Did you miss any of the heart-pounding action in the world of boxing this week? Fear not, as Eric Armit has got you covered with ‘The Past Week in Action’! Prepare to be thrilled as we dive into a comprehensive review of all the major cards from the past week, bringing you up to speed on every knockout, upset, and champion’s triumph in the ring.
JULY 2
ISTANBUL, TURKEY: SUPER FEATHER: JAMES DICKENS (36-5) W TKO 4 ALBERT BATYRGAZIEV (12-1). SUPER LIGHT: HOVHANNES BACHKOV (8-0) W KO 9 XOLISANI NDONGENI (33-7).
Dickens vs. Batyrgaziev
Dickens bludgeons Batyrgaziev to defeat in four rounds to win WBA interim and IBA Pro World titles. Batyrgaziev made a fast start firing lots of right jabs and trying some wild lefts. Dickens was also jabbing with his right but there was more power behind his jabs. Batyrgaziev again came out firing jabs in the second and third. They were light jabs and his lefts lacked basic leverage so he was not able to stop Dickens marching forward getting inside using his superior strength to drag Batyrgaziev into a brawl. Batyrgaziev attacked hard at the start of the fourth forcing Dickens to retreat by the sheer volume of his punches but Dickens soon had him backing up again. A clubbing left sent Batyrgaziev stumbling back with his legs splayed out and he went down. After the count Dickens chased a reeling Batyrgaziev along the ropes connecting with lefts and Batyrgaziev went down again. The towel came in but the referee counted Batyrgaziev out. Great win for the 34-year-old Dickens a former IBO featherweight champion who was coming off a good win over 31-2 Zelfa Barrett. This was every bit as much a huge setback for Batyrgaziev. He had failed to convince when winning the WBA interim title against Jono Carroll last year and he looked fragile and lacking real power in this fight.
Bachkov vs. Ndongeni
Armenian Bachkov stops Ndongeni in the ninth round. Bachkov was just too strong for the South African who came in as a very late notice substitute. Power and relentless pressure won this one for Bachkov but Ndongeni can be proud of his performance. Bachkov was on the front foot for most of the fight and his work rate was tremendous. Ndongeni looked ready to crumble under a sustained attack from Bachkov in the third but he fought back and that was the pattern for much of the fight. Bachkov would be on top forcing Ndongeni onto the back foot but a gutsy Ndongeni would rake Bachkov with punches forcing his way back into the fight. By the seventh Ndongeni was flagging but he put in a huge effort in the eighth trying to turn the fight his way. That failed and he had little left and in the ninth a booming right had him badly shaken and another dropped him to his hands and knees. Again the towel came in but the referee completed the ten count. Bachkov was defending the WBA Continental title and wins the IBA Pro Inter-Continental title. He has extensive amateur experience behind him have twice won a bronze medal at the World Championships losing to Andy Cruz each time and an Olympic bronze where he lost to Keyshawn Davis. He is strong with considerable stamina but Ndongeni found him an easy target. The South African came in 1 ¾ lbs over the weight so could not have won the titles but he certainly earned his money.
JULY 4
GROSSETO, ITALY: SUPER LIGHT: STEFANO RAMUNDO (17-2) W PTS 10 SAMY KHELLAS (7-7-4).
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RAMUNDO wins the vacant WBC Mediterranean title as he boxes his way to victory over an aggressive but limited KHELLAS. The Frenchman pressed the fight hard but Ramundo used clever movement and accurate counters to emerge a good winner. Scores 97-93 twice and 96-94. Ramundo lost to Mohamed Kani in a fight for the vacant EBU Silver title in June last year but has come back with four wins. Khellas had won his last three outings.
JUAREZ, MEXICO: SUPER FEATHER: MIGUEL ESPARZA (19-0) W KO 2 TSHIFHIWA MUNYAI (36-11-1). SUPER FLY: SERGIO MENDOZA (25-0) W JOEL CORDOVA (14-11-2).
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Esparza vs. Munyai
ESPARZA finishes MUNYAI in the second with a brutal body punch. Esparza took the first round jabbing strongly to keep Munyai on the retreat and he forced Munyai to a corner and before the bell bombarded him with punches. Esparza continued his attacks in the second before connecting with a left hook to the body. Munyai took a couple of paces back and then dropped to his knees and rolled cover writhing in agony and was counted out. Fourteenth inside the distance victory for “Fantastico” and his fifth in a row. Munyai, 40, suffers his fourth loss by KO/TKO.
