The Past Week in Action 26 January 2015

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

                                    

January 20

 

Philadelphia, USA: Feather: Eric Hunter (20-3) W PTS 10 Rene Alvarado (21-4). Super Light: Mike Perez (22-1-2) W PTS 10 Miguel Acosta (29-8-2). Welter: Ray Serrano (20-2) W PTS 6 Jerome Rodriguez (6-2-3). Light: Lamont Roach (6-0) W TKO 4 Herbert Quartey (12-11).

Hunter vs. Alvarado

Hunter gets unanimous decision as he outboxes lanky Nicaraguan Alvarado. Switch-hitter Hunter started the fight as a southpaw and Alvarado was able to find him with long rights in the first round. Hunter was boxing with a low guard, avoiding Alvarado’s shots by swaying out of range and bobbing and weaving leaving him inside range with both hands free to punch. Alvarado was throwing more but Hunter was quicker and more accurate and began to pocket the rounds. As heads bumped together both fighters were cut early, Hunter outside the left eye and Alvarado over the right eye, but neither cut was a factor. Hunter shook Alvarado with a left hook in the fifth and was letting his hands go more but mainly head hunting. Alvarado was finding Hunter a difficult target due to the local’s excellent upper body movement but he stuck with the job and was always competitive with Hunter tending to fight in spurts with fast combinations. After Hunter had a good eighth Alvarado banged back to take the ninth but any chance he had disappeared in the last as Hunter scored heavily with both hands throughout the round. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-92 although it looked a little closer than that. Home town fighter “The Outlaw” Hunter, 28, has lost twice, both times by disqualification. Once you can put down to carelessness but two is stupidity for a fighter with his talents. He is a quick, slick boxer with excellent skills. He was National PAL champion and beat Diego Magdaleno in that tournament but failed at the final stages of the US Olympic Trials losing to Roberto Benitez in the box-off. He is rated No 8(7) in the IBF ratings. Alvarado, 25, had height and reach over Hunter but was just not accurate enough with his punching. A former Nicaraguan super bantamweight and WBC Silver featherweight champion he lost a biggie when being outpointed by Rocky Juarez in May but had rebounded by winning the WBC International title with a victory over Juan Pablo Sanchez in October and was rated No 15 by the WBC.

Perez vs. Acosta

Perez takes close unanimous decision over Venezuelan veteran Acosta in an entertaining scrap. The visitor had the better of the early rounds as he used hard counters to catch Perez who was coming forward to try to work inside. By the end of the fourth Acosta looked a likely winner as he seemed to score with enough counters to edge 3 of the  4 rounds and also inflicting cuts over both of Perez’s eyes. However that only seemed to spur Perez to greater effort and the fifth was a big round for him as his pressure tactics were paying off and he also took the sixth. Acosta was on his way to winning the seventh when a powerful left jab from Perez put Acosta down. He disputed the knockdown but a 10-9 round to Acosta suddenly became a 10-8 round for Perez. Acosta fought back hard to edge the eighth but despite a worsening cut over his right eye Perez took the ninth as Acosta was rocked by another left. The tenth saw both fighters battling furiously to swing things their way and with his left eye closing Perez decided matters by flooring Acosta with left hook which effectively ended any chance of the Venezuelan had of getting the decision. Scores 96-93 twice and 97-94 all for Perez with those two 10-8 rounds making the difference in a great little fight. Newark’s Michael Angelo “The Artist” Perez, 24, lost on a sixth round retirement against Omar Figueroa in 2012 but has since gone 7-0,1ND with this being his best win so far and the WBA have him rated No 7. Acosta, 36, a former secondary WBA lightweight champion, has slipped to 5 losses in his last 6 fights but all against high quality opposition.

Serrano vs. Rodriguez

Serrano returns to action with a points win over Rodriguez. After only one fight in two years Serrano found Rodriguez a good test. Serrano had the better of things over the first two rounds but Rodriguez had a big third as he scored with a series of southpaw lefts. Serrano was back in control in the fourth catching Rodriguez with a number of straight rights and boxing his way to victory. Scores 59-55 from all three judges. The 25-year-olod “Tito”, a former World Cadet bronze medalist, won his first 18 fights but was then de-railed by consecutive losses to Karim Mayfield in 2012 and Emmanuel Taylor in January 2013 before returning to action last November. Now 2 draws and 2 losses in his last 4 fights for Rodriguez.

