The Past Week in Action 20 January 2014

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

January 16

 

Bangkok, Thailand: Welter: Teerachai (24-0) W KO 1 Fernando Castaneda (21-8). Light Fly: Kwanthai (44-2-1) W TKO 4 Safwan Lombok (1-22-1).

Teerachai vs. Castaneda

WBA No 6 Teerachai gets an impressive first round win over Mexican Castaneda. The 21-year-old Thai took only 104 seconds to register win No 18 by KO/TKO. Castaneda was expected to present a tough challenge but was overwhelmed and finished with a thunderous 1-2 which put the Mexican down and out. Teerachai retains his PABA title and makes it 9 wins by KO/TKO in his last 10 fights. “Huracan” Castaneda, 25, was just blown away, and the former WBC Youth champion is now 3-3 in his last 6 fights.

Kwanthai vs. Lombok

Former WBA straw champion Kwanthai, 29, wins a disgraceful match. He had Lombok down in the first and halted him in the fourth. First fight for Kwanthai since losing to Kazuto Ioka in a challenge for the WBA light fly title in September. How anyone can approve a fight between a world rated fighter and someone who has lost 18 fights in a row beats me. It raises the old question of how would those who authorised the fight explain their reasoning if something had gone tragically wrong.

 

Panama City, Panama: Straw: Gilberto Pedroza (10-1-2) DREW 8 Carlos Ortega (8-3-2). Fly: Jonathan Arias (14-9) W KO 2 Everardo Castillo (10-3-1). Super Feather: Zapir Rasulov (27-0) W TKO 1 Ever Garcia (16-37-2).

Pedroza vs. Ortega

This was a pitched battle from beginning to end, a real war between these two young fighters who sought to impose their style of fighting from the first round. “The Spider” Ortega was aiming to use his aggression and experience to counter the speed and better boxing of “El Cacique” Pedroza. This was a close one with each feeling they had won but with the judges unable to find a winner. Scores 76-75 Pedroza, 76-76 and 77-75 Ortega. Pedroza, 21, retains his WBC Fecarbox title and his WBC 12/WBA 13/ IBF 13(11) ratings. Policeman Ortega, 24 improves over form that had seen him win only one of his last five fights.

Arias vs. Castillo

Arias punches too hard for local Castillo and gets the kayo with a hard right in the second. Now 12 wins by KO/TKO for the 31-year-old Dominican. Second loss in a row for Castillo.

Rasulov vs. Garcia

Russian Rasulov makes it 3 wins in Panama. Don’t know why he is out there but he wasted very little time flooring and halting Colombian Garcia in just 95 seconds. Rasulov, 26, has 24 wins by KO/TKO and this was win No 13 by KO/TKO in his last 14 fights, but with only one fight in 2012 and one in 2013 he needs to get serious about his career. Garcia, 39, loses by KO/TKO for the 18^th time.-

 

17 January

 

Memphis, TN, USA: Light: Ivan Redkach (16-0,1ND) W PTS 10 Tony Luis (17-2). Light Middle: Frank Galarza (12-0-2) W KO 2 John Thompson (14-1). Middle: Antoine Douglas (12-0) W PTS 8 Marquis Davis (8-1-2). Light Welter: Maurice Hooker (12-1-1) DRAW 8 Abel Ramos (8-0-1). Super Bantam: Luis Orlando Del Valle (18-1,1ND) ND 2 Ira Terry (26-11,1ND). Super Middle: Jerry Odom (8-0,1ND) W TKO 3 Demetrius Walker (6-3-1)

Redkach vs. Luis

Southpaw Redkach wins unanimous decision but the scoring does not really reflect how hard Luis made this for the Ukrainian. Both fighters had success in the first round, but only Redkach’s registered. Luis landed a left hook that saw Redkach dip and put one glove on the canvas, but it was not ruled a knockdown. Later in the round Redkach landed a hard shot and put Luis down. Redkach had height and reach over the Canadian, but Luis was able to get inside and did well over the next two rounds although Redkach was able to score with long shots. Luis had a bad sixth round when a right hook shook him badly. There had been a number of head clashes and also in the sixth a cut was opened high on the Canadian’s forehead with blood running down the middle of his face. The last three rounds were close with Redkach just having the edge. Scores 99-90, 97-92 and 97-93. Whilst Redkach, 27, deserved the decision the scores did an injustice to the Canadian’s non-stop aggression and good inside work. Redkach, part of Lou DiBella’s team, wins the vacant IBF/USBA title. He is No 13 with the WBC but his record does not support that rating and this was his first 10 round fight which makes it even more of a puzzle. Luis, 26, had been stopped in eight rounds by Joey Hernandez in January last year. Since then he had won two six round fights but found himself rated No 10 light welter by the WBA. Again inexplicable.

