The Past Week in Action 20 October 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.

 

October 15

 

Tokyo, Japan: Feather: Hisashi Amagasa (28-4-2) W TKO 12 Ryo Takenaka (11-3-1).

Amagasa retains his OPBF title but with a very late finish. Challenger Takenaka was only rated No 8 by the JBC and had never been in a ten round fight, but was undeterred. Despite being cut early he matched Amagasa over the first four rounds with the open scoring showing two judges having it even at 38-38 each and the third having the underdog in front 39-38. He continued to take the fight to the champion outscoring him and building a lead that saw him 77-75 up on all four cards. Going into the last a huge upset was on the cards but early in the round Amagasa floored his challenger. Takenaka got up but Amagasa battered away until the referee stepped in with Takenaka just two minutes away from a famous win. Third defence of his OPBF title for Amagasa and win No 19 by KO/TKO. The OPBF champion is rated WB 6/IBF 8(6)/WBO 9/WBA 10 and has lost only one of his last 21 fights, and reversed that loss. Takenaka had won his last four fights.

 

Miniburi, Thailand: Light Middle: Sirimongkol (81-2) W PTS 12 Dan Nazareno Jr (20-12). Sirimongkol adds another title to his collection with easy win over Filipino. The Thai boxed well within himself pacing the fight and never really turning up the heat as he breezed to victory. Scores 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111. He wins the vacant WBA Asia Pacific title. He is now 37 and in a career that started in 1994 he has won titles of sorts from super fly up to light middle including being WBC champion at both bantam and super feather. He now has 38 wins in a row but is unrated by any of the four major bodies. A reflection of the low standard of opposition. “Filipino “Iron Man” Nazareno, 25 is durable as he showed here and has only two losses by KO/TKO.

 

New York, NY, USA: Light Heavy: Travis Peterkin (13-0) W PTS 8 Otis Griffin (24-17-2). Light Middle: Patrick Day (9-0-1) W PTS 6 Felipe Reyes (5-4).

Peterkin vs. Griffin

Peterkin outboxes veteran Griffin to extend his winning run. Peterkin was able to control the action working the southpaw jab well to keep Griffin on the back foot and scoring with good punches to the body. After a fourth that saw some good action Peterkin had a strong fifth hurting Griffin with head shots and he swept the sixth and seventh with Griffin forced to the ropes and tiring. The veteran made a big effort in the last getting through with his best punches of the fight but by then he needed a kayo. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-72. Brooklyn’s 24-year-old “Notorious” was in his first eight round fight and paced it well. He was a good level amateur winning the NY Golden Gloves, getting a bronze medal in the PAL tournament and getting to the quarter finals of the NGG’s. The 37-year-old “Triple OG” Griffin is on the down slope having lost 11 of his last 12 fights.

Day vs. Reyes

Former top amateur Day makes it four wins in a row as he continues to settle in as a pro.

He allowed Reyes to force the fight making the Texan pay with hooks and uppercuts as Reyes walked forward. Day came close to making it four wins in a row by KO/TKO when he floored Reyes with a left in the fifth but Reyes was still there at the final bell. Scores 60-54 from all three judges. The 22-year-old Day had a slight career stutter when he could only draw with Urmat Ryskeldiev in November but looks sharper now. Four losses in a row for Reyes, all against unbeaten fighters.

 

October 16

 

Auckland, New Zealand: Heavy: Joseph Parker (11-0) W PTS 10 Sherman Williams (36-14-2,1ND). Light Heavy: Reece Papuni (7-0) W KO 4 Sam Rapira (8-1). Super Middle: Jack Blackbourn (7-0) W TKO 2 Mike Junior Kapi (0-1). Light Heavy: Nikolas Charalampous (9-0) W PTS 6 Andrew Robinson (3-2).

Parker vs. Williams

Parker remains unbeaten although “The Tank” gives him some unpleasant moments. Parker had big advantages in height (6’4” 193cm x 5’11” 180cm) reach and age with Williams having experience on his side. In  a slow first round Parker used his jab to keep Williams on the outside but a furious attack early in the second saw the visitor land a good overhand right which had Parker hurt. Before the end of the round Parker banged back and shook Williams with a right to the head. The third saw Parker in charge with Williams getting a warning for a low blow and catching the young local with a punch after the bell which brought Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry into the ring to remonstrate with Williams and his seconds. Parker again had Williams hanging on with a right in the fourth and scored with hard rights which had Williams backing away in the sixth only for the veteran to bang back and hurt Parker with a left hook and right cross and another right which saw Williams warned for a rabbit punch and Parker pantomiming wobbly legs to try to show he was unhurt, but it had been an uncomfortable few second for Parker. As the rounds passed Williams was permanently on the back foot and resorting to clinching to avoid Parker’s attacks. In the ninth Parker landed two left hooks to the body and a right to the head with Williams falling in and clutching hard to survive. Parker shook Williams with another right before the end of the round. Parker boxed conservatively in the last and took the decision. Scores 100-90 twice and 97-94. Parker won clearly and it was a good learning fight as Williams tested his chin a couple of times. Only the second time the 22-year-old has had to go the distance. He already has inside the distance wins over Frans Botha and Brian Minto and will fight again in New Zealand in December. He is rated WBA 11 and WBO 14 but on the basis of his opposition that is ridiculous (but typical). Bahamian Williams, 42, was incensed by the two 100-90 scores and ranted about them in the ring to any who would listen. He offered to come back to New Zealand to fight Parker and said he would bet his purse on knocking out Parker in six rounds. Parker declined as he has other plans.

