The Past Week in Action 9 June 2015

ERIC ARMIT | June 9, 2015 | 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 boxing for the past week.

The Past Week in Action 9 June 2015

June 2

Bangkok, Thailand: Minimumweight: Wanheng (38-0) W KO 9 Jerry Tomogdan (17-6-3). Bantam: Petch Sor Chitpattana (31-0) W KO 2 Jayar Estremos (10-11). Fly: Noknoi (54-4) W TKO 4 Petchchumpol (5-6).

Wanheng vs. Tomogdan

Wanheng retains his WBC title with ninth round kayo of too game challenger Tomogdan. Some question immediately over the challengers corner. The Filipino had touched gloves and they were about to get to the punching when Tomogdan realised he had no gumshield and had to go back to his corner to get it. The first round had to go to Tomogdan who landed a few jabs whereas Wanheng just stalked and hardly threw and never landed a punch. The Filipino southpaw had height and reach over Wanheng but in the second Wanheng was pressing and letting his punches go. Tomogdan showed good movement and scored with some quick counters but was tagged with a hard left late in the round. Wanheng was hunting Tomogdan in every round from here on. Scoring with straight rights to the head and hooks to the body. The challenger was being forced to trade more and although he managed to get through with some sharp counters Wanheng’s shots carried much more power. In the fifth Tomogdan was shaken by a series of rights to the head and he was down off his toes and the pressure from Wanheng was relentless. In the sixth Wanheng banged in four straight rights to the head and Tomogdan was in trouble. Wanheng landed another right which drove Tomogdan across the ring and then landed a body punch which drove the Filipino down on his hands and knees. The referee ruled it a slip which meant no eight count so Wanheng was on Tomogdan immediately and landed more headshots with the bell saving Tomogdan from a possible stoppage. Wanheng was merciless in the seventh and eighth chasing Tomogdan slamming home rights to the head time and again with Tomogdan trying to counter/run/hold but by the end of each of the rounds he was again in deep water and must have been glad to hear the bell. The points at that stage were 80-72 twice and 79-73 but were irrelevant (well apart from how two judges gave Wanheng the first round when he never landed a punch). Early in the ninth a sweeping left hook to the body put Tomogdan down in agony on his hands and knees with his forehead resting on the canvas. The referee counted the ten and it was over. The 29-year-old champion has 13 wins by KO/TKO but with the aggression and power he showed here it is surprising he does not have more. Tomogdan, 21, showed good skills and real courage but did not have the punch to keep Wanheng out and paid the price.

Chitpattana vs. Estremos

Chitpattana takes two rounds to dismiss Filipino Estremos. The much taller Thai southpaw was stalking the retreating Filipino who was looking to counter punch. Estremos threw a couple of light flurries and Chitpattana landed a long left to the body in what an otherwise tame first round. In the second Estremos launched a wild two-fisted attack landing hooks to head and body and forcing Chitpattana to cover-up. Many of the punches were wide of the mark but the attack stung Chitpattana into action and he threw a left to the solar plexus which saw Estremos go down on his knees and then flat on the canvas face down and he was counted out. The 21-year-old Thai turned pro at 17 and has 20 wins by KO/TKO. He retains his WBC Youth Silver title for the seventh time and is rated WBC No 7 but his opposition has been low-grade. Estremos, 22, now has 6 losses in a row 5 of them by KO/TKO.

Noknoi vs. Petchchumpol

In the first Petchchumpol, a tall thin southpaw, showed in the first he was quick on his feet and threw fast flurries but there was obviously no power and Noknoi stalked him unsuccessfully. Noknoi got more serious in the second but Petchchumpol was racing around the ring stopping to throw 3 of 4 light swats, you could not describe them as punches, and then off again and a frustrated Noknoi wrestled him to the floor. Noknoi was chasing hard in the third and landed two lefts to the head that saw Petchchumpol stagger but he escaped and was soon sprinting round the ring again with Noknoi in pursuit. Noknoi caught him at the end of the round and a left to the head saw Petchchumpol drop to the canvas but he actually managed to throw a punch on the way down. Early in the third a short left to the chin put him down again and the referee stopped the fight without a count. Noknoi the 28-year-old WBC No 6 has 53 wins in a row but there is not one genuine opponent in there. His last 4 opponents before this fight had not registered a single win between them. Petchchumpol has lost 5 of his last 6.

June 3

Kingston, Jamaica: Middle: Devon Moncrieffe (12-4) W PTS 6 Jermaine Brown (1-3).

Moncrieffe wins his way into the semi-final of the Wray and Nephew tournament with a unanimous decision over Brown. Over the early rounds Brown put his big edge in reach to some use as he stayed outside and tried to box Moncrieffe but over the closing three rounds he faded out of the fight and was well beaten in the end. Scores 58-56 from all three judges. Jamaican champion “Concrete” Moncrieffe, 38, made this harder than expected and looked jaded. He is a previous winner of this tournament and is 8-2 in his last 10 fights with the losses coming in bouts in Florida. Fellow Jamaican Brown came in at short notice for this one and had to shed 7lbs to make the weight

June 4

Los Angeles, CA, USA: Super Feather: Jayson Velez (23-0-1) W PTS 10 Daniel Ramirez (11-3). Light: Carlos Morales (9-1-3) W PTS 8 Emanuel Gonzalez (14-2).

Velez vs. Ramirez

Puerto Rican Velez floors and outpoints Ramirez in a competent but not outstanding victory. Velez took the first round and then dropped Ramirez with left hook in the second. The young Mexican was hurt but far from finished. He stormed back into the fight which then turned into a full-on trading match. Velez was pressing but Ramirez was throwing plenty of leather of his own. Velez was quicker to the punch, more accurate and busier but Ramirez stayed with him until he began to tire in the late rounds when earlier body punches from Velez began to have their effect. Ramirez was getting through with more punches than he should have as he found holes in the Puerto Rican’s defence but luckily the Mexican is not a hard puncher. Velez a clear winner in an entertaining fight. Scores 98-91 twice and 99-90. “La Maravilla” Velez, 27, looked unlucky not to get more than a split draw in his IBF title challenge to Evgeny Gradovich for the IBF feather title in November. He is rated IBF 3(4)/WBC 4/WBA 9/WBO 9 so a title shot later this year or in 2016 looks a good bet. “Huracan” Ramirez, 25, has lost to good quality opposition in Guy Robb and Eric Hunter but also scored a win over former top amateur Aaron Garcia last year.

Morales vs. Gonzalez

Morales gets unanimous verdict over Gonzalez. Over the first two rounds Mexican Morales was forcing the fight with Gonzalez showing some good skills and countering well. Morales increased the pace in the third and fourth outpunching Gonzalez only for the New York fighter to rebound and edge the fifth. Morales took over from the sixth and his aggression, higher work rate and some hard rights allowed him to build a lead that he held to the end of the fight. Scores show how close some of the rounds were with the three officials all seeing a different fight. Morales wins by 80-72, 78-74 and 77-75 with the first score not crediting Gonzalez for some of his higher skills and effective counters. “The Solution” Morales, 25, had the answer here. After being 0-1-3 in his first 4 fights he has now won 9 in a row. Gonzalez ,27, a former New York Golden Gloves champion and NGG bronze medallist lost on points to useful Tevin Farmer over ten rounds in his last fight in June 2014.

NY, NY, USA: Heavy: Jarrell Miller (13-0-1) W TKO 2 Damon McCreary (15-5).

Miller fails to fulfil his promise to end this in the first-but only just. The big guy from Brooklyn waited out an initial surge from McCreary and then landed a series of body punches which put McCreary down twice and McCreary barely made it out of the first round. Miller continued his body attack in the second and once again a combination to the body put McCreary down with the referee stopping the fight. Too easy for 26-year-old “Big Baby” Miller who now has 10 wins by KO/TKO. At 6’4” (193cm) to McCreary’s 5’11” (180cm) and with a 20lbs advantage in weight and 15 years younger he was too big and punched too hard for McCreary. The draw on Miller’s record was with Joey Dawejko when two point deductions cost him the decision. Miller started out in kickboxing and K-1before going over to boxing and he just failed to qualify at the US Trials for the 2008 Olympics. McCreary, 41, has now lost 5 of his last 6 fights. He has brave management that has put him in with Deontay Wilder, Jordan Shimmell, Ali Mansour and Charles Martin. He either needs a new job or a new manager.