Thompson vs. Galarza

Impressive finish from “Notorious” Galarza. After dropping the first round he exploded at the start of the second. He nailed Thompson with a couple of hard rights and then ended the fight with a devastating left hook that Thompson never saw coming. The 28-year-old Galarza, the NY State champion, makes it 8 wins by KO/TKO. His two draws have been against modest opposition but this is his third win in a row by KO/TKO. He wins the WBC Latino title “Apollo Kid” Thompson, 24, was coming off three good wins against reasonable opposition but just got blind-sided by a hammer.

Douglas vs. Davis

Douglas comfortably outboxed Davis. In some ways it was too comfortable with Douglas never really stepping-up a gear until late in the fight. He was the busier fighter throughout and even managed to knock out one of Davis’ teeth in the sixth round, but that was the only thing knocked out. Douglas controlled the action but only really seemed to go for the jugular late in the fight and was unable to find the punch to end things. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73. Douglas, 21, a veteran of over 100 amateur fights, put his lack of fire down to a bout of flu so hopefully he will be more impressive next time out. He competed at the World Cup in Russia, but missed out at the 2012 US Olympic Trials.  Davis, 24, was in his first 8 round fight and his record has been built on very low level opposition.

Hooker vs. Ramos

Texan Hooker probably unlucky not to get the win, but a strong finish from late substitute Ramos impressed the judges and got him a share of the decision. Hooker had the edge in height and reach and dominated the early rounds. Ramos, having his first fight scheduled for more than four rounds, and with only 22 rounds of boxing in his career so far, looked out of his depth. However, he hung in there and despite a swelling around his right eye he bossed it over the closing rounds as Hooker tired and staged much the stronger finish. Hooker paid the price for not pacing the fight better and so throwing away a certain victory. Scores 76-76 twice and 77-75 for Hooker. “Mighty Mo” Hooker, 24, had won 5 of his last 6 fights by KO/TKO. He was also in his first eight round bout. Ramos, 22, did well at short notice.

Del Valle vs. Terry

Disappointing outcome as a clash of heads in the second round sees both boxers cut and with Terry unable to continue the fight is halted and ruled a No decision. Del Valle had only two fights in 2013 so was looking to make a good start in 2014. Terry was a late replacement.

Odom vs. Walker

The 20-year-old “2 Tickets 2 Paradise” may be one to watch. He floored Walker in each of the three rounds before the fight was stopped. This was his eighth win by KO/TKO and the first time an opponent has heard the bell to start the second round (even the No Decision ended in the first round). Odom won a silver medal at the 2011 NGG’s and a gold at the 2012 NGG’s but lost out in the US Olympic Trials.  Three losses in a row for Walker but the first time he has lost by KO/TKO.

 

Junin, Argentina: Light: Marcelino Lopez (28-0-1) W TKO 3 Sidney Siqueira (23-8-1). Light Middle: Juan M Bonanni (24-5-3) W PTS 6 Luis Moreno (16-3-5).Middle: Oscar Medina (24-6-2,1ND) W PTS 6 Walter Acuna (12-271).

Lopez vs. Siqueira

Easy night for Lopez. Apart from two rights from the Brazilian in the first round it was all Lopez.  Those rights forced Lopez to take a more cautious approach in the first. He cut loose in the second making Siquiera’s knees dip with a right to the chin which led to the referee giving the Brazilian a standing count. In the third a left followed by a right to the chin put Siqueira down heavily and the referee did not bother to count. Now 14 wins by KO/TKO for the 27-year-old “Nino”, the Argentinian champion and WBC No 11. Siqueira, 36, loses inside the distance for the fifth time. He had won 7 of his last 8 fights with the wins being over poor opposition at home and the loss being a sixth round stoppage against Terrence Crawford.