Papuni vs. Rapira

Papuni wins the NZNBF title with kayo of previously unbeaten champion Rapira. The former top amateur just hit too hard for Rapira flooring him in the third round and twice in the forth with right doing the damage each time. The 27-year-old Rapira was a Commonwealth Games quarter finalist and competed at the 2011 World Championships. He has 5 wins by KO/TKO. Defending champion Rapira had won 7 of his 8 victories by KO/TKO but was outclassed here.

Blackbourn vs Kapi

Blackbourn maintains his 100% record of wins by KO/TKO as he floors former kick boxer Kapi early in the second round and Kapi’s handlers pull their man out of the fight. The 27-year-old Blackbourn has good amateur credentials. A New Zealand Champion he won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games, twice won gold at the Oceania Championships, took a bronze at the Commonwealth Championships, where he lost to Brit Billy Joe Saunders, and competed at the 2011 World Championships. Good for pro boxing down there to see some of their elite amateurs giving pro boxing a boost.

Charalampous vs. Robinson

Yet another good class amateur extends his winning run as Nick “The Greek” outpoints Robinson. Charalampous was in control all the way and Robinson lost a point in the last round for too many infringements. Scores 60-54 twice and 60-55. The 21-year-old Charalampous competed for New Zealand at the 2010 World Youth Championships. Robinson took Papuni the full ten rounds last year.

 

October 17

Somerton, Australia: Middle: Dwight Ritchie (10-0,4ND) W PTS 10 Dean Mikelj 11-2). Ritchie wins vacant Australian title with wide unanimous decision over Mikelj. Going into the tenth Ritchie already had the fight won but made sure by scoring a knockdown in the last round. These two had fought in April when Ritchie had just edged out Mikelj on a majority decision but this time “The Fighting Cowboy” was a clear winner. Scores 99-90 twice and 100-89. Still only 22, the four No Decisions were fights Ritchie won before they found he was under age. Mikelj, 32, had won 9 of his fights by KO/TKO including a good victory over Robbie Bryant. Ritchie was ANBF No 2 and Mikelj ANBF No 3.

 

Pattaya, Thailand: Fly: Myung-goo Yuh (21-4-1) W KO 3 Rick Paciones (6-19-2).

A piece of rubbish sees Yuh extend his run of wins by KO/TKO in a mismatch against very poor Filipino. The 35-year-old South Korean makes it 16 wins in a row, the last 12 by KO/TKO, but 37-year-old Filipino Paciones has now lost 18 of his last 19 fights, with 16 of those 18 losses by KO/TKO. People paid to see this??

 

Thon Buri, Thailand: Bantam: Rusalee Samor (25-5-2) W PTS 12 Fernando Ocon (13-8). Light Welter: Patomsuk (30-2-1) W PTS 10 Rodel Wenceslao (8-91). Fly: Fahlan (25-3-1) W PTS 6 Da-Won Suh (3-4-1).

Samor vs. Ocon

Samor wins unanimous decision over durable Filipino southpaw Ocon for IBF Asian title. Scores 116-112 twice and 118-110. Five wins in a row for 30-year-old Thai Samor since losing a majority verdict to world rated Rex Tso in July last year. Former WBC super fly champion Suriyan is the only one to have beaten 23-year-old Ocon by KO/TKO and that was after he had taken Suriyan the full twelve rounds in their previous fight.

Patomsuk vs. Wenceslao

This should have been a routine win for Thai Patomsuk but in the end he was lucky to get the decision against a Filipino who had come to win. Scores 96-94 from each of the three judges with Wenceslao deserving at least a draw. Although the 31-year-old Thai has lost just once in his last 24 fights the loss in October last year was to an unrated Japanese fighter with a 23-10-3 record and in August he just scarped by on a split decision against a Japanese prelim fighter with a 4-4 record. With this result against a fighter not in the GAB top 15 he obviously needs careful matching. Wenceslao, 21, will get plenty of work on the back of this result.