Clermont-Ferrand, France: Light Heavy: Hugo Kasperski (26-5-1) W PTS 10 Patrick Bois (14-4-1). Kasperski wins French title with very narrow decision over champion Patrick Bois. In a fight of two halves Kasperski built an early lead being quicker and more accurate than Bois, boxing well at a distance. Bois came into the fight from the sixth having Kasperski in trouble in that round and finishing strongly but the judges felt he had not done enough to overcome his slow start. Scores 96-94 from all three judges. Kasperski, 27 had failed in two shots at the national title at super middle losing to Chris Rebrasse and new European champion Hadillah Mohoumadi. Kasperski promoted this show himself. Bois, 24, felt he deserved at least a draw. He was making the second defence of his title in his second reign as champion. He was 8-2 in his last 10 fights with the losses being close decisions to current IBF No 1 Nadjib Mohammedi and unbeaten German Enrico Koelling.

Moscow, Russia: Light: Vage Sarukhanyan (10-1-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Carlos R Rodriguez (30-11). The slick boxing of Armenian Sarukhanyan proved too much for Rodriguez who never really got into the fight. Sarukhanyan was just too quick of both hand and foot for the plodding Argentinian veteran and effectively won every round without being troubled but again he showed a lack of punch power. Scores 100-90 twice and 100-91. The Russian-based 24-year-old, a former World Youth Championships bronze medal winner, stuttered in 2014 with technical draw and a loss to Igor Ivanov but has won twice this year. He turned pro in California and the no decision on his record came about when at the end of the second round of his fight with Ramon Flores it was realised that there were no paramedics available so the fight had to be abandoned. “Buby” Rodriguez, 35, is now 6-3 in his last 9 fights but the other two losses were against good opposition.

June 5

General Rodriguez, Argentina: Light Heavy: Jorge D Caraballo (13-4-1) W KO 2 Nicolas D Lopez (11-2,1ND). Caraballo finally finds a punch as he knocks out Lopez in two rounds. The first round went badly for Caraballo as he was cut on the forehead from a clash of heads. That became immaterial in the second when Caraballo first busted open Lopez’s nose and then landed a left to the body and a straight right that put Lopez down for the count. Only the third win by KO/TKO for Caraballo. He has lost in challenges for the Argentinian and South American titles and is yet to climb back into the ratings. Lopez was unbeaten in his first 11 fights but is now 1-2 in his last three with the other loss being a late stoppage against Julius Jackson in 2013. He was moving up from super middle where he is FAB No 8(7).

Melbourne, Australia: Super Middle: Blake Caparello (21-1-1) W PTS 10 Affif Belghecham (21-8-1). Welter: Tim Hunt (17-4-1) W PTS 6 Matt Te Paa (3-17-3). Fly: Omari Kimweri (14-3) W KO 2 Morakote (9-6). Super Bantam: Ibrahim Balla (7-0) W KO 2 Alvin Bais (15-6).

Caparello vs. Belghecham

Caparello moves down to super middle and gets a win in all-southpaw clash. The tall Australian took charge from the start and went looking for a quick win. However Belghecham has mixed with top class opposition and he rode out the storm and took the fight to Caparello. The Australian had big edges in height, reach, skill and age and he finished strongly to win the unanimous decision. Scores 97-93 twice and 99-92. The 28-year-old “El Capo” Caparello’s only loss was a two round stoppage against Sergey Kovalev in a WBO title fight in August and as he was making light heavy so easily felt that a step down to super middle would be a good idea. Frenchman Belghecham, 40, a former French and EU champion at middleweight, has been the distance with Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, Andy Lee and Darren Barker. After being stopped by Anthony Fitzgerald in March 2011 he took three years out and got a couple of wins in New Caledonia last year.

Hunt vs. Paa

Hunt returns to the winning column after a couple of disappointing results. The former undefeated Australian champion won every round against New Zealander Paa. Scores 60-54 from all three judges. The 27-year-old from Melbourne had a good run of just one loss in 15 fights but was then stopped in 5 rounds by Yoshihiro Kamegai (22-1-1) for the OPBF title and was out for a year returning in December last year surviving two standing counts to get a draw with Amor Tino (14-20-4). He is No 5 with the ANBF. Paa is 2-16-3 in his last 21 fights.

Kimweri vs. Morakote

Kimweri returns to action for the first time for almost two years with kayo of Thai. The diminutive 4’ 11” (150cm) 32-year-old Tanzanian “Lion Boy” has lost only one of his last thirteen fights and that was a split decision against Shin Ono in Japan. Thai Morakote has lost 3 of his last 4 fights but went the distance with world rated Noknoi in 2013.

Balla vs. Bais

In his first fight for tenth months Victorian State champion Bella makes it five wins by KO/TKO. Those 5 wins have all come in either the first or second round so it looks as though if you can get to the third round you should be OK. The 24-year-old Balla was an outstanding amateur representing Australia at World Cadet, Junior and Senior levels, won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games and competed at both the Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Olympics. Worth keeping an eye on. Filipino Bais has lost 6 of his last 7 fights.

Pont-Audemer, France: Welter: Maxime Beaussire (19-0-1) W PTS 10 Steven Bloyer (16-15). Heavy: Cyril Leonet (9-8-2) W TKO 7 Fabrice Aurieng (10-7).

Beaussire vs. Bloyer

Beaussire wins vacant French title with majority decision over Steven Bloyer. “The Conqueror” looked a clear winner and two judges scored it that way but not the third. The fight failed to live up to expectations with neither boxer showing well. They both started the bout at a fast rate trading punches. Bloyer was relying mainly on hooks on the inside with Beaussire more varied in his work. Usually Beaussire smothers his opponent’s style with a furious work rate but the spark was not there. He was busier and more accurate than Bloyer who faded badly over the last two rounds but Beaussire lacked the punch to provide an early finish. Scores 98-92 twice and 95-95. Despite his impressive statistics this was the first time 23-year-old Beaussire had been in a ten round bout and he has now gone the distance for the win in 8 of his last 9 fights. Bloyer, 30, is 3-8 in his last 11 fights.

Leonet vs. Aurieng

Leonet retains the French title with a win over old adversary Aurieng. Leonet had to work his way inside as the 6’3” (191cm) Aurieng had height and reach over him. It was shaping up to be a good fight with Leonet’s aggression and neat southpaw boxing from Aurieng. However in the fourth round Aurieng indicated a problem with his left arm. A doctor examined him but Aurieng insisted on continuing the fight but at the end of the seventh round he could no longer use his left arm and retired due to the injury. First defence for 31-year-old Leonet who finally won the French title at his third attempt. He had outpointed Aurieng twice before and has now won 4 of his last 5 fights. “Big Boy” Aurieng, 22, had won his last three fights picking up the UBO title by outpointing Raphael Zumbano and also outpointing Brit Larry Olubamiwo.

NOTE: This was a tribute show paying homage to the outstanding French amateur boxer Alexis Vastine who so tragically died in a helicopter crash in Argentina in March. His brother Adriani and sister Cindy fought in bouts on the show which was attended by the French Sports Minister. It was also to mark the eve of D Day.

Catolica, Italy: Light Heavy: Orial Kolaj (15-5) W PTS 10 Stefano Abatangelo (18-4-1). Cruiser: Mirko Larghetti (23-1) W TKO 2 Gyorgy Novak (6-4). Super Middle: Luca Podda (6-0) W KO 1 Sandor Feka (3-2). Super Welter: Diego Di Luisa (3-0) W KO 1 Gabor Ambrus (3-2-1).

