The Past Week in Action 25 July 2023

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:

-Erik Robles outpoints Lee McGregor to win the vacant IBO super bantam title

– Hector Sosa scores a dramatic kayo of champion James Dickens to win the IBO featherweight title

-George Kambosos outpoints champion Maxi Hughes and picks up the IBO lightweight title

-There are wins for Keyshawn Davis, Serhii Bohachuk, Amilcar Vidal, Giovani Santillan, Troy Isley and Joe Goodall

 

World Title/Major Shows

 

JULY 22

 

Shawnee, OK, USA: Light: George Kambosos (21-2) W PTS 12 Maxi Hughes (26-6-2). Light: Keyshawn Davis (9-0) W PTS 10 Francesco Patera (28-4). Welter: Giovani Santillan (31-0) W PTS 10 Erick Bone (27-7). Middle: Troyn Isley (10-0) W PTS 8 Antonio Todd (14-91ND). Heavy: Jeremiah Milton (10-0) W RTD 4 Willie Harvey (4-3-2). Heavy: Hemi Ahio (21-1) W TKO 4 Amron Sands (12-3). Heavy: Joe Goodall (10-1-1) W TKO 6 Stephan Shaw (18-2).

Kambosos vs. Hughes

Kambosos beats champion Hughes on a controversial majority decision to win the IBO belt.

Round 1

Very much a probing round with both coming up short with their jabs. There were a couple of quick exchanges with Hughes landing some lefts just enough to take the round.

Score: 10-9 Hughes

Round 2

Hughes scored with a left counter early. When Kambosos launched a couple of attacks again southpaw Hughes caught him with counters. Kambosos landed a pair of rights and another later in the round.

Score: 10-9 Kambosos               TIED 19-19

Round 3

Kambosos got through with a hard right at the start of the round but Hughes responded with some right jabs and later connected with two lefts. Hughes ducked under a Kambosos right and scored with a right and a left.

Score: 10-9 Hughes                   Hughes 29-28

Round 4

The fourth was a nothing round. Neither fighter did much nor threw many punches. Kambosos was constantly moving feet and hands with no output and Hughes was circling Kambosos but also not throwing punches. A brief coming together at the end of the round saw Kambosos land a couple of rights-enough to give him the round

Score: 10-9 Kambosos               TIED 38-38

Official Scores: Judge David Sutherland 39-37 Hughes, Judge Josef Mason 39-37 Kambosos, Judge Gerald Ritter 39-37 Kambosos

Round 5

Hughes started the round landing a bunch of punches and rocking Kambosos then getting out before Kambosos could counter. Hughes slotted home some right jabs with Kambosos landing a right to the body

Score: 10-9 Hughes                   Hughes 48-47

Round 6

It was a similar situation in this round with Hughes darting in and scoring with a couple of punches and getting out and then finding the target with jabs with Kambosos too slow to counter. Kambosos needed to pile on the pressure  but he was too often posing and not punching but caught Hughes with an accidental butt leaving Hughes with a vertical cut over his left eye.

Score: 10-9 Hughes                   Huges 58-56

Round 7

Kambosos upped his pace and pressed Hughes harder. There was still not much in the way of trading with just brief seconds of action as they came together. Kambosos had more success at the end of the round landing rights.

Score: 10-9 Kambosos               Hughes 67-66

Round 8

Hughes was boxing cleverly circling Kambosos and then quickly snapping home a jab and dodging Kambosos counters. Kambosos was just flicking out his jab and Hughes was able to dart in with a left whilst Kambosos was still hanging his left arm out. Kambosos could not settle into any system and was miles away in confidence and commitment from the fighter who had beaten Teo Lopez

Score: 10-9 Hughes                   Hughes 77-75

Official Scores: Judge David Sutherland 77-75 Hughes, Judge Josef Mason 78-74 Kambosos, Judge Gerald Ritter 77-75 Kambosos.

Round 9

Hughes continued to get his punch off first-and was a single punch since neither was throwing combinations and it was more like a chess match than a fight. Hughes must have been pleasantly surprised how things were going. He must have expected Kambosos to bring plenty of pressure and a high work rate but Kambosos was just standing in the centre of the ring letting Hughes circle him and never really putting him under pressure. Hughes just kept working away landing a right jab and a left to the body. Kambosos was windmilling his right arm but it was not going anywhere.

Score: 10-9 Hughes                   Hughes 87-84

Round 10

Kambosos connected with a couple of rights and forced the pace in this round putting Hughes under more pressure and getting his punches off first Hughes had very little success in the round.

Score: 10-9 Kambosos               Hughes 96-94

Round 11

Hughes was again beating Kambosos to the punch and landed a hard left. Kambosos was not getting close enough quick enough and Hughes was able to do a quick shift and land a left with Kambosos swinging from out of range.

Score: 10-9 Hughes                   Hughes 106-103

Round 12

Kambosos started the round by connecting with a right but then seemed to think he had done enough and spent too much time dancing around to no effect, Hughes stuck to the task finding the target with rights jabs and occasional lefts and then ducked and dived around a final flurry from Kambosos

Score: 10-09 Hughes                 Hughes 116-112

Official Scores: Judge David Sutherland 114-114 Tied, Judge Josef Mason 117-111 Kambosos, Judge Gerald Ritter 115-113 Kambosos.