Roach vs. Quartey

Former amateur star Roach destroys Ghanaian Quartey in four rounds. The talented 19-year-old floored Quartey with a right in the first round and had him hurt in the second and the third before ending it in the fourth. After two knockdowns in the round the referee stepped in to save Quartey. Teenager Roach was National PAL, NGG and United States champion as an amateur so is one to note. Quartey, 26, suffers his eighth loss by KO/TKO having been knocked out by former WBO champion Roman Martinez just 31 days ago.

 

January 22

 

New York, NY, USA: Cruiser: Junior Anthony Wright (13-0-1) W TKO 2 Rayford Johnson (10-17). Feather: Floriano Pagliara (16-7-2) W PTS 8 Antwan Robertson (9-12-1).

Wright vs. Johnson

“Hurricane Wright blows away outclassed Johnson in two rounds. After a slow start in the first which Johnson probably edged Wright caught up with Johnson and ended it in the second. Wright hurt Johnson with a left hook and then cut loose with a series of uppercuts and with Johnson not fighting back the referee stopped the fight. The 28-year-old former Chicago Golden Gloves champion and NGG quarter-finalist has 11 wins by KO/TKO and makes it three wins since a draw with unbeaten Stivens Bujaj for the vacant WBC International title. Texan Johnson, 34, is 2-8 in his last 10 fights. He got a good win over Vince Miranda (16-1) in August but was then stopped inside a round by Joey Dawejko in November.

Pagliara vs. Robertson

Italian Pagliara wins the vacant WBU Americas title with unanimous decision over Robertson. The fight lacked excitement with Robertson being miserly with his punches so that Pagliara took every round. The Italian had Robertson in deep trouble in the fourth and fifth. Robertson was just looking to survive after that and despite two warning from the referee that the fight could be stopped if he did not increase his efforts Robertson continued his negative tactics to the end of the eighth round. Scores 80-72 from all three judges. Pagliara made a win/win as he proposed in the ring to his girlfriend after the fight and she accepted. The 36-year-old “Italian Flash” a former Italian super feather champion now based in Brooklyn had lost 3 of his last 4 fights so a very welcome win. His record would be 17-6-2 but reportedly a points win in an Italian title defence in 2013 was changed to a disqualification loss after Pagliara tested positive for a banned substance. Robertson has lost 4 of his last 5 fights.

The show was staged by Dmitriy Salita’s Star of David Promotions and was dedicated to the two NYPD men who were murdered recently.

 

January 23

 

Saint-Nazaire, France: Bantam: Nordine Oubaali (4-0) W KO 5 Nugzar Chavchavadze (6-1). Outstanding prospect Oubaali makes it two, wins by KO/TKO as he knocks out unbeaten Georgian in two rounds. The 28-year-old southpaw, the FFB No 1 had a stellar amateur being a multi-time French champion winning a hatful of amateur tournaments, taking a bronze medal at the World Championships and scoring wins over current IBF flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng, Rau’shee Warren and outstanding Irish battler Paddy Barnes twice. At the 2008 Olympics he drew with Zou Shiming 3-3 but lost on the jury’s decision. First fight outside Georgia for Chavchavadze who was in over his head.

 

Corato di Bari, Italy: Super Welter: Felice Moncelli (11-3-1) W PTS 12 Dieudonne Belinga (12-6-1). Light Heavy: Mirco Ricci (13-2) W PTS 6 Leo Tchoula (9-9).

Moncelli vs. Belinga

Moncelli gets majority decision over tough French opponent Belinga. The Frenchman attacked strongly at the outset but his lack of punching power allowed the local fighter to take over and score with heavy rights and set the pace of the fight. Southpaw Belinga showed excellent skills with good upper body movement. Moncelli staggered Belinga with a right in the fifth and looked to be on the cusp of a stoppage win in the sixth. However, Belinga survived and Moncelli started to tire and Belinga and got through with heavy punches of his own in the eighth and ninth to get back into the fight. The tenth was evenly balanced and although Belinga went down it was ruled a slip. The Frenchman won the eleventh to put the fight in the balance but a series of crisp shots from Moncelli allowed the Italian to just edge the decision in a close and skilful match. Scores 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114. The 21-year-old Italian champion wins the vacant IBF International title with his sixth victory in a row. He turned pro in 2012 at the age of 18 after only two years as an amateur so is still learning. Belinga, 28, the FFB No 1 is 1-2-1 in his last 4 fights with the losses being to world rated Jack Culcay and to Attila Kovacs for the vacant WBO European title in September.

