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.
HIGHLIGHTS:
JUNE 4
-Albert Ramirez retains the WBA Interim light heavyweight title with a controversial split decision over Lerrone Richards and there are wins for Imam Khataev, Jhon Orobio and Dzmitry Asanau
JUNE 5
-In Buenos Aires Marta Sol Baumstarh wins the vacant IBF Interim minimum title and Pablo Corzo and Jose Anbgel Rosa are inside the distance winners
-Edward Vazquez and Weljon Mindoro score wins in Texas
JUNE 6
-In Tokoname, Japan Masamichi Yabuki outpoints Rene Calixto to retain the IBF flyweight title, Andrew Moloney wins the IBF super fly title with a decision over champion Willibaldo Garcia, John Riel Casimiro stops Luis Nery in four rounds and Michaelk Angeletti decisions Kenneth Llover in an IBF bantamweight eliminator
-Chris Billam Smith beats Canadian Ryan Rozicki on a seventh round retirement and there are wins for Cheavon Clarke, and Lee Cutler
-Josh Padley successfully defends the European featherweight title with a points win against Aqib Fiaz
MAJOR SHOWS:
JUNE 4
MONTREAL, CANADA: LIGHT HEAVY: ALBERT RAMIREZ (23-0) W PTS 12 LERRONE RICHARDS (19-2). LIGHT HEAVY: IMAM KHATAEV (12-1) W TKO 1 MICKAEL DIALLO (21-3-2). SUPER LIGHT: JHON OROBIO (18-0) W TKO 4 JONATHAN MONTREL (19-5). LIGHT: DZMITRY ASANAU (13-0) W TKO 6 ROGER GUTIERREZ (29-8-1). LIGHT: AVERY DUVAL (16-0-1) W PTS 10 JOSE MACIAS (22-5-2). LIGHT: WYATT SANFORD (7-0) W TKO 2 JUAN ILHARREGUI (11-2).
Ramirez vs. Richards
Four months after their originally scheduled fight was postponed Venezuelan RAMIREZ retains the WBA interim title with a very controversial split decision over fellow-southpaw RICHARDS. Despite having only one six round fight in almost two years Richards was sharp from the start on target with his right jab and using clever movement to have Ramirez misfiring. When Ramirez managed to get past Richard’s jabs and counters Richards was clinching to stifle Ramirez’s work inside. An increasingly frustrated Ramirez upped his pressure and made some rounds close and staged a strong finish with Richards doing more holding but Ramirez did not look close to having eaten into Richard’ lead. The judges saw it differently scouring it 115-113 twice for “house fighter” Ramirez and a more representative 116-112 for Richards. Ramirez will be hoping for a shot at Dmitrii Bivol but the interim title is usually a blind alley. Richards wants a return but Ramirez’s team will not repeat their mistake. Hopefully at the very least Richard’s performance will get him some high profile fights.
Khataev vs. Diallo
Russian KHATAEV is floored but beats Frenchman DIALLO in the first round. Khataev was talking the fight to Diallo and as he fired a left Diallo beat him to the draw connecting with a right hook that sent Khataev sideways and he steadied himself by putting his gloves on the canvass and was given a count. When the action resumed he drove Diallo along the ropes and landed two clubbing rights. Another right to the head had Diallo dropping to a knee. He got up but then walked to his corner and stood looking into the crowd and the referee waived the fight over. Khataev, the IBF No 4, had lost a split decision against David Morrell in in July but rebounded with a third round stoppage of Adam Deines. In his last fight in February 2025 Diallo dropped a decision against Zach Parker.
Orobio vs. Montrel
OROBIO scorers another inside the distance victory as he halts Louisianas’ MONTREL in the fourth. Orobio handed out heavy punishment over the first three rounds then ended the fight in the fourth. He dropped Montrel twice with Montrel only just beating the count each time and when he pinned Montrel against the ropes and unloaded to head and body the referee stepped in to save Montrel. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for the 22-year-old Colombian, the WBA No 9, who was making the fourth defence of his WBC Continental Americas belt. Montrel had lost on points against unbeaten Emiliano Vargas in November.
