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 17
-Canadian welter Mazlum Akdeniz goes to 24-0 as he decisions Maurice Lee
JUNE 19
-In European title fights at super middle the fight between Jose Navarro and Oliver Zaren was abandoned after the third round due to heavy rain and at welter Aaron Alhambra and Anas Messaoudi fought to a technical draw on the score cards after six rounds with the end due to Alhambra being cut
-In Long Beach There are wins for Ernesto Mercado, Devin Cushing and Ashton Sylve
JUNE 20
– With Oscar Coillazo’s WBO minimumweight title defence against Joey Canoy falling through Collazo stops late substitute Neider Valdez for the WBO International flyweight title. There are wins for unbeaten fighters Ruslan Abdullaev, Yair Gallardo, Joshua Edwards, Cayden Griffiths and Daniel Garcia
-Ryan Garner outpoints Michael Magnesi to win the interim WBC super-feather title and there are wins for Lewis Edmondson, Brad Goldsmith and Taylor Bevan
-Kingsley Ibeh and Elijah Garcia score inside the distance wins in Phoenix
MAJOR SHOWS:
JUNE 20
OCEANSIDE, CA, USA, FLY: OSCAR COLLAZO (15-0) W KO 2 NEIDER VALDEZ (15-4-3). LIGHT HEAVY: YAIR GALLARDO (12-0) W PTS 10 BUNEET SINGH BISLA (14-2). SUPER LIGHT: RUSLAN ABDULLAEV (5-0) W KO 5 ORESTES VELASQUEZ (8-8). HEAVY: JOSHUA EDWARDS (7-0) W KO 2 GARRETH PAYTON (7-3). WELTER: CAYDEN GRIFFITHS (9-0) W TKO 3 ALAN AYALA (12-7). SUPER LIGHT: DANIEL GARCIA (14-0) KO 1 CHRIS RODRIGUEZ (13-3-1).
Collazo vs. Valdez
COLLAZO stops a vastly overmatched VALDEZ in two rounds. The sound of the bell for the first round had hardly faded before it was obvious that this fight was the total mismatch that everybody except the WBO accepted it would be. Collazo was firing right jabs and lefts to the body. Valdez tried some lead rights but was short. Collazo began to find the range and caught Valdez with straight lefts through his guard. As Valdez lunged forward in the second Collazo countered him with a left that dropped him to his hands and knees. He was up at eight. Two more glancing lefts saw Valdez go down again. Once more he arose at eight and threw himself forward taking the fight to Collazo but was forced to back off by counters from Collazo. A series of punches from Collazo sent Valdez to his knees for the third time. He beat the count and was prepared to continue but his corner were already climbing up to the ring apron and the fight was stopped.. Collazo is hoping to land a fight with IBF champion Pedro Taduran or he may stay at flyweight and aim for a fight with Ricardo Sandoval. Valdez will go back to being No 86 flyweight.
Gallardo vs. Bisla
Mexican light heavyweight GALLARDO wins a unanimous verdict over difficult Canadian BISLA. Gallardo built an early lead dropping Bisla with right in the second round. Bisla went down on his back but was up immediately complaining the punch landed on the back of his head and he was right. Gallardo kept taking the fight to Bisla marching forward behind a high guard and working to the body. Bisla, fighting mainly on the back foot, had success with counters and also did a lot of clinching to smother Gallardo’s attacks. Bisla had some success over the fifth and sixth but Gallardo was in control again in the seventh. Late in the round He nailed Bisla with a fierce uppercut and Bisla dropped forward heading for the canvas and grabbed Gallardo who shrugged him off. Bisla fell to the floor but the referee saw it as a push from Gallard so no count. Gallardo landed some powerful punches in the eighth and ninth driving forward and banging home body punches. Bisla looked on the way to taking the last round until Gallardo rocked him with a right . Scores 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 for Gallardo who wins the vacant WBO NABO and WBC Fecarbox titles. He had been carefully matched and Bisla was his first real test. Bisla showed some good skills and had won his last 7 fights,.
Abdullaev vs. Velasquez
Uzbek hope ABDULLAEV drops and stops Cuban VELASQUEZ. A right put Velasquez down in the first but he saw out the round. Abdullaev continued to pressure Velasquez over the next three rounds and always looked dangerous when he fired his right. He ended it in the fifth stunning Velasquez with a right to the head then finishing him with a left hook to the body that had Ayala taking the full count whilst on his hands and knees. Abdullaev, 23, was a World Championships gold medallist and competed at the 2024 Olympics. Velasquez, 37, suffers his second consecutive inside the distance defeat.
