The Past Week in Action 6 December 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:

-Devin Haney retains the WBC lightweight title with unanimous decision over Joseph Diaz

-Anthony Yarde gets revenge as he knocks out Lyndon Arthur in four rounds to win the Commonwealth light heavyweight title

-Kevin Lejarraga knocks out Jack Flatley in European welterweight title defence

-In heavyweight action Michael Hunter and Jerry Forrest fight to a draw, Filip Hrgovic gets a win and Lucas Brown revives his career with kayo of Faiga Opetu

 

World Title/Major Shows

 

Atlantic City, NJ, USA: Super Feather: Christian Tapia (13-0 W TKO 10 Iron Alvarez (14-1). Welter: Anthony Young (23-2) W PTS 8 Luis Sanchez (9-2). Light: Nestor Bravo (20-0) W KO 3 Vitor Jones (16-6).

Tapia vs. Alvarez

Tapia scores stoppage of Alvarez in the tenth.  Alvarez was 5” taller than Tapia and his jab was his best weapon but Tapia was able to bob and weave his way inside and batter Alvarez with hooks and uppercuts. Tapia was relentless and although Alvarez scored with some hard counters he was usually found against the ropes covering up under a barrage of punches from Tapia.  By the eighth Alvarez had little left and Tapia was connecting with clubbing shots with very little coming back from Alvarez. In the ninth Alvarez was shaken by straight rights from Tapia. Alvarez still had some spirit remaining in the tenth but when Tapia drove him into a corner and landed a couple of heavy punches the referee stopped the fight. Seventh inside the distance victory in a row Puerto Rican Tapia who had knocked out experienced Mason Menard in July. Alvarez was going up to ten rounds for the first time but could not match Tapia’s work rate or his power.

Young vs. Sanchez

Young extends his winning streak to twelve as he edges past Puerto Rican Sanchez on a split decision. No scores available.

Bravo vs. Jones

Fourteen is the number for Bravo as the Puerto Rican gets win No 14 by KO/TKO with knockout of Brazilian Jones in three rounds. Only the second fight in two years for Bravo. Jones is 0-5 in fights outside of Brazil.

 

Las Vegas, NV, USA: Light: Devin Haney (27-0) W PTS 12 Joseph Diaz (32-2-1). Super Light: Montana Love (17-0-1) W TKO 3 Carlos Diaz (29-2). Super Light: Jessica McCaskill (11-2) W TKO 7 Kandi Wyatt (10-4). Heavy: Filip Hrgovic (14-0) W TKO 3 Emir Ahmatovic (10-1). Fly: Ricardo Sandoval W TKO 3 (20-1) W Carlos Buitrago (32-7-1).

Haney vs. Diaz

Haney remains WBC champion as he takes unanimous decision over Diaz.

Round 1

Good opening round for Haney. With his longer reach and hand speed he was able to score on Diaz with jabs and also connected with some rights. Diaz was following Haney around just hiding behind a guard and hardly threw a punch.

Score: 10-9 Haney

Round 2

Lovely boxing from Haney. He was using his left to slot home jabs but also to stop Diaz setting himself for an attack. He also put together a couple of useful combinations. Diaz was much more active than in the first and managed to force Haney to the ropes a couple of times and landed with hooks but Haney scored consistently and drove hooks to Diaz’s body

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 20-18

Round 3

Haney was circling Diaz and then stepping in with quick burst of punches. Diaz was not having much success in cutting the ring off and so most of the action was in the centre of the ring where Haney’s movement and hand speed gave him the edge

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 30-27

Round 4

Diaz did a much better job of closing Haney down. He was coming forward much quicker and connecting with hooks to the body even out jabbing Haney at times. At one point Diaz lifted Haney of his feet and tossed him to the floor and was warned by the referee.

Score: 10-9 Diaz                                Haney 39-37

Round 5

Haney was back in control. He was finding gaps in Diaz’s high guard for jabs and firing rights to the body. Diaz managed to land some to the body but Haney kept the action to the centre of the ring and picked Diaz off with long rights.

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 49-46

Round 6

Another round for Haney. He was threading jabs through Diaz’s high guard and then firing straight rights through the same gaps. Diaz managed to get home with some hooks to the body but mostly he was tracking Haney but not able to close Haney down.

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 59-55

Round 7

A closer round because Haney chose to stand in front of Diaz instead of moving. That allowed Diaz to get home hooks to the body and he cracked Haney with a left hook to the head. He was also doing a better job of blocking Haney’s punches. Haney was still finding gaps but some of his body punches had been going low in every round.

