The Past Week in Action 24 April 2022

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.

Highlights:

-Tyson Fury stops Dillian Whyte in six rounds in WBC heavyweight title defence.

-Paul Butler wins vacant interim WBO super flyweight as he outpoints Jonas Sultan

-Masataka Taniguchi stops Kai Ishizawa in the eleventh round in WBO minimumweight title defence

-Dane Enock Poulsen wins the vacant European super light title with points victory over Franck Petitjean and Sarah Mahfoud retains the IBF featherweight Female belt by outpointing Nine Meinke

-Mercito Gesta returns to action with a points win against Joel Diaz

-Ekow Essuman retains the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles as he outpoints Darren Tetley

-In Australia Michael Zerafa halts Isaac Hardman in two rounds and Chemeka Johnson wins the vacant IBF super bantam Female belt with a majority verdict over Melissa Esquivel

 

World Title/Major Shows

 

April 22

 

Liverpool, England: Bantam: Paul Butler (34-2) W PTS 12 Jonas Sultan (18-6). Super Light: Alejandro Meneses (16-5) W TKO 9 Sam Maxwell (16-1). Feather: James Dickens (31-4) W KO 5 Andoni Gago (25-5-4). Super Bantam: Peter McGrail (4-0) W TKO 4 Uriel Lopez (15-18-1). Light-Heavy: Rocky Fielding (30-2) W TKO 3 Timo Laine (30-18,1ND).

Butler vs. Sultan

Butler wins the interim WBO belt with points victory over Filipino Sultan. The Filipino drove forward from the start lunging out throwing plenty of punches but having trouble pinning Butler down. Sultan continued his frenzied attacks in the second and had some success when he could pin Butler against the ropes but Butler was countering well. Sultan continued the pressure in the third with Butler choosing to stand and trade more. The speed and accuracy of Butlers work began to give him the edge from the fourth and he was putting together some sharp combinations in the fifth with Sultan lunging wildly. By the sixth bursts of punches from Butler were driving Sultan onto the back foot. The seventh was closer but Butler with his better accuracy was outscoring Sultan. Butler went back to boxing in the eighth with Sultan chasing and landing enough to make it a close round. The pace of the fight was frenetic and they traded punches through the ninth which Sultan might have edged but Butler took the tenth and eleventh as they stood and exchanged punches with Butler throwing combinations and Sultan single big shots. Butler took no chances and boxed his way through the last. Scores 118-110, 117-111, 116-112 which whilst right as Butler won clearly were a little harsh on Sultan. The Filipino was a substitute for title holder John Riel Casimero who has been withdrawn from the fight after being seen using a sauna as he struggled to make weight. Hopefully he and Butler will now meet each other. Sultan had outpointed Casimero in 2017 but lost to Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF title and to South African Athenkosi Dumezweni.

Meneses vs. Maxwell

A power punching show from the unfancied Meneses as he stops Maxwell in nine rounds to win the vacant IBO title. There was nothing in Meneses record, which was almost entirely made up of six and eight round fights against very modest opposition to think he would win here. However the danger signs appeared early as he rocked Maxwell with rights in the first. Maxwell managed to shrug that off and boxed well over the second and third but with Meneses again looking threatening with rights in an entertaining scrap. Maxwell started the fourth well but then it turned into a big round for Meneses as he dropped Maxwell with a right to the side of the head. Maxwell got up and was banging back at the bell. Maxwell boxed well over the fifth and sixth working behind his jab and looking to adjust his guard against Meneses but was rocked again by a left hook in the seventh and a right in the eighth. Each time Maxwell had been hurt he had fought back and taken control but in the ninth he was caught by a counter right. He seemed to shake of the effects but then another bright floored him. He was up at five but Meneses drove him to the ropes and was bombarding him with punches as the referee came in to stop the fight. A big upset as Meneses was a hand-picked opponent and was just big and strong with nothing like the skill set possessed by Maxwell but those right hands cancelled out Maxwell’s skills. Meneses is unlikely to hold the title for long but Maxwell will have a considerable rebuilding task ahead of him.