Edwards vs. Payton
Texan EDWARDS beats a seriously over matched PAYTON in two rounds. No glory for Edwards here. Payton spent the first round circling the ring stopping only to dart in and clinch and did not throw a single punch in those first three minutes. Edwards was following Payton around the ring and only managed to connect with a few jabs. Payton decided to change to southpaw for the second round. He prodded out a couple of jabs but when Edwards moved in and landed a glancing left to the side of Payton’s head Payton fell on his back and was counted. Another farce. So far the Pan American Games champion has taken less than 16 rounds for his seven wins and is learning nothing, Payton, 41, was only looking to survive and he failed at that.
Griffiths vs. Ayala
GRIFFITHS adds another win as he stops Mexican AYALA in the third. Griffiths , 20, used his longer reach and some vicious body punching to dominated the first two rounds. He hunted Ayala down in the third and sent him down with a body punch. Ayala did manage to get up but his corner was ready to pull him out and the fight was stopped. The Griffiths fight was scheduled for eight rounds but he gets his eighth inside the distance win. Now 4 defeats in his last 5 fights for Ayala.
Garcia vs. Rodriguez
In another poor match GARCIA drops Floridian RODRIGUEZ twice and it is over in the first round. Eleventh victory by KO/TKO for the prospect from Colorado. Third quick inside the distance loss in a row for Rodriguez.
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND: SUPER FEATHER: RYAN GARNER (20-0) W PTS 12 MICHAEL MAGNESI (26-3). LIGHT HEAVY: LEWIS EDMONDSON (11-1) W PTS 10 LYNDON ARTHUR (25-3). MIDDLE: BRADLEY GOLDSMITH (16-1) W PTS 10 BRAD PAULS (21-3-1). SUPER MIDDLE: TAYLOR BEVAN (9-0) W PTS 10 RYSZARD LEWICKI (12-4-3).
Garner vs. Magnesi
GARNER wins the WBC Interim title as he outpoints Italian MAGNESI. A comprehensive victory for Garner in his biggest test so far. Garner was expected to prefer to box at distance but Magnesi was looking to make it an inside fight. Garner was not about to be bullied and he showed he was able to more than hold his own against the visitor by taking the fight to Magnesi and forcing him to the ropes from the first. It could not be described as a brawl as both fighters were firing quantity hooks and uppercuts with Garner landing more and better punches. After the first four rounds the judges all had Garner in front with two cards reading 40-36 and the third 39-37. Garner extended his lead as he drove Magnesi to the ropes and kept him there for periods during the middle rounds. Magnesi was fighting hard but just being outfought. He competed hard to make the seventh and eighth close but after eight rounds he was already needing a knockout to win with the scores at 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74 . Any impetus Magnesi built over the seventh and eighth dissolved as Garner staggered him with a left hook in the ninth. Magnesi was not finished and he had his best round of the fight in the tenth as he turned Garner onto the ropes and banged home hooks and uppercuts. He tried to force Garner back in the eleventh but walked onto powerful counters and with the fight won Garner eased his way through the twelfth. Scores 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112. Local fighter Garner has already won The British, European, Commonwealth and WBC International titles so one more to his collection. The Interim title can often be a blind alley but with Magnesi No 1 and Garner No 2 with the WBC this win should guarantee Garner a title fight. Former IBO champion Magnesi will rebound and be in other high profile fights.
Edmondson vs. Arthur
EDMONDSON gets a close unanimous decision over A
ARTHUR. Edmondson boxed cleverly to offset the power of Arthur. He started by boxing southpaw in the first but also switched to orthodox. He also just did enough with his jab to unsettle Arthur making him wait too long before firing punches and messed Arthur up inside. When Arthur did let his hands go he was scoring well with his jab and right crosses and doing the cleaner work Edmondson switched guard in the fourth and came forward landing some clean shots and driving Arthur back but their styles did not gel and it was too often a messy affair. Arthur let his hands goi more over the fifth and sixth upping the pressure and closing the distance. Edmondson was at his tricky best in the seventh and eighth boxing on the back foot and raking Arthur with straight shots from both hands. Edmondson was fleet-footed in the ninth dancing around Arthur painting him ewith dabbing jabs with Arthur unable to pin Edmondson down. The last was close with Edmondson not looking to take any chances and Arthur unable to set himself to maunch a big finish. Edmonson won on scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 96-95.