Asanau vs. Gutierrez
Belarusian ASANAU beats former WBA super feather champion GUTIERREZ in the sixth. Asanau was younger and quicker than Gutierrez and used his faster hands and precision punching to build a lead. A right to the body had Gutierrez hurt in the fourth and again in the fifth. In the sixth Gutierrez dropped to his hands and knees from a body shot. He beat the count but a right uppercut felled him again and after starting the count the referee stopped the fight. Asanau was defending the IBF Inter-Continental and WBC Continental Americas titles. Sliding Gutierrez is 2-4 in his last six fights.
Duval vs. Macias
Canadian DUVAL wins every round against experienced Mexican MACIAS. It looked as it might be an early night for Duval as he rocked Macia in the first but Macias survived the scare. Duval used his superior skill to dominate the action and Macias found the pace too hot for him. The Mexican faded badly but made it to the final bell. All three judgers scored it 100-90 for 25-year-old Duval a four-time Canadian amateur champion. Macias is 1-2 in fights in Canada.
Sanford vs. Ilharregui
In a clash of southpaws Olympic bronze medallist SANFORD stops Uruguayan lightweight champion ILHARREGUI in two rounds. Sanford had Ilharregui on the defensive in the first and provide a power finish in the second. He battered Ilharregui with punches from both hands before snapping his head back with an uppercut. Ilharregui went down on one knee. He was up at eight but the referee made a good decision to stop the fight. Third win by KO/TKO for Sanford. Second inside the distance defeat for Ilharregui
JUNE 5
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: MINIMUM: MARIA SOL BAUMSTARH (15-7-1) W PTS 10 YADIRA BUSTILLOS (11-3). FLY: GABRIELA ALANIZ (20-2) W LIZETH ROMERO (6-2-1). LIGHT HEAVY: PABLO CORZO (26-1) W TKO 4 PAUL VALENZUELA (28-14-1,1ND). WELTER: JOSE ROSA (33-1) W TKO 8 CHRISTOPHER BRIONES (8-2).
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Baumstarh vs. Bustillos
BAUMSTARH wins the vacant IBF interim title with a split decision over BUSTILLOS. Baumstarh made a positive start scoring well in the first and flooring Bustillos with a left in the second. Bustillos regrouped and boxed with skill to offset the pressure from Baumstarh and ate into the lead Baumstarh had built with her high performance start. It was close with two judges scoring it 95-94 for Baumstarh and a very different 98-92 for Bustillos. Baumstarh wins the vacant IBF Interim title having lost to Sol Cudos in a fight for the vacant full title in April last year. But for the 10-8 round Las Vegas-born Bustillos would have won the title.
Alaniz vs. Romero
ALANIZ retained the WBO Latino title with a unanimous verdict over Mexican ROMERO. Alaniz utilised her trademark left jab/straight right approach to the ever aggressive Romero. The challenger pushed her aggression too far and was deducted a point for careless use of her head. It was never easy for Alaniz but she boxed cooly and was a good winner. Scores 97-92. 97-93 and 96-93. Alaniz was stopped in seven rounds by Gabriela Fundora in a challenge for the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO fly titles. Romero had won her last three fights.
Corzo vs. Valenzuela
CORZO wins over VALENZUELA on an injury. Corzo had put Valenzuela under heavy pressure over the first three rounds and the experienced Mexican complained of an injury to his righty elbow at the start of the fourth round and after an inspection by the doctor was unable to continue. Second win for Corza since losing his 100% record against Pavel Silyagin last July. Valenzuela, 39 and a pro since 2012, suffers his sixth inside the distance loss.
Rosa vs. Briones
ROSA gets his sixth win in a row as he scores a late stoppage over Mexican BRIONES. Rosa had no problem dealing with the edges in height and reach enjoyed by Briones. Southpaw Rosa worked Briones over in every round using his speed and some powerful body shots to slowly breaks Briones down. In the eighth and last round a punch opened a gash over the left eye of Briones and the fight was stopped. Rosa lost his unbeaten record when he was outpointed by Russian Khariton Agrba in 2024. Briones no test just a prelim fighter.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA: LIGHT HEAVY: MOBIN KHAHRAZEH (16-0) W PTS 12 MANSUR ELSAEV (19-2). CRUISER: TIMY SHALA (26-3-1) W PTS 8 TOMAS ADAMEK (33-23-2).
