The Past Week in Action 26 July 2021

Miss any of this week’s action in the sport? Get caught up with “The Past Week in Action” by Eric Armit; with a review of all major cards in the boxing for the past week.

Highlights:

-Joe Joyce strengthens his claim to a world title shot with stoppage of Carlos Takam

-Murat Gassiev returns to action and stops Michael Wallisch in a heavyweight contest

-Alberto Puello and Eric Rosa win in WBA interim title fights in the Dominican Republic

– Fifty-year-old cruiserweight Firat Arslan keeps his dream of becoming the oldest fighter to win a world title as he gets an easy win over Ruben Acosta

 

 

World Title/Major Shows

 

24 July

 

London, England: Heavy: Joe Joyce (13-0) W TKO 6 Carlos Takam (39-6-1), Welter: Ekow Essuman (15-0) W TKO 8 Chris Jenkins (22-4-3). Super Welter: Hamza Sheeraz (13-0) W KO 5 Ezequiel Gurria (15-2). Super Bantam: Chris Bourke (10-0) W PTS 10 James Beech (12-2). Heavy: David Adeleye (7-0) W TKO 4 Mladen Manev (3-10). Super Light: Sam Noakes (7-0) W RTD 2 Naeem Ali (2-71-1).

Joyce vs. Takam

Joyce retains the Commonwealth, WBC Silver and WBO International titles as he stops Takam in the sixth. Takam was giving away height, weight and reach against Joyce and his tactics were to keep moving and throw overhand rights. Joyce was padding forward as usual in the first stabbing out jabs and throwing straight rights. It was Takam who was catching the eye as he scored early with a strong right and ended the round connecting with four more. Joyce continued to come forward in the second landing some clubbing shots and a couple of rights to the body. Takam connected with a left hook to the head and again banged home some right crosses. The punches just bounced off Joyce. The third saw Takam’s pace drop as Joyce began to find a home for more of his powerful jabs and heavy rights but Takam threw himself forward on the attack late in the fourth again getting through with rights to the head.

The body punches started to take their toll on Takam who slowed in the fifth. Joyce was landing heavily but Takam again attacked fiercely at the end of the round. In the first few seconds of the sixth a left hook from Joyce sent Takam stumbling back across the ring on rubbery legs. Joyce followed him landing a whole series of head punches. Initially Takam was punching back but then after a few more head punches from Joyce he stopped doing that and just covered up as Joyce bounced punches off his head/gloves and sent him reeling. The referee came in and stopped the fight only for Takam to pop his head over his high guard shouting in protest at the stoppage. He continued to berate the referee but with his experience he must have known that by letting Joyce throw almost thirty punches without throwing a single punch back he was leaving the referee little choice but to stop the fight. Joyce is rated WBO 2/WBC 5/IBF 10(9) and was calling out Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury but he probably have to wait until next year before he gets a title shot. Takam was enraged by the stoppage and has demanded a return but Joyce will be looking forward and not back.

Essuman vs. Jenkins

Essuman wins the British and Commonwealth titles as after a high action competitive fight he overwhelms and injured Jenkins in the eighth round. They are well-schooled fighters and from the start both men showed well with their jab. Jenkins took the first round just winning the duel if the jabs but Essuman seemed to take the second with more variety in his work. He landed some hard body punches and it later transpired that one of those punches had broken a rib in the left side of Jenkins. Both scored well in the third and the fourth swung one way and then the other. Essuman started with a fierce attack and had Jenkins reeling. Jenkins steady himself and then fired back and dominated the second half of an excellent round with his jab. Essuman outworked Jenkins in the fifth and sixth. He was coming forward throwing punches with Jenkins no longer as strong with his jab. Essuman also took the seventh with Jenkins constantly on the back foot and off target with his jab and Essuman getting through with hard punches from both hands. Essuman launched a furious attack at the start of the eight and suddenly Jenkins was in trouble being caught with heavy punches and just covering up under fire and the referee made a timely stoppage. Botswana-born Essuman gets his sixth inside the distance win. Welshman Jenkins was having his first fight for twenty months and will be hoping for a return match when his injury heals.

