Naoya Inoue will defend his super bantamweight crown against unbeaten Australian contender Sam Goodman on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Inoue will make an unprecedented third defense of his undisputed crown within a single calendar year while looking to secure his 10th consecutive knockout.

Inoue-Goodman will headline a special early-morning broadcast streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. In the co-feature, Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight world title against an opponent to be named.

Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) began his four-belt legacy in December 2022 when he stopped Paul Butler to unify all the bantamweight titles. Then, within a little over a year, the 31-year-old knocked out WBC/WBO champ Stephen Fulton in July 2023 and WBA/IBF king Marlon Tapales that December to achieve undisputed glory in a second weight class. He made history again in May by headlining the first boxing card at the Tokyo Dome since the historic Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas showdown, overcoming a first-round knockdown before icing former two-division world champion Luis Nery in six. In September, he registered a seventh-round TKO over one-time junior featherweight king TJ Doheny.

Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) is a 26-year-old Australian who entered the paid ranks in 2018. He went 4-0 in 2023, earning points victories over Doheny as well as then-unbeaten talents Ra’eese Aleem and Zhong Liu. He authored a fourth-round TKO against Mark Schleibs in March before decisioning previously unbeaten Thachtana Luangphon across 12 in July.

The former unified junior lightweight queen defeated bitter rival Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) via majority decision to capture the WBO welterweight world title Friday evening at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Tensions were high leading up to the fight, with Mayer accusing Ryan of poaching her longtime training team—a claim Ryan denied. The animosity carried into the ring with intense exchanges throughout the fight.

Mayer’s strategy was to step to her left to avoid Ryan’s hooks. In doing so, she created space for counter rights and lefts as Ryan tried to close the distance. Though Ryan shifted the momentum by stumbling Mayer with a hook in the sixth, Mayer responded by hurting her with a counter in the eighth.

As Ryan increased the pressure, Mayer prevailed in most of the exchanges and clinched the victory with scores of 97-93 and 96-94, overruling one judge’s 95-95 draw.

Mayer said, "It was similar to how I thought it would go. I always said before that I respected Sandy as a boxer. She has a big pedigree, just like myself, but I knew I was gonna beat her to the punch. I knew I was faster. I knew I was sharper. And that's exactly what I did.

“I picked it up halfway through the fight, like I always do. I always turn it on in that second half of the fight. And she just couldn't handle my timing. So, I felt like I won the fight, and I'm just glad I got the right decision this time.

“I want to finish what I started and go undisputed. I came very close at junior lightweight. But my body outgrew that weight. I'm comfortable now. I feel like I'm stronger than ever. I’m still in my prime, as you can see. So I'm coming for the other champions.”

Ryan said, "I'm obviously disappointed, and I'm not taking nothing away from the decision. But before coming to the venue, I don't know if you guys seen, but I had a hit and run {with paint outside the hotel}. And that was definitely set up. I'm not taking nothing away from the win, but it unsettled me.

"It threw me off a bit of my game plan because I just wanted to fight. And you saw at the start of the fight, I was handling her quite well on the jab. I was boxing her and then I started to pick it up. But then, I was obviously pushing it too hard.

“It's nice to fight in America again. But I just don't like the circumstances that happened to me before the fight. But I can't take nothing away from that. It is what it is.”

Twenty For Twenty

Puerto Rican junior middleweight Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) wanted to end tonight's co-feature with a stoppage, but the durable Damian Sosa (25-3, 12 KOs) wasn’t going down easily, pushing the 22-year-old to settle for a shutout unanimous decision (100-90 3x).

Zayas quickly found his rhythm, sitting on his punches by the third round and answering Sosa’s pressure with sharp counterpunches. Whenever Sosa advanced, Zayas responded with precise power shots, alternating between body and head.

By the middle rounds, Zayas was in total command, buzzing Sosa with a right hand in the sixth. Despite seeking the finish, Zayas couldn't put Sosa away, as the Mexican warrior held on until the final bell.

Zayas said, “He pushed me and elevated me to the next level. Now, I feel like I'm ready. Before, I felt like I was ready. But now I think I let everybody know that I'm ready for the elite names.

“Man, they said he throws 84 punches per round. I didn't see that today. I did my job. Now, I just have to be calm, relax, and see what my promoter wants. I want whoever is in the top five.”

Daniel Dubois etched his name among the elite in heavyweight division with a stunning knockout victory over former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium. Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) ended the fight in the fifth round with a hard right hand that sent Joshua crashing to the canvas.

