The Past Week In Action 10 January 2016

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

                                 The Past Week In Action 10 January 2016

January 8

Marseille, France : Super Bantam: Badis Ouari (8-3-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Faycal Messaoudene (6-25-1).

Ouari wins the vacant French title in front of his own crowd with unanimous decision over late substitute Messaoudene. It was a comfortable win for southpaw Ouari on scores of 100-90, 99-91 and a too close 98-96. Ouari wins the title at the second attempt. His challenge to Amor Behadji Ali in March was abandoned after three rounds due to fights breaking out in the crowd. He was to have challenged Behadji Ali again but the champion was injured and pulled out vacating the title. Parisian Messaoudene, 32, came in at short notice and this was his second shot at the title. He has been in with good opposituion and usually goes the distance so he did his job here.

Payo Paet, Cambodia: Light: Terdsak (59-5-1) W TKO 4 Heri Andriyanto (21-21-2).

Terdsak stops veteran loser Andriyanto. This was always going to end early and it was really just a case of how long Andriyanto would last. Terdsak was walking him down looking to land his powerful southpaw left. Andriyanto hardly ever ventured into mid ring just circling the ring trying to stay away. In the second round a head punch staggered Andriyanto and Terdsak then put him down with a left. Andriyanto was up at four and lasted to the bell. In the third a right/left/right combination put Andriyanto down. He was up at seven and survived by once more circling around the perimeter of the ring and holding when he needed to. At the start of the fourth a three-punch combination put him down again. He rolled over a couple of times dabbing at his right eye and the referee just waived his arms and the fight was over. “Pit Bull” Terdsak, 34, gets win No 39 by KO/TKO. His losses have been against Takahiro Ao and Steve Luevano in world title fights, Juan Manuel Marquez and Orlando Salido in interim title fights and Joan Guzman in a title eliminator so he has lost all the big ones.  Indonesian Andriyanto, 29, has yet to win outside Indonesia after 13 tries.

January 9

Offenburg, Germany: Super Middle: Giovanni De Carolis (24-6) W TKO 11 Vincent Feigenbutz (21-2). Cruiser: Noel Gevor (20-0) W PTS 10 Valery Brudov (42-7). Heavy: Derek Chisora (25-5) W TKO 2 Andras Csomor (14-9-1). Heavy: Dennis Lewandowski (7-0) W PTS 6 Aziz Baran (5-2).Super Middle: Stefan Haertel (8-0) W PTS 6 Jozsef Racz (5-6). Cruiser: Artur Mann (5-0) W TKO 5 Phillip Palm (4-1). Super Middle: Leon Bauer (6-0) W TKO 1 Ondrej Marvan (3-1).

De Carolis vs. Feigenbutz

De Carolis gets revenge for controversial loss in October and wins the secondary WBA title. The Italian came out firing and forced Feigenbutz back throughout the first round chasing the German around the ring and scoring with body punches from both hands and slotting home jabs. Feigenbutz tried to counter but was made too busy defending himself. De Carolis continued to force the fight in the second throwing and landing more with Feigenbutz trying to fight him off with his jab instead of matching the Italian with his rights. The third was also the Italian’s round although by the end of the round Feigenbutz was finally getting into the fight In the fourth the pressure was again coming from de Carolis but Feigenbutz landed the best punch so far in a right uppercut which staggered De Carolis and had the Italian hanging on. At the end of the fourth the stats show De Carolis throwing 243 punches to the 140 from Feigenbutz and landing a higher percentage. Feigenbutz continued his good work from the fourth round and had his best so far in the fifth as he clearly outscores De Carolis with the Italian also suffering a cut on his left eyebrow in a clash of heads. The sixth was close but Feigenbutz was in clear ascendency in the seventh again hurting De Carolis with a sharp uppercut and driving the Italian back. De Carolis came back as the aggressor to outwork Feigenbutz in the eighth and ninth to establish a clear lead. Both fought hard through the tenth but at the end of that round De Carolis was in front by two points on two cards and by six points on the other. The onus was on Feigenbutz to pull something out to save the fight. Instead a thudding right from De Carolis crashed into the side of the German’s head. Immediately Feigenbutz’s legs unhinge and he wobbled forward past De Carolis to the ropes. As he passed De Carolis threw a right which curved around the back of the German’s head actually landing on the opposite side of his head. The German was staggering badly and had no answer as De Carolis continued to fire punches and the referee stepped in and pulled De Carolis off. Feigenbutz raised his hands as if to protest but to prove the referee was right Feigenbutz was still staggering back unable to stand straight. Disgracefully two senior members of the promoter’s team climbed in the ring and began to remonstrate with the referee over the punch which went round the back of Feigenbutz’s head ignoring the fact that their fighter was virtually out on his feet when that earlier right to the side of his head landed. There was talk of a protest to the WBA but since the best that would bring was a return and there was already an agreement for a return fight the protest was shelved. The 31-year-old De Carolis looked on his way to a win in any case. He was very unlucky not to get the decision in October having floored Feigenbutz in the first round only for the decision to go to Feigenbutz by two points on two cards and one point on the other. He lost on points to Arthur Abraham for the WBO Inter-Continental title in 2013 but fought his way back into the reckoning with an upset win over world rated Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye in May last year. Feigenbutz is still only 20 and prior to his first fight with De Carolis had won 13 in a row by KO/TKO which did not really prepare him for an aggressive warrior such as De Carolis. He can learn from this and come again. Oh yes. De Carolis also wins the GBU title. Better not forget that.

