The Past Week in Action 19 July 2016

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 19 July 2016
July 15

Indio, CA, USA: Feather: Rene Alvarado (24-7) W PTS 10 Jayson Velez (23-3-1. Welter: Rashidi Ellis (16-0) W PTS 8 Luis Hernandez (13-2).
Alvarado vs. Velez
Alvarado gets much needed win as he outpoints Velez. Over the early rounds Velez stayed on the outside using his small edges in height and reach to box intelligently. He made good use of his jab to disrupt Alvarado’s aggression and some smart upper body movement to avoid Alvarado’s attempts to bring his right into play. Alvarado was trying to walk Velez down but the Puerto Rican stayed off the ropes and in centre ring and seemed to be in control when he stuck to that approach. Alvarado was busier but less accurate. In the third Alvarado was right hand happy and threw a whole series of right crosses with Velez swaying and ducking so that they were all wasted. Alvarado increased the pace in the fourth and Velez was being forced to trade more and was getting caught with left hooks and hard rights. He was scoring plenty of counters but was no longer in his comfort zone. A clash of heads in the fifth saw both fighters hurt but no cuts. It was toe-to-toe stuff in the sixth with Velez scoring well, jarring Alvarado’s head with hooks and Alvarado going to the body. Alvarado was relentless in the seventh and eighth walking forward throwing hooks and uppercuts with Velez again deciding to stand and trade and often forcing Alvarado back but not able to match the work rate of the Nicaraguan. Velez went back to his boxing in the ninth using plenty of footwork and upper body movement to stay out of trouble and going back to his jab to take the round. It was back to the brawl in the last with not a jab in sight and both just standing and exchanging hooks and uppercuts inside. It was a difficult fight to score with your view depending on whether you went for the perpetual aggression of Alvarado or the more accurate work of Velez. Scores 97-93 and 96-94 for Alvarado and 96-94 for Velez. The 27-year-old Alvarado needed a win badly being 4-4 in his last 8 fights. “La Maravilla” Velez, 28, had drawn with Evgeny Gradovich in a challenge for the IBF title in 2014 but with subsequent defeats against Ronny Rios and Joseph Diaz has now lost three on the bounce.
Ellis vs. Hernandez
Ellis gets unanimous decision but has to climb off the floor. Ellis showcased his considerable skills over the first three rounds. He was displaying lots of clever, quick movement and firing his jab from hip level with Hernandez never able to pin down the much quicker “Speedy”. When he did stand and trade in the third he was throwing plenty of classy combinations but also finally giving Hernandez a target and Hernandez scored with some hard left hooks. Ellis banged back at the end of the round and threw in some showboating. Hernandez was pressing hard in the fourth and Ellis was trading with him. They exchanged hooks and then a right followed by a left hook from Hernandez knocked Ellis down on his back. He was up at four and ready to continue after eight. Hernandez was paddling after Ellis who moved and held to see out the round . From the fifth Ellis stuck to his boxing using his superior skills and hard counters to keep the aggressive Hernandez out . Scores 78-73 for Ellis from all three judges. It is good to see the 23-year-old Lynn fighter active. He had only one fight in 2014 and one in March 2015 before returning to the ring again with a win in May. Puerto Rican Hernandez was also shedding some rust as he was inactive from December 2012 until returning with a win in June.

Kissimmee,FL, USA: Super Feather: Orlando Cruz (24-4-1) W KO 7 Alejandro Valdez (26-8-2). Fly: Miguel Cartagena (15-3) W KO 1 Joebert Alvarez (15-2-1).
Cruz vs. Valdez
Cruz makes it four wins in a row as he flattens Valdez in seven rounds in an all-southpaw contest. It was not an easy night for Cruz. He had a big edge in skill but the experienced Valdez pressed hard in every round and southpaw Cruz had lots of trouble getting into any sort of rhythm. Valdez kept the fight close over the first six rounds and although Cruz had built a small lead it looked like going the distance. That changed dramatically in the seventh. Valdez was again pressing when a hard combination from Cruz topped off by a thudding uppercut put Valdez down heavily. He made it to his feet but a brutal combination put him flat out on the canvas with the referee not even counting but waiving the fight off. It was such a brutal knockout that there was a rush to provide the prone Valdez with medical assistance. Cruz retains his WBO NABO title. He lost to Orlando Salido in a challenge for the WBO feather title in 2013 and followed that with a loss to Gamalier Rodriguez in 2014. He was then inactive for 14 months and this is his fourth win since returning. He is No 5 with the WBO. Valdez, 32, lost inside the distance to Hozumi Hasegawa for the WBC bantam title and Nehomar Cermeno for the interim WBA title. After an inside the distance loss to Cristian Mijares in December 2011 he was then inactive until returning with a win in September last year.
Cartagena vs. Alvarez
Mild upset as Cartagena blows away prospect Alvarez in 67 seconds. Alvarez made a confident start but a left hook from Cartagena put him down. He made it to his feet but was badly shaken and a follow up combination put him down again and the fight was over. Philadelphian Cartagena, 24, had been a gold medal winner at both the NGG’s and the US Championships but had stumbled as a pro and was 2-3 in his last 5 fights so this is a big win for him. Filipino “Little Pacman” Alvarez suffered his only other loss when he was outpointed by Juan Francisco Estrada over ten rounds in December 2014. He was then inactive until returning in March this year with an impressive win over 18-1-1 Jonathan Gonzalez earning him a No 7 rating with the WBO.

Tunica, MS, USA: Super Light: Sergey Lipinets (10-0) W TKO 7 Walter Castillo (26-4-0). Feather: Tugstsogt Nyambayan (6-0) W TKO 1 Rafael Vazquez (16-3).
Lipinets vs. Castillo
Kazak-born Lipinets overpowers Castillo. After a close first there was not much action in the second as Castillo was aiming to outbox the hard-punching Kazak and Lipinets took a while to get into his stride. Once Lipinets started to roll Castillo’s slick boxing was not enough and Lipinets had his own jab working and was looking dangerous with rights. In the fourth a punch from Castillo opened a cut over Lipinets left eye. The referee had thought it was due to a head clash so it looked possible that Lipinets might have to rely on a technical decision. Excellent work by his cut man prevented that. Lipinets was unloading more and more heavy rights. In the sixth a right cross shook Castillo badly and Lipinets poured on the punishment. Castillo survived that onslaught but before the end of the round two more big rights had him close to going down. In the seventh a straight right sent Castillo into the ropes and as Lipinets unloaded more hefty head punches the referee stopped the fight despite protests from Castillo. The 27-year-old Californian-based former kickboxing world champion now has 9 wins by KO/TKO and victories over Cosme Rivera, Haskell Rhodes and Levan Ghvamichava. He is rated No 15(13) by the IBF. Nicaraguan Castillo, 27 was world rated after a run of nine victories but the a three-bout run in 2015 saw him lose to Amir Imam, rebound with a win over Ammeth Diaz and then be unfortunate to only get a draw with Kita Otake in an IBF eliminator so this is a serious setback.
Nyambayan vs. Vazquez
Outstanding Mongolian hope Nyambayan just rolls over Puerto Rican Vazquez in j 84 seconds. The powerful little Nyambayan slammed home a straight right which saw Vazquez drop down onto the ropes until bouncing off them. Because the ropes held him up it was counted as a knockdown. After the count Nyambayan jumped on Vazquez again and another right dumped Vazquez on the floor in a corner. He beat the count but another right made his legs dip and Nyambayan fired a series of chopping right hands that had Vazquez turning away and slumping down on his hands and knees with the referee stopping the fight. The 24-year-old Nyambayan won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and also at the World University Championships plus a silver at the World Championships. He has crunched through the opposition with his six wins taking him less than twelve rounds to accumulate. Brooklyn-based Vazquez, 38, was 8-1 in his last 9 fights going into this one.

