The Past Week in n Action

February 6

Monterrey, Mexico: Middle: Alvaro Gaona (12-2) W PTS 12 Jesus Nerio (11-2). Gaona wins vacant WBC Fecombox title. The battle of locals saw Gaona boxing cleverly, letting Nerio come forward and catching him with stiff counters. Nerio had a couple of good rounds, but Gaona had already built a lead when in the sixth a punch opened a bad cut on the left eyebrow of Nerio. From then on, with the blood hampering his vision, Nerio faded out of the fight. Scores 117-111, 116-111 and 116-113. First fight for “The Cobra” Gaona since losing inside a round to David Lemieux in October. Nerio’s only other loss was on points to Marcos Periban in January last year.

February 8

Boondall, Australia: Heavy: Sonny Bill Williams (6-0) W PTS 10 Frans Botha (48-9-3,1ND). Middle: Jarrod Fletcher (14-1) W TKO 7 Kiatchai (32-9). Heavy: Alex Leapai (27-4-3) W KO 1 Matt Hicks (13-9). Cruiser: Quade Cooper (1-0) W KO 1 Barry Dunnett (1-2).

Williams vs. Botha

Williams wins on points but huge controversy at the end. Despite his lack of experience Williams was able to outbox Botha making good use of a strong jab. Botha wanted to turn it into a brawl, and to work in close on the New Zealand All Blacks player, as he was too slow to be effective on the outside. In the first round Williams showed he was quicker and knew how to use a good jab and movement against the slower Botha and opened a cut on the bridge of the South African’s nose.

Williams had a good second round again using his jab and getting in and out too quickly for Botha who was trying to walk down the younger fight but just not letting his punches go. In the third Botha was starting to show facial swellings and Williams was able to avoid the heavier punches from the South African. Williams closed the round well to build a lead.

There was less action and lots of clinching in the fourth as Botha was more in the fight. In the fifth Botha looked to have hurt Williams with a body shot, but Williams was able to get clear before Botha could follow-up. Although still looking ponderous Botha got though with enough punches to take the sixth. Williams was showing signs of tiredness in the seventh but was able to take advantage of his quicker hands to edge the round.

The ninth was a bad round and a good round for Botha. The bad was him losing a point when in his frustration he hit Williams with a late punch after being told to break (It didn’t help that twice when he missed Williams he hit the referee). The good was that suddenly Williams had run out of gas and was struggling badly by the end of the round.

Now exhausted Williams was holding Botha at ever opportunity and was deducted a point for those infringements. Botha was totally on top and trying to finish off a Williams who was running on empty. Williams was helped when the referee stopped the action to deduct a point from Williams for holding, and Williams just made it to the bell. The decision for Williams was unanimous with the judges scoring it 97-91 twice and 98-94.

The decision was not universally popular with the crowd who were very much on Botha’s side. Williams had certainly built a lead, but over the closing rounds it was all Botha. A lot of the disapproval from the crowd was surely over the fact that this fight was advertised as for the WBA International title and their rules in fights for titles such as this is that it must be over twelve rounds. However, the tenth round was announced as the last round which puzzled everyone including the fans and the TV commentators.

Since Botha was so much in command at the end of the tenth, and as Williams was totally spent, Botha was robbed of a victory. He will protest on the basis of the change from twelve rounds to ten, but who to? It is possible that the WBA never even knew the fight was taking place and had not approved it. You could write a book about the controversy over this fight. When was the distance changed ? Who knew that it was a ten round fight-and who didn’t?

Did the WBA even know about the fight? Post fight there were reports that Botha had tested positive for PED’s (he has done that twice before), but other reports saying there is no PED testing in Queensland. There were allegations before the fight from South Africa that Botha had turned down a substantial amount of money to lose the fight etc etc.

Williams, 27, only had 16 rounds of fights behind when he went into the fight, and the amount of boxing skill he showed surprised many. SBW, as he is known, is not certain whether he will continue in boxing. All Blacks rugby players are the New Zealand equivalent of the USA stars in basket ball and baseball, and there is disquiet in some areas over Williams boxing. The 44-year-old Botha did not treat this fight lightly as he was 21lbs lighter than when losing to Francesca Pianeta, and down around his 250-255lbs normal fighting weight. The controversy will almost certainly mean that Botha will fight on.

Fletcher vs. Kiatchai

Second win for Fletcher since being disposed off in two rounds by Billy Joe Saunders in a Commonwealth title fight in September. Fletcher dominated from the start by living up to his “Left Jab” nickname and using that punch to set up hard combinations to head and body. There was a small scare when a clash of heads saw Fletcher cut under his right eye, but it was not a factor.

