December Boxing Schedule: Season’s Beatings

Boxing fans have been extra good this year. Sweet Science Santa will deliver a solid lineup of cards through the end of 2024 as promoters load up on their last cards of the year around the world.

NY Fights has the complete December boxing schedule lineup and details for you with updated results.

Antonio Vargas survived an early knockdown to win a tenth round TKO over Winston Guerrero. Photo: Ed Mulholland, MVP

RESULTS: Antonio Vargas Outslugs Winston Guerrero

Former U.S. Olympic team member Antonio Vargas of Florida (19-1, 11 KOs) defeated Winston Guerrero of Nicaragua (22-1, 13 KOs) by tenth-round TKO for the vacant WBA interim bantamweight title. Vargas is ranked number one by the WBA and hopes for a world title challenge as the mandatory for full world champion Sayike of Japan.

Cuban prospect Dainier Pero of Florida (10-0, 8 KOs) knocked out Walter Burns of Michigan (8-3, 6 KOs) in the first round.

Big Owl Boxing

Marquis Taylor won in the latest edition of this prospect series based in Houston. Photo: Big Owl Boxing

Middleweight Marquis “The Zero Snatcher” Taylor of Houston (18-1-2, 3 KOs) also overcame an early knockdown to beat Ivan Pandzic of Rancho Cucamonga, California (15-3-1, 9 KOs) by scores of 98-91 on all three cards, defending his NABF Middleweight Title for the second time in the main event of Red Owl Boxing’s BOXFEST XIII. Taylor is now trained by former two-time 147-pound titleholder and Red Owl Boxing commentator “Showtime” Shawn Porter.

Welterweight Giovanni Marquez of Houston (12-0, 6 KOs) won a wide decision despite a game effort from challenger Cristian Dominguez of Las Vegas (13-7, 6 KOs) with scores of 80-72 x2, 79-73.

RESULTS: Akhmadaliev Gets Impressive Win, Calls Out Inoue

Murodjon Akhmadaliev made his case for a title fight against unified champion Naoya Inoue. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Former unified world champion Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan (13-1, 10 KOs) made it uno, dos, and adios with three knockdowns in round three to finish off Ricardo Espinoza of Mexico (30-5, 25 KOs) with seamless ease. The official time was 2:59 of the round. Akhmadaliev wins the vacant WBA interim super bantamweight title in the Monte Carlo main event.

RESULTS: Rocha and Curiel Battle to a Draw, Promise to Run It Back

Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel mixed it up in an all action fight headed for a rematch. Photo: Cris Esqueda, Golden Boy Boxing

Welterweights Alexis Rocha of Santa Ana, California (25-2-1, 16 KOs) and undefeated Raul Curiel of Guadalajara, Mexico (15-0-1, 13 KOs) both had impressive moments in a back-and-forth battle.

It was in no way a disappointment when neither fighter won or lost in a majority draw. Judge Pat Russell scored it 116-112 for Rocha; Fernando Villareal and Dr. Lou Moret scored it 114-114.

Super welterweight Charles Conwell of Cleveland (21-0, 16 KOs) dominated Gerardo Luis Vergara of Buenos Aires, Argentina (20-1, 13 KOs), stopping him in seven rounds.

RESULTS: Surace Shocks Munguia with Sixth-Round KO

Bruno Serace dropped Jaime Munguia with a single perfect right hook. Photo: Top Rank Boxing

In a stunning turn of events in what was supposed to be a harmless victory lap for super middleweight Jaime Munguia for his hometown fans in Tijuana, Mexico, obscure French opponent Bruno Serace delivered the Upset of the Year, clocking Munguia with a single right hook to stop Munguia and score the knockout victory at 2:37 of the sixth round.

Tuesday, December 17: New York, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on DAZN  

Kurt Scoby vs. Bryan Jimenez, eight rounds, lightweights

Andy Dominguez vs. Angel Geovanny Meza, eight rounds, flyweights

Nisa Rodriguez vs. Melody Popravak, six rounds, female middleweights

Saturday, December 21: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 10:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. PT on DAZN PPV – Usyk Fury 2

Oleksandr Usyk raises the undisputed belt after his victory over Tyson Fury in May. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine (22-0, 14 KOs) and Tyson Fury of England (34-1-1, 24 KOs) stage the anticipated rematch of their fight earlier in 2024, with Usyk’s WBC/WBO/WBA heavyweight titles on the line.

In the co-main event, Serhii Bohachuk of Ukraine (24-2, 23 KOs) comes off his razor-thin loss to Vergil Ortiz Jr., now facing Ishmael Davis of England (13-1, 6 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round super welterweight fight. Davies is a late replacement for Israil Madrimov, who withdrew due to illness (cough).

Also on this loaded card:

Heavyweights Moses Itauma of England vs. Demsey McKean of England, ten rounds

Heavyweights Johnny Fisher of England vs. David Allen of England, ten rounds

Junior featherweights Dennis McCann vs. Peter McGrail, 12 rounds, for McCann’s European title

Featherweights Isaac Lowe vs. Lee McGregor, ten rounds

UPDATE: Inoue vs Goodman Postponed to January 24

Sam Goodman posted a photo to his Instagram account of the cut suffered in sparring. Photo: Sam Goodman/Instagram

The undisputed fight planned between pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue of Japan (28-0, 25 KOs) and his mandatory challenger Sam Goodman of Australia (19-0, 8 KOs) will reportedly be postponed to January 24 in Tokyo after Goodman suffered a cut in his final sparring session on December 12.

Garcia vs Anpo Exhibition On Hold

We know you’re heartbroken over this one.

Ryan Garcia has been forced to postpone his exhibition boxing match against Rukiya Anpo due to a wrist injury sustained during training. It was originally set for December 30 in Japan.

Tuesday, December 31: Tokyo

Although there is currently no U.S. broadcast, here’s hoping our friends at ESPN Plus come through and air the traditional New Year’s Eve card from Japan.

The main event is a rematch between Fernando Martinez of Argentina (17-0,9 KOs) and former super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Tokyo (31-3-1, 16 KOs) for Martinez’s WBA Junior Bantamweight title.

Also on the card,

Junior lightweights Hayato Tsutsumi vs. Rene Alvarado, 12 rounds

Junior bantamweights Joe Shiraishi vs. Tsuyoshi Sato, eight rounds