Saarbrucken, Germany: Super Middle: Robin Krasniqi (46-4) W PTS 12 Juergen Doberstein (20-3-1). Krasniqi gets majority verdict over Doberstein in a fight that had very few highlights. From the start Doberstein was on his toes circling the ring with Krasniqi in pursuit. Doberstein was stopping only briefly to throw a couple of punches before setting off again. Krasniqi was chasing hard but not cutting off the ring so there were no sustained exchanges and the rounds were hard to score unless you gave them to Krasniqi for forcing the fight. Doberstein was slick but at times doing some showboating instead of fighting. Finally in the sixth round a fight broke out. Doberstein actually came forward early throwing punches. They traded swings with Doberstein getting the better of the exchanges before backing off. Krasniqi cornered him and again Doberstein found time to stick out his tongue but you don’t get points for that. In the eighth and ninth Krasniqi was chasing again and in those rounds his jab dominated the action as Doberstein could not get off the ropes to launch any attacks. The ninth was a messy round with very few punches thrown or landed but there was more action in the tenth with Doberstein rocked by a right but banging back well enough to win the round. There was more excitement in the last two minutes of the eleventh than in the previous ten rounds. Doberstein missed with a right and walked onto two right uppercuts from Krasniqi. He staggered back clearly hurt with his hands down. That left him open for a huge left hook. He stumbled blindly forward grabbing Krasniqi only to be pushed back and caught with more head punches. It looked as though Doberstein must go down but he held until his head cleared and with Krasniqi having punches himself out Doberstein was actually driving Krasniqi back at the end of the round. In the last round Doberstein was dancing again and Krasniqi too tired to catch him but in the last 30 seconds Doberstein stood and punched and did enough to take that round but not the decision. Scores 116-111 and 116-113 for Krasniqi and 114-114. The 29-year-old Krasniqi wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title and lifts Doberstein’s WBA Inter-Continental title. The Berlin-based Kosovon lost to Nathan Cleverly for the WBO light heavy title and Juergen Braehmer for the WBA secondary title. Those are his only losses in his last 46 fights but he has been carefully matched. Kazak-born Doberstein, 27, has lost only one of his last 18 fights but again has been carefully matched. He showed plenty of movement here but just did not stop long enough to throw punches.

Munich. Germany: Super Light: Howick Bebraham (4-0) W PTS 10 Gyorgy Mizsei (22-18). Cruiser: Enad Licina (31-4) W RTD 4 Atta Dogan (14-32-1).
Bebraham vs. Mizsei
Bebraham retains his Germy DBD title with unanimous verdict over late substitute Mizsei. It was a one-sided fight with Bebraham scoring with hooks and forcing Mizsei on the back foot from the outset. The young Hungarian had been training for a fight with Luca Giacon so was not totally out of condition but really was just looking to survive. Mizsei lost a point for careless use of the head and for holding and despite a big effort over the last two rounds Bebraham had to settle for a points victory. The German-based Armenian, a bronze medal winner in the German Amateur Championships, won the DBD title in only his second fight. Mizsei, 22, has now lost 6 of his last 7 fights.
Licina vs. Dogan
Former IBF title challenger Licina has no trouble dismissing stand-in Dogan. Licina has Dogan down in the first round and again in both the third and fourth and Dogan retired at the end of the fourth round. The 36-year-old German-based Serb has won ten on the bounce nine by KO/TKO, but only very gentle opposition in that total. German-based Dogan, 40, has lost his last 8 fights.

Accra, Ghana: Light: Emmanuel Tagoe (26-1) W RTD 8 Carlo Magali (20-8-3). Light: George Ashie (26-4-1) W RTD 4 Michael Ansah (10-5-2). Welter: Dodzi Kemeh (18-1) W TKO 3 Stephen Okine (12-13-1). Bantam: Prince Dzanie (11-0) W TKO 3 Ezekiel Annan (0-2). Feather: Patrick Ayi (16-0) W KO 4 Edward Kambasi (4-6). Feather: Isaac Sackey ( ) W RTD 4 Daniel Quartey (
Tagoe vs. Magali
“Game Boy” Tagoe much too good for Filipino Magali and dominated the fight all the way before Magali retired at the end of the eighth round. Tagoe launched a sustained body attack in the opening round and also opened a cut over the left eye of the Filipino. It looked as though Tagoe might end it in the second when he floored Magali with a combination. Magali beat the count but was under pressure until the bell. Tagoe continued grinding Magali down in the third and fourth before Magali had a good spell in the fifth. Tagoe took over again in the sixth with Magali being in deep trouble at the end of the round and only just surviving. Tagoe continued to unload heavy punches in the seventh and eighth and a bloody and battered Magali retired at the end of the round. The 29-year-ol Tagoe was defending his WBA International title for the second time and now moves to 13 wins by KO/TKO. He lost his first pro fight inside the distance so now has 26 wins in a row. The 29-year-old Magali, a former interim OPBF champion, had good wins over David Browne and Mark Gil Melligan and was 4-0-1 in his last 5 fights.
Ashie vs. Ansah
“Red Tiger” Ashie returned to the ring with a win as he easily beat Ansah. Ashie had plenty of rust to shed and took a while to get going but by the second round was in charge and landing punches from both hands as well as cutting Ansah over his right eye. He continued the demolition job in the third and fourth rounds and the outclassed Ansah retired at the end of the fourth. Ashie, a former undefeated Commonwealth champion, was having his first fight since December 2014 and only his third fight in almost four years. He lost to Kevin Mitchell back in 2006 and dropped a majority decision to Tagoe in 2012. Ansah lost to Tommy Coyle in 2014 and this was his first fight since December 2014.
Kemeh vs. Okine
Kemeh wins the vacant interim WBA Pan African title with stoppage of Okine. Kemeh was the big favourite in this one but it was Okine who got into his stride quickest and edged the first round. Kemeh was rolling by the second and a right floored Okine heavily in the third. He managed to get up but was still shaky and the fight was stopped. Kemeh suffered an upset inside the distance loss to Frank Dodze in April last year and was inactive for a year before returning in last April with a win. Okine, 37, who goes by the onomatopoeic nickname of “Atta Dzata, is 3-10 in his last 13 fights.
Dzanie vs. Annan
Dzanie gets another win but poor Annan was never in with a chance. Dzanie handed out punishment over the first two rounds before flooring Annan in the third and although Annan made it to his feet the referee rightly stopped the one-sided match. Dzanie was Ghanaian champion as an amateur and fought at both the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. He has ten wins by KO/TKO but only one of his opponents has had a positive record. Poor Annan came in as a very late replacement and has lost both of his fight by KO/TKO.
Ayi vs. Kambasi
Ayi stepped in as substitute for Felix Williams and really just rolled over “Bone-cracker” Kambasi before a right put Kambasi down and out in the fourth round. Ten wins by KO/TKO for promising Ayi but again very low level opposition with only one victim having a positive record. Now four losses in a row for Kambasi.
Proposed fights on this show for Joshua Clottey and Joseph Agbeko fell through.

