The Past Week in Action

Linares vs. Mitchell

May 28 

Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand: Super Fly: Srisaket (34-4-1) W TKO 4 Jose Salgado (34-3-2).

Srisaket just too strong and aggressive for Mexican Salgado The visitor had the edge in height and reach but in the first round it was evident his jab was not strong enough to keep Srisaket out and the Thai was ducking under it and scoring with southpaw lefts.

The second again saw Salgado forced onto the back foot with no room to work. The Mexican stood and traded later in the round with quick 4/5 punch combinations but Srisaket just walked through them and worked the body. Both fighters were warned about low blows.

Salgado used quick foot work to find some space and box smartly at the start of the third but by the end of the round a series of lefts to head and body stung the Mexican into standing and exchanging shots and it was clear Srisaket had the power. Srisaket stepped inside in the fourth and was blasting away at the body of Salgado forcing the Mexican to retreat but following him all the way and cracking home more lefts.

The Thai trapped Salgado on the ropes scoring to the body and suddenly a left to the head saw Salgado stagger sideward into a corner holding on to the ropes to stay up. He did not go down and managed to manoeuvre his way out of the corned but on wobbly legs.

Srisaket trapped him on the ropes again and landed three tremendous punches which jerked Salgado’s head back and a final right saw the Mexican slump down to the canvas with the referee immediately stopping the fight. The 28-year-old Srisaket wins the vacant WBC Silver title and with him also being rated No 1 by the WBC assures himself of a shot at the title against Carlos Cuadras who took his title from him on technical decision in May last year.

The Thai has won 7 in a row now 6 by KO/TKO and has 31 wins in total by KO/TKO. “Sugar” Salgado was rated No 2 by the WBC. He lost a split verdict to Liborio Solis for the interim WBA super fly title in 2011 and his challenge to Cuadras for the WBC title in September last year ended in a technical draw. For someone with 27 wins by KO/TKO he showed a surprising lack of power in this one. 

Clermont-Ferrand, France: Welter: Kamal Mohamed (17-2) W PTS 10 Kevin Bertogal (5-13-3). Mohamed wins the final of the French League cup over Bertogal as he takes the unanimous decision in a hard fought contest which never really caught fire. The 26-year-old local is now hoping this win will lead to a shot at the national title. Bertogal showed a determination to take the fight to Mohamed but lacked the skills to trouble the local and he drops to 2-13-2 in his 17 fights.

Panama City, Panama: Super Fly: Luis A Rios (20-2-1) W PTS 8 Israel Hidrogo (10-6-1).

“White Bread” Rios wins vacant Panamanian title with majority decision over Hidrogo. The verdict was unpopular with some of the crowd. After a strong start Rios found Hidrogo getting better as the fight progressed and it was a question over whether the early lead and the harder punches were enough to hold off the cleaner shots and the strong finish. Scores 78-74, 77-75 and 76-76.

After losing a wide decision to John Riel Casimero for the IBF fly title in March 2013 Rios took 18 months out and this is his second win since returning. The 22-year-olld Hidrogo, “The Panamanian Ricky Hatton”, is a former national champion and had won 5 of his last 6 fight.London, England: Welter: Tamuka Mucha (11-0) W TKO 6 Erick Ochieng (16-5-1).

Mucha vs. Ochieng

Sheer power and a strong chin won this one. The more experienced Ochieng was able to land regularly with hard shots but Mucha just walked through them to keep Ochieng under pressure with his back to the ropes.

Ochieng was still landing heavy punches until the sixth when the power of Mucha beat him down and he was in trouble and shipping punches on the ropes when the fight was stopped. Big win for the 22-year-old Zimbabwe-born Mucha as he wins the vacant BBB of C Southern Area title. This was his highest quality opponent so far and his first fight scheduled for ten rounds. Kenyan-born “The Eagle” Ochieng loses inside the distance for the first time. The former British title challenger in now 2-4-1 in his last 7 fights.

May 29 

New York, NY, USA: Welter: Amir Khan (31-3) W PTS 12 Chris Algieri (20-2). Super Feather: Javier Fortuna (28-0-1) W PTS 12 Bryan Vasquez (34-2). Light Heavy: Marcus Browne (15-0) W PTS 10 Cornelius White (21-4). Heavy: Keith Tapia (15-0) W TKO 8 Leo Pla (5-5-2). Feather: Luis Franco (13-1-1) W TEC DEC 5 Guillermo Sanchez (15-16-1). 

Khan vs. Algieri 

The opening round was fast-paced and competitive. Khan was first to the punch but Algieri got through with a good combination and a right cross that seemed to stagger Khan but Khan’s early work just edged the round. In the second Algieri seemed the stronger fighter bulling his way inside and although Khan was scoring with quick, light counters Algieri banged back with a right that visibly shook Khan.

In the third Algieri was walking Khan down and trying to drag the Bolton fighter into a brawl. Algieri was not very accurate with his punching. It was a close round but Algieri seemed to have done enough to nick the round despite Khan again countering well. In the fourth Algieri had his best round so far.

Khan start with a couple of good combinations but Algieri banged back with a hard left hook and a right hook to the chin. Good punches but their lack of effect puts a question over Algieri’s power. Algieri also seemed to pocket the fifth as he pressured Khan denying him room and attacking the body but again Khan was countering well enough to make it close.

Khan needed to do something to take back control and he did landing a series of flashing combinations with Algieri looking static. Khan also does the affective scoring in the seventh with a swelling developing under his eye. Two rights from Algieri snapped Khan’s head back but the Brit was still landing so another close round with Algieri landing the harder punches but Khan ahead on quantity.

So far it had been a hard, exciting fast-paced fight but Khan started to pull away firing fast hard combinations to head and body with Algieri trying to close him down but getting caught again and again and although Algieri finished the round with a hard left it was Khan in control.

He continued that control into the tenth scoring with searing shots to head and body with Algieri having to soak up a lot of punishment and a right that Algieri landed at the end of the round was shrugged off by Khan. Algieri was still moving forward at the start of the eleventh and firing off punches landing a hard shot to the head but by the end of the round Khan was coming forward and again flashing out his fist in fast combination to make it a close round.

They both put in a big closing effort finding energy despite the fast pace of the previous eleven rounds and it is close but probably Khan’s round. Scores 117-111 twice and 115-113 all for Khan.

He retains the WBC Silver title and of course feels he has done enough to deserve the fight with Floyd Mayweather and as the WBC No 1 in theory the WBC should insist on a Mayweather vs. Khan fight but it is “Money” who dictates to them and not the other way around. Algieri only increased his reputation in this fight and he showed that the win over Ruslan Provodnikov was not an aberration but a genuine win by a fighter who is competitive against top class fighters but perhaps not a winner.

Fortuna vs. Vasquez 

Fortuna wins the vacant WBA secondary title with unanimous decision over Vasquez but with a wide differential between the scoring. The showy Dominican southpaw was too quick for the Costa Rican as he out-threw and out-landed Vasquez in round after round. He had Vasquez hurt in a couple of the early rounds and his movement was giving the slower Costa Rican very little to aim at.

