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:
-Daniel Dubois blows away Fabian Wardley in two round in WBO title defence. On the same show Louie O’Doherty and Michael Gomez draw in a fight for the Commonwealth lightweight title and Bakhodir Jalolov halts Solomon Dacres
-Sebastian Fundora stops Ermal Hadribeaj in the twelfth round in a super welterweight title defence and Armando Resendiz decisions Australian Koen Mazoudier.
-Milan Prat wins the vacant IBO super welter title with a points victory over Brandon Thysse
MAJOR SHOWS:
15 OCTOBER
ENGHIEN, FRANCE: SUPER WELTER: MILAN PRATT (340-1) W PTS 12 BRANDON THYSSE (20-5-1).
Prat vs. Thysse
PRAT gets off the floor three times to outpoint THYSSE and wins the vacant IBO title. Thysse made an aggressive start rolling forward throwing hard hooks loading up on every punch. Prat was quicker and more mobile. Thysse just did enough to edge the opening round but in the second a hard left hook from Thysse put Prat down heavily. He beat the count and Thysse was swinging hooks and uppercuts trying to repeat that success but Prat was fighting back hard at the bell. Prat was more skilled and he boxed on the back foot in the third and fourth using slick, quick footwork to avoid Thysse’s hooks and firing bursts of punchers through Thysse’s guard. Thysse was relentlessly coming forward firing heavy punches but too often standing in front of Thysse presenting a static target. Prat was threading quick combinations through the South Africans guard in the sixth but as they both wound up a punch Thysse got there first with right that dropped Prat. He beat the count and survived Thysse’s attempts to finish the fight. That was the first of three bad rounds for Prat as he was down from a right in the seventh and was face down from a combination in the eighth. Thysse tried to chase Prat down each time but Prat got some recovery time as Thysse was twice given some recovery time after Prat landed very low conveniently timed punches causing the action to be stopped. Both fighters tired over the closing rounds but a fresher Prat was fast enough to avoid the best of Thysse’s attacks and outscored the South African with fast volleys of punches. Prat won on scores of 113-111 twice and 114-110. Prat won most of the rounds in which he was not knocked down and that, plus the one count suffered by Thysse in the second were considered enough to justify the decision but Thysse fought his heart out. First big title for Prat. Thysse fought far above expectation and was dangerous in every round
17 OCTOBER
LONDON, ENGLAND: HEAVY: DANIEL DUBOIS (24-3) W TKO 2 FABIAN WARDLEY (20-2-1). LIGHT: LOUIE O’DOHERTY (12-0-1) DREW 12 MICHAEL GOMEZ JR (23-2-1). HEAVY: BAKHODIR JALOLOV (18-0) W PTS 10 SOLOMON DACRES (10-2). SUPER FEATHYER: NELSON BIRCHALL (13-0) W TKO 7 LEVI GILES (17-4-1). SUPER FLY: TONY CURTIS (15-1) W TKO 4 KERIM AGIUS (6-2-2). HEAVY: ADAM OLANIYAN (5-0) W TKO 2 DAN GARBER (14-10).
Dubois vs. Wardley
DUBOIS retains the WBO tile as he demolishes WARDLEY in under six minutes. The fight was only 16 seconds old when Dubois exploded a right to the head that had Wardley dipping and touching the canvas with a knee. Wardley bobbed up and Dubois landed a couple more punches before the referee could get in to give Wardley a count. When the action resumed Wardley looked a little unsteady and as he tried to take the fight to Dubois he was caught with some more head punches. DuBois then took Wardley to the ropes and unloaded lefts and rights. Wardley escaped but was a trapped against the ropes again at the end of the round as Dubois bombarded him with punches and a stoppage looked possible as the bell went. Dubois resumed the onslaught in the second unleashing rights that had Wardley buckling at the knees. Wardley could not hold Dubois off and was forced to a corner with Dubois battering him with punches with Wardley’s head being snapped back by an uppercut. The referee stepping in to stop the fight as the towel came in from Wardley’s corner. Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are Nos 1,2 and 3 with the WBO so no pressure on Dubois to make another defence anytime soon.
