The Past Week in Action 27 August 2013

ERIC ARMIT | August 27, 2013 | 0 Comentarios/ Comments

Miss any of this week’s action in the sport? Get caught up with “The Past Week in Action” by Eric Armit; with a review of all major cards in the sport.

The Past Week in Action 27 August 2013

August 21

Tijuana, Mexico: Bantam: Rolly Lunas (32-8-1) W PTS 8 German Meraz (44-27-1). This was not a pretty fight; in fact it was a very dirty one. Meraz showed some skills but was also busy with low blows, head butts and rabbit punching. Lunas was doing the cleaner work, in both senses of the word but was frustrated by the constant clinching tactics of Meraz. The 29-year-old Filipino deservedly took the unanimous decision on scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75. Seven wins in a row for the WBC No 6 and former undefeated OPBF champion who lost to Anselmo Moreno for the WBA title in 2008. Don’t know what he was doing fighting an eight round bout in Tijuana? Only 27 but already with 73 fights, that’s Meraz. Occasionally he pulls off a surprise such as wins over Cruz Carbajal and Giovanni Caro, but not this time.

August 23

Verona, NY, USA: Super Feather: Argenis Mendez (20-1-1) DRAW 12 Arash Usmanee (20-1-1). Feather: Jesus Cuellar (23-1) W PTS 12 Claudio Marrero (14-1). Super Bantam: Alexei Collado (17-0) W TKO 5 Guillermo Sanchez (13-10-1). Light Middle: Ed Paredes (34-3-1) W PTS 10 Noe Bolanos (24-9-1).

Mendez vs. Usmanee

Mendez retains his IBF title on a draw but most thought he was a clear winner. Usmanee was generally the aggressor getting a fast start and forcing the action and that might have influenced the judges. It was Mendez who was sharper, busier and more accurate, but he seemed at times to be coasting and that also did not help his cause. He did not really get going until the fifth but from then on he was using good movement to make Usmanee miss and slotting in sharp counters. The action and advantage swung from one to the other with the aggressive tactics of Usmanee garnering some rounds and the fast, powerful counters from Mendez winning rounds for him. Usmanee seemed to tire just past the mid point of the fight, but he staged a strong finish. Scores 114-114 twice and 115-113 for Usmanee. The 27-year-old Dominican was making the first defence of the title he won with a revenge kayo of previous conqueror Juan Carlos Salgado in March. In the sort of logic you only get in boxing Afghan-born Canadian Usmanee got his title shot after losing a disputed decision to Rances Barthelemy in an eliminator in January. Could be a return on the cards although Barthelemy might feel he should get a chance-he did win after all.

Cuellar vs. Marrero

There is nothing pretty about Cuellar who is an aggressive, crude, southpaw bulldozer, but his style was effective and, although the better boxer, Marrero was just not strong enough. Cuellar set a fast early pace with the possibility of burning himself if he maintained it. Marrero came more into the fight showing some clever touches and boxing intelligently. Just when it seemed that he might take control the bruising Argentinian floored the Dominican in the sixth. Marrero battled back to have Cuellar hurt in the seventh. It was Cuellar’s turn to rock Marrero in the ninth as they both fought hard, often toe-to-toe, over the closing rounds with the fight exciting but also getting messy at times. Cuellar held onto the lead he had built to win the interim WBA title. The 26-year-old “Rider”, who needed three attempts to make the weight for the fight, was lucky to get the title shot having done nothing of note since being stopped by Oscar Escandon but took his chance. He trained with Robert Garcia for this one. Scores: 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113. Fellow southpaw Marrero,24, was a top class amateur representing the Republic in the 2207 and 2009 World Championships, but got the title fight without having faced a single rated opponent.

Collado vs. Sanchez

The unbeaten Cuban “Hurricane” had to adjust due to changes in his schedule opponent but his power was too much for late sub Sanchez. Collado gradually broke the game Puerto Rican down until the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight in the fifth. Now 15 wins by KO/TKO for the 25-year-old WBA No 14 and IBF No 15, but he really needs to get some ring time as he was inactive from October 2011 until March this year and he won his return inside one round. Southpaw Sanchez has lost eight in a row but five of those losses were against unbeaten fighters.

Paredes vs. Bolanos

“ The Lion” continued to rebuild with a wide unanimous decision over Mexican Bolanos. Both fighters were willing to trade at close quarters but the stronger Paredes was always in control and Bolanos did well to last the distance. Scores 99-91 from all three judges. Now 13 wins and a draw for the 28-year-old Paredes. He is rated WBA 3/WBC 3/ WBO 11 and IBF 13 but his record does not support those No 3 ratings. Since losing to Carlos Molina in 2009 the only name fighter he has beaten is 40+ years Antonio Pitalua, and that was a split decision. Bolanos was another late sub, and no threat. He had lost his previous three contest inside the distance.

Junin, Argentina: Light: Marcelino Lopez (27-0-1) W TKO 9 Sergio Gonzalez (25-15-4,1ND). Lopez wins the Argentinian title from champion Gonzalez and retains his WBC Latino title with a ninth round stoppage. This was a tough, brutal fight with the better technique and power of Lopez proving too much for a game Gonzalez. Lopez had Gonzalez rocking and hurt in the second round and again in the seventh and eighth. However it was not one-way traffic as southpaw Gonzalez took the third fourth and sixth rounds but lacked the power to turn that domination into a victory. Lopez handed out punishment to Gonzalez in the eighth and came near to ending it then. Gonzalez survived until the ninth when a savage attack finished off with left hook to the body put Gonzalez down. He made it to his feet but was being driven around the ring by hard shots from Lopez and the referee stopped the fight. The 27-year-old “Nino”, the WBC No 11, needed an impressive win after a draw against Argentinian super feather champion Sergio Escobar in May which ruined his 100% record. “Tiger” Gonzalez had turned a corner by recovering from a run of just one win in eight fights to three wins in a row, but was out of his class against Lopez.

Oostende, Belgium: Light Middle: Sasha Yengoyan (25-1-1) W TKO 2 Stiliyan Kostov (8-3). Super Feather: Ermano Fegatilli (28-5) W PTS 8 Mike Escobar (7-10). Light Middle: Kobe Vanderkerkhove (23-17-3) W PTS 8 Stan Nenkov (5-3). Cruiser: Ryad Merhy (2-0) W KO 1 Nikolai Ermenkov (7-6).

Yengoyan vs. Kostov

The loss to Aslanbek Kozaev seems to have taught “The Beast from the East” a lesson. In this fight Yengoyan showed much improved technique and a more patient approach. He still has his power and after an even first round Yengoyan floored the Bulgarian with a left-right combination. Kostov got up but was in trouble. He was on the floor again but from a push and the referee rightly did not register it as a knockdown. That only delayed the end as a similar left-right combination put Kostov down again. After he got up a left to the body floored him again. Despite the Bulgarian’s protestations the fight was over as Belgium has a three knockdown rule. Armenian-born Yengoyan, 28, makes16 wins by KO/TKO and four wins since losing on points to unbeaten Kozaev for the EBU-EE title. He is still No 2 in the EBU-EE ratings.

