The Past Week In Action 6 July 2015

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

                                    The Past Week In Action 6 July 2015

July 2

 

Los Angeles, CA, USA: Super Light: Gilberto Gonzalez (25-3) W KO 3 Hevinson Herrera (18-11-1). Feather: Diego De La Hoya (11-0) W KO 4 Jose Estrella (14-7-1). Super Bantam: Oscar Negrete (10-0) W PTS 8 Ramiro Robles (12-3-1)

Gonzalez vs. Herrera

Gonzalez gets early win but late sub Herrera gets in his share of hard punches. No preliminary sparring here as both fighters were looking to beat down the other and there were fierce exchanges from the start. In the second Herrera landed a big right that looked to have stunned Gonzalez. Herrera went for broke throwing a barrage of punches only for Gonzalez to bang back with even more power and shake Herrera before the end of the round. Gonzalez had a scare in the round when he slipped to the canvas and seemed to injure his knee. It was not counted as a knockdown but instead Gonzalez was given time to recover before the fight continued. Unperturbed by that in the third Gonzalez was again unloading bombs but Herrera seemed to have punched himself out with that effort in the second. A Gonzalez 5-punch series with nothing coming back from Herrera saw the referee stopped the fight. Now 21 wins by KO/TKO for the 27-year-old Mexico City “Thin Man” who was having his first fight in the US. He lost on points to Ric Dominguez in 2012 and this is his seventh win since then including useful victories over Saul Carreon and unbeaten Jeff Fontanez. Colombian Herrera, 30, goes to 7 losses by KO/TKO. He was 2-3 in his last five going into this one but matched tough as he lost to Abner Cotto, Jose A Gonzalez and Diego Magdaleno.

De La Hoya vs. Estrella

De La Hoya continues to win and to handle the pressure the name brings. He outboxed Estrella comprehensively over the first three rounds showing impressive smooth skills being too quick and accurate for Estrella. He also showed power in the fourth with an over-hand right that sent Estrella tumbling into the ropes. Estrella grabbed the rope to stop himself falling on to the ring apron. Estrella was up and when the fight resumed De La Hoya unleashed a salvo of punches and the referee stepped-in to sane Estrella. The 20-year-old hope now has 7 wins by KO/TKO. He is a former Mexican amateur champion and won and lost in a couple of fights with Oscar Valdez so he has good credentials. Tijuana’s Estrella goes to three losses by KO/TKO in a row with the others being against Luis Nery and Jamie Conlan so also three unbeaten opponents.

Negrete vs. Robles

Negrete gets wide unanimous decision but Robles gives a creditable and gutsy performance. Negrete started fast trying to blow Robles away but the Mexican had a very solid chin and also withstood some punishing shots to the body. The fight was fast-paced with furious exchanges in every round but with Negrete always having the edge in speed and power but Robles never backing away and absorbing the punishment without ever looking in real trouble. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-72. Useful experience fight for the 27-year-old Colombian who was a very successful amateur being former national champion at both 48kg and 52kg, winning silver and bronze medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games, a bronze at the South American Games and representing Colombia at the 2007, 2009 and 2011 World Championships so as with De La Hoya he has form. Robles has shown his toughness by taking Joseph Diaz, De La Hoya and now Negrete the distance.

 

Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand: Minimum: Knockout CP Freshmart (11-0) W TKO 4 Alexis Diaz (16-1).

I refuse to continue to use the silly trade name in the report so from here in he is Newlukrak his real first name. The Thai retains the interim WBA title with stoppage of Venezuelan Diaz. Newlukrak boxed well over the first two rounds sorting out the Venezuelan‘s weaknesses. He went to work in the third cutting down the ring and flooring Diaz twice with body punches. Diaz came out for the fourth but it was all over very quickly when another body punch put Diaz down and the referee stopped the fight. Second defence of the interim title for 24-year-old Newlukrak and sixth win by KO/TKO. After an extensive Muay Thai career he went straight into ten round fights as a pro and won the WBC Youth title in his first fight. Diaz 28 was Venezuelan amateur champion and reigning WBA Fedelatin champion with a good win over Luis De la Rosa who had twice challenged for the WBO interim title.

 

July 3

 

Northbridge, Australia: Light Heavy: Luke Sharp (13-2-3) W KO 2 Marlon Alta (12-7). Middle: Sam Hogan (10-0) W PTS 8 Franko Valenzuela (3-2-1).