O’Doherty vs. Gomez
O’DOHERTY retains the British and Commonwealth titles with a majority draw against GOMEZ. The challenger was forging forward from the start with O’Doherty moving, jabbing and countering to keep the fight at distance. Gomez had enough success getting in to land body punches to take that first round and he carried that impetus into the second and third. O’Doherty may have been pacing the fight hoping for Gomez to tire late but he was giving away rounds. O’Doherty did better in the fourth and fifth. Both rounds were close and O’Doherty did some useful inside work. The pace was quite fast and Gomez seemed to be slowing in the sixth and seventh but he picked up the pace again in the eighth. O’Doherty was boxing well but did not have the power to keep Gomez at bay or hurt him. O’Doherty invested in some body punches in the ninth and again Gomez seemed to slow and O’Doherty took the initiate over the closing rounds exerting pressures as Gomez seemed to be coasting over twelfth perhaps thinking he had the fight won. Scores 114-114 twice and 115-114 for O’Doherty. I thought Gomez had done enough to win this one but hopefully there will be a return.
Jalolov vs. Dacres
Uzbek southpaw JALOLOV floors and outpoints DACRES. The 6’7” southpaw had lots of success with his favoured right jab/straight left combination and Dacres was constantly forced back. Despite his 6’5” height Dacres had problems getting past the 81” reach of Jalolov so had trouble getting within range to throw rights. He was also reaching with his jab and leaving himself open to counters. Jalolov floored Dacres with a straight left in the fifth and after Dacres got up he shook Dacres with another left. Jalolov then seemed content to control the fight without taking any chances and although Dacres tried hard to apply some pressure he was never really able to threaten the big Uzbek. Jalolov won on scores of 99-90 twice and 99-91. Now 32 Jalolov, a double Olympic champion, World and Asian gold medallist, he keeps dropping back into the amateurs which is why he has had only 18 professional fights in 8 years. He is rated No 4 by the IBF, 7 by the WBO and 11 by the WBC but he needs to get serious about his career if he is to land a title shot. Dacres, 6’5” and also a high level amateur, has stumbled as a professional being stopped in one round by David Adeleye but here he was coming off a win over 22-0 Vladyslav Sirenko in his last fight in July last year.
Birchall vs. Giles
BIRCHALL scores three knockdowns on the way to seventh round stoppage of GILES. Birchall was mainly on the back foot over the first four rounds. He was getting through with southpaw jabs landing well to the body and scoring with hard lefts to the head. Giles kept coming forward but Birchall was too solid in defence and had the harder punch. A right to the body put Giles down in the fifth. He beat the count and despite shipping lots of punishment made it to the bell. A series of uppercuts put Giles down again in the sixth but he got up and lasted out the round. Birchall forced Giles to a corner in the seventh and just kept unloading punches until Giles dropped to a knee. Giles got up but the referee waived his arms to signify the stoppage. Birchall, 22 and a World Youth bronze medallist, gets his ninth inside the distance win in a row. Giles lost to Reece Bellotti in a challenge for the British and Commonwealth super featherweight titles in 2024.
Curtis vs. Agius
CURTIS halts AGIUS the fourth. Curttis used his smart footwork, longer reach and rights to try to box his way through his one but had trouble holding off the ferocious attacks from Agius. Curtis did most of the scoring but Agius was always dangerous. Agius had Curtis pinned against the ropes in the second but was dropping his right when firing his punches and was put down by a solid left hook. The third was another case of boxing and countering from Curtis and sustained attacks from Agius. In the fourth as Agius barrelled in Curtis dropped him to his hands and knees with a left hook. The referee started the count but saw Agius was not getting up so waived the fight over. Curtis, 20, gets his fourth inside the distance finish. Now two losses by KO/TKO in his last 3 fights for Agius.
