The Past Week in Action 27 November 2023

ERIC ARMIT | November 28, 2023 | 0 Comentarios/ Comments

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:

– David Benavidez beats Demetrius Andrade on a sixth round retirement abs wins the interim WBC super-middleweight belt

– Katie Taylor gets a revenge win over Chantelle Cameron to lift the five super lightweight belts.

-Subriel Matias wins over Shohjahon Ergashev who retires after the sixth round with Matias defending the IBF super lightweight title

– Lamont Roach outscores champion Hector Garcia and wins then WBA super featherweight title

-Jermall Charo returns tom action with a points win over Jose Benavidez and there are wins for Michel Rivera, Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov and Vito Mielnicki

-Skye Nicolson stops Lucy Wildheart to retain the interim WBC feather title and there are wins for Garry Cully, Zelfa Barrett and Paddy Donovan

– Kevin Lerena decisions Senad Gashi and collects the vacant interim Bridgerweight title

-Etinosa Oliha holds onto the IBO middle title with a points win over Faton Vukshinaj

– Juan Gomez retains the European super featherweight title with draw against Salvador Jimenez

-Gustave Tamba wins the European Silver title with second round victory over Jose Navarro

World Title/Major Shows

November 25

Las Vegas, NV, USA: Super Middle David Benavidez (28-0) W RTD 6 Demetrius Andrade (32-1). Middle: Jermall Charlo (33-0) W PTS 10 Jose Benavidez (28-3-1). Super Light: Subriel Matias (20-1) W RTD 5 Shohjahon Ergashev (23-1). Super Feather: Lamont Roach (24-1-1) W PTS 12 Hector Garcia (16-2). Super Light: Michel Rivera (25-1) W PTS 10 Sergey Lipinets (17-3-1) W PTS 10. Super Welter: Vito Mielnicki (16-1) W TKO 1 Alexis Salazar (25-6). Super Feather: Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (21-1) W PTS 10 Pablo Vicente (23-2,1ND).

Benavidez vs. Andrade

Benavidez makes a slow start but after shaking Andrade late in the third hands out a beating over the fifth and sixth and Andrade retires at the end of the round.

Round 1

Andrade boxing cleverly with plenty of movement. A slower start from Benavidez as he finds Andrade a difficult target . Andrade jabbing well and finishes the round with a trio of lefts.

Score: 10-9 Andrade

Round 2

Andrade in control again. He is taking the fight to Benavidez letting his hands go and putting Benavidez under plenty of pressure. He puts together a sequence of punches-uppercuts, hooks to the body and straight shots and although Benavidez blocks some others get through and Benavidez is being outfought.

Score: 10-9 Andrade Andrade 20-18

Round 3

Andrade is bullying Benavidez around the ring forcing him to the ropes with Benavidez doing plenty of defending but not much attacking as he can’t find gaps to counter the Andrade attacks and smart movement. Benavidez finally comes to life late in the round landing a good right that forces Andrade to back up.

Score: 10-9 Andrade Andrade 30-27

Round 4

Benavidez finally gets into his stride. He is jabbing strongly now putting Andrade under pressure for the first time and Andrade is being forced onto the back foot . He tries to drive forward throwing punches but as they trade a right hook from Benavidez drops Andrade to his hands and Knees. He is up at five and the bell goes when the eight count is completed

Score:10-8 Benavidez Andrade 38-37

Official Scores: Judge Tim Cheatham 38-37 Benavidez, Judge David Sutherland 39-36 Benavidez, Judge Steve Weisfeld 38-37 Andrade.

Round 5

Benavidez is looking to build on that knockdown late in the fourth and he pours on the punches staggering Andrade with a hard right hook to the head. Andrade is force to hold under heavy fire as Benavidez lands powerfully to head and body and Andrade looked unsteady at the bell.

Score: 10-9 Benavidez TIED 47-47

Round 6

The doctor examined Andrade at the start of the sixth but the fight continued. Andrade lost his mouthguard and after it was reinserted he was shaken by a heavy right from Benavidez. For the rest of the round Benavidez pounded Andrade with lefts and rights and it was an unsteady Andrade who walked back to his corner and he was pulled out of the fight.

Typical power show from Benavidez as he makes it 24 wins by KO/TKO. He wins the interim WBC title. He is obviously calling out Saul Alvarez but I can’t see that happening. Now 33 Alvarez would be trying to overcome a six inch height, a four inch reach and seven year age difference which I feel would be too much for Alvarez to risk. Benavidez may have to settle for WBA secondary title holder David Morell, Jaime Munguia or WBC No 1 Christian Mbilli. Andrade posed some problems early for Benavidez but once Benavidez got going it was over quickly.

Charlo vs. Benavidez

No signs of rust as Charlo returns to action for the first time in over two years and outpoints Benavidez. Charlo had his jab working well in the first and put together some useful combinations. He worked the jab hard in the second and also added some hurtful uppercuts. Benavidez had a better third getting on the front foot and jabbing strongly. Charlo was back in control in the fourth again his jab was accurate and he caught Benavidez with overhand rights and uppercuts. Benavidez bounced back in the fourth scoring strongly to the body and forcing Charlo to the ropes and landing good rights. Charlo took the sixth, seventh and eighth as he found the target with some crunching body punches and outscored Benavidez in each round. Benavidez came out firing shots at the start of the ninth trying to find a way to turn the fight in his favour but Charlo saw out the minor storm and then took the last two rounds even finding time to taunt Benavidez in the last. Scores: 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 for Charlo. It is ridiculous that he had been allowed to go over two years without defending the WBC title and it will now be 2024 before he does defend and in this crazy sanctioning body world it won’t necessarily be against interim champion Carlos Adames. Charlo was overweight for this fight but it still went ahead. Benavidez, the elder brother of David, was 27-0 before being stopped by Terence Crawford in a challenge for the WBO welter title in 2018. He was then inactive for three years and suffered his second defeat when losing to Danny Garcia on a majority decision in July last year.