Sharp vs. Alta

Sharp wins the vacant Western Australia State title with kayo of Alta. Sharp boxed intelligently behind a high guard and slotted home body punches in the first round. In the second one of those body punches saw Alta collapse in agony and he was unable to beat the count being down for more than a minute. Now 4 wins and a draw in his last 5 fights for 26-year-old Sharp rated No 6 super middle by the ANBF. Filipino Alta, 25, now goes to 5 losses in a row. I guess his decline and fall is a reflection of his increasing weight. He turned pro as a super bantam, was Philippines champion at super welter and is now fighting at light heavy.

Hogan vs. Valenzuela

Southpaw Hogan has to fight hard to get the decision over clever Valenzuela. Hogan found Valenzuela an elusive target and was often caught with sneaky right counters. However Hogan stuck to his boxing and just did enough to deserve the decision. Scores 58-56 twice and 58-57. Hogan is the ANBF No 7 at super welter. Chilean-born Valenzuela seems to make a habit of close fights as he has two majority decisions and two split decisions in his other fights.

 

Guiyang, China: Super Welter: Yao Yi Ma (15-1) W PTS 10 Patrice Sou Toke (21-4).

Ma wins the vacant WBO Oriental title with unanimous decision over Toke. The Australian-based Taiwan-born Ma floored Toke in the eight on his way to extending his winning run to 13 fights. Toke from Burkina Faso has yet to win outside his home country.

 

Barranquilla, Colombia: Super Light: Israel Luna (11-0) DREW 10 Nelson Suarez (3-1-2).

Luna and Suarez meet in a return with the result another close fight. When they met in April Luna just edged his way to a close decision but this time the judges could not separate them. Scores 94-94 twice and 95-93 for Suarez. The 20-year-old “Kid Izzy” Luna is based in Tuscaloosa. Both fighters were moving up to ten rounds for the first time.

 

Dieppe, France: Bantam: Giodi Scala (8-1) W KO 3 Anthony Buquet (12-7-2).

Scala wins the vacant European Union title with crushing kayo of hometown fighter Buquet. Over the first two rounds things looked promising for Buquet as he moved nicely and used a stiff jab to score against the smaller Italian but the fight was close as Scala was constantly switching guard and targeting the body . The roof fell in on Buquet in the third in the form of a thunderous right which sent him sprawling on his back. He beat the count and after a careful look the referee let him continue. Buquet was shaken by another punch. He held trying to clear his head but another powerful right sent him down heavily again and the referee immediately stopped the fight without a count.  Big win for 25-year-old Scala the Italian bantam champion. His only loss was against Emiliano Salvini last year for the Italian super bantam title. This is his third win by KO/TKO. Buquet the former unbeaten French feather champion had won his last 4 fights.

 

Auch, France: Light Heavy: Mahdi Amar (31-4-2) W PTS 12 Adasat Rodriguez (10-4-2).Light: Guillaume Frenois (37-1) W TKO 3 Alika Vakhtangashvili (19-9-1). Super Bantam: Omar Lamiri (14-2) W TKO 5 Saul Tejada (6-5-2).

Amar vs. Rodriguez

Amar wins the vacant EU title with unanimous decision over Spaniard Rodriguez. The local boxer had height and reach over Rodriguez who followed his usual all-out attacking style to try to break through the defences of Amar. The Frenchman made good use of his jab and physical advantages to keep Rodriguez out and scored with hard counters. Amar was in control at the start and at the end but Rodriguez had some success in the middle rounds having Amar hurt in the sixth with a left hook and being on top in spells as Amar seemed to tire. The experience of Amar came into play as he had actually paced the fight just right and swept the closing rounds to seal the decision. Scores 118-111, 116-112 and 115-113 with the middle score looking about right. Now just one loss in his last 15 fights for 33-year-old Amar and that was to current IBF No 1 Nadjib Mohammedi. Spanish champion Rodriguez, 28, just did not have the skills or experience to win this one.

Frenois vs. Vakhtangashvili

Frenois gets a rare inside the distance win as he halts Vakhtangashvili in three round. The French southpaw floored Vakhtangashvili in the first round and three more times in the third . Sixth win for 31-year-old Frenois since losing to Devis Boschiero for the EBU super feather title in 2013 and only his eighth win by KO/TKO. Nine fights outside Georgia for Vakhtangashvili and 9 losses by KO/TKO.

