The Past Week In Action 6 October 2015

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 6 October 2015

October 2

 

Benavidez, Argentina: Cruiser: Victor E Ramirez (22-2-1) DREW 12 Ovill McKenzie (25-12-1). Despite a career best effort McKenzie has to settle for a draw and Ramirez retains the IBF title. It seems strange to be talking about the clever boxing on the back foot by McKenzie and his jab being a dominant punch but the British fighter fought the right fight and stuck to his game plan. The pattern of the fight rarely varied. Ramirez was rumbling forward trying to cut down the ring and work McKenzie over on the ropes. McKenzie was using his jab both to score points, set Ramirez up for counters and to unsettle him and take away the Argentinian’s jab and it worked well. When Ramirez did trap McKenzie on the ropes he scored with clubbing shots to the head and those shots sometimes had McKenzie scrambling along the ropes to escape. In mid ring McKenzie was the more accurate but it was Ramirez’s shots which were the more eye-catching. After shaking Ramirez with a right in the second McKenzie certainly seemed to have built a lead by the half way mark with Ramirez landing big shots in the fourth and sixth but being outworked by McKenzie in those rounds. Ramirez had his best period in the middle rounds with McKenzie seeming to tire in the eighth but more than matching Ramirez over the closing rounds. It could be that by constantly trying to walk McKenzie down together with his aggression and clubbing shots when he had McKenzie on the ropes impressed the judges and home advantage was a big plus for Ramirez. McKenzie looked to have done enough to win whilst Ramirez looked lucky to escape with a home draw. With the IBF President Daryl Peoples as the fight supervisor hopefully the appeal for a return might be received favourably. The 31-year-old Ramirez “El Tyson del Abasto” certainly did not have one of his better nights and fought well below the level he showed in beating Ola Afolabi for the interim title in April. He was to have fought Yoan Pablo Hernandez for the full title but when Hernandez decided to retire Ramirez was made full champion and this was his first defence of the title. McKenzie’s performance was an eye-opener. “The Upsetter” is more known for his robust style and battering opponents down rather than out boxing them. The 35-year-old Jamaican-born three-time CBC champion had only 11 days notice for the fight and stayed in London the Friday before the fight to received the prestigious Denny Mancini trophy from the CBC for his spells as their title holder. Right now Ramirez has no mandatory challenger as the first two positions in the IBF cruiserweight ratings are vacant so there is nothing to prevent him granting McKenzie the return he deserves. Not bad for a guy who was 5-6 in his first 11 fights.

 

Los Angeles, CA, USA: Middle: Patrick Teixeira (26-0) W TKO 7 Don Mouton (14-10-1). Middle: Antonio Gutierrez (19-1-1) W PTS 6 Victor Fonesca (9-7-1). Welter: Zach Ochoa (13-0) W KO 3 Alejandro Rodriguez (24-19-1).

Teixeira vs. Mouton

Teixeira extends his winning run with stoppage of game Mouton. Over the early rounds Mouton was full of fire but the Brazilian southpaw was showing good skills and was more accurate and busier. Slowly Teixeira was making it a one-sided fight breaking Mouton down and with his right eye vision being badly affected by a swelling Mouton was warned at the end of the fifth that the fight would be stopped if it continued to be one-sided. Mouton had his high-water mark in the sixth when a left hook had Teixeira badly shaken and holding on to the bell. In the seventh Teixeira cut loose banging home punch after punch and with Mouton’s trapped on the ropes and with his right eye shut by the swelling the referee stopped the fight. The tall 24-year-old Teixeira goes to 22 wins by KO/TKO but so far he has not met any really testing opposition. He is a tall, loose-limbed fighter who certainly has power but due to the lack of any creditable opposition when attacking he leaves himself wide open to counters and against better opposition he could pay for that. Mouton came in as a late sub and the durable 37-year-old Texan suffers only his second loss by KO/TKO. He is 2-6 in his last 8 fights but in that opposition is Brandon Gonzales, Badou Jack, Anthony Dirrell and Antoine Douglas all of whom he took the distance.

Gutierrez vs. Fonesca

Gutierrez cleans up the draw in his record with unanimous verdict over fellow citizen of Tijuana. Gutierrez had a big edge in speed and skill and comfortably took the early rounds despite suffering a cut from a punch in the third. Fonesca landed a hard right in the fourth which shook Gutierrez but was himself cut over his left eye in a clash of heads. Gutierrez stood and traded more over the last two rounds and clearly won those rounds. Scores 59-55 twice and 60-54. Gutierrez, 21, was unbeaten in his first 19 fight before losing a majority decision to Paul Valenzuela in May. The draw in his record was against Fonesca back in 2012. Four losses in a row for Fonesca with the other three being against unbeaten fighters.

Ochoa vs. Rodriguez

Ochoa destroys experienced Rodriguez in three rounds. Ochoa landed some range-finding punches in the first and then exploded in the second. A combination dropped Rodriguez late in the third with what looked a possible second flooring ruled a slip. Immediately after the bell to start the third a right put Rodriguez down again. Rodriguez struggled to make it to the vertical and a series of follow-up punches from Ochoa put Rodriguez down again and the fight was stopped. The 22-year-old “Zungary” from Brooklyn has 6 wins by KO/TKO. Now ten losses by KO/TKO for Rodriguez.

 

Philadelphia, USA: Super Feather: Jason Sosa (18-1-3) W KO 6 Jorge Pazos (14-9-1).

Sosa dominates all the way before cutting down Pazos in the sixth. The Camden prospect put the Mexican under pressure from the first bell and round by round chopped away at the body with Pazos weakening. The Mexican tried to keep Sosa out but Sosa was relentless. He ended it in the sixth landing a booming left hook that saw Pazos go down on one knee and just stay there whilst the referee counted to ten.  Now the 27-year-old Sosa is unbeaten in his last 17 fights and has 13 wins in a row by KO/TKO including an impressive first round kayo of Jerry Belmontes in August. Six losses in a row for Pazos all against top flight opposition.