Kambosos wins the IBO title but a very controversial decision particularly the 117-111 score. There were not enough sustained exchanges for it to be an entertaining fight . Kambosos failed to press the fight and it was strange to see him so cautious against Hughes who had won only five fights by KO/TKO. Kambosos will be hoping somehow to get  a shot at one of the four major belts but on this performance he will struggle to get there. Hughes  looked destined to serve his time as a good domestic ten round fighter but when he was given the chance to challenge Jovanni Saffron for the IBO title he grasped the opportunity then scored wins over Ryan Walsh and Kid Galahad in defences. He will have made a career high purse for this fight. Hopefully as a former IBO champion he will be in line for a couple more good paydays and he is due them for a long and distinguished career fighting for eleven years before getting a golden ticket of a title.

Davis vs. Patera

Davis floors and outpoints Patera as he goes ten rounds for the first time. In the opener Patera immedicably went on the defensive circling the perimeter of the ring with Davis shadowing him. Davis chose his moments to fire jabs and straight rights and Patera only came away from the ropes briefly to fire some punches with Davis again hunting him down and landing jabs. Patera came out firing jabs and straight rights in the second and Davis went on to the back foot with Patera trying to put Davis under pressure. Davis was too quick but did not do much offensively himself in the round. After a brief flurry of punches from Davis at the start of the third Patera was again coming forward behind his jab and throwing rights. They finally began to stand and trade punches late in the round with Davis putting together some flashy combinations. It had been a low key performance from Davis so far. He was doing enough to win the rounds-just. He finally came to life in the fourth. His flashing hand speed saw him firing combinations and single shots through Patera’s guard and he chased the Belgian down. Patera banged back at the end of the round but again Davis was splitting Patera guard with lightning fast punches. Davis also took the fifth. He was slotting jabs through Patera’s guard and then letting fly with both hands scoring with hooks and uppercuts, Patera remained competitive again firing back at the end of the round. Patera was fired-up in the sixth marching forward throwing punches putting Davis under continuous pressure. Davis showed some classy defence work and scored with a great right cross early but was also getting away with holding too much. Patera just kept striding forward and was getting through with jabs and straight punches and probably won the round. Davis was back in control in the sevenths spearing Patera with jabs firing straight rights and lefts through Patera’s guard and looked to have hurt Patera with a body punch. Davis dominated the eighth. He had Patera on the backs foot and was landing jabs , hooks and uppercuts with Patera very much in defence mode. Davis landed a series of head punches and then dropped Patera with a right hook. Patera was up at eight and fought his way to the bell. Davis tried to end it in the ninth. He drove Patera around the ring letting fly with burst of punches and shaking Patera a couple of times. Patera took the punishment and then launched an attack just before the bell forcing Davis back and showering him with punches. In the tenth Davis tried to finish with a flourish but Patera competed hard shaking off some hard shots from Davis and fighting back to the final bell. Davis won on scores of 100-89 twice and 99-91. It was an  interesting rather than exciting fight. Davis showed his great skills and hand speed but did not really step up a gear until the last four rounds. Patera was not an easy opponent. He does nothing spectacularly but does the basics very well and posed some problems for Davis but Davis will go from strength to strength and this will have been a good test for him at this stage.

Santillan vs. Bone

Santillan takes a unanimous decision over Bone in an entertaining , competitive fight. Bone made a confident start finding gaps in Santillan’s guard and connecting with rights to have the edge in the first. Santillan took charge in the second outworking and outscoring Bone who made Santillan hold after a right late in the round. They swapped punches for much of the third with Santillan getting the better of the action and looking to have taken a close fourth. Pressure from Santillan saw Bone’s output drop in the fifth and sixth but Bone fired back connecting with hard rights in the seventh. A left from Santillan in the eight shook Bone but he responded with a right as they traded punches in a close round. Bone landed the more eye-catching shots in the ninth but Santillan earned the decision with a strong finish over the final three minutes. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 97-92 for Santillan a good winner but this was tougher than the scores indicate. Santillan, the WBO No 5, has put together a series of victories over testing opposition but will have to move up a level to get anywhere near a title shot although apart from Spence and Crawford the division is not that strong. Bone lost a majority decision against Sergey Lipinets  in 2018 but then won seven in a row against unthreatening opposition back home in Ecuador

Isley vs. Todd

Isley marches on with a unanimous decision over Todd. Strong start from Isley as he forced Todd back in the first with stiff jabs and worked him over with a burst of punches to head and body. A better second round from Todd as he showed fast, accurate jabs and matched Isley inside. Isley was back in charge in the third and fourth as he doubled up on his jab and scored with left hooks on the way in. Todd was just looking to counter but was too slow to do so and hardly used his right. Todd came back into the fight with a useful fifth. He used his jab to get on the front foot and Isley’s attacks stalled as he threw very little in the round. In the sixth Todd was on the front foot taking the fight to Isley who looked less confident and was again not throwing much. Todd opened the seventh blasting Isley with a bunch of head punches forcing Isley back to the ropes. Isley recovered and boxed well enough to win the round without really putting Todd under any great pressure. Isley found his form again in the last outscoring Todd and shaking him late with a right. Isley won on scores of 79-73 on all cards but I saw it closer than that. A low key performance from the “Transformer” as he continues to develop. Todd suffers his third loss in a row against good level opposition.