Mendoza vs. Cordova
The wild leaping attacks of Cordova surprised Mendoza in the first but from the second the undefeated southpaw settled. He used his longer reach to pick Cordova off with right jabs and countered with left hooks when Cordova threw himself forward. A left to the head floored Córdova in the seventh and Mendoza handed out steady punishment over the closing rounds. Mendoza has won 12 of his last 14 fights by KO/TKO. Cordova is 1-8 in his last 9.
MADRID, SPAIN: WELTER: AARON ALHAMBRA (18-2) W TKO 4 LUIS VIDALES (25-12).
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Alhambra local 5’7” 7th wins id Spanish welter champion ? 2 losses 2022 won last 7 now
Vidales 36 yo Mexican 11 wins id 4 losses id lost 4 of 5 now
DUBAI, UAE: KHALID NASIR (18-1) W ANTONIO SIESMUNDO (8-5).
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Nasir Dubai-born Pakistani 14 wins id 35 yo won last 6
Siesmundo Filipino 7 wins id 5 losses id lost last 2 id last fight 7/23
JULY 5
CLICHY FRANCE: SUPER FEATHER: KHALIL EL HADRI (21-3) W TKO 4 SAMIR ZIANI (36-4-1).
In an all-French fight EL HADRI stops ZIANI in four rounds to win the vacant WBC interim Silver belt. El Hadri scored an early knockdown as he countered the aggressive southpaw Ziani with a right. The second was close but El Hadri scored strongly in the third before flooring Ziani with a series of punches in the fourth. Ziani beat the count but the follow-up attack from El Hadri brought the referee in to stop the fight with Ziani disputing the stoppage. El Hadri, a former WBC Silver title holder had lost the title to Michael Magnesi in March. Former undefeated European champion Ziani had won his last 14 fights but this was his first fight for 14 months.
MILAN, ITALY: SUPER FEATHER: FRANCESCO PAPARO (11-1-1) W KO 2 NICOLA HENCHIRI (11-9-2). LIGHT HEAVY: MOHAMED ELMAGHRABY( 12-00) W PTS 8 STIVEN DREDHAJ (12-5-1).
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Paparo vs. Henchiri
PAPARO retains the Italian title with a second round kayo HENCHIRI. Paparo ended this one in dramatic fashion. A right to the head in the second sent Henchiri down heavily. Henchiri ‘s head hit the floor hard and the doctor was in the ring immediately and Henchiri was taken from the ring by stretcher and conveyed to hospital. It was reported he was conscious and alert. Paparo had knocked Henchiri out in two rounds in a title defence in March but the Italian Federation ordered a rematch as Paparo had struck Henchiri mwhen he was down.
Elmaghraby vs. Dredhaj
Egyptian ELMAGHRABY clears the way for a shot at the Italian title as he repeats a victory over decision over DREDHAJ. He had beaten Dredhaj on a majority technical decision in March. This time he won on scores of 80-72, 79-72 and 76-74.
TOKYO, JAPAN: FEATHER: KENJI FUJITA (9-0) W KO 5 HA NOK SIM (12-3). WELTER: KUNTAE LEE (10-0-1 W PTS 10 RIMAR METUDA (17-10-1).
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Fujita vs. Sim
FUJITA kayos SHIM in the fifth round in a WBO Asia Pacific title defence. This was a clash of southpaws in which Fujita had the best of the exchanges in the first but Shim scored well inside in the second. Fujita floored Shim with a left in the third and outscored him in the fourth. In the fifth Fujita dropped Shim twice with body punches and Shim was counted out. Third defence of the Asia Pacific belt for Fujita who is No 4 with the WBO. Korean champion Sahim had won 8 of his last 9 fights.
Lee vs. Metuda
LEE outboxes an aggressive METUDA. In another all-southpaw bout Lee made good use of his edges in height and reach to score at distance and was able to counter Metuda the ever advancing Metuda with hooks and uppercuts. Lee was cut early but it was not a factor. He scored heavily in the sixth but Metuda kept banging back and despite a strong finish as Lee landed hard lefts in the ninth and tenth Metuda refused to crumble and Lee won on scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. After a technical draw in his third fight Lee has won eight in a row. He injured his left hand in preparing for this fight but went through with it anyway. Filipino Metuda, a former Philippines super light champion, is 1-4 in his last 5 fights.