Matias vs. Ergashev

Matias makes a slow start to his first defence of the IBF title and then pounds Ergashev to defeat in five rounds

Round 1

In the first exchange of punches a left to the body from Ergashev knocked Matias into the ropes and he kept the pressure on with two more lefts. Matias was circling Ergashev behind a high guard but only probing with his jab, Ergashev pierced the guard of Matias with lefts with nothing coming back from Matias.

Score: 10-9 Ergashev

Round 2

Matias tried to put pressure on Ergashev but Ergashev fired a couple of quick combinations and moved out of danger. Matias was again hiding behind a high guard allowing Ergashev to unload punches and not throwing any himself. Matias was blocking a lot but you don’t win rounds that way. It was target practice for Ergashev and he kept shouldering Matias back to stop him getting inside. Over the last 40 seconds Matias was able to get past Ergashev’s jab and score with short hooks.

Score: 10-9 Ergashev Ergashev 20-18

Round 3

Lots more pressure from Matias. He quickly forced Ergashev into a corner and scored with a burst of punches before Ergashev managed to escape. Matias was just walking through Ergashev’s punches and his confidence seemed to have gone as tried again to use his shoulder to push Matias back and was holding when Matias got inside and his punch output had also dropped dramatically. Matias now in total control and he hammered home hooks and uppercuts.

Score: 10-9 Matias Ergashev 29-28

Round 4

After a bright start from Ergashev Matias was just walking him down scoring with jabs and left hooks as Ergashev ‘s work rate dropped. Ergashev was being driven around the ropes as Matias banged home hooks and there was very little coming back from an Ergashev who already looked a beaten man

Score: 10-9 Matias TIED 38-38

Round 5

Matias was hunting Ergashev around the ropes scoring with short jabs and hooks with Ergashev only firing back with an occasional punch and without the snap his punches had over the first two rounds. Matias trapped Ergashev in a corner and worked him over with hooks and uppercuts. Matias drove Ergashev along the ropes unloading lefts and rights and Ergashev had slowed and was resorting to holding rather than punching.

Score: 10-9 Matias Matias 48-47

Round 6

It was all one-sided now as Matias worked over Ergashev against the ropes. Ergashev was hardly able tom keep his hands up and stood took steady punishment throughout then round and retired in his corner

Impressive display of relentless pressure from Matias as he makes it 20 wins by KO/TKO. He has no mandatory challenger with spots 1 and 2 in the IBF ratings vacant so can choose which way to go and a unifier would be interesting. Ergashev was a disappointment. This was his first fight for fifteen months but somehow he was No 3 with the IBF and it was surprising how he fell apart under pressure but after the fight Ergashev said that pain in his legs limited his mobility after the second round.

Garcia vs. Roach

Roach scores a late knockdown over champion Garcia to secure a split decision and win the WBA title. After a slow first round Roach edges the second as he takes the fight to Garcia and lands some useful hooks as Garcia struggles to get into the fight. A low action third round sees both fighters searching for openings but they close the round with a good exchange. Garcia is looking to counter but Roach is boxing well and is the busier fighter and looks to have built a lead. Garcia finally ups his work rate in the fifth and starts to put Roach under pressure with some quick shots but he has ground to make up. Garcia carries that impetus into the sixth round and rocks Roach with a right as he continues to eat into what is now a slender lead for Roach. The rounds have been close and the eighth and ninth follow that pattern with neither fighter dominant so the fight is still up for grabs over the closing rounds. Roach has a good tenth scoring well with left hooks to head and body at the start of the round and that is good enough to hold onto the round despite a late rally from Garcia. A left hook staggers Garcia in the eleventh and Roach bombards him with follow-up punches and looks to have clearly moved in front. Roach has a big twelfth dropping Garcia with a right hook that lands behind Garcia’s left ear. Garcia is up quickly and fights back but it is a10-8 round for Roach who takes the split decision on scores of 116-111 and 114-113 against 114-113 for Garcia showing how decisive that last round knockdown was. Roach had lost on points to Jamel Herring in a shot at the WBO super feather title in 2019 but had fought his way back into contention with five wins. Garcia was making the first defence of the WBA title he had won with a decision over Roger Gutirrez and was coming off a ninth round stoppage loss to Gervonta Davis in a shot at the secondary WBA light belt in January.

Rivera vs. Lipinets

Rivera gets back on track with a unanimous decision over Lipinets. There was a complete divergence in styles here. Dominican Rivera was wearing the word “Ali” on his trunks using hit and run tactics against the brawling fight that would have best suited Lipinets. Over the first half of the fight Lipinets chased in vain as Rivera boxed smartly with quick hands and plenty of movement frustrating Lipinets. Rivera slowed over the second half with Lipinets managing to cut off the ring and slow Rivera with body shots. It was close and the judges decided that Lipinets had not done enough to overhaul Rivera’s lead and scored it 97-93 twice and 96-94 for Rivera but Lipinets had cause for complaint as he looked worth at least a draw. First fight for Rivera since losing to Frank Martin in December. Kazakh Lipinets lost to Mikey Garcia in a challenge for the IBF super light title in 2018 and was kayoed in six rounds by Jaron Ennis in 2021but had recovered with an eighth round retirement win over Omar Figueroa in August last year.

Mielnicki vs. Salazar

Mielnicki extends his winning run to eight fights with first round stoppage of Salazar. Mielnicki dropped Salazar three times before the fight was stopped. Eleventh inside the distance win for the 21-year-old prospect. Mexican Salazar had taken inbeaten Xander Zayas the full eight rounds in December.