Lamiri vs. Tejeda

First fight for Lamiri since losing to Lee Haskins for the vacant European bantam title in February. He was much too good for Tejada and after Tejada was forced to take a standing count in the fifth his corner wisely threw in the towel. Apart from the Haskins loss the only other defeat suffered by Lamiri was against fellow-countryman Vincent Legrand in 2011 but he had rebounded well from that with six wins and by collecting the EU title. Third loss by KO/TKO for Tejada.

 

Voghera, Italy: Light: Francesco Acatullo (7-3-1) W Pasquale Di Silvio (18-7-1).

Di Silvio wins the vacant Italian title with stoppage of Acatullo. Di Silvio the more experienced fighter was willing to allow Acatullo to come forward forcing the fight and wait for openings. One came along in the second round and a straight right sent Acatullo crashing to the canvas. He beat the count and saw out the round. The fight fell into the same pattern again with Di Silvio  letting Acatullo come forward and looking for an opening to counter. In the seventh lightning struck again as a right down the pipe crashed into Acatullo’s chin and he went over again. He made it to his feet but another series of punches from Di Silvio saw the referee stop the fight. The 35-year-old “El Puma” from Rome makes it six wins by KO/TKO as he regains his old title. He is 2-5-1 in 7 Italian title fights. Local fighter Acatullo had lost in a fight for the vacant national title at super light in January and then moved down to try his luck here.

 

Suwannakhet, Laos: Super Fly: Petchbarngborn (33-7-1) W PTS 10 Frans Damur Palue (11-8–2). Petchbarngborn makes routine defence of his WBO Asia Pacific title with unanimous decision over Indonesian Palue. No real problems for Petchbarngborn as he moves to 11 wins in a row. He had stopped Palue in 8 rounds in a defence of his PABA title in March. Former Indonesian fly champion Palue is 3-4 in his last 7 fights with all three losses on his travels.

 

Monte Carlo, Monaco: Light: Patrick Kinigamazi (23-2) W PTS 8 Sylvain Chapelle (14-20-2). Rwandan Kinigamazi has to fight hard for victory over experienced Chapelle. The 32-year-old set too fast a pace for the younger fighter with constant pressure and a high work rate. Scores 79-75, 78-75 and 77-75. The Swiss-based fighter had won his last 5 fights and his management’s aim as a shot at the WBC ABU title in Carouge in Switzerland late this year or early in 2016. Frenchman Chapelle, 28 has lost his last 4 fights on points including a good performance last month when he only lost on a split decision to unbeaten former amateur star Daouda Sow.

 

Bangkok, Thailand: Fly: Kwanpichit (31-1-2) W TKO 4 Ramadhan Kumbele (20-9-2).

The strength and body punching of the Thai too much for Tanzanian Kumbele who is halted in the fourth as Kwanpichit retains the WBO Oriental title. Kwanpichit just walked the African down until Kumbele was trapped and taking punishment when the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for the fighter from the Onesongchaigym team. He is currently No 8 with the WBO but looking to work his way to a title fight. Kumbele had won his last 6 fights in domestic action.

 

July 4

 

Beccar, Argentina: Super Fly: Roberto D Sosa (26-2-1) DREW 10 Javier N Chacon (20-3-1).  Sosa retains the interim WBO Latino title in draw with Chacon but looks lucky to do so. It was a close fight but Chacon was showing the better technique taking possession of the centre of the ring and countering Sosa’s aggression with hard punches from both hands. In the end the result hinged on a moment in the fourth round when Sosa went down on one knee from what looked to be a punch but it was not counted. They fought on even terms the rest of the way and in an unusual occurrence all three judges scored it 95-95 allowing local fighter Sosa to hold on to his title. Sosa lost to Juan Carlos Sanchez for the IBF super fly title in 2013 having beaten South African Zolani Tete on a controversial split decision to get the shot. Chacon, 34, the brother of former WBO feather champion Julio Pablo Chacon had two title shots last year losing to Anselmo Moreno for the WBA bantam title and to Jamie McDonnell for the WBA secondary title.