Fortuna was not looking to make it an exciting fight just a winning fight so he took few chances Vasquez just could not match the pace set by Fortuna and he tired badly over the late rounds whereas before the fight it was Fortuna’s stamina that was supposed to be suspect.

His hands down flashy style is not to everyone’s liking but Fortuna fights his way and it worked as a frustrated Vasquez worked hard plodding forward and scoring when he could  but he never really got into the fight or looked like winning it.

A clash of heads left Fortuna with swelling around his eye but that was about the only real damage he suffered and he was confident enough to dance his way through the last round almost taunting Vasquez. Scores 117-111 twice and 116-112 for Fortuna.

The only blemish on the 28-year-old winners card is a split draw with Luis Franco in 2013 and this is his sixth win since then including climbing off the floor to knock out Abner Cotto in five rounds in November. Vasquez, 27, a former WBA interim champion at this weight has good wins over Rene Gonzalez, Jose Felix and Sergio Thompson and suffered his only other loss when he was stopped in eight rounds by Takashi Uchiyama in a challenge for the full title in 2012.

Browne vs. White

Local southpaw Browne goes ten rounds for the first time and comfortably outpoints White. Browne had a ring rusty White hurt in the first but let him off the hook. He settled down to out box White without coming close to finishing the fight early. The fight never really caught fire and was untidy at times but with southpaw Browne generally in control.

White was on the floor in the sixth but from a low blow which gave him a needed rest. White landed his best punch of the fight in the ninth but it was not serious enough to trouble Browne who boxed cautiously through the tenth. Scores 99-91 twice and 98-92.

Staten Islander Browne, 24, is already rated No 9 by the WBA which flatters the 2012 Olympian on the basis of his opposition Browne has dedicated his career to a friend N’Wachi Hartley who introduced him to boxing but was killed in a car accident in 2008, the same year Browne won the National PAL tournament, his first major achievement. Texan White had lost his last two fights going into this one being halted in three rounds by Sergey Kovalev in 2013 and in one round by Thomas Williams in his last fight in January 2014.

Tapia vs. Pla 

Puerto Rican “Machine Gun” Tapia slowly breaks down game Pla before ending things in the last round. Tapia was on top all the way with Pla doing well to stay in the fight despite absorbing head shots in every round. In the eighth Tapia found a left hook to end things as the punch dropped Pla heavily and the referee stopped the fight immediately.

The 24-year-old former World Cadet bronze medal winner and National PAL champion has ten wins by KO/TKO. Pla, 33 was inactive for 5 years before returning to the ring in July last year and is 1-2-1 since coming back.

Franco vs. Sanchez 

Cuban Franco gets his second win since returning from inactivity. The classy Cuban was in charge all the way before forcing the stoppage in the fifth. “La Estrella”, 33, had been inactive 18 months after drawing with Javier Fortuna in August 2013. He has 8 wins by KO/TKO. Buffalo-based Puerto Rican southpaw Sanchez is 2-14 in his last 16 fights. 

Lanus, Argentina: Middle: Cristian F Rios (20-6-2) W PTS 10 Cesar H Reynoso (11-8-3). 

Argentinian champion Rios wins unanimous decision in non-title fight. Reynoso was competitive over the first half of the fight but then southpaw Rios took control. He was able to land continually as Reynoso faded and handed out a steady beating over the last three rounds but just could not get Reynoso out of there and had to be content with a points win. Scores 98 ½-94, 98 ½-94 ½, 96-95 all for “El Tuco” Rios (he hails from Tucuman). The 32-year-old champion is 14-1-1 in his last 16 fights. ”The Savage” Reynoso, 28, did not live up to his nickname. The FAB No 9 was 7-2-1 in his last 10 fights but well beaten here. 

Beijing, China: Heavy: Zhang Junlong (11-0) W KO 2 Shawn Cox (18-6).

Zhang again shows his power as he crushes Guyana’s Cox in two rounds. The 34-year-old 6’3 ½” “Dragon King” had stopped Jason Gavern in his last fight and his record is nearer to 18-0 with some fights not getting recorded. He has yet to be taken past the fifth round in any fight. Cox, 34, has lost 5 of his last 6 fights including a two round defeat against Denis Lebedev for the interim WBA cruiser tile in 2012. However he was coming off an upset inside the distance victory over Colombian Santander Silgado (25-1) in December.

Fuenlabrada, Spain: Super Middle: Hadillah Mohoumadi (19-3-1) W TKO 8 Mariano Hilario (12-3). Super Light: Ruben Nieto (16-1) W TKO 5 Zoltan Horvath (2-34). Feather: Sergio Prado (11-4-1) W PTS 6 Peter Mellar (4-17-2). 

Mohoumadi vs. Hilario 

Frenchman Mohoumadi wins the vacant EBU title with stoppage of Hilario. From the first bell Mohoumadi was forcing the fight in his usual forward marching all-action style. Hilario just did not seem to settle which was illustrated by his losing his mouthguard three times in the first three round. Mohoumadi took the first round clearly with Hilario just doing enough to take the second.

He was trying to box getting in and out quickly but Mohoumadi was working in close and at the end of the third a left hook put Hilario down heavily and only the bell saved him. The local fighter just did not have the power to stop Mohoumadi’s forward march and he took a beating in the fourth and was on the canvas again in the fifth although it looked to be a slip it was counted.

Mohoumadi took rounds six and seven and was hunting Hilario down and in the eighth. A right forced Hilario back to the ropes and two lefts had him defenceless when the referee stopped the fight. The 34-year-old new champion gave James DeGale a tough ten rounds in 2012 and this is his fifth win since then including a stoppage of Pawel Glazewski (20-1) in Poland.

Dominican-born “ The Shark” Hilario, 28, had recovered from two poor loses to indifferent opposition in 2012 to win six fights and collect the Spanish and EU titles but just could not handle the limitless stamina of the aggressive Mohoumadi. Although born in the Dominican republic Hilario represented Spain at the World and European Championships and there were high hope for him here.

Nieto vs. Horvath 

Nieto outboxes Hungarian travelling loser and halts him in the fifth. The tall Spaniard had Horvath in trouble a couple of time before ending the fight in the fifth. First fight for the 32-year-old former undefeated EU champion since climbing off the floor twice to lose a paper thin decision (1, 1 and 2 pts) to Michele Di Rocco for the EBU title in October. The 39-year-old Horvath actually won a fight this year his only win in his last 22 fights. Don’t get too excited-his opponent suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Prado vs. Mellar 

“Schuster” Prado a class above Hungarian. The Spaniard dazzled but did not dent Mellar who has only lost three times by KO/TKO. Six rounds of work for Prado as he prepares for a big match against Dane Denis Ceylan on June 20. Scores 60-54 from all three judges. The 32-year-old former undefeated Spanish and EU champion has lost only one of his last nine fights and that was on points against Kid Galahad for the vacant EUB title. Mellar, 23, is 2-4 in his last 6 fights.

Ontario, CA, USA: Super Bantam: Daniel Roman (15-2-1) W PTS 8 Chris Martin (28-6-3). Feather: Jose Haro (9-1-1) W PTS 8 Efrain Esquivias (17-4-1). 