Milton vs. Harvey

Milton beats Harvey in a dull slow-paced rather ridiculous fight. Milton was 5” taller but 41lbs lighter than the obsess Harvey. For much of the time it was just target practice for Milton as he jolted the glacially slow Harvey with jabs and landed right crosses. Harvey occasionally threw a wild punch or bored inside and held and it made a poor spectacle and thankfully Harvey retired at the end of the fourth round. Nothing resembling a test for Milton so far and all he would have taken away from a farce such as this is a payday.

Ahio vs. Sands

Ahio pounds Sands to defeat in six rounds. Sands had a six inch height advantage and a longer reach and took the fight to Ahio in the first. In the second Ahio rumbled forward throwing hooks from both hands and rattled Sands with a left hook. Sands was connecting with right hooks in the third and both landed heavily in the fourth but Ahio was landing heavier shots and in charge. He trapped Sands against the ropes and chopped away at his body in the fifth. Ahio ended it in the sixth forcing Sands to a corner and battering him with heavy shots and the referee stopped the fight. Second inside the distance win for New Zealander Ahio since shock stoppage defeat against Faiga Opelu in October. A courageous performance by Ahio as he was reported to have suffered a broken nose and a suspected orbital fracture in sparring before the fight. The two losses for Bahamian Sands were early stoppages against unbeaten opponents.

Goodall vs. Shaw

Something of an upset as Australian Goodall hands Shaw his second loss in a row. Shaw did enough to edge the first round but Goodall connected with some sharp counters in the second rocking Shaw and finishing the round strongly. They worked in close in the third with Goodall scoring well early but Shaw landing with a couple of clubbing shots to just take the round. Goodall bounced back to just get the better of the exchanges in the fourth and Shaw started to slow and fade in the fifth with Goodall driving home body punches. A tiring Shaw was put down heavily by two rights and a left hook in the sixth. He just beat the count and the fight continued with Goodall driving Shaw back with another powerful combination dumping him on the canvas propped up against the bottom rope. He again made it to his feet and the fight should have been stopped then. Instead, Shaw was allowed to absorb more punishment with the referee waiving aside the ringside doctor standing on the ring apron but halted it a few seconds later. Goodall had lost to unbeaten Justis Huni in June last year so this win will certainly give him a huge boost. Shaw had lost a very close decision against Efe Ajagba in January but this decisive defeat puts a question mark over how far he can go.

 

Edinburgh, Scotland: Super Bantam: Erik Robles (14-1) W PTS 12 Lee McGregor (12-1-1). Feather: Isaac Lowe (23-2-3) W RTD 5 Jonathan Santana (9-6-1). Super Light: Harlem Eubank (18-0) W TKO 7 Ishmael Ellis (14-8). Super Feather: Sultan Zaurbek (15-0) W TKO 3 John Carter (15-1-1). Heavy: Bohdan Myronets (7-1) W PTS 6 Kash Ali (21-2). Heavy: Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko (10-13-1) W TKO 5 Matty Harris (5-1).

6

Robles vs. McGregor

Robles ruins the night for the home fans as he takes a close unanimous decision over McGregor to win the vacant IBO title. The first two rounds were fought at a very fast pace with both fighters trying to dominate the action in constant exchanges but with Robles the sharper more poised and accurate taking those first two rounds. McGregor had managed only eight round of activity in the last seventeen months but he had shaken any rust and he scored well as they traded punches inside in the third. The pace slowed in a close fourth. At that stage Robles was 39-37 up on two cards with the third reading 38-38. Robles took the fight to McGregor in the fifth digging in some hurtful body punches but as the pace dropped in the sixth McGregor was able to make his better skills count and he had a good seventh forcing Robles back and scoring heavily as he pinned Robles against the ropes.  The eighth was close with McGregor dominating early but Robles banging back late. McGregor had evened things up and now two judges had it 76-76 with the third leaning heavily towards Robles at 78-74. The scoring showed how close the rounds and the fight were and the pattern stayed the same over the closing rounds. The momentum swung back and forth in each round with McGregor’s quality being weighed against the higher punch output from Robles and the judges were split on each individual round with one scoring the twelfth a 10-10 round but it was Robles who lifted the title on scores of 115-113 twice and 116-113. Robles was a hand-picked opponent looking very beatable having never faced any quality opposition and being rated No 57 by BoxRec. He rose to the occasion and deserved his win. Through no fault of his own McGregor has seen little action recently. After a disappointing draw against Diego Ruiz in February 2022 he was inactive until outpointing Alexis Kabore in March this year. Hopefully he will now be more active and get another title chance.

Lowe vs. Santana

Lowe too big and too strong for Spaniard Santana. Lowe put Santana under steady pressure gradually breaking Santana down. Santana lacked the power to keep Lowe out and was drained by the end of the fourth. A right dropped Santan in the fifth and the referee waived the fight over without a count. Lowe’s consecutive losses against Luis A Lopez and Nick Ball derailed him but both fights are now seen as much tougher tasks than at the time and he is at an early point of a recovery from those set backs. Santana is a bantam or super bantam at best so outgunned.