 

Singleton, Australia: Super Welter: Rocky Jerkic (11-0) W PTS 10 Arnel Tinampay (22-18-1). Jerkic extends his winning run and collects the vacant IBO Inter-Continental title with unanimous decision over Tinampay. The 27-year-old Australian already holds the IBO Asia Pacific title and in going the distance this time he had a six-fight streak of inside the distance wins snapped. Filipino Tinampay had lost to Damien Hooper and San Ah See in other fights in Australia but was coming off a good win in Japan.

 

Munich, Germany: Light Heavy: Dariusz Sek (23-2-1) W TKO 8 Shefat Isufi (17-3-2).

Sek wins the vacant WBCEPBC title with stoppage of Serbian. Southpaw Sek was the better boxer and showed those skills in the first round. Isufi showed his strength as he battled back over the next three rounds to establish a lead. However, Sek had been working the body and this started to have an effect after the half way mark. The Pole was grinding Isufi down and starting to dominate. Isufi was in trouble but it was made much worse in the seventh when a left hook from Sek broke Isufi’s nose. The doctor examined Isufi at the end of the round but allowed the fight to continue. Sek continued his attacks in the eighth and with Isufi exhausted and bleeding heavily from the nose his corner threw in the towel. The 28-year-old Sek, a former top amateur who represented Poland at both the European and World Championships has only lost to very good quality opposition in Robert Woge and Robin Krasniqi and is No 6 with the EBU. Isufi, 25 had won his last 5 fights by KO/TKO.

 

Dublin, Ireland: Super Fly: Jamie Conlan (14-0) W PTS 10 Junior Granados (13-3-1). Middle: Tommy Langford (13-0) W TKO 4 Julio C Avalos (15-5). Middle: Anthony Fitzgerald (18-7) W PTS 8 Kieron Gray (8-41-1). Bantam: Ryan Burnett (10-0) W TKO 2 Csaba Kovacs (7-6). Light: Stephen Ormond (18-2) W TKO 2 Jacek Wylezol (12-10). Light: Declan Geraghty (8-1) W TKO 3 Dinars Skripkins (2-3).

Conlan vs. Granados

Conlan survives near disaster to just edge out Granados in an exciting scrap. Conlan had big advantages in height and reach and was trying to box over the opening rounds with Granados fighting his way inside and giving Conlan some problems. In the fourth a right from Granados badly shook Conlan but Conlan boxed his way out of trouble. Over the fifth and sixth Conlan used his superior skills and physical advantages and was countering strongly whenever Granados tried to move in. However Granados had landed enough punches to start a swelling under Conlan’s right eye and bring blood from Conlan’s nose. The seventh was near disaster for Conlan. He was put down by a wicked body punch and after the Belfast fighter made it his feet and the eight count was finished he was bombarded along the ropes and put down again and only just survived to the bell. In the eighth it became apparent that Granados had punched himself out with that big effort in the seventh and Conlan was able to get back to basics and outbox and outscore the Mexican over the remaining rounds to take the close decision. Scores 95-93 twice and 96-92. The 28-year-old Conlan whose nickname is “The Mexican” retains his WBO Inter-Continental title but it must be cause for concern that the 22-year-old Granados came so close to an inside the distance victory as after winning his first 16 fights he then went 1-2-1 against very modest level opposition and is only listed as No 23 in BoxRec’s Mexican ratings.

Langford vs. Avalos

Langford wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title with stoppage of Mexican Avalos. The Birmingham fighter used his height and reach to box on the outside constantly forcing Avalos back with his stiff jab. He was boxing conservatively and taking no chances. Avalos came awake a bit in the second but working off the jab Langford was slotting him hooks and uppercuts and had things well in hand. He racked up the pace in the second and Avalos was starting to come apart. Langford cut loose in the fourth getting through with a succession of hard punches and with nothing coming back from Avalos the referee stopped the fight. First fight for 25-year-old Langford since suffering a punctured eardrum in his win over Wayne Reed in February. Avalos a long step below Langford in class even though he was 4-2 in his last 6 fights.

Fitzgerald vs. Gray

Fitzgerald wins but give a hard fight by journeyman Grey. The Dublin fighter looked to be on his way to an easy win as he made a good start and built a lead. He was hoping for an inside the distance finish but Grey is made of stern stuff and suddenly came into the fight in a big way from the fifth with Fitzgerald’s work becoming untidy. Grey was still plugging away in the last and the scoring was made close when Fitzgerald was deducted a point for a low blow and a rabbit punch. Referee’s score 77-75. Second win for Fitzgerald since disastrous 75 second stoppage loss to Gary O’Sullivan in November. The 30-year-old Fitzgerald has taken Andy Lee, Eamonn O’Kane and Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam the distance and will have many nights better than this. Gray, 37, is a fully paid up member of the British journeyman club and it again shows you can’t give these experienced guys a sniff of a chance.