Dickens vs. Gago

Dickens easily handles Gago before putting him down and out in the fifth. Dickens was in the groove quickly stabbing home right jabs and hooks to the body. Gago was slow and ponderous and overreaching himself leaving himself open to straight left counters. It was more of the same in the second with Dickens able to score consistently with his jab and hefty left hooks and easily evade Gago’s lunging attacks. Gago was down in the third. He was dazed in a clash of heads and went down from that rather than any punch. He beat the count and made to the bell. They clashed heads again in the fourth and Dickens was cut over his right eye but he piled on the punches banging home left hooks and straight lefts. Late in the fifth as Gago tried to move inside Dickens met him with a left uppercut that sent him down and he was counted trying to get up. A not too demanding outing for Dickens in his first fight since losing on an eleventh round retirement against Kid Galahad for the vacant IBF title in August. Former European champion Gago was a disappointment looking slow and crude.

McGrail vs. Lopez

Exhibition stuff from McGrail as he boxes rings around Lopez before stopping him in the fourth. McGrail was just too quick for the limited Lopez. He was finding the target in the first with right jabs and straight lefts. The second was painful for Lopez as every time he threw a jab McGrail countered him with a straight left and Lopez was staggered a number of times. McGrail’s hand speed and movement were too much for Lopez and he was shaken again by lefts in the third. Lopez dropped to his knees under a battery of punches in the fourth and although he was up at eight the referee rightly stopped the one-sided fight. Another dazzling display from the former star of Team GB. Nine consecutive defeats for poor Lopez.

Fielding vs. Laine

Fielding crushes Laine. The Finn was busy at the start of the opening round but Fielding’s powerful jabs soon had him backing up and Fielding landed heavily to the body late in the round. There was more punishment for Laine in the second and in the third with Laine under fire from a series of head punches the referee stepped in to save Laine. The former holder of the WBA secondary super middleweight belt gets his third win since being stopped in three rounds by Saul Alvarez in a WBA title fight in 2018. Fifth inside the distance defeat for Laine.

 

Tokyo, Japan: Minimum: Masataka Taniguchi (16-3) W TKO 11 Kai Ishizawa (10-2).

Taniguchi makes a successful defence of the WBO belt with late stoppage of Ishizawa. Taniguchi made a confident start he was busier than Ishizawa finding gaps for his right jab and getting through with clubbing lefts. Ishizawa managed to connect with right hand leads in the third but Taniguchi boxed cleverly from distance in the fourth. Taniguchi’s superior skills were just too much for Ishizawa and Taniguchi began to systematically break the challenger down. Ishizawa was rocked by uppercuts in the eighth and ninth. He fought back hard but Taniguchi continually changed angles and pierced Ishizawa’s guard with lefts in a masterly display of boxing. Taniguchi landed heavily to head and body in the tenth but a gutsy Ishizawa kept walking forward until a left in the eleventh caused him to stagger back and the referee made a timely stoppage. First defence for southpaw Taniguchi and his eleventh win by KO/TKO. Taniguchi had decisioned Ishizawa over eight rounds back in 2019. Ishizawa was a disgraceful 5lbs overweight. Taniguchi initially refused to go ahead with the fight but finally agreed but of course he was giving away quite a bit in weight and Ishizawa could not win the title if he won the fight.

 

April 23

 

London, England: Heavy: Tyson Fury (32-0-1) W TKO 6 Dillian Whyte  (28-3). Feather: Nick Ball (15-0) TKO 6 Isaac Lowe (21-2-3). Welter: Ekow Essuman (17-0) W PTS 12 Darren Tetley ( 21-3). Heavy: David Adeleye (9-0) W TKO 4 Chris Healey (9-9). Light Heavy: Tommy Fury (8-0) W PTS 6 Daniel Bocianski (10-2).

Fury vs. Whyte

Fury retains the WBC title with crushing sixth round stoppage of Whyte.

Round 1

Whyte came out using a southpaw stance. Fury circled the ring poking out jabs. Whyte’s problem was obvious as at 6’4” to 6’9” and a 78” reach to an 85” he had to get inside but was not quick enough to cut off the ring. Fury chose his moment and slotted straight rights through Whyte’s guard with Whyte coming up short apart from a couple of useful body punches.