Ricci vs. Tchoula

Just a keep busy fight for 24-year-old Italian champion Ricci as he takes unanimous decision over German-based Tchoula who drops to 8 losses in a row

 

Nabua, Philippines: Super Bantam: Bernabe Concepcion (33-6-2) W KO 2 Rasmanudin (18-8-3). Super Light: Al Sabaupan (24-2-1) W KO 3 Geisler A P (6-5).

Concepcion vs. Rasmanudin

Too easy for Concepcion as he halts battle weary Indonesian in the second. “The Real Deal” had Rasmanudin under pressure in the first and ended it the second with a crunching left hook to the body. Now 19 wins by KO/TKO for the 27-year-old Filipino as he tries to resurrect his career. He lost to Steve Luevano and Juan Manuel Lopez in shots at the WBO feather title and subsequent losses to Juan Carlos Martinez and Mikey Garcia sent him into semi-retirement with just one fight in 2013 and one fight last year. The “Lost Boy” Rasmanudin, 27, a former Indonesian bantam and super bantam champion now has 4 losses and a draw in his last 5 fights.

Sabaupan vs. Geisler

Sabaupan climbs off the floor to get his fourth win on the bounce by KO/TKO. The local southpaw found himself on the floor in the first round but was not badly hurt and handed out a steady beating over the next two rounds before putting the Indonesian down and out in the third. The 26-year Filipino “Captain” was unbeaten in his first 18 fights before losing to Marvin Quintero in an IBF eliminator in 2012. In March 2013 he was floored and outpointed by Ric Dominguez and was then inactive for a year. He is rated No 1 by the GAB. Geisler’s available record shows him 3-5 in the last 8 fights with all five losses by KO/TKO.

 

Bangkok, Thailand: Super Fly: Kongfah (19-0) W TKO 3 Rendi Stone (3-4-1). Super Fly: Srisaket (32-4-1) W TKO 3 Ardi Tefa (6-3). Bantam: Suriyan (39-6-1) W KO 3 Daoden (0-1).

Kongfah vs. Stone

Easy win for Thai as he has too much power for Indonesian and wins vacant WBC Youth Silver title. Stone had the edge in height and reach and spent the first round backing up and then leaping in with quick flurries of light punches. Kongfah just walked through them but was not letting his own hands go and hardly threw a punch in the round. After boxing southpaw in the first round Kongfah switched to orthodox and stepped-up the pace throwing more meaningful punches but almost went down when a punch caught him when he was off balance. He went back to southpaw in the third and was digging in hurtful shots to head and body with Stone fading quickly. A volley of hooks and uppercuts saw Stone just standing still and not throwing anything back and when the Indonesian turned away from the punishment the referee stopped the fight. Now 11 wins by KO/TKO for the 22-year-old Thai and his first fight scheduled for ten rounds. Ignore the impressive figures 14 of Kongfah’s victims had never had a fight and not one had a positive record. Stone had been knocked out in three rounds in a WBC Youth bantamweight title fight in November and his published record is almost certainly incomplete.

Srisaket vs. Tefa

In the first of two disgraceful mismatches former WBC super fly champion Srisaket halted inexperienced Indonesian Tefa in three rounds. A man that the WBC rate No 1 should not be in “fights” like this. Now a meaningless 5 wins since losing his title to Carlos Cuadras in May. Again Tefa’s record probably incomplete but he has lost by early KO/TKO in 3 of his last 5 fights.

Suriyan vs. Daoden

An even worst disgrace as another former WBC super fly champion kayos a novice with no traceable record. Where does boxing in Thailand hide if a tragedy occurs in a travesty like this? I guess they just don’t care.

 

Veroce, Hungary: Middle: Norbert Nemesapati (16-2) W TKO 2 Andras Varga (12-17-3). Hungarian Teenager “Noble” Nemesapati gets the show back on the road with stoppage of fellow-countryman Varga. After 14 wins in a row the 19-year-old Nemesapati lost to Jason Escalera in August last year and to Schiller Hyppolite for the vacant WBC International title last month. This is his first fight since then. He showed good skills in both of those fights and with more experience will come again for sure. Varga, 22, was on a good run being 10-1-1 in his last 12 fights.