Khahrazeh vs. Elsaev
KHAHRAZEH wins the vacant WBF title with a majority verdict over ELSAEV. After two close rounds the rough stuff started from the third with Khahrazeh doing lots of clinching and as they both committed fouls the referee deducted a point from them both. Khahrazeh was doing what cleaner work there was as the fight was turning into a dirty, messy affair. Elsaev was being careless with his head and elbow and suffers two cuts with Khahrazeh picking up the rounds by at least trying to box and looked to have won clearly. Scores 116-110 and 115-111 for Khahrazeh and 113-113.
Shala vs. Adamek
SHALA-40- wins a battle of veterans with a unanimous decision over ADAMEK-45. The first two rounds were close but Sahala took control from the third. As he shed four years of rust he set a pace the Adamek could not match. Both tired late but Shala wrapped up the win by dropping Adamek in the last. The scores were 79-72 twice and 79-73. Kosovan-born Shala turned pro in 2008 and challenged for the European light heavy title in 2019. Adamek, the Czech champion and a professional since 2006, had won his last four fights.
ARLINGTON, TX, USA: SUPER FEATHER: EDWARD VAZQUEZ (20-3) W PTS 10 DANIEL LUGO (28-4-1). MIDDLE: WELJON MINDORO (17-0-1) W PTS 10 ELIAS ESPADAS (23-9-1). LIGHT: ALAN GARCIA (18-1) W PTS 8 BRYAN JIMENEZ 18-3).
Vazquez vs. Lugo
VAZQUEZ edges out LUGO on a close unanimous decision to pick up the vacant WBC USA title. This was a real crowd-pleaser between two well-matched fighters . Lugo had a slight edge in skill but Vazquez’s swarming tactics compensated for that. Vazquez outworked Lugo in the first but Lugo worked hard with his jab and hooks to edge the second and third. Vazquez pressure and some useful body punching swung the fight back Vazquez’s way in the fourth and both landed heavily in a close fifth. In the sixth a right from Lugo sent Vazquez staggering into the ropes and Lugo then landed a series of rights that threaten a finish but Vazquez escaped from the ropes and held hard to survive. A big rotund for Lugo but from which he was showing cuts over both eye from head clashes. Vazquez worked his way back into the fight swarming forward with Lugo working behind his jab and looking to find again the right that staggered Vazquez in the sixth. Vasquez style was more effective as they tired and he looked to have opened a gap by the end of the ninth. Lugo staged a better finish forcing Vazquez onto the back foot and getting through with hooks from both hands. Scores 96-94 twice and a strange 98-92 all for for Vazquez. Two of his losses have come in title fights against Joe Cordina and Rafael Espinoza but is currently unrated. Lugo had crawn with Mauricio Lara in 2024 but this was only his second fight in the last two years.
Mindoro vs. Espadas
Filipino MINDORO remains unbeaten as he wins a points victory over Mexican ESPADAS. Mindoro’s combination of speed and power saw him take charge early. He was curving rights around the guard of Espadas in the first content at times to let Espadas come forward and then exploding with counters. He shook Espadas with a right in the second and a left hook in the third. Espadas soaked up the punishment but was willing to stand and trade and in the fourth pinned Mindoro in a corner. He bombarded him with punches but seconds later a right from Mindoro sent Espadas stumbling back to sit on the bottom rope. The referee gave him a count and after that there was a furious exchange of punches. Mindoro continued to get the better of the exchanges over the fifth and sixth but Espadas began to have more success over the seventh, eighth and ninth as Mindoro’s work rate dropped. They went toe-to-toe over the tenth with Mindoro outscoring Espadas who seemed to just aiming to last the distance. Scores 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 for Mindoro. The draw on Mindoro’s record came in the shape of a split draw against Takeshi Inoue in My 2023 and he is 7-0 since then. Espadas has travelled a rough road being 1-5-1 in his last 7 fights with the 5 losses and the draw coming against unbeaten fighters.