Score: 10-9 Fury

Round 2

Whyte went to orthodox for this one and Fury promptly greeted him with a straight right to the head.  Whyte was throwing rights but was forced to reach with his punches and was coming up short with Fury starting to follow his jab with straight rights to Whyte’s head. Whyte’s only punch of note was a right to the body

Score: 10-9                                Fury 20-18

Round 3

Whyte was throwing wild rights and missing badly and Fury made him pay with a hard straight left. Fury kept poking Whyte with his jab and with Whyte telegraphing when he was building up to leap in Fury kept sticking him with the jab to keep him off balance and again followed with straight rights.

Score: 10-9 Fury                        Fury 30-27

Round 4

The referee stopped the action after they clashed against the ropes and warned both for throwing punches after he had called break. Both had some success with Whyte getting through with rights and Fury standing in front of Whyte and landing rights of his own. They tangled on the ropes again with both being warned for punches to the back of the head. Whyte was cut over his right eye in a clash of heads with Fury just doing enough to take the round.

Score: 10-9 Fury                        Fury 40-36

Round 5

Whyte tried to put on more pressure but Fury continued to stick his jab through Whyte’s guard and seemed to rock him with a right. Fury found more gaps for his rights as he took the fight to Whyte occasionally and a frustrated Whyte just could not get close enough to land with any power.

Score: 10-9 Fury                        Fury 50-45

Round 6

Fury was finding the target with clubbing rights and as Whyte came forward Fury connected inside with a right uppercut to the head and shoved Whyte. Whyte went down on his back. He struggled to his feet and tried to show he was able to continue by raising his gloves but he stumbled past the referee to the ropes and the referee waived the fight over. Towering display from Tyson. He still insists he will now retire which would rob boxing of a fight with the winner of Usyk vs. Joshua to unify the heavyweight title. It remains to be seen whether he can resist that lure. Whyte was just not big enough or quick enough to seriously threaten Fury and the need for him to march through Fury’s punches made him a perfect target for an uppercut and Fury certainly delivered a cracking one of those.

Ball vs. Lowe

Ball drops and stops Lowe to win the vacant WBC Silver belt. Lowe was on the front foot taking the fight to the smaller Ball who was darting inside with jabs to the body and connected with a good overhand right late in the round. A huge right uppercut from Ball in the second staggered Lowe badly. Lowe did not go down and looked to have survived the crisis but was floored by a left hook. He made it to his feet and although shaken a couple more times survived to the bell. Lowe boxed cleverly through the third and fourth but suffered a cut over his left eye in a clash of heads in the third and Ball looked dangerous every time he threw a punch. Lowe passed a doctors inspection at the start of the fifth and then attacked hard knowing the cut was too bad for the fight to continue for the full twelve rounds. In the sixth as they traded punches Ball threw off Lowe who staggered into a corner with his head going out through the ropes. As he pulled his head back inside the ring his guard was down and he was facing into the corner so did not see two cracking two left hooks from Ball. As Lowe sagged into the ropes the referee stopped the fight as the towel came in from Lowe’s corner. Ball was taking a considerable step up in the quality of his opposition but his power saw him through. Second inside the distance loss in a row for Lowe.

Essuman vs. Tetley

Essuman takes unanimous decision over Tetley in a disappointing fight with few highlights. Essuman landed well to the body with jabs and also some hefty rights to take the first two rounds. Tetley battled back and worked hard to edge the third and fourth with southpaw jabs and make it close but it was not a great fight. Essuman switched to southpaw in the fifth and connected with some strong right hooks but was still being caught by jabs from Tetley. There was too much clinching but Essuman was doing the cleaner work and building a lead over the seventh and eighth. The ninth was close and Tetley had a good tenth. The match livened up over the last two rounds as they both let their hands go more but Essuman had done enough to be a clear winner. Scores 116-112 twice and 117-111 for Botswana-born Essuman who was making the second defence of the British and Commonwealth titles. Tetley had lost two of his last three fights.