Fletcher was well on top in the sixth with the Thai rocking and only just lasting to the bell. In the seventh, with Kiatchai on the ropes, and being rocked by combinations, the referee stopped the fight. Despite being outclassed by Saunders, a good win over Robbie Bryant in December won Fletcher the PABA title and a No 7 rating from the WBA. The 29-year-old Aussie has eight wins by KO/TKO.

He beat both James DeGale and Adonis Stevenson in the amateurs. The Thai, who has the wonderful nickname of “Ice Jellybaby”, has found it tough in Australia with inside the distance losses to Lovemore Ndou, Shannan Taylor, Wale Omotoso and Chad Bennett.

Leapai vs. Hicks

Predictable win for Leapai in a total farce of a match. The 33-year-old Samoan jumps on the American right from the start. He hurts Hicks with an uppercut then puts him down with a body punch. Hicks makes it his feet, but another uppercut puts him down and out. Second win for Leapai since stoppage loss to Kevin Johnson in April, and win No 22 by KO/TKO. The 36-year-old Hicks has now lost his last seven fights inside the distance, six by KO/TKO and one on an injury. This was some idiot’s idea of a “match”.

Cooper vs. Dunnett

Rugby player turned boxer seems to be the flavour of the month in Australia. Cooper, a player with Queensland Reds and the Wallabies (The Australian national team), had his first pro fight. It was short and not particularly edifying. Cooper was shaken by a punch early in the first but with huge edges in height and reach he was able to hit Dunnett with jabs and hard rights. Dunnett was floored by a right. He got up and was flailing wildly when another right put him down and out. Dunnett was too inept to give any measure of Cooper’s ability.

Montreal, Canada: Welter: Kevin Bizier (20-0) W TKO 8 Nate Campbell (36-10-1,1ND). Light: Baha Laham (11-0-1) W PTS 10 Tyler Asselstine (12-1). Heavy: Didier Bence (7-0) W PTS 6 Joey Dawejko (7-2-2).

Bizier vs. Campbell

Biggest win so far for Bizier as substitute Campbell retires at the end of the eighth claiming a back injury. Bizier put the pressure on from the start and Campbell spent most of the fight on the ropes. The veteran was in the fight over the first two rounds, but then it became one-sided. The Canadian used an effective body attack, and Campbell never had any space to get his own offence working. Having only one weeks notice of the fight, Campbell was not in the best shape and that body attack slowly broke him down.

Despite being on top for the whole fight, if anything Bizier seemed to be taking a cautious approach, taking no chances and perhaps giving the 40-year-old Campbell too much respect. In the sixth when Bizier went to the head he rocked Campbell with a left hook. After surviving hard shots to the body in the seventh and eighth, Campbell retired at the end of the round.

Bizier, who has fought as high as 156lbs, was taller and stronger and was able to use that strength edge to boss the fight. Bizier, 28, retains the NABA title and wins the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title. He is No 6 with the WBA but there are no first rank fighters on his record. Former IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Campbell, who said he had injured his back in the second round, had bounced back from a spell of 4 losses in 5 fights with good wins on the road last year over Victor Cayo and Krzys Szot. He will now go back down to light welter and continue fighting.

Laham vs. Asselstine

Laham just edges Asselstine for a majority decision in a close fight that could have gone either way. Laham came in at only one weeks notice and in the early rounds had trouble with Asselstine’s right jab, left hooks, and pressure tactics, and could not get untracked. It did not help that Asselstine was also much the taller boxer. It was the fourth round before Laham started to roll as Asselstine showed signs of tiring.

With Asselstine’s work getting ragged Laham was able to get inside and negate the height difference. Asselstine was still the busier fighter but he flagged badly in the eighth and ninth and the last looked even. Scores 96-94, 96-95 and 95-95.This was the first ten round bout for both boxers. Lebanese-born Laham, 31, beat Arash Usmanee on his way to winning the Canadian amateur title in 2001. He did well to last the distance considering he was a late substitute. Asselstine, also a good class amateur, was unlucky as a draw would have been a fairer result.