Tokyo, Japan: Fly: Takuya Kogawa (27-4) W PTS 10 Masafumi Otake (15-15-3).
Predictable win for Kogawa as he holds on to his national title with clear unanimous decision over limited Otake. Kogawa has very little power but plenty of stamina and he outworked Otake all the way. The challenger had some limited success with rights but other than that Kogawa cruised to the win. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91, all for Kogawa. The 31-year-old Kogawa lost to Pongsaklek for the WBC title in 2011 and to Siichai for the interim WBA title in 2014. He has won his last 5 fights but is unlikely to get a third title shot. Otake,31, the JBC No 7, has now lost 5 of his last 6 fights.

Leon, Nicaragua: Feather: Ramiro Blanco (14-0-3) W PTS 9 Jimmy Aburto (16-8-3). S Blanco remains unbeaten with split decision over Aburto in an all-Nica match. These two had fought a draw in 2014 and again the judges had difficulty splitting them. Aburto made the better start flooring Blanco in the second round. Blanco battled his way back into the fight and got a lucky break in the seventh when Aburto seemed to slip on a wet piece of the canvas but the referee ruled it a slip. Scores 87-82 ½, 86.5-85 for 20-year-old Blanco and 85-84 for Aburto. Blanco wins the vacant WBA Fedecentro title. Aburto, 24, is 3-5 in his last 8 fights including 3 losses in 3 title fights.

July 16

Cardiff, Wales: Light: Terry Flanagan (31-0) W PTS 12 Mzonke Fana (38-10). Super Bantam: Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0) W RTD 2 James Dickens (22-2). Super Welter: Liam Williams (15-0-1) W TKO 11 Gary Corcoran (15-1). Middle: Tommy Langford (17-0) W TKO 7 Timo Laine (15-7,1ND). Welter: Bradley Skeete (24-1) W TKO 7 Alex Lepelley (19-7-1).
Flanagan vs. Fana
Flanagan has no trouble beating oldie Fana to retain his WBO title. Flanagan had height and reach over the much smaller Fana and Fana emphasised it by fighting out of a crouch and was warned for ducking too low in the first 20 second of the fight. Flanagan was scoring with good southpaw left hooks and uppercuts and easily took the first round. The second round was even easier for Flanagan as he was again firing home thumping left hooks to the body and although Fana landed a good right counter he did not have the power to keep Flanagan out. Fana had some success early in the third with rushing attacks but a left from Flanagan looked to have shaken him and Flanagan dominated the rest of the round. Early in the fourth a left clipped Fana’s head as he lunged forward and he dropped to his knees. He was up at five complaining that Flanagan had landed a couple of light shots when he was on the canvas but the fight continued after the eight count. There was no pretence of boxing from Flanagan as he pursued Fana for the rest of the round firing hooks and uppercuts trying to end the fight but Fana survived by some quick movement and ducking and diving and at the end of the round Flanagan was showing a swelling under his right eye caused by a clash of heads. Flanagan pounded Fana with straight lefts and left uppercuts in a one-sided fifth but in the sixth Fana looked the sharper and was getting his punches off first and scored with some good long rights. The referee stopped the action to warn Fana to stop ducking too low and Flanagan for pushing the crouching South African’s head down. The pace was less hectic in the seventh with Flanagan using his jab more but also thumping home some hard hooks and uppercuts. A thunderous uppercut from Flanagan at the start of the eighth saw Fana’ staggering back and badly shaken and he did well to stay upright. Flanagan took him to a corner and scored with some heavy punches but Fana worked his way out of the corner and although being caught with more head shots was fighting back at the end of the round. Through the ninth, tenth and eleventh Flanagan continued to dominate being much too strong for the little South Africa, bullying him around the ring and punishing him with right jabs and uppercuts with Fana showing some good defensive work and plenty of guts. In the last Fana touched down briefly from a straight right and a left hook although neither punch landed squarely. After the eight count Flanagan launched a furious attack trying to end it but when Fana did not go down Flanagan settled for coasting to the final bell. Scores 120-106 twice and 120-105 reflect the one-sided nature of the fight with Fana no real threat and with that much dominance it was disappointing that Flanagan failed to finish the fight inside the distance. The 27-year-old from Manchester makes the third defence of his WBO title but this was a gift defence with the WBO parachuting Fana into the ratings to make it possible. Fana, 42, had two spells as IBF super feather champion and has only lost twice by KO/TKO but survival was the most he could have hoped for in this fight.
Rigondeaux vs. Dickens
Rigondeaux retains WBA title as Dickens suffers the pain and heartbreak of a broken jaw. There was more posing than punching in the first round of the contest between two southpaws as they felt each other out. Rigondeaux got through with one or two right jabs and landed a couple of lefts to edge the round. Dickens came out aggressively for the second looking to get on the front foot and throw some punches. However the only really powerful punch landed in the round was an overhand left from Rigondeaux just 20 seconds into the round. Unfortunately it landed on the right side of the challengers face and it was subsequently shown to have caused Dickens to suffer a broken jaw. He covered the injury well and took the fight to Rigondeaux as they traded a few punches late in the round. That was the end as the jaw injury was too serious for Dickens to continue and his corner rightly pulled him out of the fight. The 35-year-old Cuban “Jackal” had no chance to show whether he was going to provide a more entertaining performance but he needs to do something to make himself more marketable, or beatable, as this was only his second fight in 19 months. The WBA had cynically taken his title off him so that the Frampton vs. Quigg fight could be a unification and then given it back to him once that fight was over. Hopefully his exquisite skills might be more attractive to British fans but challengers will still be reluctant to come forward. Dickens deserves praise for taking on the “Jackal” and sympathy for losing in such a manner before the fight had even got going. The only other loss for the 25-year-old from Liverpool came when he was stopped by Kid Galahad in 2013 but he had won six fights since then and collected the British title. He was No 10 with the WBA having appeared in the ratings issued in May after beating the 14-30-5 Rey Cajina. Hopefully he will get another chance as contenders are not lining up to face Rigondeaux
Williams vs. Corcoran
Williams makes a successful defence of his British title with a late stoppage of Corcoran after a an exciting battle. There had been some needle between these two before the fight and they wasted no time in going to war. Williams was cut on the bridge of his nose in the first minute as the exchanged jabs and the referee stopped the action twice to warn them both to cool down before a big right from Williams dumped Corcoran into the ropes with the challenger desperately grabbing the ropes to stay off the floor and Williams landed some more rights before the bell and they exchanged words in ring centre as an eventful first round ended. Williams made good use of his jab to edge the second and was working the jab well in the third but Corcoran was dangerous with rights and scored with a good uppercut and did enough to take the round. Again the referee had to stop the action and warn them both, and Williams had suffered a cut over his left eye. At the start of the fourth as they came together Corcoran came out of the exchange complaining about Williams using his head and Corcoran was showing a bad cut over his left eye. The referee stopped the action so that the doctor could examine the cut and the fighters were shouting at each other and the needle was sharper now. The fight continued with Williams in command and the referee warned Corcoran over some rough stuff. Both settled down to concentrate on the fighting from the fifth. Williams had a powerful weapon in his thudding jab and scored with long rights. Corcoran was more often on the back foot but constantly getting home with quick counters and the sixth and seven were close hard-contested rounds and it was difficult to say which way the fight would swing. It swung Williams’s way in the eighth when Corcoran lost a point for a low punch but both seemed tired and the pace dropped in the ninth. The best punch of the round was a right from Williams that shook Corcoran. Williams took the tenth as he again had his ramrod jab working well and scored with some good right hooks. Suddenly in the eleventh Williams landed a thunderbolt of a chopping right to the jaw as they worked inside. Corcoran was on his way to the floor and tried to grab Williams who shrugged him off. Corcoran was up at four and after the eight count he tried to take the fight to Williams but his legs were wobbling and Williams landed a couple of head punches with Corcoran then stumbling forward and down. As it was not from a punch he was up quickly and Williams took him to the ropes and landed a huge right that had Corcoran’s head snapping from side to side and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Welshman Williams, 24, makes it ten wins by KO/TKO and his sixth inside the distance victory in a row. Londoner Corcoran, 25, had good wins over Rick Godding and Danny Butler and played his part in an exciting contests.
Langford vs. Laine
Langford retains his WBO Inter-Continental title with stoppage of overmatched Finn Laine. Langford had his jab slotting home early and then rocked Laine with a right late in the first. From that point he bossed the fight. Using the jab to control the action and then with clinical, slick boxing and some hurtful body punches he slowly broke the Finn down. Laine tried to turn the fight his way with a big effort in the fourth but accurate punching from Langford soon had him backing up. The fight was one-sided with Laine having trouble getting his back off the ropes as Langford fired home quick, accurate combinations. By the seventh Laine was finished and a sustained attack by Langford rounded off by a couple of heavy rights saw the referee stop the fight. The 27-year-old from Birmingham who is also the Commonwealth champion was making the fourth defence of his title. Laine, 32, had won his last 5 fights but against insignificant opposition.
Skeete vs. Lepelley
Skeete showed his class again as he halted Frenchman Lepelley in defence of his WBO European title. Despite a poor run of form Lepelley came to fight and was competitive early. Skeete made good use of his physical advantages but found the smaller Lepelley troublesome as the Frenchman barrelled forward but Skeete picked and placed his punches well having early success with rights. As the fight went into the middle rounds Skeete was hurting Lepelley with body punches. In the seventh after Skeete landed a good left hook he followed up with a body punch which put Lepelley down. His corner protested that the punch was low but the count continued and when Lepelley made it to his feet a stunning combination from Skeete forced the stoppage. Eleventh win by KO/TKO and third defence of his WBO title for 28-year-old Skeete who is also Commonwealth and British champion. His only loss was a close decision against Frankie Gavin in 2014 and he has now won six fight since then. He is rated WBO 6/IBF 7(6). Lepelley, 34, the French No 3 was 17-1-1 in his first 19 fights including wins over Steve Claggett in Canada and Sandor Martin in Spain. That was as good as it got as he is now 2-6 in his last 8 fights including a points loss over eight rounds against Ricky Burns and defeats in French and European title fights.