Yaqubov vs. Vicente

This fight between a Tajik and a Panamanian-based Cuban got very much overshadowed on the show. Tajik Yaqubov won a unanimous points victory but on differing scores at 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. He is now the mandatory challenger to WBC super-feather champion O’Shaquie Foster. When they met in March last year Foster won by nine points on one card and seven on the other two.

Dublin, Ireland: Super Light: Katie Taylor(23-1) W PTS 10 Chantelle Cameron (18-1). Light: Gary Cully (17-1) W PTS 10 Reece Mould (18-2). Feather: Skye Nicolson (9-0) W TKO 9 Lucy Wildheart (10-3). Welter: Paddy Donovan (12-0) W TKO 4 Danny Ball (13-2-1). Super Feather: Zelfa Barrett (30-2) W PTS 8 Costin Ion (10-5-2). Super Feather: John Cooney (10-0) W TKO 1 Liam Gaynor (10-5).

Taylor vs. Cameron

Taylor wins all five belts with a majority decision over Cameron.

Round 1

Cameron was on the front foot stabbing out jabs with Taylor looking to fire quick counters. Both landed in a couple of early exchanges before Cameron landed a stiff jab to the body that sent Taylor back and down. It looked a legitimate knockdown but the referee ruled it a slip. Cameron’s jab gave her the edge and she scored with a good right at the bell.

Score: 10-9 Cameron

Round 2

Cameron continued to come forward but Taylor was landing quick counters then darting inside and clinching to smother Cameron’s work. Taylor continued landing quick bursts and did enough to offset a good end to the round from Cameron.

Score: 10-9 Taylor TIED 19-19

Round 3

Taylor was on the back foot waiting for Cameron to fire a jab and then stepping in with quick multi-punch counters. Cameron was tending to jab then fire a right but was being caught on the way in and Taylor was clinching to frustrate Cameron’s attempts to work inside. Heads had been banging together and Cameron had a gash just below her hairline over her left eye.

Score: 10-9 Taylor Taylor 29-28

Round 4

The referee had the doctor examine the wound but the fight continued. Cameron jabbed strongly throughout the round but Taylor was countering well. She just did enough to take the round but all of the rounds were close with just one clean punch enough to sway the points.

Score: 10-9 Taylor Taylor 39-37

Round 5

Taylor was boxing cleverly on then back foot. She was drawing the lead and then darting in with a quick burst of punches and then out before Cameron could counter but she was also doing a lot of holding. Cameron just could not find the target as Taylor bobbed and weaved.

Score: 10-9 Taylor Taylor 49-46

Round 6

Taylor started the round well with some hooks but Cameron found the range with her jab and managed to work inside despite constant holding from Taylor and she just took this one. Blood was dripping from Cameron’s cut but luckily not running into her eye.
Score: 10-9 Cameron Taylor 58-56

Round 7

Taylor was getting her punches off first and landed a pair of good hooks to the body. Cameron was being caught with counters as she came in and although scoring well with her jabs Taylor was connecting with some short hooks and then tying Cameron up inside. Close but Taylor’s round.

Score: 10-9 Taylor Taylor 68-65

Round 8

A clear round for Cameron. She took the fight inside and proved the stronger shrugging off Taylor’s attempts to hold and connecting with hooks and uppercuts with Taylor looking to be tiring.

Score: 10-9 Cameron Taylor 77-75

Round 9

Taylor dredge up some energy for this one. She was again showering the advancing Cameron with bursts of punches and then tying up Cameron. It was untidy but effective and Cameron just could not find the space to offset the succession of punches from Taylor.

Score: 10-9 Taylor Taylor 87-84

Round 10

Cameron marched forward throwing punches with an exhausted Taylor only able to throw the occasional shot before falling onto a clinch and it was Cameron’s round

Score: 10-9 Cameron Taylor 96-94

Official Scores: Judge Jan Christensen 98-92 Taylor, Judge Steve Morrow 96-94 Taylor, Judge Ferenc Budai 95-95.

Taylor reverses the majority decision loss she suffered against Cameron in May and now holds both the WBO lightweight and super lightweight titles and will have to quickly decide which one to relinquish.. Nearly all the rounds were very close calls so I would have no strong argument against someone scoring it a draw or having it 96-94 for Cameron but the 98-92 looked way out. Taylor was allowed to get away with too much holding and the constant clinches detracted from what could have been a classic battle. A third fight would seem necessary to close out the trilogy but after two in Dublin perhaps this time in Cameron’s back yard.

Cully vs. Mould

Cully takes a split decision after a spirited clash with Mould. Cully had seven inches height advantage (6’2” x 5’7”)which set the tactics. Cully stayed in the centre of the ring using his right jab to score whilst Mould constantly circled looking for a chance to dip inside and work the body. Cully made good use of his advantages in the first but Mould managed to get past the jab and land in the second. Cully just took the third and had a big fourth as he scored heavily to head and body. Mould just could not close Cully down as Cully outscored him in the fifth and caught him with straight lefts and left hooks in the sixth. Mould was relentless in the seventh walking through Cully’s jab to put Cully under pressure and connecting with hooks inside. Mould attacked hard again in the eight to make the round close but Cully looked to have edged the ninth and the tenth saw Cully on top at the start and Mould finish strongly. Scores 97-93 and 96-93 for Cully and 97-93 for Mould with Cully looking a close but deserving winner. Bounce-back win for Cully after losing his unbeaten record on a third round stoppage against Jose Felix in May. He wins the WBA Continental title from champion Mould whose only other defeat came in a stoppage against Leigh Wood in 2021,

Nicolson vs. Wildheart

Nicolson retains the WBC interim title as she beats Wildheart in nine rounds. Lots of early probing as they each tried to find the range with Nicolson just the more accurate. Nicolson was content to box on the retreat landing good counters with Wildheart not really cutting the ring off and a bit disorganised with her attacks. By the third Nicolson was consistently piercing Wildheart’s guard with jabs and straight lefts and skipping away from Wildheart’s attempted counters. Wildheart switched to southpaw in the fourth and had some success but Nicolson was landing heavily with both hands in the fifth. Wildheart bravely kept rolling forward over the sixth and seventh but Nicolson was sliding away from Wildheart’s attacks and picking her off with jabs and lefts. Nicolson landed a series of lefts in the ninth and with Wildheart bleeding from her nose and an open target her corner threw in the towel. A couple of firsts. First defence for Nicolson and first inside the distance win. She shows steady improvement but the real champion Amanda Serrano would be too much for her at this stage of her career. Swede Wildheart was coming off a wide decision loss against Mikaela Mayer for the interim WBC lightweight title in April and never really threatened Nicolson’s dominance.

