIS ONE REALLY SUCKS !!
Bigtime disappointed that this match between old dog Mark John Yap and up and coming star Alexander Fredrikkson failed to meet the approval of GAB.
VSP had already run the story that what appeared to be a mismatch on paper - Yap with 34 wins up against Fredrikkson with only1 win would very likely turn out to be the fight of the night !
The deeds of Mark John Yap are well known.
But how about this kid who is one of the shining prospects of Omega Cebu.
Alexander Fredrikkson has been competing since he was 13 years of age, and has already amassed a super impressive record that will likely give him plenty of success as a higher level professional.
It certainly places him well in advance of your typical early stage fighter !
Consider this :
Fredrikkson went 178-7 in amateur fights.
He was a 6x national champion, and was ranked #3 European, #5 ranked in the world juniors at his peak.
His only fight as a professional lasted literally seconds into a first round demolition job.
Now regulators like GAB have an important role to play, especially when it comes to the safety of the sport’s competitors.
But is an inexperienced or debut boxer safe in the ring with Alexander Fredrikkson ?
I say NO !!
Bring on Mark John Yap !!!!
January 31, 2025
"MORRELL TO KNOCKOUT BENAVIDEZ "
David Morrell’s coach, Ronnie Shields, predicts a knockout win against the favorite, David Benavidez, this Saturday, February 1st.
Shields doesn’t know which round Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) will KO Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs), but he feels it will happen because his power will be too much for him. Benavidez has similar ideas, thinking he will hurt Morrell and score a knockout. Morrell has always done well against fighters who came to him looking to exchange, and Benavidez is tailor-made for his style.
“I don’t care if it’s by decision or knockout. What I care is I’m going to win, and I’m going to be the one coming out on top.” said David Morrell.
“He has to do both. You can’t fight Benavidez one way. You got to fight him at his own game, too,” said Morrell’s trainer, Ronnie Shields to Sean Zittel about Morrell needing to fight going backwards and coming forward against Benavidez.
Morrell will have no choice but to brawl and box Benavidez if he wants to win or survive 12 rounds without getting knocked out. Benavidez is a pressure fighter. That’s in his DNA, and he won’t let up even for a second in that fight. We saw that in his last fight against the bigger, stronger Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th last year. Benavidez constantly pressured the more powerful former WBC light heavyweight champion Gvozdyk and made him move to keep from getting stopped. Gvozdyk lacked the gas tank, youth, or willingness to stand his ground or attack regularly, which allowed Benavidez to win almost every round uncontested.
"Just because he [Morrell] has 11 fights doesn’t mean you don’t have the experience of doing it,” said Shields when asked what happens if Benavidez wants to drag Morrell into deep waters in the later rounds. “This is why we have the gym. This is why we train every single day for this thing.” Morrell has the experience in the amateurs, but he hasn’t fought anyone in the pros like Benavidez, and will put him under the gun for twelve grueling rounds. One way of dealing with Benavidez’s pressure is to go for a knockout early because he will be there to be hit.
Morrell has shown power to knockout fighters who have never been stopped in their careers. Benavidez hasn’t fought anyone yet with the kind of power that Morrell has, and he might fold once he starts getting hit hard on the head and body.
Although he likes to call himself a “Monster,” he is human, and his resume is thin on talented opposition. Morrell and his manager, Luis Decubas Sr., are right that Benavidez has fought many older, smaller fighters with one foot out the door into retirement. His trainer/dad, Jose Benavidez Sr., has protected him well all these years, matching him selectively to build his 29-0 record.
They had hoped to convince Canelo Alvarez to fight them, but he wasn’t fooled. He saw the fake record and wasn’t fooled. It’s the same bit that Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia did. Fight fluff opposition, build a plastic record, and then angle for a big payday against Canelo. It’s sneaky, but it works.
MORRELL BY KO, SAYS SHIELDS
“He’s going to feel the power when he’s close, and he’s going to feel the power when Morrell is at a distance. So, we feel we have the advantage both ways. I really truly believe Morrell is going to knock him out. I don’t know when, and I don’t care when. That’s just my gut feeling that we’re going to knock him out,” said Shields.
Morrell can knock Benavidez out, but he’s going to need to fight more aggressively than he did in his last fight against ‘Hot Rod’ Radivoje Kalajdzic for him to do it. In that fight, Morrell didn’t pressure enough and stay on top of Radivoje to get the knockout. He hurt him several times but didn’t go after him.
*story courtesy of Boxing News 24
January 23, 2025
Naoya Inoue 121.8 vs. Ye Joon Kim 121.7
Weigh-in Results earlier today.
The world title fight will be held at the Ariake Arena Tokyo on Friday night.
January 22, 2025
WELCOME BACK KEITH THURMAN !
One of the best to ever do it is back from the wilderness and headed to Australia.
KEITH "ONE TIME" THURMAN
January 21, 2025
WHAT THE HELL TOP RANK ??
You have the world's most expensive Bugatti - and you got it collecting dust in the garage !!
WBO Super Featherweight #1 contender Charly Suarez waits in limbo, while his potential victims are hoping he gets real old !
Top Rank have already had two boxers (Henry Lebron and Andres Cortes) shamelessly duck the Philippines 🇵🇭 freak talent at late notice
ie Sorry Charly - you're just too damn good for our expensive roster - can you just go away !!
C'mon guys, don't postpone the inevitable !
We know it's just business, and Suarez doesn't sell in America, but after he blows away Emmanuel Navarrete - surely you can get some ROI at his next fight ?
In the meantime, keep your boy busy.
Give him one of those lame ducks on your roster to keep the tools sharp.
C'mon Top Rank - the CHAMP DESERVES BETTER !!
January 18, 2025
COMING TO ILAGAN CITY THIS FEBRUARY
Hot Elorde prospect Wesley Caga is set to take on the Hardstone Monis hope Louie Jay Albino for the coveted WBF Silver Bantamweight title.
Both of these young fighters are coming off recent wins, and are looking to surge up the rankings in the very strong local bantamweight scene.
BAKBAKAN SA ILAGAN will take place at the Capital Arena in Ilagan City on February 8th.
Caga v Albino will be the main event on a quality 6 bout card - updates on this coming soon.
The event will be promoted under the ELORDE UKC banner, and has been made possible with the kind co-operation of the Local Government Unit of the City of Ilagan.
#liveablecityofilagan #worldboxingfoundation #elordegym #elorde
January 16, 2025
Success in Boxing: 30% Talent, 70% Great Management
The upcoming January 24th fight between Korean boxer Kim Ye Joon and Naoya Inoue is a historic event in Korean boxing. While the spotlight is on the fighters, it's crucial to acknowledge the role of exceptional management in making this fight a reality.
Mike Altamura, Ye Joon's manager, highlights the significance of proactive management in a boxer's career. With a resume boasting 13 world champions and fight deals in 72 countries, Mike's experience speaks volumes.
He graciously shares how he strategically positioned Ye Joon for the Inoue fight, demonstrating a proactive approach that's often lacking in Asian boxing. Some selfish managers choke careers, by clinging to boxers and waiting for a lucky break instead of actively pursuing opportunities.
This fight exemplifies the importance of a skilled manager who can navigate the complexities of the boxing world, secure lucrative fights, and maximize a boxer's potential within their limited career window.
Mike Altamura
"Last May I had TJ Doheny whom I manage on reserve for the Tokyo Dome event in an 8 rounder. We were strategically there in case Luis Nery missed weight or something transpired. Call it an insurance policy.
I was with Mr Honda of Teiken Promotions on Dec 15 in Osaka, a day after Goodman's initial cut and postponement. I floated to him to do similar to TJ with Ye-Joon. Given Goodman's potential for either to be re cut or the cut not heal, place us on reserve. Joon is rated and has a solid record. A week later, he called me to make that a reality.
We negotiated the fee and I had him scheduled against a Filipino. We remained focused on that task but knew the possibility of the Inoue fight landing was always there, so we strategically readied for him too. 48 hours ago, the call arrived! I've had a strong history working together with Mr. Honda which makes all dealings in Japan smoother" --
January 11, 2025
PRIDE AND JOY: PEDRO TADURAN
The Ring cites Taduran’s upset KO victory
Story courtesy of Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune
Before taking on Shigeoka, Taduran had absorbed controversial defeats at the hands of Rene Mark Cuarto and the Japanese fighter’s camp may have thought that he was already in decline.
Pedro Taduran was supposed to serve as cannon fodder for Ginjiro Shigeoka, the heavy-handed and unbeaten champion from Japan when they rumbled in late-July last year in Otsu City.
Instead, it was Filipino southpaw who came out on top by forcing American referee Steve Willis to step in with 10 seconds remaining before the end of the ninth round as Shigeoka, who was defending his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown, was being pummeled on the ropes by Taduran.
The stunning win, pulled off after Taduran’s relentless punching and display of steely nerves, was enough for the venerable Ring magazine to pick it among 2024’s biggest upsets, according to Viva Promotions, which has a stake in the IBF champion’s affairs.
His dramatic victory over Shigeoka, then ranked by the Ring as its top fighter in the powerhouse 105-lb division, earned him a nomination as well in the Comeback of the Year category.
Before taking on Shigeoka, Taduran had absorbed controversial defeats at the hands of Rene Mark Cuarto and the Japanese fighter’s camp may have thought that he was already in decline.
But Taduran showed everyone he was far from being done as he mauled the erstwhile Shigeoka, using crackling combinations to the head and body in the entirety of their bloody brawl before a stunned crowd at the Shiga Daihatsu Arena.
By the time the third man on the ring intervened, Shigeoka’s right eye was swollen shut and for safety precautions, the fallen fighter had to be stretchered out of the ring for further examination.
Meanwhile, plans are afoot for Taduran to make a choice defense against Filipino challenger Ar-Ar Andales in late-February or early-March.
In fact, “that’s our focus during our training,” Taduran said.
He was originally scheduled to face Chinese knockout puncher Zhu Dianxing last November in Jeju Island, Korea, but the Vietnam-based Korean promoter Cocky Buffalo encountered financial problems in the runup to the fight.
Taduran reported back for training a few days ago after spending the holidays in his native Bicol.
Handling his daily grind at the Elorde Sports Center is Carl Peñalosa Jr.
Presently, Taduran joins fellow 105-pounder Melvin Jerusalem as the country’s world champions.
Jerusalem is the World Boxing Council titleholder.
#vspboxing #vsppro #vietnamboxingorganization #boxingvietnam #Elorde #elordegym
January 11, 2025
VSP PROMOTIONS HAS GONE GLOBAL !!
It's official.
Boxing is indeed your passport to the world !
You will have noticed that VSP has been spruiking the potential of Papua New Guinea's 🇵🇬 boxers for some time now.
Junior Kauko Raka pioneered his flag with high level bouts in the Philippines and Vietnam, and now other top prospects are following his path.
Paul Nasari and Neutral Corner Promotions in Australia are big supporters of the growth of the sport, and have offered up some great fights on their March 29th card.
But it's going to be super hard to beat this one !
The "BOUGAINVILLE BOMBER" FIDELIS LAIA will make his pro debut against a guy who is revered in Vietnam - Jayden "the Bullet" Buan.
Jayden was a former amateur standout, who came to Vietnam as a 16 year old and performed on the biggest stages of Victory8.
He has since gone pro, and is an unbeaten 3-0.
But rather than duck and weave an easy path, the Bullet is embracing far more challenging opponents to fast track his pro education.