Roman vs. Martin 

Best win so far for Roman as he outpoints the more experienced Martin. Roman was getting his punches off first and landing well to head and body over the first two rounds. Martin rallied in the third only for Roman to take over again in the fourth and he built an unassailable lead over the next three rounds. Martin needed to find a kayo punch in the last and landed a hard left but it was Roman who scored a knockdown with a stinging combination.

Martin made it to his feet and battled to the bell but was a clear loser. Scores 80-71 from all three judges. The 22-year-old “Baby Faced Assassin” has won his last 6 fights including a points victory over IBF title challenger Giovanni Caro and has lost only one of his last 13. Twenty-eight-year-old Martin, “The SD Kid”, was considered a top prospect when he went unbeaten in his first 25 fights including wins over Chris Avalos and Charles Huerta but is now 5-6-1 in his last 12 fights.

Haro vs. Esquivias  

Haro upsets the odd to win this one. This was the first fight in 13 months for Esquivias and it was a bad sign that he came in well over the contract weight. Haro was giving away too much weight to get into a close quarters fight so he boxed on the back foot and wrapped-up the decision with a strong last round. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 all for Haro.

The 28-year-old from Salt Lake City had lost to unbeaten Toka Kahn Clary and drawn with Jorge Diaz so a welcome win. Esquivias had lost back-to-back fights to Rico Ramos and Jhonatan Romero but rebounded with an inside the distance win over former IBF and WBC super bantam Rafael Marquez only to then lose to Ruben Tamayo and take an 13 month break. 

Philadelphia, PA, USA: Super Feather: Frank Santos de Alba (16 -1-2) W KO 6 Bernardo Gomez (14-4). Light Heavy: Farah Ennis (22-2) W PTS 6 Mike Gbenga (20-20). Welter: Steve Usher Chambers (25-4-1,1ND) W PTS 8 Alejandro Rodriguez (24-17-1). Super Feather: Brandon Bennett (19-1) W RTD 3 Rondale Hubbert (10-2-1). 

Santos vs. Gomez 

Local favourite de Alba is now unbeaten in 18 fights (16 wins and 2 draws) after this knockout of Gomez.  de Alba dominated the first landing consistently with stiff southpaw jabs and accurate combinations. Gomez did a bit better in the second round but it was still de Alba doing the clean efficient job to take the round.

Over the third and fourth Gomez was launching charges to get inside and de Alba was boxing coolly and catching Gomez with counters. The punishment was slowly breaking Gomez down and after a one-sided fifth de Alba ended it in the sixth. He shook Gomez with a right and put him down with a left and Gomez bounced off the ropes to the floor where he was counted out. Now 13 wins in a row for 27-year-old de Alba who is surely ready to move up to ten rounds and better opposition. Gomez, 25, had won his last six fights but against low level opposition and all of his losses have come by way of KO/TKO.

Ennis vs. Gbenga 

Ennis returns with a win. In his first fight since July 2013 Ennis took a little time to warm up but he seemed to have the edge in a fight that never really caught alight. Ennis was the one forcing the fight with Gbenga boxing on the back foot and scoring enough counters to be competitive.

It was in the balance until Gbenga faded over the last three rounds to allow Ennis to walk away with the split decision. Scores 59-55 and 58-56 for Ennis and 58-56 for Gbenga. The 32-year-old Ennis had walked away after losing on points to Badou Jack. Nigerian Gbenga , 36, has now lost 9 of his last 10 fights and has never won a fight that has gone the distance.

Chambers vs. Rodriguez 

Chambers makes one of his rare appearances and after a sparking start has to settle for a points win. The tall Philadelphian made a great start scoring three knockdowns in the first two rounds. In fact in the first round he had Rodriguez down five times but only two were genuine knockdowns, the first and the last.

He floored Rodriguez with a right to the head for the first knockdown but then the next two were ruled to be from punches to the back of the head with Chambers getting docked a point. He had Rodriguez on the floor for the fourth time just to include some variety it was a low punch that caused Rodriguez to go down.

Chambers finally managed to hit Rodriguez legally with a right for genuine knockdown No 2. Chambers had Rodriguez down again early in the second round but that seemed to fire Rodriguez up and he began to score with some shots of his own. Chambers found himself in a scrap and had to fight hard for the remaining six rounds to get the decision. Scores 77-71, 76-72 and 76-73.

Chambers, 30, lost only one of his first 27 fights but after losing to Luis Collazo in 2012 he had only one fight in 2013 losing to Eddie Gomez and one last year losing to Andre Berto. Rodriguez is 3-4 in his last 7 fights, 3 wins in Mexico and 4 losses in the USA.

Bennett vs. Hubbert 

Cincinnati’s Bennett too much for late substitute Hubbert and the Minneapolis fighter retires at the end of the third round. “Untouchable” Bennett, 27, was having his second fight after an eleven month break and he goes to 8 wins by KO/TKO. The only loss for Bennett, who beat Diego Magdaleno and Eric Hunter as a Junior, is to Francisco Vargas in 2013. Minnesota State champion Hubbert had been meeting a lower level of the opposition.

Memphis, TN, USA: Heavy: Lateef Kayode (20-0,2ND) W PTS 10 Nick Kisner (14-2-1).Light: Josh King (20-3) W PTS 10 Rogelio Casarez (9-4).

Kayode vs. Kisner

Kayode too strong for Kisner and slowly wore down the Baltimore fighter but could not find the punch to put “Slick” Kisner away. Kisner was competitive early making good use of his skills to stay outside but by the fourth round Kayode was closing him down and firing home hurtful body punches.

Kayode’s dominance increased as Kisner tired and if he was disappointed over not getting an inside the distance win he got ten rounds of useful ring time after having less than three minutes action in 17 months. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91.

The 32-year-old Nigerian-born Kayode has lost twice with both losses-to Antonio Tarver and a one round stoppage against Luis Ortiz-now shown as ND after both Tarver and Ortiz tested positive for a banned substance. Kisner’s only other loss was on points against Junior Anthony Wright in 2013.

King vs. Casarez 

Australian King gets a win in his first fight in the USA. It was an untidy fight at times but King’s hopes got a big boost when he landed a punch in the second which left Casarez with a broken nose that bled for the rest of the fight. With legs getting tangled and some head clashes it was not a classic but King was the quicker and more skilful and boxed his way to a wide unanimous decision. Scores 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.

Supposedly King’s WBO Oriental and interim WBO Asia Pacific titles were on the line-against an American but that’s the way of the WBO. After being 3-2 in his first 5 fights former Australian super light champion King, 30, has lost only one of his last 18 and that was a first round defeat against Jack Asis in 2011 when he went down from a punch and suffered a broken right leg. This is his eighth win since that mishap and the WBO have him rated at No 10. Casarez is 3-3 in his last 6 fights and this was the first fight he has been in that was scheduled for more than six rounds. 