Adeleye vs. Healey

Adeleye gets his eighth inside the distance victor. Much the taller man Adeleye picked Healey apart with stiff jabs. As the fight progressed Healey tried to work his way inside but was being hurt by rights from Adeleye. In the fourth a series of punches from Adeleye had Healey in dire trouble and the referee halted the fight. The 25-year-old Londoner is ready for better opposition. Fifth loss in his last six fights for Healey

Fury vs. Bocianski

Fury moves on with comprehensive victory over reasonable level opponent in Bocianski. Fury scored well with his jabs in the opener against the tall Pole and then shook Bocianski with a booming rights in the second and third. Fury continued to land with heavy jabs and Bocianski was cut over his left eye by the fourth before being floored by a right in the fifth. A scrappy last round saw Bocianski make it to the bell with the referee scoring it 60-54 for Fury who called out Jake Paul after this win.

 

 

 

April 20

 

Melbourne, Australia: Middle: Michael Zerafa (30-4) W TKO 2 Issac Hardman (12-1). Super Bantam: Cherneka Johnson (14-1) W PTS 10 Melissa Esquivel (12-3-1).

Zerafa vs. Hardman

Zerafa wipes out Hardman in two rounds. It was apparent from the first that Zerafa was a class above Hardman as he was quicker and more accurate. In the second a left hook from Zerafa dazed Hardman and a barrage of unanswered punches saw the fight stopped. This was an IBF eliminator (compliments of some manipulation of their ratings) with the aim being for the winner to meet No 1 Esquiva Falcao for the vacant title when Gennady Golovkin moves up to super middle but if Golovkin does not move up the he will have a mandatory challenger.

Johnson vs. Esquivel

New-Zealand-born Australian Johnson wins the vacant IBF Female title with split decision over Esqivel. Johnson boxed well controlling much of the fight with her jab but was helped by Esquivel seemingly suffering a knee injury the limited her mobility. Scores 97-93 and 96-95 for Johnson and 96-94 for Esquivel. Johnson become the second Maori to win a Female title and is looking to get revenge for a split verdict loss against Shannon O’Connell for the vacant WBA Gold belt in March last year. In her last fight Esquivel lost a split decision against Erika Cruz for the WBA feather title.

 

April 21

 

Indio, CA, USA: Super Light: Mercito Gesta (33-3-3) W PTS 10 Joel Diaz (26-3). Super Bantam: Manuel Flores (12-0) W TKO 3 Victor Ruiz (23-13).  Light: Jousce Gonzalez (12-0-1) W TKO 6 Jairo Lopez (27-15).

Gesta vs. Diaz

Impressive return to action for Filipino Gesta as he floors and outpoints Diaz. This was very nearly an early night as Gesta dropped Diaz twice in the first round. Diaz steadied the ship and boxed his way through the next three rounds with Gesta pressing hard all the way. They banged heads in fifth and Diaz was cut and he was shaken badly in the seventh but he finished the fight strongly although the 10-7 first round was too much for him to overcome. Scores 96-92 twice and 95-93 for southpaw Gesta. This was the first fight for Gesta since a technical draw with Carlos Morales in November 2019. He has lost in shots at the IBF and secondary WBA lightweight titles. Diaz went 23-0 at the start of his career but lost crucial fights against Regis Prograis and Cristian Coria.

Flores vs. Ruiz

Flores cuts down Ruiz in three rounds. Flores established control with some sharp boxing in the first two rounds and brought the closure in the third decking Ruiz three times with the referee stopping the fight after the third knockdown. The unbeaten southpaw gets his ninth victory by KO/TKO. Ruiz drops to 1-7 in his last 8 outings.

Gonzalez vs. Lopez

Gonzalez dismantles seasoned pro Lopez in six rounds. Gonzalez took the first round and then sent Lopez down with a left to the boy in the second. A clash of heads saw Gonzalez cut over his right eye but when a right sent Lopez tumbling into the ropes the referee ruled it a knockdown. Lopez also suffered a cut and was soaking up punishment. When he was rocked by an uppercut in the sixth the referee stepped in to save him. Eleventh inside the distance victory for Gonzalez who was moving up to eight rounds for the first time. Fourth consecutive defeat for Lopez

 

 

Copenhagen, Denmark: Super Light: Enock Poulsen (12-0) W PTS 12 Franck Petitjean (23-6-3). Feather: Sarah Mahfoud (11-0) W PTS 10 Nine Meinke (12-2). Super Welter: Oliver Meng (9-0) W PTS 10 Eslith Owusu (7-1). Heavy: Kem Ljungquist (12-0) W KO 6 Vyacheslav Zhyvotyagin (5-1).