Eubank vs. Ellis

Eubank stops Ellis in an ugly fight. Eubank showed in the first that he is in a different class to Ellis outboxing him easily. Eubank bossed the second but it was untidy with both boxers getting tangled and falling over. Eubank rocked Ellis a couple of times in the third but Ellis tried to smother Eubank’s work which again made for an untidy round. Eubank hunted Ellis around the ring in the fourth and fifth. Ellis was just diving forward then clinching and at times sliding to his knees without a punch causing it and he was warned a number of times. Eubank drove Ellis across the ring late in the sixth and with only seconds remaining in the round landed a couple of punches with Ellis dropping to one knee then getting up during the count as the round ended. Eubank tried hard to finish it at the start of the seventh but initially was frustrated as Ellis again clinched and slid to the floor. Ellis was deducted a point for his holding tactics and when he dropped to a knee after a series of punches from Eubank the referee stopped the fight (to save the audience from further punishment). Not an inspiring performance for Eubank but the negative tactics from Ellis made it hard to look good.

Zaurbek vs. Carter

Kazak southpaw Zaurbek has too much class for unbeaten Carter. Zaurbek outboxed Carter stepping up the pressure gradually over the first two rounds and then went to work in the third. A left rocked Carter and opened a cut over his right eye and after Carter was shaken by an uppercut the referee stopped the fight. Eleventh inside the distance victory for Zaurbek. Former undefeated European Union champion Carter had a nine-fight winning sequence going.

Myronets vs. Ali

Poor performance here from a very rusty Ali as he losses on points to Latvian-based Ukrainian Myronets. Ali was sluggish and slow and Myronets outboxed and outscored him with the referee carding it 59-56 for Myronets. Ali had put together a six-bout winning run but this was his first fight for seventeen months and it showed. Fourth win in a row for Myronets.

Dovbyshchenko vs. Harris

London-based Ukrainian Dovbyshchenko makes it a bad night for British heavyweight as he stops previously unbeaten Harris in the fifth. The 6’8” Harris towered over the 6’1” Dovbyshchenko and he started the fight by outscoring Dovbyshchenko in the first and flooring him in the second. That was as good as it got for Harris. He slowed over the third and fourth with Dovbyshchenko connecting with rights and by the fifth an exhausted Harris was taking a pounding and the referee stopped the fight. Seven of Dovbyshchenko’s wins have come inside the distance but he had lost his last four fights. Harris is only 23 so can’t be written off but this loss knocked the shine of his prospect status. He had won his last four fights in the first round no stamina check until this contest.

 

Dubai, UAE: Feather: Hector Sosa (16-2) W TKO 10 James Dickens (32-5). Super Feather: Alfred Lamptey (13-0) W KO 1 Richard Pumicpic (23-14-3). Super Light: Movladdin Biyarslanov (13-0) W TKO 4 Joniker Tovar (21-1-1) Feather: Arnold Khegai (20-1-1) W TKO 4 Freddy Lainez (17-4). Super Feather: Jadier Herrera (12-0) W TKO 4 Eric Quarm (10-4-1,1ND). Welter: Faizan Anwar ( 16-0) W TKO 4 Argie Toquero (13-7-3).

Sosa vs. Dickens

Sosa scores dramatic one-punch victory over Dickens to win the IBO title. Dickens was boxing confidently in the first using his right jab to hold off Sosa and then with just a minute gone in the fight he knocked Sosa down with a left to the head. Sosa jumped up quickly and piled forward throwing punches. Both had some success in the second with Sosa firing with both hands but not often accurate and Dickens picking and placing his punches and countering well but Sosa looked to have taken the round. Dickens edged the third using his jab to keep Sosa off balance and landing straight lefts. Sosa was circling Dickens for much of the fourth looking for opportunities to dart inside firing punches with Dicked again sticking to his jab and left counters. After four rounds Dickens was ahead 39-36 on all three cards. Sosa spent the fifth and sixth darting forward fighting inbursts getting through with some punches and Dickens controlling the action sticking to his boxing and working hard for the whole three minutes. The seventh saw Sosa not so impetuous working his way within punching range instead of launching attacks from distance. He scored well with rights over the first two minutes with Dickens again using his strong jab and right crosses to have Sosa on the back foot. Sosa was marching forward in the eighth but not having much success as Dickes bobbed and weaved away from Sosa’s punches and countered well.  The ninth was a better round for Sosa as Dickens stood and traded more but both scored often enough for it to be close. Dickens seemed to be in control in the tenth when a bolt out of the blue right cross sent Dickens down flat on the floor out cold. There was considerable concern for Dickens as he did not stir for some time but eventually recovered. Argentinian Sosa was 2-2 in his last four fights and was being outboxed being 2, 4, and six points behind on the cards but that booming right cancelled out all of that. A disaster for Dickens who after a long career had won the IBO title in October and was making his first defence.