May 30 

London, England: Feather: Welter: Kell Brook (35-0) W TKO 6 Frankie Gavin (22-2). Feather:  Lee Selby (21-1) W TEC DEC 8 Evgeny Gradovich (19-1-1). Light: Jorge Linares (39-3) W TKO 10 Kevin Mitchell (39-3). Super Light: Dave Ryan (17-8) W TKO 9 John Wayne Hibbert (15-3). Light: Scott Cardle (18-0) W PTS 12 Craig Evans (14-1). Middle: Nick Blackwell (17-3-1) W TKO 7 John Ryder (20-2). Heavy: Anthony Joshua (13-0) W TKO 2 Kevin Johnson (29-7-1). Light Heavy: Nathan Cleverly (29-2) W TKO 1 Tomas Man (13-9-1). 

Brook vs. Gavin 

Impressive display by Brook as he makes light work out of what could have been a tough night and retains his IBF title with stoppage of Gavin. The champion took command from the first round scoring well with jabs and fast combinations and forcing Gavin to the ropes where he could not use his skills. Gavin made the second round closer as he managed to get his southpaw jab working and used his reach advantage but Brook landed a hard right late in the round to gain the ascendency.

Brook dominated the third with Gavin again finding himself fighting off the ropes as Brook scored with crisp punches. Gavin started the fourth on the front foot slotting home some stiff jabs but again Brook took over dominating the action scoring with hard head-jarring rights and taking the round.

Brook was in full flow now in the fifth driving Gavin to the ropes and landing with both hands with Gavin finding it hard to get his own punches off under the pressure. An uppercut from Brook in the sixth had Gavin hurt and although Gavin fired off a counter another shot sent the challenger back into the ropes.

Brook follow in and was landing heavily to head and body when the referee stepped in to save Gavin. Second title defence in just under two months for 29-year-old “Special One” Brook as he makes it 23 wins by KO/TKO.

He has reached a point where an Amir Khan fight would be huge but has passed the point where he needs to chase it as his wins over Shawn Porter, Ionut Dan Ion and Gavin have raised his profile and he is now looking at opponents such as Brandon Rios to give his profile another boost in the USA. Gavin, 29, was well beaten and it is difficult to see where he goes now other than domestic fights. He was rated IBF 4(2) and was coming off a good win over Bradley Skeete (18-0).

Selby vs. Gradovich 

Selby wins IBF title with technical decision over Gradovich. The brilliant boxing of the Welsh fighter lit up the first round as he speared the advancing Russian with jabs and hooks and avoided Gradovich’s effort with slick movement. He carried that impetus over into the second being too quick for Gradovich a known slow starter who tends to grind out his victories.

Gradovich got into his stride in the third crowding Selby and working the body but again the speed and accuracy of Selby’s punching forced Gradovich to eat some hard right hand counters on the way in but with the champion landing his best punch so far in the shape of a left hook late in the round.

Selby had probably taken the first three rounds but Gradovich was continuing to pressurise closing the distance and scoring well on the inside and with rights to the head and just did enough to take the fourth and fifth. Selby was in danger of letting Gradovich take control but he responded in spades in the sixth landing a right to the head that had Gradovich shaken and by the end of the round he was landing with quick bursts of punches with Gradovich forced to give ground.

In the seventh Gradovich was troubled by a cut which had opened by his right eye and although he was walking through Selby’s punches it was the challenger who was picking up the points. In the eighth a clash of heads ended the fight as it caused a bad cut over Gradovich’s right eye.

The blood was running down into his eye and hampering his vision and the fight was stopped and the cards decided the outcome with Selby being in front 79-73 twice and 80-72 all for the new champion Selby. The 28-year-old Welshman has been a champion in waiting clearly having the skills to win a world title once he landed a shot.

He had already won the British, European, CBC and WBC International titles in a 16 bout unbeaten streak now he has the full set. He was the mandatory challenger so can pick his opponent for a couple of defences and then in a division with Nichols Walters, Vasyl Lomachenko and Gary Russell holding the other crowns any unifier would be a big fight and a big payday.

Selby dedicated his victory to his brother Michael who died 7 years ago at the age of 23.Gradovich, 29, who was defending the IBF title for the fifth time, will feel he was unlucky as he tends to get stronger the longer a fight goes and will want a return but he may have to wait and get a big win to get that chance.

Linares vs. Mitchell 

Linares comes off the floor to stop Mitchell and retain his WBC title. The champion made the better start showing clever skills and beating Mitchell to the punch with quick light combinations. Mitchell was a step behind Linares in each of the first two rounds. Despite suffering a cut over his left eye in a clash of heads in the third and the beginnings of puffiness showing under the same eye in the fourth.

Mitchell was timing and placing his shots better catching Linares as he tried to get inside and he took both rounds to even the scores. The fifth was a huge round for Mitchell. He floored Linares early in the round with a hard combination.

All of the losses for Linares had come inside the distance and it briefly looked as though No 4 was on its way. A badly shaken Linares took full advantage of the eight count and Mitchell stormed forward throwing punch after punch trying to end the bout. He came close to it but Linares survived. Mitchell was looking the worse for wear as the left side of his face was swelling more but he still had the momentum in the sixth as Linares was concentrating on not getting nailed again.

By the seventh the Venezuelan was in the fight again going back to the quick combinations that had served him so well in the first two rounds and he also bossed the eighth as Mitchell struggled to cope with the mess that the left side of his face had become. He battled hard in the ninth but his work rate had dropped and Linares was scoring often with rapid fire punches with the end looking near.

In the tenth a right from Linares saw Mitchell retreat to a corner where Linares followed in unleashing shots from both hands. Mitchell tried to fire back but a hard combination floored him. He bravely made it to his feet but was shaky and the left side of his face with the swelling and a long cut under the eyebrow was a mess and the referee rightly stopped the fight with just three seconds left in the round.

It was brave of Linares to come into the lion’s den for what promised to be a tough first defence of his WBA title and the 29-year-old “Golden Boy”, a three division champion, showed a champion’s resolve by coming from behind and climbing off the floor to win. In the end his 25 wins by KO/TKO proved more indicative than his three losses inside the distance.

For Mitchell, 30, it is now three title shots and three losses by KO/TKO although he did much better in this one than in losing to Mike Katsidis and Ricky Burns and in the fifth was just one punch away from victory. It will take a massive rebuilding exercise to get Mitchell another world title fight so he will have to think long and hard about his future.

Ryan vs. Hibbert 

This may not have been a world title fight but for entertainment it was right up there with all of the others. “Rocky” Ryan retained the CBC title and won the WBC International title by climbing off the floor to wear down and stop Hibbert. The first two rounds were close with both have good spells but neither dominating. In the third as Ryan was working his way inside he was nailed by a right and went down.

He took the eight count and battled his way back into the round but it was a big one for Hibbert. On the downside a punch from Ryan had opened a cut on Hibbert’s right cheek. Ryan showed he had recovered by outscoring Hibbert in the fourth only to run into trouble again in the fifth. Yet again it was rights from Hibbert this time to the body that had Ryan down and in some distress.

Ryan got up and survived the round and with Hibbert’s faced showing the marks of battle Ryan banged back to edge the sixth and seventh and it was Hibbert who looked to be tiring and under pressure. Ryan was the stronger in the eighth shaking Hibbert with a right and he went on to finish things in the ninth.