 

Mercedes, Argentina: Light Heavy: Walter G Sequeira (16-2) W PTS 10 Eli Heraldo Trosch (11-4-1). Sequeira retains his WBC Latino title with unanimous decision over Trosch. It was Trosch who made the better start edging the first two rounds. Sequeira had his jab working and took the third and fourth despite some roughhouse work from Trosch Those tactics began to count against Trosch as he seemed to have taken the sixth but was deducted a point for low punches. From then on Sequeira ran the fight. He took control of the ring centre and out boxed Trosch over the last four rounds with Trosch losing another point in the last and being lucky not to lose a third. Scores 98-90 twice and 95-93. Sequeira, 28, had a 14 bout winning streak broken in a split decision loss to Patricio Pitto in July and this is his second win since then. Trosch is 4-4 in his last 8 fights.

 

Madrid, Spain: Super Light: Nicolas Gonzalez (15-0) W KO 3 Petar Zivkovic (17-2). Super Feather: Ruddy Encarnacion (35-23-4) W PTS 8 Santiago Bustos (7-8-1).

Gonzalez vs. Zivkovic

Gonzalez again shows both his power and his limitations. Over the first two rounds Gonzalez was trying to force the fight but Serb Zivkovic was scoring well with his jab a rights and showing the better skills. In the third Gonzalez decided to let Zivkovic take him to ropes and counter. Zivkovic landed a hard right but was nailed with a right from Gonzalez which put him down. Zivkovic complained that the punch had landed on the back of his neck. After Zivkovic got up and the eight count was completed a punch from Gonzalez put the Serb down and again he complained that the punch had landed on the back of the neck as he sat out the count. The 27-year-old Spanish champion from Madrid has 11 wins by KO/TKO and collects the vacant WBC Mediterranean title. Zivkovic, 32, loses inside the distance for the second time. His record had been built on low level opposition and this was only his second fight after 20 months of inactivity.

Encarnacion vs. Bustos

Encarnacion given a hard night by Bustos. He gets the majority decision but looked a clear winner. Bustos had early success when he shook Encarnacion with a right in the second. The third and fourth were close as Bustos kept rumbling forward but at the end of the fifth a right from Encarnacion had Bustos badly wobbling and he also crashed home a right uppercut but the bell went before he could capitalise of that success. Encarnacion then took the closing rounds to get the decision. Scores 79-75, 78-75 and 75-75. Warm-up win for the “Black Wolf” who is set to face Sofiane Takoucht for the vacant European title. The 36-year-old Dominican is 11-0-2 in his last 13 fights. Bustos, 32, has lost of his last 7 fights in tough matches away from home.

 

Bangyai, Thailand: Feather: Cosmas Cheka (15-4-4) W TKO 7 Thewa Onesongchaigym (10-3). Super Feather: Chonlatarn (57-2) W KO 4 Samongkol (0-1). Super Fly: Kwanpichit (33-1-2) W TKO 4 Srisomdech (0-2).

Cheka vs. Thewa

Cheka gets upset win as he batters local fighter Thewa to defeat in seven rounds. Check was fleet-footed and had fast hands and danced around the plodding Thai. Thewa just kept walking forward eating counters trying to trap Cheka on the ropes and work to the body. Cheka was able to slot home punch after punch and as his confidence increased he was using hooks and uppercuts to catch Thewa as he ploughed forward. For a while it looked as though Thewa would overwhelm the skinny African but in the fifth a left hook had the Thai staggering back into the ropes which must have worried the Thai’s corner. Thewa scored with some clubbing rights in the sixth but Cheka ended the round with a barrage of hooks and uppercuts. Early in the seventh a series of punches had Thewa badly staggered and he grabbed Cheka. The African pushed him off and Thewa crashed to the floor. The referee halted the action to help Thewa up but he was finished. A four-punch combination to the head saw the Thai collapsing backward with referee catching him on the way down and immediately waiving the fight over. Indonesian-born Tanzanian Cheka gets only his second win by KO/TKO. He is 11-1-2 in his last 14 fights. Thewa, 25, showed his limitations and gets his second loss by KO/TKO.

Chonlatarn vs. Samongkol

Chonlatarn flattens novice Samongkol in four. Despite his total lack of experience Samongkol showed a willingness to walk forward throwing punches and had some success scoring with long rights. Chonlatarn was getting home with meaty hits to the body which were slowing Samongkol. In the fourth Chonlatarn landed a thumping left hook to the body and followed that with a perfect right uppercut which put Samongkol down and out cold. The 30-year-old Chonlatarn has had two unsuccessful shots at the feather title losing to Chris John and Vasyl Lomachenko. Nothing to say about Samongkol who should not have been in the ring with Chonlatarn.

Kwanpichit vs. Srisomdech

Another mismatch. Srisomdech scored with some straight lefts but was as green as grass. In the third a left to the chin put him down and he showed his lack of experience by getting up immediately. He was caught by another left and put down again but it was ruled a slip. In the fourth a left put Srisomdech down again and after he got up Kwanpichit battered him around the ring landing head punch after head punch until the referee stopped the massacre. Kwanpichit’s only loss came against Zou Shiming in November.

 

Lvov, Ukraine: Welter: Viktor Plotnykov (33-3) W PTS 8 Nikolz Gviniashvili (10-3-3).

Plotnykov boxes his way to wide unanimous decision over Georgian Gviniashvili. The visitor tried to take the fight to the tall local but Plotnykov boxed cleverly on the back foot. When the Ukrainian veteran started to dominate the exchanges and come forward Gviniashvili in his turn showed some good defensives movement and did his job in lasting the distance. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-73. They tall 37-year-old EBU No 1 has had a mixed year beating Brit Denton Vassell in February but the losing a technical decision to Jeff Horn in Australia in August. Gviniashvili, 26, has two visits to Ukraine and two losses.

