Tag: Aran Dipaen

Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlights week of KOs

Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlighted a week of knockouts in boxing.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

You like savage knockouts? You got ’em this past week.

Jake Paul served up a one-punch, highlight-reel knockout of rival Tyron Woodley while Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev and Gilberto Ramirez beat the daylights out of their unfortunate opponents until they could take no more punishment.

First up was Inoue, who unleashed his pound-for-pound fury on poor Aran Dipaen (12-3, 11 KOs) on Tuesday in Japan. The Thai fighter was brave but didn’t have the tools to fend off Inoue, who coldly broke him down before stopping him in the eighth round.

Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) needs a challenge comparable to his fight with Nonito Donaire, which means a showdown with fellow titleholder John Riel Casimero or a rematch with Donaire.

The imposing Beterbiev looked vulnerable early against capable Marcus Browne (24-2, 16 KOs) on Friday but settled into beast mode and methodically destroyed the former U.S. Olympian in spite of a ghastly cut on his forehead, finally ending matters in nine rounds to make it 17 knockouts in 17 fights.

The Russian probably will target one of his fellow 175-pound titleholders but a lot of us fancy a showdown with Canelo Alvarez. Could the Mexican star really handle a fighter of Beterbiev’s ability and freakish strength? Hopefully we’ll get a chance to find out.

Ramirez (43-0, 29 KOs) had a tough time against a durable Yunieski Gonzalez (21-4, 17 KOs), absorbing many hard shots, but he still managed to deliver a horrible beating. We knew the Mexican was good but who knew he was this resilient?

I give him a chance a realistic chance to beat the light heavyweight titleholders.

And, on Saturday, Paul gave us the most-dramatic single moment of the week, an enormous right hand that planted rival Tyron Woodley (0-2) on his face. He didn’t get up, which gave Paul the most significant victory yet in his young career.

Is Paul (6-0, 5 KOs) ready for a real boxer? Nah. But he always makes it difficult to look away.

 

BAD

I’ll never fully endorse Paul’s career as a prize fighter out of deference to genuine boxers who would kill for even a fraction of the YouTuber’s fame and fortune.

At the same time, you have to give the guy credit. His impressive ability to market himself is well established. He seems to take the sport seriously, working as hard as anyone in the gym in an effort to hone his skills. And he has a flair for the dramatic.

If you could’ve drawn it up beforehand, what would’ve been the ideal result to add to Paul’s reputation as a can’t-miss attraction? You got it – a sensational one-punch knockout that goes viral on the internet.

The ringside video that allows the viewer to both see and hear the right hand that ended Woodley’s night (see video above) is not something people will forget any time soon. As a result, they will be more intrigued with Paul than ever.

The fact he remains in early stages of development doesn’t matter to most people. He does (and says) things that people want to see, which is the key to his success.

I have to add one thing: Paul is going to lose a fight, probably soon. He almost lost to Woodley in their first fight. We’ll see what impact that has on his drawing power, although I have a feeling he’ll stick in one way or another.

 

WORSE

Once again, there are always poor souls on the wrong end of brutal knockouts.

I’ll never forget the look of resignation on Dipaen’s face after he went down from a left hook by Inoue and then managed to get up as the referee was counting in Round 8. It was if he was thinking, “What did I do to deserve this?”

He took one more punch and the fight was stopped, fortunately for Dipaen, who might never again fight on a stage that big.

Browne was so distraught after his one-sided setback that he barely acknowledged Beterbiev afterward even though the winner approached him twice. It wasn’t poor sportsmanship as much as it was disappointment. He simply wasn’t ready to face his conqueror.

Browne isn’t in Beterbiev’s class but he has a lot of company.

Gonzalez left his heart in the ring against Ramirez, which I believe is one reason he was so emotional after his fight. And at 36 he probably realized then and there that he might not get another such opportunity.

The native of Cuba suffered during the fight … and after it.

Woodley probably will have emerged from his gruesome fate with a smile on his face. The former MMA star made a reported $2 million even though he’s 39 and was fighting as a pro boxer for only the second time.