Birmingham, AL, USA: Heavy: Deontay Wilder (37-0) W RTD 8 Chris Arreola (36-5-1,2ND). Welter: Felix Diaz (18-1) W PTS 10 Sammy Vasquez (21-1). Super Welter: Erick Lubin (16-0) W PTS 8 Ivan Montero (20-2). Super Bantam: Sergio Frias (18-6-2) W KO 2 Vic Darchinyan (42-9-1). Heavy: Gerald Washington (18-0-1) W KO 4 Ray Austin (29-8-4).
Wilder vs. Arreola
Too easy for Wilder as he retains his WBC title even managing to beat Arreola despite fighting with a badly injured right arm from the fourth round. The first round was “fought” at a funereal pace with Wilder just prodding his jab and throwing a couple of combinations and Arreola doing nothing but walking around in circles. With Wilder having such huge advantages in height and reach Arreola had to get inside and he was too slow to manage that. Arreola tried to walk Wilder down in the second but with no success and Wilder was able to spear Arreola with his jab and fire home a couple of combinations. Arreola had some success in the third when he trapped Wilder on the ropes and swung short punches to the body but again Wilder was threading his powerful jab through the challenger defence. In the fourth Arreola was still trying to get close but was an easy target for Wilder’s jab. Wilder landed a right and suddenly Arreola was unsteady on his legs and after Wilder landed a couple more cuffing shots Arreola went down on one knee. When he got up Arreola was showing a cut over his right. When the fight restarted there were eight only eight seconds left and another punch had Arreola stumbling drunkenly on rubber legs but Wilder was unable to finish it. It later transpired that Wilder had suffered both a torn bicep and a broken hand in the round. In the fifth Wilder was working with left jabs and left hooks with only occasional rights including a crunching right uppercut and Arreola was able to get inside but was doing no effective work. This should have been a big opportunity but in the sixth he could not get past Wilder’s jab and the seventh saw Wilder cutting loose even using the right and landing a succession of head punches as Arreola seemed to get slower. At the end of the round the referee came over to Wilder’s corner as Wilder and his seconds were complaining about Arreola getting away with low punches and shots to the back of the head but the fight was almost over. In the eighth Wilder banged jab after jab through the guard of an exhausted Arreola who had nothing left and his corner retired him at the end of the round. Wilder was making the fourth defence of his WBC title and but for the serious injuries in the fourth round would probably have finished the fight before the half way mark. Arreola was no test at all but Wilder showed real courage to continue and win under those circumstances. Arreola was just too slow to really trouble Wilder at any stage and this third world title fight will be his last.
Diaz vs. Vasquez
Diaz gets important win over unbeaten Vasquez. Physical differences dictated the tactics in this all-southpaw contest as Vasquez had height and reach over Diaz so the Dominican had to be the aggressor and apply the pressure. Vasquez had the better of the first three rounds as he made good use of his jab and movement to keep Diaz on the outside and tied up Diaz when he got close. Diaz was alternating between lunging in with his attacks swinging wildly mostly missing or staying back in a semi-crouch with hands at waist level and trying to lure Vasquez into coming forward so that he could get him to trade. Diaz started to have some success late in the third and really got into his stride in the fourth. He was getting inside more putting his head on Vasquez’s shoulder and working to head and body with hooks Vasquez was abandoning the jab work that had worked so well over the first three rounds and at the end of the fourth was nailed with a left uppercut and a right to the head but banged back with a punch of his own that sent Diaz back on his heels. Vasquez tried to create space over the next four rounds and did well when he was staying centre ring and spearing Diaz with his jab but more often Diaz was pinning him to the ropes and working inside. Vasquez was blocking a lot of the punches but not throwing enough of his own. By the end of the eighth Vasquez was showing a cut over his right eye and a swelling under his left eye and had lost his early lead. There was some great action in the ninth with Diaz trapping Vasquez in a corner and unloading to head and body only for Vasquez land a chopping right which had Diaz retreating to the opposite corner where it was Vasquez, turn to crash home punches. Diaz seemed to have done enough work from the fourth to the ninth to be in front and he seemed to thinks so as he did more dancing then punching in the last. Vasquez was trying to walk Diaz down but a clash of heads saw Vasquez get another cut over his right eye. This one was bad enough for the referee to ask the doctor to examine it but they let the fight continue. They again exchange punch after punch in a corner with Diaz getting better of the exchanges until Vasquez lost his mouthguard. It had happened before and crucially the referee deducted a point from Vasquez. Initially the fight was declared a majority draw which brought a shower of boos as Diaz had looked a good winner. The cards were re-examined and finally read 95-94 twice and 96-93 all for Diaz. Big win for 32-year-old Diaz who in his last fight in October had lost a majority verdict to Lamont Peterson. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Olympics and remains the only boxer from the Dominican republic to achieve that feat. That point deduction cost 30-year-old Vasquez a majority draw and probably his WBC9/WBO 10 ratings. He has wins over Wale Omotoso, Jose Lopez and Aaron Martinez.
Lubin vs. Montero
Lubin grinds out win in a mauling fight. Lubin likes to fight on the front foot and he had no trouble in moving Mexican Montero back and probing for openings with his right jab. Montero tended to lunge with his attacks and Lubin easily avoided them but was not throwing enough punches of his own. Their styles didn’t mesh well and there was too much holding and wrestling with Lubin scoring with some heavy hooks and uppercuts as Montero continued to lunge in. Lubin caught Montero with a left hook in the third which seemed to momentarily shake Montero but he held and wrestled his way out of trouble. Lubin was throwing more and landing more and he landed three hard hooks late in the third as he started to dominate the fight. The contest was becoming more of a brawl with Montero warned for low punches in the third and fourth and Lubin getting a warning for using his elbow and twice for low punches in the fourth. Lubin continued to boss the fight rocking Montero and knocking him into the ropes at the end of the seventh. Lubin started the eighth with a series of hooks and uppercuts but from there Montero lunged inside and held and wrestled to make it to the final bell. Scores 80-72 for Lubin from all three judges. The 20-year-old “Hammer” learned how to deal with frustration here as he continues his progress. Montero won his first 19 fights before losing on a third round stoppage to Juan Macias Montiel (18-2-1) in December. He proved awkward and limited here.
Frias vs. Darchinyan
Frias scores huge upset as he flattens Darchinyan with one punch. As usual Darchinyan was coming forward following the taller Frias who circled the ring never really getting more that a couple of steps from the ropes. Darchinyan was not letting his hands go and neither fighter really landed a punch of any consequence. Darchinyan kept up the pressure in the second. He managed to land a couple of southpaw lefts but as he stepped after Ferias he left himself wide open and a right to the head from Frias, the first punch he had landed, sent Darchinyan down on his back and although the referee started the count there was no way Darchinyan was getting up so he waived the fight over. Frias was 2-3 in his last 5 fights with losses to unbeaten Manuel Avila, Ronny Rios and fellow Mexican Emmanuel Dominguez but this win will project him into some good paydays. Darchinyan,40, has had a great career but needs to think about hanging up his gloves as he looked unsteady a couple of times in the first round and this was a brutal kayo.
Washington vs. Austin
Washington wakes up from three dull rounds to put veteran Austin down and out.
There was very little excitement over those first three rounds as they both started slowly. Austin looked reluctant and Washington although getting through with some leather in the second was not pressing the fight. That changed in the fourth as Washing started to let his punches fly. He caught Austin with a barrage of shots rounded off by a big right and the veteran went down and never looked like beating the count. The 34-year-old “El Gallo Negro” makes it 12 wins by KO/TKO. The WBC No 14 has a draw with Amir Mansour and a win over Eddie Chambers but needs a big fight soon. Austin, 45, was having only his third fight in five years and was stopped in four rounds by Andy Ruiz in May. He needs to retire again before he gets hurt.