 

London, England: Super Middle: Darryll Williams (12-0) W TKO 1 Richard Horton (9-5). Middle: Elliott Matthews (15-0-1) W TKO 3 Ferenc Hafner (24-8).

Williams vs. Horton

Williams wins the vacant BBB of C Southern Area title with quick stoppage of Horton. Williams was pressing Horton from the start and scoring with some good body punches. A hard right uppercut sent Horton back to the ropes and a crunching right had Horton on unsteady legs with only the ropes keeping him vertical. The referee gave him a standing count but Horton was still wobbly and the referee halted the contest. The 26-year-old “Ferocious” Londoner makes it 5 wins by KO/TKO. He has won 4 of his last 5 fights that way including 3 in the first round. Horton, 33, has now failed in three attempts to win a Southern Area title. The last one was up at light heavy and in his last bout in May he was 181lbs. He had said he would retire if he did not win so this could be his last fight.

Matthews vs. Hafner

Matthews much too powerful for Hungarian southpaw. The local boxer used a good jab to control the first as Hafner just rushed in swinging wildly and walking onto counters. In the second a left to the body from Matthews put Hafner down. He beat the count but a left/right combination put him down again. Hafner gamely got up again only to be hammered with a right hook that floored him for the third time. Again he got up and was saved by the bell. The Hungarian came out swinging wildly in the third but a combination from Matthews opened a bad cut over Hafner’s right eye and another series of punches put him down. The visitor made it to his feet for the fourth time in the fight and when another combination saw him slump to the canvas the referee stopped the fight. The 34-year-old from Rickmansworth has 9 wins by KO/TKO and the draw was of the technical variety. He did not turn pro until he was 30 and has made good progress. Hafner, 39, now has 7 losses by KO/TKO and has been in with good opposition in Jan Zavek and Eamonn O’Kane.

 

 

October 3

 

Carson, CA, USA: Super Light: Viktor Postol (28-0) W KO 10 Lucas M Matthysse (37-4,1ND). Super Light: Antonio Orozco (23-0) W PTS 10 Humberto Soto (65-9-2,1ND). Light: Mercito Gesta (29-1-2) W PTS 10 Miguel A Mendoza (22-7-2). Feather: Julian Ramirez (15-0) W PTS 10 Hugo Partida (21-6-2). Light Heavy: D’Mitrius Ballard (10-0) W PTS 6 Juan Carlos Rojas (10-13-1). Light: Marcelino N Lopez (32-1-1) W KO 3 David Rodela (17-12-3).

Postol vs. Matthysse

“Iceman” Postol springs major surprise as he out boxes and outlasts Matthysse to win the vacant WBC title. With Postol having big edges in height and reach but apparently lacking power it looked obvious that the fight would consist of Matthysse trying to pressurise the Ukrainian so that he could get inside and work the body with Postol using his jab and movement to fight on the outside. It pretty well worked that way for most of the fight. Over the early rounds Postol was slotting home jabs and tying Matthysse up when the Argentinian got inside. Matthysse was the harder puncher but Postol was busier and more accurate and was doing some good body punching of his own. With Postol aiming to dent Matthysse leverage by holding inside the fight was often dirty with both fighters landing numerous punches to the back of the head with some pushing and wrestling going on. The back-and-forth nature of the fight made it hard to score and there was never much of a margin between them with the styles not making for a good spectacle. Matthysse finally seemed to be taking charge in the sixth rocking Postol with a right and he had the Ukrainian hurt in the seventh with a similar punch but lost some momentum when he came out worst in a clash of heads. However far from fading Postol seemed to absorb the punches and get stronger and he landed some quick combinations to take the eighth and ninth. A tiring Matthysse must have realised the fight was getting away with him and he took more chances in the tenth and paid for it. As he walked in Postol feinted with his left and then drilled home a straight right that caught Matthysse on his head on the left side directly on the eye. Matthysse sank to the canvas and was pawing at his left eye. He was up on one knee and could have climbed up but instead sat out the ten count. The scores to the end of the ninth were 86-85 twice for Postol and 86-85 for Matthysse which shows how close the fight was and makes Matthysse’s surrender that more puzzling. Postol’s jab had been a huge factor but he was also clever at shutting down Matthysse on the inside for which a lot of credit has to go to his star corner tactician Freddie Roach. The tall slim 31-year-old from Kiev was hardly a high profile fighter with his best wins being over Hank Lundy and Selcuk Aydin but he boxed an intelligent fight, showed he had good punch resistance and a more than useful jab and will be a difficult handful for the top names in the division. Matthysse explained his failure to get up to the fact that he had felt a pop in his left eye and was worried that he had suffered serious damage to the eye and could endanger his sight if he fought on. The problem for the 33-year-old Argentinian is that whilst the eye has not suffered serious injury his reputation has as he blew any chance of a big money fight with Manny Pacquiao or Terrence Crawford etc.

Orozco vs. Soto

Orozco gets his best win so far but is given a tough test by veteran Soto which is not reflected in the scores. The action was hot from the start with Orozco full of confidence taking the fight to the former WBC champion with Soto showing his experience by scoring with well crafted counters. Orozco, a natural super light was the bigger and stronger man and he focused on Soto’s body hoping to tire the older fighter over the later rounds. To some extent Soto’s aim was the same as he blocked and countered hoping to cash in over the closing rounds as Orozco’s work rate might cause him to slow down. Orozco did show some signs of flagging in the eighth and Soto got a big boost in the ninth. What looked a legitimate body punch landed on Soto’s belt line and Soto went down claiming a low blow. The referee agreed and took a point off Orozco but in the end it was not important. Both fought hard in the last round with Orozco firing off hard combinations and Soto landing some sharp counters. Scores 97-92 twice and 98-91. The 27-year-old San Diego-based Mexican Orozco has wins over Ivan Hernandez, Martin Honorio, Steve Forbes and Emmanuel Taylor which is useful but not outstanding work. His problem is that after the IBF was caught fixing their ratings in the days of Bobby Lee Snr. those put in house to make them clean up their act made them put in place a rule that in order to be No 1 and the mandatory challenger you have to have beaten someone in the top 15 and as yet Orozco has still not managed that so he is their highest rated contender at No 3 with places 1 and 2 “Vacant”. At 35 former WBC super feather and light champ Soto has plenty left. This was his first fight for eleven months a proposed fight with Frankie Gomez was aborted when Gomes was well over the weight and a fight with Ray Beltran was nixed when results showed Beltran tested positive after beating Takahiro Ao. He was rated No 7 by the WBC going into this fight.