Ryan walked forward landing heavily and Hibbert looked drained and beaten. A series of punches put him down and when he got up Ryan was there with more punches and Hibbert took a second count. Somehow he bravely got up again. Ryan was too eager and pushed Hibbert over with the referee rightly not counting it but  Hibbert was finished and he was trapped on the ropes taking a beating when the referee stopped the fight.

Ryan makes it two wins over Hibbert having just edged him out over ten rounds in 2013. Ryan’s career looked to have flat-lined when he went 2-4 in six fights giving him a modest 14-8 record but the losses were all to high quality domestic competition.

He gave his career a big boost with a win over former WBA title challenger Paul McCloskey (24-2) at the end of 2013 and upset the odds in 2014 win a points victory over Tyrone Nurse (29-1) to win the CBC title and a new lease of life at 32. WBC International champion Hibbert, 30, had won 5 fights on the bounce after that earlier loss to Ryan and was making the second defence of his title. He can rebound from this.

Cardle vs. Evans 

Cardle wins a unanimous decision over Evans to lift the vacant British title in a bout that had a nasty edge to it. These two had clashed at the weigh-in and they carried that bad feeling into the fight. Cardle built an early lead with southpaw Evans cut over the left eyebrow in the second round and not really getting into the fight until the fourth round.

Already by then there had been plenty of rough stuff and Cardle was warned in the fifth for a low punch. Evans was having a good sixth round when a clash of heads saw the Welshman cut over his right eye. The seventh was close but Evans took the eighth with quick, accurate combinations and Cardle was caught by a flying elbow and cut over his left eye.

Evans looked to have edged the ninth but Cardle came back to win the next two before having the best of the exchanges in the last to clinch the decision. Scores 116-112 from all three judges. Cardle, the EBU No 16, was an outstanding amateur winning a bronze medal at the European Championships, a gold at the European Cup and reaching the quarterfinals of the World Championships.

He failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics and turned pro. Evans, also 25 was also a top amateur winning a bronze medal at the European Championships but ran into Vasyl Lomachenko at the World Championships. He will fight for the British title again I am sure.

Ryder vs. Blackwell 

Yet another fight full of passion and with an upset as Blackwell comes from behind to stop Ryder and win the vacant British title. “Gorilla” Ryder was the favourite and that looked the right choice over the early rounds. He looked to be the better boxer and was able to score well both with southpaw jabs and shorter punches inside.

By the end of the third Blackwell was three rounds behind and dripping blood from his nose. He had a better fourth landing well to the body and opening a cut on the left cheek of Ryder.  The sixth saw Ryder back on his game as he outscored Blackwell to increase his lead.  The fight changed and ended in the seventh when Blackwell, not a noted puncher, shook Ryder to his toes with a hard right/left combination.

Ryder was in deep trouble and Blackwell took his chance cutting loose with both hands to send Ryder stumbling back to the ropes as the referee stepped in to stop the fight. Blackwell had lost three important fights as he was halted by Martin Murray in five rounds in 2007, put up a creditable showing in losing on points to Billy Joe Saunders in 2012 and also lost narrowly on points to Max Bursak in 2013 when he took the fight with the world rated middleweight at short notice.

In October last year he fought a hard eight round draw with the dangerous Sergey Khomitsky. Ryder, 26, had only lost to Saunders and then only by 1, 2 and 2 pts and scored 5 victories since then including a tenth round stoppage of Argentinian Billi F Godoy in January. He will have to start again but is young enough to do so.

Joshua vs. Johnson 

An awesome display of power from Joshua as he destroys experienced Johnson in two rounds. Over the first minute Joshua was prowling after Johnson twice trying right crosses but coming up short. Johnson was just going backwards and prodding out jabs. Just over a minute into the round Joshua landed an over hand right which sent Johnson backwards into the ropes badly shaken.

Joshua followed Johnson along the rope landing hard punches from both hands. Johnson escaped and opened his guard wide as if to indicate he was not hurt, but no one believed him. Joshua showed patience stalking Johnson looking for another opening. Johnson was flicking out light jabs but with just under a minute to go another right from Joshua landed.

Johnson decided to do a shortened version of the “Ali Shuffle” to show he was unhurt and put a bit more effort into his jab. With only 20 seconds to go in the round it looked as though Johnson would get through it without serious damage but Joshua drove him to the ropes and landed a series of lefts and rights to the head punctuated by a hard right/left hook combination that sent Johnson sprawling into the ropes.

He almost went down but grabbed a rope and pulled himself up and the referee applied a standing eight count. Joshua leapt on Johnson slamming home right after right until Johnson slid down the ropes ending up sprawled across the bottom rope hanging half way out of the ring. The bell went with Johnson still lying prone and his seconds rushed into the ring to help him up and get him back to his corner.

Johnson was in a bad way dazed and confused and that should have been the end of the fight there and then. However they sent Johnson out for the second round. Joshua took him to the ropes and was landing punch after punch to Johnson’s head and again the fight should have been stopped.

Johnson managed to get off the ropes and retreat around the ring until Joshua trapped him again and a series of head shots with nothing coming back from Johnson saw the fight stopped. Johnson was supposed to be a “real test” for Joshua. He had never lost inside the distance and had gone twelve rounds with Vitali Klitschko for the WBC title. Joshua blasted him out inside five minutes.!

The 25-year-old Olympian  has yet to be taken past the third round and looked awesome. Johnson is 35 and this was his fourth loss in a row but the experienced spoiler had recently gone the distance with Dereck Chisora and Manuel Charr and it speaks volumes that Joshua brushed him aside so easily.

Cleverly vs. Man

Cleverly wastes no time on his return to the light heavyweight ranks as he halts Czech fighter in just 24 seconds. First fight for the 28-year-old former WBO light heavyweight champion since losing a split decision to Tony Bellew in November. Now he is seeking a fight with Juergen Braehmer the holder of the WBA secondary title. Man, the Czech super middle champion, had won his last 11 fights but all eleven opponents had negative records. 

Komaki, Japan: Minimumweight: Kosei Tanaka (5-0) W PTS 12 Julian Yedras (24-2). 

Japanese teenager Tanaka sets a new record as he wins the vacant WBA title in only his fifth fight. A remarkable achievement. Tanaka dazzled over the first three rounds showing good footwork and lightning fast hands. Boxing mainly in the back foot he was slotting home jabs and then stopping and throwing fast 4/5 punch combinations with Yedras trying vainly to walk his young opponent down.

Although he was concentrating mainly on speed a right in the second sent Yedras stumbling to the ropes on wobbly legs. Yedras had a better fourth as Tanaka let the pace drop and was staying in the pocket and trading which suited Yedras. For some reason in the fifth Tanaka decided to stand toe-to-toe with Yedras for the whole three minutes swopping punches.

Tanaka was landing spectacular uppercuts and hooks but also allowing Yedras to score to the body. Tanaka started the sixth boxing on the outside and was outclassing Yedras but then he went toe-to-toe again. The Japanese fighter was landing some fearsome uppercuts but Yedras was again walking through them and scoring on the inside and landed more punches than he had in any round so far as it seemed Tanaka might be tiring.