Kolaj vs. Abatangelo

Kolaj wins the battle of two former national champions to lift the vacant Italian title. Abatangelo is small for a light heavy at 5’7” (170cm) so was giving away height and reach and followed his usual tactics of forcing his way inside to score with hooks and uppercuts. This worked for the first two rounds before Kolaj finally began to get his jab working and was catching Abatangelo on the way in with right uppercuts to take the next two rounds. Abatangelo was boring in head first and in the fourth round that cost him the first of two point deductions for careless use of the head. Abatangelo was not discouraged and his aggression and work rate saw him take the fifth. Kolaj took the sixth as he managed to keep Abatangelo on the outside but ferocious attack from Abatangelo saw him bounce back by taking the seventh. He also had the better of the eighth but lost a second point for a butt. Kolaj had his best round of the fight in the ninth as he totally out boxed Abatangelo slotting home jabs and counters and he edge the last with blood flowing from a nose injury incurred by Abatangelo. Scores 97-91, 96-93 and 96-94 all for Kolaj. The first score did not do justice to Abatangelo but even without the two point deductions Kolaj would still have won but only on a majority decision. The Rome-based, Albanian-born “Eagle” Kolaj, 31, who was undefeated Italian and EU champion, has turned his career around. He was 5-5 in his first 10 fights but has now won ten in a row. He was inactive from July 2013 until February this year. “Hammer” Abatangelo, 33, was having only his second fight in 13 months. He had a good unbeaten run of 12 fights but then lost to Juergen Braehmer for the European title and Erik Skoglund for the EU crown. This one was close enough to merit a return.

Larghetti vs. Novak

Easy night’s work for Larghetti. Novak started brightly landing one or two shots but by the end of the first round Larghetti was the one landing the hard punches. The Italian opened up fully in the second slamming home hard punches to head and body and Novak was badly shaken and taking punishment when the referee stopped the fight. The 32-year-old former undefeated Italian and EU champion goes to 15 wins by KO/TKO. He is working his way back after putting up a good performance when losing on points to Marco Huck for the WBO title in August last year. Novak does not do long fights. He is 4-3 in his last 7 fights all of which ended in either the first or second round.

Podda vs. Feka

Former top amateur Podda makes it an early night. A series of hooks put Feka down and when he arose another salvo put him down for the second time and he stayed there. The 27-year-old Podda has 3 wins by KO/TKO. A former Italian national amateur champion he represented Italy at two World Championships and the European Championships. Hungarian Feka in way over his head here.

Di Luisa vs. Ambrus

Di Luisa, another prospect emerging from the amateur ranks gets a quick win. A shot to the body put poor Ambrus down and he was unable to get up. Now two first round wins in a row for the 29-year-old former Italian amateur champion. Hungarian Ambrus gets his second loss both first round finishes.

Pasay City, Philippines: Super Bantam: Joe Noyna (9-0) W PTS 12 Edison Berwela (13-30-8). Minimumweight: Rudy Sumalpong (8-0-1) W PTS 12 JC Francisco (6-10-4). Fly: Renan Trongco (17-4) W KO 2 Rolio Golez (15-14-1).

Noyna vs. Berwela

Teenager Noyna wins the vacant WBC EPBC title with wide unanimous decision over southpaw Berwela. Noyna was in control all the way and floored a tiring Berwela in the last. Scores 120-110, 118-109 and 117-110. The 19-year-old from Manila was jumping straight from 8 round supports to twelve rounds top of the bill. He has yet to face an opponent with a positive record. Berwela, 32, no real test as he is 2-11-4 in his last 17 fights.

Sumalpong vs. Francisco

Sumalpong also lifts a vacant WBC EPBC title but with a very close unanimous decision. Indiscipline cost Francisco the chance of a draw. Constant low punches saw Francisco lose a point in the sixth round and that made the difference between a draw and a loss. Scores 114-113 twice and 117-111. The 21-year-old “Bomba” had won his last three fights by KO/TKO but was pressed hard by Francisco, also 21, who was 0-4-2 in his last 6 fights. A return seems justified.

Trongco vs. Golez

WBC International champion Trongco continued his winning run as he knocked out Golez just before the bell at the end of the second round in a non-title fight. The 26-year-old “Little Pacquiao” lost to Sammy Gutierrez for the interim WBA minimumweight title in 2011. The hard-punching southpaw has won 9 of his last 10 fights losing only to Hekkie Budler for the IBO title in 2013 and winning his last 5 fights. Golez “The Filipino Mexican” is 1-6-1 in his last 8 fights.

Madrid, Spain: Super Light: Nicolas Gonzalez (13-0) W TKO 3 Ignacio Mendoza (40-11-2). Light: Cristian Morales (13-1-1) W PTS 10 Pablo Fuego (8-1).

Gonzalez vs. Mendoza

Gonzalez wins the Spanish title and confirms his status as one of the best prospect in Spain. Over the first two rounds champion Mendoza used his superior experience to outbox the challenger without too many problems. However there was a menace about Gonzalez that promised fireworks and he delivered in the third round. He drove Mendoza to the ropes and hammered home a right that put Mendoza down. He made it to his feet but was unsteady on his legs and the referee stopped the fight. The 26-year-old from Madrid makes it 9 wins by KO/TKO. Colombian-born Mendoza, 31, was making the first defence of his Spanish title. He has been in with good class opposition such as Kevin Mitchell. Petr Petrov and Viktor Postol.

Morales vs. Fuego

Another Spanish title fight sees Morales take a wafer thin unanimous verdict over previously unbeaten Fuego in an exciting scrap. Fuego made the better start he outworked Morales over the first two rounds but then the fight swung towards Morales. Despite giving away height and reach he was quicker, more accurate and smarter and collected the next four rounds and seemed on his way to a comfortable win. That changed in the seventh with Fuego launching furious attacks banging home punches to head and body and he also dominated the eighth. Both fighters put everything into the last two rounds knowing the fight was in the balance and it was Morales who finished the stronger with Fuego just hanging on to the bell in the last. Scores 96-95 twice and 97-95 but really both fighters were winners here. The 29-year-old Morales, managed by Sergio Martinez, took the vacant title and is unbeaten in his last 13 fights but Fuego, 28, put up a great effort and enhanced his reputation with this showing.

Pathum Thani, Thailand: Feather: Chonlatarn (55-2) W TKO 8 Fred Sayuni (13-6-6). Super Fly: Kwanpichit (30-1-2) W KO 2 Chansaknoi (2-6).

Chonlatarn vs. Sayuni

Former world title challenger Chonlatarn wins but not before the Tanzanian had shown just how porous the Thai’s defence is. Chonlatarn made a slow start just probing with jabs as Sayuni threw quick but light combinations. Sayuni found the static Chonlatarn an easy target but the Thai was just ignoring the Tanzanian’s punches due to their lack of power and firing occasion hard shots to head and body. Chonlatarn began to get serious in the third and fourth stepping inside and landing vicious hooks to the body and head. Sayuni was still finding Chonlatarn an easy target but he was firing arm punches which had nuisance value but little else but he was also standing up well to the Thai’s thumping body shots and always responded by firing back. The end of the sixth saw Sayuni staggered by two clubbing head shots but the bell went before Chonlatarn could land again. Amazingly in the seventh an upset looked possible as the Tanzanian landed six shots in a row to the chin of Chonlatarn who was trapped on the ropes. The Thai was not as hurt as he looked and suddenly he cut loose driving Sayuni across the ring with a series of head and body punches. Sayuni did not come out for the eighth. Chonlatarn, 30, has lost in shots at the WBA title –to Chris John-and the WBO title-Vasyl Lomachenko-but has dropped out of the ratings and may not get another chance. Sayuni had an awkward loose-limbed style and no power but he was quick and showed punch resistance unexpected in such a slight figure.

Kwanpichit vs. Chansaknoi

This was an easy one for Kwanpichit against a novice who fought like one. Even then he was able to catch Kwanpichit with a sharp uppercut in the first but had no power and looked fragile. He embarrassed Kwanpichit in the second with a volley of punches which pierced Kwanpichit’s guard and drove him back. That only angered Kwanpichit and he ended the fight with a right to the body and a left to the chin. Chansaknoi was down for quite a while and needed assistance to get back to his corner. The 33-year-old 5’2” (158cm) Onesongchaigym fighter Kwanpichit is too good for this level of opposition. His only loss was in November to Zou Shiming for the WBO International title and this is his third win by KO/TKO since then.