Gesta vs. Mendoza

Gesta gets up to win. The hard punching Filipino found himself on the floor in the second round from a right cross but he argued that it was a case of their feet getting tangled rather than a punch from Mendoza. The Mexican was dangerous with his roughhouse wild swinging aggressive style with too many of those swings getting through for the comfort of Gesta. Mendoza was leaving himself open to counters and his work rate dropped as he tired. Gesta was quicker and more accurate and was able to do enough to claw back the two points from the second round and won the unanimous decision. Scores 97-92 twice and 96-93. The 27-year-old southpaw was well beaten by Miguel Vazquez in an IBF title fight in 2012. He was then inactive for 16 months and now has 3 wins and a split draw with Carlos Moreno since his return. Mendoza had rebounded from 4 losses in tough fights to score a low level win in August so is now 1-5 in his last 6.

Ramirez vs. Partida

Ramirez wins wide decision. The undefeated nephew of the late great Genaro Hernandez out worked and out fought Partida who took some hard shots but stayed the full ten rounds. They exchanged hard punches over the first two rounds but after that southpaw Ramirez took over completely. He is a busy, busy fighter with both skill and power and Partida constantly found himself trapped on the ropes and getting a pounding. Ramirez had Partida on shaky foundations in the fifth and eighth but just could not get him out of there and had to settle for the points win. Scores 100-90 twice and 98-91. Second ten round fight for the 22-year-old former 4-time PAL champion. Mexican Partida, 27, had won 4 of his last 5 fights.

Ballard vs. Rojas

Ballard gets another win. The former top amateur was just too strong and aggressive for the tall Mexican. Ballard exerted the pressure in the first round and was still doing the same in the sixth. The only time the pressure eased was in the second when a low punch from Rojas put Ballard down. Rojas was deducted a point and Ballard got back to work. Scores 60-53, 59-54 and 58-55. The 22-year-old from Maryland was NGG champion in 2012 but lost out to Jesse Hart in the US Olympic Trials for London. Third loss in a row for Rojas.

Lopez vs. Rodela

Former Argentinian champion Lopez finishes Rodela in three. Lopez did some good body work in the first and then put the Oxnard fighter down in the second with a left hook. Rodela got up and fought back strongly to the bell. In the third Lopez landed a left hook to the body and followed that up with a left/right combination that put Rodela down for the count. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for the 29-year-old South American champion. Rodela, 33, is 2-8 in his last ten fights.

 

Cincinnati, OH, USA: Super Light: Adrien Broner (31-2) W TKO 12 Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-2). Super Feather: Jose Pedraza (21-0) W PTS 12 Edner Cherry (34-7-2,1ND). Light: Robert Easter (16-0) W TKO 3 Juan R Solis (25-10,1ND). Light: Jamal Herring (14-0) W PTS 10 Yakubu Amidu (21-8-2).Welter Jamontay Clark (8-0) W TKO 2 Joe Wilson (3-3). Light Raynell Williams (10-0) W PTS 8 Eduardo Reyes (0-2).

17

Broner vs. Allakhverdiev

Some of the old Broner returns but some of the old arrogance is also on show as he halts limited Russian southpaw Allakhverdiev in the last round to win the vacant WBA title. Both fighters made a cautious start with only a few exchanges. In the second Allakhverdiev was looking to control things from ring centre and Broner seemed content to let him do so but already Broner’s punches brought the beginnings of bruising around Allakhverdiev right eye. Things heated up in the third with both letting their hands go and with Broner finding the target with rights and Allakhverdiev banging back with rights of his own. Allakhverdiev had a good fourth and did enough to share the fifth as the pace continues to increase with Broner showing his skills but Allakhverdiev always scoring enough to stay competitive. Broner began to open a gap in the sixth and by the end of the round his hard rights were beginning to mark up the face of Allakhverdiev and he had built a good lead. The seventh was Broner’s as he was threading rights and lefts through the Russian’s guard and even finding time for some show-boating and interaction with the crowd and ringsiders (old habits die hard). Allakhverdiev rallied in the ninth but it was really a last fling and he was showing swellings around both eyes. Broner again handed out punishment in the tenth and a barrage of punches at the end of the eleventh had Allakhverdiev shaky. It started to look as though Allakhverdiev might make it to the final bell but Broner thudded home a collection of head shots in the last and the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. Broner is now a three division champion and the 26-year-old “Problem” seems to be making an effort to improve his image but has a long way to go. Allakhverdiev s former undefeated IBO and WBA secondary title holder was in the fight early but once Broner was rolling he just did not have the power or skills to stay competitive.

Pedraza vs. Cherry

Pedraza retains his IBF title but needs a strong finish and a split decision to do so. The champion made the better start being quicker and slicker than the older challenger and mixing his punches well from head to body. Most of the exchanges consisted of hooks from both hands by both men with Pedraza having the edge. Cherry began to roll over the middle rounds by getting in close smothering Pedraza’s work and getting home with body punches. After seven rounds it looked as though Cherry had turned things around and had the momentum with Pedraza showing a growing swelling under his right eye. Pedraza then switched to southpaw  and although Cherry was still strong in the ninth the new angles Pedroza was giving Cherry saw the Puerto Rican end the tenth strongly focusing on body punches and doing enough to share the eleventh and take the last. Scores 117-111 twice for Pedraza and 116-112 for Cherry. The decision was roundly booed but the fight was close and did not look a bad one. The 26-year-old “Sniper” was making the first defence of his IBF title and has said that he would be willing to give Cherry a return. Bahamian Cherry, 33, lost on points to Tim Bradley for the WBC light title in 2008 but was then inactive for 15 months. His best wins after returning were a stoppage of Vicente Escobedo in 2013 and kayo of Luis Cruz in July this year. He thought he won but was philosophical saying he should have ended the fight inside the distance and not left the decision to the judges.