Bence vs. Dawejko

“Big Daddy” Bence, 25, picks up the points but was worryingly wobbled a few times in the fight. There was never much between these two with Bence looking flat. Dawejko had the better of the first round with body shots. Bence was picking up the points in the following rounds, helped by Dawejko failure to follow-up when he had Bence shaken. Scores 58-56 from all three judges, but a draw would have been closer to the mark. Bence, Canadian amateur champion in 2006/8/9/10, represented Canada at the 2009 World Championships and 2010 Commonwealth Games, but just does not seem to have the punch to make it in the pros. This was his fifth points win in a row. The 22-year-old Dawejko, a former World Youth Champion, has made a stuttering start as a pro with only one win in his last five fights.

Pont-Sainte-Maxence, France: Feather: Bastien Rozeaux (11-3-1) W PTS 10 Youcef Abgour (7-5). Home town fighter Rozeaux wins vacant French title with wide, unanimous verdict over Abgour. Rozeaux made a fast start and shook Abgour and had him holding on to survive in the first round. Rozeaux kept up the pressure over the next three rounds, but Abgour had a good fifth almost putting Rozeaux down.

The eighth and ninth saw Abgour taking a beating and it looked as though Rozeaux would win inside the distance. Abgour made it to an exciting tenth when both fighters were throwing punches to the end. Scores 100-90, 99-92 and 98-92. This was the first fight for 29-year-old Rozeaux since losing to Choi Tseveenpurev in March. Abgour had won 3 of his previous 4 fights, but had been inactive from November 2010 to January this year.

Isola del Liri, Italy: Super Bantam: Michele Crudetti (7-0) W TEC DEC 5 Fabrizio Trotta (14-11-3,1ND). Feather: Davide Dieli (12-3) W PTS 6 Luigi Mantegna (1-35).

Crudetti vs. Trotta

Crudetti wins vacant Italian title with technical decision over veteran Trotta. Crudetti, the younger fighter made a good start spearing Trotta with a long jab and straight rights. Trotta was more aggressive in the second and the round was even. The pattern continued in the third with Trotta getting inside. In the fourth Crudetti, being faster and more accurate seemed to have the better of the action.

At the end of the round a clash of heads saw Crudetti suffer a bad gash on his cheekbone. Trotta was also cut over his right eyebrow. The blood was running into the eye of Trotta, but it was the cut on Curdetti’s cheek that was of most concern and after an examination at the end of the fifth round the fight was stopped. It was the first time Crudetti had moved up from six rounds. “Popeye” Trotta, 33, a former Italian champion, has lost five and drawn one of his last six fights.

Dieli vs. Mantegna

Former European Union and Italian champion wins wide unanimous decision over perennial loser Mantegna. After a slow start 33-year-old Dieli is storming forward and setting a hot pace. Mantegna is in trouble in the third, but despite his awful record, he is a tough guy, who has lost inside the distance just once in his last 33 fights. Both fighters were willing to stand and trade with Dieli scoring heavily, but Mantegna not backing off. Dieli wins clearly with 36-year-old Mantegna also deserving praise.

Bangkok, Thailand: Super Feather: Jomthong Chuwatana (5-0) W PTS 12 Ronald Pontillas (15-5-3). Super Bantam: Sod Kokietgym (61-2-1) W PTS 12 Randy Megrino (12-13-2).

Jomthong vs. Pontillas

Southpaw Jomthong retains OPBF title with unanimous decision over dangerous but limited Filipino. Pontillas was throwing bombs from the start and got through with a couple of heavy rights in the first. Jomthong was unfazed and from the second was coming forward using a strong jab to set up his hard lefts.

Pontillas was still looking for a kayo punch, but good defensive work from Jomthong frustrated those efforts and the 23-year-old Thai was always in control. Scores 119-109,118-110 and 117-111. Jomthong is a WBC Muay Thai champion and is trying to become the first fighter to hold a WBC title in both codes. Fellow-southpaw Pontillas, also 23, is a former undefeated OPBF and Philippines champion in this same division, was 8-1-1 in his last 10 fights, and this was the fourth fight in a row on the road. He is No 2 in the GAB ratings.

Sod Kokietgym vs. Randy Megrino

WBC No 5 Kokietgym, 35, was too experienced, rough and tough for modest Filipino opponent. “Gorilla” Megrino, 24, shook Kokietgym a couple of times, but just lacked the power to turn the fight. Scores 117-110 twice and 117-111. Kokietgym wins vacant PABA title. He twice faced Daniel Ponce De Leon for the WBO title. He lost the first one on points in 2005 for the vacant title, but was flattened in 52 seconds in a return fight in 2006. He is unbeaten in 35 fights since then, nearly all of them against Filipinos and Indonesians and none of high quality. Four losses in a row for Megrino.