Fegatilli vs. Escobar

Former European champion Fegatilli got an early wake-up call as a left from Spaniard Escobar put him down in the first round. It was all the success Escobar could manage as Fegatilli proceeded to outbox the Spaniard over the next seven rounds to win the unanimous decision. Scores 78-74 from all three judges. “Il Dottore” had to adjust to constant changing of opponents before this fight. He has lost only one of his last 14 fights, but that was to Devis Boschiero in July, and it cost him his European title. This was his third win since then and he remains EBU No 1.

Vanderkerkhove vs. Nenkov

Nenkov made a fast and furious start against Vanderkerkhove (VDKH), but the Belgian kept his cool, and although given a hard fight boxed his way to a unanimous decision. Scores 79-73, 79-74 and 78-74. VDKH, 29, had lost 3 of his last 4 going in so it was a much needed win. Nenkov was having his first eight round fight and kept his record of not losing inside the distance.

Merhy vs. Ermenkov

Second quick win for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast born Merhy. He could be one to watch. He hits hard with both hands and varies his punch selection well. He made his way to Miami without a job to go to. Found one in a restaurant and achieved his aim of training at the 5^th Street gym. Third loss in the first round for poor Bulgarian Ermenkov

Salo, Italy: Heavy: Matteo Modugno (14-0) W TKO 6 Fabio Tuiach (25-3). Light Welter: Samuele Esposito (16-1) W TKO 6 Ivan Godor (14-34-4).Light Middle: Adriano Nicchi (21-4-2) W PTS 6 Joseph Rauseo (0-6-2).

Modugno vs. Tuiach

Confident display by the big Italian champion as he shows improved skills in stopping puncher Tuiach to retain his title for the second time. Tuiach, a natural cruiser, was giving away height, reach and weight and that was just too much for the 33-year-old who was also shaking off some ring rust. He was never really able to get past the reach of Modugno to fight inside. Modugno was using his strength to dominate and Tuiach was spending plenty of time on the ropes and under pressure. Modugno was throwing fast, accurate combinations and slowly wore down Tuiach who spent all of the fifth on the ropes. In the sixth two hard rights put Tuiach down and the referee stopped the fight. Well timed finish as Modugno was starting to the show the effects of the fast pace he had set. Now 8 wins by KO/TKO for the 6’6 ½” (200cm) 26-year-old who will hope this win helps get a place in the EBU ratings, although he is considering entering the WBS tournaments. Tuiach lost to Marco Huck for the European cruiser title in 2008 and was then inactive until winning a fight last December.

Esposito vs. Godor

Too easy for “The Wall”. Esposito floors the Slovakian in the first and wins every round until a hard right puts Godor down in the sixth and the fight is stopped. That’s 9 wins by KO/TKO for the former undefeated Italian champion who is EBU No 15. Seven losses by KO/TKO for “The Little Dragon”. Godor, 33, is one of the busiest fighters in Europe with 12 fights last year and 10 already in this.

Nicchi vs. Rauseo

Firat fight for Nicchi since losing in two rounds to Sergey Rabchenko for the EBU title in March. Carrying a bit of extra weight Italian champion Nicchi takes a while to get going but sweeps the last four rounds for a clear points win over fellow-countryman Rauseo. Nicchi is rated No 15 by the EBU.

Ensenada, Mexico: Light: Rafael Guzman (12-0) W PTS 10 Jesus Valadez (7-2). Light Welter: Misael Castillo (25-2) W TKO 3 Daniel Valenzuela (31-17-2).

Guzman vs. Valadez

Guzman pleases the locals with a wide unanimous decision over “Bomber” Valadez. After four even rounds Guzman put Valadez down in the fifth. He was unable to repeat the success and had to stand and trade with a desperate Valadez in the last. Scores 100-92 twice and 99-92. Good win for the 18-year-old “Furious” in his first ten round bout. Valadez, 19, has lost 2 of his last 3 now.

Castillo vs. Valenzuela

“Rapper” Castillo ends this one early. He floored Valenzuela in the second and twice in the third, all from body punches, before crashing home a left-right combination to the jaw to finish the fight. Castillo does not do distance fights. Twenty-five of his 27 fights have ended in a KO/TKO. Unfortunately he was on the losing end in two of the 25 being beaten by Carlos Winston Velasquez and Luis Arceo. Only one of the last 10 fights of the Venezuelan has gone the distance but inside the distance losses to Antonio Lozada, Juan Pablo Lopez and Mahonri Montes are no surprise.

Tijuana, Mexico: Fly: Felipe Salguero (18-4-1) W TKO 7 Armando Vazquez (20-10,1ND). Feather: Sergio Nunez (10-0-1) W TKO 1 Raul Hinojosa (10-2-1).

Salguero vs. Vazquez

Salguero gets a good win in a tough fight with Vazquez. Over the first two rounds Salguero used his height and reach to score on the outside against the smaller Vazquez. In the third and fourth Vazquez was able to get inside and score with short hooks to the body. In the fifth a punch from Vazquez opened a cut on the left eyelid of Salguero to put the fight in the balance. Salguero had a big sixth as he used his long jab, straight rights and left hooks and Vazquez had no answer. In the seventh Salguero took Vazquez to the ropes and was unloading with hard shots with nothing coming back from Vazquez and the fight was stopped. Salguero makes it 13 wins by KO/TKO. He lost two big fights in 2012, a close decision to Donnie Nietes for the WBO light fly title and to Luis Rios in an IBF eliminator, but preserved his IBF No 8 rating with this win. “Chiquite” Vazquez goes to eight losses by KO/TKO including a first round loss to Nietes in a non-title fight.

Nunez vs. Hinojosa

“Tabasco” Nunez blows away Hinojosa in under two minutes. Southpaw Hinojosa wanted to take time to study the style of Nunez but was never given the chance. Nunez flew out of the corner and just kept throwing punches until a left hook unhinged Hinojosa and convinced the referee to stop the massacre after just 112 seconds. Nunez, a good class Junior in amateur action in California, has 7 wins by KO/TKO, all coming in the first two rounds. Hinojosa had won his last ten fights, nine by KO/TKO.

Galati, Romania: Middle: Goekalp Oezekler (15-1-1) DREW 12 Istvan Szili (17-0-1). Heavy: Marcin Rekowski (10-0) W TKO 4 Danny Williams (44-18). Heavy: Christian Hammer (14-3) W KO 7 Leif Larsen (17-2).

Oezekler vs. Szili

Turk Oezekler looks lucky to scrape a draw against unbeaten Hungarian Szili. Oezekler has little in the way of skills and is too brave for his own good. He just kept walking into hard punching Szili. The Hungarian built an early lead but despite some strength sapping uppercuts was unable to stop the forward march of Oezekler. Szili had the edge when he could keep Oezekler away but got involved in too much infighting. Szili looked close to a stoppage win in the seventh but Oezekler staged a short revival before Szili staged a strong finish which should have got him the decision. Scores 115-113 Oezekler, 115-113 Szili and 114-114. The WBO Inter-Continental title remains vacant. German-based Oezekler, 31, suffered a bad loss when he was kayoed by Rafael Bejeran in 2011 but then won five in a row including wins over Moez Fhima (21-1-1) and Albert Ayrapetyan (20-2). “Spartan” Szili,30, the EBU No 13, won gold and silver at European Union Championships, competed at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships and was twice national champion, but lost to James DeGale in the European qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics.