Fahlan vs.

Ten months is a long time in boxing as Fahlan is finding. He won this one clearly against Korean novice Suh, but it was a competitive fight with Fahlan taking it on scores of 59-55 twice and 60-54. Ten months ago Fahlan crashed the world rankings with a shock kayo of unbeaten former WBA secondary strawweight champion Ryo Miyazaki. It was his first main event and suddenly he was right up there in the world ratings. The Japanese got their revenge. In April they brought Fahlan back to face red hot prospect Takuma Inoue who was having only his second pro fight. Inoue won a unanimous decision and Fahlan disappeared from the ratings. He is back to six round prelim fights and struggling to find form. In his last fight only he managed a majority draw in a home match against JBC No 6 Tatsuya Fukuhara. Suh was unbeaten in his last four fights against other novices.

 

Nepi, Italy: Middle: Alessandro Godi (16-1-1) W PTS 10 Lorenzo Cosseddu (28-11-6). Goddi wins the vacant Italian title with split decision over Cosseddu in an all-Sardinian match. Over the early rounds it was veteran Cosseddu who was picking up the points and building a lead with some good inside work. Cosseddu continued to press but from the fifth Goddi took the ring centre and was scoring with his jab and quick combinations to turn things around. The seventh and eighth are close but Goddi just has the edge but Cosseddu bangs back with a sustained body attack in the ninth to make it close. The last has Goddi trying to stay out of trouble and Cosseddu looking for one big punch. Scores 98-93 and 96-94 for Goddi and 96-92 for Cosseddu. Only the second score seemed a true reflection of a very close fight and Cosseddu will be looking for a return. Five wins and a draw in his last six fights for 26-year-old Goddi with the draw being against Cosseddu in September last year. Cosseddu, 37, is now 1-6-1 in his last 7 fights and is 0-3-2 in five Italian title fights.

 

Mexico City, Mexico: Welter: Pablo Munguia (20-5) W PTS 10 Edgar Ortega (15-2). Light: Antonio Moran (16-0) W RTD 3 Adrian Rodriguez G. (8-5)

Munguia vs. Ortega

The experience of Munguia tells as the “Gravedigger” storms his way to unanimous victory over Ortega. At 5’10” (178cm) Ortega had height and reach over Munguia but lacked the power to keep Munguia from getting inside. Munguia was forcing the fight with Ortega counter-punching but Munguia was the busier and walking through Ortega’s shots. Over the late rounds Ortega was holding more to try to stop Munguia working inside and the fight lost some of its fire with the Gravedigger a clear winner. Scores 98-90 twice and 95-93. The 35-year-old Munguia, a former Mexican champion, wins the interim WBO Latino title. He has won 4 of his last 5 fights including victories over Sammy Vargas (15-0) and Luis Grajeda (17-1-1). The loss was to world rated Antonin Decarie in Canada in March with one judge having it just 96-94 for Decarie. Defending champion Ortega had won his last 10 fights.

Moran vs. Rodriguez

Moran makes it ten wins by KO/TKO as Rodriguez retires after three rounds. Local fighter “Tono” has yet to be given a real test and has now won 6 of his last 7 fights inside the distance. Three losses in a row for Rodriguez but all to unbeaten fighters.

 

Dzierzonbiow, Poland: Feather: Kamil Laszczyk (18-0) W PTS 8 Sergio Romero (7-4-3). Heavy: Mariusz Wach (28-1) W PTS 8 Samir Kurtagic (12-6). Cruiser: Nikodem Jezewski (8-0-1) W PTS 6 Toni Visic (14-15-1).

Laszczyk vs. Romero

Laszczyk gets deserved win but pushed hard by Spaniard. Laszczyk was scoring freely over the first two rounds and in the third a series of body punches had Romero in deep trouble. The visitor survived the storm and as the fight progressed the rounds were close with Romero showing good skills and getting through with hard shots of his own and making the fight very close. Scores 77-75 twice and 78-75. Laszczyk is not a power puncher or he could have ended it in the third, but he was a clear winner. The 23-year-old North Bergen-based Pole is somehow rated No 5 by the WBO and holds the WBFoud title. First fight outside Spain for Romero, 29, who has twice drawn in attempts to win the Spanish title. He showed well here and as a non-puncher could find himself with some more overseas assignments.

Wach vs. Kurtagic

Wach returns with a win in battle of “giants”. Wach made a fast start getting through with his jab and scoring with hard rights at the end of the first round. Kurtagic came into the fight in the second pressing hard but Wach stuck to his jab and was never troubled. In the third a ponderous right from Wach had Kurtagic reeling and the Pole launched a frantic attack trying to take the Serb out. Kurtagic survived and from the fourth Wach tired and Kurtagic was able to get through with some rights of his own but was himself tiring and still being outscored. Scores 80-72, 80-73 and 79-73. First fight since losing on points to Wlad Klitschko for the IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO titles in November. The 34-year-old 6’7 ½” (202cm) “Viking” had done nothing to earn the title shot and I can’t see him maneuvering himself into another chance. Austrian-based Serb Kurtagic, 6’7” (201cm) has lost 4 of his last 5 but always lasts the distance.