Donovan vs. Ball

Donovan stops Ball in the fourth. Southpaw Donovan made a confident start in the first taking the fight to the retreating Ball and scoring with some quick combinations with Ball trying counter rights but just too slow. Ball tried to take the fight to Donovan in the second but Donovan was just too quick for Ball he pierced his guard with snappy rights and darted away from Ball’s attempted counters. Ball came forward again in the third but Donovan evaded the attacks and made Ball pay by banging home quick bursts of punches although Ball did connect with two good rights late in the round. Ball was edging forward in the fourth looking to get inside and as he threw a right Donovan unleashed an electrifying left to the head that swept the feet from under Ball. He was up at six but was trapped in a corner as Donvan showered him with punches until Ball staggered to one side and down as the towel came flying in. Scintillating display from the former Irish Under 18 and Under 22 champion who wins the vacant WBA Continental belt. Ball had lost to Ekow Essuman for the British and Commonwealth titles but rebounded with three wins.

Barrett vs. Ion

Barrett boxes his way to victory over Romanian Ion. Barrett spent most of the fight on the back foot. He was elusive and accurate with his jabs and had spells when he came off the ropes and came forward firing rapid-fire combinations. Ion never stopped marching forward and had enough success to edge a couple of rounds but over the seventh and eighth Barrett came forward letting his hands go looking for an early finish but although cut Ion never looked in trouble as Barrett took the referee’s decision 78-75. Second win this year for Barrett as he rebuilds after losing on a ninth round stoppage against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the vacant IBF title in November last year.

Cooney vs. Gaynor

Southpaw Cooney was tracking Gaynor around the ring looking to land his left. Gaynor scored with a counter right but Cooney nailed him with a left that sent him down. Gaynor was up quickly and after the count Cooey just kept throwing punches and with nothing coming back from Gaynor the referee stopped the fight. Cooney wins the vacant BBB of Celtic with his third victory by KO/TKO. First inside the distance loss for Dublin-born Gaynor.

Kempton Park, South Africa: Bridgerweight: Kevin Lerena (30-2) W PTS 12 Senad Gashi (27-4,1ND). Light: Kaine Fourie (6-0-2) W KO 4 Lusanda Komanisi (27-8). Super Welter: Shervantaigh Koopman (13-0) W PTS 8 Cristiano Ndombassy (13-8).

Lerena vs. Gashi

Lerena wins the vacant interim WBC Bridgerweight belt with a wide unanimous decision over Dashi.

Round 1

Lerena was advancing behind a high guard walking the retreating Gashi down. Gash was throwing plenty of jabs and was careless with his head but Lerena was blocking the punches and scored with some sharp left hooks just doing enough to edge a close round.

Score: 10-9 Llerena

Round 2

Lerena connected with a sharp right hook at the start of the round. Gashi was making a home at the ropes and rarely strayed far from them. He was able to fire off jabs as Llerena was tending to stand in front of him just looking to land big punches. Llerena blocked most of Gashi’s punches but hardly threw a punch.

Score: 10-9 Gashi TIED 19-19

Round 3

Lerena changed his tactics starting to come in behind his jab. He landed some body punches with in one going low and Gashi getting some recovery time. The dynamic had changed with Lerena alternating between a high guard and letting his punches go and he was immediately having success landing a snappy uppercut and keeping the retreating Gashi under pressure.

Score: 10-9 Lerena Lerena 29-28

Round 4

Lerena scored with two lefts at the start of the fourth. Gashi fired jabs but they were being blocked and Lerena was scoring with right jabs and straight lefts. Gashi was twice warned for low punches. Lerena landed sweeping right hook that had Gashi holding.

Score: 10-9 Lerena Lerena 39-37

Round 5

Lerena scored with a couple of lefts before Gashi again landed a low punch. Gashi had some success with a little burst of punches but Lerena chased him down and connected with a left to the head before landing a series of head punchers. Gashi landed two low punches then turned away as Lerena threw a punch. The punch landed on Gashi’s back and he snatched at that as an excuse for some recovery time.

Score: 10-9 Lerena Lerena 49-46

Round 6

Lerena connected with a left hook and Gashi responded with another burst of punches none of which landed. Lerena snapped Gashi head back with a jabs and followed with a left hook. Gashi again landed low and stupidly looked at the referee as if waiting for a reprimand and that left him open to a couple of hefty shots from Lerena.

Score: 10-9 Lerena 59-55

Round 7

Lerena cornered Gashi and connected with some right hooks. Gashi landed low again and Lerena repaid him with the left to the head. Gashi continued to pound Lerena’s gloves and went low yet again and was warned-again. Lerena followed Gashi along the ropes and snapped Gashi’s head back with a right jab. The pace of the fight was painfully slow with Gashi hardly ever moving away from the ropes and showing very little offence.

Score: 10-9 Lerena 69-64

Round 8

A low action round with Lerena pacing around the ring after Gashi and scoring with occasional hooks when he found gaps. Gashi prodded with jabs and fired one bunch of serious looking hooks before retreating again and Lerena just had enough success with rights to take a close round.