 

Montebello, CA, USA: Cruiser: Murat Gassiev W DISQ 4 Terry Smith (8-18-3)

A poor match came to a poor ending. Gassiev was hunting Smith from then outset with Smith on the retreat and limited to only occasional counters. As the fight progressed Gassiev closed the distance and was thumping home body shots. In the fourth the end looked close as Gassiev was getting through with heavy punches from both hands. Smith was hanging on desperately and the referee had a hard time getting him to let go. He took a point of Smith for his grasping tactics but it made no difference and after more holding from Smith the referee disqualified him. Unsatisfactory ending for the tall 21-year-old Russian who is rated WBC 9 and IBF11 (9). He needs to meet better opposition as there is nothing in his list of opponents to justify such high ratings. Smith has just one win in his last 9 fights.

 

January 24

 

Bloomfield, CO, USA: Welter: Brandon Rios (33-2-1) W RTD 3 Mike Alvarado (34-4). Super Middle: Gilberto Ramirez S (31-0) W PTS 10 Maxim Vlasov (30-1). Super Light: Abner Lopez (22-4) W PTS 8 Aik Shakhnazaryan (15-1). Light: Olek Gvozdyk (5-0) W TKO 2 Cory Cummings (18-8-1). Welter: Konstantin Ponomarev (27-0) W PTS 8 Steve Claggett (20-3-1).

Rios vs. Alvarado

Rios brutally crushes Alvarado to put a finisher to their three bout series. Rios was dominant from the start stalking a hesitant, retreating Alvarado and slamming home vicious uppercuts and hooks with Alvarado only firing back an occasional punch and already looking a beaten man after just three minutes. Rios continued to batter away at Alvarado in the second who landed a low punch which looked deliberate and had Rios on the floor in agony. He was given time to recover. As the round continued Alvarado scored with a left hook, his best punch so far but then Rios was again knocking lumps of Alvarado and having the Colorado fighter’s face a mask of blood from a heavy nose bleed. In the third Alvarado was just trying to survive but not succeeding. Rios battered him with straight rights, hooks and uppercuts. A right uppercut snapped Alvarado’s head back and he pitched forward to his knees. Alvarado got up and made it to the bell.  Despite the efforts of his corner he seemed reluctant to continue. The doctor held up two fingers in front of Alvarado and when Alvarado said he could see four the fight was over. Rios had halted Alvarado in seven rounds in 2012 but had a bad 2013 losing a close decision to Alvarado in a rematch and then being outclassed by Manny Pacquiao. An attempt to bounce back in August mis-fired with Rios behind on two cards and looking flat only for his opponent Diego Chaves to throw him a lifeline by getting disqualified. This win has achieved what the Chaves fight failed to do for the 28-year-old former WBA light champion and now he is back into the mix with the big names. He wins the WBO International title. Alvarado, 34, has said he will fight on but that can’t be certain. He showed nothing here and was badly beaten. He almost certainly faces jail time for being found in possession of a firearm whilst on probation. The warning signs were there as his arrest took place when he was stopped in his car in the early hours of the morning when he was supposed to be getting into top condition for this important fight.

Ramirez vs. Vlasov

Ramirez continues on his winning way but gets his toughest test so far. The unbeaten Mexican has been used to fighting super middleweights where his height and reach have given him a big edge. This time he was up against a taller fighter and a natural light heavyweight and that produced a very competitive fight. The first two rounds were even with southpaw Ramirez going to the body and Vlasov matching him punch for punch. The body attack started to slow Vlasov from the third and he became reluctant to trade preferring to score from the outside where he found a home for his straight rights. Ramirez continued to work the body but as the bout wore on both fighters began to show the ravages of the punishing exchanges with Ramirez marked around the left eye and Vlasov bruising up. Neither fighter really managed to open a gap with but Ramirez was the busier. Vlasov staged a strong finish as the Mexican tired but the earlier higher work rate of Ramirez made the difference ( according to CompuBox Ramirez threw  631 and landed 179 and Vlasov threw 411 and landed 115) but in the end Vlasov punched hard but came up short. Scores 97-93 twice and 96-94. The 23-year-old Ramirez is No 2 with the WBA, WBC and WBO and No 3 with the IBF so could land a title fight late in the year. Russian Vlasov, 28, lost a close decision to Isaac Chilemba in 2011 but had accumulated 11 wins since then and was WBC 10 and IBF 11 at light heavyweight. He did his reputation no harm in running Ramirez so close. The bout was made at a catch weight of 171lbs.