Garcia vs. Jimenez
GARCIA overcomes a slow start to outpoint Nicaraguan JIMENEZ. Jimenez was sharper early. He was using his right jab to put Garcia on the back foot. He shook Garcia a couple of times and kept up the pressure for the first three rounds. Garcia upped his game from the fourth connecting with a couple of hard rights and hustling Jimenez out of his stride. Garcia used his strength to back up Jimenez and although Jimenez fought hard Garcia swept up the last four rounds. Scores 78-74 twice and 77-75 for Garcia e gradually took mcontrol mof the erdxchanges .
JUNE 6
NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA: SUPER LIGHT: JOSHUA LUPIA (18-0) W PTS 10 PASQUALE BARILE (13-6).
Hometown fighter LUPIA is forced to go the distance for a win over Italian BARILE. Lupia had a streak of eight inside the distance victories but had to settle for a unanimous verdict over Bartle. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. Bartle had won 7 of his last 8 fights.
IQUIQUE, CHILE: WELTER: MARCIAL CARRION (22-1) W PTS 10 TOMAS IRUSTA (9-1-2).
Hometown fighter CARRION outpoints Argentinian IRUSTA to win the vacant UBO title. Carrion looked lucky to win this one on a majority decision with scores of 115-113 twice and 114-114. Now 18 wins in a row for Carrion. His brother Pedro holds the UBO super lightweight title. Irusta not in the Argentinian ratings as only a prelim fighter.
ORBETTO, ITALY: SUPER LIGHT: ANDRII BORYSHPOLETS (12-4) W TKO 10 STEFANO RAMUNDO (18-3).
Ukrainian BORYSHPOLETS wins the vacant IBO Continental title with a last round stoppage of RAMUNDO. Southpaw Boryshpolets had to survive early pressure from Italian Ramundo but his accurate jabbing and focused body attacks gradually wore Ramundo down. By the ninth Ramundo was exhausted, cut over his left eye and could hardly lift his arms. In the tenth Boryshpolets drove Ramundo across the ring and with Ramundo staggering and defenceless the referee stopped the fight. Former Ukrainian champion Boryshpolets rebounded well from losing a majority decision against Yanis Kurylenko in a Ukrainian title fight in June 2025. Ramundo was stopped in six rounds by Mohamed Kani in a fight for the vacant EBU Silver title in Juine 2024 but had then won five in a row.
TIJUANA, MEXICO: MIDDLE: MARCO VERDE (6-0) W TKO 5 DAVID CAMACHO (8-3).
Olympic Silver medallist VERDE stops CAMACHO in the fifth. Southpaw Verde won every round before ending the fight in the fifth. He connected with a couple of fierce hooks to the body driving Camacho to the ropes and landed three lefts to the head convincing the referee to stop the fight. Verde beat Lewis Richardson in the Olympia semi-finals in Paris. He also won a gold medal at the Pan American Games beating American Amari Jones on the way to the final
TOKONAME, JAPAN: FLY: MASAMICHI YABUKI (20-4) W PTS 12 RENE CALIXTO (24-2-1). SUPER FLY: ANDREW MOLONEY (29-4,1ND) W PTS 12 WILLIBALDO GARCIA (23-7-2,1ND). FEATHER : JOHN RIEL CASIMERO (36-5-1) W TKO 4 LUIS NERI (37-3). BANTAM: MICHAEL ANGELETTI (15-0) W PTS 12 KENNETH LLOVER (17-1). BANTAM: AOI YOKOYAMA (5-0) W PTS 8 VINCE PARAS (25-5-1).
Yabuki vs. Calixto
YABUKI successfully defends the IBF title for the third time with a unanimous points victory over Calixto. Yabuki came close to ending this in the first. A straight right followed by a right hook sent Calixto down heavily in the opening round. Calixto got up but after the eight count was sent down again by another right. The Mexican challenger survived but had to take more punishment over the second, third and fourth. Calixto had some success in the fifth as he connected with left jabs and worked his way into the fight. Yabuki was back in charge over the sixth and seventh and outboxed Calixto over eighth and ninth. A right in the tenth had Calixto in trouble but he got though the round and then staged a strong finish looking to have taken the eleventh and twelfth. It was not enough to overcome Yabuki’s earlier dominance and Yabuki won on scores of 118-110 twice and 116-110. Yabuki had held the WBC light fly title but lost that on a third round kayo against Kenshiro Teraji in 2022. He won the IBF title with as ninth round stoppage of Sivenathi Nontshinga in 2024. Calixto drew with Willibaldo Garcia for the vacant IBF super fly title in 2024 but was outpointed by Garcia in a return in May last year.