Lamptey vs. Pumicpic

Impressive showing from Lamptey as he finishes Filipino Pumicpic in the opening round. Lamptey scored with strong left jabs snapping Pumicpic’s head back and landed some sharp uppercuts. Pumicpic couldn’t get past Lamptey’s jab and as he tried again at the end of the round a right hook to the body sent him down in a heap on the canvas and the referee immediately waived the fight over. Ninth win by KO/TKO for the 21-year-old Lamptey and he looks one to watch for the future. Second inside the distance loss in a row for Pumicpic

Biyarslanov vs. Tovar

Russian-born Canadian Biyarslanov beats Tovar in four rounds. Biyarslanov floored Tovar and the Venezuelan did not come out for the fifth round. Sixth win by KO/TKO for the Canadian southpaw. Tovar’s record full of novices and very modest victims.

Khegai vs. Lainez

Khegai’s power proves too much for Lainez. Laines tried to use his longer reach and better skills to outbox Khegai but the Ukrainian was dangerous with left hooks and overhand rights. Lainez also had quicker hands but little power. He had plenty of success with his speed but became too confident and stood still in front of Khegai in the third loading up his punches and was floored by a heavy right.   He was dropped again by a left hook but managed to hold and wrestled his way to the bell. When he was dropped again in the fourth the referee stopped the fight. Kheghai’s sole loss came against Stephen Fulton in 2020 and this is win No 3 since then. Nicaraguan Lainez had won 8 of his last 9 fights.

Herrera vs. Quarm

Herrera too talented and too powerful for Ghanaian Quarm. The Ghanaian had only the most rudimentary ability and Herrera battered him for four rounds before the referee stopped the fight. The 20-year-old Dubai-based Cuban has ten wins by KO/TKO. He is the grandson of Angel Herrera who was Olympic champion in 1976 and 1980 and World champion in 1978 and 1982. Jaider was Cuban Under-13 and Under-15 champion before defecting.

Anwar vs. Toquero

Indian southpaw Anwar halts Filipino Toquero in the fourth round. Anwar was in front before ending it in the fourth. With Toquero pinned against the ropes and Anwar unloading on him the referee stopped then fight. The 22-year-old Anwar is making good progress but is ready for tougher tests. Four loss by KO/TKO for Toquero

 

 

JULY 19

 

Sydney, Australia: Light: Youssef Dib ( 20-0) W TKO 9 Miles Zalewski (12-3). Light Heavy: Paulo Aokuso (5-0) W PTS 8 Renold Quinlan (16-13). Middle: Jack Brubaker (17-4-2) W PTS 6 Tony O’Meley (14-4-1).

Dib vs. Zalewski

Dib has to climb off the canvas before stopping Zalewski. Dib boxed well and built a lead, In the sixth he was drooped by a left hook. He made it to his feet but was under heavy pressure and was deducted a point for spitting his mouthguard out making it a 10-7 round. Dib recovered and at the end of the eighth it was anybody’s fight with two judges having them even at 75-75 and the other having it 76-74 for Dib. In the ninth Dib connected with a series of punches sending Zalewski to the ropes and as Dib was unloading on Zalewski the towel came in from Zalewski’s corner. Dib, the younger brother of former IBF featherweight title holder Billy, wins the vacant Australasian belt.

Aokuso vs. Quinlan

Despite having to come thorough a debilitating dose of flu before the fight flashy former Olympian Aokuso was too quick and too slick for Quinlan. Southpaw Aokuso outboxed Quinlan landing heavily and aiming for a promised knockout. Quinlan kept looking for one big punch to turn fight his way but Aokuso was never troubled and won on scores of 80-72 on all three cards. Next up for Aokuso will be a fight in five weeks’ time against former IBF/WBC title challenger Adam Deines. Quinlan won the IBO super middleweight title in in 2016 with a kayo of former IBF middle champion Daniel Geale but then lost it to Chris Eubank Jr on a tenth round stoppage in 2017.

Brubaker vs. O’Meley

Brubaker returns to action with a unanimous decision over O’Meley. Brubaker dropped O’Meley in the second but then had to fight hard over the next four rounds to win 58-56 on the three cards. The one-time OPBF title holder retired after consecutive losses against Tim Tszyu and Steve Spark and was out for just over two years before this win. He is now lined up to face unbeaten Nikita Tszyu. O’Meley is a former Australian super welter champion

 

JULY 20

 

Saint Petersburg, Russia: Heavy: Sergey Kuzmin (19-2,1ND) W RTD 8 German Garcia (8-6). Light: Alexey Mazur (9-0) W PTS 8 Carlos Cordoba (16-10).

Kuzmin vs. Garcia

Kuzmin beats Garcia. This was a slow-paced contest with few highlights. Garcia was cut over his right eye in the second and by the fifth was already showing swelling around both eyes and signs of exhaustion. Garcia survived a ringside doctor’s inspection of his swollen face in the eighth but at the end of the round was floored heavily by a left hook. He made it to the bell but then retired. Kuzmin, 36, won his first 15 fights but then lost back-to-back decisions against Michael Hunter and Martin Bakole. He has now won four in a row since the Bakole defeat. Garcia had won on a stoppage over 19-0 Junlong Zhang in October (Zhang was cut and although the doctor passed him fit to continue Zhang refused)and only lost to Ruslan Fayfer on a split decision.