That’s called winning the lottery, although getting knocked out cold was a significant price to pay for his windfall.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) defeated Derek Chisora (32-12, 23 KOs) again – this time by a unanimous decision – to underscore his position as a top heavyweight contender Saturday in Manchester, England. It wasn’t easy. The Kiwi put Chisora down three times and seemed to be on the verge of putting him away on several occasions but he couldn’t finish off his stubborn opponent in an entertaining fight. The problem now for Parker is that it could be a while before he gets a shot at a title, as beltholders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have other plans. Of course, Parker, only 29, will get his opportunity if he keeps winning. Chisora? The Londoner is 37. He has now lost three consecutive fights, to Usyk and twice to Parker. And he has taken a lot of punishment over a long career. He’s probably good enough to continue fighting. However, it might be a good time for him to step away. … This is what I have to say about the Frank Gore (NFL) vs. Deron Williams (NBA) exhibition on the Paul-Woodley II card: If you like to watch street or bar fights between two old guys who have no idea what they’re doing, God bless you. Only you can choose what entertains you. …

Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) did what she was expected to do on the Paul-Woodley II card, easily defeating Miriam Gutierrez (14-2, 5 KOs). The Spaniard took Serrano the distance but lost a near-shutout decision. The victory sets up arguably the biggest possible fight in women’s boxing: Serrano vs. Katie Taylor for the Irishwoman’s undisputed lightweight championship. The fight would be a boon to the women’s side of the sport. And the winner would be a legend. … David Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) looked like a bona fide super middleweight contender on Saturday, when he stopped a solid opponent in Alantez Fox in four rounds. I figured the 23-year-old Cuban would win the fight but he dominated, using effective aggression to quickly break down and then stop his overmatched opponent. Morrell probably is ready for a Top 5 168-pounder.

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Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlights week of KOs

Good, bad, worse: Jake Paul’s fight-ending shot highlighted a week of knockouts in boxing.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

You like savage knockouts? You got ’em this past week.

Jake Paul served up a one-punch, highlight-reel knockout of rival Tyron Woodley while Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev and Gilberto Ramirez beat the daylights out of their unfortunate opponents until they could take no more punishment.

First up was Inoue, who unleashed his pound-for-pound fury on poor Aran Dipaen (12-3, 11 KOs) on Tuesday in Japan. The Thai fighter was brave but didn’t have the tools to fend off Inoue, who coldly broke him down before stopping him in the eighth round.

Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) needs a challenge comparable to his fight with Nonito Donaire, which means a showdown with fellow titleholder John Riel Casimero or a rematch with Donaire.

The imposing Beterbiev looked vulnerable early against capable Marcus Browne (24-2, 16 KOs) on Friday but settled into beast mode and methodically destroyed the former U.S. Olympian in spite of a ghastly cut on his forehead, finally ending matters in nine rounds to make it 17 knockouts in 17 fights.

The Russian probably will target one of his fellow 175-pound titleholders but a lot of us fancy a showdown with Canelo Alvarez. Could the Mexican star really handle a fighter of Beterbiev’s ability and freakish strength? Hopefully we’ll get a chance to find out.

Ramirez (43-0, 29 KOs) had a tough time against a durable Yunieski Gonzalez (21-4, 17 KOs), absorbing many hard shots, but he still managed to deliver a horrible beating. We knew the Mexican was good but who knew he was this resilient?

I give him a chance a realistic chance to beat the light heavyweight titleholders.

And, on Saturday, Paul gave us the most-dramatic single moment of the week, an enormous right hand that planted rival Tyron Woodley (0-2) on his face. He didn’t get up, which gave Paul the most significant victory yet in his young career.

Is Paul (6-0, 5 KOs) ready for a real boxer? Nah. But he always makes it difficult to look away.

 

BAD

I’ll never fully endorse Paul’s career as a prize fighter out of deference to genuine boxers who would kill for even a fraction of the YouTuber’s fame and fortune.

At the same time, you have to give the guy credit. His impressive ability to market himself is well established. He seems to take the sport seriously, working as hard as anyone in the gym in an effort to hone his skills. And he has a flair for the dramatic.

If you could’ve drawn it up beforehand, what would’ve been the ideal result to add to Paul’s reputation as a can’t-miss attraction? You got it – a sensational one-punch knockout that goes viral on the internet.

The ringside video that allows the viewer to both see and hear the right hand that ended Woodley’s night (see video above) is not something people will forget any time soon. As a result, they will be more intrigued with Paul than ever.

The fact he remains in early stages of development doesn’t matter to most people. He does (and says) things that people want to see, which is the key to his success.

I have to add one thing: Paul is going to lose a fight, probably soon. He almost lost to Woodley in their first fight. We’ll see what impact that has on his drawing power, although I have a feeling he’ll stick in one way or another.