Guadalajara, Mexico: Feather: Jorge Lara (21-0-1) W TKO 7 Ivan Saracho. Local hero Lara makes it 22 fights unbeaten. He was totally dominant against late sub Saracho but just could not put him away. It looked as though it was going the distance until a Lara punch opened a bad cut on the eyelid of Saracho and the cut was too bad for the fight to continue. Lara has yet to face a real test.

Dalaguete, Philippines: Light Fly: Vergilio Silvano (14-2-1) W PTS 10 Louie Arlos (7-2). Welter: Randy Suico (31-8-1) W KO 1 William George (9-14).

Silvano vs. Arlos

Second successful defence of his Philippines Boxing Federation (PBF) title for Silvano as he stages a strong finish to win in all-southpaw scrap. Arlos built an early lead with clever counter punching. Silvano looked to have floored Arlos in the sixth, but it was ruled a slip. However, Arlos was shaken, and Silvano took that round and the seventh with body punches.

Arlos was tiring and that allowed Silvano to take the eighth. Arlos staged a recovery in the ninth, but Silvano was the busier fighter in the last as they battled it out with the fight in the balance. Silvano wins on scores of 96-94 twice and 97-93. The 22-year-old Silvano is No 1 with both the GAB and the OPBF. First ten round fight for Arlos, and that made the difference.

Suico vs. George

Disgraceful mismatch over early. A right puts poor George down. It was a brutal right and the referee waived the count. All over in 114 seconds. The 33-year-old Suico, a former super feather, light, and light welter OPBF champion has 26 wins by KO/TKO. He lost in nine rounds to Juan Diaz for the WBA light title in 2006. George has lost 9 of his last 10 fights.

Chesapeake, USA: Light Heavy: Frankie Filippone (13-2-1) W PTS 10 Kevin Engle (20-7,1ND). Welter: Ray Robinson (15-2) W PTS 10 Alberto Morales (11-2-1,1ND).

Filippone vs. Engle

Tall southpaw “Freight Train” Filippone had the height, the reach and better skills and cruised to an easy unanimous decision. Engle was just too slow to be able to get inside and Filippone was confident enough to do some showboating. It never looked like ending early. The 32-year-old Filippone wins vacant NABA title. He is unbeaten in last seven fights but lacks power. Engle, also 32, has been thrown in over his head with losses to Edwin Rodriguez, Marcus Johnson and Andre Dirrell. He loses whenever he leaves the Missouri circuit.

Robinson vs. Morales

Asking too much of any fighter to measure up to the original. Southpaw Robinson got off to a good start as he had Morales down in the first round. The fight was one-sided after that with the 27-year-old Robinson being too fast and skillful for the Nicaraguan. Scores 100-89, 99-91 and 98-91. “The New Ray Robinson”, who lost to Frankie Gavin as a Junior, wins interim NABA title. His losses have been tough fights against Brad Solomon and Shawn Porter. He had been inactive since beating 1996 Olympian Terry Cauthen in May. First fight for Morales since March 2010.

February 9

Belfast, N Ireland: Super Bantam: Carl Frampton (16-0) W TKO 9 Kiko Martinez (27-4). Feather: Lee Selby (14-1) W PTS 12 Martin Lindsay (20-2). Middle: Andy Lee (29-2) W PTS 10 Anthony Fitzgerald (13-4). Super Fly: Jamie Conlan (9-0) W TKO 10 Mike Robinson (5-5-3). Middle: Grzegorz Proksa (29-2) W PTS 6 Norbert Szekeres (13-21-3). Middle: Eamonn O’Kane (9-1) W PTS 6 Gary Boulden (7-6-2).

Frampton vs. Martinez

Frampton fights an excellent tactical battle as he uses good boxing skills to nullify the punching power of the Spaniard to win the European title. Martinez was coming forward looking to get Frampton involved in close quarters trading and was getting through with some hard shots over the first two rounds with Frampton having difficulty coping with the Spaniards aggression but showing a strong chin.

That changed in the third when Frampton adapted his game plan and began to box on the outside. The fourth saw Frampton being able to catch Martinez with hard counters. Although Martinez still got through with some hard punches it was Frampton who was in control. Martinez looked to be tiring and was also cut. The Spaniard staged a recovery in the eighth and did enough to win the round.