Rekowski vs. Williams

Pole Rekowski has little trouble with veteran Williams. After winning the first two rounds and having Williams in trouble in both he had to withstand a brief rally by Williams in the third. It was halted in the fourth rounds as Rekowski trapped Williams in a corner and was unloading with heavy shots. The referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. The 35-year-old former Polish amateur champion and World Championships representative has nine wins by KO/TKO. As for 40-year-old Williams he moves to eight losses in a row.

Hammer vs. Larsen

Hammer retains his WBO European title for the second time with a kayo of Norwegian Larsen. The challenger was in the fight in the early rounds with incessant pressure and crude swings. Hammer stuck to his jab and after two slow rounds began to roll in the third using a body attack to slow Larsen even further than his plodding pace. Larsen was still in then fight at the end of the fourth but it was downhill from there. Hammer was in charge in the fifth and floored Larsen with a right. The Romanian ended it in the seventh when he put Larsen down and out with a ferocious left hook. The referee did not bother to count but immediately called for the ringside doctor. The 25-year-old German-based Romanian has ten wins by KO/TKO, His real name is Cristian Ciocan and under that name he was a gold medal winner at the 2006 World Junior Championships.

Corona, CA, USA: Super Feather: Juan Reyes (9-1-2) DRAW 8 Jonathan Arrellano (13-2-1). Middle: Alex Theran (15-0) W PTS 6 Justin Williams (4-9-2).

Reyes vs. Arellano

Great little fight between two guys who have known each from the Juniors and often sparred together. There was no sparring here as they served up eight all-action rounds with Reyes the busy guy forcing the fight and Arellano playing the part of the clever counter puncher. Reyes got off quickest flooring Arellano with a right in the first. Arellano was not badly hurt and went straight back into the fray. The pace continued hot with Arellano cancelling any advantage the early knockdown gave Reyes by flooring him in the fifth. Reyes had to overcome a cut over his right eye as they battled the way to the bell at the end of the eighth. Scores 75-75 twice and 76-74 for Reyes. Mexican Reyes is now unbeaten in his last six fights. Arrellano was rebounding from back-to-back losses to Roman Morales and Jessie Magdaleno.

Theran vs. Williams

Colombian prospect Theran continues to impress. He had too much class for Williams who at least managed to keep his record of not being stopped inside the distance. Theran showed a powerful jab and worked the head and body of Williams, having him in trouble on occasion, but just not being able to close the fight out. Theran wins every round as the three judges score it 60-54. The 22-year-old “Prince” learned how to fight as one of 15 kids trying to get a seat at the dinner table. He is Colombian champion and was national amateur champion, a South American Championships silver medal winner and competed at the 2009 World Championships. Texan Williams has just one win in his last eight fights.

Dover, DW, USA: Heavy: Amir Mansour (19-0) W PTS 12 Maurice Harris (26-18-2). Light Welter: Edgar Santana (28-4) W KO 6 Luis Hernandez (22-7). Super Feather: Omar Douglas (10-0) W KO 1 Anthony Napunyi (14-14). Welter: Dusty Hernandez –Harrison (17-0) W TKO 4 Memo Valdes (12-5).

Mansour vs. Harris

Mansour passes a big test as he shows that he has the stamina to go twelve rounds. Ok Harris is not the fastest heavyweight in the world but he is an experienced tough fighter with some skills. Mansour was making the fight and although giving away height and reach he was stronger, busier and the harder puncher. He worked head and body. Harris used a strong jab and his edge in height to stay in the fight, but even though the younger of the two at 37; he tired over the late rounds. Even then his jab left Mansour with swelling around both eyes and gave Mansour some badly needed rounds of action. Scores varied as two judges gave it to Mansour by a mile and the other had it close. Scores 120-108, 119-109 and 116-112. The 41-year-old southpaw retains the WBFed Intercontinental title and wins the vacant USBA title which will probably net him an IBF rating. His career began in 1997 but has been interrupted by two spells in prison. Since returning to the ring in January he had scored two first round wins giving him 14 wins by KO/TKO but only four minutes of action in the last eight months. Harris has been rated on occasion and has shown that he can rise to it when a chance comes with wins over then unbeaten David Izon and Siarhei Liakhovich and over Jimmy Thunder, Jerry Williams and Nagy Aguilera. Back in 1997 he only lost on a split decision to Larry Holmes.

Santana vs. Hernandez

Santana stops game Hernandez after scoring three knockdowns. “El Chamaco” just punched too hard for the Ecuadorian veteran. Big shots from the Puerto Rican had Hernandez down in the third and fifth rounds. The end came in the sixth when a left to the body put Hernandez down and the referee stopped the fight. Santana wins the vacant NABA title. He has lost only 2 of his last 25 fights, but they were fights he should have been able to win against Harrison Cuello and Manuel Perez. Newark-based Hernandez, 40, had been out for four years and this is fourth loss since his return.

Douglas vs. Napunyi

This one is all over in 71 seconds as a body punch puts the Kenyan down and he is counted out. Eight wins by KO/TKO for the 22-year-old local hope and his fifth in a row. Now ten losses in a row for the 30-year-old Napunyi.

Harrison vs. Valdes

“Dusty” Hernandez-Harrison makes this a one-sided fight. He is on the prowl from the first walking down Valdes and getting through with heavy shots to head and body. A couple of lefts dropped Valdes in the second. He survived until early in the fourth but was trapped on the ropes and shipping heavy shots when the referee finally saved him from any more punishment. The 19-year-old Harrison turned pro at 17 and has ten wins by KO/TKO. Valdes has lost 5 of his last 6 with all the losses by KO/TKO.

Valley Forge, PA, USA: Heavy: Travis Kauffman (25-1) W PTS 8 Arron Lyons (12-13-1,1ND). Kauffman gets another win to keep his stuttering career going. The 6’3” tall GWH “Great White Hope” took the early rounds with his better boxing skills only for Lyons to get better as the fight progressed and finish strongly. Unanimous decision for Kauffman on scores of 80-72, 78-74 and 77-75. Seven wins for Kauffman, 28,since being kayoed in four rounds by Tony Grano in 2009, but he had only one fight in 2011 and 2012. He lost twice to David Price as an amateur and although he won the prestigious PAL tournament always came up short in the US Championships and the NGG’s Only one win in his last eight fights for Lyons who was having his first fight16 months.

Bangkok, Thailand: Light Fly: Rey Loreto (17-13) W TEC DEC 10 Pornsawan (28-6-1).Big upset as Loreto wins technical decision over Pornsawan. A cut suffered by Pornsawan in a clash of heads sent the fight to the cards and the 22-year-old “Hitman” won on scores of 88-82, 86-84 and 85-85. Only rated No 7 by the GAB Loreto had lost 2 of his last 3 fights against very modest opposition, but he must like Thailand. Last time he was there back in 2011 he kayoed current WBA No7 Wisanu in six rounds. Former WBA straw champion Pornsawan, now 35, only lost on a split decision to Ryo Miyazaki for the vacant WBA straw title in December so this was a shock result.