 

WORSE

Once again, there are always poor souls on the wrong end of brutal knockouts.

I’ll never forget the look of resignation on Dipaen’s face after he went down from a left hook by Inoue and then managed to get up as the referee was counting in Round 8. It was if he was thinking, “What did I do to deserve this?”

He took one more punch and the fight was stopped, fortunately for Dipaen, who might never again fight on a stage that big.

Browne was so distraught after his one-sided setback that he barely acknowledged Beterbiev afterward even though the winner approached him twice. It wasn’t poor sportsmanship as much as it was disappointment. He simply wasn’t ready to face his conqueror.

Browne isn’t in Beterbiev’s class but he has a lot of company.

Gonzalez left his heart in the ring against Ramirez, which I believe is one reason he was so emotional after his fight. And at 36 he probably realized then and there that he might not get another such opportunity.

The native of Cuba suffered during the fight … and after it.

Woodley probably will have emerged from his gruesome fate with a smile on his face. The former MMA star made a reported $2 million even though he’s 39 and was fighting as a pro boxer for only the second time.

That’s called winning the lottery, although getting knocked out cold was a significant price to pay for his windfall.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) defeated Derek Chisora (32-12, 23 KOs) again – this time by a unanimous decision – to underscore his position as a top heavyweight contender Saturday in Manchester, England. It wasn’t easy. The Kiwi put Chisora down three times and seemed to be on the verge of putting him away on several occasions but he couldn’t finish off his stubborn opponent in an entertaining fight. The problem now for Parker is that it could be a while before he gets a shot at a title, as beltholders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have other plans. Of course, Parker, only 29, will get his opportunity if he keeps winning. Chisora? The Londoner is 37. He has now lost three consecutive fights, to Usyk and twice to Parker. And he has taken a lot of punishment over a long career. He’s probably good enough to continue fighting. However, it might be a good time for him to step away. … This is what I have to say about the Frank Gore (NFL) vs. Deron Williams (NBA) exhibition on the Paul-Woodley II card: If you like to watch street or bar fights between two old guys who have no idea what they’re doing, God bless you. Only you can choose what entertains you. …

Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) did what she was expected to do on the Paul-Woodley II card, easily defeating Miriam Gutierrez (14-2, 5 KOs). The Spaniard took Serrano the distance but lost a near-shutout decision. The victory sets up arguably the biggest possible fight in women’s boxing: Serrano vs. Katie Taylor for the Irishwoman’s undisputed lightweight championship. The fight would be a boon to the women’s side of the sport. And the winner would be a legend. … David Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) looked like a bona fide super middleweight contender on Saturday, when he stopped a solid opponent in Alantez Fox in four rounds. I figured the 23-year-old Cuban would win the fight but he dominated, using effective aggression to quickly break down and then stop his overmatched opponent. Morrell probably is ready for a Top 5 168-pounder.

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Watch it: Naoya Inoue puts Aran Dipaen down hard with left hook

Bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue put challenger Aran Dipaen down with a left hook in Round 8 Tuesday in Tokyo. Moments later the Japanese star ended the fight with another left, which prompted the referee to stop the fight. The stoppage occurred …

Bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue put challenger Aran Dipaen down with a left hook in Round 8 Tuesday in Tokyo.

Moments later the Japanese star ended the fight with another left, which prompted the referee to stop the fight. The stoppage occurred at 2:34 of the eighth round.

Here’s the knockdown.

Watch it: Naoya Inoue puts Aran Dipaen down hard with left hook

Bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue put challenger Aran Dipaen down with a left hook in Round 8 Tuesday in Tokyo. Moments later the Japanese star ended the fight with another left, which prompted the referee to stop the fight. The stoppage occurred …

Bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue put challenger Aran Dipaen down with a left hook in Round 8 Tuesday in Tokyo.

Moments later the Japanese star ended the fight with another left, which prompted the referee to stop the fight. The stoppage occurred at 2:34 of the eighth round.

Here’s the knockdown.

Naoya Inoue stops overmatched Aran Dipaen in eight

Japanese star Naoya Inoue stopped overmatched Aran Dipaen in eight rounds Tuesday in Tokyo.

Naoya Inoue gave his fans what they wanted.

The Japanese knockout artist battered and then stopped overmatched Aran Dipaen in the eighth round to retain his bantamweight titles Tuesday in Tokyo, his first fight in his home country since he defeated Nonito Donaire in Saitama in 2019.

Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) stalked Dipaen (12-3, 11 KOs) from the outset, bloodied his nose and did more and more damage as the fight progressed. He hurt his Thai opponent in Round 7. Then, in Round 8, he put Dipaen down with a left hook.

The dazed challenger was able to get up but he took another hard left hook, which prompted the referee to save Dipaen from further punishment.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:34 of Round 8.

Inoue, No. 3 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, has now knocked out 11 of his last 12 opponents. Donaire took him the distance.

The champion said going into the fight with Dipaen that he wants to unify all four major 118-pound titles, with WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero being his first priority. Donaire won the WBC title after losing to Inoue.

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Naoya Inoue stops overmatched Aran Dipaen in eight

Japanese star Naoya Inoue stopped overmatched Aran Dipaen in eight rounds Tuesday in Tokyo.

Naoya Inoue gave his fans what they wanted.

The Japanese knockout artist battered and then stopped overmatched Aran Dipaen in the eighth round to retain his bantamweight titles Tuesday in Tokyo, his first fight in his home country since he defeated Nonito Donaire in Saitama in 2019.

Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) stalked Dipaen (12-3, 11 KOs) from the outset, bloodied his nose and did more and more damage as the fight progressed. He hurt his Thai opponent in Round 7. Then, in Round 8, he put Dipaen down with a left hook.

The dazed challenger was able to get up but he took another hard left hook, which prompted the referee to save Dipaen from further punishment.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:34 of Round 8.

Inoue, No. 3 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, has now knocked out 11 of his last 12 opponents. Donaire took him the distance.

The champion said going into the fight with Dipaen that he wants to unify all four major 118-pound titles, with WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero being his first priority. Donaire won the WBC title after losing to Inoue.

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Naoya Inoue enjoys playing the role of ‘Monster’

Bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue enjoys playing the role of “Monster.”

Naoya Inoue is all business when he steps into the ring. Just ask any of his 21 victims, 18 of whom he has knocked out. There’s a reason his nickname is “Monster.”

So you might be surprised by one of his secret’s to success: Have fun.

“You can’t keep at this unless you really like it,” Inoue told The Associated Press. “There may be injuries and a risk to your life. It’s a dangerous sport. It’s not something you can do without liking it.”

Inoue should have a blast at around 10 a.m. ET Tuesday (no U.S. TV), when he defends his bantamweight titles against Thai contender Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs) in Tokyo.

The three-division beltholder is fighting in his native country for the first time since he survived a broken bone in his face to outpoint Nonito Donaire in November 2019, after which he stopped Jason Moloney and Michael Dasmarinas in Las Vegas.

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Dipaen has some ability and his record suggests he can punch, but he has never tangled with anything remotely like the No. 3 fighter on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound.

Inoue’s goal in this fight and all the rest is to give the fans what they want – and then some.

“Each and every fan is going to have expectations,” he said. “I want to defy and go beyond each and every one of their expectations.”

And this is a scary thought: The near-perfect 28-year-old fighter is striving to get better.

“I am still far from the ideal style of boxing I am pursuing,” he said. “If I get contented now, then I will just hit a wall when I go to super bantamweight. There’s so much farther to go before I reach my peak, and I still don’t know my true potential.

“I still have seven or eight years as a pro, and so I’m going to keep heading higher.”

Inoue’s immediate goal is unify all four 118-pound titles, assuming things go well Tuesday. He has set his sights on WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero. We could see a rematch with Donaire, who holds the WBC title, after that.

Then it’s off to 122 pounds, at which the “Monster” could terrorize and new group of overmatched opponents.

Hideyuki Ohashi, a former world titleholder who operates the gym in Yokohama at which Inoue trains, said the champion has succeeded because he’s a complete package. He also mentioned the enjoyment factor.

“It’s not one thing or the other, but he excels in every aspect,” Ohashi said. “In boxing skills, his speed, the power of his punches, his timing. And most importantly he has mental strength.

“He is having fun.”

Naoya Inoue enjoys playing the role of ‘Monster’

Bantamweight titleholder Naoya Inoue enjoys playing the role of “Monster.”

Naoya Inoue is all business when he steps into the ring. Just ask any of his 21 victims, 18 of whom he has knocked out. There’s a reason his nickname is “Monster.”

So you might be surprised by one of his secret’s to success: Have fun.

“You can’t keep at this unless you really like it,” Inoue told The Associated Press. “There may be injuries and a risk to your life. It’s a dangerous sport. It’s not something you can do without liking it.”