However it was a last fling. In the ninth Frampton upped the pace. As the tired Spaniard tried to come forward again Frampton nailed him with a hard right and put him down. Martinez beat the count, but was on very wobbly legs and the referee rightly stopped the fight. At the end of the eighth round Frampton was ahead 78-74 on two cards and 77-75. Commonwealth champion Frampton adds the European title and showed both maturity in how he stuck to the game plan and power to take the opportunity to finish the fight when it presented itself.

Third good win in a row for Frampton after victories over Raul Hirales and Steve Molitor. At 25 “The Jackal” is a great prospect and could emulate his manager Barry McGuigan and go on to win a world title. Martinez, 26, was in his third reign as European champion. He is a tough, aggressive, fighter and can still be a force at European level. The nearest he has been to a world title fight was losing to Takalani Ndlovu in an IBF eliminator in 2009.

Selby vs. Lindsay

Selby retains Commonwealth and British titles with comprehensive win over game Lindsay. Selby was the stronger and used that strength to boss the fight. After Lindsay made a good start taking the first round as he scored with some good hooks to the body. From the second Selby bossed the fight his superior strength and power told and his good punch selection saw him build a good lead. Lindsay was taking punishment but stayed in the fight.

Lindsay caught Selby with some hard shots at the start of the eighth, but by the end of the round Selby was back in charge. Selby had never been past eight rounds before, but he was still strong and able to push Lindsay around. Lindsay kept trying to fight back, but was tiring. A left at the end of the tenth knocked Lindsay’s mouthpiece flying. Selby cruised and showboated through the last two rounds which did not endear him to the pro Lindsay crowd.

He was a clear winner. Scores 118-109, 118-110 and 117-111. Welshman Selby, 26, makes it nine wins in a row in the second defence of his British title and third defence of his Commonwealth crown. Belfast man Lindsay, 30, a former British champion, gave it his best, but was well beaten.

Lee vs. Fitzgerald

Lee gets a tougher than expected fight from less Experienced Fitzgerald. Lee had the class, but he found it difficult to deal with the constant pressure from the Irish super middleweight champion. Lee was busier and more accurate, but he was too often fighting on the back foot or off the ropes and was never able to dominate Fitzgerald. He was not at his best and it showed. Lee has always had difficulties against fighters who pressure him hard and that was the case here.

Fitzgerald will have boosted his stock with this performance. Southpaw Lee was having his first fight since losing in seven rounds to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr for the WBC title in June. He is having to adjust to losing his trainer and mentor Emanuel Stewart and needs time to settle in with his new team. Fitzgerald was having his first fight since losing to Eamonn O’Kane in the middleweight Prizefighter in May. Next could be Lee vs. Darren Barker.

Conlan vs. Robinson

First ten round fight for prospect Conlan and a good win, but it nearly didn’t happen as a power cut almost led to the fight being put off. Despite this being his first fight for over a year “Mexican” Conlan looked sharp. In the second he dropped Robinson with two left hooks. The Englishmen survived and gave the 26-year-old some much needed work before he overwhelmed the game Robinson in the last. Five wins by KO/TKO for former amateur international Conlan. Robinson is a better fighter than his record suggests. Although he is 1-5-3 in his last nine fights he can be troublesome on his night.

Proksa vs. Szekeres

Just a workout for former undefeated European champion Proksa. The British-based Pole won every round without really exerting himself too much and the referee scored the fight 60-54. First fight for 28-year-old “Super G” since his unsuccessful challenge to Gennady Golovkin for the WBA and IBO titles in September. Hungarian Szekeres, who came in at short notice, has lost 10 of his last 12 fights, with only British prospect Tomas Costello beating him inside the distance in those ten losses.

O’Kane vs. Boulden

Former top amateur O’Kane returns with a win. After losing inside the distance to John Ryder in December the former Prizefighter winner got a good work out. He used speed and movement against game Boulden. O’Kane was not 100% but a win was important and he took the 59-56 decision from the referee. At 30 the former Commonwealth Games gold medal winner (beat Anthony Ogogo) and European bronze medalist needs to get back on track soon. Boulden was coming off a one round loss to Torben Keller in Denmark, but in June last year he was unlucky to lose a majority verdict to Ahmad Kaddour (24-2-1) there.

Rogan vs. Kovarik

In his first fight for ten months the former Commonwealth champion eases his way back with a points win over Czech. With a imminent appearance in the next Prizefighter Rogan was content to get in what was really just four rounds of paid sparring. Score 40-36. The 41-year-old from Belfast was having his first fight since losing in five rounds to Tyson Fury in April. Kovarik, 37, has lost 8 of his last 9 fights.