August 24

Carson, CA, USA: Feather: Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8) W KO 1Abner Mares (26-1-1). Super Bantam: Leo Santa Cruz (25-0-1) W TKO 3 Victor Terrazas (37-3-1) W. Light Welter: Antonio Orozco (18-0) W KO 3 Ivan Hernandez (29-4). Heavy: Dominic Breazeale (6-0) W KO 4 Lenroy Thomas (16-3). Super Bantam: Jesus Ruiz (30-5-5) W PTS 8 Enrique Quevedo (14-5-1). Super Middle: Ronald Gavril (6-0) W KO 2 Dave Couchaine (2-3). Feather: Joseph Diaz (7-0) W KO 3 Noel Mendoza (6-3). Super Bantam: Julian Ramirez (9-0) W TKO 1 Abraham Rubio (3-1-1).

Gonzalez vs. Mares

This one was over from the moment Gonzalez landed a left hook which put Mares down heavily. Mares made it to his feet at seven but was on shaky legs. The referee had a long look at Mares and then let the fight continue. Gonzalez pounced catching Mares with more heavy shots before a left hook right cross combination put Mares down again. The referee started the count but after taking a look at Mares stopped the fight before completing the count. This was supposed to be one final big payday for the 31-year-old former WBO bantam and WBC feather champ Gonzalez. However, with 46 wins by KO/TKO going in, he always had a puncher’s chance and that how it turned out. Now Gonzalez is a hot property again. Three division champion Mares, 27, just got caught early with a great punch that he never saw coming so he can bounce back from this.

Santa Cruz vs. Terrazas

Very impressive display from Santa Cruz as he dominates Terrazas from the start and wins his second title. Although moving up in weight Santa Cruz looked to have the superior strength and power and had Terrazas shaken in the second. In the third he floored Terrazas with a wicked left hook to the body for a count of nine. The WBC champion was badly hurt but tried to fight back. Santa Cruz took Terrazas to the ropes and put Terrazas down again with a left hook and a right. Terrazas made it to his feet at nine but was on wobbly legs with his right eye closed and the referee stopped the fight. Just 25, with 15 wins by KO/TKO and already a two-division champion, “Teremoto” could be the next big thing in the lighter divisions. The 30-year-old Terrazas was making the first defence of his WBC title. After being stopped in nine rounds by Brit Rendall Munroe in 2010 Terrazas had won eleven in a row including victories over Nehomar Cermeno, Fernando Montiel and Cris Mijares, so this was a big win for Santa Cruz.

Orozco vs. Hernandez

Prospect Orozco marches on. The San Diego prospect used a vicious body attack to wear down Hernandez. Orozco put Hernandez down three times and the referee stopped the fight in the third to save Hernandez any more punishment. Now 14 wins in all by KO/TKO and 9 in his last 10 fights for 25-year-old Orozco who is ready for bigger tests. First fight since June 2011 for 32-year-old Colombian Hernandez whose figures are inflated by poor opposition back home.

Breazeale vs. Thomas

I think “a win is a win” appropriate here. In a not too exciting fight. The 6’6 ½” (198cm) Olympian and NorthColoradoUniversity student made it 6 wins by KO/TKO in 6 fights. Breazeale had taken the first three rounds without really catching fire. That changed when Thomas landed some low blows which angered Breazeale. He then got serious hurting Thomas with a straight right and ending the fight with another one right which put Thomas down and out. The 27-year-old Henry Tillman trained fighter ( a win for Tillman in 1984 beat Mike Tyson out of a spot in the US Olympic team and Tillman went on to win the gold medal) competed at the London Olympics. He managed to win his way to London without winning either the US Championships or the National Golden Gloves. Jamaican Thomas 28, lost his first pro fight and then won his next 16 before having that streak broken by Arron Lyons in 2010. This was his first fight since then.

Ruiz vs. Quevedo

“Star” Ruiz wins a good fight against Quevedo. Ruiz had to withstand some aggressive attacks from Quevedo but he had the better technique and a strong jab which gave him control in most rounds. Ruiz wins on scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 but they don’t fairly represent the effort put up by Quevedo. He lost, but not by those margins. Ruiz, 23, and a former Mexican champion, has lost only one of his last nine fights. Included in that run is a draw in 2011 with unbeaten Andres Gutierrez (currently 27-0-1 and WBC No 5) and two victories over useful Ruben Tamayo. The loss was against WBC No 9 Christian Esquivel for the NABF title. Quevedo, also a former Mexican champion, but at super fly, has only lost once inside the distance.

Gavril vs. Courchaine

Former top amateur Gavril was in command of this one. He sized-up Courchaine quickly in the first and after a short period of study floored the Spokane fighter. He then ended it with a booming right in the second which saw the referee stop the fight. Now 5 wins by KO/TKO in his 6 fights for the 27-year-old Eddie Mustafa Muhammad trained Romanian. The former national amateur champion represented Romania at the World Cadet Championships where he won a bronze medal and also the World Junior Championships and the 2005 and 2009 World Senior Championships. He is one to watch. Courchaine had gone from two losses by KO/TKO to two wins but was out of his class here.

Diaz vs. Mendoza

“JoJo” Diaz continues to look a hot property. The 20-year-old southpaw fed Mendoza a diet of fast, accurate combinations for two rounds and then put the Phoenix fighter down twice in the third to force the stoppage. The US amateur champion in both 2010 and 2011 Diaz lost to Cuban Lazaro Alvarez at the London Olympics but looks special. Mendoza was never going to stay around long. In his lat fight in September he was beaten in 42 seconds by Julian Ramirez.

Ramirez vs. Rubio

The same Julian Ramirez wasted no time with Mexican prelim novice Rubio. Ramirez just kept throwing hard accurate shots and when a shaken and badly rocked Rubio was not fighting back the fight was stopped. The 20-year-old southpaw has five first round wins. Rubio was a late sub and a lamb to the slaughter.

Vargas vs. Rubillar

In his first US showing Mexican prospect Vargas cruised through the first three rounds and then put Rubillar away with a thunderous right in the fourth. The 22-year-old from Guadalajara has won 15 by KO/TKO, the last 14 in a row. There have been some very poor opponents in that total, but his last six fights have all been against guys with positive records. Thirty-six-year-old Filipino Rubillar is a long way down the hill. He had a shot at the IBF straw title, two shots at the interim WBC light fly title, two shots at the full WBC title and a shot at the WBA light fly title. Now he is getting knocked over in prelim fights in Californian. He has lost 9 of his last 10 fights.