The seventh and eighth  were a copy of the sixth with Tanaka boxing brilliantly and then coming off his toes to trade punch for punch with Yedras with both slinging punches and ignoring any pretence of defence. The speed of Tanaka’s punching was alarming but so was the punishment he was choosing to take by trading.

Tanaka boxed more on the outside in the ninth but it looked ominous when he drove Yedras across the ring throwing punch after punch too quick to count but when the storm was over Yedras was unhurt and walking forward scoring with clubbing shots. Tanaka ended the round with more flashing combinations.

Tanaka hardly threw a punch in the first minute of the tenth but over the other two minutes he was back to his classy boxing and blazing combinations but with Yedras just walking through them but not being able to score himself. Tanaka was boxing brilliantly in the eleventh and twelfth ducking, bobbing, weaving, side-stepping and slamming punches through the guard of the forward marching Yedras and even finding time for some showboating. Scores 117-111 twice and 115-113.

The 19-year-old new champion showed exquisite boxing skills. His fluid moving style and flashing fists were something to savour but his tactics of trading when he did not have to were questionable and he hit Yedras with so many flush shots without being able to stop the Mexican fighter’s forward march that it puts a question over his power. Yedras, 27, showed great determination and strength but a limited technique. His only other loss was to Nicaraguan Carlos Buitrago so no disgrace there.

Ensenada, Mexico: Light Fly: Javier Mendoza (24-2-1) W TEC DEC 6 Milan Melindo (32-2). Welter: Carlos Ocampo (15-0) W TKO 4 Cruz Antonio Flores (16-6). 

Mendoza vs. Melindo 

Mendoza retains his IBF title with technical decision over Filipino Melindo. The fight was punctuated by head clashes and fouls. Mendoza started quickly scoring with fast jabs until a clash of heads momentarily stunned Mendoza and Melindo took advantage landing hooks and uppercuts to edge the round but also to get his first warning for low punches.

Southpaw Mendoza got into his stride in the second bossing the exchanges taking Melindo to the ropes and scoring with hooks and uppercuts to the body. Mendoza also had the better of the third and fourth using the same tactics with an overhand right opening a small cut on the bridge of Melindo’s nose and with Melindo again getting a warning for his punches straying below the belt.

Despite the warning Melindo kept going low with his punches and was finally deducted a point in the fifth. With the fighters both leaning in and working the body head clashes featured again in the sixth with first Melindo cut on his eyebrow but passing a doctor’s examination.

Mendoza made the cut worse with a left hook and then came another clash of heads which saw Mendoza suffering a worse cut which was too bad for the fight to continue so the score cards came into play. Apart from the first round Mendoza had been in complete control of the fight and the decision rightly went his way with scores of 60-52 twice and 59-53.

First defence of his title for 24-year-old “Cobra” Mendoza who gets his mandatory challenger out of the way. “Method Man” Melindo, 27, had lost a wide unanimous decision to Juan Francisco Estrada for the WBA/WBO titles in 2013. He had returned with good wins over Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (29-2) and Saul Juarez (30-3) but was second best here.

Ocampo vs. Flores 

“Chema” Ocampo makes it 11 wins by KO/TKO. Ocampo opened the first with a stream of jabs and by the end of the round was punishing Flores with body punches. In the second Ocampo’s jab had blood flowing from the nose of Flores and a straight right sent him tumbling into the ropes. Flores tried to fire back but a left hook to the body from Ocampo had Flores hurt.

The punishment continued in the third and after another series of stiff jabs a left to the body put Flores down. He made it to his feet and the ball went before Ocampo could finish thing. Ocampo ended it early in the fourth with a series of punches which had Flores turning away and indicating a shoulder injury and the fight was stopped. Now 6 wins by KO/TKO in his last 7 fights for the Ensenada hope. Flores loses inside the distance for the second time. After winning his first ten fights he is on the slide being 6-6 in his last 12. 

Milan, Italy: Super Light: Michele Di Rocco (40-1-1) W KO 8 Alex Lepelley (18-4-1). Heavy: Matteo Modugno (16-0) W PTS Jakoy Gospic (15-12). 

Di Rocco vs. Lepelley 

With edges in height and reach Di Rocco used his jab to pile up the points in the first round but Lepelley marked his presence with a couple of tasty uppercuts to the body. Di Rocco is on top again in the second and third but again being caught with some counters as he chooses to mix it more. A lecture from his corner gets him back to his boxing but also allows Lepelley to force the fight as the action heats up.

The Frenchman is scoring well but his punches lack power and Di Rocco is building a big lead having won every round so far. Lepelley is pressing in the eighth trying to turn the fight around but instead a thunderous right from Di Rocco puts the challenger down and out with his seconds immediately entering the ring to treat him.

There is some concern but Lepelley eventually makes it to his feet and back to his corner. Fourth successful defence for Di Rocco. This was a voluntary defence with his mandatory with Lenny Daws being negotiated. The 33-year-old “King” has 18 wins by KO/TKO and has 23 wins in a row including a victory over Giuseppe Lauri who beat him way back in 2001.

Lepelley, 32, had good wins on his travels against Steve Claggett and Sandor Martin but has now lost 3 of his last 4 being beaten by Ricky Burns and also fellow Frenchman Franck Petitjean for the national title.

Modugno vs. Gospic 

Former undefeated Italian champion Modugno returns with a comfortable points win over Gospic. The 6’6 ½” (200cm) Modugno was bigger in every way and was able to box his way to a comfortable win. The only thing really tested was the strength of the ring with Modugno coming in at 277lbs (126kg) and Gospic at 262lbs (119kgs). First fight for the EBU No 16 for ten months so he shed some rust but not much weight. Croatian Gospic, 33, has lost 5 of his last 6 fights.

Mexico City, Mexico: Super Light: Nery Saguilan (33-4-1) W KO 2 Wilfrido Buelvas (16-5). Fly: Saul Juarez (21-4) W TKO 8 Adrian Hernandez (30-4-1). Super Welter: Jose Lopez (25-3-1) W PTS 8 Jonathan Duran (13-10-1). 

Saguilan vs. Buelvas 

Saguilan crushes Colombian Buelvas in two rounds to win the vacant WBC Fecarbox title. The unpredictable, colourful “Pantera” was his usual self sometimes pressing Buelvas and exchanging hard punches and then dropping his guard and deliberately letting Buelvas take a couple of free punches.

When he went to work in the second he quickly had Buelvas in trouble on the ropes and a brutal left hook put Buelvas down and the referee did not bother to count. With his fearsome mask and strange tactics the 27-year-old from Guadalajara is never boring. He has 12 wins by KO/TKO and this is seventh win in a row.

After failing to make the weight for his fight with Marcos Villasana Saguilan did not repeat the mistake. Southpaw Buelvas, 26 did not live up to his nickname of “The Rock” although this is only his second loss by KO/TKO. He is now 1-4 in his last 5 fights.

Juarez vs. Hernandez 

Important win for “Baby” Juarez as he gets off the canvas to halt former two-time WBC light fly champion but a controversial stoppage. Both fighters are good technical boxers and the fight was fairly even after four rounds. In the fifth a left from Hernandez put Juarez down and also opened a cut on his left eyebrow.