Joshua (28-4, 25 KO's) tried to get up but was too hurt to do so and was counted out by the referee.

In the first round itself it was evident that Dubois can topple bigger opponent as he floored Joshua to begin a series of knockdown---once in first, third, fourth and finally knocking Joshua out in the fifth.

Dubois' victory marked a significant turning point in his career, solidifying his status as a force in the heavyweight division. He was once viewed as a promising prospect. Dubois had faced setbacks in the past, but his performance against Joshua showcased his immense power and determination.

The bout was a thrilling spectacle from start to finish. Both fighters came out swinging, eager to establish their dominance. Dubois' aggressive style and heavy hands were immediately apparent, while Joshua sought to use his experience and ringcraft to neutralize his opponent.

However, it was Dubois who landed the decisive blow. In the fifth round, he caught Joshua with a perfectly timed right hand that sent the former champion tumbling to the canvas. Joshua was unable to recover, and the referee waved off the fight.

Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will make defense number two of his undisputed super bantamweight crown against former world champion TJ Doheny.

Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), a four-division world champion and pound-for-pound standout, has made Ariake Arena his boxing home in recent years. It’s where he knocked out Paul Butler to win the undisputed bantamweight title in December 2022, defeated Stephen Fulton for two super bantamweight titles in July 2023, and dominated Marlon Tapales for the undisputed crown last December. Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) is 4-0 when fighting on Japanese soil, including a knockout win over Bryl Bayogos on the Inoue-Luis Nery undercard at Tokyo Dome in May.

In the co-feature, WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) will make his first title defense against former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs).

Timothy Bradley, Jr. and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.

(Photo: Nauki Fukuda)

• Naoya Inoue 121 3/4 lbs. vs. Luis Nery 121 lbs

ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 7:35 a.m. ET/4:35 a.m. PT
(Inoue's Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title - 12 Rounds)
Referee: Michael Griffin
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Jose Roberto Torres and Adam Height

• Jason Moloney 117 3/4 lbs vs. Yoshiki Takei 117 3/4 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 6:25 a.m. ET/3:25 a.m. PT
(Moloney's WBO Bantamweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Steve Willis
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Ellis Johnson and Lou Moret

• Takuma Inoue 117 3/4 lbs vs. Sho Ishida 117 3/4 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 5:20 a.m. ET/2:20 a.m. PT
(Inoue's WBA Bantamweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Luis Pabon
Judges: Pinit Prayadsab, Kazunobu Asao and Michiaki Someya

• Seigo Yuri Akui 112 lbs vs. Taku Kuwahara 112 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 4:10 a.m. ET/1:10 a.m. PT
(Akui's WBA Flyweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Raul Caiz Jr.
Judges: Pinit Prayadsab, Jose Roberto Torres and Yoshikazu Furuta 

BROOKLYN, NY (April 20, 2024): After months of enduring ridicule and scorn from so-called experts who gave who him no shot at victory, Ryan “Kingry” Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) shocked the world Saturday night in Brooklyn, flooring Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) three times en route to a majority decision victory, capping an action-packed Golden Boy Promotions card at the Barclay’s Center.

Garcia of Victorville, Calif. rocked Haney in the middle of the first round with a left hook and rolled through the back of the half of the fight to secure the decision by scores of 115-109, 114-110 and 112-112.

“I shouldn’t have put too much pressure on myself to stop him, because every time I hurt him, I went crazy and I couldn’t stop him,” said Ryan Garcia. “I think the ref should’ve stopped the fight. He (Haney) was really hurt. I felt bad, I even looked at Bill to stop the fight. [Regarding the point being deducted in seventh round] The guy was holding me for dear life, and I felt the opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free. I should’ve knocked him out that seventh round. They stole that from me. I’m surprised he has so much heart and recovery. He got wobbled bad in the first round. I thought it was over. He even hurt me with a hook. At the end of the day, I’m going to fight him, win or lose.”

“Ryan just shocked the world and proved once and for all that he is the face of boxing and a pound-for-pound athlete in our sport,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman Oscar De La Hoya. “Despite all of the talk from armchair psychologists and so-called boxing pundits, Ryan clearly had a plan and executed it.”

In a co-main event for the WBO Intercontinental Super Lightweight Title, Arnold Barboza, Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs) defeated Sean 'The Public Nuisance' McComb (18-2, 5 KOs) via split decision in a back and forth 10-round fight that went the distance. McComb fought off his back foot the whole night as Barboza Jr. slowly tried to get in. Ultimately the fight ended in Barboza’s favor with the judges scoring the fight 96-94 and 97-93 in Barboza’s favor and 92-98 in McComb’s favor.