Lopez vs. Shakhnazaryan

Mexican “Jaeger” Lopez ruins the US debut for Russian hope. A big factor was the height and reach edges that the 5’10” (178cm) Lopez had over the 5’5 ½” (167cm) Shakhnazaryan. Lopez was able to work on the outside but with Shakhnazaryan having enough success to stay in the fight for four rounds. The fifth saw Lopez getting through with heavy shots and shaking Shakhnazaryan. In the sixth body punches from Lopez put Shakhnazaryan down twice. The Russian fought back hard over the last two rounds but could not close the gap. Scores 78-73 twice and 76-74. The 24-year-old from Tijuana has lost only one of his last 11 fights and this win in his first fight north of the border should see him asked back again. The 21-year-old “Humanoid” holds the WBO European, WBC Baltic and IBF Youth titles and will probably go back to Russian and regroup.

Gvozdyk vs. Cummings

Ukrainian Gvozdyk blows away experienced Cummings in just over four minutes. After failing to get through to Cummings in the first he floored the American with a left hook early in the second. Cummings got up only to be caught by a series of punches that dumped him face down on the canvas. Cummings bravely made it to his feet but when a right put him down again the fight was halted. The tall 27-year-old was Ukrainian amateur champion in 2009, 2010 and 2011, won a gold at the World University Games and a bronze at the 2012 Olympics so has a good grounding. He has wins over Mike Gbenga and Otis Griffin and moves to 4 wins by KO/TKO. “Black Ice” Cummings, 35, drops to two losses by KO/TKO but was coming off a win over Yusaf Mack in October.

Ponomarev vs. Claggett

Ponomarev just edges out Claggett in an all-action fight between two young hopefuls. Neither fighter is a big puncher so they were able to trade punches throughout the fight making it a competitive close quarter’s scrap. There was little between them but the Russian was slightly the better boxer and more accurate with his punches. He built a slender lead and did just enough to hold on to it as Claggett staged a strong finish The scores of 77-75 twice and 78-74 all for Ponomarev were not universally popular but he just about deserved the decision. The 22-year-olod Russian “Talant” turned pro at 17 and is still learning but already has a win over veteran Cosme Rivera. Canadian Claggett had won 9 of his last 10 fights, 8 by KO/TKO and he can come again.

 

Bergamo, Italy: Light: Emiliano Marsili (31-0-1) W TKO 7 Gyorgy Mizsei (21-13). Super Light: Andrea Scarpa (17-2) W PTS 10 Franceso Acatullo (7-3-1). Super Middle: Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye (24-2-1) W PTS 6 Norbert Szekeres (16-38-3).

Marsili vs. Mizsei

Southpaw Marsili retains EBU title with repeat win over Mizsei. Although edging the first two rounds the champion had trouble closing with the Hungarian who made good use of his advantages in height and reach and was able to tie Marsili up when he got close. The fight began to swing in the third as after Mizsei had dominated the ring centre Marsili finally began to land some heavy punches to head and body. Mizsei went down just before the end of the round but it was ruled a slip. Marsili kept up the pressure in the fourth finding gaps in the Hungarian’s defence but Mizsei scored well with his jab and right hooks to clearly win the fifth. In the sixth Marsili got through with a series of rights and put Mizsei down. The Hungarian got up but was floored again by a left to the body and only just survived the round. Mizsei had nothing left and after Marsili landed some hard punches to head and body a left hook to the chin put Mizsei down and out. The 38-year-old Italian makes it 14 wins by KO/TKO and four successful defences of his EBU title. He is rated IBF 3 (2)/WBC 8 and deserves a title fight. Mizsei, 21, had dubious qualifications as a challenger. His biggest win was a split decision over Brunet Zamora (25-1-2) in April but after that he was 2-3 in his next 5 fights being stopped by Jean Pierre Bauwens, losing a clear unanimous decision to Marsili for the title, and then losing every round against Brit Anthony Crolla. This is his fifth loss by KO/TKO.