Esbjerg, Denmark: Feather: Alex Miskirtchian (22-2-1) W PTS 12 Andreas Evensen (17-3-1). Middle: Patrick Nielsen (18-0) W PTS 12 Patrick Mendy (14-6). Light Heavy: Erik Skoglund (15-0) W KO 2 Attila Baran (11-6). Cruiser: Micki Nielsen (6-0) W KO 1 Josef Krivka (2-2). Cruiser: Deion Jumah (2-0) W PTS 4 Igor Pylypenko (3-13-2). Super Feather: Dennis Ceylan (4-0) W KO 1 Marco Scalia (3-1).

Miskirtchian vs. Evensen

Miskirtchian retains European title with dramatic late stoppage of Norwegian Evensen. Both fighters started fast trying to take control of the fight. Miskirtchian edged the first round, but Evensen found some room to use his jab and took the second. In the third a right from the Georgian-born, Belgian-based champion put Evensen down. The Norwegian was shaken, but he beat the count and bounced back to take the fourth round.

The fifth and six were close but in the seventh Miskirtchian trapped Evensen on the ropes
and got through with a barrage of shots which again had the Norwegian hurt. As with the third round, again Evensen got back into the fight as Miskirtchian seemed to run out of ideas. From the eighth to the eleventh both fighters were tiring but the action was still being fought at a fast pace with nothing between them.

That changed in the last as the Belgian again got through with a right and put Evensen down, The Norwegian beat the count, but the referee decided he was in no state to continue and stopped the fight. At the end of the eleventh round two judges had Miskirtchian ahead 105-104 and third had him ahead 105-103 so even if Evensen had won that last round Miskirtchian would held on to his title with a majority draw.

The 27-year-old Miskirtchian was having his first fight in almost ten months. He has won eight in a row since losing on points to Paul Truscott in 2008. He is No 6 with the IBF and No 9 with the WBC. Colombian-born Evensen, 26, suffers his first loss inside the distance. He had taken Ricky Burns the distance in a WBO super feather title challenge in 2010.

Nielsen vs. Mendy

Nielsen retains his WBA Inter-Continental fight with a unanimous victory over tough and awkward Mendy. Over the first two rounds Nielsen had trouble with the British-based Gambian as Mendy was slipping the Danes punches. From the third Nielsen found the range with his southpaw jab and from then there was only going to be one winner. In the fourth a couple of lefts had Mendy hurt. In the fifth a right had Mendy down, but it was partly a slip.

Nielsen jab was not as sharp in the seventh and Mendy had a better round. The Gambian is not a heavy puncher. If he had been Nielsen would have been in trouble as at the start of the eleventh as Mendy got through with some clean shots. That pattern was repeated in the last with Mendy on top in the first half of the round with Nielsen ducking low to avoid the shots.

Once the Mendy storm subsided Nielsen was on top. Scores 117-110 twice and 117-111, but the fight was closer than that. Good learning fight for the 21-year-old Dane, but he is still a work in progress and may struggle when he is in with top opposition. Mendy, 22, is much better than his record indicates. I saw him give Kenny Anderson a hard fight in 2010. He had lost only one of his last ten fights going in, and that was by one point against former Commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce.

Skoglund vs. Baran

Early night for Swede Skoglund. He nailed the 20-year-old Hungarian with a big left hook which put him down on his back. Baran tried to rise but slumped onto his back and the referee waived the count. Baran needed some attention before he was able to get up. The 21-year-old Skoglund, rated No 16 in the European Union ratings, has nine wins by KO/TKO, but no real tests so far. Baran is 2-4 in his last six fights.

Nielsen vs. Krivka

Too easy for 19-year-old prospect Nielsen. All over in 23 seconds as one left hook to the body finishes poor Czech novice. All five of the 6’3” tall Danish southpaw’s wins have come in the first round.

Ceylan vs. Scalia

This one lasted just 66 seconds. Olympian Ceylan, 23, got through with a left hook and a right to the head. The Italian went down. The Italian was shaking his head to his corner as he climbed to his feet and the referee counted him out. Ceylan, one of the top Danish amateurs, lost to John Joe Nevin in London.

Jumah vs. Pylyenko

Young British prospect gets a win and some useful rounds. The 23-year-old southpaw Londoner won every round with all three judges having it 40-36. He had turned pro one week ago in Germany and scored a one round kayo.