Burnett vs. Kovacs

Unsatisfactory win for Burnett. The Belfast fighter handed out enough punishment in the first round to indicate this would not last long. Burnett underlined that by flooring Kovacs early in the second so it was disappointing when Kovacs stopped fighting half way through the round complaining of a shoulder injury and was unable to continue. The 23-year-old is yet another of the fine crop of young boxer coming out of Belfast. Romanian-born Kovacs, 20 had taken useful Jason Cunningham the distance in February.

Ormond vs. Wylezol

Ormond overwhelms Pole inside two rounds. Ormond started the first at a frantic pace throwing bunches of punches for the whole three minutes with the Pole unable to do more than retreat and cover up. He could not retreat far enough of fast enough in the second and was pinned on the ropes with Ormond slamming home punches when the referee stopped the fight. The 32-year-old Dublin fighter was on an impressive six fight winning streak lifting the WBO Europe title, beating Derry Matthews clearly and stopping useful Karim El Ouazghari. That saw him climb to No 5 in the WBO ratings. He lost his WBO Europe title in February and has dropped right out of the top 15 so needs some big fights to climb back. Now 5 losses in his last 6 fights for Wylezol.

Geraghty vs. Skripkins

Dublin southpaw prospect Geraghty disposes of Latvian inside three rounds. The classy young Geraghty was clinical and slick in the first round easily outboxing the Latvian novice. The only down side was a cut suffered by Geraghty in a clash of heads. He dominated the second and then floored Skripkins three times in the third to end the fight. Twenty-five-years-old “Pretty Boy” is a former Irish champion and European Union silver medal winner. His loss was pretty stupid rather than pretty boy as he was disqualified for dangerous use of the head in a fight he was two minutes away from winning. A real talent if he keeps his head ( to himself). Skripkins just fodder and not very good fodder at that. His other two fights outside Latvia both ended in losses inside the first round.

 

Milan, Italy: Fly: Vincent Legrand (17-0) W TKO 6 Andrea Sarritzu (34-8-5). Welter: Alessandro Caccia (14-1) W KO 1 Giacomo Mazzoni (11-4-1).

Legrand vs. Sarritzu

Legrand retains the European title with stoppage of veteran Sarritzu. The very tall French fighter was almost a full head taller than Sarritzu and was able to score easily with his southpaw right jab. He was also showing good movement with Sarritzu unable to get near him over the first two rounds. The challenger did a bit better with a choice uppercut in the third being his best punch in the fight. That was good as it got for Sarritzu. Legrand’s right was the dominant punch in the fourth and fifth. In the sixth a straight right followed by a left hook put Sarritzu down and out. The 15 years and 6” (14cm) height difference were just too much for Sarritzu to overcome. With his height, power and southpaw skills Legrand, 24, will be a difficult opponent for any European flyweight and a world title shot could be within his reach for 2016. Sarritzu, 39, got near a world title when challenging Omar Narvaez for the WBO title losing a split decision and then drawing in a return match. He subsequently lost in seven rounds to Moruti Mthalane for the IBF title in 2011.

Caccia vs. Mazzoni

Caccia destroys Mazzoni to win the vacant Italian title. Just 80 seconds into the fight Caccia landed a hard hook the sent Mazzoni down. Mazzoni got up but after the eight count a right from Caccia floored Mazzoni and the fight was over. The tall 27-year-old new champion has six wins by KO/TKO. His single loss was down to carelessness when in September last year he let his focus slip and he was knocked out in two rounds by travelling Latvian loser Ivans Levickis. Mazzoni was 4-1-1 in his last 6 fights and this is his first loss by KO/TKO.

 

Chiapas, Mexico: Super Fly: David Carmona (19-2-5) DREW 12 Warlito Parrenas (24-6-1). Super Fly: Hernan Marquez (39-5-1) W TKO 8 Jose A Tirado (27-16). Super Welter: Ramon Alvarez (21-4-2,1ND) ND 4 Richard Gutierrez (28-16-1,1ND). Super Bantam: Emanuel Navarette (11-1) W TKO 6 Enrique Bernache (21-8).