Jezewski vs Visic

Jezewski gets unanimous decision but the scores flatter him. The Pole was the better technician but allowed Visic to dictate the pace and box on the outside. The Croatian looked to have taken the first two rounds and although Jezewski improved his work was solid but predictable and Visic was never troubled. Scores 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 with the latter a fairer reflection of the fight. Jezewski disappointed here and will have to improve if he is to move up. Visic’s best performance was back in 2012 when he decisioned Belgian hope Herve Hubeaux for the WBC Youth title and that is his only win outside of the Balkans.

 

Maribor, Slovenia: Light Middle: Jan Zaveck (34-3,1ND) W TKO 7 Ferenc Hafner (23-6.) Zaveck moves up to light middle with a win. The former IBF welter champion took a little while to shed the rust of a year without a fight but eventually wore down Hungarian southpaw Hafner and stopped him in the seventh. The 38-year-old Zaveck wins the WBO European title which will earn him a high and false rating. Hafner, 38, was stopped in one round by Rocky Fielding and two rounds by Andy Lee but still somehow qualifies to fight for the WBO European title. Set the bar low enough and any one can qualify.

 

Benidorm, Spain: Light Middle: Roberto Santos (21-7-3,1ND) W KO 5 Ramazi Gogichashvili (14-3-2). Former EU champion Santos outboxes Georgian for four rounds and then finishes the job in the fifth with a two punch combination. The 32-year-old “El Tigre de Benidorm”, not a noted puncher, nevertheless makes it 12 wins by KO/TKO. A member of Sergio Martinez’s team, he lost his EU title to Marcus Nader on a close decision in April last year. He is EBU No 9 and as he showed in his fights with unbeaten Dominik Britsch (D & W) and Nader (D & L) he is a good test for any young fighter at the weight. Three losses by KO/TKO for Georgian Gogichashvili, 20, all three inside the distance and in the other guys backyard.

 

Baton Rouge, LA, USA: Middle: Travis Scott (18-0,1ND) W PTS 8 Taronze Washington (16-19). Former Marine Scott wins unanimous decision over Washington. Scott, fighting in his home town took the decision on scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 to win something called the World Fighting Championship. The 34-year-old is likely to remain a local attraction only and has only 4 wins by KO/TKO. Texan Washington, a late replacement for Joaquin Zamora put up a good show considering he was having his first fight for 8 months and the short notice he had.

 

October 18

 

Carson, CA, USA: Middle: Gennady Golovkin (31-0) W KO 2 Marco A Rubio (59-7-1). Feather: Nicholas Walters (25-0) T KO 6 Nonito Donaire (33-3). Super Middle: Edwin Rodriguez (25-1) W PTS 10 Azea Augustama (17-2). Middle: Abraham Han (23-1) W PTS 10 Marcos Reyes (32-2).

Golovkin vs. Rubio

Golovkin destroys Rubio inside two rounds and adds the interim WBC title to his WBA and WBO titles. Rubio failed to make the weight being 2lbs over so the titles were only at stake for Golovkin, and as Rubio was only the interim WBC champion the win unified nothing. Golovkin made a confident start using his jab well and throwing left hooks and generally having Rubio on the back foot. The Mexican was a bit too static and although he landed a good uppercut and tossed some rights he was also leaving himself open. Golovkin drove him into a corner with a left hook and scored with a heavy right cross and a series of head shots with Rubio fighting his way out of the corner as the bell rang. Golovkin started the second by landing a hard jab and a long right which again sent Rubio to the ropes. A quick flurry from Golovkin saw him sink a left hook under Rubio’s ribs. Rubio got off the ropes and they stood in close both trying to land body shots on the inside. Golovkin fired home a tremendous right uppercut which had Rubio hurt and backing across the ring. Golovkin followed and with Rubio on the ropes again he landed a chopping overhand left which landed on Rubio’s temple and sent him sliding down the ropes onto his back. The referee completed the count as Rubio was rising and the fight was over. The 32-year-old “GGG” makes it 28 wins by KO/TKO. This was the eleventh defence of his WBA title and the eighth of his IBO title. The real test of his power is that he now has 18 wins in a row by KO/TKO. Usually the inside the distance wins decrease as the quality of the opposition improves, but Kazakhstan’s GGG is taking them out early no matter how tough they are. The aim is four fights in 2015 with the real WBC champion Miguel Cotto as the preferred opponent but also talk of Martin Murray in Monte Carlo in February. It was a double whammy for 34-year-old Rubio as he was fined $100,000 for failing to make the weight ($50,000 for each pound he was over) and was imperiously brushed aside suffering his first inside the distance loss in almost exactly 10 years.

