Ryosuke Iwasa: record, next fight and profile →
Murodjon Akhmadaliev stated his case as the best of a loaded junior featherweight division. The unified WBA/IBF 122-pound titlist made his first successful defense with a 5th round stoppage of Japan's Ryosuke Iwasa. Akhmadaliev was in complete control, although eyebrows were raised when the fight was abruptly stopped in the middle of an exchange during round five Saturday at Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Hasanboy Dusmatov made the most of his first career fight home. The 2016 Gold medalist and Val Barker trophy recipient as the top boxer in the Rio Olympics had his way in a 2nd round knockout of Tanzania's Muhsin Kizoto. Dusmatov floored Kizoto three times in forcing the stoppage at 2:02 of round two in their DAZN-streamed opener Saturday at Humo Arena in Tashkent, Ukraine.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev cannot wait to defend his 122-pound crowns in his home country Saturday night. The IBF/WBA champ will fight in his native Uzbekistan for the first time since he turned pro three years ago against an optional opponent, Japan’s Ryosuke Iwasa. The 12-round championship bout between Akhmadaliev (8-0, 6 KOs) and Iwasa (27-3, 17 KOs) will headline DAZN’s stream from Humo Arena in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan (10 a.m. ET; 7 a.m. PT).
Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Ryosuke Iwasa held their final press conference on Thursday from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where the local fighter will defend his WBA and IBF super bantamweight championships against the Japanese veteran on Saturday, in an event that will also have two regional WBA titles at stake.
By Cliff Rold - It’s not always easy to identify the beginning of something in boxing. As pieces come together in a weight class, or the span of a couple of classes, what appears tantalizing can evaporate rapidly. This Saturday on DAZN (10 AM EST), two of the best Jr. featherweights in the world will lock horns for two of the major alphabet straps available. After suffering COVID delays with so many since this time last year, 26-year old Murodjon Akhmadaliev (8-0, 6 KO) gets the chance to make his first defense of the WBA and IBF belts he won in January 2020.
Uzbekistan’s undefeated WBA and IBF Super-Bantamweight World Champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev will return home to put his World Titles on the line against Japan’s Ryosuke Iwasa on a huge night of boxing at the Humo Arena, Tashkent on Saturday April 3, live on DAZN.
Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev would like to welcome Stephen Fulton to the title mix. Of course, that invitation has long extended to any perceived threat in the junior middleweight division. Philadelphia’s Fulton (19-0, 8KOs) becomes the latest to strap an alphabet belt around his waist after dethroning unbeaten WBO titlist Angelo Leo (20-1, 9KOs) in their high octane Showtime main event Saturday evening.
While Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn formally announced a slate of fall fights that will take place in the United Kingdom, including the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte heavyweight rematch on Nov. 21, the schedule for his Matchroom Boxing USA remains a work in progress. However, multiple sources told BoxingScene that there are three cards in the works that would stream on DAZN -- one in October and two in November -- as follow-ups to the one card Matchroom USA has put on since boxing returned during the coronavirus pandemic. That card was on Aug. 15 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Jessica McCaskill outpointed Cecilia Braekhus in a major upset to take the undisputed women’s welterweight title.
NEW YORK – Two fights after TJ Doheny defeated him, Ryosuke Iwasa was able to win an IBF 122-pound championship Saturday night. The Japanese southpaw out-worked a comparatively inactive Marlon Tapales before blasting Tapales with a left hand that ultimately ended their scheduled 12-round fight in the 11th round at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Iwasa’s perfectly placed overhand left knocked Tapales underneath a bottom rope with 2:09 to go in the 11th round.
Iwasa vs. Tapales, Hawton vs. Villalobos Weights Photos Gallery - Charlo vs. Hogan will see WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo defend his title against highly-ranked contender Dennis Hogan live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. (photos by Stephanie Trapp)