June 6

New York, NY, USA: Middle: Miguel Cotto (40-4) W TKO 4 Daniel Geale (31-4). Feather: Fernando Vargas (28-9-3) W PTS 8 Wilfredo Vazquez Jr (24-5-1). Super Middle: Junior Younan (7-0) W TKO 2 Mike Sawyer (6-4,1ND). Super Bantam: Angel Luna (11-1-1) W PTs 6 Jose Lopez (15-1-1). Heavy: Zhang Zhilei (4-0) W PTS 4 Glenn Thomas (1-4).

Cotto vs. Geale

Cotto retains the WBC title with stoppage of Geale. No wait and see here as both fighters made a fast start probing with jabs and trying rights. Geale was on the front foot showing plenty of upper body movement but a bit wild with his rights. Cotto was on the back foot but with a very tight defence and looking to hook to the body. Cotto looked sharp in the second getting through with quick left hooks to the body with Geale still working his jab but not finding the target with his right whilst Cotto was liked a coiled spring firing off quick punches to the body. The third round saw Geale still on the front foot but Cotto was showing classy movement in bobbing and ducking under the Australian’s punches. Both were moving around quickly firing off 2 or 3 punches at a time but there was no extensive trading. Cotto finished the round with a burst of body punches. Cotto came out for the fourth taking the fight to Geale and as the Australian retreated Cotto stepped in with a perfectly delivered left hook that sent Geale crashing down with his body half way out of the ring under the bottom rope. Geale got up at eight and Cotto moved in and staggered him with a right to the head. Geale escaped from the ropes but was hounded across the ring to a corner where Cotto unloaded punches to head and body. Again Geale escaped but Cotto kept punching and Geale went down again although he was only clipped by a couple of shots and was up at three. The referee was counting but before he reached the eight Geale shook his head to show he was finished for the night. The 34-year-old Puerto Rican star was making the first defence of his WBC title but the insistence on a catchweight bout at 157lbs was very questionable. Having said that Cotto looked sharp and focused and that first left hook would have felled a horse The talked about clash with Saul Alvarez could be the fight of the year. Geale, also 34, looked drained but the former IBF champion showed skill and determination but was outgunned and his decision not to continue the fight was a sensible one.

Vargas vs. Vazquez

A disappointing fight sees Mexican Vargas take the unanimous decision over Vazquez in a mild upset. There was very little action in this one over the first three rounds and only sporadic action after that with some sections of the crowd booing the lack of action. Vargas had a good fourth round as he scored with some heavy hooks and had the better of the fifth being busier and more accurate. Vazquez did better in the seventh but by the eighth Vargas was in control shaking Vazquez with a left hook and putting the decision beyond doubt. Scores 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75. Vargas should not have been a difficult test for Vazquez. The 26-year-old Mexican was 5-4 in his previous 9 fights losing the last in April to Andres Tapia a 7-4-2 fighter. This win will get Vargas steady work. Vazquez, 30, was unbeaten in his first 21 fights including a WBO title winning kayo over Marvin Sonsona and defences against unbeaten Zsolt Bedak and Ivan Hernandez. He is now 4-5 in his last 9 including only scraping by Jonathan Arellano on a majority verdict in his last fight in November. Where he goes from here is difficult to say as he seems to be on his way to mediocracy.

Younan vs. Sawyer

Teenager Younan is one to watch, and he won’t hesitate to tell you that himself. He lived up to some of the hype here as he brushed aside Sawyer in two rounds. A burst of punches punctuated by a left hook put Sawyer down in the first and he only just survived the round. Younan liked the left hook so much he landed more in the second putting Sawyer down again. He gamely got to his feet but Younan was unloading again when the doctor climbed to the ring apron and the fight was over. The Brooklyn 19-year-old won a mess of National Golden Gloves and PAL titles at Junior level and is a real talent. Five of his fights have ended in the first round so 38-year-old Sawyer did better than most of his victims. Sawyer had won his last two fights by first round stoppage but against guys who both had 0-1 records.

Luna vs. Lopez

Luna gets minor upset as he outpoints hot Puerto Rican prospect Lopez. Luna took the fight to Lopez from the outset and floored Lopez with a right in the second. Lopez made it to his feet but was unsteady on his legs but luckily for him the bell sounded at the end of the standing count before Luna could strike again. In the third in his eagerness to get the job over Luna was looping punches which were landing on the back of the head of Lopez. After getting a warning he did it again and was docked a point. Lopez looked to be getting into the fight as he had a good fourth but in the fifth he was floored by another right. Lopez tried to pull the fight out of the fire in the last but he needed a knockout and never came near it. Scores 58-53 twice and 57-54. Luna, “Dominican Cat” had only managed a draw with Victor Serrano (4-7) in November and lost last time out to Tevin Farmer. He was also a late replacement and all of these factors should have added up to a win for 21-year-old “Wonder Boy” Lopez but he had not been in sparkling form only getting by Roberto Castaneda on a majority verdict and had drawn with Josean Figueroa (8-3-1) in his last fight so some of the gloss had already been peeling off.

Zhilei vs. Thomas

Giant Chinese heavyweight Zhilei gets an easy win. He had Thomas down with a right in the first and with another right in the third and Thomas was down on one knee in the fourth. Scores 40-33 from all three judges. The 32-year-old 6’6” (198cm) southpaw won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and bronze medals at both the 2007 and 2009 World Championships and beat New Zealand prospect Joseph Parker at the 2011 World Championships but he is being matched as if he was a raw novice. At this rate he will still be fighting four round fights when he is 50. If you think that’s harsh just consider that Thomas had not fought for 13 months and in his last fight was stopped in 95 seconds by someone with a 2-0 record.

Carson, CA, USA: Feather: Jesus M A Cuellar (27-1) W TKO 8 Vic Darchinyan (40-8-1). Welter: Robert Guerrero (33-3-1,2ND) W PTS 10 Aaron Martinez (19-4-1). Heavy: Dominic Breazeale (15-0) WKO 3 Yasmany Consuegra (17-1). Middle: Alfredo Angulo (23-5) W KO 5 Delray Raines (19-11-1,3ND).Feather: Marvin Sonsona (20-1-1) W PTS 10 Jonathan Arrellano (15-6-2).Super Welter: Oscar Molina (13-0) W PTS 8 Todd Manuel (10-6-1). Light: Alejandro Luna (18-0) W PTS 8 Cristobal Cruz (40-17-4). Welter: Fabian A Maidana (7-0) W KO 1 David Nelson (3-4). Feather: Victor Betancourt (19-1,1ND) W PTS 8 Juan Ruiz (24-18).

Cuellar vs. Darchinyan

Cuellar retains his WBA secondary title as he floors and halts veteran Darchinyan. Cuellar took the fight to Darchinyan in the first round with the Armenian boxing on the back foot. Near the end of the round Darchinyan scored with an over hand left and as Cuellar ducked under another one he slipped to the floor. That fired-up Darchinyan who came forward throwing that left again until the bell. The pattern was the same for the next three rounds as Cuellar prowled around after a retreating Darchinyan scoring with swinging hooks to head and body with Darchinyan firing off quick jabs and trying to connect again with that overhand left. Cuellar was throwing more but Darchinyan was more accurate although constantly on the retreat. Darchinyan had a big fourth as a right/left combination had Cuellar staggering back on unsteady legs. Cuellar recovered quickly. Darchinyan was now coming forward but he was wild with his left as he tried to repeat his success. The fifth saw Cuellar again taking the fight to Darchinyan and scoring with hooks and Darchinyan boxing on the back foot firing quick jabs and still trying that overhand left but missing the target. Cuellar stepped up the pace in the sixth and seventh throwing chopping lefts with Darchinyan under constant pressure but showing good evasive skills and countering when he could. Early in the eighth as they traded punches a right hook from Cuellar thudded into Darchinyan’s jaw and the Armenian crashed to the floor. He was up at five but very unsteady and tottered to a corner. On completion of the eight the referee checked him and let the fight continue. A couple of left crosses landed and drove Darchinyan to a corner and as Cuellar landed a series of shots Darchinyan’s hands dropped and his head was being rocked with heavy punches from both hands when the referee stopped the fight. There is nothing pretty about the style of the 28-year-old Argentinian but he relentlessly rumbles forward applying pressure and he has power in both hands. A run of ten wins including victories over Claudio Marrero, Rico Ramos, Juan Manuel Lopez and Ruben Tamayo have put him in the mix with Gary Russell, Lee Selby, Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters which is tough company but his immediate aim is a fight with former champion Abner Mares. This was his 21^st win by KO/TKO. At 39 there are naturally questions over whether the Armenian/Australian should retire. He still looked sharp in this fight and had kept it close until that thunderbolt hook but it is difficult to see where he goes now as he will not want to slip below the top level into meaningless fights and it would be good to think he will walk away with a record to be proud of.