Bonanni vs. Moreno

Hometown fighter Bonanni led from the start against Moreno. He shook Moreno with a right cross in the second and scored heavily to head and body over the next three rounds to build a winning lead. Moreno finally got into the fight in the last but Bonanni was a comfortable winner. After back-to-back losses in early 2013 the 26-year-old Argentinian No 5 has won four in a row. “Pupi” Moreno started his career with 5 draws in his first 7 fights and then won 14 of his next 15, but was coming off a loss in his last outing.

Medina vs. Acuna

On his return to action Medina went over some old ground and repeated a decision win over Acuna that he had scored in 2006. He was comfortably ahead going into the last and sealed the victory with a heavy right that saw Acuna take a standing count. Scores 60-54, 60-54 ½, 59 ½-55. First fight for 32-year-old local Medina since beating Bonanni for the interim South American welter title in April 2012. “The Camel” Acuna has now lost 6 of his last 7 fights.

 

Pont-Sainte-Maxence, France: Light: Yvan Mendy (28-3-11ND) W PTS 10 Sylvain Chapellle (13-16-2). Mendy retains French title with unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Chapellle. The champion, fighting in his home town, had a slight edge in height and reach and looked much the bigger man. He kept the pressure on the challenger all the way. Chapellle had his moments but Mendy was a clear winner. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-92. Mendy, 28, has won 7 of his last 8 fights with the loss being to WBC No 1 light welter Viktor Postol in June 2012. Chapellle, 27, lost in two previous shots at the French super feather title but had won 3 of his last 4 going in.

 

Tokyo, Japan: Straw: Go Odaira (9-3-3) W PTS 10 Masashi Tada (11-4-1).

Odaira wins the vacant JBC title with a unanimous decision over Tada. The 29-year-old southpaw was just too fast and skillful for Tada and apart from a rocky second round boxed his way to victory. Scores 98-92 twice and 99-92. First ten round fight for Odaira who is 6-0-2 in his last 8 fights. Tada, 24, had won his last 5.

 

 

January 18

 

Montreal, Canada: Light Heavy: Jean Pascal (29-2-1) W PTS 12 Lucien Bute (31-2). Light Heavy: Eleider Alvarez (14-0) W PTS 10 Andrew Gardiner (10-1). Heavy: Mike Perez (20-0-1) DREW 10 Carlos Takam (29-1-1). Bantam: Sebastien Gauthier (22-4-1) DREW 8 Javier Franco (21-12-3). Welter: Mike Zewski (23-0) W TKO 7 Krzys Szot (18-11-1). Heavy: Oscar Rivas (13-0) W TKO 3 Shawn Cox (17-5). Light Heavy: Artur Beterbiev (4-0) W TKO 4 Gabriel Lecrosnier (16-26-3). 5

Pascal vs. Bute

Pascal gets a wide unanimous decision over a strangely subdued Bute. Pascal got off to a fast start and swept the early rounds as Bute was always a step behind and just not doing enough or letting his punches flow. Pascal was using the old tactic of just doing enough to edge the early part of the round and then finishing strongly to wrap up the points. Bute was able to catch Pascal with the odd counter as Pascal worked his way inside. When Pascal did let the pace drop then Bute would be able to score with southpaw right hooks and lefts but that did not happen nearly enough. Pascal seemed to be trying to draw Bute into exchanges and was getting careless, but Bute just did not seem able to capitalise on what chances were offered. Despite Bute having a good eighth by the end of the tenth, with Bute sporting a cut, Pascal already had the fight won. Bute seemed to wake up too late finally contributing to some rapid exchanges in the eleventh and rocking Pascal with a left uppercut in the twelfth. Much too little, much too late. Scores 117-110, 117-111 and 116-112. The 31-year-old Haitian-born Pascal wins Bute’s NABF title and something called the WBC Diamond title. He is WBC mandatory challenger to Adonis Stevenson, a fight that could double as for the Haitian title. The 33-year-old Bute finished the fight strongly but his early work had people wondering whether the Carl Froch loss has badly dented his confidence.