Schwerin, Germany: Light Heavy: Juergen Braehmer (41-2) W PTS 12 Stefano Abatangelo (17-3-1). Super Middle: Arthur Abraham (37-4) W PTS 12 Wilberforce Shihepo (20-7). Heavy: Kubrat Pulev (18-0) W PTS 12 Tony Thompson (38-4). Light Heavy: Enrico Koelling (9-0) W TKO 3 Haris Causevic (8-1). Light Heavy: Dustin Dirks (27-1-1) DREW 8 Tomas Adamek (20-9-2). Super Middle: Tyron Zeuge (9-0) W PTS 8 Nat King (13-20).

Braehmer vs. Abatangelo

A routine defence for southpaw Braehmer but not an impressive one. The much smaller Italian challenger gave Braehmer little to aim at and frustrated Braehmer throughout the fight. Braehmer took the opening rounds and seemed to be coasting. In the fourth a clash of heads saw both fighters cut but Braehmer was having trouble getting room to work. Abatangelo lost a point in the fifth for hitting on the break. Braehmer had his best round in the sixth but was not able to hurt the Italian. Abatangelo got away with hitting on the break in the seventh but suffered another cut in a clash of heads in the eighth. Braehmer was in command but again did not seem to be focused or putting in a 100% effort to get the Italian out of there. Throughout the fight Braehmer was frustrated that he could not use his big advantages in height and reach to stop Abatangelo getting inside and holding. Scores 119-108 twice and 115-111. Second defence of his European title and first of his WBO International title for Braehmer. The 34-year-old former undefeated WBO champion is rated WBO 1/WBA 3/WBC 8. Sergey Kovalev would seem the obvious choice, but Kovalev may not want to come to Germany and with his past problems with the law Braehmer would find it difficult to get entry to the USA so Beibot Shumenov is a more likely target. Italian champion Abatangelo, the EBU No 6, had won 11 and drawn one of his last 12 fights and kept his record of never losing inside the distance.

Abraham vs. Shihepo

Abraham will want to forget this one. He won but did not look sharp and had more trouble than he should have had against the Namibian who had never fought at this level. Abraham took the first three rounds but Shihepo had better rounds in the fourth and fifth getting through with some good hooks. It was the sixth before Abraham was really able to get through with hard punches and opened a small cut above Shihepo’s left eye. He was just not letting his punches go as he had in the past and the Namibian showed a good chin. Abraham edged the seventh but Shihepo came through to take the eighth. The Namibian seemed to have trouble with his right leg which might have been cramp and needed attention in the break. The ninth and tenth were close with Abraham getting through with the harder shots, but Shihepo also doing good work. Despite his relative lack of experience at this level Shihepo produced the stronger finish over the last two rounds but it was not enough. Scores 117-111, 116-112 and 116-113. Not one of the best fights by “King Arthur” and at 33 there are starting to be questions over whether he is slipping. “Black Mamba” Shihepo, 30, was WBO No 8 with only one loss in his previous eleven fights and that was a disqualification. He enhanced his prestige with this showing

Pulev vs. Thompson

Pulev makes a tentative start and Thompson was stepping inside Pulev’s jab and doing the clean scoring. Pulev was a little more active in the second but Thompson again did what scoring there was. Pulev threw a few right hands in the third but again was too tentative and Thompson was having an easy night. The fourth saw Pulev finally moving in behind his jab and scoring with right crosses. The pattern was set in the fifth with Pulev doing more and Thompson doing less. Pulev was using his jab to set up the right and not just pawing with it as he had in the opening rounds. Pulev was setting himself and throwing long rights both as a cross and a straight shot but hardly threw more that one or two punches at a time. However the fight never really caught fire except at the end of the sixth when they exchanged punches after the bell and it was often untidy. Pulev overcame that tentative opening to win clearly as Thompson could not get away from those rights as the fight progressed. He tried to walk Pulev down but too often was just a stationary target. Scores 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112. The 32-year-old Bulgarian “Cobra” retained his IBF International title but more importantly nails down a shot at Wlad Klitschko. He is strong and powerful but he had better not try to use the vaguely waving jab against Klitschko or Wlad will just walk right through him. Thompson came down to earth after his two big wins over David Price and at times looked his 41 years.

Koelling vs. Causevic

Olympian Koelling had very little in front of him in the shape of Causevic. The Austrian was out of his class and Koelling handed out punishment from the start. By the end of the first round Causevic was already marked around the face. Hard punches from Koelling in the second bloodied the Austrian’s face even more. Koelling was getting through with punches from both hands at the start of the third and the referee stopped the fight . Koelling, 23, a World Junior silver medal winner represented Germany at both the 2011 World Championships and the London Olympics. This was his first win inside the distance. Causevic had never faced a fighter with a positive record and it showed.

Dirks vs. Adamek

Following on from his loss to Olek Cherviak in April Dirks looks to have found his level. He started brightly and in the fourth a clash of heads saw Adamek suffer cuts by his right eye. He momentarily turned his back and the referee decided to give the Czech a standing count. The cuts were bad enough for the doctor to advise Adamek’s corner to pull him out of the fight, but they refused. Adamek is a good quality fighter at this level and he came on strong over the closing rounds and resisted a big attempt from Dirks in the last. Scores 76-75 Dirks, 77-75 Adamek and 76-76. The draw was not popular with the crowd who saw Adamek as the winner. At 24 Dirks has not shown much improvement as seems to have regressed. Czech “Jumbo” Adamek had lost 3 of his last 4 and it should have been a routine win for Dirks.

Zeuge vs. King

Hot prospect Zeuge got eight good rounds from Brit King. Although the former European Youth champion was generally in command with his superior skills the 32-year-old 6’3” King used his experience, height and reach, to weather any storms that came his way and even pinched a round here and there as he kept coming forward. Scores 79-73 twice and 78-74. Good experience for 19-yeare-old who had three first round wins in his first six fight but has now had to go eight rounds in his last three fights. Welshman King has won only one of his last 12 fights, but has only been stopped three times.

Trelew, Argentina: Super Fly: Omar Narvaez (40-1-2) W TKO 10 Hiroyuki Hisataka (22-11-1). Narvaez hands out a brutal beating to too brave Hisataka to retain his WBO title. Narvaez was just too strong for his Japanese challenger. Hisataka threw plenty of fast combination but they were arm punches with no power and Narvaez just walked through them or waited for the storm to subside and then drove Hisataka around the ring with hooks to head and body. If Hisataka had a defence he left it behind in Japan. He was standing against the ropes with his hands only chest high and time and again Narvaez scored with clubbing punches both above and below this non-existent defence. Hisataka tended to start the round with flurries of shots from both hand and drove Narvaez back across the ring. The champion would just cover up and inevitably by the end of the round Hisataka was taking hard punches to head and body with nothing coming back. The fight could have been stopped in any round after the seventh. At the end of each round the referee looked into Hisataka’s corner but let the fight go on. It should have been stopped in a painful ninth but eventually in the tenth with Narvaez teeing-off with a stream of head punches the referee finally stopped the fight. and Hisataka was allowed to take punch after punch looking exhausted. The little WBO champion keeps up an incredible work rate for a 38-year-old and although he was not setting himself for big shots the sheer volume of punches just overwhelmed Hisataka. This is the eighth defence of his WBO super fly title for Narvaez and his 27^th world title fight. He is 25-1-1 in those title fights with the only loss being to Nonito Donaire in a bantamweight title fight. Hisataka was too brave for his own good. He had failed in two shots at the WBA flyweight title and one at the WBA super fly. He just did not have the power or stamina to match the little Argentinian.