Ciudad Obregon, Mexico: Light Welter: Humberto Soto (60-8-2,1ND) W PTS 12 Silverio Ortiz (26-14). Bantam: Jorge Ceja (24-0) W KO 5 Henry Maldonado (16-2,1ND). Light Fly: Luis Ceja (23-3-3) W TKO 4 Alejandro Morales (14-3). Light Welter: Antonio Lozada Jr (31-1) W KO 1 Jose Luis Payan (9-1-1). Light Welter: Marcos Villasana Jr (9-1) W TKO 3 Juan Pablo Lopez (23-3).

Soto vs. Ortiz

This one was a real grudge fight as they had to separate the two in a scuffle at the weigh-in. As a result they were both trying to inflict pain and damage. Soto was far superior and had the power, but Ortiz has been around the block a few times and used his skills and crafty defence work to stay in the fight. Soto was doing the cleaner work and was busier but just could not get through with enough hard shots to come close to a stoppage. Scores 117-110 twice and 18-110.

The 32-year-old “Little Fox” wins the vacant WBC Silver International title. He is current WBFederation champion, but it shows how little regard this title gets as he sees it as about the same level as a WBC minor title. Having been stopped in five rounds by Lucas Matthysse in June, Soto is unlikely to get a shot at the WBC title anytime soon. Ortiz, 30, is known as Chamaco III as he is part of a fighting dynasty.

Ortiz has been in losing fights with guys such as Jorge Paez, Mike Anchondo, David Diaz and Marcos Maidana. But was on a six bout winning streak, winning the IBA title and beating useful fighters such as Fernando Angulo and Elvin Perez and scoring an upset win over highly touted Mahonri Montes (25-0-1) in March.

Ceja vs. Maldonado

Ceja again comes up with the goods. After a cautious first round these two exchanged heavy punches as they traded, with Maldonado getting heavy shots of his own against the favoured Ceja, and winning the fourth round with a sustained attack. The 20-year-old Mexican ended it in the fifth when a devastating right uppercut put the Nicaraguan down and out.

Maldonado needed medical attention before he was able to get up “Pollito” has 22 wins by KO/TKO including 21 of his last 22 fights. He retains his WBC Fecarbox title. Ceja already has victories over Ronald Barrera, Cruz Carbajal and Luis Melendez. He is rated No 2 by the IBF, Jamie McDonnell is No 1 and No 2 spot is vacant. The 25-yeart-old Maldonado was unbeaten in his last eight fights after losing in five rounds to Johnny Garcia in 2010.

Ceja vs. Morales

A double for the Ceja family as elder brother Luis forces Morales to retire at the end of the fourth. Despite the attempts of Morales to use his height and reach to keep Ceja at a distance Ceja was always in control. His jabs and hooks had Morales looking worse for wear. With his left eye almost closed, and after being floored late in the fourth, Morales wisely retired. The 22-year-old Ceja had put together a run of 17 fights unbeaten before losing to world rated fighters Ivan Meneses and Ganigan Lopez. He is rated No 10 by the IBF and wins the vacant WBC Silver title.

Lozada vs. Payan

Lozada came out firing and Payan stupidly decided to trade with him. A series of body shots put Payano down. He got up but was badly shaken. Another combination of punches put him down again and the fight was stopped. All over in just 93 seconds. The 22-year-old “Canitas” has 26 wins by KO/TKO, 15 in the first round. That’s seven wins since a shock loss to Roberto Ortiz in 2011. He has rebuilt with wins over experienced fighters such as Joel Juarez, Daniel Valenzuela and Cesar Chavez (17-0). Payan came in as a late substitute and was on a nine fight winning run.

Villasana vs. Lopez

Big win for the son of the former WBC featherweight champion. This one was never going to go the distance as both fighters were throwing bombs. There was nothing in it after two rounds, but in the third a tremendous uppercut from Villasana put Lopez down. He got up, but was put down again and the fight was stopped. Villasana jumped from four round fights to ten rounds in November when winning the WBC Youth title.

This was a big step up in competition, as only one of previous victims had a positive record. Dad Marcos Snr. was in his corner. Marcos won the WBC feather title by beating Paul Hodkinson in Manchester in 1990 and made three successful defences before losing the title back to Hodkinson in Belfast in 1991. After 20 wins, 18 by KO/TKO, Lopez is 3-3 in his last six fights.

Mexico City, Mexico: Super Bantam: Jonathan Lecona Ramos (12-12-2) W PTS 10 Enrique Bernache (20-5). Welter: Daniel Sandoval (31-2) W TKO 2 Martin Avila (14-11).