Donaire vs. Walters

Walters overcomes shaky second round to overpower and halt Donaire. Both fighters started cautiously with Walters working his jab well. The fight came alight in the second. Walters was banging home good jabs with Donaire throwing fast combinations. Donaire got home with a good combination but Walters drove him to the ropes where they exchanged shots Donaire came off the ropes but Walters was keeping up the pressure only to get nailed by a left hook to the chin which sent him stumbling backwards on wobbly legs with Donaire in pursuit. He might have gone down but the bell went before Donaire could catch him and the referee supported Walters as he straightened up. Walters was badly hurt with his legs shaky and he almost went to the wrong corner. Incredibly Walters came out fresh for the third and used his skills to outbox and his strength to bully Donaire. The Filipino was still getting through with some hard shots but Walters was scoring on the outside and the inside and taking control of the fight. He stamped his authority late in the third by putting Donaire down for the first timer in his career with a short right uppercut on the inside. Donaire dropped backwards touching the canvas with his right glove then instantly rebounding and taking the eight count. Walters dominated the fourth slamming home hefty jabs and rights and on the inside he was proving stronger with Donaire being the one breaking off the exchanges as Walters punished him with short hooks and body punches up close. Walters was breaking Donaire apart and the Filipino’s face was bruised and bloody at the end of the fifth round. The end came in the sixth. Walters forced Donaire to the ropes and was landing heavy shots. Donaire lunged forward trying to force Walters back. The Jamaican took one step back and missed with a right and as Donaire lunged forward again a second right landed on the side of Donaire’s head and he pitched forward face first to the canvas. He staggered to his feet at nine but the referee waived the fight off as Donaire then slumped into the ropes. The “Axe Man wins the WBA super title and with this win, and his spectacular kayo of Vic Darchinyan, he is now in the star class, a gem in the crown of Top Rank’s team with plenty of big fights out there for him. He showed good boxing skills, strength, real punching power and also amazing powers of recovery after that second round scare. His manager Jacques Deschamps has done a great job of guiding the 28-year-old Jamaican, just as he did a few years back with another Jamaican Richard “Shrimpy” Clarke. First loss inside the distance for the 31-year-old “Filipino Flash” a four division world title holder who was taking part in his 13^th world title fight and had lost only one his last 33 fights. For Donaire a future Hall of Fame candidate admitted he took a beating. It seems to be a case of back down to super bantam or out of the sport but he will take his time over that decision.

Rodriguez vs. Augustama

Rodriguez gets wide unanimous decision in a poor fight. The Dominican was far superior in skill to his Haitian opponent but his work rate was low and there were few, if any, highlights in the fight. Rodriguez was in charge all the way but never really turned up the heat and the fight dragged on to a disappointing end. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91. First fight for Rodriguez since being outclassed by Andre Ward for the WBA super middle title in November.  “La Bomba” was defused in this one and will have to do a lot better if he wants to make an impression at light heavy. He looked a shadow of the fighter who brushed aside Don George, Ezequiel Maderna and Denis Grachev. Augustama a real let down. After losing a majority decision to Grachev in 2011 he had run up eight wins against modest opposition but failed to step up and take advantage of this big opportunity. The 31-year-old, one of three boxing brothers, had shown promise as an amateur competing at the 2007 World Amateur Championships and the 2008 Olympics and even winning a gold at the 2008 USA NGG’s.

Reyes vs. Han

Han gets disputed majority decision over Reyes. The Texan was quicker to the punch in the early action with Reyes dangerous but slower. Han looked to have built a lead by the half way mark but Reyes was closing the distance and scoring with countering hooks making for an exciting scrap. With Han appearing to tire the activity level and the excitement waned until Reyes got through in the eighth flooring Han with a series of shots and having the Texas in deep trouble. Han got up and survived the round. His cause was helped in the ninth when an over anxious Reyes landed a punch after the bell ending the round and had a point deducted. Han found a last spark of energy to just about deserve the verdict. Two of the judges saw it much wider both scoring the fight 97-91 for Han with third giving a more reflective score of 94-94. Big win for the 30-year-old Han as he rebounds from a stoppage loss against Glen Tapia in July last year. This is his fourth win since then.” Dorado” Reyes, 26, had won his last 19 fights including a revenge victory over one-time conqueror Amilcar Funes. He was rated WBC 9 but will have blown that rating with this loss.