Moloney vs. Garcia
MOLONEY crowns his comeback as he decisions champion GARCIA to win the IBF title. Moloney boxed his way to victory in this one. As expected Garcia barrelled forward taking the fight to Moloney. The Australian boxed beautifully on the back foot countering the oncoming Garcia with quick, accurate counters and refusing to be drawn into trying to match Garcia’s power. Garcia struggled to make any impression and by the end of the sixth Moloney had built a big lead. With his title slipping away from him Garcia upped his pressure closing Moloney down and forcing Moloney to stand and trade more. Heads had been clashing and Moloney’s was cut over both eyes. Garcia’s effective pressure ate into the lead Moloney had built and it looked to be anybody’s fight going into the last and Moloney produced a disciplined and decisive performance to win that round and the title. Scores 115-113 twice for Moloney and 114-114. Ignoring interim titles Moloney was 0-3, 1 no decision in four world title fights and it looked as though he was close to retirement after losing a split decision against Pedro Guevara for the WBC Interim title in May 2024. This win means the two Moloney twins have both won world titles. Mexican Garcia had overcome a bad start to his career that saw him win only of his first seven fights. After losing a split decision to Britain’s Paul Butler in 2021 Garcia had gone unbeaten in 12 fights including drawing with and beating Rene Calixto for the IBF title.
Casimero vs. Nery
CASIMIRO destroys NERY in four rounds. When you match controversial figures such as Casimero against Nery past experience tells you something will go wrong. In this case Nery came in 3 lbs over the contract weight. The fourth time in his career that Nery has missed the weight for a fight. Casimero made him pay. The Filipino exploded from his corner in the first round and within 15 seconds Nery was down from a left hook. He climbed up and came forward throwing punches but was down from another left hook. Again Nery tried to punch his way out of trouble but suffered a third knockdown again from a left hook. Nery seemed to recover and in the second had Casimero on the back foot but walked onto a right to the head. He dipped at the knees and put his gloves on the canvas leading to another count. Despite the counts it was Nery coming forward behind strong right jabs with Casimero on the back foot countering in bursts. Nery had a good third-almost. He again took the night to Cazimero but when he tripped over Casimero’s leg he suffered another count. Casimero ended it in the fourth. As Nery came forward a left hook sent him back and down heavily and the referee stopped the fight. Three-division champion Casimero has had his own problems with weight begin stripped of the IBF light flyweight title on the scales and failing to weigh in for a fight with Saul Sanchez in Japan in 2024. A loss to featherweight Kyonosuke Kameda in October had seen Casimero drop out of the ratings but with Nery No 4 with the WBC and No 8 with the IBF at featherweight as well as No 5 super bantam with the WBO there must be a spot somewhere for Casimero with Naoya Inoue, the holder of the all four titles at super bantamweight, being Casimero’s preferred opponent. Nery had lost both his WBC bantamweight and super bantamweight titles on the scales and with this further act of indiscipline he will find it hard to be trusted in another title fight.
Angeletti vs. Llover
ANGELETTI wins an IBF eliminator with a split decision over Filipino LLOVER. Llover moved in front early as he forged forward firing right jabs and straight lefts with power. Angeletti was down in the second and given a count although it looked to be due their legs tangling. Llover continued to press his attacks but Angeletti displayed some clever defensive boxing. Over the second half of the fight Angeletti began to find the target with rights and the rounds were close. Southpaw Llover continued to rely on landing heavily with his lefts with Angeletti’s skill the difference. Angeletti had a good tenth and despite strong efforts from Llover over the eleventh and twelfth Angeletti just looked to have done enough to merit the victory. Scores 116-111 and 115-112 for Angeletti and 115-112 for Llover. New Orleans-born Angeletti was No 6 with the IBF but with this win over No 3 Llover will be able to fill either the first or second slots, which were both vacant, and get a straight shot at champion Jose Salas. Llover at 23 has time to come again.