Edmondson scored a big win he outpointed Dan Azeez for the vacant British and Commonwealth titles in 2024 but suffered a setback in his last fight in July 2025 in losing to Daniel Lapin. This win lands him the vacant WBA International title and a spot back in the domestic mix. Arthur, a former IBO champion, lost on points against Dimitrii Bivol for the IBO and WBA light heavy titles in 2023 and is now 2-2 in 4 title fights since then.
Goldsmith vs. Pauls
GOLDSMITH springs a surprise as he takes a wide unanimous decision over more experienced PAULS . Over the early rounds Goldsmith boxed with confidence behind his right jabs and accurate straight lefts. Pauls, as expected, tried to put Goldsmith under pressure and outwork him inside but just could not find a way to consistently get past Goldsmith’s jab and was being picked off at distance. Goldsmith already had a lead by the half-way mark and was boosted by a flash knockdown in the sixth. Pauls was down but it seemed more a slip but there had also been a punch and the referee gave Pauls a count. That count seemed to be a wakeup call to Pauls and he had some success in dragging Goldsmith into a brawl in the seventh and eighth. Goldsmith steadied the ship and boxed confidently over the ninth and tenth to win on scores of 99-90 twice and 97-92. Goldsmith wins the IBF International title. He had suffered a setback last year when he was stopped in seven rounds by Tony Coleman but had bounced back with three wins. Pauls , a former British champion, had scored wins over unbeaten fighters Nathan Heaney and Shakiel Thompson with the victory over Thompson winning him this IBF International belt.
Bevan vs. Lewicki
Local fighter BEVAN wins a majority decision over LEWICKI. Both worked their jab hard in the early rounds before the fight turned into a close-quarters battle over the closing rounds. Lewicki pressed constantly to offset Bevan’s better skills and the fight was hard-fought and close. Neither is a puncher and neither was able to dominate for any extended period. With the fight in the balance Bevan had a big seventh when he connected with combinations that had Lewicki reeling and he carried that advantage into the eighth. Lewicki survived and came back strongly but Bevan was a good winner. Scores 97-94 twice for Bevan and 95-95. Bevan, 25. was going ten rounds for the first time and this was a valuable learning experience as Polish-born Lewicki gave him a stern test.
JUNE 17
MONTREAL, CANADA: WELTER: MAZLUM AKDENIZ (24-0) W PTS 10 MAURICE LEE (15-3-2).
AKDENIZ has an easy night against LEE. The only problem Akdeniz had was pinning down the reluctant Lee. The fourth was the only round in which Lee was really competitive and Akdeniz upped his pace over the last three rounds looking for a stoppage but Lee lasted the distance. All three cards read 100-90 For the Canadian southpaw. Fellow-southpaw Lee, who is yet to lose inside the distance, was having his first fight since March last year when he was outpointed by unbeaten Freudis Rojas.
JUNE 19
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA : SUPER MIDDLE: EDIN AVDIC (16-0) W KO 1 JUAN NARVAEZ (12-1).
Avdic vs. Narvaez
Austrian AVDIC finishes unbeaten Colombian NARVAEZ in the first round. Avdic forced Narvaez back with a couple of jabs and then landed two left hooks to the body and a right to the head. Narvaez went down and was counted out whilst on his hands and knees. Eleventh inside the distance victory for WBA No 10 Avdic who was making the second defence of the WBA International title. Narvaez, 21, had won all of his 12 fights by KO/TKO but most of his recent victims have been over 40 or poor quality and often both.
MADRID, SPAIN: SUPER MIDDLE: JOSE NAVARRO (17-2,1 ND) NO DEC 3 OLIVER ZAREN (19-0,1 ND). WELTER: AARON ALHAMBRA (18-2-1) TEC DRAW ANAS MESSAOUDI (18-0-2).
Navarro vs. Zaren
This match for the vacant European title promised to be an exciting battle between two 26-year-olds but the weather was the only winner. The show was held outdoors and heavy rain soaked the ring. Zaren looked to have taken the first two rounds but Navarro had a good third before the fight was abandoned
Alhambra vs. Messaoudi
There was a second disappointment for the crowd when the fight for the vacant European title was ended in the sixth due to a cut suffered by Alhambra in a clash of heads. The cut was too serious for Alhambra to continue so it went to the judge’s cards which read 58-56 for Alhambra, 58-56 for Messaoudi and 57-57.
Hopefully the two vacant titles will be contested by the same fighters but new purse bidding Will be needed.