Scarpa vs. Acatullo

Scarpa wins the vacant national title with a unanimous decision over Acatullo in a great little scrap. The champion had all of the physical advantages and Acatullo had to get inside to have any chance. Over the first two rounds he was walking in behind a cross-armed guard and although taking some punishment on the way in was working the body well. The third saw Scarpa scoring heavily with rights and bringing blood from Acatullo’s nose. More of the same in the fourth and despite Scarpa dominating with his jab Acatullo’s constant pressure meant each round was full of action. The fifth round swung one way and then the other as Scarpa scored with rights only for Acatullo to have a period of control with heavy hooks and Scarpa banging back to have Acatullo in trouble by the end of the round. They battled away in the sixth and although both were show signs of tiring the action remained hot in the seventh with Scarpa on top and Acatullo still winging hooks to try to turn things his way. The pace dropped in the eighth and Scarpa was able to control the fight from the outside in the ninth. The last was a wild round with both fighters tired, staggered and hurt at the end of a grueling war. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93. Scarpa won clearly but the scores don’t tell the whole tale. Now 16 wins in a row for the 27-year-old Scarpa a former undefeated Italian super feather champion who is No 4 in the EBU ratings. Acatullo, 26, had lost only one of his last 7 fights and had never gone past six rounds before.

Ali Ndiaye vs. Szekeres

Ali Ndiaye eases back with unanimous decision over experienced loser Szekeres. The 35-year-old Senegalese-born Ali Ndiaye, a former a former Italian and EU champion had blown his world rating in a shock stoppage loss to Chris Rebrasse in March and this was his first fight since then. He is still rated No 5 by the EBU. Hungarian Szekeres, 28, has lost 7 of his last 8 fights but usually goes the distance.

 

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico: Super Bantam: Rey Vargas (23-0) W TKO 2 Nestor Paniagua (25-8-2). Super Middle: Marcos Reyes (33-2) W PTS 8 David A Lopez (41-15-1). Welter: Marcos Villasana Jr. (15-5) W PTS 8 Francisco Valadez (1-4-1).

Vargas vs. Paniagua

Predictable outcome to this mismatch as world rated Vargas blows away Paniagua in two rounds. Vargas tried to get it over in the first getting through with some hard body punches before dropping Paniagua with a head shot. The Argentinian managed to be there at the bell but it was obvious he was in over his head. In the second Vargas launched a sustained body attack and with Paniagua trapped on the ropes and soaking up punishment his corner threw in the towel just as the referee stopped the fight. The tall, thin 24-year-old Vargas wins the vacant WBC International Silver title and now has 20 wins by KO/TKO. He had a stellar time as an amateur winning the national title, taking a gold medal at the Pan American Championships and competing at the World Junior Championships and has a win over current WBA bantam champion Juan Carlos Payano from those amateur days. If Guillermo Rigondeaux, Leo Santa Cruz, Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg look over their shoulders this is the guy they will see coming their way. He is rated WBC 4/IBF 5(4) and WBO 6. Paniagua, 35, the FAB No 7 was unbeaten in his last 8 fights going in.

Reyes vs. Lopez

Reyes gets unanimous decision over Lopez. “Dorado” Reyes won this one on his superior skill against a tough, experienced Lopez. It was not all plain sailing as Lopez had Reyes down in the second round but Reyes recovered and was a clear winner. Scores 77-74 from all three judges. The 27-year-old Reyes was riding high in the ratings after a 19 bout winning streak including wins over Julio Cesar Garcia, Amilcar Funes and Rogelio Medina until Abraham Han climbed off the floor to outpoint him in October. This was Stage 1 of a reconstruction job. Southpaw Lopez 37 had his own 16 wins streak broken when he lost to Austin Trout for the secondary WBA light middle title in 2011. Since then it has been just one fight in 2012, one in 2013 and one in 2014.

Villasana vs. Valadez

Villasana wins unanimous decision over novice Valadez. The son of the former WBC champion is yet another on a putting the bricks back in the wall exercise as he makes it two wins in a row after going 2-4 in a run of six fights. First eight round fight for Valadez.

 

Brooks, CA, USA: Middle: Paul Mendez (16-2-2,1ND) W RTD 1 Ernesto Berrospe (10-6). Feather: Guy Robb (15-1) W TKO 7 Jose Silveira (15-13).