Halifax, Canada: Feather: Tyson Cave (22-2) W TKO 3 Gabor Molnar (12-3). Light Welter: Steve Wilcox (8-0) W TKO 8 Marcel Maillet (3-5-1). Super Bantam: Marc Pagcaliwangan (6-0) W TKO 2 David Kanalas (13-8).

Cave vs. Molnar

This fight was decided before it even started. Cave’s team knew their man could not get down to the 122lbs limit so they agreed to pay a forfeit and have the required weight lifted to 126lbs. With Hungarian Molnar coming in at 117lbs, in fact two fights previously he boxed at flyweight, and Cave at 125.6lbs the weight difference by fight time was huge. Even if Molnar was a good test he could not have given away this much. As it was the Hungarian could not stand up to the body punching of southpawCave and the fight was stopped in the third. The 31-year-old “Prince of Hali” is No 10 with the WBA. He has seven wins in a row but the standard of his recent opposition has been poor and he will need to hit the road to get any big fights. The 20-yerr-old Molnar is 2-3 in his last 5 fights.

Wilcox vs. Maillet

Ontario’s Wilcox won the vacant CPBC Canadian title with a stoppage of Maillet. The one-sided fight was halted in the eighth with Maillet’s face a curtain of blood from a bad nose injury. Four wins by KO/TKO for 23-year-old Wilcox. First loss inside the distance for Maillet.

Pagcaliwangan vs. Kanalas

The 23-year-old Canadian-Filipino kept his 100% record as he demolished Hungarian Kanalas in two rounds. Pagcaliwangan ( in future I will use his nickname of “Gwapo”) almost got Kanalas out of there in the first, but the Hungarian just survived. In the second two body punches put Kanalas down. He was up at eight but could not hold off Gwapo and the fight was stopped. The young Pagcaliwangan (I relented) has won all six fights by KO/TKO. Four in the first round. All eight of the Hungarian’s losses have come by KO/TKO including a third round loss to Cave in June.

Moenchengladbach, Germany: Light: Vitali Tajbert (24-2) W PTS 6 Mikheil Avakyan (18-11-3). Super Middle: Dimitri Sartison (31-2) W TKO 3 Baker Barakat (38-15-4).

Tajbert vs. Avakyan

First fight in ten months for former WBC featherweight champion. He had the game Georgian down but had to go the full distance with Avakyan putting in a strong finish. Only three six round bouts and one eight round for the Kazak-born 31-year-old Tajbert since losing his title to Takahiro Ao in 2010. Scores 60-53 twice and 58-55. Only one win in his last seven fights for Avakyan.

Sartison vs. Barakat

Another Kazak-born former champion got a win but in a very different method. Former WBA secondary champion Sartison flattened Barakat with a right in the second. The 33-year-old co-promoter of the show. He was having only his second fight since losing his WBA title to Karoly Balzsay in April last year. Rated WBA No 4, but EBU No7 Sartison has 19 wins by KO/TKO. Syrian-born Barakat was halted in two rounds by George Groves in March.

Reynosa, Mexico: Fly: Armando Santos (12-3) W PTS 12 Roilo Golez (14-11-1). Straw: Ganigan Lopez (23-5) W PTS 12 Mateo Handig (13-6). Welter: Ramon Alvarez (16-4-2) W TKO 6 Erik Mireles (6-3).

Santos vs. Golez

Santos gets the win but it was tougher than the scores made it look. Santos got off to a great start shaking and almost putting the Filipino down in the first and also inflicting a cut on the left eyebrow of Golez. However Golez got up and fought back hard. Many rounds were close with the awkward style of Golez giving Santos some problems, but the pressure from Santos saw Golez spending long periods with his back to the ropes. A shot from Santos in the ninth when Golez briefly touched a glove to the canvas was counted as a knockdown. At the end both fighters were bothered by cuts but Santos took the unanimous decision and the vacant WBC USNBC title. Scores 119-108, 118-109 and 116-111.The 25-year-old “Cobra”, WBC No 9 who already holds the NABF title, has won 5 of his last 6 fights with the loss in that run being to WBC No 1 super fly Carlos Cuadras. Golez, 26, the GAB No 12, has won only one of his last 6 fights, but in there are losses on the road to Edgar Sosa, Kwanpichit and Wanheng. Two former world champions and a current WBC No 1.

Lopez vs. Handing

World rated Lopez was given an even tougher time by Filipino Handig but again took a deserved decision. Lopez used his southpaw jab to dominate the early rounds, but Handig had a good spell bloodying the Mexican’s nose in the fourth and hurting Lopez in the fifth. Lopez regained control in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Golez had a good round in the tenth but it was Lopez who took the last two rounds. Scores 116-112 twice and 118-110. Lopez , 31, wins the vacant WBC USNBC title. “El Zurdo” (that just means he boxes southpaw), was overwhelmed in two rounds by Denver Cuello for the WBC Silver title in May 2012, but has rebounded with three wins. He is rated WBC No 4 light fly and IBF No 5 strawweight. “Waray Warrior” Handig, 23, had won his last five fights including a victory over former WBC strawweight champion Katsunari Takayama in an IBF eliminator in October. That earned him the No 1 spot in their rankings at strawweight.

Alvarez vs. Mireles

Favourite Alvarez suffered the indignity of shipping a heavy right from non-puncher Mireles which forced him to touch down briefly with a glove. He then handed out a one-sided beating to Mireles before toppling Mireles with a left-right combination which ended the fight. Now 9 wins by KO/TKO for 27-year-old “Inocente” and only one loss in his last 11 fights. Three stoppage losses in a row for Mireles.

Budva, Montenegro: Light: Dejan Zlaticanin (18-0) W KO 1 Asan Yuseinov (11-6-2). Super Middle: Nikola Sjekloca (26-1) W KO 2 Misa Nikolic (17-21-1).

Zlaticanin vs. Yuseinov

Too easy for WBC International champion Zlaticanin as he halts “Chinese” Yuseinov inside a round. The 29-year-old Montenegrin southpaw, the WBC No 5, has 13 wins by KO/TKO. Bulgarian Yuseinov has lost 4 of his last 5 fights including a one round knockout at the hands of Derry Matthews in his last fight in December.

Sjekloca vs. Nikolic

Sjekloca improves on a previous performance as he kayos Serbian Nikolic in two rounds. First fight for Sjekloca since losing to Sakio Bika in a WBC final eliminator in February. The 35-year-old Budva resident had outpointed Nikolic back in 2008. He has eight wins by KO/TKO. He is WBC 5/ WBA 10 and the EBU have him at No 5. Only one win in his last ten fights for Nikolic. It must have been an emotional night for Sjekloca since the show was in honour of his recently deceased father who was one of the founders off the Montenegrin Boxing Federation.

Volgograd, Russia: Middle: Dmitry Chudinov (10-0-2) W KO 2 Jorge Navarro (12-2). Middle: Fedor Chudinov (7-0) W TKO 3 Karama Nyilawila (15-10-2).