AND FIDELIS LAIA IS "MORE CHALLENGING" !
The Bougainville amateur team member has overcome numerous challenges and setbacks in his amateur journey, yet was still able to attain the status of twice been awarded national champ.
He has also tasted success in Oceania tournaments, which affords him that extremely valuable experience that will carry through to his pro debut.
And what a debut !
Whilst it could be argued that it's hard to find a more difficult first up assignment than Jayden Buan, the Bougainville Bomber was crafted from granite and tailor made for the professional format.
Win - lose - draw - expect to see an EPIC BATTLE to be produced courtesy of this man from Bougainville - Fidelis Laia 🇵🇬
Kudos Paul Nasari and the team at Neutral Corner for making these great fights and giving our boys a stage to shine !
#vspboxing #vietnamboxing #VSPPromotions #NeutralCornerPromotions
January 10, 2025
TADURAN THE COMEBACK KID
IBF World Champion Pedro Taduran has been nominated in two categories by the prestigious RING magazine.
As per their media :
THE RING AWARDS Upset of the Year Nominees 🏆
These victories shocked the world and reminded us why we love this sport.
🥊 Bakhram Murtazaliev TKO3 Tim Tszyu
🥊 Bruno Surace KO6 Jaime Munguia
🥊 Liam Paro UD12 Subriel Matias
🥊 Angelo Leo KO10 Luis Alberto Lopez
🥊 Phumelele Cafu SD12 Kosei Tanaka
🥊 Pedro Taduran TKO9 Ginjiro Shigeoka
The nights that rewrote the script. Winner announced Jan 11th 🥊
THE RING AWARDS Comeback of the Year Nominees 🏆
True champions are defined not by their falls, but by how they rise. These fighters showed the heart of boxing in 2024 with incredible returns to glory.
Winner announced Jan 11th 🥊
#RINGMagazine
January 9, 2025
LACAR SECURES WBC TITLE IN CHINA
Nice write up by the WBC after Surigao's Vencent Lacar posted an epic win over Olympian Bin Lu on December 28th.
"Filipino boxer Vencent Lacar made history on December 28, 2024, with a sensational performance to capture the WBC Far East flyweight title. Lacar overcame the experienced former Olympian and world title challenger Bin Liu of China in a dramatic bout held during the Boxing Gala in Haikou, China.
The highly anticipated contest lived up to expectations, with both fighters showcasing their skills and determination. Lacar’s speed, precision, and resilience proved decisive in a closely contested 10-round battle. The split decision victory was a testament to the Filipino pugilist’s grit and tactical acumen against a formidable opponent on Liu’s home soil.
The judges’ scorecards reflected the competitive nature of the fight. Two judges scored the bout in favor of Lacar, with tallies of 98-92 and 97-93, while the third judge saw it 94-96 for Liu. Despite the split verdict, the majority decision cemented Lacar’s status as one of the rising stars in the flyweight division.
Lacar’s victory is a significant milestone in his career, as he adds the prestigious WBC Far East flyweight title to his resume. His triumph also serves as an inspiration to Filipino boxing fans and underscores the country’s rich tradition in the sport.
With this win, Lacar has positioned himself as a serious contender for a potential world title opportunity, further solidifying his reputation on the international stage."
#vsppromotions #VSPBoxing #VSPpromotions #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxing #wbcboxing
January 4, 2025
VENCENT LACAR ENTERS IN STYLE
The walkout into the Wuyuanhe arena by Surigao's Vencent Lacar.
Less than an hour later, the Philippines 🇵🇭 fighter was hoisting the WBO and WBC belts after a monumental win over Chinese Olympian Bin Lu.
December 30, 2024
VENCENT LACAR DEFYS ALL ODDS
Undefeated Vencent Lacar of Surigao del Norte gave Chinese Olympian Bin Lu a neat boxing lesson Saturday night in Haikou, China.
Despite only having eight professional fights going into the fight, Lacar, who didn’t have any amateur experience, conducted a master class en route to snatching the World Boxing Council Far East and World Boxing Organization Oriental flyweight titles via split decision.
The scorecards read: 96-94 (Lacar), 97-93 (Lacar) and 96-94 (Lu).
The stunning win came with a nice prize.
“It was a really good performance. Bin Lu was way more experienced, very technical but Vencent stayed focused the entire 10 rounds, used his jab, range and distance really well,” said Vietnam-based promoter Robert Hill of VSP Promotions, who was at ringside.
“His work rate was great.”
The victory boosted Lacar’s win-loss mark to 9-0 with four stoppages.
Lacar, who only turned pro a little over two years ago, was clearly the underdog on paper against the southpaw Lu, who saw his record sink to 4-2.
The Chinese had challenged unsuccessfully to win the World Boxing Association light-fly crown in 2018 in Malaysia.
Before embarking on a pro career, Lu won gold in the 2012 Youth Olympics in Armenia and represented China in the 2016 Rio Olympics where he went as far as the round-of-16.
*story courtesy of Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune
December 19, 2024
VENCENT LACAR GUNS FOR 2 BELTS DEC 28TH
Surigao del Norte prospect Vencent Lacar 🇵🇭 will be representing the Philippines in China on December 28th when he contests the co-main event for not just one, but two major titles.
Lacar will fight China's Olympian Bin Lu for the WBO Oriental and WBC Far East Titles at flyweight.
Bin Lu is looking to parlay his outstanding amateur form into the world pro rankings, but the unbeaten pinoy has vowed to put an end to those aspirations.
December 9, 2024
THE TRIGGERMAN SHOOTS TO KILL !
Zamboanga heavy hitter Weljon Mindoro stops Aussie Joel Camilleri with a 4th round TKO in Dubai just moments ago.
It was a sensational result for the Philippines 🇵🇭 boxer known as "The Triggerman" , as the experienced Camilleri had never been dropped in a long amateur and professional career.
Huge poise and pressure applied with blunt force trauma - the sky is the limit for Mindoro !
December 7, 2024
WHY BOXING IS THE GREATEST !
"I’ve been questioned why I take photos with my opponents the next day, especially after a defeat.
A true boxing person knows that boxing is a sport of respect, of honour, a sport that only very few have the balls to do. We aren’t enemies after the fight, we aren’t enemies before, we are just rivals in the lead up.
This man went to war with me last night and came out as the victor. For that, he deserves all of the respect in the world 🌍
I’m a tough mofo, but this man was the better and stronger warrior on the night.
Win or lose, my opponents earn my full respect for sharing the ring with me.
Much respect Weljon Mindoro 🤜🏼🤛🏼
You have a big future in the sport 💯👊🏼🇵🇭"
- JOEL CAMILLERI
December 5, 2024
AUSTRALIA v PHILIPPINES READY TO GO !
Joel Camilleri and Weljon Mindoro made weight and are looking in crazy shape for tomorrow night's clash in Dubai.
The pair will be part of the IBA Champions event to be held the The Agenda function centre in Dubai.
The 8 round bout will be a real test for the boy from Zamboanga, who has won all his previous fights by KNOCKOUT !
Interestingly, the experienced Australian opponent has never touched the canvas in either the amateurs or the pros - including a torrid battle against former world champion Tim Tszyu.
This will be a cracking fight. We will show the live feed here tomorrow night.
December 4, 2024
PACMAN - IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER
The sand in the hourglass of Manny Pacquiao’s on-again, off-again flirtation with fighting could be winding down.
The Filipino icon turns 46 years old on December 17, has not fought professionally since 2021, looked like a shell of himself in a July exhibition, and is pursuing a political role in his native Phillippines early next year.
Although the eight-division champion Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39 KOs), is a sure-fire lock to be a first-ballot International Boxing Hall of Famer when the inductees are announced later this month, “Pacman” still believes he has one more run left in him.
“He's running for Senate in the Phillippines from February 11 to May 11. If he gets something by January 31, 2025 he's ready to rumble,” Pacquiao’s promoter and right-hand man Sean Gibbons told BoxingScene. “I don't know what's going to happen after that … With Manny, he could be fighting until he's 50.”
Pacquiao had been linked to a potential bout against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios throughout the year but after looking vulnerable in his exhibition against Rukiya Anpo, Barrios instead turned the page to a title defense against Abel Ramos in November.
“Manny didn't look as good against Anpo because of a lot of things behind the scenes that went into it,” Gibbons explained. “He didn't overly prepare for it. He thought he was fighting someone else and it ended up being a bigger guy. He felt great. What else can you do? It was an exhibition. He was there just to move around. The other guy thought it was a real fight. He came to make a name off of Manny and Manny still easily cruised through the thing for a guy that got off the couch.
“I told Manny that the Barrios fight was the perfect fight to make. Things got in the way with certain people in his ear, but that fight is still possible. It could happen in June, July, or August – one last one.”
Time is running out for Pacquiao if he’s solely planning to face Barrios to become a world champion once again. On Friday, Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn said he made an offer for Barrios to next face Conor Benn.
*story courtesy of Boxing Scene
November 29, 2024
VENCENT LACAR EYES TITLES ON DEC 28TH
The WBO hosted a packed media conference today, sharing details of some big title matches coming up in China on December 28th.
Leon Panoncillo, the Chairman of WBO International, previewed the big fights that await, and most importantly, what belts are at stake.
VSP Promotions are providing two of the headline bouts for this iconic event which will be held in Haikou, the capital of picturesque Hainan island.
Vencent Lacar 🇵🇭 a fighter from Surigao del Norte, will fight China's Olympian Bin Lu for the WBO Oriental and WBC Far East Titles at flyweight.
Ablaikhan Khussainov 🇰🇿 is a top prospect based in Almaty Kazakhstan, and he will be in search of the WBO Intercontinental belt at the expense of the unbeaten Yongquiang Yang. This Lightweight clash is foreshadowed to be the main event of the evening.
Congratulations to the organizers Hainan Golden Belt Sports Promotions for a highly successful media day.
#vspboxing #vsppro #vietnamboxingorganization #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vbo #WBO
November 27, 2024
KHUSSAINOV ON HUNT FOR WBO BELT IN CHINA
In the heart of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, nestled in the foothills of the majestic Tian Shan mountains, a relatively unknown boxing "sensation" has been quietly working on conquering the world.
Ablaikhan Khussainov, a proud son of Almaty, has long been groomed for greatness in the sport of boxing, and will be unveiled by VSP Promotions at a big event on iconic Hainan Island next month.
Growing up in a family passionate about sports and boxing, Khussainov was introduced to the sweet science from a young age. He spent countless hours honing his craft, driven by a fierce determination to succeed. As an amateur, Khussainov racked up an impressive record of 230 wins from 250 fights, showcasing his exceptional skill and tenacity. And it was this success that laid the foundation for a promising professional career.
Khussainov already boasts the impressive stats of 13-1 (10KO) in the pros, but opportunities are not easy to come by in his homeland.
So Khussainov abides by a "have gloves will travel" mindset, with the majority of his fights taking place outside of his country.
The adventurous boxer has already competed in quality bouts in Canada, China, Dubai, Mexico and Russia in his short pro career.
The 33 year old orthodox puncher draws inspiration from his idol, the legendary Kazakh boxer Gennady Golovkin (GGG).
Like Golovkin, Khussainov harbors ambitions of becoming a world champion, and his unwavering dedication to training suggests he is willing to put in the hard work necessary to achieve his goal.