Guerrero vs. Martinez

The first round looked even with southpaw Guerrero taking ring centre and tracking Martinez using his jab well and Martinez countering with rights and taking Guerrero to the ropes where he could work the body. In the second Martinez trapped Guerrero in a corner and whaled away to the body until Guerrero landed a sharp right uppercut which staggered Martinez and allowed Guerrero to get out of the corner but now the fight was a brawl which suited Martinez. Guerrero chose to continue the infighting in the third and paid for it as Martinez scored with sharp hooks and uppercuts on the inside working the body and getting the better of the exchanges. Guerrero started the fourth using his jab but was quickly back to the toe-to-toe brawl with Martinez scoring with a series of left hooks in close. A sustained attack at the end of the round saw Martinez score with a series of uppercuts and suddenly Guerrero’s hands were down and he sank to the canvas. He was up at seven and the bell went as the count was completed. There is little doubt that Guerrero was badly hurt and if the knockdown and come earlier round he would have had trouble surviving. Martinez took Guerrero to the ropes in the fifth working the body and Guerrero continued to let himself be dragged into a brawl. Finally in the sixth Guerrero started to box on the outside using his right jab to control the action and avoiding getting taken to the ropes and Martinez’s work rate dropped. He was letting the fight slip away and did not seem able to rekindle his early fire. In the seventh Guerrero was taking a step back as Martinez advanced creating some room to slam home body punches although Martinez finished the round strongly again dragging Guerrero into trading and was able to work Guerrero over on the ropes to edge ahead in the fight. Guerrero was taking that step back again in the eighth and refusing Martinez’s invitation to trade although Martinez got through with a hard right late in the round. The ninth saw Guerrero up on his toes moving around Martinez to create angles and working the jab and despite a frantic finish from Martinez Guerrero had taken the round to even up the fight. A low right from Guerrero led to a short break in the action in the last which also saw Martinez told off for ducking low. Guerrero took the last round with his cleaner work beating Martinez to the punch and doing enough to just edge the decision although it was not popular. Scores 97-92, 95-94 for Guerrero and 95-94 for Martinez. The first score was way out and the other two showed just how close this was.

Breazeale vs. Consuegra

Breazeale overcomes an indifferent start to finish Consegura in the third. Cuban Consegura had a good first round finding the target often with rights over the left of Breazeale. He had more success early in the second and seemed to be on his way to winning that round as well when Breazeale exploded a right on the side of Consegura’s head which sent the Cuban down. He made it to his feet just before the ten and the bell went immediately. Breazeale was getting caught by rights again in the third but ripped in a right uppercut which put Consegura down for the second time. When he got up he was on trembling pins and another right from Breazeale sent him to the canvas and although he beat the count the fight was stopped. The 29-year-old 6’6” (199cm) former Olympian and former University of North Colorado star quarterback has 14 wins by KO/TKO and is being matched sensibly and making good progress. Thirty-one-year-old Consegura “The Cuban Shark” was a good level amateur back in Cuba who did well but kept getting beaten by Osmay Acosta in the big events. As a pro he had run up some good statistics but against mainly low grade opposition

Angulo vs. Raines

Angulo’s power proves too much for Raines as the Mexican gets a needed win. Raines had a good first round scoring with his jab and some quick combinations. Angulo was giving away height and reach and trying to get inside but Raines was tying him up and not letting him work. Raines landed a right flush on Angulo’s chin and the Mexican did not even blink-a bad sign for Raines. Angulo was chasing harder in the second and although Raines was still finding gaps he was being forced to trade more and was caught with some good head punches. In the third Raines was being pursued relentlessly. He kept stabbing out his jab but Angulo had closed the distance and was scoring to head and body with Raines tiring. Angulo was getting home with hooks to the body and right crosses in the fourth as a desperate Raines banged back with right crosses of his own. Angulo landed a couple of clubbing shots to the head and Raines dropped to his knees. He was up at eight and walked into Angulo swinging punches and frustrating the Mexican’s efforts to end the fight. Raines tried to trade punches in the fifth but a straight right from Angulo bounced off Raines shoulder and carried on to his chin and put him down. He was up at nine and fought back landing some of the best punches he had landed in the fight but another straight right knocked him back and put him on his knees again. The count got to six but Raines was shaking his head and indicated he did not want to continue. The 32-year-old “Dog” had lost his last three fights to Erislandy Lara, Saul Alvarez and James De la Rosa and had been inactive for nine months but is back in the picture again. Raines, 29, showed some good skills and guts but his lack of power and lack of head movement were his undoing. He is 2-5-1 in his last 8 fights with all of the losses by KO/TKO but David Lemieux, Ronald Hearns, Erislandy Lara and Dominik Britsch is a tough line up and the draw was against Carson Jones.

Sonsona vs. Arrellano

Sonsona surprisingly struggles against Arellano and has to settle for a majority decision. The Filipino southpaw found himself under constant pressure from Arellano in a fight that was interesting rather than exciting. Arellano is not a power puncher but he ploughed forward in this one with Sonsona landing stinging counters but unable to keep Arellano out. Southpaw Sonsona reportedly injured his left hand in the fourth round and this may have hampered his work as he used quick hit and get out tactics rather than trading with Arellano. The fight was close with many rounds hard to score but in the end two of the judges just favoured Sonsona and the third had it even. Scores 96-94 twice and 95-95. Sonsona, 24, a former WBO super fly champion had discipline issues in the past as he lost his WBO title on the scales and then looked bad in being knocked in four rounds by Wilfredo Vazquez in a fight for the vacant WBO super bantam title. He took 20 months out after losing to Vazquez and had a stellar 2014 knocking out former champion Akifumi Shimoda and outpointing Vazquez. He just scraped through this one to preserve his WBC 3 rating. “Lil’ Thund’r Arellano, 27, had won his first 14 fights but coming in he was 2-6-1 against a much higher level of opposition including Jessie Magdaleno, Rico Ramos and Vazquez. He did a lot to re-establish himself here.

Molina vs. Manuel

Outstanding prospect Molina taken the distance by Manuel. The former amateur star had Manuel down in the first but despite that early success had to go the full eight rounds for victory. He won comfortably as the scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 show and got in some useful ring time. The 25-year-old has 10 wins by KO/TKO including 10 in his last 11 fights going into this one. Representing Mexico the Californian-born Molina was a World Junior gold medal winner and took silver medals at the Pan American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games as well as competing at the World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. Manuel was in against a much higher level of opponent than in any other fight and did well to take Molina the distance.

Luna vs. Cruz

Luna shakes some rust with eight rounds of boxing against former IBF champion Cruz. Luna started slowly but was soon dominating the rounds being too quick for the grizzled veteran. Cruz used his experience to stay competitive until he tired in the late rounds and Luna was able to box his way to the wide decision. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73. The 23-year-old “El Charro” was having his first fight for 15 months but looked sharp and will bear watching Cruz, 38, a former IBF and IBO feather champion is 1-6-3 in his last 10 fights. Most of those losses have been to top drawer fighters but this was his first fight for a year. He is a “name” and there are fights for him but as a loser to young prospects if that is what he wants.

Maidana vs. Nelson

Maidana is yet to face anybody who could be called a test but he getting the inferior opposition out of the way quickly. A two-punch combination put Nelson down early in the round. Nelson got up but was being blitzed with more heavy shots and the referee stopped the fight. The 22-year-old younger brother of Marcos now has 6 wins by KO/TKO on the bounce with four of them first round finishes. Trained by Roberto Garcia Maidana was a silver medal winner at the World Youth Championships and took a bronze at the World Youth Olympics. Nelson has three losses by KO/TKO and was a late substitute.