Yokoyama vs. Parras
YOKOYAMA scores a unanimous decision over more experienced PARAS. Yokoyama had hight and reach over Filipino Paras and despite the aggression from Paras Yokohama always looked the likely winner . Paras weas competitive but from the fifth Yokoyama upped his pace and took control sweeping the remain rounds to win on scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74. Yokohama, the IBF No 14 super flyweight after only 4 fights, is the OPBF champion. He was 44-12 as an amateur and with his medical qualification from university he is working at nursing home for elderly. Paras lost to Hiroto Kyoguchi in a challenge for the IBF minimum tile and last November was beaten on points by Ricardo Malajhika in a challenge for the IBO super fly title.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND: CRUISER: CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH (22-2) W RTD 7 RYAN ROZICKI (21-2-1). CRUISER: CHEAVON CLARKE (12-2) W TKO 7 JACK MASSEY (23-4). MIDDLE: LEE CUTLER (16-2) W TKO 7 AARON SUTTON (19-3). MIDDLE: STEPHEN MCKENNA (16-1) W TKO 1 CASEY STREETER (15-4-2). Heavy: IVAN DYCHKO (16-1) W PTS 10 HARVEY DYKES (7-1-1).
Billam-Smith vs. Rozicki
BILLAM-SMITH beats Canadian Rozicki on a seventh round retirement in a brutal battle that has to be a competitor for Fight of the Year. Rozicki stormed out in the first taking the fight to Billam-Smith firing sweeping hooks and uppercuts from both hands. Billam-Smith was forced to fight hard to avoid being overwhelmed and with Rozicki ignoring defence he was able to catch Rozicki with strong, accurate counters. Rozicki paid a price for this early aggression as a clash of heads saw him cut over his left eye. The Canadian continued to throw everything at Billam-Smith in the second. He knew he could not outbox Billam-Smith so was set on making the fight a brawl hoping with 20 of his 21 wins coming inside the distance his power might prove too much for Billam-Smith. There was no real justification behind that premise as there were no opponents anywhere near the level, of Lawrence Okolioe, Mateusz Masternak, Richard Riakporhe or Gilberto Ramirez on Roizicki’s record. In his all-out aggression Rozicki went a bit too far in the second and was deducted a point for aiming a butt at Billam-Smith. Rozicki showed a great chin staggered but staying on his feet after absorbing a huge right hook from Billam-Smith in the third and firing back in furious trading. Rozicki was getting through with punches from both hands but Billam-Smith, whilst throwing less, was blocking many of Rozicki punches and was more accurate with his counters. Over the fourth and fifth the pace remained fast and furious for three minutes of each round but Rozicki finally began to show the effects of the punishment he had been walking into. He attacked at the start of the six but late in round Billam-Smith bounced a dozen unanswered punches off Rozicki’s head. Somehow Rozicki saw out the round and although he had looked finished he was on the attack again in the seventh. He trapped Billam-Smith against the ropes and although arm weary just kept pushing out punches until the last seconds of the round when Billam-Smith crashed home five head shots with Rozicki unable to lift his hands to block them. That was enough for Rozicki’s comer and with their man showing damage around both eyes and totally exhausted they pulled him out of the fight. Billam-Smith was in front 68-64 on two card and 69-63 on the third. This was Billam-Smith’s first fight for 14 months and he will now be hoping it will lead to a fight with fellow-Zuffa boxer Jai Opetaia. Billam-Smith is No 3 with the IBF and Opetaia No 4 although he had been stripped of the IBF title for fighting for the Zuffa title so it is not clear which title they would fight for. Rozicki showed outstanding courage and will rebuild.