Carmona vs. Parrenas

The WBO interim fly title remains vacant after this fight ended in a split draw. After a cautious first round Filipino Parrenas put Carmona on the canvas in the second with a right to the chin. Carmona made it to the vertical and stayed that way until the bell despite ferocious efforts from Parrenas to end the fight early. Carmona did most of the scoring in the third getting through to head and body with fast combinations and in the fourth a punch from Carmona had Parrenas on unsteady legs with the bell saving the Filipino from a bad situation. Parrenas was doing the forcing from the fifth with Carmona on the back foot and scoring with counters. Parrenas had the better of the seventh and eighth rounds but they were close and Carmona made the strong effort over the last four rounds with his punches causing swelling by the left eye of Parrenas which was totally closed by the end. Scores 115-112 Carmona, 115-113 Parrenas and 114-114. Carmona 24 has lost only one of his last 19 fights and that came in an overly ambitious challenge to Omar Narvaez for the WBO super fly title in 2013. He was No 2 with the WBO. Parrenas, 31, had won his last 7 fights, 6 by KO/TKO and he was WBO No 1.

Marquez vs. Tirado

Marquez looking to establish his credentials as a challenger hits too hard for plucky Tirado. The former WBA fly champion had Tirado on the floor in the opening round with a southpaw left to the jaw. He also had Tirade rocked badly twice in the second but Tirado hung on. Marquez handed out serious punishment in each of the subsequent rounds with Tirado showing real guts in standing up to the beating and firing back when he could. By the eighth although Marquez was cut in a clash of heads the punishment had taken its effect and twice when under pressure Tirado slipped to the floor and the referee stopped the fight after Tirado only got up reluctantly after the second slip. Marquez, 26, had lost his WBA title to Brian Viloria in a unification fight in 2012 and then been knocked out in 12 rounds by Giovani Segura in a non-title fight in 2013. In 2014 he was halted in 11 rounds by McJoe Arroyo in an IBF eliminator and at the end of the year held to a draw by a guy with a 9-5-2 record so he badly needed a win. Tirado, 34, now has 4 losses by KO/TKO. He has lost 5 of his last 6 fights but all of the losses to very high class opposition.

Alvarez vs. Gutierrez

This one ended in a no decision due an injury suffered by Gutierrez. Alvarez had made a confident start going forward and landing with punches to head and body with Gutierrez struggling to get into the fight. In the fourth a clash of heads left Gutierrez with a deep gash on his lip and the doctor ruled him unfit to continue so with only three rounds completed it was a no decision. Big disappointment for Alvarez who looked to be in control of the fight. The brother of Saul, he is 14-1-1 and 1 ND in his last 17 fights with wins over Omar Chavez and Vivian Harris. Colombian Gutierrez, 37, is now 2-12,1ND in his last 15.

Navarette vs. Bernache

Impressive win for prospect Navarette over more experienced Bernache. Navarette used a strong jab and right hooks and had already caused a swelling by Bernache’s left eye in the first round. He again made good use of that jab in the second and opened a cut under Bernache’s right eye. It continued to be a one-sided fight with Bernache’s team throwing in the towel in the sixth. The 20-year-old “Cowboy” Navarette lost out in the final of the Cinturon de Oro to unbeaten Daniel Argueta but was declared champion as Argueta had not weighed in for the fight. He has won his last 6 fights and has 10 wins by KO/TKO. Bernache won 15 of his first 16 fights but has struggled as he has moved up.

 

Mazatlan, Mexico: Light Fly: Pedro Guevara (26-1-1) W PTS 12 Ganigan Lopez (25-6). Alberto Guevara (21-2) W TKO 3 Oscar Blanquet (32-11-1).