EKATERINBURG, RUSSIA: SUPER WELTER: PAVEL SOSULIN (12-0) W PTS 12 MAGOMED KURBANOV (16-2). SUPER LIGHT: RUBEN NERI (18-2) W TKO 2 KHARITON AGRBA (15-1). HEAVY: GEORGIY YUNOVIDOV (11-1) W RTD 5 EVGENY ROMANOV (19-2). SUPER MIDDLE: PAVEL SILYAGIN (16-0-1) W PTS 10 PABLO CORZO (23-1): SUPER BANTAM: MUKHAMMAD SHEKOV (16-0-1) W RODRIGO RUIZ (22-0). MIDDLE: VADIM TUKOV (16-0) W RTD 7 KUDRATILLO ABDUKAKHOROV (21-5). SUPER FEATHER: KHURSHIDBEK RASULJONOV (10-0)W RTD 6 MARK URVANOV (25-4-1). LIGHT HEAVY : VASILY VOYTSEKHOVSKY (15-0) W PTS 8 BRAIAN SUAREZ (20-4). MIDDLE: DZHAMBULAT BIZHAMOV (3-0) W PTS 8 ULUGBEK SOBIROV (15-5). Light Heavy: SHARABUTDIN ATAEV (8-0) W PTS 8 DAVID GLADUN (9-3).
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Sosulin vs. Kurbanov
SOSULIN takes a split decision over KURBANOV after twelve action-packed rounds. Sosulin went out in front taking the fight to Kurbanov and sweeping the early rounds. Kurbanov then began to roll and clawed his way into the fight although every round was fiercely contested. Sosulin tipped it his way over the tenth and eleventh and then they battled toe-to-toe over the last which could have been scored either way. Sosulin won on scores of 116-11 and 115-113 to 116-112 for Kurbanov. Sosulin retains the WBA Gold title.
Agrba vs. Neri
Massive upset as Argentinian NERI stops unbeaten AGRBA in the second. Agrba comfortably took the first round and was marching forward in the second when Neri nailed him with a left hook. Agrba managed to get to his feet but he was staggering and stumbling and the referee stopped the fight. Fourteenth inside the distance win for Neri. Agrba was No 2 with the WBA so a huge blow to the Russian.
Yunovidov vs. Romanov
YUNOVIDOV beats veteran ROMANOV on a fifth round retirement. Yunovidov won every round. The 6’3 ½” Yunovidov won every round against a very slow Romanov showing every one of his 39 years. Yunovidov nearlky ended it in nthe fifth but Romanov made it to the bell and his team then retired him. Fourth win in a row for Yunovidov. Romanov’ claim to fame was a third round stoppage of Deontay Wilder back in a Russia vs. USA match 2008
Silyagin vs. Corzo
SILYAGIN outpoints Argentinian CORZO. It looked at the start as though Silyagin was in for a wild night as he was unsettled by the wild attacks of Corzo and was cut in the third round. From the fourth Silyagin settled into a rhythm and began to pick up the rounds. He never quite subdued Corzo but did enough to be a worthy winner. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91. Silyagin wins the vacant WBA Gold title but the scores were too wide on this one.
Shekov vs. Ruiz
Uzbek southpaw SHEKOV looks lucky to get the nod over Argentinian RUIZ. The power and the pressure came from Ruiz with Shekov working hard but to little real effect whereas Ruiz threw less but was more accurate. He dropped Shekov with a right in the seventh and although Shekov won the ninth and tenth and scored a debatable knockdown in the last it did not seem enough to overcome the lead Ruiz had built but the judges saw differently and scored it 97-91, 96-92 and 95-93 for Shekov who remains unbeaten. South American champion Ruiz deserved at least a draw.
Tukov vs. Abdukakhorov
TUKOV wins the vacant WBA Gold title as he beats Uzbek ABDUKAKHOROV on a seventh round retirement. Tukov slowly wore Abdukakhorov and by the sixth Abdukakhorov was slowing and under sustained fire. He saw out the round but he retired at the end of the seventh citing a shoulder injury. Tukov, the WBA No 13, gets his seventh inside the distance win. Abdukakhorov looked promising when he went 18-0 at the start of his career but has fallen away since then.