Betancourt vs. Ruiz

Mexican Betancourt celebrates his first fight in the USA with a unanimous decision over local fighter Ruiz. Betancourt took every round. Scores 80-72 from all three judges. Betancourt was unbeaten in his first 17 fights (1 ND) before being floored three times and halted by Sergio Lopez last August and this is his third win since then. Ruiz 36 is going down on greased skis being 1-13 in his last 14 fights. Just before the skid started in 2008 he beat Wayne McCullough on a sixth round retirement.

Kempton Park, South Africa: Light Heavy: Thomas Oosthuizen (25-0-2) W PTS 12 Robert Berridge (26-3-1).Light: Xolisani Ndongeni (18-0) W PTS 12 Mzonke Fana (34-8). Cruiser: Johnny Muller (19-4-2) W PTS 12 Mateusz Masternak (35-3). Welter: Roman Zhailauov (15-0) W TKO 1 Luyanda Jako (9-10-2)

Oosthuizen vs. Berridge

Once again Oosthuizen lets himself and his backers down as he fails to make the weight and loses his IBO title on the scales. A win for Berridge would make him the champion. Although it was still a title fight it was demoted down the order to a support as a mark of how disgusted his promoter was with the lack of discipline by the big South Africa. Oosthuizen won this all-southpaw clash simply because he was bigger and Berridge whilst tough is limited. The fight lacked any real highlights and Oosthuizen was able to use his physical advantages-6’4” (193cm) vs. 5’8” (173cm) and superior hand speed to dictate from a distance. The New Zealander never stopped pressing and landed a number of southpaw lefts to stay competitive and steal a few rounds and also opened a cut over the right of Oosthuizen with a left but it was a fight that never caught alight and fizzled out in the end to a unanimous decision for Oosthuizen. Scores 117-111 twice and 116-112. The 27-year-old former IBO super middle champion has wins over Ezequiel Maderna, Denis Grachev and Ryno Liebenberg and draws against Isaac Chilemba and Brandon Gonzalez but without a great improvement in discipline has gone as far as he is going and Rodney Berman seems to think the same way as he is said to have released Oosthuizen from his contract.. I feel sorry for Berridge as his team do not seem able to plot a path without sticking him into situations where he has huge physical disadvantages. A fight in August last year was to be his unveiling to the US audiences but he was matched with 6’3 ½” (192cm) Vasily Lepikhin and battered to defeat in five rounds. The 30-year-old “Butcher” has plenty of strength and stamina but needs to be kept away from the “giants”.

Ndongeni vs. Fana

Ndongeni is being built towards a world title fight and he could not have gotten any better preparation than this fight with Fana. The former IBF super feather champion showcased his still sharp skills to handle the speed, strength and youth of Ndongeni. It was a brilliant technical fight butalso an exciting one with many of the rounds hard to score and both having moments of dominance. In the end Ndongeni was just that bit busier and collecting a majority decision which was not popular with all. Scores 115-113 twice and 114-114. Ndongeni continues to improve and with Colin Nathan training him now can only get better with a world title fight a possibility for 2016. Fana, 41, showed what a disciplined approach can achieve he was sharp, focused and fit and made sure that this fight became a useful contribution to Ndongeni’s development. “The Rose of Khayelitsha” also delivered a lesson to Oosthuizen about the importance of discipline in a fighter’s career.

Muller vs. Masternak

Muller gets the win but only the judges saw it that way. “The Hurricane” showed some improvements in his technique but Masternak had superior skills, more power and looked to have won the bout clearly. Muller was boxing better than in previous fights but Masternak found gaps in the South African’s defence. Mueller was forcing the fight but suffered a cut over his left eye in the fourth round. He continued to press getting himself back into the fight but was floored in the fifth and took the mandatory count. Undeterred Muller again took the fight to Masternak only for the Pole to produce a big right counter in the seventh to put Muller down for the second time. Undeterred Muller banged back and survived a doctor’s inspection of the cut over his left eye in the eighth and provided a strong finish. Masternak had produced the cleaner work and with the two knockdowns looked a clear winner but the judges did not see it that way. Scores 95-93 twice for Muller and 95-93 for Masternak. Biggest career win for Harold Volbrecht-trained Muller. Losses twice to Ryno Liebenberg and to Doudou Ngumbu made it seem that Muller was not going to progress beyond domestic level but this win over a fighter rated as high as WBA4/WBO 5 will put him in the ratings and once there anything can happen although thoughts of the gutsy South African facing the guns of Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson is just a little scary. Obvious this was a big setback for 28-year-old Masternak. His only other losses have been to Grigory Drozd for the European title and a split decision against Youri Kayembre Kalenga for the interim WBA title. He had rebounded with a points win over Jean Marc Mormeck in the Frenchman’s home territory but came up against some questionable judging this time.

Zhailauov vs. Luyanda

Golovkin is not the only Kazak boxer who can punch. Zhailauov put Luyanda down with vicious rights. The second right saw Luyanda end up flat out on the canvas and the referee dispensed with the count. The 21-year-old has nine wins by KO/TKO and gets his second win since basing himself in South Africa. He is trained by Harold Volbrecht. Luyanda not much of a test as he is 1-6-1 in his last 8 fights and all ten of his losses have come by KO/TKO.

Sao Paulo, Brazil: Middle: Yamaguchi Falcao (7-0,1ND) W PTS 10 Jose C Paz (17-2). Light: Everton Lopes (3-0) W PTS 8 Marcelo E Mesa (6-3-1,1ND). Light: Victor Jones Freitas (10-0,1ND) W PTS 6 Sidney Siqueira (26-9-1).

Falcao vs. Paz

Falcao moves up to ten rounds and takes the unanimous decision. Falcao dominated the first five rounds outboxing Paz but then he tried and Paz came back over the next three rounds. He had fought himself out and lost impetus when he was deducted a point in the ninth for repeatedly spitting out his gumshield and Falcao came back to take the last round. Scores 100-90, 97-93 and 96-94. The 27-year-old Brazilian southpaw’s first pro fight ended on a double disqualification. He is now showing the promise expected when he competed at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics. Argentinian Paz, the FAB No 7 super welter, had lost only one of his last 17 fights going in.

Lopes vs. Mesa

Lopes, another former top amateur, moves to three wins with the unanimous decision over Argentinian Mesa. The 26-year-old Brazilian turned pro in California in February where he scored his first two wins. As an 18-year-old he won a silver medal at the Pan American Games and in 2009 he won a gold medal at the World Championships, the first Brazilian to achieve that feat. He was also World Military Champion, competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and in the WSB tournaments. First time up at eight rounds also for Mesa.

Freitas vs. Siqueira

Freitas gets his tenth win as he outpoints fellow-Brazilian Siqueira. He is the nephew of former Brazilian great Acelino Freitas and shares his time between his homeland and the USA. He won his first pro fight inside a round but it was changed to a no decision and he did not fight again for 13 months. Siqueira, 37, has been in with Brunet Zamora, DeMarcus Corley, Paulus Moses and Terrence Crawford so very experienced.

Divion, France: Bantam: Jeremy Beccu (8-1) W PTS 8 Georges Ory (5-1-1).

Beccu gets back to winning ways with unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Ory. After a sterling amateur career Beccu was expected to march easily to the national title but in his last fight lost on points to Faycal Messaoudene (5-22-1) so has a lot to do to confirm that earlier promise. The 24-year-old local competed at the World Military and World Amateur Championships and the 2012 Olympics. Ory had won his last 5 fights.

Muelheim-Kaerlich, Germany: Super Middle: Turgay Uzun (40-25-2) W PTS 12 Omar Jatta (16-10-1). Uzun gets revenge and a title as he takes majority decision over Jatta. Scores 117-111, 116-112 and 114-114. There was nothing artistic in this scrap between two very limited fighters but the crowd enjoyed it. Jatta was bigger and tried to pressure Uzun and keep him on the ropes but Uzun was slightly the more skilful and did enough clean scoring to win the decision. He wins the Global Boxing Council title at the second attempt. The 40-year-old German had lost to Jatta on a split decision in February when he came in as a substitute at just three days’ notice. This time he was better prepared. After a run of 7 losses in a row by KO/TKO he has improved to 3-2 in his last 5 fights. Gambian-born, Austria-based Jetta, 36, had won his last 7 fights but against very low level opposition.