Olaniyan vs. Garber
OLANIYAN stops GARBER in two rounds. These two were very mobile for big heavyweights with Olaniyan showing some smart foot work. Olaniyan quickly went to work on Garber’s body digging in hooks with both hands and pressing hard throughout the first. A straight right in the second floored Garber. He was up at nine and the towel came in. It had come in behind the referee’s back and she had not seen the towel. Olaniyan pointed out it was lying on the canvas. The referee kicked it out and ordered the fight to continue. A right to the head put Garber down again and although the towel came in from Garber’s corner the referee waived the fight over. Ireland’s Olaniyan has taken less than eight rounds for his six wins. The 6’6” 250+ lbs Irish hope is a former a European and World Youth champion and at 20 is yet another outstanding young heavyweight prospect. Seventh loss by KO/TKO for the 6’5” southpaw Garber.
LAS VEGAS, NV, USA: SUPER WELTER: SEBASTIAN FUNDORA(25-1-1) W TKO 12 ERMAL HADRIBEAJ ( 23-1-1). SUPER MIDDLE: ARMANDO RESENDIZ (17-3) W PTS 10 KOEN MAZOUDIER (16-5-1). SUPER MIDDLE: MARCO ROMERO (16-0) W TKO 1 BRAULIO FERREIRA (8-4). MIDDLE: JAIME OSUNA (12-0) W PTS 8 CRISTIAN CANGELOSI (13-1-1). FEATHER: DAVID GARCIA (8-0) W TKO 2 ANGEL CARRILLO (5-1-1).
Fundora vs. Hadribeaj
FUNDORA successfully defends the WBC with a last second stoppage of HADRIBEAJ. Fundora’s height always sets a problem for fellow super welterweights and Hadribeaj approach, although already giving away 7” in height, was to fight out of a crouch, get inside under Fundora’s punches and throw lots of hooks upwards where Fundora might not always see them coming and to clinch excessively as the fight developed. The fighting out of a crouch was actually effective in the opener as Hadribeaj was able to put his head on Fundora’s chest and chuck hooks and uppercuts. It was enough to give Hadribeaj the first round on all three cards, the only time that happened in the fight. That was as good as it got for Hadribeaj and a sign of things to come was a left that shook Hadribeaj in the second but Hadribeaj recovered and was punching back before the round ended. Hadribeaj overdid the clinching and was deducted a point in the third. Although Fundora was doing most of the scoring Hadribeaj was able to rattle Fundora’s ribs a couple of times in the fourth but his effectiveness was fading. Fundora began to find the target with uppercuts from the fifth and was having success inside finding the target with body punches. Hadribeaj continued to try to barrel his way inside and fire hooks but he was under relentless pressure and his attacking burst were intermittent. He was still clinching too much and was deducted a point in the eleventh again for holding. This was never going to be a stern test for Fundora and Hadribeaj lasting the distance would leave Fundora with nothing from the fight except a pay day. He finally found a saving grace as he floored Hadribeaj with only seconds left in the twelfth. Hadribeaj made it to his feet but the referee stopped the fight at 2:59 in the round. Hadribeaj was rated No 1 so Fundora has got that obligation out of the way and the talk now is of a fight with the winner of Jaron Ennis, the WBC and WBO title holder, and Josh Kelly the IBF champion. Vergil Ortiz is the WBC interim champion but that gives him no status at all which shows just what a farce the interim titles are.
Resendiz vs. Mazoudier
RESENDIZ starts his rehabilitation process with a points win over Australian MAZOUDIER in a gruelling ten rounder. Resendez was showing the better skills and was the busier fighter as he built up a good lead over the first five rounds. It was mainly phone-booth fighting over the second half of the fight as Mazoudier pushed forward to get inside and as he had more success Resendiz seemed to be tiring. The pace of the fight was taking its toll on both fighters but ,after a close eighth, which Mazoudier might have edged, Resendiz produced the stronger finish over the ninth and tenth to win of scores of 97-93 twice and 98-92. Resendez was having his first fight since losing on points to Jaime Munguia in a challenge for the WBA super middleweight title in May. Mazoudier had been stopped in nine rounds by Nikita Tszyu in 2024 but had won his last four fights including lifting and defending Australian title.