Guevara vs. Lopez

Guevara retains WBC title with unanimous decision over fellow-Mexican Lopez. Both are good technical boxers and showed excellent skills but the fight was a disappointment as far as entertainment and excitement went. Both started cautiously stabbing out their respective jabs, Guevara orthodox and Lopez southpaw but neither really opening up. Guevara scored with some good right counters and Lopez responded with accurate lefts with the champion just being the busier. After four rounds Guevara was ahead 39-37 on two cards and the third had it 38-38. The pattern remained the same over the second stage with Guevara having a good sixth landing a series of hooks and being just too quick for Lopez to counter successfully and he also clearly took the eighth with hard rights and strong hooks driving Lopez back. With two-thirds of the fight complete Guevara was already in a winning position with all three cards having him comfortably ahead 79-73 twice and 78-74. Guevara used his superior speed to take the ninth meaning that Lopez need at least a knockdown or two to swing it his way. He landed a powerful left in the tenth that had Guevara staggered, back peddling and in trouble for the first time in the fight. Guevara did go over in the eleventh but it was a slip and he then forced Lopez back with hooks to take the round. Lopez went for broke in the last with Guevara forced to defend but the champion was never in real trouble and had comfortably retained his title. Scores 116-112 twice and 117-111. Second defence of his WBC title for 26-year-old Lopez who had won the vacant crown with an upset kayo of Akira Yaegashi in Tokyo. His only loss was a split decision in a challenge to John Riel Casimero for IBF title in 2012. Lopez 33 got his title shot a bit late in his career but he had lost only one of his previous 13 fights and was a worthy contender.

Guevara vs. Blanquet

Alberto joins brother Pedro in making it a family double as he also gets a win. Guevara was a heavy favourite with Blanquet’s career on the slide. Guevara started with a ferocious bombardment to the body and head but Blanquet had to come to fight and he would not take a step backwards. As a result he took a hiding in each of the first two rounds. Guevara lost a point in the second for ducking too low but ended the fight in the third. A straight right put Blanquet down and when he got up and the eight count was completed a salvo of punches from Guevara saw the referee halt the fight. The 24-year-old Guevara has had two unsuccessful shots at winning a title losing to Leo Santa Cruz for the IBF bantam title in 2012 and to Shinsuke Yamanaka for the WBC title in 2013. He was inactive for a year after the loss to Yamanaka and dropped out of the ratings. This is his third fight since returning. Now 7 losses in a row for the once promising Blanquet.

 

Rotherham, England: Middle: Lewis Taylor (17-1-1) W TEC DEC 5 Grant Cunningham (10-2). Super Welter: Navid Mansouri (15-1-2) W PTS 10 Sam Sheedy (15-1).

Taylor vs. Cunningham

Taylor wins the vacant English title with technical decision over Cunningham. This bout started well and was building to an enthralling contest when a clash of heads saw Taylor suffer a bad gash over his right eye and it went to the score cards. Scores 49-47, 48-47 for Taylor and 48-48 which showed how close the fight was with Taylor’s body attack just giving him the edge. The Derbyshire 25-year-old only lost on a majority decision over twelve rounds to Eamonn O’Kane in May and now O’Kane is close to a world title fight. Plenty of depth in this division in Britain.  The 31-year-old Cunningham can’t get a break. That’s two losses in a row on a technical decision as he lost by just one point to Damon Jones on a technical decision in February.

Mansouri vs. Sheedy

Mansouri makes a successful third defence of his English title and the only down side to this fight is that someone had to lose. It was great battle from first bell to last. Southpaw Sheedy made the better start and build a lead by the half way mark. Mansouri was the stronger over the second half of the fight and both the judges and the crowd were split over whether the champion had done enough to overtake Sheedy’s lead. Scores 97-94 and 96-95 for Mansouri and 97-94 for Sheedy. Mansouri, 26, lost a contest in the 2012 Prizefighter Tournament but has since amassed 6 wins and a technical draw. Sheedy, 27, was in a great fight and he has the talent to rebound and climb.

 

Philipsburg, Sint Marten: Super Bantam: Miguel Cartagena (14-2) W PTS 10 Javier Franco (23-14-4).  Cartagena wins the vacant IBO International title with unanimous decision over Franco. Cartagena badly in need of a win as he had been knocked out in 109 seconds by Emmanuel Rodriguez in his last fight in October. The 23-year-old Philadelphian had won his first 12 fights but then went 1-2 with the other loss being to Timur Shailezov. Cartagena came in as a late substitute for Karim Guerfi as this show simply disintegrated and probably did great damage to any chance of boxing taking off  in Sint Marten. Mexican Franco was 3-1-2 going in with a creditable draw with Sebastien Gauthier in Canada last year.  The Manuel Gonzalez Garcia vs. Leon Moore fight did not take place but in the other main event Gwendolyn O’Neil won a split decision over Sonya Lamonakis for the UBF title.