When not in the gym, Khussainov enjoys relaxing in the mountains surrounding Almaty, often going hiking and climbing to clear his mind and recharge his batteries. This connection to nature helps him stay grounded and focused on his objectives.
As Khussainov prepares to face the unbeaten Yongquiang Yang for the WBO International title on December 28th, there are many in Kazakhstan that confidently suggest that this is the "big break" that he has been working towards. A win will see him step up towards the big fights that he has been dreaming of.
But every mountain summit has it's challenges, and China’s current WBO champion Yongquiang Yang has looked simply indomitable in recent appearances.
Will the mountain warrior from Almaty prove victorious and take a significant step towards realizing his world championship dreams?
#vietnamboxingorganization #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vbo
November 26, 2024
VSP TO PLAY IN BEAUTIFUL TAIPEI CITY
VSP Promotions are sending boxers to some beautiful parts of the world this December - and it doesn't get much nicer than the capital city Taipei ! Taiwan has long produced excellent amateur boxers, and is now investing in the professional sport.
Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer Tran Tan Quang Dao is set to fight one of one of Taiwan's emerging stars at the Taipei Arena on December 21st.
Kai Yu Hsieh is an unbeaten prospect and rapidly making a name for himself in the boxing world. With a perfect record of 2 wins, both victories were dominant shutout performances on points, showcasing advanced skills and technical prowess.
Hsieh's amateur background is equally impressive, having won the gold medal in the national amateur championships at 64kg.
But Hsieh's next bout against Tran Tan Quang Dao will be a significant test of his skills, and obviously a great opportunity to gain more experience and exposure.
But Tran Tan Quang Dao is on that similar path, and has implemented a "duck nobody" policy !
Identical to his opponent, Dao has already secured two wins, and many argue that he was unfortunate not to have added two more victories to his record. His two most recent bouts were closely contested, with some observers believing that the decisions could have gone in his favor.
That said, Dao is constantly seeking improvements to his craft along with new challenges, and his clash with Kai Yu Hsieh will be an excellent tribute to close out 2024.
#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxingorganization #vbo
November 24, 2024
DAO TAKES ONE OF TAIWAN'S TOP PROSPECTS
Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer Tran Tan Quang Dao is set to fight one of one of Taiwan's emerging stars at the Taipei Arena on December 21st.
Kai Yu Hsieh, an unbeaten prospect and making a name for himself in the boxing world. With a perfect record of 2 wins, both victories were dominant shutout wins on points, showcasing his impressive skills and technical prowess.
Hsieh's amateur background is equally impressive, having won the gold medal in the national amateur championships at 64kg.
But Hsieh's next bout against Tran Tan Quang Dao will be a significant test of his skills, and obviously a great opportunity to gain more experience and exposure.
But Tran Tan Quang Dao is on that similar path, and has implemented a "duck nobody" policy !
Identical to his opponent, Dao has already secured two wins, and many argue that he was unfortunate not to have added two more victories to his record. His two most recent bouts were closely contested, with some observers believing that the decisions could have gone in his favor.
That said, Dao is constantly seeing improvements to his craft along with new challenges, and his clash with Kai Yu Hsieh will be an excellent tribute to close out 2024.
#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxingorganization #vbo
November 24, 2024
NGUYỄN VĂN HẢI ON A KOREAN "KO" MISSION
The "Hanoi Hitman" looks to close out 2024 in Korea next month - and he promises to do so in devastating fashion !
Hai is booked to fight former national champ Min Guk Ju - a southpaw boxer with 9 wins to his credit. The bout will take place on Jeju Island South Korea on December 15th.
The Seoul based boxer is certainly an interesting opponent, and there are many question marks surrounding his chances in a fight with the Vietnam star.
Min Guk Ju has not fought since October of last year, yet his decision to take on a tough opponent like Nguyễn Văn Hải suggests that he is very confident of recapturing his very best form.
It also speaks loudly of a boxer that is looking to fast track his world rankings.
Min Guk Ju was controversially beaten for the WBC Asia Continental title in China - a bout he lost narrowly on points despite knocking his opponent down in the contest.
He was then stopped in Japan by the unbeaten Chihiro Iwashita - a real "hell fight" where at any moment, either boxer could get have dropped, and both were tasting moments of success.
Suffice to say - the Korean boxer is high calibre, and with vengeance on his mind, will be looking to make a statement with a victory over the classy Nguyễn Văn Hải.
But the Hanoi Hitman has plans of his own !
"Boxing has been very good to me. I get to make new friends, and I am always excited to visit new parts of the world. I am very lucky !
This will be my first chance to visit Jeju Island in Korea - I heard it is a very beautiful place.
I have full respect to my opponent - he has been a champion, and he is looking to make his mark again in the game of boxing.
But this year will end badly for him.
Hai plans to knock him out and deliver a beautiful gift to the people of Jeju Island.
I'm looking for bigger fights in 2025, so I will be devastating with Min Guk Ju.
No mercy !"
#vsppromotions #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam ##vietnamboxingorganization #vbo
November 22, 2024
HAVE THE WBA LOST THE PLOT ??
It's seems that the World Boxing Association are permanently on their backs with their knees pinned behind their ears !
Years of inconsistent and slutty sanctioning has seen the WBA deleted from the industry's official record keeper BoxRec.
So I guess nobody would be surprised by the following :
"Boxing promoter, Lou DiBella gives his thoughts on WBA president Gilberto J Mendoza’s shameful tweet, where he insisted he would “love to see” Jake Paul vs Julio César Chávez Jr for a “championship belt” "
November 22, 2024
VENCENT LACAR TO FIGHT FOR TITLES IN CHINA
Exciting breaking news is that VSP have just signed Mindanao prospect Vencent Lacar to challenge for both the WBO Oriental and WBC Far East titles on December 28th.
Lacar, who boasts an unblemished 8-0 record, will take on former Chinese Olympian Bin Lu.
The Chinese boxer is world youth champion and Asian Games medalist as an amateur, and sits at 4-1 since turning professional.
The bout will take place at city of Haikou, the capital of the very beautiful Hainan Island off the coast of Vietnam.
Updates on this big fight coming soon - meanwhile, here is some information on the Chinese opponent Bin Lu :
BIN LU
*Name:* Lü Bin (Chinese:, pinyin: Lǔ Bīn)
*Birthdate:* October 18, 1994
*Nationality:* Chinese
*Weight Class:* Light Flyweight
*Stance:* Southpaw
AMATEUR CAREER
- *2012 World Youth Championships:* Won the gold medal
- *2013 Asian Amateur Championships:* Won the bronze medal (light-flyweight)
- *2016 Summer Olympics:* Represented China, reaching the Round of 16
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
- *Debut:* 2017
- *Record:* 4 wins, 1 loss
- *Ranking:* Currently #3 in China
- *Notable Fight:* Challenged for the WBA light-flyweight title in 2018
#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions
November 19, 2024
HAS THE ZHU DIANXING SHIP SAILED ?
Oscar Collazo's devastating win in Saudi Arabia has thrown down the gauntlet to the Philippines Pedro Taduran by posing the question - just exactly which of these two fistic dynamos is THE GREATEST minimumweight fighter on the planet ??
Collazo destroyed the unbeaten Thammanoon Niyomtrong for the WBO World Title, and announced immediately after the event that it was his ambition to unify all the belts.
But he is late to the party.
Taduran has identical designs on all those belts !
Taduran was meant to fight China's top prospect Zhu DianXing on November 23rd, but the bout was postponed. Those plans now appear to be in tatters.
Expect some big news on Philippines world champ very soon.
* big thanks to Solid Sports Fans for the following story :
Pedro Taduran vs Oscar Collazo! Who will win!
It all comes down to styles and grit. Taduran, the current IBF minimumweight champion, is known for his relentless pressure, unrelenting volume punching, and an almost unbreakable chin. These traits make him a tough puzzle for any fighter, even someone as polished and technical as Collazo.
Collazo’s skill set is undeniable—his recent knockout win over Thammanoon Niyomtrong proves his sharpness and ring IQ. But against someone like Taduran, who can set a grueling pace and attack relentlessly, there’s a chance Collazo’s defensive and stamina vulnerabilities could be exposed.
Taduran’s resume includes battles with elite fighters like Rene Mark Cuarto and Daniel Valladares. While he hasn’t always come out on top, his rugged, fearless style often disrupts the rhythm of opponents. If Taduran can close the gap and turn the fight into a war of attrition, he might have the edge to pull off the upset.
November 17, 2024
TWO YEARS AGO ALREADY !!
Bit of nostalgia here, but this FORTUNES OF WAR was an extremely fun event (despite the many dramas) and well worth revisiting. And you will see that there are lot's of familiar names on this historic fight card.
The Vietnam 🇻🇳 team was spearheaded by Dinh Hong Quân, a guy that had been on a winning run and was defending an IBF Title, but he was having lots of trouble with his weight in the lead up. He even collapsed at one stage and had to be resuscitated at one point !
We had top young prospects Lê Hoàng Hiep and Phan Minh Quân, who fought out of their skins against international pro boxers with more than 70 wins between them !
Nguyễn Văn Hải is obviously a legend on the local scene but had been inactive, so he was a bit of a "query" inclusion - yet he produced a memorable performance that culminated in two dramatic knockdowns.
But even more amazing was the debut of another Vietnam kid Thai Hoang Huy - this guy had never even boxed (he was a muay thai student that loved the idea of being a boxer !) And he went in with an opponent that had 14 knockouts in 15 wins - BIG BALLS !!
Suffice to say, the Vietnam 🇻🇳 team had a great experience and a lot of fun at this show - it was held at the beautiful Grand Ho Tram Resort in the coastal area of Vung Tau.
The visiting international team?
Well - some crazy talent on that side of the fence !
Philippines 🇵🇭 - Charly Suarez, Mark John Yap, Arnel Baconaje, Jetro Pabustan and Jon Jon Estrada.
These guys share plaudits as multiple national and regional title holders, with the unbeaten Suarez currently on the precipice of a world title.
Indonesia 🇮🇩 - Paisal Panjaitan - a really top unbeaten prospect who is now #2 in his country.
Defry Palulu - an Indonesia #2 and WBC belt holder.
South Korea 🇰🇷 - Chan Ho Song - an unbeaten 12-0 guy with blazing hands and a World Youth champ.
Thailand 🇹🇭 - Anuson Thonglueang - a top youth prospect with only one loss in 14 bouts, and who currently sits at #2 rated Welterweight in Thailand.
Thanks for making this FORTUNES OF WAR a very memorable event boys, you put on a thrilling and entertaining show for everyone that was lucky enough to be there to see it.
VSP wish you continued luck and enjoyment in your boxing adventures ahead.
PS. the main event between Dinh Hong Quân 🇭🇰 and Arnel Baconaje 🇵🇭 was watched by more than 2 million people online !
https://youtu.be/wtvhUrz5EVg?si=wFMeYF-L41LBBD7p
November 15, 2024
DANA COOLWELL SET TO OPEN THE SHOW
Australia's Dana Coolwell takes on the unbeaten star Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington on the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul undercard tomorrow.
5.30am Vietnam 🇻🇳
6.30am Philippines 🇵🇭
9.30am Australia 🇦🇺 (8.30 Queensland)
Check out the great write up by the Glasshouse Country and Maleney News :
DEADLY SET FOR LONE STAR STATUS
AFTER all the blood, sweat and tears in the most intense training camp Dana ‘Deadly’ Coolwell has ever experienced, there’s just one thing left to do.