Romero vs. Ferreira
ROMERO wipes out FERREIRA in the first round. After some early sparring they both got down to work exchanging hooks. Once Ferreira felt Romero’s power he went onto the retreat. The body punches were hurting Ferriera and Romero landed to the body with a left and right hook and then switched to the head with a right that sent Ferreira down. He got up but staggered badly and the referee stopped the fight.
Osuna vs. Cangelosi
OSUNA gets a majority decision over Italian CONGELOSI. Osuna made an energetic start with his accuracy and speed giving Italian Cangelosi problems as he forced Cangelosi onto the retreat. Cangelosi fired back with good counters but Osuna looked to have taken the first two rounds. Osuna continued the pressure in the third but Cangelosi was scoring with some hard hooks in back-and-forth action and he looked to have evened the score and Osuna was cut. Osuna had the better of the exchanges in the fifth and sixth as he shook Cangelosi with a rights but also seemed to be feeling the pace. Both had good spells in the seventh with Cangelosi having the edge and they both went for broke in the eighth making it very close with the majority decision going to Osuna on scores of 77-75 twice for Osuna and 76-76. Osuna gets the verdict but both deserve credit for such an entertaining contest.
Garcia vs. Carrillo
Phoenix teenager GARCIA halts CARRILLO in the second round. The rangy Garcia established control in the first using his longer reach to put Carrillo on the back foot. In the second he connected with a fierce left hook that sent Carrillo staggering back across the ring and two more left hook sent Carrillo down on his back with the referee immediately signalling the fight was over. Garcia, who turned pro at 15, is mentored by former welterweight champion Danny Garcia and has six inside the distance wins. Californian Carrillo was out of his depth.
16 OCTOBER
GROZNY, RUSSIA: SUPER MIDDLE: BESHTO SHAVLAEV (6-0) W RTD 4 SAPARBAY AIDAROV (9-1). CRUISER: UMAR SALAMOV (34-2) W RTD 4 5 YEDIL KOZHAMBERDIYEV (17-3).LIGHT: DAUD ALAEV (16-1) W TKO 2 RODEX PIALA (13-3).
Shavlaev vs. Aidarov
SHAVLAEV beats Kazakh AIDAROV. After a close first round Shavlaev controlled thy action switching his attacks from head to body. Southpaw Aidarov suffered a cut in the fourth and his corner pulled him out at the end of the round. Shavlaev wins the vacant WBA Asian title. He was Russian amateur champion this year and dips in and out of professional boxing.
Salamov vs. Kozhamberdiyev
SALAMOV brushes aside KOZHAMBERDIYEV in five
Rounds. Kyrgyzstan’s Salamov used his 6’3 ½ height and longer reach to cruise through the first three rounds. He put Kozhamberdiyev down twice in the second and twice more in the fifth with Kozhamberdiyev counted out on the second knockdown. Salamov was defending the IBF European title. He is 15-1 in his last 16 fights with the loss coming against Dmitrii Bivol for the WBA light heavyweight title in 2021. Kazakh Kozhamberdiyev, 39, had won his last 16 fights by KO/TKO.
Alaev vs. Piala
Dubai-based Russian Alaev wins the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title with second round stoppage of Filipino PIALA. In the first Alaev was jabbing hard and looked dangerous with rights to the head and left hooks to the body. Piala had some success at the start of the second boxing well and landing counter left hooks. The power of Aliev then had Piala on the retreat and he raked the Filipino with a couple of combinations sending him to the ropes and connected with a thunderous right to the head that dropped Piala and no count was needed. Sixth win on the bounce for Alaev. He has power but fights flat-footed so his mobility is not good. Piala lacked power and had been stopped in four rounds by Liam Wilson in January.