Sheeraz vs. Gurria

Sheeraz grinds down and stops Spaniard Gurria in the fifth round. Sheeraz had huge edges in height and reach and he used those to put Gurria under pressure over the first two rounds but the pace was slow. Sheeraz increased the tempo in the third driving Gurria back across the ring with a series of punishing jabs. He continued to put his punches together well in the fourth and then floored Gurria with a left hook to the body. Gurria made it to his feet but when he was dumped on the canvas again with right to the body and a left to the head the fight was stopped. Seventh consecutive early win for the 6’1” 22-year-old Shiraz who was putting the WBO European belt on the line for the third time. Former Spanish champion Gurria was just not big enough to trouble Sheeraz.

Bourke vs. Beech

Bourke boxes his way to a clear decision over Beech in a fast-paced match. Bourke took control of the centre of the ring in the first round and never relinquished that control. He used sharp accurate right jabs and straight lefts to scores at distance and when Beech did try to come forward Bourke met him with hard, accurate counters. Beech just could not get a foothold in the fight. He made the seventh and eighth rounds close but took heavy punishment in the ninth and was out boxed by Bourke in the last. Scores 100-90, (99-91 and 99-92. First defence of the WBC International belt for Bourke. Second defeat in a row for Beech who lost a decision against Brad Foster for the Commonwealth and British titles in July last year.

Adeleye vs. Manev

Adeleye stops Manev in four rounds. The Bulgarian was carrying lots of extra weight around his middle and Adeleye was able to land body punches with both hands in the first. Manev was cut over his left eye in a second round which saw little action. Adeleye upped his pace notably in the third scoring with clubbing head shots and some spectacular uppercuts. Adeleye was in control in the fourth and when he landed another uppercut Manev back away to a corner and then confusion reigned. Manev seemed to be indicating a problem with his left eye. He started to drop looking to take a knee so the referee could step in. He did not go all the way down but dropped his hand and the referee did not step in so Adeleye connected with a heavy right on Manev who was in a semi-crouch. Manev was so enraged over that punch that he went wild throwing punches resulting in a wild brawl before an uppercut did put him down. He beat the count but went down again from a left to the body with the referee ending the fight immediately. Sixth win by TKO/TKO for the 24-year-old Londoner. Manev was a top level amateur but he competed at 75kg (165lbs) and 81kg (178lbs) then and he was 228lbs here in losing the fifth of his last six fights.

Noakes vs. Ali

Noakes gets another inside the distance victory but the real surprise was Ali being stopped. Noakes usually comes out firing punches but he took a more measured approach here against survival expert Ali. Noakes landed some stiff body shots in the first but Ali blocked most of the shots and was not in any real trouble. In the second Noakes began to find the target with some vicious uppercuts but Ali made it to the bell. There was blood coming from Ali’s nose which seemed to be broken and he retired in the interval. Noakes has won all of his fights by KO/TKO but the real news was that this is the first time in 74 fights-including 71 losses- that Ali has failed to last the distance

 

 

21 July

 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Super Light: Alberto Puello (19-0) W PTS 12 Jesus Rubio (13-4-1). Minimum: Eric Rosa (4-0) W PTS 12 Ricardo Astuvilca (21-1). Light Heavy: Lenin Castillo (21-3-1) W RTD 4 Ronald Gonzalez (8-1).

Puello vs. Rubio

Puello remains unbeaten and retains the interim WBA title as he takes wide unanimous verdict over Mexican Rubio. Puello put Rubio down with a right just before the bell to end the first round and was in control from there. He used his superior skills and accurate southpaw straight lefts with the strong but limited Rubio out of his depth. Puello cruised over the middle rounds before trying to put Rubio away in the last with a barrage of body punches but Rubio just made it to the final bell. Scores 120-107 on the three cards for Puello. With the WBA loading this division with super, world and Gold title holders Puello is a long way down the pecking order but ” The Wasp” is a quality fighter too good to be left down the blind alley of an interim title. Rubio was a very ordinary level challenger and no real threat to Puello.