And that’s defeat up and-coming American featherweight, Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington, on the undercard of the blockbuster Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul main event. Coolwell is expected to walk into the middle of the 80,000 seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas from 8:30am-11am on Saturday, November 16.
The eight-round battle will also be broadcast on Netflix, with estimated viewers upwards of 25 million.
Coming after his last fight – in front of a sellout audience of 500 at the Caloundra RSL earlier this year- Coolwell knows what’s at stake.
“Every young kid playing sports dreams of competing on the biggest stage and I’m absolutely thrilled that this moment has arrived for me,” he said.
Win against Shu Shu and Deadly will have the world at his feet and a world title within his grasp. Lose and it’s a tough road back but if adversity was going to stop him, it would surely have done so by now.
The 25-year-old has overcome significant challenges, including witnessing domestic violence, losing his father at a young age, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol by the age of 12. But at the age of 14 Dana stepped into the Hinterland Boxing Club, where he met trainer and owner Steve Pitt, who would become his long-time coach and friend.
“I’ve been with Steve for 11 years now, and I originally went there for a bit of fitness because I was playing rugby league for the Beerwah Bulldogs,” he said. “But as I started sparring and enjoyed the sport more, I eventually had my first amateur fight after the footy season and I’ve never looked back.”
Dana quickly realised boxing was his calling. “Once I started boxing, I knew I wanted to go professional and that I wanted to win a world title,” he said. “I thought I had enough of the amateurs, so I decided to turn elite when I was 20.”
This marked a turning point in his life, helping Dana stay on the right path. Now competing internationally, his dream of winning a world title by next year is becoming more and more a reality. “Steve has helped me every step of the way,” he said.
“We’ve got a really good relationship, and he helps me not just in the ring but outside of boxing too. We make a great team.” Dana and his coach, Steve, flew to Los Angeles a month before the fight for an intense three-week training camp at Churchill Matchroom Boxing Gym.
“It’s been a really hard one to train for but it is exactly what I needed— coming to America early, getting away from family, and just getting in that fight camp mindset, taking it to another level,” Dana said.
“We did a lot of high-level sparring, which is what I needed to get used to that American style because they fight slightly differently over there. “We have also been working on sharpening up our pad work, fitness sprints, and just staying on track in training and acclimatising to the environment and time difference.”
Dana added that sparring with American boxers similar to Carrington has been invaluable, as they bring a specific style he lacked experience in boxing against. “It’s the typical Mayweather style, like with the shoulder roll, a bit more side-on, and they use their jab more and are a bit more patient, but we have had many different looks at the camp as well,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say it has been harder sparring with American boxers, because there’s a lot of good Australian boxers too, but it’s just the style I need to work on and train against.” Dana said he feels stronger and more prepared than ever, comparing his readiness to his IBO Intercontinental title fi ght at the Caloundra RSL on March 24, where he won. “I’m feeling really good, obviously all the hard work has paid off ,” he said.
“My fitness is right up there, and now I just have to do the last part, which I don’t like, which is making weight. “Once we get to Texas, I’ll be in a bit of a rest and recovery period. “There won’t be much intensive training—just focusing on the weigh-in where I’ll meet Bruce for the first time.” Dana is confident that he will win his bout against Bruce Carrington.
“What sets me apart is the will to want it and everything I’ve put into this fight camp,” he said. “I’m not underestimating him like I believe he’s underestimating me.” Dana flew out of LA on Sunday night, arriving in Arlington, Texas, just days before his life-changing bout. While training was his priority, Dana also took time to enjoy some iconic sights in Los Angeles. “We’ve gone to Venice Beach, Hollywood Boulevard, and a few restaurants around LA,” he said.
The Beerwah local expressed gratitude for the support he’s received from fans back home in Australia. “Thank you to everyone. I’m just so grateful I can do something I love and that so many people support me—it’s pretty cool,” Dana said. Dana is also a father to one, his son Iluka who was born on August 1, 2022. His coach, Steve Pitt, said he had a different look in his eye since his son was born.
“He’s really focused like I haven’t seen him in a long time… the responsibility of becoming a father has really heightened his maturity,” he said. The preliminary card featuring Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool for the WBO Super Middleweight title, Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica, and Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell, will be broadcast live from 8:30am AEST November 16 on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube, Netflix Sports YouTube and Tudum. kirra@gcnews.com.au
November 12, 2024
NETFLIX DEBUT FOR "DEADLY" DANA COOLWELL
Aussie indigenous star Dana Coolwell never officially fought on a VSP show, but we got him a gig in Dubai, and we had a couple of failed attempts to get him to Vietnam.
We also got him Aussie fights with a couple of good VSP boys Lorenz Ladrada and Fernando Tagpuno.
Now Dana has a big fight coming up in the States this Saturday against one of their rising stars - Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington.
But this ain't no ordinary club show - Dana will be fighting in front of 80,000 people as one of the big Mike Tyson undercard bouts at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas Texas !!
And there's more.
If you are a boxer, you'd never expect to end up on Netflix ! Crazy but true - the streaming giant is sending this worldwide !!
Dana takes on the much hyped American Bruce Carrington - an unbeaten 13-0 top ten Featherweight.
The guy is real slick - but he ain't DEADLY !!
Go Dana !!
ABC News ran a great story a little while back on the indigenous prodigy which we have published before.
It's a great read with some nice insights, so here it is again if you missed it:
THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS and that is true for boxer Dana Coolwell !
The 25-year-old from the Queensland town of Beerwah, roughly an hour's drive north of Brisbane, could have the eyes of over 550 million households worldwide tuning into his fight when he features on Netflix's maiden livestream boxing event in November.
ABC Sport can reveal the Mununjali man, who is the 16th-ranked featherweight in world boxing, will fight undefeated American Bruce Carrington on the undercard of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
The fight will take place at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, with 80,000 spectators expected to pack the Arlington stadium on November 16, AEDT.
"It's life-changing," a humble, softly-spoken Coolwell said.
"It'll be one of the biggest events a fighter from Australia has fought on and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I just really want to showcase my skills to the world of boxing and put my name in that mix of the world class boxers."
The massive bout for Coolwell, nicknamed Deadly, is in stark contrast to his last fight in March.
He improved his record to 13-2 with a win in front of a sold-out crowd of 500 people at the Caloundra RSL.
It is a moment that Coolwell believes he will thrive in and make the world take notice of his potential.
"I'm just making the walk out to the stage into the ring, and just imagining the crowd. But I think I'll rise to the occasion and feed off the crowd, and it'll bring out the best of me.
"These are the type of fight cards people dream of being on and I'm just really grateful that I get to be a part of it, part of history and fight in front of that many fight fans."
The fight card will be streamed by Netflix and will be available their millions of subscribers.
Sports commentator Renee Gartner said the unique opportunity for Coolwell to fight with potentially hundreds of millions of people watching can become a major moment for the young fighter.
"This is the biggest exposure Dana's possibly gonna be able to get," she said.
"People are gonna be seeing him for the first time on an international stage and beamed into households, 550 million households are worldwide, is going to put his name on everyone's lips.
"This whole undercard is absolutely stacked … We have some of the best female fighters, male fighters, everyone who's a boxing enthusiast is watching it."
"What's the topic of conversation at the moment? It's all about the cost of living and how hard it is for all of us to sort of dip in the pocket.
"People in Australia use sport as a way to sort of escape from the realities of what we're sort of doing on day-to-day life."
Coolwell believes in the American dream
The Australian will head to the United States in the coming weeks, landing in California where he will start his training camp in Santa Monica.
New York-born Carrington, who is undefeated through 13 professional fights, has been on Coolwell's radar for a while according to his coach Stephen Pitt.
"We've wanted the Bruce Carrington fight for a while," he said.
"He's a very well respected and very well liked American boxer … They think he's gonna be next world champion."
While praising the American challenger, Pitt said he believes Coolwell is in equal class to some of the best fighters in the world.
Pitt, who trains Coolwell out of the Hinterland Boxing Club, said he believes his fighter has always had the makings of being Australia's next world champion.
"I've known Dana's a star since he walked in my gym 12 years ago," he said.
"The entire world's going to see what I've known for a long time.
"You know we're not the underdog, we're the underestimated.
"Texans love Australians, Dana's a very likeable young man, he performs well, he speaks well, he holds himself well and we believe that the Americans will adore him."
If he defeats Carrington in his own backyard then he'll take a giant leap towards reeling in his world title opportunity.
November 9, 2024
AND THIS IS WHAT BOXING SHOULD BE !!
Two very exciting prospects met centre ring in Sydney last night- both intent on pushing their world class credentials, and they didn't disappoint. They turned on a cracking main event in front of a sold out and noisy crowd at The Grand Vaudeville !
Emmanuel Shemeza 3-0 from Kenya 🇰🇪 and Jamie Chang 2-0 of Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 were both sparkling amateurs before recently turning pro.
Shemeza was the boxer who was unluckily eliminated in the Olympic trials by an opponent who ultimately won the bronze medal.
Jamie Chang has battled limited opportunities to become a Pacific Games champion.
And despite the relative inexperience of both boxers at the pro level, their qualities and upside shone like beacons.
The Kenyan was a hot favourite, but Chang's southpaw stance and staunch defense had the champion troubled. And this proved to make it an extremely even contest.
Shemeza was the more fluid and active with his hands, but Jamie Chang threw thoughtful counters with purpose, perhaps even hurting his rival in the 5th round.
Most rounds were too hard to split, but Emmanuel Shemeza looked the more polished, and he finished it with a definitive final round.
Emmanuel Shemeza won by majority decision (MD) against Jamie Chang in this highly anticipated bout!
The judges' scores reflected a closely contested fight, with one judge scoring it 57-57 (a draw), while the other two judges scored in favor of Shemeza, 59-55.
Perhaps a little "home cooking" by the judges - VSP had it 58-56 to the Aussie based Kenyan - but no one would argue that Shemeza deserved the victory.
This was a thrilling matchup between two genuine world-class prospects, and full credit to their respective camps for testing the deep waters.
Congratulations to Paul Nasari and the team at Neutral Corner for making great fights like these, and we hope to see these boys make their mark on the Asian scene in 2025.
#vspboxing #vsppro #neutralcornerpromotions #VSPPromotions #RoyalRumble
November 7, 2024
CHANG AND SHEMEZA TOMORROW NIGHT
The boys are weighed in and ready for an epic battle in Sydney tomorrow night when Pacific Games gold medalist Jamie Chang takes on undefeated Kenyan boxer Emmanuel Shemeza in a thrilling 6-round super flyweight contest at the Grand Vaudeville function centre.
Shemeza hails from the much vaunted Akkawy Gym, and the tall unbeaten 3-0 prospect is already being hailed as a future world prospect.
But he won't have it all his own way !
Jamie Chang shapes as one of Papua New Guinea's top boxing prospects.
He makes his international professional debut courtesy of VSP Promotions. who are working overtime to make great fights for boxers in the Asian region while the local Vietnam scene remains a shambles.
Jamie Chang's appearance comes on the heels of his impressive knockout victory at Port Moresby's Sir John Guise stadium, where he overcame a wrist injury in training to claim his an emphatic victory.
Chang's coach, Ephraim Montoru, is confident in his fighter's abilities, stating
"Jamie is a very good all-round boxer - he does everything right."
However, Montoru also acknowledges that there's still room for improvement, saying
"We are definitely still a work in progress.