 

Philadelphia, PA, USA: Light: Edner Cherry (33-6-2,1ND) W TKO 2 Osumanu Akaba (31-7-1). Heavy: Steve Cunningham (28-6) W TKO 7 Natu Visinia (10-1). Middle: Decarlo Perez (13-3-1) W TKO 5 Tyrone Brunson (22-3-1).

Cherry vs. Akaba

Cherry gets his second win of the year as he overwhelms Ghanaian in two rounds.

Nothing happened in the first round. Both were bobbing and feinting with their lead hands extended but neither really executed a punch in the whole three minutes. Cherry’s trained admitted they knew nothing about Ghanaian Akaba and wanted to take their time to see what Akaba had. Cherry came out throwing rights in the second and there was a brief exchange of shots from both fighters before some holding and wrestling slowed things. A left hook to the side of the head from Cherry put Akaba down; He was up at four and took the eight count. Cherry was on him quickly and put Akaba down with another left hook. He was up at six and when the action resumed Cherry scored with a series of head punches which sent Akaba slumping to the canvas propped up against the ring post and the fight was stopped. Former WBC light welter title challenger “The Cherry Bomb” makes it 18 wins by KO/TKO. The 32-year-old Bahamian scored a big win when he halted Vince Escobedo back in February 2013 but did not fight again until April this year which is too little activity for a boxer of his age. He is IBF 9(8) at super feather. Akaba, 34, loses for the second time by KO/TKO. He went 12 rounds with Ricky Burns and Paul Truscott in CBC title fights in 2008 then went back to Ghana for some easy wins. He made his USA debut in August losing to Bahodir Mamadjonov.

Cunningham vs. Visinia

Cunningham continues his heavyweight campaign with stoppage of Visinia. Sometimes being a much heavier man can be more of a hindrance than a help and so it was here. Former American football player and MMA contender Visinia was 1” smaller but 73lbs heavier than Cunningham and proportionately slower. Cunningham knew he had to stay on the outside to win this one and that is what he did. He used a fast, accurate jabs to blunt Visinia’s attempts to get close. The pattern was the same over the first four rounds before Visinia managed to get close in the fifth flooring Cunningham. The former cruiser champion was under pressure for the rest of the round but survived and then went back to the jab to take the sixth. Visinia had never gone past six rounds before and he tired badly with Cunningham opening up and scoring with a barrage of head punches that had Visinia reeling at the bell. At the end of the round the doctor took a look at the facial damage Visinia had suffered mainly a bad cut inside his mouth thanks to walking into so many of Cunningham’s uppercuts and advised that the fight be halted. “USS” Cunningham, 38, was coming off good wins over Manuel Quezada and Amir Mansour at heavyweight and seems to have learned from the tactical mistakes he made when losing to Tyson Fury in April last year. Visinia “The Samoan Truth”, 30, had scored 7 first round wins and had less that 21rounds of boxing under his belt. He showed power but was just too slow and predictable and jumping from six round against a guy with a 6-8 record to tackling Cunningham was a big step too far.

Decarlo vs. Brunson

Mild upset as Decarlo beats local favourite Brunson. Two of the first three rounds went to Brunson as he was throwing lots of leather. He cornered Perez in the first and unloaded but Perez stood up to the punishment and fired back in the second. Brunson was pressing the fight again in the third and dominated until late in the round when Perez scored with some good rights. The fast start caught up with Brunson in the fourth and as he slowed Perez took over and was the one doing the pressing and scoring. Perez was on top again in the fifth with Brunson totally exhausted and after Perez shook him with a right the referee decided that Brunson was finished and stopped the fight. Now 5 wins by KO/TKO for “3mendo” Perez who is now 7-1 in his last 8 fights with the loss being a split decision against Wilky Campfort (15-1) in January. The 29-year-old Brunson set a record in winning all of his first 19 fights by way of first round KO/TKO before Carson Jones burst his bubble with a third round stoppage victory in 2009. Brunson took two years out before returning in March 2013 with a loss against James De la Rosa and was then out for another two years before making 20 first round wins by beating a 0-1 guy in June this year. With this result he is now 1-3 in his last four and just a prelim fighter and no more.

 

Mazowiecki, Poland: Cruiser: Krzys Glowacki (23-0) W TKO 5 Thierry Karl (31-6). Middle: Kamil Szeremeta (8-0) W PTS 8 Howard Cospolite (10-4-1). Light Heavy: Aliak Sushchyts (17-3-1) W PTS 8 Maciej Miszkin (15-3).