Rosa vs. Astuvilca

In only his fourth fight Dominican hot prospect “Mini Pac-Man” Rosa outpoints Peruvian Astuvilca to collect the vacant WBA belt in an entertaining scrap. Southpaw Rosa had height and reach over Astuvilca and comfortably outboxed the little Peruvian over the first three rounds. Astuvilca was credited with a questionable knockdown in the fourth and carried that momentum into the fifth. Rosa then took the next four rounds but then had to fight hard to hold off a fierce finish from Astuvilca over the closing rounds but was a clear winner. Scores 117-110 twice and 114-113 for Rosa. The new title holder is still a work in progress but has plenty of talent. Astuvilca has very little skill but plenty of energy and aggression but his record has been built on very modest opposition.

Castillo vs. Gonzalez

Castillo gets a win as Gonzalez retires at the end of the fourth round due to a swelling over his right eye hampering his vision. Castillo had no real problem here in piercing the Venezuelan’s guard or dealing with Gonzalez’s crude attacks. A clash of heads in the first saw a swelling developing over the right eye of Gonzalez. Castillo handed out plenty of punishment over the second and third rounds and staggered Gonzalez a couple of times in the fourth leading to the doctor examining the swelling in the interval and indicating the fight should be halted. The 21-year-old 6’2” Castillo lost to Dmitry Bivol in a shot at the secondary WBA in his last fight in October 2019. Venezuelan Gonzalez has a very padded record with his eight victims having only one win between them.

 

Tokyo Japan, Fly: Seigo Akui (16-2-1) W TKO 10 Taku Kuwahara (8-1).

“Yuri” Akui retains the Japanese flyweight title with a tenth round stoppage of “Ioka II” Kuwhara. Akui put Kuwahara down in the opening round but Kuwahara fought back hard enough for it to be close going into the last round. In the tenth Akui floored Kawahara again with a heavy right and the fight was stopped. Eleventh inside the distance victory for Akui. His “Yuri” nickname is a tribute to former flyweight title holder Yuri Arbachakov and Kuwahara’s nickname is “Ioka II” after four-division title holder Kazuto Ioka.

 

22 July

 

Moscow, Russia: Heavy: Murat Gassiev (28-1,1ND) W TKO 4 Michael Wallisch (22-5). Super Fly: Mikhail Aloyan (7-1) W PTS 10 Mchanja Yohana (12-3). Feather: Andranik Grigoryan (14-0) W PTS 10 Nathaniel Kakololo (11-3-1). Vladimir Nikitin (5-1-1) W RTD 3 Raul Aghayev (31-10)

Gassiev vs. Wallisch

Now campaigning at heavyweight Gassiev stops Wallisch in four rounds. Gassiev landed a hard right in the first that started a bruising under the left eye of Wallisch but apart from that one punch for three rounds Gassiev just tracked Wallisch around the ring hardly throwing a punch. Wallisch landed a right in the third which was the best punch to that point. Gassiev finally showed some fire in the fourth using his jab and throwing some hooks. Wallisch already looked to be tiring and went down heavily from a hard right. Wallisch made it to his feet and Gassiev then had him reeling under a barrage of punches and the referee stopped the fight The former IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion  looked slow but as this is only his second fight in three years (and one day) that was understandable but he needs to improve from this showing. Wallisch is now 3-5 in his last 6 fights with all of the losses by KO/TKO against tough opposition.