Gevor vs. Brudov

Gevor boxes his way to unanimous decision over substitute Brudov. The German-based Armenian, fighting out of a semi-crouch and using lots of upper body and lateral movement had Brudov on the back foot. The Russian veteran was looking to counter but Gevor had much quicker hand speed and was boxing well. Brudov was trying to get on the front foot in the second but had to eat fast punches from Gevor. Brudov was now looking to stay in centre ring in the third and had some success with his jab but Gevor was doubling and tripling his own jab and looking comfortable despite a small swelling showing under his right eye. Brudov scored with a couple of good rights at the star of the fourth but at the end of the round Gevor shook Brudov and then landed a series of hard punches for his best spell so far. Gevor was going to the body in the fifth with Brudov getting through with a couple of clubbing rights and trying to walk through Gevor’s punches but taking a lot more than he was giving. In the sixth Gevor was going for combination punches in close with Brudov doing well with his jab but again Gevor ended the round with a series of punches that had Brudov ducking and diving. The pace dropped in the seventh with the cleaner work coming from Gevor and he clearly took the eighth with good work with his left jabbing and hooking. He was showing a small amount of damage under his left eye but was in control in the ninth loading up on his punches more with Brudov getting caught time and again by jabs and hooks and a hard combination just before the bell. Gevor again dominated the action in the tenth and the fight had a dramatic finish as split seconds before the final bell Gevor landed a left and a big right and suddenly Brudov was staggering out on his feet falling into the ropes and reeling towards a corner but the fight was already over. Gevor, 25, retains his WBO International title. He is rated IBF 10(8)/WBA 13 but on the basis of his opposition is a more realistic No 17 with the EBU. He is a quick, talented boxer but I am not sure about punch power. Russian Brudov, 39, a former interim WBA champion, was having his first fight since being knocked out in four rounds by Rakhim Chakhkiev in April. He gave a good show here. He never looked like a winner but he was competitive all the way.

Chisora vs. Csomor

Chisora halts Csomor in two rounds. Chisora came out going straight after Csomor forcing the Hungarian onto the back foot with a stiff jab. Csomor was trying to score with overhand rights but Chisora had him hurt and was working him over to the body at the end of the round. Chisora continued to press in the second and shook Csomor with a sharp right uppercut then followed with a couple of right cross which sent Csomor into the ropes. He escaped and tried to punch his way out of trouble but another right cross sent Csomor stumbling across the ring and the referee stopped the fight. It looked a bit premature but the signs were that Chisora had too much power and the end was not far off anyway. The 32-year-old Zimbabwe-born Brit was having his third fight in five weeks and his third win by KO/TKO in a row. Hungarian Csomor now has eight losses by KO/TKO.

Lewandowski vs. Baran

Lewandowski remains unbeaten with unanimous verdict over Baran who makes Tauasa seem slim. The 21-year-old German hope, a former German Junior champion, has just two wins by KO/TKO and is not the quickest in the world. Fellow-German Baran somehow manages to get 293lbs (133kg) on a 6’ 2 ½” (189cm) frame!

Haertel vs. Racz

Olympian Haertel again shows his skill and again shows his lack of power as he takes unanimous decision over Hungarian. The 27-year-old Haertel has good amateur credentials being German amateur champion in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013 he also won a bronze medal at the World Military Championships and competed at the World Championships. At the 2012 Olympics he beat Darren O’Neill but lost to Anthony Ogogo. Impressive but he has yet to score an inside the distance win after eight pro fights against undemanding opposition. Racz, 21, is 2-2 in his last 4 fights.

Mann vs. Palm

Mann makes it 5 wins by KO/TKO in five fights with stoppage of Palm. The 25-year-old “Thunderman”, a Kazakh-born fighter was twice a silver medallist at the German Championships and this is the first time he has had to go past the third round. Palm, also 35 and also German had four low level wins.

Bauer vs. Marvan

Bauer, Germany’s youngest pro makes it 5 wins by KO/TKO and his third one round victory. The 17-year-old is the youngest registered pro boxer in Europe and is considered a good prospect. Czech Marvan had won his last fight in 80 seconds but had the tables turned here.