Budapest, Hungary: Light Heavy: Norbert Nemesapati (18-2) W PTS 10 Michal Ludwiczak (11-0). Teenager Nemesapati retains the WBO Youth title with unanimous decision over Pole Ludwiczak. The young Hungarian made a slow start and the visitor looked to have taken the first round. Nemesapati picked up the pace from the third and was in control by the fourth. Now under constant pressure Ludwiczak lost a point in the fourth for a number of fouls and was floored in the fifth. Nemesapati had the Pole rocking a few more times but just could not put Ludwiczak away and had to settle for a points victory. Scores 99-89. 97-91 and 96-92. “Noble “Nemesapati, now 19, turned pro at 16 and won his first 15 fights but then in a couple of tough fights on the road lost to Jason Escalera and Schiller Hyppolite. This is his third win since the loss in December to Hyppolite. Ludwiczak had only once gone past the fourth round in a fight and his lack of experienced showed as he tired after the halfway mark.

Surabaya, Indonesia: Light: Daud Yordan (34-3,1ND) W PTS 12 Maxwell Awuku (40-3-1). Yordan gets unanimous verdict over Ghanaian Awuku in a tough, fast-paced fight.

Yordan was barrelling forward from the start in this one with southpaw Awuku showing good footwork and getting through with counters when he could but Yordan was working the body well. A right from Yordan in the second momentarily stunned Awuku and it was enough to allow Yordan to take the round. Yordan worked his way inside in the third trapping Awuku on the ropes working the body and then switching to clubbing blows to the head. Awuku was countering with hooks and upper cuts on the inside but Yordan had him trapped in a corner and was again hooking to the body by the end of the round. Awuku had a good fourth as he countered well scoring time and again with hooks and outworking Yordan inside. The fifth and sixth were back and forward rounds with Yordan relentlessly marching forward using his head as a battering ram and working inside with short shots and Awuku slotting home counters as he worked on the back foot. Awuku shook Yordan with a right in the seventh and followed with a series of head shots that had the home fighter briefly in trouble. He then ruined the good work by walking onto a right later in the round and was put down. He was up at six and although Yordan pinned him in a corner he ducked dived and held to the bell. Yordan rode on the crest of that knockdown over the next three rounds scoring with clubbing shots but Awuku had recovered and was again boxing and countering on the back foot. Awuku looked to have the best of the eleventh as they both tired from the frantic pace set by Yordan and the last saw more holding than hitting with Yordan edging it. Scores 117-110, 115-112 and 114-113. The last two scores were a reflection of the excellent countering and cleaner punching of Awuku but Yordan did enough work inside to deserve the decision. Yordan, 27, a former IBO champion, retains his interim WBO Asia Pacific title and wins the vacant WBO African title (what farcical titles). Awuku showed good skills. His record is heavily padded by some poor opposition in Ghana with his only loss in his last 38 fights being to Liam Walsh for the vacant CBC title in 2010, but he gave a very good account of himself here.

Tokyo, Japan: Super Fly: Toshiyuki Igarashi (21-2-1) W PTS 10 Renerio Arizala (12-2-1). Feather: Akifumi Shimoda (29-4-2) W PTS 8 Gosuke Seki (16-2-2). Super Feather: Kenichi Ogawa (15-1) W KO 6 Ray Sermona (17-6-5).

Igarashi vs. Arizala

Experienced southpaw Igarashi has too much skill for game Filipino. The former WBC fly champion had height and reach edges as well as being far superior technically. That did not stop the visitor from fighting hard over the early rounds and doing enough to steal a couple of them. Igarashi’s class and experience told over the late rounds with Arizala in trouble in both the eighth and last rounds but he stayed the distance. Scores 99-92, 97-93 and 97-94. The 31-year-old Igarashi lost his title to Akira Yaegashi in April 2013. He managed only one fight in 2014 but has been more active as this is his second fight this year. He is rated WBC5/WBA 6/IBF 13(12) so is not totally out of the title picture. The 21-year-old Arizala came in as a late substitute.

Shimoda vs. Seki

Any loss now would be a huge blow to Shimoda after poor performances in drawing with Roli Gasca and being knocked out by Marvin Sonsona. Returning to action for the first time for 16 months the Japanese southpaw made sure there was no slip up here as he was too quick for fellow-countryman Seki and boxed his way to a unanimous decision. Scores 78-75 twice and 78-74. A former WBA secondary champion at super bantam Shimoda, 30, is hoping to fight his way to a title fight at feather. Seki, 29, also a southpaw and the JBC No 9, was unbeaten in his first 17 fights until halted in six rounds by world rated Satoshi Hosono in a challenge for the JBC title in June last year. He had returned with a win in December.

Ogawa vs. Sermona

Ogawa knocks out Filipino Sermona to extend his run of quick victories. Ogawa had to overcome a cut over his right eye but finally caught up with Sermona and finished it with a body punch in the sixth. The 27-year-old has 13 wins by KO/TKO including seven in a row since his lone loss back in 2012. Filipino Sermona, 30, is 2-4-1 in his last 7 fights and was coming off a first round stoppage loss to Jose Felix Jr in March. He is rated GAB No 7

Basel, Switzerland: Heavy: Arnold Gjergjaj (28-0) W PTS 12 Denis Bakhtov (39-11).

Gjergjaj retains his EBU-EE title with unanimous decision over Bakhtov. .This was probably the stiffest test yet for the Kosovan “Cobra”. Bakhtov came to win and had his chance when he floored Gjergjaj in the fifth round. He failed to capitalise on that and paid the price as Gjergjaj recovered and fought back hard. Bakhtov was hampered by cuts above and below his right eye whilst Gjergjaj claimed that a hand injury had stopped him from performing as well as he could. Scores 117-111, 116-111 and 115-112. Gjergjaj, 30, is the EBU No 10. “Darth Vader” Bakhtov, 35, the EBU No 18 was the mandatory challenger for this title for fighters from countries not part of the European Union. He had scored a win in November 28 days after being halted in two rounds by Anthony Joshua.

Belfast, NI, Super Welter: Dee Walsh (12-0) W PTS 8 Patryk Litkiewicz (16-8). Feather: James Tennyson (13-1) W TKO 3 Krzys Rogowski (9-14).

Walsh vs. Litkiewicz

“Waldo” Walsh adds another victory as he wins every round against Polish trier Litkiewicz. The visitor just could not match the outstanding skills of the young Belfast hope and was outboxed all the way. Walsh was slamming and slotting home punches to head and body and Litkiewicz was never able to get into the fight. After six rounds of dazzling the Pole Walsh stood and traded over the last two rounds and Litkiewicz had to soak up the punishment and did well to stay in the fight to the bell. Referee’s score 80-72. The lanky 25-year-old Irish champion is making good progress and he dedicated this win to his close friend and sparmate Eammon Magee Jr. who was murdered on May 30. Litkiewicz, 23, was 3-4 in his last 7 fights but against a good level of opposition and had won his last two fight.

Tennyson vs. Rogowski

Tennyson keeps busy with win over Polish loser Rogowski with a third round stoppage. The 21-year-old “Baby-Faced Assassin”, the Celtic champion, a Kronk trainer boxer, and 5-time Irish amateur champion has ten wins by KO/TKO and is in line for a shot at the British title. Rogowski, 33, was a good level amateur but left it late to turn pro and is now 4-14 in his last 18 fights.

Wolverhampton, England: Super Welter: Jason Welborn (17-3) W PTS10 Ryan Aston (15-2-2). Super Middle: Andrew Robinson (15-1) W TKO 9 Prince Davis (10-5). Feather: Bobby Jenkinson (8-1-1) W PTS 10 Paul Holt (4-1).