Aloyan vs. Yohana

Aloyan outpoints Tanzanian Yohana. Aloyan was just too quick for Yohana. He was able to score with his jab at distance and get inside and land a punch before Yohana could counter. Yohana came forward for much of the fight and although he made Aloyan work hard he just lacked the speed and accuracy of Aloyan. Scores 99-91 for Aloyan on the three cards. Armenian-born Aloyan was World amateur champion in 2011 and 2013 and a gold medallist at the European Championships. He scored wins over Khalid Yafai, Nordine Oubaali, Andrew Selby, Rau’shee Warren and Tugstsogt Nyambayan in the amateurs but lost to Zolani Tete for the WBA bantam title in 2018. Yohana did not have the power or the experience to threaten Aloyan.

Grigoryan vs. Kakololo

Armenian-born Grigoryan takes unanimous decision over Namibian Kakololo. The 5’4” Grigoryan chased down the taller Namibian over the full ten rounds. Kakololo showed some good skills but not much power and Grigoryan was able to get inside and score constantly. He is no puncher himself and never had Kakololo in any trouble. Kakololo had shown well in his last fight in Russia only losing on a majority decision against WBO No 6 Oleg Malinowski.

Nikitin vs. Aghayev

Nikitin batters Azeri Aghayev to defeat in three rounds. Nikitin came out throwing punches from the first bell and never stopped. He hustled and harried late substitute Aghayev around the ring in the second and third and at times only the ropes held Aghayev up. Aghayev gave it everything in the third standing and trading with Nikitin but he was rocked a few times and retired at the end of the round. Nikitin’s loss came against Michael Conlan who gained revenge for a controversial loss to Nikitin in the Rio Olympics.

 

23 July

 

Panama City, Panama: Welter: Johan Gonzalez (28-1) W KO 2 Likar Ramos (30-11). Super Bantam: Liborio Solis (32-6-1, ND) W PTS 8 Marlon Olea (14-8). Feather: Yonfrez Parejo (24-4-1) W RTD 3 Jordan Escobar (16-13-2). Feather: Rafael Pedroza W KO 2 Mauricio Martinez (15-22-2).

Gonzalez vs. Ramos

Venezuelan Gonzalez knocks out Colombian southpaw Ramos early in the second round. All 28 of Gonzalez’s victories have come by KO/TKO. His loss was a split decision against Charlie Navarro in July 2019. Former WBA interim WBA super feather title holder Ramos has won only one of his last six fights

Solis vs. Olea

Seasoned pro Solis floors and outpoints Colombian Olea. Scores 80-71 twice and 79-72 for the 39-year-old Venezuelan a former holder of the WBA super flyweight title. He is 7-1 in his last 8 fights with the loss being a split decision to Guillermo Rigondeaux for the vacant secondary WBA bantam title in February last year. Olea falls to 1-7 in his most recent activity.

Parejo vs. Escobar

Parejo handed out some severe punishment and Nicaraguan Jordan Escobar did not come out for the fourth round. The 34-year-old Parejo lost to Ryan Burnett in a challenge for the WBA bantamweight and Brandon Figueroa for the interim secondary WBA super bantamweight titles. Escobar drops to 1-6 in his last 7 fights.

Pedroza vs. Martinez

Panamanian Pedroza makes it ten wins by KO/TKO in his eleven fights as he puts Colombian Mauricio Martinez down and out in the second round. Pedraza, 24, is No 15 super bantamweight with the WBA. Poor Colombian Martinez has lost 14 times by KO/TKO.

 

Grand Island. NE, USA: Super Middle: Isaiah Steen (16-0,1ND) W PTS 10 Kelvin Henderson (14-1-1). Welter: Janelson Figueroa Bocachica (17-0-1) DREW 10 Shinard Bunch (15-2,1ND).

12

Steen vs. Henderson

Steen wins a unanimous verdict over Henderson in a clash of unbeaten fighters. Henderson made a promising start connecting with rights in the first and doing enough to share the second. When heads banged together in the second Henderson was cut over his left eye and from there Steen took control. He outlanded Henderson in the fourth and rocked him with a right in the fifth. Henderson did enough to take the sixth but Steen banged back hurting Henderson with rights in the seventh. Henderson took the fight to Steen over the eighth and ninth but Steen boxed well behind his jab and edged the tenth to take the decision. Scores 97-93 twice and 95-94 for Steen. Good win for Steen, 24, the brother of unbeaten former Olympian Charles Conwell. Texan Henderson will rebound and if that does not work then he can fall back on his bachelor’s degree in music education.