Score 10-9 Lerena Lerena 79-73

Round 9

A round for Gashi but it was more a case of Lerena giving it away. Gashi kept sliding along the ropes but stopped often to fire a series of straight shots some of which pierced Lerena’s guard. Lerena was holding back his punches just looking to throw only big shots and he did too little work.

Score: 10-9 Gashi Lerena 88-83

Round 10

Lerena picked up the pace, He was coming forward throwing jabs and letting fly with straight lefts and bobbing and weaving instead of being static. Lerena landed a series of right hooks and a left to the head.

Score: 10-9 Lerena Lerena 98-92

Round 11

Lerena made a promising start scoring with some hooks and straight lefts but then he went back to the high guard and his attacks slowed. Gashi just threw the occasional series of little punches easily blocked by Lerena who scored with a couple of lefts at the end of the round.

Score: 10-9 Lerena Lerena 108-101

Round 12

Gashi came forward throwing hooks for the first time in the fight and had some success. He kept up the momentum but went low once too often and the referee deducted a point. He still marched forward firing punchers but went down under a bunch of shots from Lerena and the bell went when he got up.

Score: 10-7 Lerena* Lerena 118-108

*Gashi loses two points for the knockdown and one for the low blow deduction

Lerena will now look to challenge for the full WBC title so a good outcome but a disappointing fight. It takes two to make a fight and Gashi rarely strayed away from the ropes and only fought in bursts making for a very slow and rarely exciting fight and Lerena reportedly suffered a rib injury whilst training for the fight

Fourie vs. Komanisi

Impressive performance from Fourie as he wears down and stops experienced Komanisi in four rounds. After a couple of early draws he was then inactive for eleven months but has run up five consecutive wins four by KO/TKO. Former undefeated IBO feather champion Komanisi had a run of six wins but then lost his South African feather title in March when he dislocated a shoulder during a title defence.

Koopman vs. Ndombassy

South African super welter champion Koopman kept his 100% record with a wide unanimous decision over Angolan Ndombassy on scores of 80-72, 80-73 and 79-73. Ndombassy falls to 1-4 in his last 5 fights.

Rietberg, Germany: Middle: Etinosa Oliha (19-0) W PTS 12 Faton Vukshinaj (16-1-2). Heavy: Granit Shala (15-0) W TKO 6 Jorge Arias (13-5-2).

Oliha vs. Vukshinaj

Oliha retains the IBO title with a wide decision over Swiss Vukshinaj. Oliha won this with his better skills but Vukshinaj fought hard in every round. Oliha was master as long as he was able to box at distance but Vukshinaj marched forward throughout the fight using a high work rate to offset Oliha’s edges in height and reach. Oliha shook Vukshinaj with a right to the head in the first but mainly boxed on the back foot suddenly unleashing two-fisted attacks. Vukshinaj scored with some hefty rights to the head in the fifth but was twice rocked by rights to the head in the sixth and soaked up serious punishment. He held on to survive for a spell but was coming forward again at the end of the round. Vukshinaj had a good seventh but by the ninth both fighters were looking exhausted and the action was scrappy as the two fighters battled each other and exhaustion. Oliha was just a little more accurate in his work and deserved his win but was not impressive. Scores 117-111 twice and 118-110 for Italian Oliha. He was making the first defence of the title he won with a controversial victory over Julio Alamos in July. Vukshinaj had scored some useful wins before this fight and made Oliha work hard for his victory.

Shala vs. Arias

Shala makes hard work of beating modest Argentinian Arias in a slow, plodding fight. Shala put Arias down with a couple of hooks in the first and again with a left to the side of the head in the fourth. He ended it with two knockdowns in the sixth which brought the towel from the Argentinian’s corner. Fifth inside the distance win for Shala but he looks slow and limited. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for Arias

NOVEMBER 22

Newcastle, Australia: Super Welter: Nikita Tszyu (8-0) W TKO 5 Dylan Biggs (10-1). Middle: Issac Hardman (15-2) W TKO 5 Troy Coleman (12-3).

Tszyu vs. Biggs

Tszyu has to rebound from an early knockdown before stopping Biggs in the fifth. A short, straight right dumped Tszyu on his rump just 40 seconds into the fight. He was up quickly and after the count fought back and as they traded punches both looked to have been rocked. Tszyu began to outbox the taller Biggs in the second and third finding the target with right jabs and straight lefts. A heavy uppercut had Biggs in trouble in the fourth and a body punch floored Biggs in the fifth. He made it to his feet but was pinned against the ropes and shipping punishment when the referee made a good stoppage. Tszyu, 25, wins the Australian title with his fifth consecutive inside the distance victory. Champion Biggs was defending the title for the first time.

Hardman vs. Coleman

Hardman punches too hard for England’s Coleman. Hardman steadily broke Coleman down with some hefty rights. He had Coleman ready to go at the end of the fourth and then landed a clubbing right in the fifth which had Coleman dipping at the knees and then going down with the referee stopping the fight. Former unbeaten Australian champion “Headsplitter” Hardman wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental belt.

Rangsit, Thailand: Super Bantam: Anuchai Donsua (14-0) W TKO 4 Komgrich (32-10). Bantam: Bantam: Petch CP Freshmart (73-1) W PTS 6 Kittipong Jareonroy (3-11-1).

Donsua vs. Komgrich

Donsua comes from behind to stop Komgrich. The more experienced Komgrich had Donsua under pressure over the first two rounds to establish a lead. Komgrich marched forward in the third but throughout the round was being caught by powerful jabs and clubbing rights. Komgrich continued to march forward in the fourth but was rocked time and again. After a series of punches from Donsua drove him across the ring and down to his hands and knees the referee came in and stopped the fight. Donsua retains the Asian Boxing Federation belt. Komgrich, 34, lost on points against Donnie Nietes for the vacant IBF fly title in 2017 but is 1-5 in his last 6 fights.