The best is yet to come, and exciting times are ahead!"
*The Fight Details:*
- *Date:* November 8th, 2024
- *Location:* Grand Vaudeville function centre, Sydney
- *Opponent:* Emmanuel Shemeza (Kenya)
- *Weight Class:* Super Flyweight
- *Rounds:* 6
*Chang's Background:*
- Pacific Games gold medalist
- 2 wins from 2 professional bouts this year
Will Chang's skills be enough to take down the unbeaten Shemeza?
Tune in to Paul Nasari's Neutral Corner Boxing show "Royal Rumble" to find out!
VSP PROMOTIONS supporting Asia’s best !
November 3, 2024
PNG TEAM ARE SET TO FLY OUT TOMORROW
Papua New Guinea's Junior Kauko Raka and Jamie Chang will arrive in Australia by midday tomorrow in advance of Friday night's "Royal Rumble" in Sydney.
The PNG pairing will be on hand to answer questions at tomorrow night's press conference, and will be accompanied by trainer Ephraim Montoru and assistant Peter Morrison.
VSP Promotions have worked with Paul Nasari to ensure that Australia gets to see the best of Papua New Guinea's current and emerging talent, and Raka and Chang will take on two hot and unbeaten prospects.
It is a credit to the PNG boxers for traveling to the lion's den to compete, and VSP can report that their opponents Jayden Buan and Emmanuel Shemeza had been forced to scour foreign shores in search of competition.
These are two genuine excitement machines that have been continually ducked at the local level, and are keen to build on their already excellent resumes with meaningful bouts.
Royal Rumble this Friday night presented by Neutral Corner Fight Promotions. live from the Grand Vaudeville, Condell Park Sydney 🥊🔥
Also catch all the action live on http://www.livecombatsports.com.au/live-ppv
#NeutralCornerPromotions #RoyalRumble #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #vsppro
October 31, 2024
VSP SENDS PNG TRAIL BLAZERS "DOWN UNDER"
The recent Pacific games gold medalist boxer Jamie Chang is set to attend his first professional international bout in Australia next week.
The top PNG prospect knocked out his opponent in his recent bout at Port Moresby' Sir John Guise stadium, overcoming a wrist injury that had hampered preparations.
Chang already has scored 2 wins from 2 professional bouts this year, but unfortunately, the successes were not recorded in BoxRec.This is not uncommon for PNG events.
Jamie Chang is set perform in Sydney on November 8th 2024, and will be joined Papua New Guinea's lightweight champion - Junior Kauko Raka.
The invitations to Australia were made possible by VSP Promotions, and both boxers will appear on Paul Nasari's Neutral Corner Boxing show "Royal Rumble" to be held at the Grand Vaudeville function centre.
Chang will be facing off against outstanding and unbeaten Kenyan Emmanuel Shemeza of the famed Akkawy Gym in a bantamweight contest over 6 rounds.
Chang's coach Ephraim Montoru (Maikuna Boxing Club) said his fighter is doing very well in his preparation for the upcoming event.
"Jamie is a very good all round boxer - he does everything right. But obviously these are early days, and we are definitely still a work in in progress, and as a team concede there is plenty of room for improvement.
The best is yet to come and exciting times are ahead !
We are taking on a really good fighter named Emmanuel Shemeza for our first test on foreign soil - and its a huge task, but we believe we have a very good chance of winning this fight."
October 24, 2024
AUSTRALIA versus PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Jayden "the Bullet" Buan was once famously quoted as claiming he has better hand speed than Ryan Garcia - and that he also possesses the silky skills that put that guy in the shade.
And Junior "the Prodigy" Raka is simply Old Skool - hard hands, hard head, and hard to beat !!
Great fight coming up in Sydney on November 8th at Paul Nasari's ROYAL RUMBLE !!!
October 15, 2024
JBC SUSPENDS JOHN RIEL CASIMERO
OUCH !!!!!!!
Due to failing to make weight, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) has suspended John Riel Casimero for one year. This suspension follows Casimero’s inability to meet the weight requirements for his non-title fight against Saul Sanchez, scheduled for October 13, 2024, in Yokohama, Japan.
Casimero’s past issues with weight management have now led to serious consequences that could affect his future plans, including a highly anticipated potential matchup against Naoya Inoue.
October 11, 2024
THAT'S DEADLY !! DANA COOLWELL
Aussie star Dana Coolwell never officially fought on a VSP show, but we got him a gig in Dubai, and had a couple of failed attempts to get him to Vietnam. We also got him Aussie fights with a couple of good VSP boys Lorenz Ladrada and Fernando Tagpuno.
Now Dana has a big fight coming up in the States against one of their rising stars :
Some big stories in Aussie boxing coming up, and now you can add this one to the impressive list :
DEADLY DANA COOLWELL will be fighting in front of 80,000 people next month on the Mike Tyson undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas Texas !!
Dana takes on much hyped American Bruce Carrington - an unbeaten 13-0 top ten Featherweight.
The guy is real slick - but he ain't DEADLY !!
Go Dana !!
ABC News ran a great story on this indigenous prodigy :
They say everything is bigger in Texas and that is true for boxer Dana Coolwell.
The 25-year-old from the Queensland town of Beerwah, roughly an hour's drive north of Brisbane, could have the eyes of over 550 million households worldwide tuning into his fight when he features on Netflix's maiden livestream boxing event in November.
ABC Sport can reveal the Mununjali man, who is the 16th-ranked featherweight in world boxing, will fight undefeated American Bruce Carrington on the undercard of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
The fight will take place at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, with 80,000 spectators expected to pack the Arlington stadium on November 16, AEDT.
"It's life-changing," a humble, softly-spoken Coolwell said.
"It'll be one of the biggest events a fighter from Australia has fought on and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I just really want to showcase my skills to the world of boxing and put my name in that mix of the world class boxers."
The massive bout for Coolwell, nicknamed Deadly, is in stark contrast to his last fight in March.
He improved his record to 13-2 with a win in front of a sold-out crowd of 500 people at the Caloundra RSL.
It is a moment that Coolwell believes he will thrive in and make the world take notice of his potential.
"I'm just making the walk out to the stage into the ring, and just imagining the crowd. But I think I'll rise to the occasion and feed off the crowd, and it'll bring out the best of me.
"These are the type of fight cards people dream of being on and I'm just really grateful that I get to be a part of it, part of history and fight in front of that many fight fans."
The fight card will be streamed by Netflix and will be available their millions of subscribers.
Sports commentator Renee Gartner said the unique opportunity for Coolwell to fight with potentially hundreds of millions of people watching can become a major moment for the young fighter.
"This is the biggest exposure Dana's possibly gonna be able to get," she said.
"People are gonna be seeing him for the first time on an international stage and beamed into households, 550 million households are worldwide, is going to put his name on everyone's lips.
"This whole undercard is absolutely stacked … We have some of the best female fighters, male fighters, everyone who's a boxing enthusiast is watching it."
"What's the topic of conversation at the moment? It's all about the cost of living and how hard it is for all of us to sort of dip in the pocket.
"People in Australia use sport as a way to sort of escape from the realities of what we're sort of doing on day-to-day life."
Coolwell believes in the American dream
The Australian will head to the United States in the coming weeks, landing in California where he will start his training camp in Santa Monica.
New York-born Carrington, who is undefeated through 13 professional fights, has been on Coolwell's radar for a while according to his coach Stephen Pitt.
"We've wanted the Bruce Carrington fight for a while," he said.
"He's a very well respected and very well liked American boxer … They think he's gonna be next world champion."
While praising the American challenger, Pitt said he believes Coolwell is in equal class to some of the best fighters in the world.
Pitt, who trains Coolwell out of the Hinterland Boxing Club, said he believes his fighter has always had the makings of being Australia's next world champion.
"I've known Dana's a star since he walked in my gym 12 years ago," he said.
"The entire world's going to see what I've known for a long time.
"You know we're not the underdog, we're the underestimated.
"Texans love Australians, Dana's a very likeable young man, he performs well, he speaks well, he holds himself well and we believe that the Americans will adore him."
If he defeats Carrington in his own backyard then he'll take a giant leap towards reeling in his world title opportunity.
October 10, 2024
FILIPINO TRAINERS PLOT TADURAN’S DOWNFALL
Two China-based Filipino trainers are plotting the downfall of reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran.
Cebuanos Rodel “Kid” Orais and Jing Jing Tepora are training Chinese knockout king Zhu Dianxing, who challenges Taduran on 23 November in Jeju Island, Korea.
The DAILY TRIBUNE caught up with them on Monday — their dayoff — and stressed that it’s all work.
“Walang personalan, trabaho lang (It’s just business),” they said when asked about the prospects of helping Zhu take the IBF 105-lb strap from the Filipino southpaw at the Maison Glad Jeju.
Orais and Tepora train Zhu at the Shenzhen Jianzhi Pro Combat Academy where they work hand in hand in helping Zhu reach peak form for his bold bid to dethrone Taduran.
Still, both swear they are not turning their backs on the Philippines by helping Zhu in dethroning Taduran.
“Pusong Pinoy kami pero nandito sa China ang kabuhayan namin (We are Filipinos at heart but our livelihood is here in China),” Orais said.
But it seems that Orais and Tepora are not immune to online bashing.
“We have stopped posting online because we keep on getting a lot of hate from people who can’t seem to understand the nature of our work,” Orais, a former fighter, added.
Meantime, Zhu will resume his training Tuesday with Orais and Tepora out to make sure their fighter remains on track.
Zhu has a 14-1 win-loss record with 12 knockouts and is aiming to become China’s newest boxing hero next month.
Truly, Orais and Tepora are just doing their jobs but Taduran is determined to spoil their plans.
*story courtesy of Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune
#elordetv #vspboxing #cockybuffalo #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #elordegym #elorde
October 10, 2024
SUAREZ SOON TO BE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN
Philippines best boxer Charly Suarez and his coach Delfin Boholst were welcome guests of the Games and Amusements Board office this week :
"Rising global contender and undefeated boxer Charly Suarez poses with Commissioner Angel P. Bautista at the GAB Central Office.
Charly Suarez rose to the top of the charts after securing a technical knockout victory against American Jorge Castaneda in the third round.
Suarez is undergoing intensive training as he prepares for an imminent bout with reigning champion Emmanuel Navarrete for the WBO Super Featherweight World Title."
October 8, 2024
Artur Beterbiev trước ngày đụng độ Bivol: Tôi đấm ai cũng ngủ thôi
Sự tự tin từ tỉ lệ thắng knockout hoàn hảo khiến Artur Beterbiev tin rằng chiếc đai cuối cùng đang trong tay Dmitry Bivol sẽ sớm thuộc về mình.
Artur Beterbiev sẽ bước vào trận tranh ngôi vô địch tuyệt đối hạng bán nặng với Dmitry Bivol vào rạng sáng Chủ Nhật ngày 13/10. Mục tiêu của võ sĩ 38 tuổi không gì khác ngoài thâu tóm nốt chiếc đai WBA đang thuộc quyền sở hữu của đối thủ.
Có lý do để cuộc đối đầu cuối tuần này được xem là nhiệm vụ khó khăn với Beterbiev, khi mà Bivol được đánh giá là cái tên có kỹ thuật vào hàng bậc nhất của làng Quyền Anh đương đại. Đã 23 trận đấu trôi qua, chưa một đối thủ nào - bao gồm cả ngôi sao Canelo Alvarez có thể lấy đi một chiến thắng trong tay Bivol.
