Another week, another opponent for world ranked middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle who winds up a successful year this Sunday with a defense of his North American Boxing Association (NABA) title at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Fla. His latest challenger on the World Boxing Association (WBA) KO Drugs card is Sladan Janjanin out of Bosnia And Herzegovina.
Janjanin, who’s 31 and has a 34-13 [24 KO] ledger, replaces Californian Joeshon James, who in turn replaced Coyle’s original foe, Dominican knockout artist Anibal Cleto Francisco. Both James [7-0, 4 KOs] and Francisco [10-0, 9 KOs] were undefeated, as is Coyle [17-0, 7 KOs], who is ranked ninth by the WBA.
Coyle -- out of Derry -- and Janjanin meet on the first night of the WBA Centennial Convention, which runs through Dec. 14, at the Caribe Royale.
Coyle captured the NABA belt last May with a tough points decision over Antonio Todd. He was scheduled to meet another fellow unbeaten fighter, Felix Cash, for the WBA Intercontinental title, at London’s O2 Arena in October. But the card was cancelled after main event participant Conor Benn failed a drug test.
“As the boxing world knows, Connor was going to face Felix Cash as part of a huge event in October but the card was cancelled,” said his promoter Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions. “If Connor takes care of business against Janjanin, we’re looking to match him with a top ranked opponent next year.”
Coyle fights out of Pinellas Park, FL, and is trained by Florida Boxing Hall of Famer Jim McLaughlin.
Also on Sunday’s card is Coyle’s stablemate Yamaguchi “The Problem” Falcao who puts his super middleweight belt on the line against knockout artist Ernest Amuzu [26-7, 22 KOs] in a 10-round contest. Falcao is 23-1-1 [9 KOs].
The card precedes the WBA’s annual convention and tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the first fight begins at 4 p.m. For more information on Falcao and Coyle, visit Firefistboxing.net.
MICK REWIND
In Belfast this Saturday, world featherweight contender Michael “Mick” Conlan looks to shine on his Belfast return when he battles French veteran Karim Guerfi at the SSE Arena. Conlan-Guerfi and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 1:15 p.m. ET/10:15 a.m. PT.
Conlan [17-1, 8 KOs] returns for his second Belfast block party since his valiant challenge of WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood in March. The two-time Irish Olympian was leading on the scorecards before being knocked out in the 12th round.
In August, Conlan returned to his winning ways with a one-sided decision over three-time world title challenger Miguel Marriaga at The SSE Arena.
Guerfi (31-6, 9 KOs), from Manosque, France, is a former two-division European champion coming off a decision win over Mexican veteran Ricardo Mercado in July.
On the Belfast undercard are three other Irish standouts [in addition to Conlan] also promoted by Las Vegas-based Top Rank. Two of the undefeated trio: light middleweight Kieran Molloy [3-0, 2 KOs] and featherweight Kurt Walker (4-0, 1 KO) will see action in six-rounders, while rising welterweight Paddy Donovan (9-0, 6 KOs) aims for his third victory of the year in an eight-rounder.
KATIE CORONATION
In New York City on Sunday, undisputed world lightweight champion Katie Taylor receives Ring 8’s Boxer of the Year award. At the organization’s 35th Holiday Event and Awards ceremony at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach.
The event, 12:30 -- 5:30 p.m., includes a complete brunch with cocktail hour upon entry, followed by seating at the awards ceremony, dinner and dessert, and an open bar throughout the afternoon. There will also be a silent auction of boxing memorabilia. Part of the proceeds will go to the AAIB Scholarship Fund.
Tickets are $150 and available from Ring 8 president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 or depcomish@aol.com.