Rasuljonov vs. Urvanov
Somewhat of an upset as RASULJONOV comes from behind to deferat UJrvanov on a fifth round retirement
Urvanov 5’7” 11 wins id L split Angel Rodriguez
U made good start won 3 of 4 from there Rasuljonov working harder U slowing wobbled end 6th
KR clipping him with blistering one twos. Then wails on him with looping hooks. He’s starting to beat him up. Saved by nthe bell
Rasuljonov 2022 5-1 since
Agrba vs. Neri
Agrba 5’9 ½” SPW Georgian-born 9 wins id W PTS Jose Rosa 27-0 wide unanimous 3rd Argentinian row
Neri 13 wins id 1 loss id won last 3 id
Voytsekhovsky vs. Suarez
Voytsekhovsky 6’2” Russian 7 wins id
V 1st 2 rounds S 3 & 4 n& 5 V 6th body punching V strong finish 76-76
2x 77-75 Round 6 Suarez 10-9
Round 7 Suarez 10-9
Round 8 Suarez 10-9
Scrappy back and forth round, but Suarez landed the heavier punches.
Suarez 33 yo 19 wins id 3 losses id 6’0” Argentinian champion 2-2
Bizhamov vs. Sobirov
Bizhamov 25 yo 6’1 ½” 0-0
Sobirov made a good start but B took over from the fourth 79-73
80-72 x2
Sobirov Uzbek 5’;11” 9 wins id
Ataev vs. Gladun
Ataev 26 yo 5 wins id former World and European champion WBA Gold w ko 2 1`9-2 Braian Suarez
Lear win Gladun ,alm,ost mout 4th eased bup 5th 80-72 78-74
Gladun Russian 5 wins id 2 losses id won 5 of 6
KEMPTON PARK, SOUTH AFRICA: BANTAM: CHARLTON MALAJIKA (8-1) W PTS 10 RV DENIEGA (11-2). MINIMUM: BEAVEN SIBANDA (9-1) W TKO 5 RICHARD GARDE (11-3). MIDDLE: DONJUAN HEERDEN (10-3) W RTD 9 DEAN PROMNICK (5-1).
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Malajika vs. Deniega
MALAJIKA wins the vacant IBO Youth title with a unanimous decision mover Filipino DENIEGA. Malajika boxed skilfully to build a good lead and although shaken in the seventh then looked to have scored a knockdown in the eighth. A left to the head sent Deniega flying across the ring and out through the ropes onto the ring apron but for some reason the referee did not count it as a knockdown. Deniega was cut badly in the ninth but made it to the final bell. Scores 100-90 twice and 98-92. After losing his first fight Malajika, 24, has eight in a row. Deniega had won the Philippines Boxing Federation title last year.
Sibanda vs. Garde
Zimbabwean SIBANDA collects the vacant IBF International title with a fifth round kayo over Filipino GARDE. An assured performance from Sibanda as he proves too hot for Garde. He showed superior skills and after dominating the first four rounds floored Garde three times in the fifth with the referee waiving the fight over without a count. Third win by KO/TKO for Sibanda, 23, who does all of his fighting in South Africa. Garde a former WBO Gold title challenger, had won his last three fights.
van Heerden vs. Promnick
Southpaw van HEERDEN beats fellow-countryman PROMNICK to win the vacant ABU title. Van Heerden floored Promnick in the first and had the better of the exchanges from there with some useful body work and vicious uppercuts. Promnick stayed competitive but was worn down eventually and retired at the end of the ninth round. Seventh victory by KO/TKO for van Heerden. Promnick was in his first ten round fight
Van Heerden SA SPW 24 7th wins id 1 loss id vacant ABU African
Meanwhile, DonJuan van Heerden is the new African Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight champion after Dean Promnick failed to come out from his corner before the beginning of the 10th round.
Promnick 3 wins id SA
PLAYA DE ARO. SPAIN: FEATHER: CRISTOBAL LORENTE (20-0-2) DREW 12 RUBEN GIL (8-0-1).