Clarke vs. Massey
CLARKE comes back from near disaster in the fourth to stop MASSEY in the seventh. With his 6’4” height and 77” reach Massey had physical advantages over the 6’0” 75 ½” ” reach of Clarke and used those to outscore and rock Clarke with a punch in the first. Clarke used his considerable experience as an armature in the second round and despite a hard right from Massey he looked to have evened things up. Massey took the third using his longer reach and connecting with a right. A dramatic fourth saw Clarke down twice but survive. A heavy straight right to the side of the head dropped him but he was up at four. After the eight count Massey jumped on Clarke landing a series of straight shots and hooks that sent Clarke down again. He was up quickly and survived an onslaught from Massey to make it to the bell. Clarke recovered and made the fifth close rocking Massey with a right and he had a strong sixth knocking out Massey’s mouthguard and hurting him with a body shot. Clarke completed the turn around as he floored and stopped Massey in the seventh. He stepped inside Massey’s jab and put him down with a clubbing right to the head. Massey got up but was unsteady. Clarke drove him across the ring and landed a series of hooks that saw the referee come in and stop the fight. At 35 consecutive defeats against Leonardo Mosquea and Viddal Riley had put a question mark over Clarke’s future but this win over world title challenger Massey puts him back in the mix at cruiser. Former European and Commonwealth champion Massey was stopped in six rounds by Jai Opetaia in a challenge for the IBF belt in 2024 so this loss will hurt any hopes he had of another title shot.
Cutler vs. Sutton
CUTLER gets an injury win over SUTTON. Cutler had the better of the exchanges in the first connecting with some good body punches but Sutton had some success as Cutler’s noise was leaking blood. Cutler found the target with body punches in the second and his power was giving Sutton problems. In the third a right from Cutler floored Sutton who suffered a dislocated shoulder and was unable to continue. Cutler gets a win as he starts to rebuild after losing on a technical decision against Sam Eggerton in April last year. Sutton was coming off a fifth round stoppage defeat against unbeaten George Liddard in May last year.
McKenna vs. Streeter
McKENNA wipes out STREETER in the first round. It was bombs away from the start as they stood and traded punches. A left hook from McKenna staggered Streeter who bent at the knees and only just stayed upright but was badly shaken. McKenna exploded with punches that did send Streeter down. He got up but after the count McKenna forced Streeter to the ropes and then unloaded a barrage of unanswered blows and the referee stopped the fight. McKenna had dropped a majority decision against Lee Cutler in his last fight in December 2024 so with both winning on this card a return could be a good option. Second inside the distance defeat in a row for Streeter.
Dychko vs. Dykes
Kazak giant DYCHKO has to settle for a split decision over England’s DYKES. It looked as though it would be a short fight when Dychko put Dykes down in the first. Luckily it was not a heavy knockdown and southpaw Dykes worked his way into the fight and inside Dychko’s guard to start causing some problems for the ponderous Kazak. Dychko was able to use his 6’9” height and longer reach to work at distance with his jab and straight rights against the 6” smaller Dykes. The pattern of the fight did not change much as there was very little Dykes could do to overcome the physical challenge of Dychko’s size but he managed to get inside enough to land short hooks and be competitive without really threatening an upset. Scores 97-92 twice for Dychko and 95-94 for Dykes. A multi-medalled amateur Dychko had lost on points against Jermaine Franklin in September. Dykes, a former English amateur champion, needs more experience
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND: SUPER FEATHER: JOSH PADLEY (19-1) W PTS 12 AQIB FIAZ (14-2). SUPER FEATHER: IBRAHEEM SULAIMAN (11-0) W PTS 10 IBRAHIM NADIM (16-2). MIDDLE: AARON BOWEN (8-0-1) W TKO 9 TROY COLEMAN (15-5
-1). HEAVY: LEO ATANG (7-0) W TKO 1 FOUAD SHAILI (5-5-2).
Padley vs. Fiaz
PADLEY retains the European title with a strong finish to win a split decision over FIAZ. Over the early rounds Padley had problems dealing with the body punches from Fiaz and after a slow start to the night Fiaz looked to have hurt Padley with body shots in the fourth and fifth but was also warned for straying low with some of his body work. Padley was fighting hard to make the rounds close but Fiaz looked to have established a lead by the close of the sixth. Padley upped the pace in the seventh and Fiaz looked to be slowing and Padley had a good eighth. When Fiaz went low with a punch he was given a final warning. Fiaz had a big ninth as he again landed some hurtful body punches but Padley turned things his way in the tenth cracking Fiaz with a powerful left hook and he was on top in the eleventh. Some dubious head work from Fiaz cost him a point deduction which probably tuned a 10-9 round on the cards into a 10-8. Padley had the better of some furious exchanges in the last and won on scores of 115-112 and 114-113 to 114-113 for Fiaz. Padley was making the first defence of the title he won with a stoppage of Jaouad Belmehdi in January. Padley had lost on a ninth round stoppage against Shakur Stevensoin for the WBC lightweight title In February 2025 in Riyadh when he stepped in as a very late substitute. Fiaz had lost on an eighth round retirement against Reece Bellotti in a fight for the vacant Commonwealth super featherweight title in 2023. He warrants another shot at Padley but Padley will be looking forward and not back.