Ramos vs. Bernache

Late substitute Ramos was brought in to lose, but failed to read the script. Bernache swept the first four rounds and it looked as though he might even stop Ramos. However, southpaw Ramos proved tougher than thought. For some reason Bernache changed from orthodox to southpaw in the fifth and Ramos took over. His relentless body attack slowed Bernache and over the last three rounds Bernache spent most of the time fighting off the ropes.

A lump on his forehead caused by a clash of heads in the eighth did not help and in the end Ramos had pulled off an upset. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-95. Ramos had lost a split decision to Bernache back in 2010. Ramos, 26, was 1-3 in his last four, but two of those losses were to world rated Juan Fco. Estrada and former IBF super fly champion Rodrigo Guerrero.

He also had wins over David Gaspar (16-2-1) and Ramon Maas (26-1) so perhaps it was not as big an upset. “Duende” Bernache, a former undefeated Mexican champion was trying to get back on track after losses to Raul Hirales and, on a paper thin decision, to WBO No 1 Daniel Rosas.

Sandoval vs. Avila

Prospect Sandoval massacres poor late substitute Avila. The tall 21-year-old puts Avila down twice in the first and twice more in the second and the fight is stopped. That makes it 29 wins by KO/TKO for WBO No 12 Sandoval. He has won eleven straight since losing to Armando Robles in 2010, with ten of those wins coming by KO/TKO. Included in that list are useful fighters such as Jose Silva (17-1-1), Michael Rosales ( 32-4) and Gabriel Martinez (27-3-1). Not much to say about Avila as each of last eighth losses have been by KO/TKO.

Mexico City, Mexico: Light Fly: Saul Juarez (16-2) W KO 10 Armando Torres (19-11). Torres had a good first round, but it went downhill for from then on. The younger fighter was in control. He scored well with body punches and also had Torres bleeding heavily from the nose, probably broken, and looking very marked around the face, before the finish.

The body punches softened Torres up, but it was a three punch combination to the face that sent Torres down in the tenth. He seemed to be in agony from the broken nose and took the full count on his knees. This marked a big step up in opposition for the 22-year-old “Baby” and he wins the WBC USNBC title. He has ten wins by KO/TKO. Torres, 32, the nephew of former WBC fly champion Efren Torres, lost in challenges for the interim WBA light flyweight title to Juan Reveco and the interim WBA strawweight title to Juan Palacios.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Light Middle: Javier F Maciel (25-2) W KO 5 Emilio Julio Julio (26-10-2). Maciel too much for journeyman Colombian. The pattern was set in the first as the flat-footed, stocky, Maciel was following Julio around, occasionally catching him on the ropes and scoring to head and body. Julio showed good skills, but lacked power.

It was more of the same in the second. Julio would hide behinds his high guard whilst Maciel threw hard hooks and uppercuts. A left hook, right cross and a left uppercut from Maciel saw Julio forced to fight back and they traded in the centre of the ring. Strange territory that for Julio. In the third again Maciel was scoring with left jabs, hooks and uppercuts, Maciel’s best punch, but at the end of the round Julio actually took Maciel to the ropes and threw some hooks of his own.

Maciel began to break down the Colombian’s resistance. As the fourth round opened Maciel drove Julio around the ring scoring with left hooks, right crosses and again the uppercut. Julio again showed good defensive skills. But was soaking up punishment. Maciel attacked relentlessly in the fifth. He drove Julio to the ropes and three thunderous right uppercuts shook Julio and the referee stepped-in to give the Colombian a standing count.

As the count progressed Julio walked round the referee and began to take out his mouthpiece and the fight was stopped. The 28-year-old “La Bestia” makes it 18 wins by KO/TKO and retains the WBO Latino title for the fourth time. Seven wins, six by KO/TKO since losing to Dmitry Pirog for the WBO middleweight title in 2011. Rated No 6 by the WBO is said to be scheduled to face Vanes Martirosyan in April. Julio, 33, had won 6 of his last 7.

St Paul, USA: Super Middle: Paul Williams (12-5-1) W TKO 1 Shujaa El Amin (12-4). Just 86 seconds and Williams wins the vacant WBU title. He caught El-Amin on the ropes and floored him with a volley of punches. El-Amin got up but another couple of punches had him in deep trouble and the referee stopped the fight.

The 35-year-old Williams had drawn one and lost four of his last five fights. The 25-year-old El-Amin, previously fighting as Dion Savage, had failed to last a round with Marco A Periban and Adonis Stevenson but had put up a creditable performance in losing to Farah Ennis in March.