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Local fighter LORENTE retrains the European title with a split draw against GIL. The better boxing of the champion gave him a slight advantage over the early rounds. The less experienced Gil got rolling from the fourth and by the end of the eighth might have even been ahead. Lorente’s greater experience told and he stepped up the pressure. Gil did some clever defensive boxing but his lack of power meant Lorente was able to force Gil onto the back foot and against the ropes and Lorente looked to have done enough to have earned the decision but he had to settle for sharing the points and holding onto his title. Scores 117-111 for Lorente, 1125-113 for Gil and 114-114 . Successful second defence for Lorente but there are tougher tests ahead. Gil did well in his first big fight but he has yet to win a fight inside the distance and that lack of power will be a handicap as he progresses.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: WELTER: JACK CATTERALL (31-2) W TEC DEC 7 HARLEM EUBANK (21-1.) LIGHT: JOE CORDINA (18-1) W PTS 10 JARET GONZALEZ (17-2). SUPER BANTAM: SKYE NICOLSON ()13-1) W TKO 2 CARLA CAMPOS (9-4). LIGHT: AQIB FIAZ (14-1) W PTS 10 ALEX MURPHY (13-2). CRUISER: PAT BROWN (3-0) W KO 1 LEWIS OAKFORD (6-3). SUPER MIDDLE: NIALL BROWN (16-0) W RTD 4 VICTOR IONASCU (14-7). SUPER WELTER: FRASER WILKINSON (12-2) W TKO 6 WILLIAM CROLLA (8-1). Heavy: LEO ATANG (1-0) W TKO 1 MILEN PAUNOV (7-16).
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Catterall vs. Eubank
CATTERALL moves up to welterweight and wins a technical decision over EUBANK after both fighters are cut in a clash of heads in the sixth. Catterall made a good start in the first getting onto the front foot and finding the target with lefts. The second saw Catterall the busier fighter being on target with his right jabs and putting together some crisp combinations. Eubank mis not putting Catterall under any real pressure or working hard enough and Catterall landed a heavy left just before the bell. Catterall has taken the first two rounds. Both fighters fell awkwardly to the floor in the third but when the action resumed again it was Catterall who was doing the scoring. When Eubank overreached himself Catterall made him pay by landing a hard combination. Eubank finally had some success in the fourth he upped his output putting Catterall under pressure and connected with a hard left hook and a body shot looked to have Catterall hurt. Catterall dominated the action in the fifth. He was on the front foot finding plenty of gaps for his lefts and although Eubank was a little more active than he had been he was too often short or, off target. The sixth was ugly at the beginning as they clinched and wrestled with both again falling to the floor. There was ca clash of heads which saw both fighters cut with the gash over Catterall’s right eye looking the worst. The doctor examined both Catterall’s and Eubank’s cut and it was decided that Catterall’s cut was too bad for the fight to continue. As the bell had rung for the seventh technically the seventh had to be scored 10-10 and so it went to the scorecards with Catterall winning on scores of 69-66 twice and 69-65. First fight for Catterall since losing on a split decision against Arnold Barboza in February. It seems settled that Jaron Ennis will move up and relinquish the IBF welterweight title. If so then Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will contests the vacant title and although Catterall is not currently rated by the IBF Eubank was their No 15 so Catterall could be moved into line to challenge the winner. Eubank wanted a return but Catterall showed no interest in that.
Cordina vs. Gonzalez
CORDINA wins a wide unanimous decision over GONZALEZ who came to fight and gave Cordina ten useful rounds to help Cordina shake off any rust from 14 months of inactivity. Gonzalez was lively at the start of the first with lots of movement band letting his hands go. Cordina took over forcing Gonzalez back with strong jabbing and landed a heavy right cross. Cordina established control in the second with some powerful hooking to the body from both hands. There was plenty of action over the third and fourth as they traded punches with Cordina getting the better of the trading forcing Gonzalez to fight on the back foot. Gonzalez launched some ferocious attacks at the start of the fifth trying to wrest control from Cordina. Cordin let the storm blow itself out and by the end of the round he was forcing Gonzalez back around the ring landing shots to the body from both hands. Gonzalez attacked hard again at the start of the sixth making Cordina fight often with his back against the ropes. Cordina’s body punching began to have an effect in the seventh and a left hook had Gonzalez backing off hurt and the bell came just in time for him. Cordina outscored a tiring Gonzalez over the eighth and ninth and although Gonzalez found the energy for one more burst of aggression Cordina ended the fight on top. Scores 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. Cordina wins the vacant WBO Global belt as launches his lightweight career. Mexican Gonzalez was in his first ten round fight and Cordina constituted a huge leap in level of opposition but he fought well.