Juarez survived and prospered getting back into the fight. In the eighth he turned the tables and landed a punch which left Hernandez with a bad cut on his eyelid. The doctor examined the cut and the fight was stopped. Hernandez protested that it was a clash of heads that caused the cut and the fight should be decided on the scorecards but it was ruled to have been caused by a punch so Juarez got the win.

The 24-year-old local lost to Milan Melindo in an IBF light fly eliminator in November but with Hernandez being rated No 2 by the WBC at light fly and himself IBF 10(9) in the same division he will be hoping to land a title shot at either fly or light fly. “Confessor” Hernandez can feel unlucky as he was probably in front at the finish. He lost his WBC title to Naoya Inoue in April last year and in his last fight halted Armando Torres in two rounds in November. At 29 he can’t afford to drop too far in the ratings.

Lopez vs. Duran 

With two noted punchers this was not expected to go the distance but it did with Lopez coming out on top. Not much skill on show but plenty of power punches with “Piston” Lopez doing enough to get the unanimous decision. The 24-year-old from Torreon has won 10 of his last eleven fights with the loss being to Humberto Soto on close decision for the WBFed title in 2012. He has won eight in a row since then. Duran heading in the other direction with 8 losses in his last 9 fights.

Zapopan, Mexico: Fly: Omar Nino Romero (32-5-2,1ND) W PTS 10 Elfego Sierra (8-12).  

Romero returns to the ring and gets a unanimous decision over Sierra. In his first fight for three years Romero was out in his timing over the first three rounds but gradually worked his way back to sharpness. There was a wide gap in class and Romero was able to claw back Sierra’s early lead and fight his way to the decision. Scores 97-93 from all three judges.

Now 39, the “Giant Killer had three significant fights with Brian Viloria. Back in August 2006 he decisioned Viloria to win the WBC light fly title. Three months later he fought a majority draw with Viloria in a title defence but lost his title when he tested positive for a banned substance. He regained the title with a win over Rodel Mayol in 2010 only to lose it to Viloria in May 2012, his last fight before this. Sierra a safe choice for Romero’s return as this is his sixth loss in a row.

Managua, Nicaragua: Fly: Keyvin Lara (15-1-1) W TKO 5 Guillermo Ortiz (13-8-3,1ND).  

Prospect Lara retains the WBC Latino title with stoppage of fellow-Nicaraguan Ortiz. Despite giving away height and reach Lara controlled this from the start. He had Ortiz going backwards and having to fight off the ropes and Lara was able to get inside and fire hook to the body which slowed Ortiz down. Leyva had Ortiz on the floor in the fourth and when he scored another knockdown in the fifth the fight was stopped. The 20-year-old Lara lost then drew in his first two pro fights so now has 15 wins in a row. Ortiz, 21, gets his second loss by KO/TKO having won his last three fights.

General Santos City, Philippines: Super Light: Adones Cabaquinto (20-0) W KO 1 Jonel Gadapan (9-8-2). Super Bantam: Jason Canoy (24-5-2) W TKO 1 Drian Francisco (27-3-1). Super Fly: Jerwin Ancajas (23-1-1) W KO 9 Juan Purisima (11-8-1). 

Cabaquinto vs. Gadapan 

Predictable win for hard punching southpaw Cabaquinto. He took just 108 seconds to end it sending Gadapan down and out with a right cross. Cabaquinto, 24, was making the fourth defence of his GAB title and gets his twelfth win by KO/TKO. He is rated No 10 by the WBO. Gadapan moves to 5 loses by KO/TKO and is now 2-5-2 in his last 9 fights.

Canoy vs. Francisco  

This was supposed to be just another step towards a title fight for Francisco but Canoy ruined the plan. Both were sparring cautiously when Francisco threw a right and missed and slipped to the canvas. That seemed to unsettle him but not as much as the thunderous right that Canoy landed.

Francisco backed away across the ring with Canoy in pursuit and a right to the side of the head sent Francisco sprawling down to the floor. He pulled himself up at 5 and took the eight count but looked shaken and the referee asked him to walk forward three times before he allowed the fight to continue. Francisco was on unsteady legs but tried to jab Canoy off only for Canoy to land a right hook that put Francisco down again.

He got up too early and was again on unsteady legs and a chopping right from Canoy put him flat on the canvas with the referee immediately waiving the fight over. Canoy, 25 always had a punchers chance with his score of 17 wins by KO/TKO going into this fight bit it was still a huge upset.

He has now won 8 of his last 9 fights and could crash the ratings with this win. Francisco, 32, a former interim WBA champion had lost only two of his 30 fights and those losses were on points against Thai Tepparith on a very close decision and to Chris Avalos in 2013 again on a close decision. He took 13 months out after the loss to Avalos but had returned with three wins.

Ancajas vs. Purisima 

Ancajas gets another win by KO/TKO as he outlasts a game Purisima and scores a kayo late in the ninth round with a southpaw left to the chin. The 23-year-old “Pretty Boy” has now won his last 10 fights by KO/TKO since losing to Mark Anthony Geraldo in 2012 and is rated IBF 4(3)/WBO 13. Five losses in a row for Purisima but he has been match tough.

Cataño, Puerto Rico: Bantam: Emmanuel Rodriguez (12-0) W KO 3 Luis Hinojosa (27-9). 

Rodriguez overwhelms Dominican for win in third round. Hinojosa came out aggressively but the gifted Puerto Rican was scoring heavily to head and sinking in left hooks to the body over the first two rounds with Hinojosa never in the fight. In the third a straight right to the chin put Hinojosa down and out with no count needed.

The 22-year-old was making the second defence of his WBO Latino title. Back in 2010 he had a great and then near tragic year. He won a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games and silver medal at the World Junior Champions but it all went horribly wrong when he almost died after being horribly burnt in a fire. He has made a truly remarkable and courageous recovery. Hinojosa had lost in a fight for the interim WBA bantamweight title in August so was supposed to be a stiff test.

Rotherham, England: Bantam: Klaas Mboyane (17-10-2) W TKO 4 Ross Burkinshaw (14-6-2) W. Feather: Josh Wale (18-7-2) W PTS 10 Dai Davies (12-24-2). 

Mboyane vs. Burkinshaw 

South African Mboyane springs a huge upset with stoppage of local boxer Burkinshaw. The two factors that affected this fight were Burkinshaw ignoring orders from his corner and standing and trading with Mboyane but also a reoccurrence of an elbow injury. Burkinshaw could have stayed outside and out boxed the smaller southpaw but instead allowed himself to be dragged into a brawl.

Mboyane’s inside work to the body wore Burkinshaw down and he was under heavy pressure in the fourth. He retired at the end of the round citing the return of an old sparring injury.  The 33-year-old “Iron Man” Mboyane a former South African champion wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title. He has 9 wins by KO/TKO and is 4-3 in his last 7 fights including a points win over Simpiwe Vetyeka in 2012.

Vetyeka went on to beat Daud Yordan (30-2) for the IBO feather title and Chris John (48-0-3)  for the WBA title in 2013. “The Boss” Burkinshaw, 28, the former undefeated CBC champion and current WBO Europe champion will probably have blown his WBO No 9 rating but with the WBO who knows.