Mazur vs. Cordoba

Local southpaw Manzur wins a points decision over Argentinian Cordoba. At times Mazur, the Russian champion,  had problems with the awkward and unpredictable style of Cordoba but won a clear unanimous decision. No scores available. Cordoba is the WBC Francophone title holder at lightweight and former Argentinian superlight champion.

 

JULY 21

 

San Jose, Costa Rica: Fly: David Jimenez (13-1) W RTD 6 Rosendo Guarneros (20-6-2). Super Welter: Heriberto Flores (10-0) W TKO 9 Eduardo Sanchez (7-1-2). Super Feather: Jose Nunez (15-0-2) W PTS 10 Jose Perez (10-10-1). Bantam: Juliana Rodriguez (8-0) W PTS 10 Marcela Nieto (6-2-1).

Jimenez vs. Guarneros

Jimenez beats Guarneros who retires after the sixth round. Guarneros made an aggressive start but the harder punching Jimenez took over from the second and rocked Guarneros back on his heels with a right in the third. By the fourth he was dropping his hands and switching guards but Guarneros was given a break when a Jimenez punch landed at the back of his head. Guarneros was still marching forward in the fifth but had slowed and was walking onto counters and taking some serious punishment. Jimenez lost a point in the sixth for clattering Guarneros with his elbow and just seconds before the bell the action was stopped so the tape on Jimenez’s right glove could be tidied up. When the action restarted an under fire Guarneros slipped and put his glove on the canvas and was given a count. He returned to his corner but did not come out for the seventh. Jimenez wins the vacant WBC Latino belt. He broke though in a big way when he beat Ricardo Sandoval but lost a close points decision against Artem Dalakian in London in January for the WBA title. Guarneros had slightly better memories of England having lost on points against Sunny Edwards but  twice decisioning Tommy Frank.

Flores vs. Sanchez

Mexican Flores stops local southpaw Sanchez. The home fighter made a better start and looked to have just taken the first two rounds. The harder punching Flores then began to land with accuracy and more power. He shook Sanchez in the fourth and Sanchez was deducted a point inn the seventh. Flores put Sanchez down in the ninth and with Sanchez showing a bad cut on the bridge of his nose the fight was stopped. The 21-year-old Flores gets his ninth inside the distance win. Both were moving up to ten rounds for the first time.

Nunez vs. Perez

Panamanian southpaw Nunez outpoints Perez in a fight that saw both boxers on the floor. Nunez dropped Perez in the first and continued to score heavily. By the end of the sixth Nunez was way in front on points. In the seventh Perez dropped Nunez and had him in deep trouble. Nunez recovered and held off a strong finish from Perez to wins on scores of 98-90, 96-92 and 96-93, Nunez had outpointed Perez back in 2019. Nicaraguan-born Costa Rican Perez is now 0-6-1 in his last 7 fights

Rodriguez vs. Nieto

Costa Rican Rodriguez outclasses Colombian Nieto. Rodriguez pretty well dominated from bell to bell scoring heavily from the start with Nieto standing up to the punishment and making a couple of rounds close but never looked like winning. Scores 100-90,99-91 and 98-92. Rodriguez was defending the WBC Latino belt.

 

Tijuana, Mexico: Super Light: Jesus Madueno (19-0) W TKO 3 Ulises Perez. (18-23-1). Welter: Miguel Madueno (30-1) W KO 3 Edgar Ahumada (11-35-3). Feather: Julio Carrera (17-0-1) W PTS 8 Jesus Rendon (15-19-1).  Zamora (21-5) W PTS 8 Erik Aguirre (7-12-1).

Madueno vs. Perez

Madueno stops Perez in three rounds. Fourth inside the distance win in a row and thirteenth in all for 21-year-old Madueno. Poor Perez is 0-12-1 in his last 13 outings.

Madueno vs. Ahumada

Elder brother Miguel makes it a family double as he also wins in the third round over Edgar Ahumada.  Miguel,24, has scored 28 inside the distance wins with his sole loss coming in March last year when he was outpointed by Jezzrel Corrales. One win in his last nine fights for Ahumada

Carrera vs. Rendon

Carrera comfortably outpoints Rendon on scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74, Carrera won his first sixteen fight before being held to a draw by Nazario Castro in November. Eight losses on the bounce for Rendon

Zamora vs. Aguirre

A very rusty Zamora gets a unanimous decision over Erik Aguirre on scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75. Zamora was inactive in 2020 and had just one fight in 2021 and 2022. In keeping with the other losers on the show Aguirre suffers his eighth loss in his last nine fights.

 

Turffontein, South Africa: Light: Kaine Fourie (5-0-2) W TKO 3 Lancelot Moyo (4-1). Middle: Donjuan van Heerden (8-1) W TKO 1 Durandt Verwey (3-1).