Easter vs. Solis

This was supposed to be a testing fight for Easter but he simply overwhelmed the experienced Argentinian. From the first bell Easter was scoring with scorching body punches and having just as much success when he targeted the head. Solis survived two rounds of punishment but in the third a left to the body prompted the Argentinian’s corner ask for the fight to be stopped. The lanky 24-year-old from Toledo has 13 wins by KO/TKO including 5 in his last 6 fights. An elite amateur he just missed out at the US Trials but was Team Alternate i.e. first reserve. Solis had won 6 of his last 7 fights and was FAB No 9 at super feather.

Herring vs. Amidu

Herring just has too much speed and class for tough Ghanaian Amidu. Herring was able to pierce the Ghanaian’s guard all night with quick shots to head and boy and was rarely there when Amidu threw his counters. He had fast combinations bouncing off Amidu in round after round and if there was a downer it was Herrings inability to turn that dominance into an inside the distance win. Despite never really being in the fight Amidu never gave in and made Herring work hard in every round. Herring was going ten rounds for the first time and was still strong at the end. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91. The tall “Semper Fi” a former US Marine was Armed Services Champion and USA National champion in 2012 beating Jamontay Clark and Julian Ramirez and that took him to the US Olympic Trials and through to the Olympics in London but he failed to medal there. The 30-year-old “Black Mamba” Amidu has only lost twice by KO/TKO against Ricky Burns and Ivan Redkach but is now 1-6-1 in his last 8 fights.

Clark vs. Wilson

Southpaw Clark halts Wilson in two rounds. The 6’2” (188cm) Clark floored Wilson twice in the first before putting him down again early in the second to force the stoppage. The 21-year-old “Quiet Assassin” has 5 wins by KO/TKO and Wilson was way out of his league. Clark was US Amateur champion and competed for the USA at the 2013 World Championships. Second loss by KO/TKO for Wilson.

Williams vs. Reyes

Olympian Williams remains unbeaten as he boxes his way to win over late stand-in Reyes. No real highlights here. Williams used his stiff jab to control the action with Reyes just too slow with his counters. Williams wrapped up the win with a strong finish. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73. Williams, a former US National C champion fought at the 2008 Olympics and in the WSB but lost to Juan Carlos Ramirez at the 2012 Trials. First fight in 16 months for Reyes.

 

Quilmes, Argentina: Super Light: Gustavo D Vittori (17-2) W TKO 2 Elias L Vallejos (17-5-1). Vittori wins the interim WBO Latino tile as he destroys champion Vallejos with body punches. After an even first round a long southpaw left from Vittori saw Vallejos collapse down by the ropes in obvious pain. He got to his knees and crawled across to a corner and used the ropes to drag himself up to beat the count. Vittori moved in with another devastating straight left to the body and as Vallejos fell to his knees on the canvas the referee immediately stopped the fight. Vittori, 26, gets his fourth victory by KO/TKO and has now won 13 of his last 14 fights that way. Hometown fighter Vallejos, also a former interim WBO Latino champion at welter, takes his second loss by KO/TKO.

 

Perry Park, Australia: Super Bantam: TJ Doheny (13-0) W TKO 5 Denkaosan (63-6-1). Bantam: Vic Darchinyan (41-8-1) W TKO 2 Mongkolchai (12-5). Light: Darragh Foley (7-1) W TKO 6 Valentine Borg (10-2). Welter: Cameron Hammond (14-0) W KO 7 Denkamon (22-7).

Doheny vs. Denkaosan

Irish southpaw Doheny gets a “name” on his record as he stops Thai veteran in five rounds. Doheny was in  charge of this one from the start flooring Denkaosan in the first. The Australian-based Irishman maintained the pressure and had Denkaosan under constant pressure until he put Denkaosan down again in the fifth and the fight was stopped. Fifth defence of his WBA PABA title for the 28-year-old “Power” and ninth win by KO/TKO. He is rated No 11 by the WBA. Thai Denkaosan, 39, a former WBA fly and WBA interim super fly champion has now lost 3 of his last four fight all inside the distance but one of those was a WBA title fight and the other against an outstanding Japanese prospect.

Darchinyan vs. Mongkolchai

Easy fight for Darchinyan as he floors Thai twice before the referee stops the fight in the second round. The 39-year-old “Raging Bull” was having his first fight since his kayo loss to Jesus Cuellar for the WBA secondary feather title. He was 3-5 in a succession of high profile bouts so is still very much in the picture but will need stiffer tests than this before we know how much he has left. Poor Mongkolchai gets his third loss in a row by KO/TKO in fights in Australia having failed to last one round against Corey McConnell and Doheny.

Foley vs. Borg

Foley wins battle of young prospects in the most anticipated fight of the night. As with Doheny Foley put down a marker in the first round by flooring Borg  twice. The fight was by no means over as they swapped knockdowns later in the fight . Foley had Borg down again in the fourth only for Borg to rebound and floor Foley in the fifth. Foley closed in style in the sixth. As Borg threw a left Foley crashed home a straight right that sent Borg staggering into the ropes. Borg tried to fight back but was nailed by a series of head punches before a right uppercut scythed through his guard and sent him staggering sideward with the referee jumping and stopping the fight.  The Kentish-born Foley, 27, the New South Wales State champion gets his fifth win by KO/TKO. Borg has to take his second loss by KO/TKO which will cost him his No 15 rating with the WBO.