Berlin, Germany: Heavy: Michael Wallisch (16-0) W PTS 12 Ivica Bacurin (23-9-1). Super Middle: Robin Krasniqi (45-4) W PTS 8 Cagri Ermis (18-10-2). Middle: Jan Meiser (10-0-1) DREW 8 Szabolcs Szabo (10-2-2). Cruiser: Leon Harth (13-1) W PTS 8 Vlad Idranyi (5-18-2). Heavy: Agit Kabayel (14-0) W TKO 3 Lawrence Tauasa (35-10-1).

Wallisch vs. Bacurin

Wallisch retains his WBO European title with wide unanimous victory over Bacurin but does not impress. Wallisch 6’5” (196cm) had height, weight (241lbs vs. 209 lbs) and reach over Bacurin and spent most of the fight walking the Croatian fighter down but never being able to nail him. The pattern of the fight rarely varied with Wallisch dominating the action coming forward stabbing out his left jab and following with a right cross. Bacurin spent round after round on the retreat launching the occasional attack but looking to stay out of trouble. Wallisch staggered Bacurin briefly in the second with a couple of rights but generally Bacurin was ducking under the right and sticking his head under the left arm of Wallisch until the referee forced them apart. Wallisch hurt Bacurin in the fifth again with a right but Bacurin held until his head cleared and then was off backwards around the ring again. Wallisch was totally dominating the rounds but there was no variety in his work as he went head hunting and never worked the body. In the tenth Bacurin came in with his head down once too often and was deducted a point. That fired Bacurin to his first real show of aggression as he landed some left hooks and a right to the body. The referee took another point off Bacurin in the eleventh for hitting on the break. Finally at the start of the twelfth Wallisch landed a right that sent Bacurin down on his back. He got up staying on his knees until climbing up the count of eight. Wallisch tried hard to end it but Bacurin ran and held to the final bell and was lucky not to lose another point for his continual holding. Scores 120-105, 119-106 and 118-107 for Wallisch. The big German is 30 and has a top trainer in Oktay Urkal but looked one-paced and did not have a lot of variety in his work. Bacurin, 33, has spent most of his time boxing at cruiserweight including being bounced on the canvas three times by Tony Bellew in a tenth round stoppage loss in June.

Krasniqi vs. Ermis

Krasniqi pushed hard by Ermis but just deserves the close unanimous decision. This was an all-action scrap with German Ermis forcing the forcing the fight throughout and so forcing the rated fighter to pull out all the stops to get the win. Krasniqi is still settling at super middle as this is only his second fight since moving down from light heavy. His first fight at super middle lasted just one round so these eight rounds were a good test at times it looked as though it might be too tough a test. Scores 78-76, 77-75 and 77-76 all for Krasniqi. The 28-year-old Munich-based Kosovon had lost only two of his last 46 fights but they were the big ones against Nathan Cleverly for the WBO light heavy title and Juergen Braehmer for the secondary WBA version. Ermis, 32, had turned his career around with a run of ten wins including upset victories over Rafal Bejaran and Juergen Doberstein (17-1-1) so another good performance despite the result.

Meiser vs. Szabo

Meiser holds on to his WBO Youth title with a majority draw against Szabo. The Berlin-based Kazak looked to have a slight edge in the contest between 21-year-olds but not enough for the draw to be in any way controversial. Scores 95-95 twice and 97-93 for Meiser. Last year Meiser won a hat-trick of Youth titles also winning the IBF and Global Boxing Council titles but his opposition had been very modest. Hungarian Szabo did better than expected here but is 0-2-1 in his three fights outside of Hungary.

Harth vs. Idranyi

Harth remains unbeaten with unanimous decision over Slovakian Idranyi. No real test for Harth as he takes the decision on scores of 80-71, 79-72 and 78-73. Now four wins for Harth since being halted in four rounds by Marat Gassiev in August 2014. Poor Idranyi falls to 1-11-2 in his last 14 fights.

Kabayel vs. Tauasa

German hope Kabayel has no trouble with much smaller and grossly overweight Tauasa. Kabayel had Tauasa down twice before the stoppage. First fight under the SES promotion group for Kabayel and his ninth win by KO/TKO in his last 10 fights. The 23-year-old 6’3” (191cm) Kabayel looks a good prospect. SamoanTauasa was having his first fight for 19 months. All you need to know about his condition is that he weighted 171lbs in his first pro fight and was 267lbs for this one and is only 5’9” (175cm).

Valencia, Spain: Feather: Evgeny Gradovich (21-1-1) W PTS 10 Jesus Galicia (13-9-1). Welter: Aslanbek Kozaev (27-2-1) W PTS 8 Renald Garrido (15-13-1).Light Heavy: Sergey Ekimov (14-0) W TKO 8 Carlos Mena (4-2).