Thế nhưng, niềm tin của khán giả và chính Beterbiev vào bản thân anh đến từ con số được xem là hoàn hảo hơn: 20 trận toàn thắng bằng knockout. Beterbiev cũng là nhà vô địch thế giới duy nhất có được thành tích toàn thắng knockout đến thời điểm này.
"Chúng tôi không chỉ nghĩ đến việc knockout, đó không phải là điều quan trọng nhất mà tôi và đội của mình nghĩ đến. Nhưng nếu tôi đánh trúng, thì ai cũng có thể gục."
"Dĩ nhiên, sẽ chẳng hề tốt chút nào nếu bạn chuẩn bị cho trận đấu chỉ với một kịch bản. Bạn cần thi đấu thông minh hơn thế."
Một điểm đặc biệt nữa cũng khiến khán giả sẽ hoàn toàn tập trung vào tính chuyên môn của trận đấu. Cả Dmitry Bivol và Artur Beterbiev đều không có ý định sử dụng những lời lẽ khiêu khích, hay chiêu trò chọc tức đối thủ như những trận đấu khác. Tất cả họ đều tin rằng bức tường tâm lý của đối phương là quá vững chắc, việc tìm cách công phá chúng thậm chí còn ảnh hưởng đến chính hình tượng của bản thân.
*story courtesy of WebTheThao
#vspboxing #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #webthethao
September 29, 2024
TADURAN PLOTS TITLE DEFENSE
The camp of reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title holder Pedro Taduran is not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to repulse the bid of Chinese knockout artist Zhu Dianxing on 23 November in Jeju, Korea.
“I would recommend that we get there at least a week before the fight,” Carl Penalosa Jr., trainer of Taduran, told DAILY TRIBUNE recently.
Manila doesn’t have a direct flight to Jeju and a stopover is needed to get there, making air travel a bit difficult despite its proximity with each other.
The fastest route is via Incheon but the total travel time — including layover — would still be around eight hours.
The weather is also being taken into account since Jeju, though located south of the Korean mainland, also gets cold in late fall with the temperature ranging from 8 degrees (night) and 16 degrees (daytime) Celsius.
Taduran, meanwhile, is immersed in training at the Elorde Sports Center and he just kicked off his eight-week buildup for the first defense of the IBF 105-lb title he had won last July in Japan.
As for Zhu, he is likewise neck-deep in his preparations in Shenzhen for his first crack at a world title.
Cocky Buffalo, headed by Korean Sang Bum Kim, is the lead promoter of the scheduled 12-rounder at the Maison Glad Jeju with the Vietnam-based VSP Promotions providing solid backup alongside Elorde siblings Marty and Cucuy and Sean Gibbons’ MP Promotions.
Zhu, ranked No. 3 by the IBF, parades a 14-1-0 win-loss-draw with 12 knockouts while Taduran sports a 17-4-1 ledger with 13 knockouts.
*story courtesy of Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune
#elordetv #vspboxing #cockybuffalo #vsppro #elorde #elordegym #vsppromotions
September 22, 2024
"I'LL SMACK CHARLY SUAREZ ANY DAY !"
World #2 Andres Cortes was not impressed with what he saw yesterday from the Philippines' champion Charly Suarez.
But his words of belittlement are surely a bit rich from a guy who vanished from the title eliminator match up without any explanation !!
Andres Cortes sparked controversy on social media by dismissing claims that he's afraid of Charly Suarez, his original opponent for Saturday's IBF title fight in Glendale, Arizona.
Cortes took to the comments section, boasting that he would easily defeat Suarez, even comparing him to the legendary Manny Pacquiao. "You tweaking, I'll smack him (Suarez) any day of the week, (him) and Manny Pac Man. They both old, no difference."
He also targeted Suarez's physical attributes, calling him "a 5'5", 37-year-old" (Suarez is listed at 5'6" and 36 years old on BoxRec).
"He's the easiest paycheck. I've seen him in the gym, and he's a very small old man, just being honest. I"ll send him back to his 9-5 !" claimed the cocky Las Vegas native.
However, Cortes' words are likely to haunt him as Jorge Castaneda, his replacement, suffered a third-round savage knockout at the hands of Suarez.
The victory solidified Suarez's reputation as a potential boss in the super featherweight division, while Cortes' comments have drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Many have questioned Cortes' decision to withdraw from the fight, citing concerns over his credibility and courage. Many proud filipinos had plenty to say regarding the fugitive's snide remarks.
"Talk is cheap, but actions speak louder," said one. "Cortes' comments reek of desperation and insecurity."
"When you start mocking someone's age and physical attributes, it's a sign of weakness.
Suarez proved himself in the ring, while Cortes hid behind words." said another.
Cortes' future in the sport remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – his words have fueled a heated debate in the boxing community.
If he has a valid injury then we wish him a hasty recovery, but it has also been suggested that the evasive Cortes was baking cookies with his mother at the time that Suarez was knocking Castaneda into another galaxy.
#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions
September 21, 2024
CHARLY SUAREZ WINS BY KNOCKOUT
The Philippines' Charly Suarez scores a massive a massive 3rd round knockout over Jorge Castaneda just moments ago.
World title bound !
September 20, 2024
CHARLY SUAREZ MAKES THE WEIGHT EASY
VSP and Vietnam 🇻🇳 friend Charly Suarez hit the scales at 129.4 for tomorrow's WBO International bout in Glendale Arizona. Opponent Jorge Castaneda weighed in at 129.1.
Suarez fought Vietnam's Nguyễn Văn Hải in an exhibition in Hanoi at the VSP show Victory8.
He also defeated Indonesia’s champ Defry Palulu at the Grand Ho Tram in Vũng Tàu in late 2O22.
The Super Featherweight title will take place on the undercard of the Top Rank Jaime Munguia return, and will start around
8.30am Vietnam 🇻🇳
9.30am Philippines 🇵🇭
11.30am Australia 🇦🇺
September 20, 2024
CHARLY SUAREZ 129.4JORGE CASTANEDA 129.1
WBO International Junior Lightweight Title — 10 Rounds)
We fight tomorrow: SUAREZ VS. CASTAÑEDA
Live in ESPN Arizona time 6:40pm
Philippines time 9:40am
September 18, 2024
CHARLY SUAREZ - FULL FIGHT CARD
The Philippines 🇵🇭 Charly Suarez heads to Glendale Arizona this Saturday where he takes on talented American fighters Jorge Castaneda.
Suarez will fight for the IBF International belt on a card headlined by outstanding Mexican Jaime Munguia.
Castaneda is a superb change of opponent for Suarez, and he replaces world #2 Andres Cortes in a bout originally billed as a world title eliminator and main undercard bout.
Mystery surrounds the withdrawal of Andres Cortes, but in reality, he was going to cop an ass whooping from Charly anyway, so Top Rank did the right thing by grounding him.
Bravo to Jorge Castaneda for stepping up.
A great fight coming this Saturday !!
September 16, 2024
IT'S A NEW DAWN FOR GENESIS SERVANIA
Bacolod's Genesis Servania will fight China's rising star Aketelieti Yelejian for the WBO Asia Lightweight title this November.
The highly-anticipated match up will take place on the undercard of the IBF world title fight between Pedro Taduran and Zhu DianXing at Jeju Island, South Korea.
Aketelieti Yelejian, who suffered a narrow loss to the Prince Albert Pagara in June, rebounded with an impressive IBF Asia victory against Korean Jin Su Kim in Vietnam recently. He is a very rangy and deceptive boxer known for his relaxed combinations, and he's supremely confident in his ability to take down Servania and claim the title.
"I've studied Servania's style, and I know I have the skills to outmaneuver him," Yelejian said yesterday.
"I'm excited to represent China on the international stage once more, and bring home an impressive win against a top and proven boxer like Genesis."
Servania, a seasoned veteran with a 35-4 record, boasts a reputation for toughness that has come from battles at the top level. And has still possesses some of the best body shots in the sport of boxing.
This important title shot gives the filipino the opportunity to re-establish himself on the world scene once more, and it's best remembered that his only defeats have came against world-ranked champions like Oscar Valdez and Andres Cortes.
But the China team have already confidently stated that Yelejian's youth, speed, height, and reach may all prove too much for the Filipino boxer.
Their optimism also exudes for the world title bout, where surprisingly, they are quite dismissive of Pedro Taduran's hopes of beating star Zhu DianXing. They actually rate their boxer so highly, they have predicted that the champion has no chance of retaining the belt.
These claims set up an intriguing backdrop for two massive Philippines v China feature bouts.
Fight Details :
- Date: Saturday, November 23rd
- Location: Jeju Island, South Korea
- Title: WBO Asia Lightweight
- Contenders: Aketelieti Yelejian (China) vs. Genesis Servania (Philippines)
September 15, 2024
WE WANTED VIETNAM - BUT KOREA WILL DO
Pro boxing in Vietnam right now is diabolical for promoting, so this IBF world title match has been snapped up by entrepreneurs in Jeju Island South Korea.
Champion Pedro Taduran from the Philippines has been a regular on VSP shows, and if you haven't seen this kid, check out his absolute demolition of the Japanese star Ginjiro Shigeoka.
Pedro went to the backyard of the unbeaten prodigy, a boxer previously thought to be invincible, and delivered him a savage beating.
China’s Zhu DianXing ?
How can you not love this guy.
An absolute terminator, he has been shredding opponent after opponent, and he is a very popular fighter here in Vietnam. And having seen Zhu DianXing many times in person, I can tell you this basic looking boxer is something special. He always finds a new gear, and he is as "cool" and relaxed a fighter as I have ever seen.
In another life, Zhu Dianxing would make an outstanding assassin !
Pedro Taduran v Zhu Dianxing
Jeju Island South Korea Saturday November 23rd
September 13, 2024
CANELO GETS STOPPED IN THE 6TH ROUND !
Edgar Berlanga predicts 6th round stoppage against Canelo
" I'm going to knock him [Canelo] out in the sixth round.
He told me he's got me in the eighth. I've got him in the sixth. It's going to be a war !"
The fight takes place this Sunday at midday Vietnam 🇻🇳 time.
Edgar Berlanga is an unbeaten 22-0 boxer with an impressive 17 victories in his knockout stats.
But Canelo represents a completely different challenge, and its no secret there is no love between these two.
September 13, 2024
"I DON'T HAVE TO GO AFTER HIM. VERY GOOD!"
Taduran drools over foe’s aggressive style :
*story courtesy of Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune
This early, defending champion Pedro Taduran insists he knows how to deal with a Chinese challenger Dian Xing Zhu when they tear at each other on 23 November in Jeju Island, South Korea.
“He loves to get inside,” Taduran said, his left hand on Thursday after working out under the watchful eyes of his lead trainer Carl Peñalosa.
Taduran will be making the first defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown and the Filipino southpaw has began studying videos of the hard-hitting Dian.
Given the challenger’s brawling style, Taduran believes it will only make him fight even better.
"I don’t have to go after him. Very good. He’ll be right there in front of me and that is something that I like,” said Taduran, who won the IBF 105-lb belt after beating the previously unbeaten Ginjiro Shigeoka last July in Otsu City, Japan.
Even Peñalosa swears Dian’s attack mode is tailor-made for his disciplined boxer.
“He stays in front of you and he loves to brawl.”