Alvarez vs. Gardiner

Alvarez has too much class for the tank-like Gardiner but is forced to work hard in every round. Alvarez was able to catch Gardiner coming in and move around his static opponent to score hooks to the body. Gardiner never stopped coming forward trying to make the fight into trench warfare but he was too often standing in front of Alvarez behind a high guard and letting the Colombian score quick shots and get away. As the pace dropped in the middle rounds Gardiner was able to do some good work and inflicted some damage over the left eye of Alvarez but in the end he lacked the hand speed to really trouble the Colombian who emerged the clear winner on scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 96-93. Alvarez, 28, holds the WBO/NABO and WBA/NABA titles and is rated WBO 2/WBA 3(2)/WBC 11. Boxing for Colombia he won gold medals at the Pan American and South American championships but lost to Brit Tony Jeffries on a count back at the 2008 Olympics. Gardiner, 26, came in as a late replacement for Thomas Oosthuizen and put up a strong showing as this was his first ten round fight. As an amateur he was Canadian Junior and Senior champion and fought at the World Youth Championships.

Perez vs. Takam

This fight was supposed to showcase southpaw Perez, but in the end it was a dull fight and Takam could feel unlucky not to get the decision. Perez started well enough but suffered a bad cut over his right eye in the third round. The doctor examined the cut but let the fight continue. Takam was the one making the fight and Perez just did not seem able to light his fire. If the fight had been kept an open fight then Perez might have done better, but from the fifth Takam was able to work inside edging the fight and rocking Perez in the sixth. Scores 95-95 twice and 96-94 for Perez. Neither really improved his image in this outing although Takam was probably less hurt by the performance then Perez as the Cameroon fighter was less touted. Perez team reckoned that the Irish-based Cuban had double vision for a while after the clash of heads but admitted that he did very little in the second half of the fight. Naturally there was speculation as to whether Perez might have been affected by the near tragic outcome of his last fight against Magomed Abdusalamov, but only Perez can know that. The 280year-old Cuban is rated No 5 by both the WBC and WBO and retains his WBC USNBC title. Takam’s WBF title was not on the line. The French-based 33-year-old Cameroon fighter (he represented them at the 2004 Olympics) had won his last 11 fights, 9 by KO/TKO including wins over Frans Botha and Mike Grant but was the outsider here.

Gauthier vs. Franco

These two put up a great little scrap. Both were eager to trade and there were plenty of toe-to-toe exchanges with both landing good body shots. It was anybody’s fight at the half way mark but Gauthier just seemed to get the better of the closing rounds and although the fight was very close he looked unlucky not to get the verdict. Scores 76-76 twice and 78-74 to Gauthier. First fight for the 31-year-old Canadian for 14 months. He had lost 2 of his last 3 fights but they were a close decision to Steve Molitor and a stoppage by former IBF super fly champion Rodrigo Guerrero. Good result for 23-year-old Mexican Franco who has been in with tough opposition such as Rocky Fuentes, Carlos Cuadras, Tomoki Kaneda and Christian Esquivel and took Ivan Morales to a split decision early in his career. This performance should get him some work north of the border.

Zewski vs. Szot

Zewski again give an impressive display of body punching. Veteran Pole Szot just did not have the power to match the hard-punching young Canadian and was under pressure from the start. By the fourth his face was already leaking blood and he was forced to take a knee briefly in the fifth. Zewski closed the fight out in the seventh stunning Szot with a right. The Pole went down after a couple of follow-up punches. He got up only to be put down by a wicked body punch and the fight was halted. The 24-year-old Canadian has won 13 of his last 14 fights by KO/TKO. Although he was never Canadian champion as an amateur he was a quarter-finalist at the 2009 World Championships beating Cuban Olympic silver medallist Carlos Banteur to get there. After a long time as a top amateur Szot, 35, just goes bravely through the motions these days and has lost 7 of his last 8 fights.

Rivas vs. Cox

Easy return to action for Colombian Rivas. He was too big and strong for Barbadian Cox. The 26-year-old “Kaboom” had Cox down twice in the second round and when Cox was down again late in the third the fight was stopped. First fight in 13 months for Rivas due to a detached retina. As an amateur Rivas scored wins over Andy Ruiz, Kubrat Pulev and Didier Bence, but lost to Italian Robert Cammarelle at the 2008 Olympics. Cox, 39, has been matched tough. He has now lost 4 of his last 5 fights with all of the losses coming by KO//TKO and all inside three rounds.

Beterbiev vs. Lecrosnier

Beterbiev was coasting through the first two rounds, but French southpaw Lecrosnier made a fight of it in the third letting his hands go and catching Beterbiev with some good punches. That woke the Russian up and he went to work in the fourth flooring Lecrosnier. The Frenchman got up but Beterbiev was teeing-off with heavy shots and the referee stopped the fight. Four inside the distance wins in four fights for the 28-year-old former amateur star. Lecrosnier is now 1-8-1 in his last 10 fights.

