Pictured: Masataka Taniguchi


During the three-day period of Wednesday, April 20 through Friday, April 22, six boxers ranked by TTR as being among the best currently fighting in their respective divisions were in action. Four, Michael Zerafa, Masataka Taniguchi, Paul Butler, and Rocky Fielding, won while two, Kai Ishizawa and Jonas Sultan, lost (to Taniguchi and Butler respectively).


Wednesday, April 20, 2022-

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia-

Middleweight Bout-
Michael Zerafa (TTR #19; 30-4, 19 KOs)
TKO-2
Issac Hardman (12-1, 10 KOs)
- This bout was an eliminator for the #2 spot in the IBF's middleweight rankings.
- Zerafa dropped Hardman in the second round. Hardman was able to beat the count but Zerafa's followup barrage forced the referee to stop the contest.

Friday, April 22, 2022-

Tokyo, Japan-

Strawweight Bout-
Masataka Taniguchi (TTR #4, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #4, The Ring #4; 16-3, 11 KOs)
TKO-11 2:19
Kai Ishizawa (TTR #14; 10-2, 9 KOs)
- Taniguchi weighed in at 105; Ishizawa at 110, five pounds over the divisional limit.
- The bout was allowed to proceed on the condition that Ishizawa weigh no more than 3 kilograms above the limit at the same-day weight check. He was able to do so.
- Taniguchi, who improved to 2-0 with 1 KO versus Ishizawa, retained the WBO World mini-flyweight title.

Liverpool, Merseyside, England-

Bantamweight Bout-
Paul Butler (TTR #13; 34-2, 15 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 12
Jonas Sultan (The Ring #10; TTR #12; 18-6, 11 KOs)
- This bout was fought for the vacant WBO Interim World bantamweight title.
- Sultan was a late substitute. Butler was originally scheduled to challenge John Riel Casimero (The Ring #2, TTR #3, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #3; 31-4, 21 KOs) for Casimero's WBO World bantamweight title. Casimero, however, was banned by the BBBofC from fighting in the bout because of a sauna usage violation.
- The scores were 116-112, 117-111, and 118-110.

Light Heavyweight Bout-
Rocky Fielding (TTR #20; 30-2, 18 KOs)
TKO-3 1:34
Timo Laine (30-18, 1 ND, 12 KOs)
- After dominating the first two rounds, Fielding forced the stoppage in round 3 by pinning Laine on the ropes and unleashing a barrage of punches.