Glowacki vs. Karl

Glowacki retains his WBO Inter-Continental title with stoppage of Frenchman Karl. Glowacki was trying to get his southpaw jab working in the first but Karl impressed scoring with some rights. The second saw Glowacki on target with his jab and getting through with his lefts. Karl suffered a cut on his right eyebrow in a clash of heads. Glowacki was pressing the fight in the third and fourth but lacked accuracy and never really put Karl under pressure. That changed in the fifth when a body punch from Glowacki put Karl down. He got up but a succession of head punches put him down again. Glowacki lost the plot for a few seconds landing a low punch and having a point deducted but after that he battered away at a shaky Karl and the fight was stopped. The 28-year-old Pole, the WBO No 1 (but EBU No 8) makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO and he is hoping to get in a final eliminator early in 2015. Karl, 30, a former French middle and light heavy champion, was inactive from February 2012 until returning with a minor win in May this year.

Szeremeta vs. Cospolite

Pole Szeremeta wins a close unanimous decision in a good, exciting scrap. These two stood toe-to-toe in some furious early exchanges. Cospolite, the FFB No 7, was scoring well and eventually Szeremeta decided boxing was his best bet and he started using his jab and outscoring the Frenchman. By the end of the sixth Szeremeta had built a good lead but then he tired badly and Cospolite took the seventh to make it close. Szeremeta staged a big attack in the last trapping Cospolite in the corner and landing a number of hard hooks to wrap up the win. Scores 77-75 twice and 78-74.  Good win for the 25-year-old Pole, he boxed well but needs more eight round fights to improve his pacing of a bout. Cospolite, 31, pushed the local all the way and provided Szeremeta with a good test.

Sushchyts vs. Miszkin

Another good fight saw Belarusian Sushchyts climb off the floor to get a deserved majority decision. This really was a case of Sushchyts being much busier than the local fighter. Miszkin was landing the heavier punches, but not enough of them. He nearly made that tactic work with a right hook in the fourth which put Sushchyts down but the visitor got up and with Miszkin again looking for one big punch Sushchyts’s work rate carried him to the decision. Scores 77-74 twice and 76-76. The 26-year-old Sushchyts has now won 5 of his last 6 fights. All of his losses have been to unbeaten fighters on the road. After 15 wins in a row ”Handsome” Miszkin is 0-3 in his last 3 but the other two losses were tough matches against German prospect Vincent Feigenbutz and Pawel Glazewski.

 

Catano, Puerto Rico: Super Fly: Emmanuel Rodriguez (10-0) W TKO 1 Miguel Cartagena (13-2). Rodriguez crushed Cartagena in clash of former top amateurs. The local prospect overwhelmed Cartagena firing home a number of rights before executing a left uppercut which put Cartagena down and saw the fight halted immediately with Cartagena needing assistance to get up. The 22-year-old former double World Youth champion has six wins by KO/TKO. Manny paid credit to the great Wilfredo Gomez for advising him on utilising different angles with his left and the advice worked well here. Huge set back for “No Fear” Cartagena. The 22-year-old Philadelphian looked a good prospect when he turned pro having won both the US National Championships and the NGG title in 2009 and going unbeaten in his first 12 fights. Now he has lost 2 of his last 3 fights with both losses by KO/TKO.

 

Manchester, England: Welter: Shayne Singleton (19-0) W TKO 7 Nodar Robakidze (10-9-3). Easy win for Singleton over young Georgian. The Colne fighter had been hoping to be contesting a CBC title eliminator but that fell through and Robakidze came in as a late substitute. Not a big puncher Singleton slowly broke down the less talented import and after seven one-sided rounds the referee stopped the fight. The 25-year-old “The Pain”, the EU No 23, is still hoping to get that eliminator in 2015. Robakidze, 20, maintains his dismal record in the UK. Three fights and three losses by KO/TKO.

 

Bulqize, Albania: Middle: Mike Keta (18-3) W TKO 3 Marat Khuzeev (21-9-1).

Gjetan “Mike” Keta retains the WBC EPBC title with stoppage of Russian Khuzeev. Based in Germany, this was Keta’s first fight in his hometown and the first WBC fight in Albania (he won the title on a card Munich). He dominated the fight with a body attack and ended it the same way with a body shot in the third. Now 6 wins in a row for the 31-year-old Albanian and 15 wins by KO/TKO. Three short route losses in his last 4 fights for Khuzeev.

 

Malvinas, Argentinas, Argentina: Light Welter: Ramon de la Cruz Sena (19-13-2) W PTS 10 Gabriel F Punalef C. (19-6-3).  Sena wins the WBC Latino title with clear points victory over southpaw Punalef. The defending champion was the favourite here due to a long winning run. In his usual style he was dancing around the ring then lunging forward, landing a couple of light punches then holding or getting away before Sena could counter. However even in the second round the relentless pressure of Sena was telling and Punalef was doing more complaining about rough tactics from Sena than fighting. The third saw Punalef staying inside more and getting home with hard hooks to the body but he was fighting Sena’s fight and by the end of the round Sena was the one landing body shots. Sena’s pressure was forcing Punalef to trade more and he was having plenty of success with his right crosses and his body punches were more powerful than Punalef’s hooks. By the eighth Sena was confident enough to do some dancing himself and a desperate Punalef could do nothing to turn the fight his way. Scores 99-94, 97 ½-94 ½ and 97 ½-96. Sena, 28, gets revenge for a split decision loss in March. He is 3-4 in 7 fights this year but the other losses were away from home against Konstantin Ponomarev, unbeaten Aik Shakhnazaryan and useful David Avanesyan.  Punalef had lost only one of his last 18 fights and won ten in a row.