Poulsen vs. Petitjean

Courageous show by Poulsen as he deals with the handicaps of an arm injury, a cut and a knockdown to win the vacant European title. In the second round Poulsen suffered a dislocation of his right shoulder. Some controversy as the referee stopped took Poulsen to his corner where his second seemed to correct then dislocation which should not have been allowed. As a result of the injury Poulsen continued for a while without using his left with Petitjean pressing hard but the Dane boxing well. A clash of heads in the eighth saw Poulsen cut on his forehead with the blood affecting Poulsen’s vision and he was dropped by a left in the tenth but he had built a lead with his better boxing and did enough in the last two rounds to just edge out Petitjean. Scores 114-113 twice and 116-112 for Poulsen. First fight in almost three years for Zambian-born Poulsen. It was a similar case for French southpaw Petitjean  who last fought in April 2019 and was 12-1-1 in his last 14 fights.

Mahfoud vs. Meinke

Mahfoud comes through a tough defence of her IBF Female title with unanimous decision over Meinke. The early rounds were close with Mahfoud taking control in the middle rounds with  strong rights. Southpaw Meinke came back to make it close but Mahfoud boxed her way through the ninth and tenth to take the decision on scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94. Mahfoud may be the only champion produced by the Faroe Islands. German Meinke is a dormer undefeated EBU  feather title holder.

Meng vs. Owusu

Danish southpaw prospect Meng outpoints Owusu. It took Meng a couple of rounds to find his timing and then he comfortably outboxed American Owusu. His superiority showed more and more as the rounds passed and that is reflected in the three judges turning in cards of 98-92 for 22-year-old Meng who wins the WBC Youth title.

Ljungquist vs. Zhyvotyagin

Ljungquist beats Zhyvotyagin in six rounds. After a slow start both scored some heavy punches. Ljungquist dropped Zhyvotyagin with a left in the fourth and the Ukrainian flagged badly before being put down by a body punch in the sixth and counted out.  Second inside the distance win in a week for the 6’6 ½” Danish southpaw.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa: Minimum: Bangile Nyangani (12-1-1) W PTS 12 Loyiso Ngantweni (10-16-5). Super Middle: Cowin Ray (8-0) W TKO 3 Andile Mntungwa (6-5-1). Super Bantam: Mzuvukile Magwaca (21-0-3) W KO 2 Sanele Maduna (4-1-1).

Nyangani vs. Ngantweni

Nyangani retains the national title with clear-cut victory over challenger Ngantweni. After a tentative start Nyangani was the boss finding the target with precise jabs and scoring strongly with rights to the body. Ngantweni kept rolled forward and exerting plenty of pressure but was never a threat and struggled to get past Nyangani’s jab. Nyangani won on scores of 118-110 twice and 120-108 to extend his unbeaten run to nine fights. No fairy tale ending for Ngantwani who has turned his career around dramatically after he failed to win any of his first 15 pro fights.

Ray vs. Mntungwa

Ray demolishes challenger Mntungwa in the first defence of his South African title. Ray took charge of the fight from the opening bell and handed out steady punishment in the first and second rounds before overwhelming Mntungwa with a barrage of punches in the third to force the stoppage. Now six victories by KO/TKO for Ray. Mntungwa started out as a super lightweight and was in way over his head.

Magwaca vs. Maduna

The once world rated Magwaca returns to the ring for the first time since December 2017 and puts Maduna down and out with a thunderous right hand in the second round. “Old Bones” suffered a gunshot wound in 2018 and still has a limp from that incident. Maduna just a prelim fighter there for Magwaca to ease himself back against.

 

Toronto, Canada: Super Welter: Mponda Kalunga (10-2) W PTS 10 David Martinez (25-7-1).

Egyptian-born Kalunga moves up to main event status and floors and dominates more experienced Martinez on scores of 100-89 twice and 99-90. Eighth successive win for Kalunga who came to Canada as a refugee when he was ten. “Popeye” Martinez is 0-2 in trips to Canada.