Mendez vs. Berrospe

Mendez returns to action after recovering from a shoulder injury and gets a win, but this one caused by an injury to his opponent. Mendez made a confident start taking the fight to Berrospe and scoring with good hooks and forcing him back with a strong jab. At the end of the round Berrospe’s arm looked swollen and the doctor confirmed he had ruptured his bicep so the fight was over. The 25-year-old lanky “El Gallo Negro” wins the vacant IBA title. He has a 13 bout unbeaten streak including a draw with current interim WBA champion Dmitry Chudinov. After being out for 9 months with the injury he is looking to get into some high profile matches. Mexican Berrospe was having his first fight since September 2013 and is facing another long lay-off.

Robb vs. Sliveria

Robb wears down late substitute Sliveria. Robb was bigger and stronger and forced Sliveria to fight in the back foot and off the ropes in round after round. The Mexican stood the pressure for the first three rounds but from the fourth was showing signs of tiring. Rob kept pounding away and in the seventh a hard combination had the exhausted Sliveria sagging and the fight was stopped.  The only loss for the 25-year-old from Sacramento was a seventh round stoppage against unbeaten hot prospect Joel Diaz, but Diaz had to climb off the canvas for the win. This is Robb’s eighth win since then. Experienced Sliveria, 35, a former IBA bantam champion has lost 6 of his last 7 fights.

 

Pennsauken, PA, USA: Chazz Witherspoon (32-3) W TKO 2 Cory Phelps (16-8-1).

Witherspoon continues his rebuilding with easy stoppage of Phelps. Witherspoon had his jab working early and was walking down Phelps getting through with some hard body punches. Late in the round two thunderous rights had Phelps reeling and Witherspoon added some more body punches before the bell. Witherspoon was driving Phelps back with the jab in the second and then landed a right uppercut which put Phelps down. He made it to his feet but more jabs followed by another right uppercut put Phelps down again and the fight was stopped. Second win for the 33-year-old “Gentleman” since being crushed by Seth Mitchell in two rounds in April. A second cousin to former WBA champion Tim, Witherspoon was a NGG champion but just failed to qualify at the US Olympic Trials for the 2008 team. Phelps, 30, lasted just 78 seconds against Shannon Briggs in August. Witherspoon vs. Briggs would be interesting.

 

Temuco, Chile: Feather: Cristian Palma (20-8-1) W PTS 10 Luis Parra (3-3).

“El Tigre” Palma retains Chilean title with unanimous decision over Parra. Palma was allowing Parra to come forward and catching him with hard counters. The aggression of the challenger kept him in the fight over the first four rounds but Palma was in total control over the middle rounds flooring Parra twice and opening a cut over his right eye.  Most of the fight had gone out of Parra by the closing rounds and Palma won the unanimous decision on scores of 99-90, 97-91 and a too close 9-94. First fight for Palma since losing a wide decision against Paulus Ambunda in May. “Motorcito” Parra was in his first ten round fight.

 

Helsinki, Finland: Light: Edis Tatli (24-1) W TKO 1 Olegs Vilcans (1-8).

The best thing that can be said for this fight is that it did not last long. It took former WBA title challenger Tatli just 40 seconds to force the stoppage against Latvian. Vilcans was a very late substitute. He has lost 8 times by KO/TKO with every one of those losses in the first round and in four of those fights he failed to last one minute-and they put him in with a guy who lost only on a majority decision to Richar Abril for the WBA title in his last fight in September. It took me longer to type this than it took for Tatli to win.

 

Limoges, France: Heavy: Cyril Leonet (7-8-2) W KO 6 Alban Galonnier (4-7-1).

Leonet finally wins the French title as he knocks out Galonnier in the sixth to lift the vacant crown. These two had met in a non-title fight in December 2013 with Leonet winning a unanimous decision. Leonet made it third time lucky as he had lost twice to unbeaten Newfel Ouatah for the title. Southpaw Galonnier had height and reach over Leonet but his chin let him down.

 

Virreyes, Argentina: Bantam: Yoan Boyeaux (30-4,1ND) W TKO 3 Nestor D Monte (16-11-4). Frenchman Boyeaux continues his Argentinian campaign with win over Monte. The former French champion is undefeated in his last 21 fights with 17 wins by KO/TKO in that streak. He dominated the first two rounds and Monte failed to come out for round three. The No Decision on the 27-year-old “Yo Boy’s” record was when he outpointed Karim Guerfi for the vacant French title in January 2013 only for the decision to be changed when Boyeaux tested positive for a banned substance. He has not fought in France since then. Now 8 losses by KO/TKO for Monte who is 3-7-1 in his last 11 fights.