The No. 3 rated challenger packs a 14-1 record with 12 knockouts.
Since reverting to training mode, Taduran has showed up for morning running sessions daily and early-afternoon workouts at the Elorde Sports Center where his handlers — Elorde siblings Marty and Cucuy — reside.
VSP Promotions, a Vietnam-based promotional outfit run by Robert Hill, and Cocky Buffalo headed by Korean Sang Bum Kim, are staging the scheduled 12-rounder with the Maison Glad Jeju as targeted venue.
Assisting the Elordes in this fight is MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons.
*Big thanks to Nick Giongco and the Daily Tribune for the great story.
#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #elordegym #elorde #elordetv #cockybuffalo
September 10, 2024
SUAREZ FORCES TOP RANK STARS INTO HIDING
Henry Lebron and Andres Cortes obviously think so !!
This is the second time in his last three fights that Charly Suarez has turned Top Rank lions into pussy cats that don't wanna fight no more !
We understand the business Top Rank, but hey, if these pinup boys are ducking a 36 year old Charly Suarez - then surely they were never genuine world champion material in the first place ?
So let's send those boys to the back of the queue, and let's see what the new boy Jorge Castaneda can muster.
Castaneda is a tall orthodox fighter, with a nice jab and decent power. He's beaten some world class guys in amassing a 17-3 record, so he should at least be a good measuring stick for the Philippines star's world title claims.
But in future, please Mr. Arum - no more kitty kats ! Where's that kid Navarrete at ?
He loves a challenge, right ??
#vsppro #elordegym #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #elorde #boxingvietnam
September 9, 2024
TADURAN FACES CHINESE JUGGERNAUT
The first title defense of International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran will take place on 23 November in Jeju Island, Korea.
The challenger is IBF No. 3 ranked Dian Xing Zhu of China, who holds a 14-1 win-loss record with 12 knockouts.
VSP Promotions, which supports Taduran and secured the deal with the Chinese, is working in coordination with Elorde Boxing, and Cocky Buffalo Promotions of Korea headed by fast-rising Vietnam-based promoter Sang Bum Kim.
Taduran signed the contract a few days ago, according to VSP Promotions.
Parading a 17-4-1 mark with 13 knockouts, Taduran had won the IBF 105-lb crown after stopping previously unbeaten Japanese Ginjiro Shigeoka last July in Otsu City.
Managed by Elorde siblings Cucuy and Marty, the southpaw Taduran has commenced training camp for the tough defense against the knockout specialist from the city of Chengdu.
“I train six days a week and in the coming weeks, we are going to intensify our workouts,” Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE from his Laguna home.
Known for his incredible stamina and volume punching, Taduran is the slight favorite heading into this scheduled 12-rounder
But Zhu should pose problems for Taduran given his immense punching power.
Included on his list of victims are Filipino fighters, giving his duel with Taduran a revenge angle.
*story courtesy Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune
September 8, 2024
SUAREZ SENDS ANOTHER CHAMP PACKING !!
Charly Suarez confirmed his status of one of boxing's most avoided, two weeks out from a World Title elimination showdown with Top Rank star Andres Cortes.
World #2 Andres Cortes has sensationally pulled out of his fight with the Philippines phenomenon, and the circumstances have an eery similarity to a previous canceled bout with the unbeaten Henry Lebron.
The word is Charly Suarez has been lighting up sparring partners at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gyn in Los Angeles - and there were many "interested" observers.
News travels fast - and Andres Cortes has now bitten the dust.
Suarez was expected to be the 36 year old B side in Top Rank's game of Snakes and Ladders, but it appears the team of young lion Cortes have screamed a collective MEOW !
So another big name whimpers out, and Charly Suarez will now fight for the WBO International Title against American Jorge Castaneda 17-3.
#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions #toprank #toprankboxing
September 6, 2024
BREAKING: TADURAN TO FACE ZHU DIANXING
Philippines' world champion Pedro Taduran has just signed off to defend his IBF title against China’s juggernaut Zhu DianXing.
South Korea were the winning bidders to host the showdown, and the event has now been confirmed for Jeju Island on Saturday November 23rd.
Zhu DianXing is China's hottest fighter right now, and currently sits #2 on their p4p list behind popular heavyweight Zhilei Zhang.
Success against Taduran will make him that country's only world champion, and paves the way for mega fights in the future.
Pedro Taduran was outstanding in his recent demolition of the unbeaten Japanese star Ginjiro Shigeoka, and will be looking to repeat the dose against the highly touted Chinese challenger.
Zhu DianXing has looked unbeatable in this weight class, with 12 of his last 14 wins coming by way of stoppage, and it will take a sublime performance once more from the Philippines champion to repel the threat to his crown.
This IBF deal was concluded due to the combined efforts of VSP Promotions, Elorde Boxing, and Cocky Buffalo Promotions, who will host the huge show in South Korea.
A big thank you to Mr. Sang Bum Kim for continuing to support the dreams of many young boxers in the region. Kudos sir !!
#vspboxing #VSPPromotions #cockybuffalo #elorde #vsppro #elordetv #elordegym
September 4, 2024
TADURAN READY TO TAME THE DOGS
Pedro Taduran claimed a piece of history when he subdued an unbeaten Japanese boxing star named Ginjiro Shigeoka - a man previously thought to be invincible.
Taduran didn't just cause the upset - he delivered a savage beatdown that resonated throughout the whole of Japan. In doing so, he also captured the IBF World Minimumweight Title.
There is a NEW KING !
But now the dogs are barking. Everyone wants a piece of the new champ, and Pedro Taduran is already in training to keep the prestigious World Belt a prisoner.
The Philippines' champion is in negotiations with various potential opponents, with a defense to take place in November.
Vietnam and South Korea are favored locations for the event, with China being a wildcard possibility to host the World Title.
An announcement on who, where and when is expected by next week.
The newly minted world champ was in the office of the Senator Victor Ejercito today, where he was acknowledged and rewarded for his outstanding recent success in Japan.
Pedro Taduran is one of only two current world title holders from the Philippines, and a successful November defense sets him up for big unification bouts in 2025.
#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions #elordegym #elordetv #elorde #boxingvietnam
September 2, 2024
"ANYBODY CAN BE PUT DOWN" - TJ DOHENY
In his last fight against Nery, Inoue was floored in the opening round by a left-hand bomb from the Mexican southpaw but recovered to dominate and stop Nery in the sixth. Despite the win, Inoue showed some rare vulnerability, which Doheny noticed from ringside.
“What I took out of that is that he’s only human after all,” said Doheny. “Nobody is perfect; anybody can be put down. We’re going in there looking for a knockout, but it will be done intelligently.”
With their upcoming fight approaching, Doheny is clearly ready to exploit any weaknesses he saw in Inoue’s performance.
“Everything is in perfect condition and I couldn’t ask to be in a better position right now and I’m really honoured to be challenging for the undisputed world championship,” said Doheny.
“As a boxing man, a boxing lifer, anybody that holds an undisputed world championship, they deserve the utmost respect. So, just because he [Inoue] is my opponent, that doesn’t make it any different. But, we know come Tuesday night, we’ll have to leave the respect out the window till after the fight.”
August 31, 2024
PEDRO TADURAN: THE REAL DEAL
*story courtesy of Nick Giongco Daily Tribune
AS ONE OF ONLY TWO REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS, PEDRO TADURAN IS NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight king is back in the gym trying to get rid of rust that built up during the course of a close to four-week vacation.
Taduran deserved the long break.
Late last month in Otsu City, Taduran dethroned Ginjiro Shigeoka to bag the IBF 105-lb crown.
He didn’t just win it on points.
Taduran had to deal with the highly-partisan crowd and had to go down the well to get the job done before compelling the referee to intervene as Shigeoka had taken an enormous amount of punishment from the seemingly-indefatigable Filipino southpaw.
As he was packing his bags to head back to the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque from his home in Laguna, Taduran knew he had to assume the same persona once he began training.
While there is no confirmation yet as to who he’s going to fight next, where and when he is slated to make the first defense, Taduran insists he has to be prepared.
This early, there is an offer for him to face Dian Xing Chu of China in November.
And if that happens, Taduran has to ramp up his game to make it extra difficult for Chu to send his foe home crown-less.
But knowing Taduran, it is a given that the guy won’t show up less than 100 percent.
Unless he suddenly decides to surround himself with hangers-on, Taduran won’t end up making a defense of the title in poor shape.
The guy has a terrific work ethic and is naturally good-natured and calm.
Whenever he trains, there is just one guy assisting him: Trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr.
He doesn’t seek attention but only gets to take the spotlight at the right and proper time.
That’s exactly what happened when he defeated Shigeoka, who came into the fight unbeaten and regarded as the top dog in the division.
Fighting on the same night Manny Pacquiao slugged with Rukiya Anpo in Saitama, Taduran grabbed center stage by toppling Shigeoka.
And with the Elorde siblings Cucuy and Marty managing him, it is a safe bet that Taduran’s not going to be thrown to the wolves.
If everything falls into place, Taduran is going to have an amazing reign.
Personally, he’s the guy I have been telling friends in the boxing community to keep their eyes on.
Whenever we get the chance to talk via text, I always remind him that I liked his style so much that he will be hard to beat.
Just before he left for Japan, I dropped by the gym and told him again that Shigeoka will be in deep trouble.
I have too much faith in him that, one day, I might even put the rent money on him.
This kid is the real deal.
#elordetv #elordegym #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #vsppro
August 27, 2024
INOUE SET TO UNLEASH THE MONSTER
Japanese phenomenon Naoya Inoue (pictured this week) will face TJ Doheny for the Super Bantamweight title in Japan on September 3, 2024, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Inoue, a four-division champion, will be defending his undisputed super bantamweight title against Irish born Aussie Doheny, a former world champion.
- Naoya Inoue (c) vs. TJ Doheny for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring super bantamweight titles.
#vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vspboxing #webthethao #vietnamboxingorganization
August 27, 2024
CORTES A TOP RANK POSTER BOY ?
World #2 Andres Cortes (22-0, 12 knockouts) will face the Philippines’ Charly Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs) in a ten-round junior lightweight clash in Glendale Arizona on September 20th.
The bout will serve not only as the evening’s co-feature on a card headlined by recent Canelo victim Jaime Munguia, but is also pitched as a world title eliminator.
Both fighters are signed to Top Rank, with Suarez sitting on the tail of a three fight deal.
The King's Warrior is now 36 years old, and is definitely viewed as not being as marketable as Andres "Savage" Cortes.
And he certainly has not as heavily invested in as the Las Vegas native.
So should Philippines 🇵🇭 fans be worried ?
Anyone that has watched Charly Suarez can quickly see he is the most technically brilliant boxer that the Philippines has ever produced.
And he is without flaw.
No matter how good Andres Cortes (or any other for that matter) - Suarez possesses a fight template that is just so impossible to beat.
But as the "unloved stepson" in an already crowded Top Rank family, will the Philippines star likely get a fair shake in his upcoming bout in the States ?
Andres Cortes, who beat Teofimo Lopez twice in the amateurs was always viewed as a future goldmine before turning pro.
He has really impressive power and timing to go with his obvious skills, and possesses that killer instinct that fans go crazy for.
Upon signing with Top Rank, it was quoted :
"Andres Cortes is a tremendous action fighter and fits right in with all of the contenders at 130 pounds,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“He’s earned a promotional contract and the right to fight on major cards. I truly believe he can be the next homegrown world champion from Las Vegas.”