Sulaiman vs. Nadim
SULAIMAN outboxes champion NADIM to win the English title. Unfortunately the respective styles of the two boxer did not make for an entertaining fight. “Spider” Sulaiman fought on the back foot using his superior hand speed and clever movement to outbox Nadim. To win this one Nadim needed to put Sulaiman under relentless pressure but he was a tentative rarely letting his hand go and failing to cut the ring off. Sulaiman was constantly pot-shotting Nadim with light punches from various angles and sliding away from Nadim’s attempts to land anything of note. Nadim manged to close the distance for short periods over the late rounds but Sulaiman was never in any trouble and Sulaiman found gaps for his right jabs and light counters picking up the points but never putting any real power behind his punches. Sulaiman won on scores of 100-90 twice and 98-92. Sulaiman has plenty of skill but lacks power and his defensive style will not appeal to neutrals. Nadim was defending the English title for the first time and had won his last 7 fights.
Bowen vs. Coleman
BOWEN returns to winning ways with a ninth round stoppage of COLEMAN. This was a tough, hard-fought match with Bowen having the edge over the first five rounds. After some fierce exchanges in the sixth Bowen connected with a big right in the seventh which had Coleman in trouble. Bowen handed out serious punishment in the eighth and when in the ninth with Coleman trapped against the ropes another powerful right shook him badly the referee stopped the fight. The 6’3” Bowen, a former English champion and Commonwealth bronze medallist had lost a split decision against Tom Cowling in November but he showed the power here that has seen him score six wins by KO/TKO. Coleman has been a bit of a roamer fighting in Thailand, Australia and Dubai but was out-gunned here.
Atang vs. Shaili
ATANG gets another first round win as he halts an obese SHAILI inside three minutes. After some tentative sparring Atang connected with a pair of rights to the head then sent Shaili on the retreat with some jabs before banging home overhand rights. He trapped Shaili against the ropes and landed a burst of punches to head and body until the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. Fifth first round finish for teenager Atang.
WATERBURY, CT, USA: MIDDLE: CHORDALE BOOKER (25-2) W RTD 3 ISSAH SAMIR (19-3).
Local southpaw BOOKER beats Ghanaian SAMIR on a third round retirement. Booker floored Samir in the second and again in the third and Samir did not come out for the fourth. Booker, 35, lost on a fourth round stoppage against Sebastian Fundora for the WBC and WBO super welter titles in March last year and has scored two wins since then both against Ghanaian opponents.
HERMOSILLO. MEXICO: WELTER: YORDENIS UGAS (28-67) W PTS 8 JESUS LOPEZ (16-18-3). FEATHER: BRANDON MOSQUEA (14-0) W PTE 8 ISAAC ARANDA (7-3-1).
Ugas vs. Lopez
Former WBA welter champion UGAS returns in his first fight since September 2023 with a win as he takes a split decision over very modest Mexican LOPEZ. A comfortable return for Ugas despite the split verdict. Scores of 77-74 and 77-75 for Ugas and 77-75 for Lopez. Now 39, Ugas won the WBA title back in 2021 with a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao. He only held the title for eight months losing in a unification match against IBF and WBC champion Errol Spence in April 2022. Lopez strictly a 6 and 8 round prelim fighter.
Mosqueda vs. Aranda
MOSQUEDA outpoints ARANDA. No scores available. The 22-year-old Mosqueda went into the WBC Grand Prix in Riyadh with an 8-0 record and won the featherweight final by scoring 5 victories. Aranda was 0-3-1 in his last 4 fights.