Japanese "Monster" undefeated WBO super flyweight champion 24-year-old Naoya Inoue (15-0, 13 KOs) got a TKO victory in the third round over the Frenchman Yoan Boyeaux (41-5, 26 KO). Boyeaux has been on the floor in the first and three times in the third round from body punches. Thus, Inoue defended his title for the seventh time.
The undefeated WBO super flyweight champion 24-year-old Japanese Naoya Inoue (14-0, 12 KOs) nicknamed "Monster" and his opponent in the fight on December 30 in Yokohama, Japan, the Frenchman Yoan Boyeaux (41-4, 26 KO) passed official weigh-in procedure. Inoue was 115 pounds (52.16 kg), Boyeaux - 113.75 pounds (51.6 kg).
The famous boxing magazine "The Ring" named Vasily Lomachenko the Fighter of the Year. For the first time in the 89-year history of awarding this title, this title was received by a boxer with such a small number of battles in the pros - Lomachenko had only 11 fights. In 2013, according to the same magazine, Lomachenko was named Prospect of the Year, also after just one fight in the pros.
Former UFC fighter Ali Bagautinov, now competing at the Fight Nights Global, wants to prove himself in professional boxing in 2018. Bugautinov did not waste time on jokes and swung at once to Ruslan Provodnikov. He was written this in his instagram, asking all his fans to support his idea.
Super featherweight Ryan Garcia was named ESPN prospect of the year. Initially Garcia planned to build his sports career in baseball.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte named former world champion in eight divisions Manny Pacquiao his successor. "I am dedicating this message to Manny. You know why? I told him one time, while we were alone: 'Your style encourages me to make you President. You know, you can do it,'" Duterte recently stated during Pacquiao's 39th birthday party.
In his recent interview, British promoter Eddie Hearn confessed that he believes he paid too much to Charles Martin for the then undefeated world champion to come to the UK in May 2016 for the fight with Anthony Joshua.
WBO champion Alexander Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) and WBC champion Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs) met for the first time in Riga before their semifinal for the Muhammad Ali Cup in the Latvian capital on January 27.
The leading boxing cable television channel of the United States, HBO, named Vasily Lomachenko the Fighter of the Year. Boxing analyst Jim Lampley announced this in his program "The Fight Game", although the Ukrainian no longer performs on the channel. Lomachenko also won first place in the P4R rating according to the TV channel version.
Two unbeaten world cruiserweight champions Alexander Usyk and Mairis Briedis met for the first time face to face at a press conference in Riga, where their unification bout and semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series will be held on January 27.