Hammond vs. Denkamon

Hammond keeps on track for his aim of a shot at the CBC title. “The Hammer” had the Thai down in the fifth and forced a standing count in the sixth. He was well on his way to a points win when he uncorked a wicked left hook that put the experienced Thai down and out cold. The 26-year-old from Brisbane, the WBA No 14 and a member of Team Hatton, makes it 8 wins by KO/TKO the last four on the bounce. A visit to the UK for a CBC title fight would give him the chance to erase the disappointment of not medalling at the 2012 Olympics in London. Denkamon is a man on the slide with 4 losses in his last 5 fights.

 

Kotka, Finland: Super Middle: Niklas Rasanen (11-1) W TKO 2 Sergey Beloshapkin (12-16-1). Middle: Paul Klemetti (5-0) W PTS 10 Timo Laine (10-6). Light Heavy: Janne Forsman (21-2) W PTS 6 Dmitry Shovenko (0-6).

Rasanen vs. Beloshapkin

In an all-southpaw fight Rasanen disposes off late substitute Beloshapkin in quick time. After a probing first round Rasanen lashed out with a straight left and a right hook which sent Beloshapkin flying backwards to the canvas. The Russian managed to drag himself up but was in no condition to continue. Sixth win by KO/TKO for Rasanen who has a win over useful Geard Ajetovic in August. The 29-year-old won a bronze and two silvers before finally winning the Finnish amateur title in 2013. He was to have fought Brit Tobias Webb but there was a problem with Webb’s clearance. Six losses in a row for Beloshapkin and his third loss in seven weeks. In fairness he had less than 24 hours notice for this fight.

Klemetti vs. Laine

Klemetti makes it a good night for Finnish southpaw as he wins the vacant national title with wide unanimous decision over Laine. Scores 100-90, 100-91 and 98-92. Klemetti’s four previous fights had been 2 of 4 rounds and 2 of 6 rounds so it was new territory for him. Laine, 31, had failed in a previous attempt at this title and has now lost 4 of his last 5 fights.

Forsman vs. Shovenko

Forsman takes another easy fight as he rebuilds. The Finn won every round and punctuated his victory by flooring the Uzbek-born Russian in the fifth. Scores 60-53 twice and 60-54. The 32-year-old Forsman was halted in two rounds by Ovill McKenzie in July. Other than that he has been carefully protected with his last two opponents now having combined records of 0-8. First fight in 10 months for Shovenko who is still looking for his first win.

 

Compiegne, France: Middle: Karim Achour (20-4-3) W PTS 10 Jose Yebes (12-7-1). Light: Yvan Mendy (32-4-1,1ND) W TKO 3 Rey Mora (7-6-1). Light: Guillaume Frenois (38-1) W PTS 6 Dame Seck (9-11-2).

Achour vs. Yebes

“Amazigh” Achour out boxes solid Spanish opponent to extend his current unbeaten run to 7 fights. The local boxer started strongly and kept control of the fight although Yebes had a measure of success in the middle rounds. Achour paced the fight well and was the stronger over the closing rounds. Scores 98-92 twice and 99-91 for the 28-year-old from Picardy. Algerian-born Achour moved to France at the age of eleven having already trained in the martial art of Budo. He is now a licensed master of sports training and disability sport. Rated No 5 by the EBU he is looking to challenge for the European title. Yebes has lost 5 of his last 6 fights but has never lost by KO/TKO.

Mendy vs. Mora

Mendy forces Nica boxer Mora out of the fight in the third round. Mendy was trying too hard over the first two rounds and not working his openings. He took a pace back at the start of the third, worked an opening and floored Mora with Mora’s corner throwing in the sponge. Mark-time win No 16 by KO/TKO for the former undefeated French champion and EBU title challenger and second win since losing on points to Edis Tatli for the EBU title in April. Spanish-based 21-year-old Mora has now lost his last 6 fights.

Frenois vs. Seck

Frenois also keeps in shape with a routine win over fellow-Frenchman Seck. The experienced southpaw landed plenty of lefts but is not a puncher. Seck soaked up a lot of punches and was never in the fight. Scores 60-54 from all three judges. Frenois’s lone loss came against Devis Boschiero for the EBU title in 2013 and he has won 7 fights since then and is now No 1 with the EBU. Six losses in his last seven fights for Seck.

 

Braamkamp, Germany: Middle: Rafael Bejaran (19-2) W PTS 8 Bart Grafka (14-18-1). Super Middle: Juergen Doberstein (19-2-1) W TKO 7 Daniel Regi (26-13). Light Heavy: Abel Gevor (11-0) W PTS 8 Steve Kroekel (19-28-3).

Bejaran vs. Grafka

Hamburg-based Dominican Republican fighter Bejaran has to go the distance for victory over Grafka. Bejaran was quickly on the offensive with Grafka showing a stiff jab and some good movement. Bejaran sent a couple of rights whizzing past the chin of Grafka but at the end of the first connected with one which sent Grafka stumbling back across the ring and down. The Pole was up quickly and the bell went as the referee completed the eight count. From then on the technically superior and quicker Bejaran was pressurising Grafka with the Pole showing some good survival skills, a solid chin and a modicum of skill but losing every round against the dangerous and accomplished Bejaran who took a comfortable unanimous decision. The 33-year-old Bejaran is a former WBO European champion and has won 8 of his last 9 fights with the loss to Ante Bilic (26-2) in 2012 costing him his WBO title. Grafka, 27, is better than his record indicates and in July scored an upset victory over German hope Dustin Dirks (27-1-1).

Doberstein vs. Regi

Doberstein gets inside the distance win over Hungarian. Doberstein worked his jab well and scored with some hefty rights but Regi was only looking to defend and frustrated the local ticket seller. It took Doberstein some time before he broke down the Hungarian’s resistance but by the seventh round Regi had nothing left and the fight was stopped. The 26-year-old Kazak-born Doberstein had a 12-0-1 streak broken when losing a wafer-thin decision to modest Cagri Ermis in February and this is his second win since then and his sixth win by KO/TKO. Regi 34 was 4-3 in his last 7 fights with the wins being against very low level opposition and his losses to Dominic Boesel, Enrico Koelling and Sean Monaghan.