LONG BEACH, CA, USA: SUPER LIGHT: ERNESTO MERCADO (19-0) W KO 2 JUAN BURGOS (36-9-3). SUPER LIGHT: ASHTON SYLVE (14-1) W PTS 10 JOSEPH DIAZ (34-9-1). LIGHT: DEVON CUSHING (19-0) W PTS 10 J’HON INGRAM (9-1). MIDDLE: AMIR ANDERSON (8-0) W PTS 10 JONAS SYLVAIN 9-1-1)
Mercado vs. Burgos
MERCADO brushes aside experienced BURGOS. Mercado was jabbing strongly and shook Burgos with a left hook sending Burgos to the ropes. Burgos was backing along the ropes and each time he tried to come to the centre of the ring he was forced back by hooks body clubbing rights. In the second Burgos was again against the ropes with Mercado stepping in with fast combinations. There was nothing coming back from Bustos who was just covering up. Mercado landed a right and a left and Bustos head dropped to a knee. He was up at nine but was trapped in a corner and went down again and was counted out. Mercado, 24, has won 18 of his 19 fights by KO/TKO and is No 5 with the WBO and is a threat in the division. Burgos, 38, fought a draw with Roman Martinez for the WBO super feather title in 2013 but has now lost 3 of his last 4 fights.
Sylve vs. Diaz
Youth is served as SYLVE gets a unanimous decision over DIAZ. Sylve, 22, dominated the first half of the fight. He had height, reach and youth on his side. Diaz, 33, tried to put Sylve under pressure but Sylve used some quick footwork to stay out of trouble and connected with rights to head and body. Sylve built a good lead and needed it. The one thing Diaz did have on his side was experience and he paced the fight better. Sylve had set a fast pace and he slowed allowing Diaz to stage a strong finish but he came up short as the judges scored it 97-93 twice and 98-92 for Sylve. Since a 2024 kayo loss to Canadian Lucas Bahdi Sylve has rebuilt with three wins. Former IBF super feather champion Diaz has only won 2 of his last 11 fights.
Cushing vs. Ingram
In his first ten round fight CUSHING outpoints INGRAM. Southpaw Cushing was 4” taller with the longer reach and was also much stronger than Ingram. With Cushing’s physical edges Ingram had to try to get inside but he was being bullied by Cushing and talking punishment against the ropes as Cushing took a lead . Ingram fought back hard and was willing to stand and trade punches and was competitive. It turned into a phonebooth fight with brutal exchanges and Ingram was more than holding his own. He looked to have cut Cushing’s lead but Cushing was stronger over the ninth and tenth to get the win. Scores 97-93 for Cushing from the three judges.
Anderson vs. Sylvain
Flashy but impressive showing from ARMSTRONG as he wins every round against unbeaten SYLVAIN. From the start Armstrong was too quick for Sylvain getting his punches off first firing jabs and hooks to put Sylvain on the back foot. When Sylvain did come forward Armstrong was letting him come and scoring with quick counters and then sliding away and turning Sylvain onto the ropes. He was also switching guards and changing angles. Sylvain kept trying pin Armstrong down but despite his best efforts it was a one-sided match. Armstrong won on scores of 100-90 on the three cards. Anderson, 22, was a National Golden Gloves champion and twice US National champion so one to follow. Sylvain, a National Golden Gloves bronze medallist had scored four first round wins but was no match for Anderson.
JUNE 20
FLEMINGTON, AUSTRALIA: HEAVY: KRIS TERZIEVSKI (15-1-2) W TKO 2 JASKARAN SINGH (15-9).
TERZIEVSKI proves too big and too strong for Indian SINGH and stops him in the second round. Southpaw Terzievski, 36, a former undefeated Australian champion, has reversed his only loss and is unbeaten in his last 8 fights. The number for Singh is also 8 but for him it is his eighth inside the distance defeat.
HERSTAL, BELGIUM: SUPER WELTER: ERDONIS MALIQI (9-0) W KO 1 STEVE SUPPAN (16-5-1). MIDDLE: AMAURY MASSENAUX (16-4-1) W PTS 8 MOHAMMED GRAICH (12-6-1).
Maliqi vs. Suppan
Belgium-based Kosovan MALIQI wins the vacant Belgian title with as first round kayo of Dutchman SUPPAN. Body punches were the undoing of Suppan. He was down twice from body punches and counted out from the second punch. Sixth win by KO/TKO for 25-year-old Maliqi. Only one win in his last 4 fights for Suppan.
Massenaux vs. Graich
Belgian MASSENAUX outpoints Italian GRAICH. Scores 79-76, 78-74 and 77-75 for Massenaux. Both fighters have lost in shots at their national titles.
SANTIAGO, CHILE: SUPER FEATHER: JUNIOR CRUZAT (18-0) W TKO 1 JAIR MULETT (12-1).