Welborn vs. Aston

Welborn comes from behind to just edge Aston in a dramatic Midland Area title fight. Aston was in control in the first round blunting Welborn’s attacks with sharp right jabs. The second and third rounds were even but Aston took the fourth as he again made good use of his jab and scored with right hooks to the body. In the fifth a right hook to the body put Welborn down and he did well to survive the round. Welborn had ground to make up and he swung things his way with some heavy right hooks in the sixth and seventh despite having the handicap of a cut on his left eyebrow in that sixth round. The eighth was again close. Aston continued to box stylishly but now Welborn was scoring with heavy rights and he swept those vital last two rounds. Referee’s score 96-94 but it could really have been scored the other way just as easily and neither fighter deserved to lose in this excellent scrap. Since losing in his second pro fight 29-year-old Welborn has climbed the domestic ratings losing only to world rated fighters in Frankie Gavin for the British welter title in 2013 and Liam Smith last July for the super welter title. This wins puts him back in with the possibility of another British title fight. Aston, 24, was 8-0-2 in his last 10 fights and many thought he won this one. The Dudley southpaw can also move into line for a title fight after a couple more wins.

Robinson vs. Davis

Robinson wins a real rock em’ sock em’ affair with late stoppage of Davis. These two parked their defence in the corner and went to war. After the first three rounds Robinson gradually got on top landing heavily with rights and bringing a swelling under the right eye of “Prince” Davis. In the ninth a right uppercut put Davis down and although he made it to his feet another volley of punches from Robinson saw the fight halted. The 30-year-old Redditch “D’Animal” wins the vacant BBB of C Midland Area title. His only loss was on points to Frank Buglioni for the vacant WBO European title in November. Davis, 28, a former Midlands Area middleweight champion, played his part in a stirring scrap but loses inside the distance for the second time.

Jenkinson vs. Holt

Jenkinson also wins a vacant Midlands Area title as he outpoints game southpaw Holt. Jenkinson got off to a good start dropping Holt with a right in the second round. Holt fell behind but put up a big effort to try and close the gap but failed. Referee’s score 98-92 got the right winner but understated Holt’s efforts. “Dazzler” Jenkinson, 23, has won four in a row. Holt came in as a late substitute and did well under the circumstances

Eire, PA, USA: Super Bantam: Antonio Nieves (11-0) W KO 1 Gabor Molnar 16-8).

Nieves gets a quick win over soft-chinned Molnar. The Cleveland fighter tracked Molnar around before stepping-in and landing a right that put Molnar down and out. The 28-year-old Nieves a six-time Cleveland Golden Gloves winner, US Championships bronze medallist and NGG bronze and silver medallist lost out at the final US Olympic Trials for London. He has 6 wins by KO/TKO. Hungarian champion Molnar has been beaten by KO/TKO in 7 of his 8 losses

Dar-Es Salaam, Tanzania: Light: Allan Kamote (26-8-4) W TKO 10 Emilio Norfat (24-5).

Kamote keeps his UBO title with stoppage of Norfat. The Tanzanian took the first four rounds and put fellow-countryman Norfat down in the fifth. Norfat continued to take punishment until his corner had seen enough and threw in the towel in the tenth round. First defence of the UBO title for the 33-year-old Kamote who has 15 wins by KO/TKO. Unfortunately he was a bit exposed in December being knocked out in two rounds by Ghanaian Geroge Ashie for the interim WBO Africa title. Norfat, 26, is 3-3 in his last 6 fights.

June 8

Tokyo, Japan: Fly: Koki Eto (17-3-1) W TKO 8 Yuki Fukumoto (17-10). Super Feather: Rikki Naito (13-0) W PTS 10 Nihito Arakawa (25-6-1).

Eto vs. Fukumoto

Eto retains OPBF title with stoppage of Fukumoto. Eto made a stuttering start and Fukumoto cracked home two good left hooks to take the first with Eto pushing Fukumoto back and getting home with a straight right in the second to even things up. Fukumoto’s pressure saw Eto fighting with his back to the ropes for periods in the third only for Eto to again even things up by taking the fourth with the scoring then being 38-38 from all three judges. From there Eto made class tell. He opened a cut over the right eye of Fukumoto in the fifth and had Fukumoto hurt in the sixth. Fukumoto tried to swing things his way but it was in vain and a right from Eto put him down in the seventh and a right in the eighth put Fukumoto down again and the fight was stopped immediately. Second defence of his OPBF title for 27-year-old Eto a former Interim WBA champion. He lost his title to Thai Yodmongkol in November 2013 and this is his third win by KO/TKO since then. He is rated IBF 4(3)/WBC 7/WBO 11with him aiming to give up the OPBF title and try for a shot at IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng. Fukumoto, 29 the OPBF No 14 was 2-4 in his last 6 fights going into this one.

Naito vs. Arakawa

Naito gets unanimous decision over experienced Arakawa but fails to impress. Arakawa’s work caught the eye in the first round but Naito increased the pace from the second and clever fast but light combinations put him in control. Arakawa had looked to be tiring but he was back in the fight in the seventh and eighth forcing Naito back and it was Naito’s work rate that was dropping. The younger fighter rallied to take the ninth with some sharp uppercuts and edged the tenth to take the decision. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 97-94. The 22-year-old Naito, the WBC No 13, seems to lack power with 7 of his last 8 wins coming on points. He is the son of Cassius Naito a former OPBF and Japanese middleweight champion. Arakawa, 33, the JBC No 6 at lightweight, has now lost 4 of his last 5 fights but two of those losses were to Omar Figueroa for the interim WBC light title and Jorge Linares in a WBC eliminator. In fairness to the lack of power of Naito Arakawa has never been stopped in any fight.

Abbreviations

ABC=Asian Boxing Council an affiliate of the WBC

ABF=Asian Boxing Federation. I assume this is an affiliate of the IBF

ABU=African Boxing Union an affiliate of the WBC

ACC=WBC Asian Council Continental title

ANBF=Australian National Boxing Federation who administer Australian titles

BBB of C=British Boxing Board of Control

BBB of C Southern/Central/Midlands/Scottish Area etc. British Area titles

BDB= Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer one of the German boxing bodies

B & H=Bosnia & Herzegovina

BSA=Boxing South Africa responsible for administering boxing in South Africa

CBC=Commonwealth Boxing Council a sanctioning body for titles competed for by citizens of Commonwealth countries

CISBB-WBC title covering the rump of the USSR and the Slovenian Boxing Board

DRC=Democratic Republic of the Congo

EBU=European Boxing Union

FAB=Argentinian Boxing Federation

FFB=French Boxing Federation

GAB=Philippines Games & Amusement Board responsible for administering boxing in the Philippines

GBC= Global Boxing Council a sanctioning body

IBA=International Boxing Association a sanctioning body

IBF=International Boxing Federation a sanctioning body

IBO=International Boxing Organisation a sanctioning body

JBC =Japanese Boxing Commission

NABA=North American Boxing Association, a WBA affiliate

NABF=North American Boxing Federation a WBC affiliate

NABO= North American Boxing Organisation, a WBO affiliate

NCC=National Championships of Canada

NGG=US National Golden Gloves

NZPBF=New Zealand Professional Boxing Federation a national sanctioning body

OPBF=Orient & Pacific Boxing Federation

PABA=Pacific & Asian Boxing Association, a WBA affiliate

PBF=Philippines Boxing Federation, a sanctioning body in the Philippines

UBF=Universal Boxing Federation a sanctioning body

UBO=Universal Boxing Organisation a sanctioning body

USBA= United States Boxing Association, an IBF affiliate

USBO=United States Boxing Organisation an WBO affiliate

WBA=World Boxing Association a sanctioning body

WBC=World Boxing Council a sanctioning body

WBFed=World Boxing Federation, a sanctioning body

WBFound=World Boxing Foundation, a sanctioning body

WBU=World Boxing Union, a sanctioning body

IBF WBA Rating=Both bodies leave vacancies in their ratings so when showing a IBF or WBA rating for a fighter where there is a vacant position ahead of them in the rankings which affects his rating I will put his numerical rating i.e. No 6 and in brackets and his rating based on the number of fighters ahead of him so IBF 6 (5) shows his numerical position is 6 but there are in fact only 5 fighters listed ahead of him due to one or more of

the higher rating positions being vacant.