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Analysis

Masanori Rikiishi makes a crazy comeback, stops Michael Magnesi

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Masanori Rikiishi makes a crazy comeback, stops Michael Magnesi

Following in the footsteps of WBC featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster after Rocky Hernandez’s dramatic finish, newly crowned mandatory challenger Masanori Rikiishi shocked hometown favorite Michael Magnesi with a final-round attack in Friday’s eliminator.

Full footage of the fight is unfortunately paid for; it’s an incredibly Jan recording this is all I could find (EDIT: saad1000, a better detective than me, I found a better version). According to reports, it was quite an compelling fight, although for most it definitely favored Magnesi (23-2, 13 KO). He was leading by at least three points on all cards heading into the 12th round, where Rikiishi (15-1, 10 KO) suddenly hit the mark with a tough right hook that sent Magnesi to the canvas.

Magnesi got back to his feet, but Rikiishi took him down again with a straight left. When Magnesi beat the count again, a patient Rikiishi backed him to a corner and hit a broadside that, had Magnesi not been the local A team, would have forced the referee into action. Magnesi managed to tie the match, but his legs gave out when the referee separated them. The referee once again allowed the fight to continue, allowing Rikiishi to slam his cooked opponent into the ropes before eventually earning a standing TKO with less than 30 seconds remaining.

For your own amusement, compare the absolute excitement or Japanese commentators to the absolute desperation or Italian.

Rikiishi has already knocked out six of his last seven opponents and is preparing for his first title fight at the age of 29, although theoretically his number will not be called until October. Magnesi is now 2-2 in his last four after losing a split decision to Anthony Cacace in 2019.

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Analysis

Noela Mikaelian vs Ryan Rozicki fight has been postponed to September 28 on PPV

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Noela Mikaelian vs Ryan Rozicki fight has been postponed to September 28 on PPV

Don King’s only champion, WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian, will meet Ryan Rozicki at the Sept. 28 event at King’s usual haunt, Casino Miami Jai Alai.

Future viewers will be able to watch the show “on Pay Per View via Triller TV, DonKing.com and Itube247.com”

Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KO) has fought just four fights since an extremely questionable decision defeat to Mairis Briedis in the WBSS tournament in 2018. After two victories over restricted opponents, he outclassed faded prospect Youri Kayembre Kalenga and earned a shot at champion Ilunga Makabu, whom he then brutally knocked out in three last November.

A June date with Rozicki (20-1, 19 KO) fell through after Mikaelian suffered an injury, making it his first fight in almost 11 months.

Canadian Rozicki has won seven in a row since losing to Oscar Rivas in 2021, but on paper his streak is better than it actually is. His biggest victory, a split decision over challenger Yamil Alberto Peralta, was such an egregious blowout that the WBC outright refused to let Rozicki hang on the alphabet trinket. He was last seen handing an exceptionally overcooked Olanrewaju Durodola his eighth stoppage-time defeat in December.

Pay-per-view worthy? Not at all, but at least the truly talented Mikaelian was back in action.

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Analysis

Oscar De La Hoya thinks the Canelo vs. Berlanga marketing is a bit off

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Oscar De La Hoya thinks the Canelo vs. Berlanga marketing is a bit off

Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya takes some time to answer a few questions about the recent major event of the season in Riyad, headlined by Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov, the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight, and his desire to making a Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda fight. Below you can read some fragments of his speech.

De La Hoya at Crawford vs. Madrimov

“Too bad for Jared, who got knocked out fighting the beast. This kid reminded me of George Foreman – a gigantic kid with weighty hands. I feel like Jared will be back. It was a great fight, there is no shame in his game, he is a great fighter.

“Pitbull, low end. It happens. He fought strenuous, but overall, I think Crawford closed out the show with a great victory. It was a tough fight that may require a rematch. We’ll see, but you know. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s fight against Vergil Ortiz because maybe the winners will fight each other, Crawford and Vergil.

“It could happen. We hope that Vergil will win this Saturday, he will be able to face Tim Tszyu at the end of this year, and then the winner of the Tim Tszyu vs Vergil Ortiz fight will face Terence Crawford.

Canelo vs. Berlanga fight

“I think one thing that’s not true that I feel is that they’re building this fight as Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. I don’t know. I don’t know if this is true because the last time I checked Berlanga was in Novel York. Last time I checked, I think I’m more Puerto Rican than Berlanga. I lived there for six years, so I know. I know what people love, I know who they will support… I think yes, it will be a good fight, but don’t make it a Mexico vs. Puerto Rico match.”

On if he believes Eddie Hearn is standing in the way of Shakur Stevenson fighting William Zepeda

“Oh well. I don’t think anyone will stand in the way of this fight. Look, I’m Zepeda’s promoter and I really want to do this fight. I think Shakur, skill-wise, is probably the best fighter in the world right now. Great, great skills, but he has to be able to sell tickets. His boxing style isn’t very genial to sell tickets, but I think the William Zepeda vs. Shakur Stevenson fight is a gigantic fight that will happen, but no, Eddie Hearn is not on track to fight that fight.

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Analysis

“I’ll put him on…”: Berlanga challenges Canelo to come out swinging

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“I'll put him on…”: Berlanga challenges Canelo to come out swinging

Edgar Berlanga gets the opportunity he’s been hoping for as he faces Canelo Alvarez in the pay-per-view main event on Saturday, September 2. 14 in Las Vegas.

Canelo, who made headlines this week for being the first major boxing fighter not to immediately bend the knee to the whims of Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh, is the clear favorite in this fight, currently valued at -1400 by DraftKings Sportsbook.

However, Berlanga (22-0, 17 KO) feels that he can continue his winning fight in his first professional fight as an underdog, and an extremely essential one at that.

“Tell him to come out swinging in the first round,” Berlanga told Matchroom cameras. “Look what will happen to him, I will put him on his ass. I give it six. It’s a fact.”

“I’ve already learned, he likes to run for the first two or three rounds to get a feel for you,” he continued. “But then let him try to open up. Let him try to open up and see what happens to him. You heard me, I’ll tell him I’m nasty.

Berlanga obviously gained momentum on ESPN and Top Rank when he started his career with 16 straight wins before first-round stoppages, but as soon as that streak inevitably came to an end in 2021, most of the hype rose with him.

He won five straight fights by decision before stopping Padraig McCroy in February this year, and along the way he parted ways with Top Rank to sign with Matchroom, with the Canelo fight his main goal.

That time has come for him and he will get what he has been talking about since he came to prominence a few years ago.

Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KO) will defend the WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight belts in this fight. He has never been stopped in his career.

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