Gevor vs. Krokel

Gevor boxes his way to unanimous decision over Krokel. Gevor, the younger brother of world rated Noel, fought almost all of the fight on the back foot. As Krokel plodded forward Gevor was spearing him with southpaw jabs and firing 4/5 punch combinations. Gevor was showing plenty of lateral movement, sometimes too much, slotting jabs home with Krokel just too slow to cut off the ring. Finally in the seventh Gevor started to go toe-to-toe and although it gave Krokel a chance to land some punches the hand speed of Gevor meant that he was out-landing Krokel in the exchanges but never really had Krokel hurt. Gevor won every round. He has lots of skill and speed but perhaps is a bit light in the rower department. Krokel/Kroekel, 33, was slow and static and an easy target but he never stopped coming forward. He is 2-6-1 in his last 9 fights.

 

Rome, Italy: Light: Manuel Lancia (13-1-1) W PTS 12 Jean Pierre Bauwens (37-2-1). Middle: Salvatore Annunziata (18-7-6) W PTS 10 Daniele Moruzzi (16-2).

Lancia vs. Bauwens

Lancia wins the European Union title with split decision over champion Bauwens. After an even first round it was almost all over in the second. Bauwens floored the local fighter heavily and it seemed impossible for the badly hurt Italian to last out the round. Somehow he did and really never looked back. It must have shaken the champion to find Lancia so full of fight after just a one minute rest from near disaster. Lancia was coming forward taking the fight to Bauwens. The Belgian was the better boxer and the heavier puncher and eventually he brought out a swelling under the left eye of Lancia that slightly affected the Italians vision. Lancia’s heart and aggression saw him take rounds three through seven but then Bauwens stemmed the tide and fought back hard over the latter rounds scoring well with his jab and counters with Lancia having to absorb some hard shots but doing his scoring with hooks from both hands. They traded punches all the way to the last bell in an exciting scrap which could have gone either way but the decision went to Lancia. Scores 115-113 twice for Lancia and 115-113 for Bauwens. When Lancia went down in the second round it looked as though it was going to be a repeat of his eighth round stoppage loss against Massimiliano Ballisai in December which cost Lancia his Italian title and his unbeaten record but he showed real strength of character to get up and win. The Italians were calling the 28-year-old from Guidonia a small town  “Rocky” after this. Bauwens had to be disappointed. I am sure he felt he won this fight and the loss of his EU title is a big blow to the 27-year-old from Ghent as it will also cost him his No 5 rating with the EBU. He has strong support back home and will go back and start to climb again.

Annunziata vs. Moruzzi

Unfancied Annunziata wins the vacant WBC Mediterranean title with split decision over Moruzzi. It was the aggression of the Naples southpaw over the better technical boxing of Moruzzi. Annunziata was not as accurate with his punching but he had an edge in quantity that outweighed Moruzzi’s edge in cleaner but less frequent counters. Annunziata was handicapped by a cut over his left eye but kept up the pressure and although it was close he looked to deserve the decision. Scores 96-93 and 95-94 to Annunziata and 96-94 to Moruzzi. The 32-year-old Annunziata is a former WBC Mediterranean super welter champion but moved up to middle after losing in a challenge for the Italian title. He had been inconsistent going 3-4-3 in his last 10 fights. Local fighter Moruzzi, 31, had won 9 in a row but this was his first ten round fight.

 

Tokyo, Japan:  Feather: Akifumi Shimoda (30-4-2) W TKO 5 Jerry Nardo (21-8). Super Welter: Yoshihiro Kamegai (26-3-1) W TKO 3 Nelson Gulpe (8-6).

After some indifferent form Shibata finally seems to be settling down at feather. He showcased some of his old skills to completely out box the limited Filipino. Shimoda floored Nardo in the second and opened a cut over the Filipino’s left eye in the fourth. The Japanese fighter remained in control until a series of punches in the fifth brought the referee’s intervention. After dropping his WBA super bantam title in a shock kayo loss against Rico Ramos in 2011 he moved up to feather. He won 5 fights but a draw with Roli Gasca and a kayo loss to Marvin Sonsona made him take time out. He was inactive between the loss to Sonsona in February 2014 until coming back with a win this year. He has dropped out of the world rating and those of the OPBF but is No 2 with the JBC. Only the second loss by KO/TKO for Nardi the GAB No 12 super bantam.

Kamegai vs. Gulpe

Kamegai gets back into the winners circle with knockout of Filipino Gulpe. Kamegai had an impressive first round as he scored with a right uppercut and a left hook which shook the Filipino. Kamegai weakened Gulpe with good body punches in the second and he put Gulpe down with a right to the body at the end of the third with the count continuing after the bell. Now 23 wins by KO/TKO for Kamegai. He was 22-0-1 in his first 23 fights before losing to Johan Perez in 2013 and then went on to lost to Robert Guerrero in a slam bang war in 2014 and to Alfonso Gomez in March this year. Gulpe has now lost his last six fights.

 

Merida, Mexico: Super Fly: Junior Granados (14-3-1) W PTS 10 Samuel Gutierrez (12-13-4). Neighbourhood fighter Granados gets a win but has to settle for a majority verdict over experienced Gutierrez. Granados did most of the leading but he found Gutierrez an elusive target and had to eat numerous counters as he pressed the fight. If he made a mistake it was not using his trade mark body punches enough but he just deserved the decision. Scores 97-93, 97-94 and 95-95. First fight for 22-year-old Granados since he gave Jamie Conlan a very difficult time in Dublin in July. Granados had Conlan down twice from body punches in the seventh round of their fight but the Belfast boxer recovered to win the decision. Gutierrez, 27, is the reigning WBC Fecombox champion and was 4-0-1 in his last 5 fights going in to the contest.