Berlin, Germany: Super Middle: Giovanni De Carolis (24-6-1) DREW 12 Tyron Zeuge (18-0-1). Super Middle: Arthur Abraham (45-5) W TKO 8 Tim Robin Lihaug (15-2). Super Welter: Sebastian Formella (13-0) W PTS 8 Nico Salzmann (17-8-3). Super Middle: Stefan Haertel (11-0) W PTS 8 Mateo Veron (24-18-3).Middle: Anthony Ogogo (11-0) W TKO 2 Bronislav Kubin (19-21-2). Fly: Charlie Edwards (8-0) W PTS 6 Jose Aguilar (16-26-4).
De Carolis vs. Zeuge
De Carolis retains his interim WBA title with draw against Zeuge. Both fighters were letting their punches flow in the first. Zeuge was the more technical boxer of the two scoring with jabs and a nice left hook to the body whereas De Carolis was lunging forward throwing hooks and it was a close round with De Carolis just throwing more and landing more. Zeuge edged the second round. De Carolis was forcing the fight but Zeuge was showing quick movement and quick hands and scoring with the cleaner shots. The third and fourth again saw Zeuge sticking to his boxing getting through with his jab and left hooks. He occasionally switched to southpaw and was blocking a lot of the champion’s punches. De Carolis came on strong at the end of each round and was having success with some right hooks but Zeuge matched him in the exchanges. In the fifth and sixth De Carolis pressed the fight much harder having plenty of success with his hooks and uppercuts but was also careless with his head and was given a stern warning in the sixth. Zeuge switched to southpaw but De Carolis was looking stronger and kept ploughing forward. Over the seventh, eighth and ninth the pace and pressure were beginning to tell with De Carolis forcing Zeuge to stand and trade more. He was taking him to the ropes more and working the body. Zeuge was fighting in short bursts in which he scored with some nice hooks and uppercuts but the fight seemed to be slipping away from him and De Carolis had cancelled out whatever early lead Zeuge had built. The Italian kept up the pressure and although Zeuge was getting through with jabs and quick combinations he was constantly switching guards to try to throw De Carolis off his rhythm but it was not working. Zeuge showed some nice touches in the tenth scoring with fast two-handed flurries but again it was relentless pressure from De Carolis and at the end of the round Zeuge turned away shaking his left arm and was in some pain. He had injured his shoulder and with Zeuge having only partial use of his left De Carolis launched furious attacks in the eleventh with Zeuge showing real guts to fire back with both hands despite the injury. A terrific last round saw Zeuge ignoring the injury and firing fast combinations from both hands but De Carolis was able to score with thumping rights over the top as Zeuge could not get his arm high enough to block them. The crowd was on its feet as they both just banged away to the bell. Scores 114-114 twice and 115-114 for Zeuge . The Italian retains his interim WBA and his GBU title. For me the 31-year-old De Carolis was a clear winner by 3 or 4 points but then he also looked a clear winner over Vincent Feigenbutz in a challenge for this title last October but had to settle for a draw before lifting the title in January with a stoppage of Feigenbutz. There is nothing pretty about De Carolis but he is a rough, tough battler with strength and stamina. Zeuge, 24 will come again. He is quick, stylish fighter but lacks real power. He had been carefully guided to this title shot without meeting any fighters of note but he has the youth and skill to be a player in the division.
Abraham vs. Lihaug
Abraham begins a new campaign which he hopes will lead to another title fight. No tactical change from Abraham as he marched forward behind a high guard in the first trying to get in close against the much taller Norwegian but Lihaug was able to find gaps and scored with some stiff jabs. Abraham pressed harder in the second but again he had problems getting past the long reach of Lihaug although the Norwegian did not seem to have the power to halt Abraham’s march. That became a big problem for Lihaug late in the third as Abraham was walking through his light punches and scoring with rights. Lihaug was throwing more and landing more but was being walked down in the fourth and fifth and by the end of the fifth Abraham had given up on the high guard and was confident enough to hold both hands at waist level. Lihaug tried to stop Abraham’s forward march in the sixth but by the end of the round Abraham was landing heavy punches including a left/right left combination to the head. The seventh saw Abraham again not bothering with a guard and landing solid rights to the head with Lihaug vainly trying to fight back but his work rate hard dropped drastically. A right to the head put Lihaug down in the eighth. He was up at four and after the eight count was completed Abraham drove Lihaug across the ring with heavy punches to the head. Lihaug lurched forward ducking his head under the storm of punches and the referee stopped the fight. First fight for the 36-year-old “King Arthur” since being outclassed by Gilberto Ramirez and losing his WBO title. Abraham is looking for another title shot preferably in what would be a big fight in Germany with Felix Sturm who is still shown as WBA super middle champion despite testing positive for a banned substance when beating Fedor Chudinov for the title. Lihaug, 23, just lacked the power to keep Abraham out. His punches were arm punches. He showed guts to fight back over the sixth and seventh but there was no chance he would win this one.
Formella vs. Salzmann
Formella gets third win of the year as he takes unanimous decision over Salzmann. The tall 29-year-old from Hamburg was able to use his huge edges in height and reach-5’11” (180cm) to 5’5” (165cm) to outbox a rusty Salzmann. Formella is the Global Boxing Council “world” champion. German-based B & H fighter Salzmann, 33, a former undefeated WBC Baltic champion was having his first fight for 15 months.
Haertel vs. Veron
Haertel easily outpoints Argentinian Veron. When the German Olympian floored Veron in the second it looked as though he might get his first inside the distance win but Veron got up and lasted the full 8 rounds. Haertel, 28, was an outstanding amateur being German champion four times, winning bronze medals in both the World Military Championships and the European Union Championships and getting to the quarter-finals of both the World Championships and the 2012 Olympics, where he lost to Anthony Ogogo, but his lack of punching power may be his undoing in the pros. “El Chino” Veron, 27, is a former Argentinian super welter champion.
Ogogo vs. Kubin
Ogogo continues his busy schedule with massacre of poor Kubin. The British prospect almost ended it in the first as he floored Kubin twice. The Czech veteran survived but was bounced off the canvas four times in the second round and the “fight” was stopped. Third fight in two months for the 27-year-old Olympic bronze medallist. He beat fighters such as Haertel, Ievgen Khytrov, Damien Hooped and Vijender Singh and is much too good for opposition such as the 37-year-old Kubin who is 2-7-1in his last 10 fights.
Edwards vs. Aguilar
Just a keep in trim fight for Brit Edwards. He gets in some ring time but Aguilar no real test as the 23-year-old Epsom fighter works towards his ambitious shot at IBF champion John Riel Casimero in .September. Ten losses in a row for Spanish-based Nicaraguan Aguilar.