Inoue should have a blast at around 10 a.m. ET Tuesday (no U.S. TV), when he defends his bantamweight titles against Thai contender Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs) in Tokyo.

The three-division beltholder is fighting in his native country for the first time since he survived a broken bone in his face to outpoint Nonito Donaire in November 2019, after which he stopped Jason Moloney and Michael Dasmarinas in Las Vegas.

[lawrence-related id=26942,21268]

Dipaen has some ability and his record suggests he can punch, but he has never tangled with anything remotely like the No. 3 fighter on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound.

Inoue’s goal in this fight and all the rest is to give the fans what they want – and then some.

“Each and every fan is going to have expectations,” he said. “I want to defy and go beyond each and every one of their expectations.”

And this is a scary thought: The near-perfect 28-year-old fighter is striving to get better.

“I am still far from the ideal style of boxing I am pursuing,” he said. “If I get contented now, then I will just hit a wall when I go to super bantamweight. There’s so much farther to go before I reach my peak, and I still don’t know my true potential.

“I still have seven or eight years as a pro, and so I’m going to keep heading higher.”

Inoue’s immediate goal is unify all four 118-pound titles, assuming things go well Tuesday. He has set his sights on WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero. We could see a rematch with Donaire, who holds the WBC title, after that.

Then it’s off to 122 pounds, at which the “Monster” could terrorize and new group of overmatched opponents.

Hideyuki Ohashi, a former world titleholder who operates the gym in Yokohama at which Inoue trains, said the champion has succeeded because he’s a complete package. He also mentioned the enjoyment factor.

“It’s not one thing or the other, but he excels in every aspect,” Ohashi said. “In boxing skills, his speed, the power of his punches, his timing. And most importantly he has mental strength.

“He is having fun.”

Naoya Inoue vs. Aran Dipaen: date, time, how to watch, background

Naoya Inoue will defend his bantamweight titles against aran dipaen tuesday in tokyo. Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs) Naoya Inoue (left) is coming off a KO of Michael Dasmarinas in June. AP Photo / John Locher) Date : …

Naoya Inoue will defend his bantamweight titles against aran dipaen tuesday in tokyo.

Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs)

Naoya Inoue (left) is coming off a KO of Michael Dasmarinas in June. AP Photo / John Locher)
  • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 14
  • Time: 7 a.m. ET / 4 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium, Tokyo
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Bantamweight
  • At stake: Inoue’s IBF and WBA titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Inoue No. 3
  • Odds: Inoue 28-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Wilfredo Mendez vs. Masataka Taniguchi, strawweights (for Mendez’s WBO title)
  • Prediction: Inoue KO 4
  • Background: Inoue will be making the sixth defense of his 118-pound title. The aptly named “Monster” has consecutive knockouts of Jason Moloney (seven rounds) and Michael Dasmarinas (three) after fighting through a broken bone in his face to outpoint Nonito Donaire in November 2019. The resident of Yokohama has stopped 10 of his last 11 opponents. He has expressed an interest in unifying all four major bantamweight titles in 2022, starting with WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero. Inoue and Casimero were expected to face one another last year but the fight didn’t happen because of COVID-19. Donaire holds the WBC title. Dipaen has won six consecutive fights — all by knockout and all in his native Thailand – since he lost a split decision to Tommy Frank in England. This is an enormous step up in opposition for the 30-year-old contender from Khon Kaen.

 

Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. Marcos Browne (24-1, 16 KOs)

  • When: Friday, Dec. 17
  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Light heavyweight
  • At stake: Beterbiev’s IBF and WBC titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Beterbiev No. 12
  • Odds: Beterbiev 8½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Marie-Eve Dicaire vs. Cynthia Lozano, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title); Yan Pellerin vs. Francisco Rivas, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Beterbiev KO 10
  • Background: Will Beterbiev make it 17 in a row? The imposing 36-year-old Russian is coming off a 10th-round knockout of Adam Deines this past March, his 16th stoppage in as many fights. That victory followed the most-significant triumph of his career, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Olekesandr Gvozdyk in October 2019. Beterbiev has been mentioned as a possible opponent for super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. He also could go after another 175-pound titleholder if he gets past Browne. Dmitry Bivol is the WBA belterholder. WBO champ Joe Smith Jr. defends against Callum Smith next month. Browne is no pushover. The 2012 U.S. Olympian from New Jersey is a polished boxer with good power. He had a break through in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing decision. He lost an eight-round technical decision to Jean Pascal in his subsequent fight, the result of a cut above Browne’s eye that was caused by an accidental head butt. He rebounded to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