Gradovich vs. Galicia

Gradovich wins but has to settle for a majority verdict as he fights a dumb fight. This was a great fight for the crowd as Gradovich and Galicia fought a “phone box” fight. Galicia came out fast in the first going straight after Gradovich swinging hooks and uppercuts from both hands. Gradovich had the skills to win an open fight but he decided his “El Ruso Mexicano” nickname needed defending so he did not use any of his skills but just stood and traded punch for punch in round after round. It was close-quarters work all the way with neither boxer seemingly having heard of a jab let alone throw one. The only bit of his superior skill Gradovich used was some loose form of defence. Galicia made no such pretence but just swung wide punches with no attempt to guard against counters. He is a southpaw but that was irrelevant as he was swinging with both hands. The sheer work rate of Galicia took him to an early lead and he was finding Gradovich time and again with hooks and uppercuts and just ignoring anything coming back. Eventually those tactics worked against him as the stronger Gradovich was able to get Galicia trapped on the ropes and work away. As Galicia tired badly over the last three rounds his swings got wider and Gradovich was able to win the closing rounds and the decision but he could have made this so much easier for himself. Scores 96-93 and 96-94 for Gradovich and 96-96. The former IBF feather champion was reported to have turned down a fight with Nonito Donaire because he wanted to see if he was comfortable at 122lbs and yet he was 128lbs for this one 1lb over the featherweight limit! Second win for the 29-year-old Russian since losing his IBF title to Lee Selby in May. He is an aggressive fighter by nature but this was a mad approach for an important try out. Galicia, 28, a Mexican Mexican as opposed to Gradovich’s nickname, could probably not believe his luck when Gradovich chose to brawl for ten rounds. He has good wins over Jesus Ruiz, world title challenger Romulo Koasicha and Oscar Gonzalez (23-2) but had lost to Hairon Socarras and had a technical draw with Martin Casillas in his last two fights.

Kozaev vs. Garrido

Kozaev just squeezes by Garrido on a majority decision. This one was hard to score. Garrido was quick flitting around the ring and slipping punches through the guard of Kozaev who just kept plodding forward. He found the Frenchman an elusive target and Garrido was often in and out before Kozaev could counter. Garrido certainly landed more punches than Kozaev but he fought only in spurts whilst Kozaev kept working for three minutes in every round. You could make a case for Garrido winning but Kozaev landed the cleaner and harder shots so the decision could have gone either way but Kozaev got a reward for his persistence. Scores 77-75 and 77-76 for Kozaev and 76-76. The Russian “Lion”, 28, was unbeaten in his first 26 fights including victories over Sasha Yengoyan (21-0-1) and Behzod Nabiev (21-2-1) until losing on points to Ray Robinson in 2014. Any toe hold he had on the world ratings disappeared in November when he lost a wide decision to Taras Shelestyuk. Garrido was sure he had won this one and when the decision was announced he ran across the ring and punched away in fury at a corner post cover. Even more entertaining he then dropped his shorts but the crowd was saved from punishment as he was wearing underpants. The 32-year-old French “Lion” is now 2-5 in his last 7 fights but could just as easily have been the winner in this one.

Ekimov vs. Mena

Ekimov gets late stoppage win in one-sided contest. For seven rounds the tall Russian Ekimov used his reach advantage to spear Mena time and again with jabs followed by thumping straight rights. Mena’s only tactic was to walk forward trying to get close. When he did he did not really let his punches go and had no power. In the eighth Mena walked into right after right but seemed unshaken until close to the bell when another straight right sent him tumbling back and down. He was slow getting up and although he beat the count the referee had a good look at him and rightly stopped the fight. Now 5 wins in a row by KO/TKO for the 30-year-old former World University champion but he had nothing in front of him here and showed some basic flaws in his technique. Cuban-born Mena just a four round fighter who will get plenty of work and lose a lot of fights.

Oliveros, Argentina: Super Welter: Henry David Polanco (7-0) W PTS 12 Andres G Amarilla (6-6-2). Polanco wins the vacant interim South American title with split decision over Amarilla. Over the early rounds the better technique and speed of Polanco allowed him to build a winning lead. Amarillo began to roll over the late rounds but had too much to do. His frustration led in the eleventh to the referee deducting a point from Amarillo for punches to the back of the head but it did not really affect the outcome as Polanco already had a winning lead by then. Scores 116-111 and 115-112 for Polanco and 115-112 for Amarilla. First time past six rounds for both fighters. The 24-year-old Polanco was born in the Dominican Republic but turned pro in Argentina and is now based in Buenos Aires.  Amarilla, 22, was 2-0-2 in his last 4 fights. Polanco was rated No 4 with the FAB and Amarilla No 5.