“I felt good. It was a very tricky fight,” said Arnold Barboza Jr., “He was a lefty, tall and he moved a lot. He gave me a lot of trouble, but it was a learning experience. I’ll be back better. We’re going to talk to Oscar and see what’s next.”

Retaining his WBA Intercontinental Super Middleweight Title, Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev (14-1, 10 KOs) went to war with Frenchman Pierre Dibombe (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in a fight scheduled for 10-rounds. The nonstop action left both fighers cut with battle scars; the corner doctor stopping the fight due to a deep gash over Melikuziev’s eye caused by an accidental headbutt. The judges went to the scorecards, awarding the “Bully” the technical decision victory with scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 79-73.

“He was a good opponent. Unfortunately, the fight was stopped,” said Bektemir Melikuziev. “During the fight he kept coming forward with his head. There was nothing I could do. I just needed another minute or two in the ring to finish the fight. I slowed down a bit because I felt that my opponent was getting tired.”

David “Medallita” Jimenez (16-1, 11KOs) of Cartago, Costa Rica pulled off an upset win against fan favorite John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. claiming the WBA Interim Super Featherweight Title via unanimous decision in a 12-round grudge match. Jimenez won with scores of 111-117, 112-116 and 111-117 all in his favor.

“I am very happy to become a champion again. I want to thank Golden Boy for the opportunity,” said David Jimenez. “I am ready to plan for what’s next. I felt great in the ring, and I felt like I was controlling the fight from the second round. Scrappy has a good punch and is a good boxer. Like all fighters, I want to become undisputed.”

Charles "Bad News" Conwell (19-0, 14 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio opened the DAZN PPV card in spectacular fashion as he stopped Nathanial Gallimore (22-8-1, 17 KOs) of Des Plaines, Illinois in the sixth round via TKO in a super welterweight fight originally scheduled for 10 rounds. Conwell won the fight with a time of 0:52 of the aforementioned round.

“I feel good,” said Charles Conwell. “It was the coming back party. I thought he was a tough-game fighter. He came with a lot of experience, but I did what no other fighter has done. I stopped him in the sixth round. I don’t think any other fighter has beat him as bad as I did. He was a tough fighter and I appreciate him for taking the fight. We’re looking to get back in the ring asap, sometime in July or August. I’m back in the gym getting better. The ring rust is off. We’re ready for what’s next.”

On the preliminary card, Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York defeated Vaughn Alexander (18-11-1, 11 KOs) of St. Louis, Missouri via unanimous decision in a 10-round Super Middleweight bout. Derevyanchenko won with scores of 100-89 by all three judges. Darius “DFG” Fulghum (11-0, 10 KOs) of Houston, Texas successfully defended his WBA Continental Super Middleweight Title against Cristian Olivas (22-11, 19 KOs) of Baja California, Mexico stopping him in the fourth round via TKO in a fight originally scheduled for eight-rounds. Fulghum won with a time of 0:50 of the aforementioned round.

Also a part of the preliminaries, Jonathan “Sugar Cane” Canas (4-0, 2 KOs) of Houston, Texas beat Markus Bowes (2-6, 2 KOs) of Roxboro, North Carolina via unanimous decision in a 4-round Super Lightweight bout. Canas won with scores of 40-36 by all three judges. Amari Jones (12-0, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada beat Armel Mbumba-Yassa (10-2, 7 KOs) of Remscheid, Germany via TKO in the sixth round of an 8-round Super Middleweight fight. Jones won with a time of 0:39 in the aforementioned round. In a dazzling KO, Kevin Newman II (16-3-1, 1 KO) of Las Vegas, Nevada stopped Eric Robles (9-4, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico via TKO in the fourth round of an 8-round Cruiserweight fight. Newman II won with a time of 1:53 in the aforementioned round. Opening fight night, Shamar Canal (8-0, 4 KOs) of Albany, New York defeated Pedro Borgaro (7-2, 4 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico via unanimous decision in a six-round super lightweight bout with scores of 60-53.

 

William Zepeda delivered what's expected as he pummeled the former champion Max Hughes to retirement after 4 rounds of domination. Watch below highlight from DAZN.

The Fighter of the Night is brought to you by @monkeymanmovie, a new action film presented by Universal Pictures available in theaters across the US April 5.#ZepedaHughes pic.twitter.com/4TlvdBBdwx

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 17, 2024

Enjoy the highlight below and more stories to follow.