 

Wolverhampton, England: Middle: Tommy Langford (14-0) W PTS 10 Cristian Rios (20-673). Super Welter: Ryan Aston (17-2-2) W TKO 4 Nathan Graham (17-7-1). Super Bantam: Paul Butler (19-1) W KO 1 Hector R Guzman (14-2).

Langford vs. Rios

Langford continues to improve and impress as he retains his WBO Inter-Continental title with near shut-out of Argentinian. Langford set the scene in the first landing a cracking right to the chin. Langford out boxed the South American southpaw clearly in the second and although he edged the third and fourth Rios got home with some good body punches of his own as the traded. Langford took the fifth and in the sixth as he shook Rios with some hard combinations and a tasty left hook. Langford took the seventh and eighth and although Rios staged a strong finish and Langford was taken beyond the eighth round for the first time in his career he showed he had paced the fight well taking the ninth and tenth. Scores 100-90 twice and 100-91. Double joy for the 26-year-old WBO No 7 as he was recently advised that his wife was pregnant so plenty to be pleased about for the Birmingham fighter. Argentinian champion Rios,32, was 7-0-1 going into this one and preserved his record of never losing inside the distance.

Aston vs. Graham

The “Tank” rolls over Graham in English title eliminator. Dudley southpaw Aston took a couple of rounds before he began to break down Graham. In the third it was one-way traffic as Aston took complete control of the fight. Early in the fourth he hurt Graham with a left and then trapped him in a corner and kept punching until the referee stopped the fight. Now 8 wins by KO/TKO for Aston who is 9-1-2 in his last 12 fights with the loss in those figures being a very close decision against Jason Welborn. Aston has a win over Langford from their amateur days. Former Southern Area champion Graham, 33, loses by KO/TKO for the second time. He had won 4 of his last 5 fights but had trouble making weight here having to shed 2 ½ lbs

Butler vs. Guzman

Former undefeated IBF bantam champion Paul Butler was a late addition to the card but did not hang around long. One left hook to the body put Guzman down and the fight was over in just 30 seconds. Second win for 26-year-old Butler since his crushing loss to Zolani Tete in March. Butler has talent and power and will fight for a world title again for sure. Second loss by KO/TKO in consecutive fights for Argentinian Guzman. He was knocked out in six rounds by world rated Zhanat Zhakiyanov in May but had Zhakiyanov on the floor in the fight.

 

 

Oklahoma City, OK, USA: Light: Zapir Rasulov (30-0) W TKO 7 Rene Mahling (20-3-1). Rasulov adds to his already substantial total of win inside the distance as he halts Mahling in seven rounds. Mahling was doing the boxing making good use of his jab and fast combinations with Rasulov just that bit slower but the one with the punch. Mahling was working around the flat-footed Rasulov jabbing and moving with bombs from Rasulov just whistling past his chin. At the start of the sixth it looked as though Mahling might box his way to victory but late in the round Rasulov land a series of head punches that sent Mahling skittering along the ropes. Mahling recovered quickly and avoided any more trouble in the round. In the seventh as Mahling came forward Rasulov landed a heavy left hook inside. Mahling was badly shaken and Rasulov fired 4 or 5 head punches with Mahling tottering sideward and down. He managed to get up but after the eight count the referee took a good look at Mahling and stopped the fight. The 28-year-old Russian has 27 wins by KO/TKO including 17 in his last 18 fights but had only one fight in 2012 and one in 2013 and has yet to face a name opponent. German Mahling is the same. He had won 9 of his last 10 fights but the wins were against low level opposition.

 

4 October

 

Incheon, South Korea: Welter: Randall Bailey (46-8,1ND) W TKO 7 Shusaku Fujinaka (12-6-2). Super Light: Ryan Sermona (18-7) W TKO 2 Taek-Min Kim (15-8).

Bailey vs. Fujinaka

Bailey shows he is still a fearsome puncher as he halts brave Japanese fighter in seven rounds. Both had their moments in an even first round but in the second a punch from Bailey opened a gash on the Japanese fighters left eyelid. Fujinaka was taking the fight to Bailey and scored with some good body punches in the third. The doctor examined Fujinaka’s cut but allowed the fight to continue. Fujinaka increased his attacks in the fourth and fifth knowing that the cut, which later required almost a dozen stitches, was too severe for the fight to go the full route but Bailey was the one doing most of the scoring and was ahead 58-56 on all three cards at the end of the sixth round.. That attacking spirit was the undoing of the Japanese fighter in the seventh. As he came forward Bailey backed towards the ropes. Fujinaka then threw a right which Bailey ducked under and as Fujinaka threw a left Bailey came up under the punch with a left hook that thudded into Fujinaka’s chin. The Japanese fighter went down heavily lying spread-eagled on the canvas. Somehow he got up but was in no condition to continue. The 41-year-old “Knockout King” gets win No 39 by KO/TKO and collects the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title. He has signed a contract with promoter Andy Kim so will continue his career in fights out there. Fujinaka, 28, is a reasonable level Japanese prelim fighter who gave it his best shot but that punch would have put any fighter down.

Sermona vs. Kim

Filipino Sermona ends this one with one punch. Sermona was getting the better of the battle of the jabs over the first round. In the second a crunching southpaw straight left from Sermons dumped Kim down into the ropes. Kim climbed to his feet but could not stand upright and was obviously incapable of defending himself. He did not know what had happened and was waiving his arms trying to get them in front of his face. Amazingly the referee actually pulled Kim’s gloves into the correct position and let the fight continue. Sermona leapt in with another straight left and a couple more head punches with the referee stopping a fight that should never have restarted. Filipino Sermona, 27, a former GAB and WBC International champion makes it 11 wins by KO/TKO. Kim, 29, gets his fourth loss by KO/TKO in his last 5 fights.