Fourie vs. Moyo

Fourie floors Zimbabwean Moyo three times to win the ABU title. Fourie used left hooks to put Moyo down heavily and although Moyo beat the count after the third knockdown he stumbled and the referee waived the fight over. Fourth win in a row for Fourie after drawing two of his first thee fights. Moyo had won his four fights but his victims could only muster two wins between them.

van Heerden vs. Verwey

van Heerden stops Verwey in the first round. After losing his first pro fight van Heerden has won eight in a row six by KO/KO. He was voted Male Prospect of the year at the recent South African Boxing Awards ceremony.

 

Ontario, CA, USA: Super Feather: Geroge Acosta (16-1) W RTD 5 Edy Valencia (20-12-6,1ND). Welter: Luis Lopez (14-2-1) W KO 3 Benjamon Lamptey (13-12-2).

Acosta vs. Valencia

Acosta beats Valencia on a fifth round retirement. Acosta boxed cleverly on the back foot spearing the oncoming Valencia with jabs and countering with hooks. He showed plenty of variety in his work moving around Valencia and changing angles but there was no real power in his punches. Valencia was able to keep rumbling forward occasionally letting fly with wild hooks and keeping Acosta under pressure with Acosta cut over his left eye in a clash heads in the second. Acosta floored Valencia with a straight right at the end of the fourth the last punch in the round. Valencia slowed and went on the defensive and took steady if not heavy punishment in the fifth and did not come out for the sixth. Ninth win in a row for Acosta but only his third by KO/TKO. Sixth loss in his last seven fights for southpaw Valencia. Valencia collapsed after the fight and was rushed to hospital and put in intensive care. No update on his condition right now.

Lopez vs. Lamptey

Lopez rebounds with a win. Lopez used strong jabs to put Lamptey on the back foot and was scoring with left hooks to the body. Lamptey showed little offence and spent much off the round trapped against the ropes as Lopez onloaded punches on him. Lopez was hounding Lamptey in the second banging away with body punches and adding some neck-snapping uppercuts to the mix. Lamptey flared briefly at the end of the round but Lopez was able to walk through the punches. A left hook to the body dropped Lamptey in the third and after the count a volley of body shots saw him go down again and he sat out the count. Lopez had lost a unanimous decision against 15-1 Angel Beltran in March. Only two wins in his last ten fights for Ghanaian Lamptey

 

JULY 22

 

Santa Ynez, CA, USA: Super Welter: Serhii Bohachuk (23-1) W TKO 1 Patrick Allotey (42-5). Feather: Omar Trinidad (13-0-1) W KO 6 Roberto Meza (15-4-1).

Bohachuk vs. Allotey

Ukrainian Bohachuk stops Ghanaian Allotey in the first round. Bohachuk was working behind his jab finding gaps and putting Allotey on the defensive. Bohachuk saw an opening and launched a booming right to the head that sent Allotey face down on the canvas. He struggled to his feet at nine but the referee stopped the fight. Bohachuk, the WBC No 2, was defending his WBC Continental Americas belt. He will have to see the outcome of Alvarez vs. WBC champion Jermell Charlo to gauge his chance of a title fight but is scheduled to fight again in November. Allotey, 32, was halted in six rounds by Jaime Munguia in a challenge for the WBO super welter title in 2019 and this is only his third fight since then.

Trinidad vs. Meza

Californian Trinidad beats Meza on a sixth round stoppage. Trinidad dealt out some serious punishment to Meza in the second before sending him down with a left hook. Meza beat the count and lasted out the round but took a hammering in then third and fourth before being knocked down again in the fifth. Meza again made it to his feet but was again under fire and his corner threw in the towel. After drawing his first fight Trinidad now has a thirteen-bout winning streak with ten of those wins by KO/TKO. First loss by KO/TKO for Meza

 

Nairobi, Kenya: Light: Daniel Wanyonyi (29-15-2) W PTS 10 Karim Mandonga (6-4-2,1ND).

Wanyonyi wins wide unanimous decision over Tanzanian Mandonga. Wanyonyi built a good lead over the first five rounds and then floored Mandonga in the sixth. Wanyonyi continued to outscore Mandonga who had a good ninth but was dropped by a left hook in the tenth. He made it to the bell but Wanyonyi was a clear winner. No scores given. Experienced Wanyonyi is 40 and Mandonga 44.

 

Metepec, Mexico: Light: Jovanni Staffon (25-5-1) W TKO 6 Jesus Bravo (21-10-1).

Saffron halts Bravo in six. Bravo took a close open round and then had a disastrous second. He was floored by what looked to be a punch to the back of the head. He beat the count but was then deducted a point for holding. The third and fourth were fairly even but Bravio was down again in the fifth. When Bravo went down again in the sixth the fight was over. Southpaw Straffon lost on points to Maxi Hughes for the IBO light title inn 2021 and had been beaten in four rounds by Zaur Abdullayev in September last year. Peruvian Bravo drops to 2-9 in his last eleven contests.

 

Ekaterinburg, Russia: Super Feather: Mark Urvanov (23-3-2) DREW 10 Murad Aliev (6-0-2). Super Light: Oganes Ustyan (11-0) W  Chelokhsaev (21-2-1). Cruiser: Sharabutdin Atayev (5-0) W PTS 8 Nail Dzhandaliev (1-1).