Bunch vs. Bocachica

This contest between Bunch and Bocachica ends as a draw although Bunch looked a clear winner. From the start Bunch had his jab working well and was on target with long rights. He was using good upper body movement to bob and weave under Bocachica’s punches and landing jarring shots from both hands. Bunch looked to have swept the first six rounds and although Bocachica shook Bunch a couple of times in the seventh and eighth Bunch scored well in the ninth and then boxed his way through the last. The judges came up with scores of 97-93 for Bunch 96-94 for Bocachica and 95-95.

 

Boujan-sur-Libron, France: Super Light: Bastien Ballesta (23-0-1) W RTD 6 Hedi Slimani (33-7-1).

Local fighter Ballesta wins the vacant WBC Francophone belt with injury victory over Hedi Slimani. It was Slimani who took the first crowding Ballesta and scoring with  strong rights. Ballesta settled into the fight in then boxed cleverly over the second and third. Slimani was dangerous with his power in the fourth but Ballesta was defending well and countering accurately. Ballesta dominated the action in the fifth and sixth as Slimani showed signs of a shoulder injury and retired after the sixth. Former French champion Ballesta drew his first pro fight so this is win No 23 in a row. Slimani was 26-2 but after a points loss to Richard Commey in 2017 has fallen away.

 

Maccarese, Italy: Super Welter: Mirko Di Carlantonio (11-7-1) DREW 10 Marco Papasidero (9-2-4). Super Welter: Mirko Natalizi (11-0) W PTS 8 Dmytro Shcherbyna (10-1-1). Feather: Mauro Forte (16-0-1) W KO 3 Romic Airapetean (9-2).

Di Carlantonio vs. Papasidero

The Italian title remains vacant as Di Carlantonio and Papasidero fight to a draw. Papasidero dropped Di Carlantonio with a right in the opening round and used all-out aggression and effective body punching to move into a clear lead. Di Carlantonio, 40, fought back hard and produced the stronger finish to earn a share of the points. Scores 95-94 for Papasidero, 95-94 for Di Carlantonio and 95-95. A good fight and they will have to go up against each other again.

Natalizi vs. Shcherbyna

Good test for Natalizi against Ukrainian Shcherbyna. Natalizi scored heavily over the middle rounds but Shcherbyna did not crumble and remained competitive until Natalizi floored him in the last to cement his victory.

Natalizi  26yo based Rome, 5’ 11 ½” 7 wins id,

Shcherbyna  25yo Ukrainian, 6’0”, 3 wins id 0 losses id,

Forte vs. Airapetean

Unbeaten southpaw Forte blows away Moldovan Airapetean in three rounds. Forte floored Airapetean in the first and  continued to ram home heavy punches in the second. Airapetean survived but was floored twice in the third and counted out. European Union champion Forte is waiting for a date for his title defence against Francesco Grandelli.

 

Osaka, Japan: Light Fly: Riku Kano (18-4-1) W TKO 9 Takumi Sakae (22-4-1). Middle: Yuki Nonaka (35-10) W PTS 12 Koki Koshikawa (9-3).

Kano vs. Sakae

Kano has to get off the canvas twice against heavy puncher Sakae to retain his WBO Asia Pacific title. It looked early as though Sakae was on his way to victory when he put Kano down in the second and fourth rounds. He failed to finish the champion and over the second half of the fight Kano’s body punching wore-down Sakae and with Sakae reeling under an array of punches in the ninth the fight was stopped. Fifth consecutive win for the WBO No 6. First inside the distance defeat for Sakae.