Los Reyes La Paz, Mexico: Super Feather: Miguel Berchelt (30-1) W KO 4 Chonlatarn (61-3).
Berchelt retains his interim WBO title. Chonlatarn was coming forward in the first pushing out jabs with Berchelt on the back foot trying his own jab. As the round ended Berchelt began to be the one on the front foot and applying pressure. It was the same in the second with Chonlatarn advancing and Berchelt on the back foot but again at the end of the round Berchelt fired a series of left hooks and looked to have shaken Chonlatarn. The Thai was trying to walk Berchelt down in the third but he was just too slow in hand and foot to catch the champion. He had some success with left hooks to the body but then Berchelt let his hands go and landed some clubbing rights to the head and left hooks. Chonlatarn tried to walk forward but Berchelt drove him across the ring with a barrage of punches to head and body. Chonlatarn was in deep trouble but Berchelt was leaving himself open and Chonlatarn landed a couple of right crosses and an uppercut that had Berchelt backing up and looking hurt. Chonlatarn was on top early in the fourth with Berchelt still looking hesitant after those shots he took at the end of the third. With 16 seconds left in the round a two-punch combination put Chonlatarn down. He made it to his feet slowly. Berchelt piled in taking Chonlatarn to the ropes and another combination put Chonlatarn down on his knees and he just did not get up. I checked the timing a number of times and the second knockdown came six seconds after the round should have ended. It was largely immaterial as Chonlatarn was effectively finished after the first knockdown. Berchelt, 24, was making the first defence of his interim WBO title and makes it 27 wins by KO/TKO. Chonlatarn, 31, has had three world title shots and suffered three losses with the other two being on points against Chris John for the WBA title and Vasyl Lomachenko for the WBO crown.