Chudinov vs. Navarro

“The Night Wolf” ended this one quickly . He was looking to get the Venezuelan out of there early and he had Navarro on the ropes and hurt from a combination to the head in the first. Navarro tried to get back into the fight early in the second but near the end of the round Chudinov landed a left hook which had Navarro wobbling and a barrage finished off with a left to the body put Navarro down on his knees and he could not make it back to his feet. Seven wins by KO/TKO for Chudinov who wins the vacant WBA International title. The 26-year-old holds a win over experienced Grady Brewer, but was held to a draw by Patrick Mendy in his last fight. As an amateur he won a bagful of titles including twice being World Cadet champion, getting a gold at the European Cadet’s and winning both the World and European Junior titles. The only other inside the distance loss for Navarro was in six rounds against Martin Murray in November.

Chudinov vs. Nyilawila

Younger brother Fedor made it good night for the Chudinov family as he halted Tanzanian Nyilawila in the third. “The Classic” has six wins by KO/TKO. He too was a World Cadet champion. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for Nyilawila who in fairness came in as a very late substitute.

It is claimed that the attendance for this minor show set a new world record with 200,000 attending the show to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad.

Donetsk, Ukraine: Super Middle: Stan Kashtanov (31-1) W KO 10 Jaime Barboza (18-8). Fly: Artem Dalakian (8-0) W PTS 12 Juan Purisima (11-4-1). Fly: Oleksander Hryshchuk (13-0) W TEC DEC 7 Jason Canoy (16-4-2). Light Middle: Artem Karpets (19-0) W PTS 12 Tobia Giuseppe Loriga (27-3-2). Welter: Vyacheslav Senchenko (34-1) W TKO 4 Carlos Jerez (37-16,1ND). Light Heavy: Ismayl Sillakh (21-1) W TKO 6 Konstantin Pitemov (13-4). Feather: Oleg Yefimovych (24-2) W KO 1 Luis Juarez (17-7-2).

Kashtanov vs. Barboza

The 29-year-old local fighter Kashtanov put on a good display. He won the early rounds only for Barboza to have a good spell in the fifth and sixth. Kashtanov then took control again flooring Barboza with a body punch in the seventh and was landing heavy shots from both hands in the tenth when the referee stopped the fight. Stas retains the interim WBA title in his first defence. His only loss was a split decision against Karoly Balzsay for the vacant secondary WBA title in 2011. He has 17 wins by KO/TKO. Costa Rican Barboza, 35, had lost 3 in a row to Brian Magee, eight fight novice Jorge Navarro and Gilberto Ramirez S. but won the WBA Fedelatin. An enormous feat which somehow qualified him to fight for a version of the WBA title-of course.

Dalakian vs. Purisima

Dalakian uses his superior skills to take a wide decision over Filipino Purisima. Dalakian had Purisima down in the seventh and ninth and forced the Filipino to take a standing count in the last. The 26-year-old local fighter won on scores of 120-105, 120-106 and 119-106. Dalakian retains his WBA International title. As an amateur he was World Military champion and competed at both the 2009 World Championships and the 2010 European Championships but lost out in the European Qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics.. The 22-year-old Purisima had won his last four fights. He is No 1 light fly with the GAB and holds the Philippines Boxing Federation (PBF) title.

Hryshchuk vs. Canoy

Local favourite retains his WBA Inter-Continental title with a technical decision over Filipino Canoy. Hryshchuk had the polish and Canoy the power. The Filipino was able to walk through the lighter punches from the Ukrainian and work inside. Hryshchuk was scoring well with counters but was under constant pressure. A clash of heads in the seventh saw the fight go to the cards and the local got the decision on scores of 70-63, 69-64 and 69-65. Those scores looked more than generous to Hryshchuk as Canoy had been the one scoring with the harder shots. The 27-year-old Hryshchuk (alternate spellings Gryschuk and Grishchuk) was Ukrainian amateur champion in 2008 and 2009. “Dodong” Canoy ,23, is GAB No 5 and also a PBF champion. His last three fight have all been stopped early due to cuts including a technical draw with Purisima.

Karpets vs. Loriga

Karpets comes from behind to win the vacant WBA Inter-Continental. Loriga had been inactive from July 2008 through September 2012 and so needed to pace this fight. The Italian had a good start when he scored a debatable knockdown in the second. From the on it was the harder punching of Karpets against the busier style of Loriga. The local fighter had paced the fight better and staged a strong finish to ensure the decision went his way. Scores 117-110 twice and 116-112. The EBU-EE No 2 (rating by the EBU of fighters from outside the European Union) Karpets, 29, has won 10 of his last 11 fights on points. Former Italian champion Loriga, 36 , has lost twice by KO/TKO against Julio Cesar Chavez in 2008 and a surprise first round kayo in 2008 against Stefano Castellucci which cost him his Italian title and sent him into retirement.

Senchenko vs. Jerez

Senchenko blows away normally durable Argentinian to keep on track for his big fight with Kell Brook in October. Senchenko was in control over the first three rounds. In the fourth a hard combination put Juarez down. He made it to his feet but was badly shaken and the referee stopped the fight. Now 23 wins by KO/TKO for the former WBA champion in his first fight since kayoing Ricky Hatton in nine rounds in November. Jerez, 34, had only lost on KO/TKO twice and gone the distance with Saul Alvarez, Lucas Matthysse and Anthony Mundine.

Sillakh vs. Pitemov

No real test for Sillakh as he beats “The Volga Cossack” . Sillakh was able to dominate and hurt Pitemov with body punches from the outset. It was one-sided with Sillakh flooring Pitemov in the fifth and after a painful sixth Pitemov retired. Four wins for Sillakh since his upset loss to Denis Grachev in April last year. That loss saw him tumble from his No 1 spot to WBC No13 and he needs bigger fights if he is to get back in the top ranks. Second loss by KO/TKO for Pitemov and loss No 4 in his last 5 fights.

Yefimovych vs. Juarez

Former European champion Yefimovych retains his WBA Inter-Continental title with first round blowout of Argentinian. A left from Yefimovych put Juarez down and out late in the first. The 32-year-old “Doctor” retains his WBA title for the fourth time and makes it six wins since losing his European title on split decision to Sofiane Takoucht in 2010. He is currently WBA No 7 and that loss to Takoucht is the only defeat in his last 21 fights. They don’t give Juarez many easy fights and he lost to both Fernando Saucedo and Sergio Thompson last year.

Glendale, CA, USA: Middle: Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez (26-0) W PTS 10 Derrick Findley (20-11-1). Welter: Anton Novikov (27-0,1ND) W PTS 10 Robert Frankel (32-14-1). Super Bantam: Jessie Magdaleno (16-0) W KO 3 Luis Maldonado (36-12-1).