CHANDLER, AZ, USA: SUPER WELTER: JOSHUA ANTON (15-0) W PTS 10 FREUDIS ROJAS (15-2). LIGHT: JUSTIN PAULDO (21-2,1 ND) W PTS 10 RENE TELLEZ (23-6). FEATHER: CARLOS ARTEAGA (17-1-1) W TKO 4 BRYAN ACOSTA (21-3,1ND). SUPER LIGHT: CHARLES HARRIS JR (15-1) W MISAEL CABRERA (18-4-1. SUPER LIGHT: HEIDEN MARTINEZ (19-0,1ND) W PTS 8 WILLMANK CANONICO (14-10-2).
Anton v s. Rojas
ANTON takes a unanimous decision over 97-92. in the third defence of the WBC Continental Americas title. Rojas made the better start. The 6’3” southpaw Anton was busier but Rojas boxed in a more controlled manner landing with more accuracy. Anton’s solution was to up his output even more and Rojas was being outworked and was being forced on to the defensive. Not surprising with the increased pressure from Anton Rojas lost a point for holding in the seventh and Anton won on scores of 98-91 twice and 97-92. Fourth win over acceptable level opposition for Anton. Former top amateur, a two-time US National champion, Rojas went 15-0 but has now suffered back-to-back losses.
Pauldo vs. Tellez
PAULDO wins the WBC Latino title as he gets a spotlit decision decisions TELLEZ. Pauldo boxed his way to victory by using his longer reach and finding gaps for his jabs and straight rights at distance and matching Tellez inside. Pauldo scored heavily with rights as Tellez continued to press the fight but Tellez did not give up easily he was forging forward forcing Pauld to adjust his tactics but even then Pauldo was outlanding him and clinched the win by staging the stronger finish and took the deserved victory. Scores 98-92 and 97-93 for Pauldo and 96-94 for Tellez. Fourth win in a row for Pauldo as he defends his No 5 rating with the WBC. Tellez had scored good wins over Jordan White and Maliek Montgomery.
Arteaga vs. Acosta
In a clash of Mexican’s ARTEAGA batters ACOSTA to defeat inside four rounds. Arteaga made a ferocious start. He piled fortward driving Acosta to the ropes and unloading a torrent of punches. He looked close to overwhelming Acosta but Acosta kept fighting back exploiting the openings left as Artega ignored defence and Acosta eventually survived a severely testing three minutes and the doctor even visited Acosta’s corner to make sure he was bloke to continue. There was a hangover from the first round for Acosta who was shaken again in the second and staggered back to his corner after more punishment in the third. Artega had Acosta reeling in the fourth and when he dropped Acosta the referee stopped the fight. Now 15 inside the distance finishes for Arteaga with his only loss coming in a WBC Grand Prix fight in Riyadh last year and he has rebuilt with three wins. Acosta had outpointed veteran world title challenger Ronny Rios in March.
Harris vs. Cabrera
HARRIS extends his current unbeaten to ten fights as he outpoints Mexican CABRERA. Harris boxed on the back foot using his superior hand speed and some excellent defensive work as Cabrera just kept coming and coming. As relentless as Cabrera was Harris, 23, met him with jabs and hooks from both hands and eluded Cabrera’s trapo to find punching room and controlled the fight all the way. Scores 99-91 twice and 98-92. He wins the WBC Latino title in his first fight over ten rounds. He is a former US Youth National champion and scored a unanimous decision over Floyd Schofield on his way to the National title. Cabrera had also been a loser in the WBC Grand Prix.
Martinez vs. Canonico
Dominican prospect MARTINEZ remains unbeaten as he outpoints Venezuelan CANONICO. Both are southpaws and Martinez lost a point for a low punch in the fifth but won on scores of 77-74 twice and 78-73. Canonico is 2-10 in his last 12 fights.
17 OCTOBER
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: HEAVY: WALTER CRUCCE (10-0) W KO 1 ARIEL BRACAMONTE (15-14).