 

Jake Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Tyron Woodley (0-1, 0 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Cruiserweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Paul 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Amanda Serrano vs. Miriam Gutierrez, lightweights; Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore, heavyweights; Liam Paro vs. Yomar Alamo, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Paul UD
  • Background: Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, was fortunate to have defeated Woodley by a split decision in August yet has agreed to face the former MMA star a second time after Tommy Fury pulled out as his opponent. Paul blasted out his first three opponents, Ali Eson Gib (TKO 1), Nate Robinson (KO 2) and Ben Askren (TKO 1), but the newbie had difficulty with Woodley’s solid striking ability and experience. Woodley, 39, made his pro boxing debut in that fight. Seven-division titleholder Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs) is the most-accomplished fighter on the card. The unified featherweight titleholder appears to be on a collision course with undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor in what would be a huge women’s bout next year. Gutierrez shouldn’t give Serrano much trouble even though the latter is moving up from 126 pounds to 135. Gutierrez lost a near-shutout decision to Taylor in November of last year, her only fight at the elite level. And she won’t have a significant advantage in terms of natural size. Serrano has successfully moved up and down in weight, including a stint as a 140-pound titleholder.

 

Joseph Parker (29-2, 21 KOs) vs. Derek Chisora (32-11, 23 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweights
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Parker 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Carlos Gongora vs. Lerrone Richards, super middleweights; Lee McGregor vs. Narek Abgaryan, bantamweights; Jack Cullen vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo, super middleweights; Zelfa Barrett vs. Bruno Tarimo, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Parker UD
  • Background: Parker defeated Chisora by a close, split decision this past May, which resulted in an immediate rematch. Parker won the vacant WBO heavyweight title by outpointed Andy Ruiz in December 2016, successfully defended two times and then lost his belt by a wide decision against Anthony Joshua. He followed that with a decision loss to Dillian Whyte but has won his last five outings, including the victory over his opponent in this fight. Chisora, the 37-year-old longtime contender, has lost to Oleksandr Usyk and Parker back to back but gave a good account of himself in both fights, an indication that he’s trying to make the most out of the final years of his career.

 

Gilberto Ramirez (42-0, 28 KOs) vs. Yuneski Gonzalez (21-3, 17 KOs)     

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Light heavyweights
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Seneisa Estrada vs. Maria Santizo, strawweights (for Estrada’s WBA title); Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Rene Alvarado, junior lightweights; Marlen Esparza vs. Anabel Ortiz, flyweights (for Esparza’s WBC title); Luis Hernandez vs. Ruslan Madiyev, junior  welterweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez’s career, which had sputtered after he moved up to the light heavyweight in 2019, is back on track. The former super middleweight titleholder stopped Alfonso Lopez in 10 rounds last December – his first fight in 20 months – and then knocked out longtime contender Sullivan Barrera in four rounds this past July to reestablish himself as a major player in the division. The 30-year-old Mexican is ranked in the Top 5 by three of the four major sanctioning bodies, which means his goal of fighting for a title in a second division is within reach. The beltholders are Artur Beterbiev (IBF and WBC), Dmitry Bivol (WBA) and Joe Smith Jr. (WBO). Gonzalez, a Cuban who lives in Florida, cut his teeth in the respected amateur system of his native country. The 36-year-old can box and he has power, as his last 12 victories have come by knockout. He has only been blown out once, when Oleksandr Gvozdyk stopped him in three rounds in April 2017. He took 3½ years off following that setback and returned to stop Guillermo Romero, Alex Theran and Tommy Karpency. He lost close decisions to Jean Pascal and Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in 2015.

 

David Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Atlantez Fox (28-2-1, 13 KOs)     

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: The Armory, Minneapolis
  • TV/Stream: Fox
  • Division: Super middleweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jose Valenzuela vs. Austin Dulay, lightweights; Alberto Puello vs. Ve Shawn Owns, junior welterweights; Richardson Hitchins vs. Malik Hawkins, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Morrell KO 7
  • Background: Morrell, the former Cuban amateur star who lives in Minneapolis, is on a fast track to a title shot. He has demonstrated in his short professional career that he can box and punch. He easily outpointed previously unbeaten Lennox Allen in August of last year and then stopped Mike Gavronski in three rounds last December and Mario Cazares in one round in June. Morrell is the WBA’s “regular” titleholder, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize. He’ll be fighting for the second consecutive time in his adopted hometown. Fox, who fights out of the Washington, D.C. area, lost decisively the only two times he stepped up in class. He lost a wide decision to Demetrius Andrade at 160 pounds in 2017 and was stopped by Liam Williams in five rounds in another middleweight bout in December 2019. Fox has won his last two fights, a decision over Marcos Hernandez last December and a seventh-round knockout of Manny Woods in June.

Also fighting this week: On Tuesday, Knockout CP Freshmart (22-0, 8 KOs) of Thailand will defend his WBA strawweight title against Filipino Robert Paradero (18-1, 12 KOs) in Phuket, Thailand (No U.S. TV); on Friday, Michel Soro (35-2-1, 24 KOs) will face Israil Madrimov (7-0, 5 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (DAZN).

Naoya Inoue vs. Aran Dipaen: date, time, how to watch, background

Naoya Inoue will defend his bantamweight titles against aran dipaen tuesday in tokyo. Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs) Naoya Inoue (left) is coming off a KO of Michael Dasmarinas in June. AP Photo / John Locher) Date : …

Naoya Inoue will defend his bantamweight titles against aran dipaen tuesday in tokyo.

Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Aran Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs)

Naoya Inoue (left) is coming off a KO of Michael Dasmarinas in June. AP Photo / John Locher)
  • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 14
  • Time: 7 a.m. ET / 4 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium, Tokyo
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Bantamweight
  • At stake: Inoue’s IBF and WBA titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Inoue No. 3
  • Odds: Inoue 28-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Wilfredo Mendez vs. Masataka Taniguchi, strawweights (for Mendez’s WBO title)
  • Prediction: Inoue KO 4
  • Background: Inoue will be making the sixth defense of his 118-pound title. The aptly named “Monster” has consecutive knockouts of Jason Moloney (seven rounds) and Michael Dasmarinas (three) after fighting through a broken bone in his face to outpoint Nonito Donaire in November 2019. The resident of Yokohama has stopped 10 of his last 11 opponents. He has expressed an interest in unifying all four major bantamweight titles in 2022, starting with WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero. Inoue and Casimero were expected to face one another last year but the fight didn’t happen because of COVID-19. Donaire holds the WBC title. Dipaen has won six consecutive fights — all by knockout and all in his native Thailand – since he lost a split decision to Tommy Frank in England. This is an enormous step up in opposition for the 30-year-old contender from Khon Kaen.

 

Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. Marcos Browne (24-1, 16 KOs)

  • When: Friday, Dec. 17
  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Light heavyweight
  • At stake: Beterbiev’s IBF and WBC titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Beterbiev No. 12
  • Odds: Beterbiev 8½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Marie-Eve Dicaire vs. Cynthia Lozano, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title); Yan Pellerin vs. Francisco Rivas, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Beterbiev KO 10
  • Background: Will Beterbiev make it 17 in a row? The imposing 36-year-old Russian is coming off a 10th-round knockout of Adam Deines this past March, his 16th stoppage in as many fights. That victory followed the most-significant triumph of his career, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Olekesandr Gvozdyk in October 2019. Beterbiev has been mentioned as a possible opponent for super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. He also could go after another 175-pound titleholder if he gets past Browne. Dmitry Bivol is the WBA belterholder. WBO champ Joe Smith Jr. defends against Callum Smith next month. Browne is no pushover. The 2012 U.S. Olympian from New Jersey is a polished boxer with good power. He had a break through in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing decision. He lost an eight-round technical decision to Jean Pascal in his subsequent fight, the result of a cut above Browne’s eye that was caused by an accidental head butt. He rebounded to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

 

Jake Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Tyron Woodley (0-1, 0 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Cruiserweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Paul 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Amanda Serrano vs. Miriam Gutierrez, lightweights; Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore, heavyweights; Liam Paro vs. Yomar Alamo, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Paul UD
  • Background: Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, was fortunate to have defeated Woodley by a split decision in August yet has agreed to face the former MMA star a second time after Tommy Fury pulled out as his opponent. Paul blasted out his first three opponents, Ali Eson Gib (TKO 1), Nate Robinson (KO 2) and Ben Askren (TKO 1), but the newbie had difficulty with Woodley’s solid striking ability and experience. Woodley, 39, made his pro boxing debut in that fight. Seven-division titleholder Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs) is the most-accomplished fighter on the card. The unified featherweight titleholder appears to be on a collision course with undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor in what would be a huge women’s bout next year. Gutierrez shouldn’t give Serrano much trouble even though the latter is moving up from 126 pounds to 135. Gutierrez lost a near-shutout decision to Taylor in November of last year, her only fight at the elite level. And she won’t have a significant advantage in terms of natural size. Serrano has successfully moved up and down in weight, including a stint as a 140-pound titleholder.

