Top heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois closed out a successful 2019 with an easy second round knockout of Japan’s Kyotaro Fujimoto today in London for the WBO International Heavyweight title.

Dubois (14-0, 13 KO) seemed to sting Fujimoto immediately with a jab, after which Fujimoto (21-2, 13 KO) didn’t seem particularly eager to engage with the much taller man. The Japanese heavyweight was dropped early in the second round on a stiff jab, and then knocked clean out with a right hand bomb. Official time of the stoppage was 2:10 of the second round.

Dubois, 22, has the makings and the hype of a real top heavyweight, and he passed his five tests this year, the biggest of which was a fifth round knockout of Nathan Gorman on July 13.

“I knew I had the power, and I was really confident in what I was going to do tonight,” Dubois said. “What can I say? The light switched on, and that was goodnight.”

Asked about what’s next, promoter Frank Warren says he plans to have Dubois back in April at London’s O2 Arena, and the idea of Dubois fighting Joe Joyce came up. Joyce’s manager said he’s interested, Warren and Dubois said they’re up for it. Joyce, for what it’s worth, is set to go out next on Jan. 11 in Germany, where he faces Marco Huck for the vacant European heavyweight title.

Photo by www.bbc.com

Via Scott Christ / Badlefthook.com

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WBO Bouts at the Copper Box Arena

ARCHIE SHARP makes a third defence of his WBO European Junior Lightweight title when he takes on the unbeaten Artjoms Ramlavs at the Copper Box Arena on December 21.

It is one of many fights currently scheduled on the bumper bill that also includes the heavyweight collision between Daniel Dubois and Kyotaro Fujimoto for the WBO International title and for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship Liam Williams going up against the American Alantez Fox for vacant WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight title.

Sharp, 17-0 (9KOs) is on a roll since parting the previously unbeaten champion Lyon Woodstock from his belt in Leicester in October of last year. Injury prevented immediate title progression before he got back in the swing with a second round stoppage of Sergio Gonzalez at Wembley in April and he proceeded to make a first defence against the tough Scot Jordan McCorry at the o2 Arena in July, where he recorded a convincing points victory.

His most recent assignment came at the Royal Albert Hall in September, where he again defended his WBO strap, this time against the unpredictable Irishman Declan Geraghty. The Dubliner presented early problems to the Welling man before a peach of a punch dispatched by the 24-year-old spectacularly ended Geraghty’s night in the fourth round.

Ramlavs from Riga will enter into unfamiliar territory on the night of ‘The Fight Before Christmas’ at the Copper Box.

Known as ‘Supersonic’, the 30-year-old has not previously fought outside his native Latvia in a career that has spanned 11 professional fights, with six of his wins coming via KO.

The 5ft 7southpaw and the champion Sharp do have one opponent in common in the Nicaraguan Gonzalez, who Ramlavs fought in 2018 and recorded a points victory.

“He is a southpaw, 11-0 with six stoppages and I see he had a bit of amateur pedigree,” said Sharp on his forthcoming mission. “So we have got another unbeaten fighter to come and take me on and he is a little bit shorter than Declan (last opponent, Geraghty) and that will probably work a little bit in my favour.

“I think what is happening is he is tough and game, but I don’t think his ability is up there with the other boys I have fought and he will come to work and have a right go.

“Facing an unbeaten fighter brings another dynamic because every time he has showed up before he has won. He’s now got a shot at the WBO European title so we will see how he turns up.

“I’ve just got to make sure I am in tip-top shape and able to adapt to whatever he brings on December 21. It is another lively one and I think they are all going to be that now.”

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Top Enfield talent Frank Buglioni is hungry for ring success now that he’s had a pizza named after him.

The super-middleweight star defends his WBO European title for the second time this Saturday (12th April) at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in London, and will tuck into his special “Wise Guy” pizza once he’s defeated challenger Sergey Khomitsky.

Buglioni’s dynamite punching and model looks from his Italian heritage have attracted a lot of attention outside of the ring and a local restaurant has taken his nickname to give to one of their pizzas.

He said, “A friend of mine named Jim over in one of the local restaurants in Enfield wanted to name the pizza after me on the menu. I helped him and went and opened the restaurant for him. It’s quite a surreal thing to have. It’s nice. I met him at a charity football match and he has followed my career, he loves his boxing and we kept in contact and it just so happened this was a venture of his and he has made me a part of it with the name of the pizza. I’m quite proud of it. Unfortunately I’m not the chef so I didn’t get to choose what it was but he said it’s a classic Italian pizza that packs a punch! I was happy with that.”

Undefeated in twelve fights with nine stoppages and his last three fights ending in big KO stoppages, Buglioni, 24, faces the hardest test of his career against the Belarusian who ended the career of Jamie Moore and took big hitters Martin Murray and Ryan Rhodes the distance.

He added, “I know he’s a good fighter. I know he has mixed with world-class opposition. He has stopped Jamie Moore, went the distance with Ryan Rhodes and only got beat by Martin Murray last time out by points. He is a very experienced guy and is going to be my toughest test to date. I haven’t underestimated him at all. I’ve trained very hard for him. I’ve got a mind in a good place and I’m ready to put on a good performance.  Once Khomitsky is out of the way I’m looking forward to feasting on my pizza!”

The Power Of London show features the next generation of boxing stars: WBO European Super-Middleweight Champion Frank Buglioni, Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion Tony Conquest, WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Champion Bradley Skeete and Vacant WBA International Super-Bantamweight Title Challenger Lewis Pettitt.  An action-packed undercard features Chris Eubank Jnr., Eddie Chambers, Gary Corcoran, Tom Baker, Georgie Kean and the pro-debut of Simon Barclay.

http://www.boxingscene.com/frank-buglioni-eager-trade-punches-with-khomitsky–76583

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