Crucce vs. Bracamonte
CRUCCE retains the Argentinian title with a first round kayo of BRACAMONTE. The 21-year-old Crucce was giving away a massive 88 lbs to Bracamonte. Not surprisingly Crucce was much quicker than the obese Bracamonte and avoided the challengers attempts to literally crush him. Crucce was able to land left hooks to the body and overhand rights on the advancing Bracamonte. Crucce connected with a left to the head that stunned Bracamonte and then marched forward firing punches until Bracamonte dropped to the canvas on his back. As the referee started the count Bracamonte’s team climbed into the ring but the referee continued to count Bracamonte out. Crucce was defending the national title for the first time. He has won all of his fights inside the distance, 9 in the first round. Former champion Bracamonte was knocked out in two rounds by Nelson Hysa in London in 2024 when he was svelte 303 lbs.
MIEDZYZDROJE, POLAND : MIDDLE: KAROL WELTER (22-1) W TKO 3 STEPHEN DANYO (23-8-3).
Welter vs. Danyo
WELTER continues his current unbeaten run with a third round victory over DANYO. Welter and Danyo swopped hooks in the first two rounds with Welter landing the heaviest punches. In the third Welter curled a right hook around Danyo’s guard onto the side of Danyo’s head and another right dropped Danyo. He beat the count but was down again from a right and the fight was stopped. Fourteen wins in a row for Welter and he has now won the last six in that run inside the distance. Dutchman Danyo was having his first fight since January 2025 and suffers his fourth inside the decision loss.
CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO: LIGHT: BRYAN CHEVALIER (21-3-1,1NC) NC 4 ONYX SANCHEZ (9-1-1,1ND). SUPER FLY: JUANMA LOPEZ (8-0) W TKO 1 JESUS ROMULO (3-2).
Chevalier vs. Sanchez
Disappointing end as a clash of heads sees Chevalier too badly cut to continue and as the fourth round had not been completed it was ruled a No Contest.
Lopez vs. Ramirez
LOPEZ overpowers RAMIREZ in the first round and gets his fourth inside the distance victory. The 20-year-old southpaw, the son of WBO super bantam and featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, competed for Puerto Rico at the 2024 Olympics losing to the eventual gold medal winner Hasanboy Dusmatov.. Mexican Ramirez had won his last 2 fights.
BELFAST, NI, SUPER FLY: CONOR QUINN (12-1-1) W PTS 10 PEDRO DELGADO (18-3-1).
Belfast-born QUINN picks up a win as he gets a close decision over Mexican DELGADO. This was a tight one as the referee scored it 96-94 to Quinn as he continues to climb back after losing a majority decision to Conner Kelsall for the vacant Commonwealth title. Despite his decent looking record Delgado is No 119 with BoxRec but it was a test for Quinn
JAMESTOWN, CA, USA: SUPER WELTER: DAMIAN SOSA (28-3) W PTS 8 ISAAC TORRES (16-3).
Mexican SOSA wins a unanimous decision over Venezuelan TORRES. Sosa applied relentless pressure in every round. Torres was never in any trouble and lasted the distance without any dramas. Sosa won on scores of 80-72 twice and 78-74. Sosa is 6-1 in his last 7 fights. The loss was on points against Xander Zayas for the NABF and WBO NABO titles in 2024 but he had scored a win over unbeaten Freudis Rojas in April. Torres is now 6-2 in his last 8 fights.
DALLAS, TX, USA: SUPER WELTER: CHARLES HATLEY (31-3-1) W PTS 10 LUIS VERON (20-13-2).
HATLEY returns to the ring at 40 and outpoints VERON. In his first fight in over four years the former WBC super-welter title challenger decisioned Argentinian Veron. Hatley won on scores of 79-73 twice and 80-72. Hatley lost out to Keith Thurman at the US Olympic Trials for the 2008 Games. He scored a stoppage win over Anthony Mundine in 2015 but was then inactive until losing on a sixth round kayo to Jermell Charo in a challenge for the WBC title. Veron had lost his last six fights .