Local hope CRUZAT flattens Colombian MULETT in the first round. Both were looking to stand and trade until late in the round when Cruzat backed Mulett to the ropes and then exploded with a booming left hook that sent Mulett down flat on his back under the bottom rope and no count required. Cruzat, the UBO champion, was defending the WBO Youth title. Mulett is the Colombian featherweight champion.
PHOENIX, AZ, USA: HEAVY: KINGSLEY IBEH (17-3-1) W KO 8 DANTE STONE (21-3). SUPER MIDDLE: ELIJAH GARCIA (18-2) W TKO 1 RYAN ADAMS (12-12-1).
Ibeh vs. Stone
IBEH knocks out STONE in the eighth round. This was a laborious, slow contest between two big ponderous guys. Stone was 27 lbs heavier that the 261 lbs Ibeh but it was not an advantage as Ibeh was a bit more mobile. Both spent the fight swinging wildly and they seemed to think defence was a French garden partition. They tired badly and by the eighth Ibeh was driving Stone around the ring. He connected with a horrendous right that sent Stone down spreadeagled on the canvas out cold. Stone needed medical attention and was stretchered from the ring wearing a neck brace but was released from hospital the next day. Nigerian Ibeh, 32, makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO and collects the WBC Fecarbox, WBA Continental and Arizona State titles. In his last fight in January he lost a split decision against Jarrell Miller. He is the cousin of heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi who was on the cusp of a world title shot when he was jailed from 1999 until his release in 2020. Stone, 31, lost a split decision against Kevin Ramirez in the semi-finals of the WBC Grand Prix.
Garcia vs. Adams
GARCIA gets back in the winners list as he stops ADAMS in the first round. A needed win as after winning his first 16 fights he was then 1-2 in his next 3. Adams is 1-5 in his last 6 fights.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA: WELTER: BRANDEN PIZARRO (21-2-1) W PTS 8 MICHAEL LEE (11-5). MIDDLE: KYRONE DAVIS (20-4-1) W PTS 8 DAIJOHN GONZALEZ (14-10).
14
Pizarro vs. Lee
PIZARRO eases his way to victor on a unanimous decision over LEE. Pizzaro outboxed Lee from the first round. He was quicker with better skills and Lee was never in the night min any meaningful way and did his part by going the distance giving Pizarro ring time after a year away. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73
Davis vs. Gonzalez
DAVIS was returning after 13 months and also registered a win on points as he decisioned GONZALEZ. From the start Davis was finding the target with rights and southpaw Gonzalez was never in the fight in a meaningful way and Davis cruised to victory with the three cards all reading 80-72. Davis had scored a good win over unbeaten Elijah Garcia in 2024 but was well beaten by Yoenli Her4nandez in his only fight in 2025 so needs to be more active. Gonzalez is 2-5 in his last 7 bouts
OBSERVATION:
Red Cards to the WBO and WBC
WBO
Originally Collazo was to have defended his WBA and WBO minimumweight titles against Filipino Joey Canoy. Unfortunately Canoy had visa problems so Mexican Neider Valdez was drafted in as a late substitute on one day’s notice. Valdez had a 15-3-3- record but had not fought at minimumweight since early 2024 and in his last fight in May had drawn over six rounds with a guy with a 4-4 record. He was not in the WBO ratings and was rated No 82 flyweight by BoxRec. The WBO had agreed to sanctioned this farcical match for their 105 lbs title but were made to look even more ridiculous when Valdez came in at 112.2 lbs at the weigh in. With the vision of a sanctioning fee disappearing the WBO changed the fight to be for their International flyweight title two divisions above the minimumweight division and were saved from the disgrace of having agreed to such a horrendous title fight.
WBC
If you have a very good memory you may recall that Jose Sulaiman said the WBC were abandoning interim titles and replacing them with Silver titles. Of course abandoning possible sanctioning fees quickly scrubbed out that idea. Interim bouts were intended to keep a title active if the champion would be unable to defend for an extended period and as such the name was in line with the dictionary definition of interim. Now we have a title which is meaningless. On 30 May O’Shaquie Foster outpointed Ray Ford in defence of his WBC super featherweight title. Twenty-one days later Ryan Garner outpoints Michalek Magnesi for the WBC interim super featherweight title. I would love to hear Mauricio Syulaiman’s understanding of the word Interim. Perhaps it refers to the fact that it is 21 days since the WBC had a ridiculous excuse for milking another sanctioning fee.
Rosette: WBA
They have dropped the Bridgerweight division. Good for you. Next week they will probably invent another title! Of course they could have an interim title until they think up a name for another title.