 

Rostov-na-Donu, Russia: Cruiser: Dmitry Kudryashov (15-0) W TKO 2 Giulian Ilie (20-8-2). Welter: Viskhan Murzabekov (10-0) W TKO 1 Ramadhani Shauri (18-6-1). Super Middle: Varazdat Cherikov (8-2) W KO 6 Karama Nyilawila (18-11-2). Middle: Alik Kanbolatov (10-2) W TKO 5 Mada Maugo (17-12).

Kudryashov vs. Ilie

Kudryashov gets quick win but due to injury. The Russian was by far the bigger boxer and made good use of his strong jab to keep the Romanian on the retreat. Ilie launched occasional attacks from behind a high guard getting through with rights. Near the end of the round Ilie came out of an exchange of punches holding his right arm straight down at his side and using only his left. Kudryashov ended the round strongly scoring with a right cross and right uppercut. Ilie came forward throwing punches in the second even using his right  but after Kudryashov scored with a right cross and right uppercut Ilie dropped both hands as if in surrender. With Kudryashov still throwing punches Ilie raised his guard again and Kudryashov again got through with some heavy punches. At the end of the round Ilie retired with the an injury to his right hand. The 28-year-old “Russian Hammer” has won all 15 of his fight by KO/TKO. He is a strong technically correct fighter with a good punch and should be ready to move up. Ilie, 37, who came in as a late substitute, did not seem in the best condition. He has now lost his last two fights inside the distance but the other loss in October last year was to Rakhim Chakhkiev so no disgrace there. He can be a dangerous opponent having wins over unbeaten fighters Kim Jenssen and Lars Bucholz, a win over Christian Dolzanelli (16-1-1) and sprang a major surprise when halting Italian Salvatore Erittu (21-0) in two rounds

Murzabekov vs. Shauri

Murzabekov retains his WBC Youth Intercontinental title with quick stoppage of overmatched Tanzanian. The 24-year-old “Little Tyson” has 5 wins by KO/TKO but has yet to face a real test. Shauri, 21, is 2-4 in his last 6 fights with all four losses on his travels.

Cherikov vs. Nyilawila

Cherikov wins the vacant UBO InterContinental title with stoppage of Tanzanian Nyilawila. The young Russian “Boa Constrictor” used a body attack to wear down and then finish Nyilawila. Third win in 2014 for the 23-year-old as he rebounds from two consecutive losses in 2013. The 30-year-old Tanzanian holds the UBO International title and is a former WBFed middleweight champion. He does ok in Tanzania but loses when he steps outside the home borders.

Kanbolatov vs. Maugo

Kanbolatov halts Maugo to win the vacant UBO middleweight title. The local fighter bounced Maugo off the canvas three times before the referee finally stopped the fight. After a 1-2 start to his career Kanbolatov has totaled nine wins in a row. Now he is a “world champion”. Before this fight his 11 opponents had combined records of 7-35 with five of them never having won a fight. That’s all you need to qualify for a UBO title fight! Maugo, 28, had lost in four rounds in March for the vacant UBO light heavy title. Again that’s all you need to qualify to fight for a UJBO title.

 

Bacolod City, Philippines: Super Fly: Melvin Gumban (18-0) W KO 1 Roger Echavez (7-13-1).

Gumban extends his winning run with first round blowout of Echavez in a poor bit of matching. The 24-year-old local has nine wins by KO/TKO and is GAB No 4. Eleven losses in a row for Echavez, the last six of them all by KO/TKO.

 

Granville, France: Light Middle: Maxime Beaussire (16-0-1) W PTS 8 Matiouze Royer (10-17-5). Middle: Gregory Louyest (7-5) W PTS 8 Biagio Obino (6-0).

13

Beaussire vs. Royer

“The Conqueror” Beaussire signs off with a unanimous decision over Royer. The 23-year-old FFB No 2 makes it 15 wins in a row and is said to be aiming to try his luck in the USA. Lanky Royer keeps his record of never losing by KO/TKO.

Louyest vs. Obino

Louyest makes it a double for Granville as he outboxes previously unbeaten Obino for a clear victory. This was the final of the annual Tournament staged in each division for second level French fighters.