 

April 22

 

Verbania, Italy: Super Welter: Mirko Natalizi (12-0) W PTS 10 Rico Mueller (28-5-1). Super Middle: Ivan Zucco (16-0) W TKO 2 Marko Nikolic (28-2). Feather: Francesco Grandelli (16-1-2) W PTS 10 Kane Baker (17-9-1). Super Welter: Samuel Nmomah (17-0) W PTS 8 Fouad El Massoudi (17-18-1). Feather: Mauro Forte (17-0-2) W KO 6 Joshua Ocampo (8-4-4).

Natalizi vs. Mueller

“Terminator” Natalizi wins the vacant WBC International Silver belt with unanimous decision over Mueller. A low key performance from Natalizi as he won the rounds but not impressively. He was able to use his longer reach to boss the action without ever really looking liable to stop Mueller. Scores 98-92 twice and 99-91 for Natalizi. Mueller was a late substitute and was having his first fight since suffering an eighth round stoppage defeat against Anthony Fowler in July.

Zucco vs. Nikolic

Fighting in his home town Zucco gets another inside the distance win. Zucco was scoring heavily in the first until late in the round when a right uppercut made him dip at the knees but the bell went before Nikolic could build on that. In the second Zucco floored Nikolic with a ramrod straight left Nikolic made it to his feet but was put down again by three rights to the head. Again he climbed up but his second was standing on the ring apron and the referee waived the fight over. Southpaw Zucco has now won 12 of his last 13 fights by KO/TKO. He wins the vacant WBC International title. Serb Nikolic owes his impressive looking record to some very careful matching.

Grandelli vs. Baker

Grandelli outpoints Baker in a fight that sees both boxers on the floor early. Great start for Grandelli as he had Baker down in the first. Baker shrugged that off and dropped Grandelli in the second. After the fireworks Grandelli boxed well and ground out a deserved points victory with Baker competitive all the way. Scores 98-90 twice and 96-92. Grandelli is unbeaten in his last 15 fights including a draw in November against Mauro Forte in a challenge for the European Union title. Former BBB of C Midlands Area champion Baker was 3-0-1 in his last 4 contests.

Nmomah vs. El Massoudi

Italian-based Nigerian Nmomah continues to progress as he takes the points on the judges’ cards against former French champion El Massoudi at 78-73 twice and 77-72. The heavy-handed Nigerian is coming along very much under the radar. Once a European title challenger El Massoudi is well down the slippery slope losing 7 of his last 8 fights.

Forte vs. Ocampo

Just a keep sharp outing for former undefeated European Union champion Forte as he kayos Colombian novice Ocampo in the sixth round. The Rome southpaw is preparing for a challenge to Jordan Gill for the EBU title. Second fight in thirteen days for Ocampo and second loss.

 

Bytom, Poland: Middle: Damian Jonak (42-1-2) W PTS 8 Andrew Robinson (26-6-2).

Jonak finally gets a win in the third episode of his battles with Englishman Robinson. After a fiery, close, opening round Jonak floored Robinson with a left hook in the second. Robinson beat the count but Jonak landed a couple of hard right hooks in the third. Robinson has a good fourth round and an even better fifth scoring repeatedly with rights. The sixth was again close but Jonak outworked Robinson over the seventh and eighth.. Scores 78-73 twice and 77-74 for Jonak who had lost a split decision and fought a majority draw with Robinson in his last two fights. At 38 and after 45 fights Jonak has achieved nothing of note. Robinson, 37 , was knocked out in 88 seconds by Liam Williams in a challenge for the British title in 2020.

 

London, England: Bantam: Sabelo Ngebinyana (14-5) W TKO 5 Ashley Sexton (17-3-2). Super Feather: Reece Bellotti (15-5) W TKO 7 Dean Dodge (9-2-1).

Ngebinyana vs. Sexton

Unheralded South African Ngebinyana pulls off an upset as he stops Sexton. Ngebinyana had Sexton down in the fourth before finishing the fight with a body punches in the fifth. Ngebinyana is a former South African super flyweight title holder and this is win No 10 by KO/TKO. At 34 and after his second loss by KO/TKO perhaps the end of the round for former English flyweight champion Sexton.