Petch vs. Jareonroy

Just really some paid sparring for Petch (Tasana Salapat/ Sor Chitpattana) as he outpoints poor Jareonroy on scores of 59-55 on the cards. Irrelevant really as Petch could have ended the fight anytime he wanted. Jareonroy is 0-9-1 in his last ten fights.

NOVEMBER 24

Villa Maria, Argentina: Bantam: Maria Mazzarello (5-2) W PTS 10 Juliana Basualdo (11-4). Bantam: Jose Arias (11-2) W TKO 2 Cristian Pereira (5-2-2).

Basualdo vs. Mazzarello

Mazzarello overturns an earlier defeat and takes a majority decision over fellow-southpaw Basualdo to win the vacant South American title. This one was close all the way. Mazzarello was the better boxer and quicker which off-set the strength and aggression of Basualdo but she needed a strong last round to clinch the victory. Scores 96-94 twice for Mazzarello and 95-95. Basualdo had won on a majority decision when they met in September last year.

Arias vs. Pereira

Arias wins the vacant Argentinian title as he blasts out Pereira in two rounds. There were some sustained exchanges in the first but in the second a right from Arias sent Pereira dropping into and almost through the ropes which held him up. After the count Pereira tried again to trade punches but a pair of rights had him reeling and as Arias piled on the punches the referee came in to save Pereira. Aryas had previously lost in a shot at the bantam title.

Cahors, France: Yanis Mehah (13-1) W PTS 10 Nurali Erdogan (14-2).

Mehah wins the French title for the second time as he scores a unanimous decision over local fighter Erdogan. This was a very technical battle one for the purists and Mehah outboxed Erdogan over the first half of the fight. Erdogan pressed hard from the sixth focusing on a body attack but good movement and sharp countering from Mehah saw him protect his lead and emerge a good winner. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 for Mehah who had won this title in October but relinquished it to make an unsuccessful challenge for the EU title. Erdogan won the title in 2021 and again did not defend it.

Douai, France: Super Bantam: Segolene Lefebvre (18-0) W PTS 10 Tysie Gallagher (6-2). Super Feather: Licia Boudersa (21-1-2,1ND) W PTS 10 Eva Cantos (9-15-1).

Lefebvre vs. Gallagher

Local boxer Lefebvre successfully defends her WBO title with a majority verdict against England’s Gallagher. The visitor made the better start and moved in front Lefebvre used her deeper experience to come strong over the late rounds but it looked close and Gallaher was worth a draw. Scores 97-93 and 96-94 for Lefebvre and 95-95. Third defence for Lefebvre. Gallagher had won her last two fights.

Boudersa vs. Cantos

Just a keep busy fight for former undefeated IBO feather and WB Federation champion Boudersa as she outpoints Spaniard Cantos on scores of 60-54, 60-53 and 59-55. Boudersa extends her unbeaten run to 23 fights. Cantos had won 5 of her last 6 bouts.

Flensburg, Germany: Super Welter: Freddy Kiwitt (25-3) W TKO 10 Luis Romero (11-7-1). Cruiser: Dennis Bege (7-0) W TKO 3 Leon Maric (10-9).)

Kiwitt vs. Romero

Kiwitt wins the vacant WBFederation title with stoppage of Venezuelan Romero. The first round was a good one for Romero as he outscored Kiwitt. The home town fighter is a counter puncher but Romero fought on the back foot so Kiwitt had to come away from his usual approach and he took time to adjust. Kiwitt was totally in charge from the sixth and shook Romero twice in the ninth before putting him down in the tenth and the fight was stopped. Liberian-born German Kiwitt gets his eighth win in a row. Romero came in as a substitute after Namibian Harry Simon Jr had visa problems.

Bege vs. Maric

Bege makes it a home town double as he stops Maric in three rounds. He handed out some severe punishment to Maric in the second and Maric’s corner threw in the towel in the third. First inside the distance win for the 37-year-old Bege. Bosnian Maric, 21, suffers his fifth loss by KO/TKO.

Cancun, Mexico: Fly: Joselito Velazquez (18-1-1) W PTS 10 Pablo Carrillo (28-9-2). Feather: Aaron Alameda (28-2) W RTD 6 Adrian Robles (5-1-1). Light Heavy: Junior Younan (19-0-1) W PTS 8 Ramses Agaton (22-17-3).

Velazquez vs. Carrillo

Velazquez proves too sharp for heavy puncher Carrillo. The speed, high work rate and hooks to the body from Velazquez saw him dominating the action with the smaller Carrill’s power always a threat. Velazquez had Carrillo hurt with body punches in the sixth and shook him with hooks in the seventh and eighth but Carrillo banged back hard and Velazquez had a swelling on his left cheek bone. Velazquez went all out in the tenth trying for a stoppage but was cut over his left eye and he settled for the points win. Velazquez, a former Olympian and Pan American Games gold medallist won on scores of 99-91 from all three judges. He was 15-0-1 before losing to former WBC champion Cristofer Rosales in December. Colombian Carrillo found a four inch height difference and Velazquez’s skills too much for him.. Carrillo was coming off a tenth round stoppage loss against Kosei Tanaka in May.

Alameda vs. Robles

Rated Alameda breaks down novice Robles. Southpaw Almeda had Robles under heavy pressure all the way. He weakened Robles with body punches and opened a cut under the left eye of Robles who did not come out for the seventh round. WBC No 12 Almeda went 25-0 before suffering consecutive losses against Luis Nery in a fight for the vacant WBC super-bantam title and majority decision against Angelo Leo but had won his last three fights. Robles, a late substitute, just a six and eight round prelim fighter.