New Delhi, India: Super Middle: Vijender Singh (7-0) W PTS 10 Kerry Hope (23-8). Super Bantam: Sunil Siwach (1-0) W KO 1 Natdanai (0-3). Welter: Cameron Hammond (16-0) W PTS 6 Devdarshan Singh (1-2).
Singh vs. Hope
Huge excitement in India as Singh wins his first pro title with unanimous decision over southpaw Hope. With his limited pro experience this was just the right fight for Singh. Testing without being too big a step. Singh made the better start shaking Hope in the first and then using his longer reach to box on the outside. Hope had success in the third getting inside and then deserved at least a share of the fourth and fifth. With the fight getting away from him Singh banged back and had Hope hurt in the sixth with a body punch and built on that to take the lead. Both tired and their work rate dropped with Singh just doing enough to edge the rounds but by the tenth they were both on flat feet swinging rather than boxing. Singh took the decision on scores of 98-92 twice and 100-90 but the fight was much closer than that. Singh, 30, wins the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title and passes an important test to show he can go ten rounds as all his other fights had ended by KO/TKO with the longest being a fifth round win. As an amateur he was the first Indian boxer to win medals, both bronze, at the Olympic Games and World Championships beating fighters such as Badou Jack, Terrell Gausha, Ron Gavril and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He is not the first Indian fighter to win a title as Australian-based Pradeep Singh won both PABA and OPBF titles, but he is the first to win a title in India and it was a huge event out there. Australian-based Welshman Hope, 34, made Singh fight hard here. He was briefly world rated after getting an upset victory over Pole Grzegorz Proksa for the European title but then went 2-3 in his next 5 fights before moving to Australia. He had won three fights and two titles in 2015 but was having his first fight for almost 11 months.
Siwach vs. Natdani
Former top amateur Siwach gets his pro career off to a quick start as he puts his poor Thai opponent down and out with a thudding jab. Fighting as Sunil Kumar he was World Cadet Champion, an Asian Junior champion, a Commonwealth Championships gold medallist, where he beat Paul Butler in the final, and a Commonwealth Youth bronze medal winner where he lost to James Dickens in the semi-finals. So worth watching.
Cameron vs. Singh
World rated Australian Hammond just gets in some work as he easily outpoints local fighter. He won every round with the judges scoring it 60-54 twice and 60-53 for the 26-year-old “Hammer”. This is not his first visit to New Delhi as he competed there at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Venice, Italy: Super Welter: Orlando Fiordigiglio (25-1) W PTS 12 Carmelito De Jesus (18-5). Cruiser: Fabio Turchi (7-0) W TKO 1 Slobodan Culum (11-19).
Fiordigiglio vs. De Jesus
Fiordigiglio wins the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title with unanimous decision over Brazilian De Jesus. It was the visitor who got into his stride first with Fiordigiglio staring slowly. De Jesus used his reach to edge the first two rounds and also took the third although Fiordigiglio had him under pressure at the end of the third. Fiordigiglio continued to take the fight to De Jesus in the fourth and fifth and evened up the fight. In the sixth a punch from De Jesus opened a cut over Fiordigiglio right eye. From the seventh it was Fiordigiglio’s fight as he was getting the better of the exchanges and getting through with heavy rights. De Jesus put in a big effort in the last but by then Fiordigiglio had the decision sown up. Scores 117-111 twice and 116-112 all for Fiordigiglio. The 32-year-old former EU champion gets his third win as he rebounds from a late inside the distance loss to Cedric Vitu for the vacant EBU title in June last year. He is No 2 with the EBU so another fight with champion Vitu is a possibility. Former Brazilian champion De Jesus, 32, scored a good win in Italy knocking out Stefano Castellucci last month and gave Fiordigiglio a good fight.
Turchi vs. Culum
“Stone Crusher” Turchi makes it six wins by KO/TKO as he stops overmatched Serb in the first round. The 22-year-old southpaw, a former World Youth silver medallist, looks a good prospect. Now 8 losses by KO/TKO for poor Culum.

Metepec, Mexico: Super Feather: Edgar Puente (24-8-1) W PTS 10 Emanuel Lopez (20-6-1). Super Feather: Gerardo Serrano (3-2) W KO 1 Salvador Sanchez (30-7-3).
Puente vs. Lopez
Former interim WBA champion Lopez was the favourite here but Puente broke a four fight losing run with a majority decision. It was all-out war from the start with both taking the stance that offence was the best defence. They both had bumps and lumps to show how tough the battle was with Puente also having a small cut over his right eye. It was close but he just did enough to take the verdict. The 34-year-old from Guasave had put together a 13 bout winning streak which landed him a fight with Takashi Miura for the WBC title in 2014 but then lost tough fights to Miguel Roman, Juan Jose Martinez and Jairo Lopez so was badly in need of a win. Lopez, 26, had lucked into the interim WBA title but made only one defence before he lost WBA recognition and had also been beaten in March by Juan Jose Martinez
Serrano vs. Sanchez
Serrano probably sends Sanchez back into retirement. The nephew of the great Salvador had looked a good level pro when he had a run of losing only one of 22 fights and making five defences of the WBC CABOFE title. However back-to-back losses to Jayson Velez and Andres Gutierrez saw him out of the ring for just over three years. With his 2-2 record and two years of inactivity Serrano looked a soft touch for his comeback but it may be all over for Sanchez after this first round loss.

Paranaque, Philippines: Fly: Giemel Magramo (17-0) W PTS 10 Renz Rosia (12-5). Super Feather: Randy Braga (19-1-1) W TKO 4 Donriel Marcos (10-27-1).
Magramo vs. Rosia
WBC International champion Magramo scores unanimous decision over useful Rosia in a non-title fight. Magramo was pressing with southpaw Rosia boxing cleverly looking to draw Magramo onto hard counters. Magramo was using a strong body attack with Rosia slowing over the middle rounds but they fought hard over the last two rounds with Magramo the deserving winner. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-93. The 21-year-old “Pistolero” Magramo had won his last 10 fights by KO/TKO all inside four rounds so some useful ring time for him. Rosia,28, a former WBC International champion was coming of a ninth round stoppage loss against Moruti Mthalane for the IBO title in December.
Braga vs. Marcos
Braga hits too hard for poor Marcos and halts him in fourth round. The 28-year-old southpaw “Master” , the Philippines champion , gets his fourth win since losing a split decision to Macbute Sinyabi in South Africa in April last year. Poor Marcos is 0-15-1 in his last 16 fights.

Zaragoza, Spain: Light: Eloy Iglesias (15-3-2) W TEC DEC 5 King Daluz (13-4-2).
Iglesias wins the Spanish title with technical decision over champion Daluz. The challenger was off the mark quickest and took the first two rounds. Daluz was starting to get into the fight in the third when a clash of heads saw him suffer a bad cut. It affected him over the next two rounds and as the cut worsened the referee had no choice but to stop the fight. It went to the scorecards and the judges scored it 49-47 twice and 50-45, all for hometown fighter Iglesias. He wins a Spanish title at the second attempt having lost to unbeaten Nicolas Gonzalez for the super light title in February. Daluz’s corner thought the fight should have been stopped when the cut occurred in the third round which would have made it a No decision allowing their man to retain the title but he will get another chance.

Playa de las Americas, Canary Isles, Spain: Light: Artem Haroyan (13-0) W KO 1 Gabor Kovacs (17-8). Haroyan finishes Hungarian teenager Kovacs in defence of his interim WBA Continental title. The fight lasted just 90 seconds before a left hook to the body put Kovacs on the canvas and it was a couple of minutes before Kovacs was able to recover. The 23-year-old Canary Isles-based Armenian gets his fifth win by KO/TKO. Southpaw Kovacs, 19, gets his fifth loss by KO/TKO.