Bellotti vs. Dodge

After a run of four losses in his last five fights former Commonwealth featherweight champion Bellotti moves up to super featherweight and wins the vacant Southern Area title with seventh round stoppage of favourite Dodge. Second shot at this title for Dodge and second loss.

 

April 23

 

Georgetown, Guyana: Super Fly: Elton Dharry (26-6-1) W PTS 10 Orlando Penalba (11-1-1). Fly: Gilberto Pedroza (20-9-2) PTS 10 Dexter Marques (17-3).

Dharry vs. Penalba

Dharry leads early and then has to get through dramatic last round to outpoint Penalba. Dharry outboxed Penalba using his height and longer breach and looked on his way to a comfortable win going into the tenth round. Penalba needed a knockout and he nearly delivered flooring Dharry three times but Dharry made it to his feet each time and was firing back at the bell. Scores 99-92, 97-92 and 94-93 for Dharry who wins the vacant WBC International title. Only one loss in his last 23 fights for Dharry and that a cuts stoppage against Andrew Moloney for the WBA interim title in 2019. Panamanian Penalba had scored a win over 20-0-1 Keiver Fernandez and over Gilberto Pedroza for the Panamanian title.

Pedroza vs. Marques

Pedroza gained revenge for Panama as he took a split verdict over Marques. The visitor boxed well behind his jab and pressed the fight hard with that aggression just giving him the edge. No score available. Marques was having his first fight for over four years. A needed win for Pedroza who was 1-5 in his previous six fights. He lifts the WBC International Silver title

 

Osaka, Japan: Super Fly: Kenta Nakagawa (21-4-1) W PTS 10 Hiroyuki Kudaka (28-19-4).

In a battle of veterans Nakagawa wins the vacant Japanese title with unanimous decision over Kudaka. Nakagawa took the first two rounds mixing his attacks to head and body. Kudaka managed to close Nakagawa down more in the third but Nakagawa was soon back in control. After the fifth the scores were 49-46 twice and 50-45 for Nakagawa. In the sixth Nakagawa dropped Kudaka with right and although Kudaka fought back hard Nakagawa was always in control. Scores 98-91 twice and 99-90 for Nakagawa, 36, who wins the title for the third time. Former WBO title challenger Kudaka, 37, announced his retirement.

 

Saint Gallen, Switzerland: Light Heavy: David Faraci (16-1) W PTS 8 Ondrej Budera (16-26-1). Middle: Egzon Maliqaj (10-0-1) W PTS 8 Ivan Matute (30-6).

Faraci vs. Budera

Faraci given a tougher night than expected night against Czech Budera but gets by on a majority decision. Scores 78-74, 77-75 and 76-76. First fight for Faraci since being stopped in nine rounds by Lyndon Arthur in July last year. Budera is 1-5 in his last six outings.

Maliqaj vs. Matute

Maliqaj has to get off the canvas to outpoint Venezuelan Matute and wins on scores of 77-73 on all three cards. Matute lost a point for an infraction of the rules in the third  and Maliqaj was down in the sixth. After drawing in his first pro fight Maliqaj has won ten in a row. Four consecutive defeats for Matute all in different countries.

 

Fight of the week (Significance): Tyson Fury’s win over Dillian Whyte means the hope of a fight with Usyk or Joshua to unify the heavyweight title is still alive-unless Fury is serious about retiring.

Fight of the week (Entertainment): Nick Ball vs. Isaac Lowe gave us three minutes of action in each round

Fighter of the week: Tyson Fury with honourable mention to Paul Butler

Punch of the week: The Tyson Fury uppercut that put Dillian Whyte down

Upset of the week: Alejandro Meneses was not expected to beat Sam Maxwell but he did not read the script

Prospect watch: Still not really tested but Italian super middleweight is 16-0 with 24 wins by KO/TKO

 

 

 

Observations

Rosette: To Tyson Fury a colossus of the heavyweight division

Red Card: No real baddies this week

 

The show in Copenhagen also served as a tribute to Mogens Palle every bit as much of a colossus for Danish boxing as Fury to the heavyweights. Unfortunately Mogens did not attend as he is undergoing treatment for cancer and understandably did not wish to attend in a wheelchair. A truly great promoter and I was privileged to be visiting the international Boxing Hall of Dame when he was inaugurated in 2008.