Cortes said, “This is an incredible opportunity, and I’m thankful to Bob Arum and everyone at Top Rank. Every time I fight, it’s the ‘Savage Show.’ I strive to entertain the fans and give them action-packed fights. With this contract, the sky’s the limit. My goal is to fight in main events and eventually bring a world title home to Las Vegas.”
Cortes is coming off his most notable win to date, though perhaps almost his most disputed as well. The unbeaten North Las Vegas native edged Abraham Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in a June 24 disputed points win in Las Vegas. With the win came the expectation of a title shot soon to follow.
That dream remains in place, though Cortes wisely chose activity while building towards that moment.
“Ever since the Nova fight, I’ve been working on my craft in the gym,” insisted Cortes, who fights for the third time this year. “I’m showing the world my full arsenal on September 20. I want a world title shot soon, and I need to earn it with a devastating performance over Suarez.”
There is no doubt that the September 22nd bout between Andres Cortes and Charly Suarez delivers the clash between two of the world's best 130lb fighters - so let's hope the result is clear and without controversy.
Charly Suarez for the win - and Philippines next world champion !
August 24, 2024
IT'S FIGHT DAY IN PARAÑAQUE - RESURGENCE
Don't miss the best of this weekend's fight action live from the Elorde Flash Grand Ballroom in Manila.
Today's card features a lot of up and coming prospects who are likely to develop into much bigger names in the future. So get down there to say you saw them first !
Support Philippines 🇵🇭 boxing !
Admission is free - early start with bouts from 11am.
#elordegym #elordetv #vspboxing #VSPPromotions
August 18, 2024
WHEN THE WAR IS OVER IT'S TIME TO EAT !
Mark John Yap and Jerald Into fought themselves to a standstill in stifling hot conditions in Surigao del Sur on Thursday night.
The two fighters turned on an all action performance in their pursuit of the WBC Asia title, and both were near collapsed on their stools at round 8.
Fast forward two hours, and despite a few aches and pains, the protagonists had recovered enough to take this shot in the food market which was buzzing for fiesta in Cantilan.
And it's a great reminder that true professionals are total warriors inside the ropes, and total gentleman outside !
Congratulations to Jerald Into for another superb performance - you are making improvements in every fight.
And big kudos to Mark John Yap for taking on challenges like this.
Jumping a weight class or two to fight a big guy like Jerald Into is no joke.
But even more newsworthy is that Yap had to rush back to CDO to welcome the birth of his baby daughter Claudia the very next day.
Now that is great timing indeed!
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs Yap on your new addition !
August 16, 2024
JERALD INTO WINS WBC TITLE IN TORRID BOUT
Jerald Into went 11-0 and confirmed his status as the Philippines best Lightweight with a grueling performance last night. The reward was the WBC Asia title.
Into was constantly pursued by the evergreen Mark John Yap, who did his best to shoot to the body at every opportunity. The pace of the fight was such, that both fighters appeared to be struggling as early as round 4 in the extremely hot conditions.
And the round was pivotal.
Yap had Into against the ropes and seemingly in some danger, but was careless in his frenzied attack, and got dropped with a power hand counter by his much taller opponent.
Yap hit the canvas for the first time in many years, and to his credit, beat the count and survived the round.
Round 7 heralded some crazy to and fro action, where Jerald Into appeared to be on unsteady legs at one point, but then he responded late in the round firing missiles out of nowhere, and had Yap on his bike to avoid his heavy shots.
The scenes before the bell sounded for round 8 were quite amazing!
Jerald Into had appeared to be near collapsed on his stool, and it was obvious the heat and pace of the fight had affected him. But the corner of Mark John Yap were equally afflicted, and decided to save their fighter for another day.
It was an incredible finish to the main event, but yielded a very deserved winner in Jerald Into, who was in control but under pressure throughout.
Jerald Into will now look to bigger fights in the United States, and Yap will likely drop back to his more favorable weight classes. He does appear to have plenty left in the tank !
August 16, 2024
STRENGTHENING TIES WITH TAIWAN
The Vietnam Boxing Organization (VBO) is excited to announce that our collaboration with the Taiwan boxing commission continues to flourish, creating more opportunities for our boxers and officials.
As a testament to this growing partnership, we are thrilled to share that three Vietnamese boxers (2 undercards and main event) and a VBO official will be participating in the upcoming Carry Fighting Championship on August 18th (Sunday). We wish Doan Van Hieu, Ngo Hoang Dang Khoa, and Nguyen Nhu Duong the best of luck! Main event will be announced separately.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Samson for his instrumental role in making this exchange possible. International cooperation is invaluable for the development of our boxers, and we look forward to welcoming more Taiwanese athletes to Vietnam in the future.
August 15, 2024
IT'S FIESTA TIME IN CANTILAN !!!
Surigao del Sur Surigao del Sur is famous for its long coastlines, where beautiful sunrises emerge against the charm of green mountains, rock and coral islands, white sand beaches, and the amazing waterfalls and rivers.
And today, it will be also known for BOXING !!
Manny Pacquiao’s Blow by Blow show comes to the Cantilan Gym this afternoon, where a huge14 bout card will take place.
The main event is a WBC Asia title match between the unbeaten Philippines #1 Jerald Into and world class veteran Mark John Yap, who will jump up in weight class to test the waters.
There are some quality match ups, but without doubt the main undercard between Fernando Tagpuno Jr (pictured) and unbeaten Jing Aguan shapes as possibly the best of the day.
Aguan is a strong power puncher who has won all six of his fights, and only two have gone the distance.
And "Ferocious" Fernando Tagpuno is quite the phenomenon also. After losing his first two matches against very strong opposition, Tagpuno regrouped and won the next 8 of 9 bouts by knockout !
It's fair to say that both these great fighters will be looking to flick the "lights off" switch on their rivals in Cantilan today !
Fights start at 1pm !
#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions #elordegym
August 12, 2024
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU JUST KNOW !
Without doubt, one of the highest level bouts witnessed at Hoiana LEGENDARY was between China's Hu Longyi 🇨🇳 and the Philippines' Dennis Endar 🇵🇭 in the Flyweight match.
The bout was non stop action, lots of ring movement, with some high IQ execution by both fighters.
What did we learn ?
Well, expect Dennis Endar to surge to the world top 10 in the future, and, it's not impossible that he will face the very same opponent in a much bigger fight when he does.
Sometimes you just know these things !
#vietnamboxingorganization #vspboxing #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions
August 12, 2024
YAP FIGHTS FOR WBC CROWN AUGUST 15TH
VSP and Elorde team boy Marjohn Yap faces unbeaten prospect Jerald Into for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia lightweight belt in the main event of Manny Pacquiao’s “Blow-by-Blow” boxing show at the Cantilan Municipal Gymnasium in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.
At 35 years old and with a 17-year pro career, Yap is still a very credible and dangerous fighter. He won four of his last five fights.
Yap is coming off a unanimous decision win over fellow journeyman Monico Laurente last year.
The 24-year-old Into, on the other hand, is a fast-rising prospect who’s been impressive in his five-year pro career.
He’ll be facing his stiffest test against the experienced Yap.
Into is fresh from a second-round stoppage of veteran Jhon Gemino last March 23, 2024.
Yap is 34-18 with 17 knocksouts, while Into is 10-0 with eight kayos.
Meanwhile, knockout artist Fernando Tagpuno Jr. (8-3, 8 KOs) takes on undefeated Jing Aguan (6-0, 4 KOs) for the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) featherweight belt and Roslan Eco (11-3, 7 KOs) locks horns with Jayson Brillo (8-2-1, 7 KOs) in the featured fights.
In the undercard, Crisalito Beltran (6-0, 5 KOs) trades leathers with Roger Ocum (4-0, 3 KOs), Jesarial Ancajas (3-0, 1 KO) goes up against Paolo Fortun (3-0, 1 KO), Randy Palma (2-0, 2 KOs) exchanges blows with Nigerian-Japanese JJ Ologun (5-0, 4 KOs), Nico Salado (2-0-1, 1 KO) faces Ricky Cristobal (3-2, 1 KO), Niño Cardoza (3-2) clashes with Hermon Remoroza (2-1, 2 KOs), Ken Danila (2-0, 2 KOs) battles Jayson But-ay (2-0, 1 KO), Benjo Neri (3-2, 1 KO) fights vs. Mark Sabang (2-1-1, 1 KO), Jingie Labtic (1-1, 1 KO) faces Rodrigo Virtudazo (0-1), Sunday Lacar goes up against Elmar Tiempo, and John Ferl Buer (1-0, 1 KO) opens the show against Jurie Micho Evangelista. / EKA
*story courtesy of SunStar Philippines
#vspboxing #VSPPromotions #elordegym #vsppro
August 9, 2024
PEDRO TADURAN IS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD
Newly crowned IBF World champion Pedro Taduran was at the offices of GAB today, with a recognition ceremony of his amazing achievement hosted by new Chairman Francisco Rivera.
Taduran hoisted the title in Japan recently, pulling off an unthinkable victory by knocking out the unbeaten Ginjiro Shigeoka - a world #1 previously thought to be invincible.
So what's next for Kid Pedro Heneral ???
Things are really hotting up in this division, which is now thriving with offensive talent.
Golden Boy champion Oscar Collazo stands currently unbeaten, and holds the WBO belt.
Then there is a local derby possibility with the WBC champion Melvin Jerusalem.
But what about the phenomenon that is Zhu DianXing ?
This Chinese boxer has literally blasted through opponents, scoring 8 knockouts in his last 9 fights.
He sits currently #2 on his country's P4P list behind the heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, and he could just be China’s next World Champion.
And surely that would be a huge fight for Taduran also.
We are in discussions to see the Philippines champion defending his IBF belt as early as November, and if the numbers are right, Vietnam 🇻🇳 is favored to host it's very first WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE !!
Updates soon. Congratulations Pedro Taduran and the Elorde team on your wonderful achievement.
#vietnamboxingorganization #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #cockybuffalo #elorde #elordegym #elordetv
August 8, 2024
NOT A LIGHTWEIGHT - BUT WHO CARES ? Exactly !
Mark John Yap carved a reputation in the hard schools of Japan.
He went 3 years unbeaten, tearing holes in their super/bantam ranks, before that winning run ended. And it was to no ordinary guy!
Yap dropped a points decision to the great Takuma Inoue. But his loss to the world #2 is only small testament to losses that dot Yap's record.
In recent years Angel Alejandro, Jadier Hererra, Angelo Leo and even the sublime Charly Suarez - all unbeaten world class fighters, and taken at short notice in often unsuitable weight class.
Mark John Yap knows he's good, and he does not baulk at a challenge !
August 15th represents another big one.
Markjohn the rebirth Yap , who is best suited at 126 and 130 now, will jump to 135 and take on the guy that is THE BEST LIGHTWEIGHT in the Philippines - Jerald Into.
And like the names mentioned above, the Quibors prospect is also unbeaten and world class.
Now I don't care that these guys are different size and shape, I don't care that Yap isn't a Lightweight - THIS IS A GREAT FIGHT !
Jerald Into the young dog, all action, and going places.
And for Yap, he's seen loads of these guys - he knows there is a tree in front of him, and he's bringing a fkn axe !!
Well done Manny and Blow by Blow - you put on fights like the desert master Turki - the ones that the fans want to see !!
#vietnamboxingorganization #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions