A classic clash reminiscent of Clash of Titans will headline “EQC Fight Night” presented by Toro Promotions, Inc. and Whitfield Haydon Boxing on Saturday evening, October 19, at the EQC Event Center at Tacoma’s famed Emerald Queen Casino. Washington.

6′ 4″, 290-pound Kinsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh (12-2-1, 10 KO) will face 6′ 8″, 260-pound Jack “The Outlaw” May (10-0, 9 KO) in the main event, a 10-round main event for the vacant Latino World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Championship.

Ibeh, a Nigerian native who fights out of Phoenix (AZ), is a former college and Canadian Football League player, as well as the cousin of notorious retired boxer Ike Ibeabuchi (20-0, 15 KO). Ibeh is on an eight-game winning streak since losing to then-rising star Jared Anderson 7-0 in 2021. Ibeh’s last action took place on June 15, when he stopped Juan Torres in the second round, also at the Emerald Queen Casino gala.

May, fighting in Chino Hills, California, won ten in a row, nine of which were decided by knockouts. May is a combat sports athlete who also boxed and fought bare-knuckled. May’s last fight was a first-round technical knockout of John Shipman on August 29 in Costa Mesa, California.

“They are both real fighters,” said matchmaker Whit Haydon. “When the fight was proposed, all they asked was when and where and that they would arrive with bells on. The place is almost sold out, so gigantic Northwest fans, and believe me when I say they are the best, will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds.”

Ibeh and May are part of Toro’s growing stable of solid heavyweights, along with Ukrainian Olympian Tsotne “Mr. T” Tsotne (10-0, 7 KO), Alexander “The Great” Flores (19-5-1, 17 KO) and Dante Stone (17-1, 11 KO). But unlike other promoters, Toro doesn’t bother matching his fighters like Ibeh and May, and Tsotne recently defeated Flores by a 10-round unanimous decision.

Ryan Garcia posted the following on social media today: “Case dismissed” thanking his lawyer, Michael Goldstein. This is related to Garcia’s accusations of vandalism last June in connection with events at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Beverly Hills.

This isn’t the case fans were hoping he would get fired. They are more interested in Devin Haney’s lawsuit against Ryan Garcia for battery and fraud in connection with their April fight in which Kingry tested positive for PEDs.

It’s still unclear whether Haney and his dad, Bill Haney, will pursue the case to the end, hoping the verdict will net them a windfall. This could make staging a rematch problematic if Ryan loses or wins. Would Haney be content to fight Ryan again if the lawsuit was unsuccessful?

Given Bill Haney’s upbeat attitude and Garcia’s request to submit to a doping test within 48 hours for his rematch with Devin (31-0, 15 KO) next, this could be seen as a softening on his part regarding steep court proceedings.

This would be costly and could jeopardize Haney’s chances for a lucrative rematch with Ryan in 2025. A rematch is the best way for Haney to make millions and get back to where he was before his loss to Ryan earlier this year.

If Haney wins the competition, we could see a trilogy if it brings in a lot of PPV buys. Considering how much attention their fight later received, it’s safe and sound to predict that their rematch will generate massive PPV buys, perhaps even bigger than Ryan’s 2023 fight with Gervonta Davis.

Bill Haney would need to up his game to generate interest, as Ryan can’t single-handedly advance the rematch, and Devin obviously won’t be much assist. He’s better off when he doesn’t talk.

CASE DENIED

Thank you Michael Goldstein

The best lawyer in the world!!!! pic.twitter.com/oTqCFmwMvi

— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) October 8, 2024

Do you really want me to kick Devin’s ass again?????????

— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) October 8, 2024

Thailand is experiencing a wave of success on the world boxing stage. Knockout CP Freshmart (25-0, 9 KO) recently defended his world title in Australia against Alex Winwood (4-1, 2 KO). Previously, Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KO) secured a victory over Kento Hatanaka (15-1, 10 KO) in Japan, and Thanongsak Simsri (35-1, 32 KO) secured the OPBF lightweight heavyweight crown in March by defeating Miela Fajardo (11-2-2, 10 KOs).

However, Muay Thai’s biggest challenge looms on the horizon as bantamweight contender Tasana Salapat (76-1, 53 KO) prepares to cement her legacy in the sport.

On October 14, Thai fighter Petch CP Freshmart will step into the ring at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena to face Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KO), ranked 9th in The Ring rankings per pound. vacant WBC bantamweight title. This is Salapat’s second fight on foreign soil, marking an significant step in a career that has largely been at home.

Like many Thai boxers, Salapat began his fighting career in Muay Thai, competing at the highest levels in the country before moving on to professional boxing. But his journey was unique. At just 16 years aged, the future bantamweight title challenger made his professional boxing debut in 2011, defeating Sarawut Pantayung, better known as Jomhod Eminent Air (7-4, 2 KO), the notable Muay Thai champion. His initial career was tumultuous, as he fought nine times in his first year.

From 2012 to 2018, the Thai fighter maintained an impressive pace, fighting seven to eight times a year, mixing with regional and youth champions, journeymen and even newcomers. The goal was elementary: stay dynamic. Like many Thai fighters, he adopted the nickname “Petch CPF,” named after his sponsor, a local grocery chain that organizes monthly boxing events, which keeps him busy with regular fights. This sponsorship model, common in Thailand, allowed him to remain vigilant, sometimes facing the same opponents multiple times. With 76 fights under his belt and only one defeat, he is one of the busiest boxers in the sport.

That one loss came in 2018, when he traveled outside Thailand for the first time to face Japan’s Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KO) for the interim WBC bantamweight title. Despite putting in a lot of effort, he lost by unanimous decision, which was the first and only blemish on his record. Now the Thai veteran returns to Japan to face an even bigger challenge in Nakatani.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this upcoming fight is that it will be a southpaw vs. southpaw fight. This adds a unique tactical element to the fight. Interestingly, the last time Nakatani fought the southpaw was in April 2022, when he defended his WBO flyweight title against Ryota Yamauchi (12-3.11 KO). Nakatani won the fight by technical knockout in the eighth round, showing that he can effectively deal with left-handed opponents. This will make the upcoming fight with Salapat even more captivating.

I had the opportunity to visit him at his training camp in Pathum Thani province, located just outside Bangkok. Trained by renowned trainer and former WBC flyweight world champion Chatchai Sasakul, Salapat was in the midst of preparing for the biggest fight of his career. It was a Thursday afternoon and when I arrived he was already engaged in shadow boxing and focused. There was a positive vibe in the gym as the team continued to celebrate Knockout CP’s recent win in Australia.

Sitting with Sasakul and watching the Thai athlete perform his drills, the coach candidly assessed the challenge ahead.

“Junto, I think it’s a very tough fight for Petch,” Sasakul admitted. “But anything can happen in boxing. I can’t predict the future and I don’t know how things will turn out in Japan. But it’s not an effortless fight for Junto either. We work strenuous and I have a strategy. We are proceeding as planned.”

Curious about the loss to Takuma Inoue in 2018, I wanted to know what had changed since then. Sasakul reflected on the growth his player experienced, explaining: “The first thing he learned was experience. It was his first fight abroad. He was nervous, excited and couldn’t play as smoothly as usual. But now he has matured. I think he can control his emotions this time. But you know, Junto is very good.

Discussing Salapat’s strengths, Sasakul described him as an all-rounder. “Petch is versatile. His skills, the power of his punch – he is neither too strenuous nor too supple. It has its strengths, but I’m trying to improve them.

After the training session, I sat down with Salapat himself to learn more about his journey. Growing up in a penniless family, boxing was initially a way to support his loved ones. “When I was a child, my family was quite penniless, so I thought of a way to facilitate them,” he said. “At that time, a local festival and Muay Thai matches were being held at a temple near my house. I went to watch it and became interested in Muay Thai. The organizers allowed me to take part in it and from then on I liked it and started training.”

Wanting to learn more about his inspirations, I asked if there was anyone who influenced him to take up boxing. “My inspiration began when I started training professional boxing. I admired Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (91-5-2, 47 KO).

With a career spanning over a decade under his belt, I wondered how he stayed motivated after all these years. “I train all the time and stay disciplined,” he said. “I never underestimate any opponent in any fight.”

Reflecting on his fight against Takuma Inoue in 2018, I was curious what lessons he learned from the experience. “I learned a lot and gained valuable experience fighting abroad for the first time. I have regained these skills and continue to develop.

As for his upcoming fight with Nakatani, Salapat approaches it with renewed confidence and determination. “This fight means everything to me,” he said. “If I get the chance, I will give my all to win the belt. This will make a huge difference to my family and the reputation of boxing in Thailand.”

His preparation was strict, and one of his main sparring partners was Phongthep Homjui (14-1-2, 8 KO), a fellow southerner who also has an upcoming fight in Seoul. The two push each other to their limits, honing their skills for their respective challenges.

Under Sasakul’s tutelage, the Thai fighter is determined to leave his mark on the sport. As the clock ticks closer to fight night, there is a sense that he is ready to take on the challenge regardless of the outcome. He knows what is at stake – both for himself and for Thailand.

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