Gonzalez 24 yo Mexican 13 wins id 1 loss id won last 5
Nicolson vs. Campos
NICOLSON moves down to super bantam stops Bolivian CAMPOS in the second round of a terrible mismatch. Nicolson was able to use her longer reach to score with right jabs and long lefts in the first with Campos hardly throwing a punch. Nicolson ended it in the second. She twice shook Campos with a series of punches and when a left snapped Campos’ head back the referee stopped the massacre. First fight for Nicolson since losing her WBC feather title to Raven Chapman min October. Campos typifies the weakness in depth female boxing the nine fighters she had beaten had never won a fight between them
Fiaz vs. Murphy
FIAZ scores a unanimous decision over MURPHY. Murphy came in as ca late replacement at just two weeks’ notice. He outscored Fiaz early but that short notice began to catch up with him as the fight went on. He had probably done enough to be well ahead at the half way point but then he started to tire as Faiz kept the pace fast and had invested in plenty of body punching. Murphy stayed competitive but Faiz did enough to get his nose in front and won on scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 96-95. Faiz lost on an eighth round retirement to Reece Bellotti in a fight for the vacant Commonwealth super featherweight title in 2023. He was in active in 2024 but has scored two wins this year. Second loss in a row for Murphy but both have been very close and he put up a great show here as substitute.
Brown vs. Oakford
Olympian BROWN gets another inside the distance win as he stops OAKFORD in the first round. Oakford managed to hold off Brown with some jabs until a right rocked him badly Brown forced him to the ropes and bombarded Oakford with punches until the referee stopped the fight. The 6’6” 25-year-old Brown has won all three of his fight by KO/TKO
Brown vs. Ionascu
BROWN beats IONASCU on a fourth round retirement. Brown dominated from the start striding forward firing jabs and powerful combinations. He shook Ionascu a couple of times before flooring him with a left hook in the dying seconds of the first round. Ionascu got up and the bell went at the end of the eight count. Ionescu had to absorb some serious punishment in the second and third but to his credit kept punching back allowing Brown to showcase some excellent defensive skill. A left in the fourth sent Ionascu down and although he got up and made it to the bell his corner wisely pulled him out at the end of the round. Impressive performance from Brown in his sixth inside the distance victory. Moldovan Ionascu showed guts but Brown was in another class
Atang vs. Paunov
Matchroom’s next big heavyweight star ATANG floors and stops PAUNOV in the first round. Atang dropped Paunov with a left hook to the body. Oakwood got up but after the count Atang attacked Paunov with shots from both hands sinking in some ferocious lefts to the body. Paunov was pinned against the ropes taking a hammering and not punching back and the referee stopped the fight. The 6’6” Atang, 18, was World Under-19 and European Youth champion and is already being touted as Anthony Joshua’s successor.
SHREVEPORT, LA, USA: SUPER WELTER: TARAS SHELESTYUK (20-0-1) W KO 2 RODDRICUS LIVSEY (12-5-1). LIGHT: SHAMAR CANAL (12-0) W PTS 10 BRYAN JIMENEZ (17-2). WELTER: SERGIO GIL (22-15-2) W KO 10 JAMES FRANKLIN (17-14-2).
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Shelestyuk vs. Livsey
Ukrainian southpaw SHELESTYUK flattens LIVSEY in the second round. In his first fight for almost three years Shelestyuk took a round to shake off any rust and then destroyed Livsey in the second. A series of punches forced Livsey to a corner and connected with two hooks to the body. As Livsey tried to escape along the ropes a brutal left to the head sent Livsey down flat on his back with no count required. Shelestyuk, 39, had been inactive since drawing with unbeaten Gabriel Maestre in March 2022. Livsey, 42, had been knocked out in each of his last two fights.
Canal vs. Jimenez
CANAL wins a unanimous decision over Nicaraguan JIMENEZ. In a slow fight Canal looked to have established and early lead. Jimenez came on strong over the middle rounds eating into Canal’s lead. That changed when Canal dropped Jimenez late in the eighth but Jimenez fought back and looked to have edged the last two rounds but that was not quite enough and Canal won by three very different of scores of 98-91, 96-93 and 95-94. Canal, 22, wins the WBC International title. Jimenez had won his last eight fights against low level opposition.
Gil vs. Franklin
Argentinian GIL wins all the way before kayoing FRANKLIN in the tenth round. Franklin showed he was tough but was wobbled in the fourth and floored in the eighth. He survived the ninth but a right to the head in the tenth put him down and out. Gil was coming off a loss and this was only his fourth fight in more than six years. Local fighter Franklin, 38, announced his retirement.