Ramirez vs. Findley

First fight in the USA for Ramirez S as he outclasses granite chinned Findley. The tall 22-year-old southpaw had big advantages in height and reach, was the harder puncher, and to top it all Findley came in as a very late substitute. That led to a one-sided fight with Ramirez S winning every round but not being able to dent Findley’s chin. The scores were a formality as it went to Ramirez S on the score of 100-90 from all three judges. Rated WBC4/WBA 6/IBF 9 Ramirez S is ready for tougher opposition. “Superman” Findley now has three losses and a draw in his last four fights with other two guys to beast him in that run being J’Leon Love and Curtis Stevens. He has only lost once by KO/TKO.

Novikov vs. Frankel

The 25-year-old Russian southpaw lacks power, but is a tidy boxer wit a relentless style. As with the Ramirez S Novikov made this a one-sided fight but just could not break down the experienced Frankel. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91. “The Pick Hammer” , a former World Cadet gold medal winner, is WBC No 10. Typical of the situation in boxing and drugs is that he tested positive for a banned substance after a fight in Russia in November and fought again less than five months later in Estonia. The 33-year-old Frankel is good at his level but loses whenever he tries to move up. He lost on points to Paul Spadafora in April.

Magdaleno vs. Maldonado

The younger Magdaleno brother continues his winning run. He blew away the former world rated Maldonado flooring the veteran Mexican twice in the third round. The 21-year-old southpaw, a former US and National Golden Gloves champion, has 12 wins by KO/TKO. Seven of his last eight fight have ended that way. He has been tested against good fighters in Jonathan Arreola and Henry Maldonado and has to be one of the best prospects out there. Maldonado, 35, came in as a very late substitute. He was once good enough to beat Tomas Rojas and draw with Cris Mijares but now has ten losses and a draw in his last eleven fights.

Derry, NH, USA: Light Welter: Danny O’Connor (22-1) W DIS 4 Ruben Galvan (27-24-4,2ND).

O’Connor makes it 8 wins in a row. The 28-year-old southpaw was on his way to victory and outclassing the 40-year-old Galvan. O’Connor was on top in the fourth when he landed an unintentional low blow. In a very strange occurrence the referee then disqualified Galvan who it appeared had sworn at him. Now that’s a first. I wonder if that is included in the rule book. Perhaps it’s a warning for a mild curse, a point deduction for s—t and immediate disqualification for any four letter word? O’Connor rebuilding after his 2011 loss to Gabriel Bracero. The former 2008 US and National Golden Gloves champion was the US alternate for the 2008 Games and must have been sorry to miss out as before the Games he beat eventual gold medallist Felix Diaz. Galvan has not recorded a win in his last 18 fights. Curses!

Atlantic City, NJ, USA: Super Feather: Teon Kennedy (19-2-2) W PTS 10 Joselito Collado (13-3).

Kennedy vs. Collado

Brave victory by Kennedy. He seemed to have suffered a suspected broken jaw in the second round but boxed on. Collado made a great start hurting Kennedy with a right in the first and landed a volley at the end of the round. In the second a right had blood coming from Kennedy’s mouth and it was probably then that the injury occurred. In the third Kennedy was getting through to the body and Collado went back to his normal counter punching style. Collado looked to have taken the fifth with hard combinations. Kennedy’s body attack began to have an effect from the sixth as Collado tired. Kennedy shook Collado with a right in the ninth. Kennedy needed the last round and he took it just edge out Collado. Scores 96-94 twice and a way out 98-92. Victory for “The Technician” as he builds his way up again after being outclassed by Guillermo Rigondeaux in a WBA title fight in June last year. The injury may sideline him for a while. Dominican Collado, 30, has yet to lose inside the distance. After winning his first 12 fights he is 1-3 in his last 4 but the other two losses were to then unbeaten fighters in Casey Ramos and Jerry Belmontes.

Concho, OK, USA: Light: Noah Zuhdi (17-1,1ND) W KO 2 Gyula Vajda (12-4). After both had been rocked in the first. A right from Zuhdi had the Hungarian staggering in the second and a volley of shots put Vajda down. He struggled to get up. Just made it but was in no condition to continue. The tall, 30-year-old local fighter has 13 wins by KO/TKO . He wins either the full WBU title or the interim WBU title depending on who you believe. He is lucky to have only one loss on his record. In April 2011 he lost on a first round stoppage against Terrance Roy only for it to be changed to a No Decision when Roy tested positive for a banned subject. Vajda has no credibility to fight for any title . He was kayoed in 113 seconds by Brit Thomas Stalker in June.

August 25

Tokyo, Japan: Super Middle: Ryota Murata (1-0) W TKO 2 Akio Shibata (21-7-1).

Light Jorge Linares (34-3) W KO 3 Berman Sanchez (26-6-3). Light Welter: Keita Obara (9-1) W KO 3 So Takenaka (18-7-2).

Murata vs. Shibata

No gently easing into the pro ranks with a few routine fights against losers. For his first pro fight Olympic gold medallist Murata goes straight in against OPBF champion Shibata. Murata was walking Shibata down from the first bell and floored the OPBF champion with a right. Shibata only just survived, but not for long. Late in the second a volley of shots had Shibata in trouble on the ropes and the referee stopped the fight. The tall 27-year-old, a five-time national champion as an amateur, only really broke through in a big way as an amateur when he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships. Before that he had failed to medal at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships (losing to Shawn Estrada in 2007) and failed to qualify for the 2008 Games. The last Japanese fighter to win an Olympic gold was Takao Sakurai at the Tokyo Games in 1964, so a long wait. Sakurai lost to Lionel Rose in his only shot at a world title. With Japanese TV money and Top Rank behind him you can expect the WBA and WBC to fall over themselves to rate Murata even after only one win.

Linares vs. Sanchez

Easy win for the “Golden Boy”. The former WBC feather and WBA super feather champion put Nicaraguan Sanchez down twice in the second and ended the fight in the third with a hard combination. The 28-year-old Venezuelan has 22 wins by KO/TKO and is ok as long as he avoids Mexicans. All three of losses have been by KO/TKO against Mexican opponents. He is currently rated WBC 4/ IBF & WBA 8/ WBO 13. Losing to the Venezuelan breaks a streak for Sanchez. He had lost both of his recent fights by KO/TKO-also against Mexicans.

Obara vs. Takenaka

Obara holds on to his national title in his first defence with a kayo of his No 1 contender Takenaka. Now 8 wins by KO/TKO for the 26-year-old, 5’10 ½” tall Obara. He lost inside the distance in his first pro fight. First ten round fight for Takenaka and first loss inside the distance.

Zama, Japan: Light Fly: Naoya Inoue (4-0) W PTS 10 Ryoichi Taguchi (18-2-1). Big win for another former amateur standout. In only his fourth fight Inoue beats the WBC No 3 to win the Japanese title. “Monster” got into his stride early and used a fast, accurate jab to win this fight against his more experienced opponent. Scores 98-92, 98-93 and 97-94. The 20-year-old Inoue had won his other three fight by KO/TKO. Inoue competed at the 2010 World Youth Championships, won a gold medal at the Kings Cup and competed at the 2011 World Championship but finished runner-up in the Asian qualifier so missed out on the London Olympics. The 26-year-old Taguchi had won his last 12 fights including wins over other world rated Japanese fighters.