Wale vs. Davies 

Wale just edges out Davies in this CBC eliminator. Both fighters were hampered by cuts with a clash of heads seeing them both cut in the first round with Wale cut again in the sixth and Davies in the eighth. Despite the cuts they fought a hard, close battle with Wale getting the nod from the referee by 96-95.

Good win for the 27-year-old “Outlaw” as he moves up to feather for the first time in his career. He has had tough opposition down at super bantam losing to Kid Galahad, Stuart Hall and Gavin McDonnell but in May last year he held McDonnell to a draw now McDonnell is the European champion so in retrospect that looks a good performance by Wale. Despite his unimpressive statistics the Welsh champion Davies had been enjoying a revival with three wins in a row.

Hollywood, CA, USA: Cruiser: Dmytro Kucher (23-1) W TKO 1 Bobby Thomas (14-4-1). Welter: Alex Saucedo (18-0) W KO 4 Jake Giuriceo (17-4-1). Light: Saul Rodriguez (17-0-1) W PTS 8 Antonio Capulin (14-1). 

Kucher vs. Thomas 

Easy win for Kucher. The Ukrainian handed out some severe punishment in the first but it was a surprise when Thomas decided to retire at the end of the round without having been down. The 30-year-old WBC No 8 took 15 months out after losing to Illunga Makabu in July 2013 and this is his second win since returning.

Saucedo vs. Giuriceo 

Another inside the distance win for promising Saucedo. He controlled the first round being quickest with his hands and busiest. Giuriceo came into the fight more in the second but in the third a stunning left hook from Saucedo put him down.

Giuriceo make it to the bell but a left to the head early in the fourth had Giuriceo stumbling into the ropes on shaky legs and the referee halted the fight. The Oklahoma-based lanky 20-year-old makes it 12 wins by KO/TKO. Giuriceo, 30, was unbeaten in his first 17 fights but is 1-4 in his last 5. This is his first loss by KO/TKO.

Rodriguez vs. Capulin 

Rodriguez finally goes the distance after a run of inside the distance victories. Capulin was determined to show he was not overawed and started aggressively only to be nailed by a left hook to the head. It got even worse for Capulin in the second as he was badly rocked by another left hook and although he made it to the bell he had also suffered a bad cut over his left eye in a clash of heads.

To his credit Capulin did not fold but used a good jab and some movement to keep him in the fight and although he was rocked a couple more times he stayed there to the bell. Scores 80-71 twice and 79-72. The 22-year-old “Kid Dynamita” , trained by Roberto Garcia had won his last 8 fights by KO/TKO. Texan Capulin was in his first eight round fight and did his job here and more.

Quilmes, Argentina: Light Heavy: Isidro Ranoni Prieto (24-0-3) W TKO 2 Edson Roberto Dos Santos Borges (33-3-2). 

Prieto destroys Brazilian in two rounds. Prieto took the first round and then went to work in the second. He started the rot with a right cross/left hook combination and then a right opened a cut over the right eye of Dos Santos. He then took Dos Santos to the ropes and almost floored him with a left hook to the body.

Dos Santos managed to stay on his feet but a right had him badly shaken and the referee applied a standing count. When the action resumed a right uppercut from Prieto left Dos Santos spread-eagled on the canvas and the referee did not even bother to count.

It was a while before Dos Santos recovered but he left the ring on his feet. The Paraguayan-born “Hero” Prieto, 28, was making the fifth defence of his WBO Latino title which has him at No 6 in their ratings. He has 20 wins by KO/TKO including 6 inside the distance wins in his last 7 fights. “Frazier” Dos Santos, 34, loses inside the distance for the second time.

Mansfield, Australia: Light: Miles Zalewski (5-0) W TKO 2 Anthony Brownlie (10-7-1). Super Bantam: Jason Cooper (14-2-1) W PTS 10 Fernando Ocon (13-9-1). 

Zalewski vs. Brownlie 

Zalewski wins the vacant Australian title with stoppage of Brownlie. After a fairly even first round the second opened with Brownlie moving forward and Zalewski looking to catch him with overhand rights. Zalewski scored with a good right and a thumping body punch.

As they traded Zalewski landed a thundering right cross that sent Brownlie down and the referee immediately stopped the fight without a count. “The Superstar” Zalewski moves to three wins by KO/TKO with this impressive showing. Brownlie was having his third try at winning the national title.

Cooper vs. Ocon 

Cooper wins the vacant WBA Oceania title with unanimous decision over Filipino Ocon. Cooper was taller and with a longer reach but a too gutsy Ocon just kept boring in shrugging off hard counters and trying to take Cooper to the ropes. The local fighter handed out some serious punishment to the Filipino who looked close to going down on numerous occasions only to bang back just as the referee was about to step in.

Cooper was willing to trade more often than he needed to but that made it an exciting fight. Scores 100-91, 98-92 and 97-93. The 23-year-old “Nugget”, the ANBF No 1, has won his last six fights. Ocon, 24, was too brave for his own good. He is 1-4-1 in his last six fight but was coming off a twelve round draw in Thailand in December.

Danbury, CT, USA: Feather: Tramaine Williams (9-0,1ND) W TKO 6 Josh Bowles (9-2). 

Local southpaw Williams outboxes and then halts Bowles. “The Mighty Midget” had eased his way through five rounds building a lead and ended it in the sixth flooring Bowles with a straight left and then pouring on more pressure after Bowles made it to his feet. The referee stopped the fight to save Bowles. The 22-year-old former NGG champion and final Olympic Trials competitor gets his second win by KO/TKO. Bowles was having his first fight since July last year.

El Paso, TX, USA: Super Bantam: Joseph Agbeko (29-5) W Juanito Rubillar (49-22-7). 

Agbeko returns with a win but due to a cut. The former IBF bantam champion was boxing his way to victory with southpaw Rubillar being hampered by a cut over his left eye caused by a punch in the second round.in the second round. By the fourth the cut was too serious for the fight to continue so Agbeko gets a stoppage win.

First fight for 35-year-old Agbeko since losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBA/WBO super bantam titles in December 2013. Filipino Rubillar, 38, was having his first fight since August 2013 and this loss makes him 1-9 in his last ten fights. He had his best days as a light flyweight.

Tacoma, WA, USA: Super Middle: Mike Gavronski (18-1-1) W KO 9 Tyrell Hendrix (11-7-2). 

Battle at the Boat favourite Gavronski delighted his fans by outlasting Hendrix in a tough slugging match. These two had fought to a draw back in 2011 which saw both fighters on the floor and they had taken a dislike to each other at the weigh-in for this fight so there was plenty of fire and passion on show.

It was late in the fight before he managed it but Gavronski slowly broke down Hendrix before putting him on the canvas in the ninth to end the action. The 29-year-old “Imagine Me” Gavronski , 29, lost to world rated Tureano Johnson in July last year but has rebounded with four wins. “Hollywood” Hendrix, 31, has lost 5 of his last 6 fights but in there is a stoppage win over prospect Dennis Hasson so he can be dangerous.