Nonaka vs. Koshikawa

Age no barrier as 43-year-old Nonaka returns to action with a successful defence of the WBO Asia Pacific belt on a unanimous decision over Koshikawa. Nonaka comfortably outboxed the young challenger slotting punches through Wahiawa’s guard and banging home straight lefts. Koshikawa tried to take the fight to Nonaka but by the middle of the fight he was bloody and bruised. He survived some doctor’s examinations but was never able to match Nonaka for skills. This was Nonaka’s first fight since September 2019 Scores 119-109 twice and a confusing 115-113 all for southpaw Nonaka who turned pro back in 1999.

 

Cuernavaca, Mexico: Heavy: Arslanbek Makhmudov (12-0) W TKO 1 Pavel Sour (13-5)

Canadian-based Russian Makhmudov gets another quick win. After a first exchange of punches Makhmudov landed a booming right to Sour’s temple that sent him down heavily with the referee immediately waiving the fight over after just 33 seconds. The 32-year-old 6’5 ½” Makhmudov has won all of his fights by KO/TKO with eight first round finishes. Czech Sour suffers his fourth inside the distance loss.

 

24 July

 

Brisbane, Australia: Super Light: Liam Paro (21-0) W PTS 10 Steve Gago (12-2). Super Welter: Tysinn Best (14-2) W PTS 10 Adrian Rodriguez (13-4-2). Cruiser: Floyd Masson (10-0) W TKO 4 Joseph Liga (6-3-1).

Paro vs. Gago

Paro much too good for limited but willing for fellow southpaw Gago in a slow-paced uninspiring fight. He outboxed Gago and sent him down in the fifth with a left to the head. Gago was going back at the time so it wasn’t a heavy knockdown and Gago got up quickly and back into the fight but found the skills of Paro too much. Scores 99-90 twice and 100-89. Paro is No 2 with the WBO and No 3(2) with the IBF so like all super lightweights he is waiting to see what happens with Josh Taylor.

Best vs. Rodriguez

Superior skills and a higher work rate won for Best here. He worked everything off his jab and although Rodriguez was dangerous with rights he was leaving himself open and Best was able to slot home jabs and connect with straight rights. Neither was hurt and with his aggressive approach Rodriguez made Best work hard. Scores 97-94 twice and 98-92 for Best. The former Australian welter champion wins the vacant Australasian title. Rodriguez is a former Australian champion.

Masson vs. Liga

New Zealand-born southpaw Masson proves just too strong for Liga and wins the vacant Australasian title.  Masson was in charge from the start with Liga willing to stand and trade with the stronger man. Masson was cut in the second round but slowly broke Liga down before flooring him with a series of vicious head punches in the fourth with the fight being stopped. Seventh inside the distance victory for Masson

 

Guarulhos, Brazil: Cruiser: Yamaguchi Falcao (17-1-1,1ND) W TKO 1 Clebson Tubarao (3-2-1).

13 A

In a disgraceful mismatch Falcao jumps up three divisions and stops Tubarao in the first round to win the vacant Brazilian cruiserweight title. This was a massacre as Falcao put the bigger Tubarao down four times before the fight was mercifully stopped. Falcoa, 33, is the elder brother of unbeaten Esquiva Falcao and won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics. This was his first fight since drawing with D’Mitrius Ballard in December 2019. Tubarao was having his first fight for over two years.

 

Agde, France: Super Feather: Florian Montels (21-2-2,1ND) W PTS 10 Carlos Cossio (8-8-3).

Home town fighter Montels hold on to the WBC Francophone title with unanimous decision over Peruvian Cossio. Scores 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93 for Montels who registers his eighth victory on the bounce.  French-based Cossio without a win in his last four fights.

 

Goeppingen, Germany: Cruiser: Firat Arslan (49-9-3) W KO 4 Ruben Acosta (38-18-4). Cruiser: Huseyin Cinkara (16-0) W RTD 6 Erdogan Kadrija (16-4). Heavy: Ali Kiydin (15-1) W KO 2 Dorde Tomic 3-3).