Younan vs. Agaton

After only two fights in three years Brooklyn’s Younan scores his second win in 2023 with a unanimous decision over experienced Agaton on scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75. Younan’s draw came against Ronald Ellis in 2018. Sixth defeat in a row for Agaton.

London, England: Light: Mark Chamberlain (14-0) W TKO 10 Artjoms Ramlavs (16-3). Super Light: Henry Turner (12-0) W PTS 10 Billy Allington (11-2-4). Middle: Liam Williams (25-4-1) W TKO 1 Florin Cardos (22-6).

Chamberlain vs. Ramlavs

Chamberlain retains the IBF European belt with dramatic last round stoppage of tough Latvian Ramlavs. Chamberlain had height and reach on his side and looked to box his way through this one. Ramlavs had other ideas and constantly launched head down attacks forcing Chamberlain to the ropes and turning the fight into a brawl. The clean work was being done by Chamberlain but there were plenty of fierce exchanges in every round. Chamberlain looked on his way to a stoppage win as he handed out serious punishment to Ramlavs over the sixth and seventh but he suffered a bad cut over his right eye in a clash of heads in the seventh. That gave Ramlavs a boost and he stormed back into the attack in the eighth. Chamberlain took over again in the ninth but his face was a mask of blood from the cut. He hammered Ramlavs with a right in the tenth and then pounded him with punches until Ramlavs staggered across the ring and down with the referee immediately stopping the fight. Third defence of the IBF title for Chamberlain. Ramlavs came in on the back of 5 wins in his last 6 fights.

Turner vs. Allington

Turner outpoints Allington. Southpaw Turner showed good skills and quick hands was able to dart in and score with Allington struggling to counter and wild with his attacks. Turner boxed cooly throughout the fight but occasionally the rushing lunges of Allington led to some some success but never enough to affect the outcome and Turner won on scores of 97-93 from all three judges. Turner was defending the WBC International Silver title and looked promising. Allington had lost to unbeaten Dalton Smith in a fight for the British title in February.

Williams vs. Cardos

Wiliams returns to action for the first time in a year and wipes out Cardos in 77 seconds. After putting Cardos on the back foot with jabs just a minute into the fight he dropped the Romania heavily with a straight right. Cardos made it to his feet but looked unsteady and made no complaint when the referee stopped the fight. Williams lost on points against Demetrius Andrade in a challenge for the WBO middle title in 2021 and was defeated on a unanimous decision by Chris Eubank Jr in 2022. Just one win in his last five fights for Romanian Cardos.

NOVEMBER 25

Vicente Lopez, Argentina: welter: Cristian Ayala (12-2-1) W PTS 10 Cristian Reggiardo (10-6). Welter: Leandro Fonseca (18-1-1) W PTS 10 Nicolas Jara (9-5). Super Feather: Walter Leiva (12-3-2) W PTS 10 Blas Caro (10-5). Super Middle: Bruno Acosta (9-0) W PTS 10 Salvador Lemus (6-2-1).

Ayala vs. Reggiardo

Ayala successfully defends the Argentinian and WBO Latino belts by outpointing Reggiardo. After an even beginning Ayala took control bossing the fight from the centre of the ring. Reggiardo fought hard but the smarter boxing and greater accuracy gave Ayala the edge and although he suffered damage under both eyes he was a clear winner on scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-92. When these two met in October last year Reggiardo had dropped Ayala twice and stopped him in the third round.

Fonseca vs. Jara

Another champion was a winner in this one as Fonseca retained the South American title on a split decision over southpaw Jara. This was an open, fast-paste fight with the referee largely a spectator. Fonseca’s extra experience helped him to dominate at distance but he had trouble inside where Jara was producing shots more in keeping with his K1, kickboxing and Muay Thai background. Fonseca came out the winner but on a split decision on scores of 96-94 twice for Fonseca and 96-94 for Jara. Third defence of the South American title for Fonseca. Jara had won 4 of his last 5 fights.

Leiva vs. Caro

Leiva floors Caro on the way to victory. Southpaw Leiva had big edges in height and reach and Caro never really threatened Leiva’s dominance. A burst of punches in the third had Caro dropping forward and putting his gloves on the canvas leading to a count and only Leiva’s lack of power allowed Caro to last the distance. Scores 99-90, 98-91 and 97-92 as Leiva retains the South American title for the fifth time and extends his unbeaten run to 8 bouts. Caro is 2-4 in his last 6 outings.

Acosta vs. Lemus

Local boxer Acosta picks up the WBO Youth belt with a wide unanimous decision over Guatemalan Lemus. Acosta had won his last six fights inside the distance and Acosta’s power plus physical advantages saw Lemus fighting hard to survive the early rounds. The Guatemalan improved as the fight went on and although Acosta was winning the rounds he was bruised and bleeding. A left to the body sent Lemus down in the seventh but the punch was low so no count and a tiring Lemus was deducted a point for holding in the tenth. Scores 100-89 for twenty-year-old Acosta on the three cards.

Charleroi, Belgium: Super Welter: Ibrahima Diallo (7-0-2) DREW 10 Jan Helin (13-4). Cruiser: Goran Babic (8-1-2) TKO 8 Kamel Koauouch (12-3). Supler Light: Antoine Vanackere (21-1) W KO6 Jorick Luisetto (12-7).

Diallo vs. Helin

A domestic battle saw Diallo and Helin fight to a split draw in a hard fought close fight . Scores 96-94 Diallo, 96-94 Helin and 95-95. Diallo was moving up to ten rounds. Helin retains the Belgian title and the WBC Youth title remains vacant.