Urvanov vs. Aliev

Something of a stumble by Urvanov as he has to settle for a draw against Aliev a relative novice to the pro game. Urvanov  pressed hard from the start but whilst not a puncher Aliev showed the benefit of his extensive amateur experience and proved a frustrating and elusive opponent. Aliev was in front after five rounds but tired late and Urvanov was able to salvage a draw. Scores 96-94 Urvanov, 96-94 Aliyev and 95-95. “Canelo” Urvanov rebuilding after a split decision loss against Angel Rodriguez in February 2022 and seemed on track with a win over Rene Alvarado so a disappointing result here. Aliev had decisioned experienced Venezuelan Franklin Manzanilla in February.

Chelokhsaev vs. Ustyan

Chelokhsaev successfully sheds rust as he returns to the ring for  the first time in fifteen months with a points victory over Ustyan. This was a close hard-fought contest with Ustyan taking the fight to Chelokhsaev and the more experienced Chelokhsaev initially on the back foot. There were plenty of stamina-sapping toe-to-toe exchanges and as the fight progressed Chelokhsaev was able to blunt Ustyan’s attacks and score with counters bloodying Ustyan and taking the deserved unanimous decision on scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94. Chelokhsaev was 19-1-1 before losing a split verdict against Belorusian Yauheni Dauhaliavets in November 2020 and was inactive in 2021. Georgian-born Ustyan was going ten rounds for the first time.

Atayev vs. Dzhandaliev

World amateur champion Atayev outpoints late substitute Dzhandaliev. Atayev had Dzhandaliev down twice in the fourth round but failed to put Dzhandaliev away and had to go the full eight rounds for the unanimous decision. Atayev was nursing a pre-fight injury to his left elbow. He was Russian amatuer champion in 2021and 2022 and switches between amateur competitions and professional fights. He won his fourth pro fight in March and then won gold at the World Championship in May before returning to the pro ranks. Dzhandaliev came in as a late substitute.

 

Montevideo, Uruguay: Middle: Amilcar Vidal (17-1) W RTD 7 Domicio Rondon (17-6). Feather: Mirco Cuello (12-0) W TKO 1 Antonio Guzmen (23-4).

Vidal vs. Rondon

Vidal beats Rondon on a seventh round retirement. In a slow first round Vidal boxed tidily behind his jab and found gaps in Rondón’s defence for right crosses. Southpaw Rondon was slow and crude at times with poor leverage in his punches. Vidal used his jab to force Rondón to the ropes in the second and third and connected with hooks to the body and some hurtful uppercuts. Rondon scored with occasional lefts but with no snap in his punches. Vidal shut down in the fourth just letting Rondon lumber forward throwing punches and doing little work of his own and although he outscored Vidal in the sixth he was hardly getting out of third gear. Vidal upped his work rate in the sixth constantly driving Rondón to the ropes and showering him with punches and shook the Venezuelan with a right to the head in the seventh then pounded him around the ring landing left hooks to the body and right uppercuts. Rondon had had enough and retired at the end of the round. A patchy performance from Vidal against a not very challenging opponent. After his fourth round stoppage loss against Elijah Garcia in March Vidal’s management were looking for him to show something special here but it was a low key performance against a mediocre opponent.

Cuello vs. Guzman

Cuello was looking to end this early and stunned Guzman with a straight left. He continued to hunt down Guzman and a left hook to the body sent Guzman down to his hands and knees just one minute into the fight. He only just beat the count but was put down again by a left hook to the head. He made it up at nine but a left uppercut sent him down and the referee immediately waived the fight over. Cuello, 22, was making the first defence of his South American belt. He has ten wins by KO/TKO and is one of the best prospects in Argentina. Guzman’s stats look good but 17 of his 23 victims had never won a fight.

 

Fight of the week (Significance): Nothing world shattering this week

Fight of the week: The Erik Robles vs. Lee McGregor fight was close and competitive over all twelve rounds.

Fighter of the week: No stirring performances this week although both Eric Robles and Hector Sosa upset the odds

Punch of the week: The single right hand shot from Sosa that put James Dickens down and out was special.

Upset of the week: Robles and Sosa tied for the award.

Prospect watch: Ghanaian super featherweight Alfred Lamptey 13-0 looked special at the weekend

 

Observations

Rosette: Again, Sosa and Robles tied for being hand-picked to lose and tearing up the script and breaking some British hearts

Red Card: For the Jeremiah Milton vs. Willie Harvey match. A farce that boxing could do without. If the match was made at all it should have been for some backwoods club fight.

-Such a pity to see Thompson Boxing end its shows after a 23 year run it had become an institution and will be sadly missed

-What a weekend for the IBO. Only three title fight shows at the weekend in places as far apart as Scotland, Dubai and Oklahoma and all three for the IBO title. Must have the other four bodies looking over their shoulder.

-We have to find some new definition that reflects the current situation. Once it was amateur or professional but now those are becoming defunct. Russian Sharabutdin Atayev took time out from his fledgling professional career to win a gold medal at the World Championships then just dropped back into the professional ranks. A large number of “professionals” competed at those World Championships which makes it almost impossible for fighters from countries who still stick to the split between amateur and professional to compete with any chance of success at the Olympics and World Championships.