Arslan vs. Acosta

Farcically easy win for Arslan in a show staged in his own gym. Over the first two rounds Arslan was walking forward behind a high guard with a tubby Acosta just circling the perimeter of the ring. Arslan trapped Acosta in a corner in the third and landed a right to the body that saw Acosta take a count on one knee. He made it through the round but went down twice more from body punches in the fourth and was counted out. The 50-year-old Arslan wins the vacant WBA International title. He is No 5 with the WBA even though he has done nothing of consequence since losing to Kevin Lerena in February last year. His aim is now to challenge for the WBA title to become the oldest fighter to win a world title beating Bernard Hopkins record of winning the WBC light heavyweight title at the age of 46 but to gain recognition he will need to win the real WBA title. Argentinian Acosta, 43, weighed 152lbs at the start of his career and he was more than 40lbs heavier for this fight.

Cinkara vs. Kadrija

German Cinkara wins the vacant IBO Continental title. He floored Kadrija early and Kadrija retired at the end of the sixth round. Twelfth win by KO/TKO for 36-year-old Cinkara. Kosovo-born Kadrija had won 5 of his last 6 fights.

Kiydin vs. Tomic

Kiydin crushes novice Tomic in two rounds. He floored Tomic twice with body punches in the first and put him down with a savage combination in the second. Kiydin has 14 wins by KO/TKO but was knocked in 66 seconds by unbeaten New Zealander Hemi Aho in 2019.

 

Konigsbrunn, Germany: Minimum: Tina Rupprecht (10-0-1) W Kalia Gutierrez (23-7).

Fourth successful defence of the WBC Female title for Rupprecht as she takes a split decision over former IBF champion Gutierrez. Despite Gutierrez having, the longer reach Rupprecht controlled the fight from the centre of the ring constantly forcing Gutierrez on to the back foot with Gutierrez looking to counter punch. The fight was close all the way and at the end of the seventh round Rupprecht was in front on two cards and behind on the other. Rupprecht held on to her lead with her more aggressive approach. Scores 97-93 and 96-94 for Rupprecht and 96-94 for Gutierrez. Gutierrez came into the fight as the holder of the WBC Silver belt.

 

Fight of the week (Significance): Joe Joyce’s win over Carlos Takam puts him in line for a shot at the heavyweight title next year.

Fight of the week (Entertainment): The Eric Rosa vs. Ricardo Astuvilca provided plenty of entertainment

Fighter of the week: Joe Joyce as he marches on towards a title fight

Punch of the week: The right cross from Arslanbek Makhmudov that finished Pavel Sour was a blaster

Upset of the week:  None

Prospect watch: Super Bantamweight southpaw Chris Bourke put on an impressive display in outpointing James Beech

 

Observations

Records can be so deceptive. Take Nassem Ali who before his fight this week had a 2-70-1 record with all of his 70 losses on decisions. It is an awful record but it conceals the fact that Ali actually has quite a few skills and could have a better record. However he can make more money from taking short notice fights or going in against rising prospects. He cannot afford to be stopped and suspended as he always has to be ready and available-and he if he started to win he might even find the fights drying up.

If in trouble and looking for some recovery time it can be a good idea to spit out your mouthguard. The referee will then stop the action to recover it and then take you to a corner to get it a quick wash and then restart the fight. That trick did not work for Michael Wallisch. He “lost” his mouthguard after being floored by Murat Gassiev but the referee just picked up the mouthguard and stuck it back into the German’s mouth-not hygienic but it might make Wallisch think again before using that ploy.

Dominican Eric Rosa won the interim WBA minimumweight title in only his fourth pro fight. In fact all four of his fights have been for a title. In this age of multi-titles that is not the achievement it used to be and it distorts the level of his achievement as the WBA have four title holders at minimumweight in a super, secondary, gold and now interim. I can’t think of any other sport where the major bodies have damaged the standing of their sport as the sanctioning bodies have to boxing with now over 1.000 titles and more to come.