 

Niort, France: Middle: Davy Armand (16-4-2) W PTS 6 Laurent Ferra (16-19-4).

Local fighter Armand keeps his hopes of a title shot alive with a unanimous points win over Ferra. Armand started fast against the aggressive Ferra who pressed the fight hard. Armand had been ill the night before the fight and considered cancelling. It might have been different over 8 or ten rounds but Armand did enough to win. The 30-year-old FFB No 3 lost on points to Karim Achour for the French title in May and a return match is his aim. Southpaw Ferra is tough and has only failed to last the distance twice in his 19 losses.

 

January 25

 

Mar del Plata, Argentina: Feather: Matias C A Rueda (21-0) W KO 3 Guillermo O Soloppi (18-5,1ND). Cruiser: Cristian J Medina (12-1-1) W TKO 7 Nelson D Dominguez (17-5-1).

Rueda vs. Soloppi

Rueda retains WBO Latino title with kayo of Soloppi. The challenger tried to take the fight to Rueda in the first getting inside and scoring with uppercuts but Rueda responded with a couple of left hooks to the body. Soloppi continued to press Rueda in the second trying to deny the bigger puncher room to develop leverage and also roughed Rueda up with some headwork. Rueda ended it in the third. After shaking Soloppi early with right he then landed a crushing left hook to the body with Soloppi going down and being counted out. The 26-year-old “Little Cobra”, the Argentinian champion, makes it 18 wins by KO/TKO including 13 wins that way in his last 14 fights. He is rated WBO 6/IBF 15(14). Soloppi, 29, was unbeaten in his first 14 fights but is 5-5 in the last 10 and is rated No 9 bantam by the FAB.

Medina vs. Dominguez

Medina has no trouble holding on to his interim WBC Latino title with stoppage of Dominguez. Southpaw Medina used his right jab to collect the first round and in the second floored Dominguez with two rights. Dominguez fought back in the third and fourth scoring well with his long jabs but in each round had to absorb some hard body punches. Medina began to take control in the fifth although he was still in second gear. That changed in the sixth as he floored Dominguez twice both times with rights to the chin. Medina took Dominguez to the ropes in the seventh and ended the fight with a left/right body/head combination that sent Dominguez down for the fourth time and the fight was stopped. The 25-year-old “Maravilla” has 4 wins by KO/TKO. After losing his first paid fight he is now unbeaten in 13 and is rated FAB No 3. Dominguez, 37, is 3-4 in his last 7 fights with all four losses by KO/TKO. He is rated No 6(4) at heavyweight by the FAB.

Abbreviations

ABC=Asian Boxing Council an affiliate of the WBC

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

ABU=African Boxing Union an affiliate of the WBC

ACC=WBC Asian Council Continental title

ANBF=Australian National Boxing Federation who administer Australian titles

BBB of C=British Boxing Board of Control

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

BDB= Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer one of the German boxing bodies

B & H=Bosnia & Herzegovina

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

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

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

DRC=Democratic Republic of the Congo

EBU=European Boxing Union

FAB=Argentinian Boxing Federation

FFB=French Boxing Federation

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

GBC= Global Boxing Council a sanctioning body

IBA=International Boxing Association a sanctioning body

IBF=International Boxing Federation a sanctioning body

IBO=International Boxing Organisation a sanctioning body

JBC =Japanese Boxing Commission

NABA=North American Boxing Association, a WBA affiliate

NABF=North American Boxing Federation a WBC affiliate

NABO= North American Boxing Organisation, a WBO affiliate

NCC=National Championships of Canada

NGG=US National Golden Gloves

NZPBF=New Zealand Professional Boxing Federation a national sanctioning body

OPBF=Orient & Pacific Boxing Federation

PABA=Pacific & Asian Boxing Association, a WBA affiliate

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

UBF=Universal Boxing Federation a sanctioning body

UBO=Universal Boxing Organisation a sanctioning body

USBA= United States Boxing Association, an IBF affiliate

USBO=United States Boxing Organisation an WBO affiliate

WBA=World Boxing Association a sanctioning body

WBC=World Boxing Council a sanctioning body

WBFed=World Boxing Federation, a sanctioning body

WBFound=World Boxing Foundation, a sanctioning body

WBU=World Boxing Union, a sanctioning body

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

the higher rating positions being vacant.