Koauouch vs. Babic

Babick was supposed to lose but tore up the script. He was dangerous from the start and floored Koauouch in the fifth and seventh. It ended in the eighth with Koauouch cornered and taking punishment as the referee came in and stopped the fight. Swede Babic wins the WBC Mediterranean title having lost in a fight for the Serbian title and drawn in a fight for the Swedish title in his two most recent fights. Second inside the distance defeat for Koauouch.

Vanackere vs. Luisetto

Southpaw Vanackere makes it thirteen wins in a row as he stops late substitute Luisetto in the sixth round. Vanackere was to have faced Ghanaian Faisal Abubakari for the WBC Francophile belt but Luisetto had to step in at short notice.

Matoury, French Guiana: Cruiser: Leonardo Mosquera (13-0) W TKO 6 Viktor Trush (8-3-1).

Dominican-born Frenchman Mosquera wins the vacant EBU Silver title with sixth round stoppage of Czech Trush. Mosquera did a good job of overcoming the hight and reach advantages of Trush and outboxed Trush over the first two rounds. In the third a clash of heads opened a gash on Mosquera’s left cheekbone. The fourth and fifth were hard fought rounds but Mosquera floored Trush with a left hook in the sixth. Trush beat the count but was being bombarded with punches and the referee stopped the fight. Ninth win by KO/TKO for Mosquera. Trush was 4-0-1 in his last 5 fights.

Friedrichshain, Germany: Cruiser: Armend Xhoxhaj (18-3) W KO 3 Adam Kolarik (5-5). Super Welter: Uisma Lima (11-1) W PTS 8 Araik Marutjan (14-2). Heavy: Tom Schwarz (29-1) W KO 3 Christian Demaj (6-3). Adrian Krasnicki W TKO 2 Gabor Detre (6-3).

Xhoxhaj vs. Kolari

Fourth win in a row against very modest opposition for Xhoxhaj. He won the first two rounds and then put Kolarik down with a body punch in the third to end the fight. The Kosovan is 13-2 in his last 15 fights with the losses against Mateusz Masternak and Chris Billiam-Smith. Fourth defeat in his last five fights for Czech Kolarik.

Lima vs. Marutjan

This was not supposed to turn out this way but Angolan Lima simply outboxed former Olympian Marutjan winning on scores of 80-72, 79-74 78-73. UK-based Lima was coming off a loss to unbeaten Aaron McKenna for the vacant WBC International title in June. Marutjan had won six in a row since losing a very close decision to then unbeaten Alfredo Meli in Belfast in 2019.

Schwarz vs. Demaj

Schwarz beats Demaj in the three rounds. An aggressive start from Demaj had Schwarz boxing on the back foot over the first two rounds. By the end of the second counters from Schwarz had started a swelling around Demaj’s left eye which was already affecting Demaj’s vision. Schwarz opened up in the third and as he did the swelling grew until finally Demaj dropped to a knee and was counted out. His left eye was totally closed before he excited the ring. Since losing in two rounds against Tyson Fury in June 2019 the 6’5 ½” Schwarz has been largely inactive and this is only his fifth fight in the last four years. Albanian Demaj had won his last two fights.

Valladolid, Spain: Super Feather: Juan Gomez (13-0-1) DREW 12 Salvador Jimenez 12-1).

Gomez retains the European title with a majority draw against local fighter Jimenez. The challenger went ahead early outworking Gomez. From the fourth to the sixth Gomez was landing more and better punches but Jimenez remained dangerous. Both then dialled back their aggression and boxed more but there were still some exciting exchanges. Gomez just seemed to have a slight edge in the closing rounds but it was tight with Jimenez cheered on by his fans making a big effort in the twelfth. Two judges scored it 114-114 with the third seeing Jimenez the winner 116-112. Gomez was making the first defence of the title he had won in May. Jimenez had won the vacant EU title with a victory over Alex Rat in April and he came in as a substitute for Rat who was to have challenged Gomez.

Fuenlabrada, Spain: Super Middle: Gustave Tamba (19-1) W TKO 2 Jose Navarro (9-2).

Tamba scores two knockdowns on the way to victory and collects the vacant EBU Silver title. Plenty of heavy exchanges as they went to war in the first. In the second a perfect left hook sent Navarro down. He make it to his feet and then took the fight to Tambo. Both landed some hard shots until a right staggered Tambo and as Navarro came forward to exploit that Tambo again landed a booming left hook that put Navarro down on his back. Navarro somehow made it to his feet but a second too late and he was counted out. The 32-year-old former undefeated EU champion was having his first fight for sixteen months and gets his thirteenth inside the distance win. Navarro’s only other loss had been against Ronny Landaeta but he reversed that.

Bangkok, Thailand: Super Bantam: Thattana Luangphon (24-0-1) W PTS 10 Laldingliana (5-1,1ND). Super Fly: Thananchai Charunphak (21-1) W PTS 6 Wisitsak Saiwaew (7-17-1). Feather: Phongsaphon Panyakum (21-2) W PTS 6 Greetiphak (?).

Luangphon vs. Laldingliana

Luangphon (Chainoi Worawut), the WBC No 4 super bantam, struggled to get by the less experienced Laldingliana winning on three scores of 96-94 to extend his unbeaten score to 25 but Indian novice Laldingliana looked unlucky to not get at least a draw. Luangphon’s rating is based on numbers and not quality as he has never met a rated fighter.

Charunphak vs. Saiwaew

WBC No 10 flyweight Charunphak (Thananchai NKL) floored fellow Thai Saksit Yutthanamuaythai gym twice and took the unanimous decision. Twenty wins in a row against sub-standard opposition for Charunphak.

Panyakum vs. Greetiphak

Panyakum took a unanimous decision over Greetiphak on scores of 59-55 on the three cards. After losing his first fight on a one round kayo Panyakum has lost only one of his last 22 fights but again very low level opposition with his last seven victims having only two wins between them.