 

Joseph Parker (29-2, 21 KOs) vs. Derek Chisora (32-11, 23 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweights
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Parker 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Carlos Gongora vs. Lerrone Richards, super middleweights; Lee McGregor vs. Narek Abgaryan, bantamweights; Jack Cullen vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo, super middleweights; Zelfa Barrett vs. Bruno Tarimo, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Parker UD
  • Background: Parker defeated Chisora by a close, split decision this past May, which resulted in an immediate rematch. Parker won the vacant WBO heavyweight title by outpointed Andy Ruiz in December 2016, successfully defended two times and then lost his belt by a wide decision against Anthony Joshua. He followed that with a decision loss to Dillian Whyte but has won his last five outings, including the victory over his opponent in this fight. Chisora, the 37-year-old longtime contender, has lost to Oleksandr Usyk and Parker back to back but gave a good account of himself in both fights, an indication that he’s trying to make the most out of the final years of his career.

 

Gilberto Ramirez (42-0, 28 KOs) vs. Yuneski Gonzalez (21-3, 17 KOs)     

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Light heavyweights
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Seneisa Estrada vs. Maria Santizo, strawweights (for Estrada’s WBA title); Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Rene Alvarado, junior lightweights; Marlen Esparza vs. Anabel Ortiz, flyweights (for Esparza’s WBC title); Luis Hernandez vs. Ruslan Madiyev, junior  welterweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez’s career, which had sputtered after he moved up to the light heavyweight in 2019, is back on track. The former super middleweight titleholder stopped Alfonso Lopez in 10 rounds last December – his first fight in 20 months – and then knocked out longtime contender Sullivan Barrera in four rounds this past July to reestablish himself as a major player in the division. The 30-year-old Mexican is ranked in the Top 5 by three of the four major sanctioning bodies, which means his goal of fighting for a title in a second division is within reach. The beltholders are Artur Beterbiev (IBF and WBC), Dmitry Bivol (WBA) and Joe Smith Jr. (WBO). Gonzalez, a Cuban who lives in Florida, cut his teeth in the respected amateur system of his native country. The 36-year-old can box and he has power, as his last 12 victories have come by knockout. He has only been blown out once, when Oleksandr Gvozdyk stopped him in three rounds in April 2017. He took 3½ years off following that setback and returned to stop Guillermo Romero, Alex Theran and Tommy Karpency. He lost close decisions to Jean Pascal and Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in 2015.

 

David Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Atlantez Fox (28-2-1, 13 KOs)     

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: The Armory, Minneapolis
  • TV/Stream: Fox
  • Division: Super middleweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jose Valenzuela vs. Austin Dulay, lightweights; Alberto Puello vs. Ve Shawn Owns, junior welterweights; Richardson Hitchins vs. Malik Hawkins, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Morrell KO 7
  • Background: Morrell, the former Cuban amateur star who lives in Minneapolis, is on a fast track to a title shot. He has demonstrated in his short professional career that he can box and punch. He easily outpointed previously unbeaten Lennox Allen in August of last year and then stopped Mike Gavronski in three rounds last December and Mario Cazares in one round in June. Morrell is the WBA’s “regular” titleholder, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize. He’ll be fighting for the second consecutive time in his adopted hometown. Fox, who fights out of the Washington, D.C. area, lost decisively the only two times he stepped up in class. He lost a wide decision to Demetrius Andrade at 160 pounds in 2017 and was stopped by Liam Williams in five rounds in another middleweight bout in December 2019. Fox has won his last two fights, a decision over Marcos Hernandez last December and a seventh-round knockout of Manny Woods in June.

Also fighting this week: On Tuesday, Knockout CP Freshmart (22-0, 8 KOs) of Thailand will defend his WBA strawweight title against Filipino Robert Paradero (18-1, 12 KOs) in Phuket, Thailand (No U.S. TV); on Friday, Michel Soro (35-2-1, 24 KOs) will face Israil Madrimov (7-0, 5 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (DAZN).