 

Guadalajara, Mexico: Super Bantam: Horacio Garcia (25-0) W TKO 1 Fernando Lumacad (29-7-3). Quick but unsatisfactory win for Garcia. The Mexican took Lumacad to the ropes early but after he had scored with a hard right Lumacad showed an immediate grimace of pain indicating a problem with his left hand. The Filipino went down on one knee. He got up to take the eight count but was in obvious pain and the referee took him to his corner where Lumacad’s left glove was removed showing a possible fracture in his left hand. He was taken to hospital for checks. Garcia gets a 54 second win but the glitter taken off by the injury to Lumacad. The 23-year-old local “Violente” makes it 17 wins by KO/TKO and he collects the vacant WBC Continental Americas title. Mexico is not a happy place for former IBF super fly challenger Lumacad. The 27-year-old “Trigger” must hate visits to Mexico and Mexican fighters he has now lost 5 times in 5 visits to Mexico and also lost to Jorge Arce for the vacant OIBF title in Atlantic City.

 

Hermosillo, Mexico: Super Fly: David Sanchez (24-2-2) W KO 4 Marco Demecillo (19-2-1). Bantam: Felipe Orucuta (29-2) W TKO 10 Gabriel Pena (5-5-1).

Sanchez vs. Demecillo

Big win for Sanchez over highly regarded Filipino. Sanchez had slightly the better of the toe-to-toe action in the first two rounds, but Demecillo came on strong in the third scoring well with left hooks and right crosses. The action was hot in the fourth when Sanchez suddenly produced a volley of shots and got through with a vicious left hook to the body. Demecillo was put down in a corner. Somehow he managed to get up but was unsteady on his feet and the fight was stopped. Now 19 wins by KO/TKO for the “Tornado” who has won 6 of his last 7 fights that way including a first round stoppage of former interim WBA fly champion Jean Piero Perez. He is WBA 3/WBO 5/WBC 13 and has a 14 bout winning streak. Demecillo, 23, the Philippines champion, loses by KO/TKO for the first time.

Orucuta vs. Pena

Once again Pena defies his poor record and gives Orucuta a tough fight. Pena came out firing and took the fight to Orucuta. In the second Orucuta found room and was able to score with some good combinations. In the third “Pineapple” had Orucuta badly shaken and soon there was a swelling forming around Orucuta’s eye. Orucuta had Hall of Famer Ignacio Beristan in his corner and made tactical changes which put him back in control. Orucuta was picking up the rounds, but Pena was still a danger. In the end it was a bad cut on the right eyelid of Pena that saw the fight finished as the cut was too bad and he could not come out for the tenth round. “Gallito” Orucuta, 28, the WBO No 1, has lost only one of his last 12 fights and that was a very controversial hometown decision against Omar Narvaez for the WBO super fly title. Pena was coming off an upset stoppage of former WBA bantamweight title challenger David de La Mora.

 

Miami, FL, USA: Light Heavy: Azea Augustama (16-1) W PTS 8 Jermaine Mackey (18-7). Super Bantam: Hairon Socarras (10-0-1) W KO 4 Jamal Parram (7-10-1).

Augustama vs. Mackey

Haitian Augustama takes wide unanimous decision over late replacement Mackey. Augustama. Augustama built a lead over the first three rounds and although his pace dropped in the fourth and fifth he finished strongly to take the decision. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-72. Augustama, 30, one of three boxing brothers and a former US NGG champion who represented Haiti at the 2008 Olympics makes it six wins since losing a majority decision to Denis Grachev in 2011. Bahamian southpaw Mackey, 34, a former Commonwealth super middle champion, has lost four tough fights in a row.

Socarras vs. Parram

Twenty-year-old Cuban Socarras tried hard to make a fight of it in the first three rounds, but Parram was more intent on holding, rabbit punching and low blows. As they clashed in centre ring in the fourth Parram went down. It looked very much like a clash of heads rather than a punch but the referee counted Parram out. Parram’s jaw was badly swollen and he was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured jaw. Six wins by KO/TKO for the promising Cuban, but not sure if this decision will stand review. Postman Parram is 2-6 in his last 8 fights.