Manchester, England: Feather: Ryan Doyle (13-1-1) W PTS 10 Ian Bailey (13-19-1). Light: Joe Murray (17-2) W PTS 6 Ibrar Riyaz (4-102-4).
Doyle vs. Bailey
Doyle gains revenge for his only loss with unanimous decision over Bailey. A perfect start for Doyle saw him floor Bailey with a left hook in the first but Bailey is a tough customer and was up and fighting back. Doyle was matching Bailey punch for punch but after they were both cut in a clash of heads in the fifth, Doyle over the left eye and Bailey the right, he started to use his superior skills and boxed his way to victory although Bailey pushed him all the way. The 24-year-old from Lancashire wins the vacant English title. He had lost on a tenth round stoppage against Bailey in 2014 but had a very creditable draw with the now Commonwealth champion Isaac Lowe. Bailey is now 4-4-1 in his last 9 fights.
Murray vs. Riyaz
Murray gets his second win since returning to action after 14 months of inactivity. The former top amateur was given six rounds of work by perennial opponent Riyaz and takes every round. Referee’s score 60-55 for Murray. As an amateur the 29-year-old “Genius” won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the World Championships where he beat the current WBC super fly champion Carlos Cuadras. His two pro losses have been against Liam Walsh for the British and Commonwealth titles at super feather but he has been up at light welter for his two comeback fights. Riyaz, 31, has only lost three times by KO/TKO in his 102 defeats.

Birmingham, England: Super Welter: Craig Cunningham (16-1) W PTS 10 Jason Welborn (19-6). Cunningham wins the Midlands Area title with points victory over Welborn. From the start Welborn was coming forward trying to walk Cunningham down and Cunningham looking to slip the punches and score with counters. There was never much of a gap between them throughout the fight and they traded punches freely in the middle rounds. Welborn was handicapped by a swollen left eye as Cunningham kept slotting home his southpaw right jabs on the more static Welborn. The rounds were hard to score all the way and despite a strong last round by Welborn it was Cunningham who got the decision. Referee’s score 97-94 for Cunningham which seemed wide for such a close fight and the decision was not popular with everyone. Cunningham, 28, who had won the Midlands Area title at middleweight with a win over Ryan Aston in May, was stepping down from middle for this one. His only loss was against Tom Doran in the Prizefighter in 2015 and he has won 5 in a row since then. Welborn, 30, has been in tough matches with fighters such as Frankie Gavin, Liam Smith and Matthew Macklin and deserves a return with Cunningham.

Lancaster, CA, USA: Welter: Egidijus Kavaliauskas (14-0) W TKO 3 Jeremy Bryan (17-7). Light: Casey Ramos (23-0) W KO 5 Hardy Paredes (18-14). Light Heavy: Ulises Sierra (10-0-2) W KO 1 Jose Hernandez (12-3-1).
Kavaliauskas vs. Bryan
Lithuanian Kavaliauskas again impresses. He bossed the fight over the first two rounds and then produced a peach of a left hook that put Bryan on the floor. Bryan made it to the vertical but was in no condition to continue and his corner threw the towel in. The 28-year-old Kavaliauskas makes it 12 wins by KO/TKO. He was a top class amateur competing at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and was a bronze medallist at the World championships. Bryan also had big successes as an amateur winning the NGG’s in 2004 and 2005 and beating Danny Garcia at the US Trials for the 2008 Olympics. Unfortunately Garcia beat him in a return bout at the Trials. He has just not made it as a pro and now has 5 losses in his last 6 fights, all to world rated fighters.
Ramos vs. Paredes
Ramos gets rare inside the distance win as he climbs off the floor to put Paredes down and eventually get a stoppage. Ramos started confidently scoring freely in the first round and staggering Paredes early in the second. Later in the round a right to the head from Paredes put Ramos down but he was not badly hurt and made it to the bell comfortably. He repaid the Chilean for that indignity in the third flooring Paredes with a right. Ramos outworked Paredes in the fourth and took control of the fight. He ended it early in the fifth as a big right set Paredes up for two more hard rights and Paredes did not want to continue with the towel coming in from his corner. Sixth win by KO/TKO for the 26-year-old from Texas and he looks ready for a step-up in opposition. Former Chilean champion Paredes, 33, is now 3-4 in his last 7 fights with the four losses all being inside the distance but against some overly tough opposition such Terrence Crawford and Takahiro Ao.
Sierra vs. Hernandez
With no opponent for Olek Gvozdyk this fight was elevated in status but did not last long. Sierra landed a hard right which had Hernandez badly rocked and before he could recover another right put him down heavily and the fight was waived off without a count after just 28 seconds. The 27-year-old Sierra wins the vacant Californian State title and makes it six wins by KO/TKO. Hernandez had won his last six fights but was caught cold here.

Detroit, MI, USA: Heavy: Andy Ruiz (28-0) W TKO 3 Josh Gormley (22-5).
There was a surprise here-it was that Gormley managed to go past two rounds. Ruiz just walked through the oldie banging home hard body punches and bouncing Gormley off the canvas three times before the fight was stopped. It is useless to say Ruiz is too heavy as he handles the poundage well and it does not hamper his hand speed. The 26-year-old former Mexican amateur champion has 19 wins by KO/TKO but after 28 fights and seven years as a pro he should not be fighting guys like Gormley. As for Gormley he is 42 and was out of the ring from February 1999 until returning in October 2015 since when he had won three fights. Don’t get too excited his three victims had combined records of 9-56-2.

Garin, Argentina: Light: Sergio Gil (18-7-2) W TKO 4 German Benitez (16-1).
Gil wins WBO Latino title with stoppage of champion Benitez. After a quiet first round Gil took the initiative in the second and rocked Benitez with two rights. He continued to press in the third but Benitez, fighting in front of his hometown fans, ended the round strongly with a good combination. In the fourth a clash of heads saw Benitez suffer a bad cut on his right eyebrow. It looked serious enough for the fight to be stopped but both the doctor and the referee decided Benitez could continue. That seemed to spur Benitez to action and he brought blood from Benitez’s nose with a left but then a left to the chin from Gil floored Benitez. He made it to his feet but a right to the head put him down again and the referee stopped the fight. A vital win for former South American champion “El Ruso” Gil as he had lost 4 of his last 5 fights. He now has 13 wins by KO/TKO. Benitez, 25, was making the second defence of his title. A couple of good domestic wins had taken him to No 2 in the Argentinian ratings but now he has to regroup.

July 17

Seoul, South Korea: Fly: Muhammad Waseem (4-0) W PTS 12 Jether Oliva (24-6-2). Pakistani boxer Waseem wins the vacant WBC Silver title with wide unanimous decision over Filipino Oliva. The former top amateur was too quick and accurate for the limited Oliva. From the start he was threading jabs through Oliva’s defence and clobbering him with rights to the head, The fight was one-sided although Oliva did manage to land the occasional right hook Waseem just had too much class. Scores 120-112 twice and 119-113 all for Waseem. The 28-year-old Korean-based “Falcon” won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a silver in 2014 and also a bronze at the Asian Games. He won the Korean title in his first fight and then scored two more victories with all three wins by KO/TKO. The aim now will be to rush him into a shot at the WBC title. Oliva, 30, had mixed in some good company. After being unbeaten in his first 18 fights he lost to Ulises Solis for the IBF light fly title in 2011 and to Moruti Mthalane for the vacant IBO title in 2014 and to former champions Zolani Tete and Pedro Guevara on points.