Score: 10-9 Diaz                                Haney 68-65

Round 8

Haney went back to constant movement being too quick for Diaz to cut off the ring. Haney was banging home jabs and lightning quick rights and then tying Diaz up inside. He was still landing low with an occasional rights but getting plenty on target too.

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 78-74

Round 9

Haney used lots of movement circling Diaz and jolting him with rapier-like jabs and fast rights. Diaz was too often static in front of Haney allowing Haney to pick his spots and he also caught Diaz with some punishing counters. Diaz plugged away but with little success. Haney was finally warned for low punches.

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 88-83

Round 10

This one could have been scored either way. For much of the round Haney stayed in front of Diaz giving Diaz the chance to do some useful scoring. He sent home some right hooks and a good left to the head. Late in the round Haney put together some crisp combinations but Diaz just had the edge.

Score: 10-9 Diaz                                Haney 97-93

Round 11

Movement and hand speed won this one for Haney. Diaz just could not hunt him down and meanwhile Haney was doubling up on his left hooks banging home straight rights and uppercuts and outscoring Diaz

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 107-102

Round 12

Diaz was on fire for the first half of the round driving Haney back and landing hooks from both hands with Haney seeming content to just get through the round. That then changed with Haney taking charge and Diaz being driven back as Haney connected with punch after punch to take the round.

Score: 10-9 Haney                             Haney 117-111

Official Scores: Judge Dave Moretti 117-111 Haney, Judge Tim Cheatham 116-112 Haney, Judge Max DeLuca 117-111 Haney.

Third title defence for the 23-year-old “The Dream”. He had beaten Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jorge Linares in his other two defences and looked better here than when he made hard work of beating Linares. Naturally unification is on his mind. Former IBF super featherweight champion Diaz has had weight problems in the past. After losing to Gary Russell in a challenge for the WBC featherweight title he beat WBA featherweight title holder Jesus Rojas but could not win the title as he came in over weight. He also lost his IBF super feather when he did not make the weight for his first defence. He moved up to lightweight and won the interim WBC title in July with a victory over Javier Fortuna.

Love vs. Diaz

Love stops Diaz in three rounds. Love made a strong start and landed some savage body punches in the first. Love floored Diaz early in the second with a hard left and an accurate right. Diaz managed to get up but was put down again seconds later. He was up and did not look too badly shaken but was put down by an uppercut-and there was still a minutes remaining in the round. Despite the knockdowns Diaz fought back hard and was still standing at the bell. A series of punches from Love in the third brought the referee’s intervention over protests from Diaz. Love, 26, had beaten Ivan Baranchyk on a seventh retirement in August so could turn out to be a force in an already crowded super lightweight division. Diaz was knocked out in five rounds by Jose Zepeda in 2018.

McCaskill vs. Wyatt

McCaskill retains her five titles with inside the distance victory over Wyatt. McCaskill tried to blow Wyatt away with a fierce attack in the first which had Wyatt reeling. McCaskill left herself open for counters as she continued to attack in the second and Wyatt managed to get through with some good shots of her own. McCaskill continued to land heavily over the next three rounds with Wyatt doing enough to stay in the fight but was taking punishment. A series of head and body punches in the sixth had Wyatt in trouble. The referee had warned at the end of the sixth round he would stop the fight if Wyatt continued to take a beating and he did so after a flurry of punches from McCaskill in the seventh. The 37-year-old from Chicago holds five titles the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO. She lost to Katie Taylor in 2017 and beat Cecilia Braekhus in 2020. Canadian Wyatt suffers her third loss in a row.

Hrgovic vs. Ahmatovic

Hrgovic stops substitute Ahmatovic after three one-sided rounds. Hrgovic had height and weight over Ahmatovic and in the first used powerful jabs to land at distance and rocked Ahmatovic with clubbing head shots. Hrgovic scored with thudding right in the second and when Ahmatovic tried to trade punches he was sent down under a under a bundle of rights. He was up at eight but went down again and when he arose the bell went. Hrgovic clubbed Ahmatovic to the canvas in the third and the referee waived the fight over. Hrgovic was defending the IBF International belt and gets his twelfth inside the distance victory. He has power but is cumbersome and one of these days he is going to be disqualified as he has a propensity to treat the back of an opponent’s head a legitimate target. Serbian-born German Ahmatovic lacked the experience to be a match for Hrgovic.

e was up at eight but driven to his knees. He arose and the bell went.

 

 

Sandoval vs. Buitrago

Sandoval stops Buitrago in the seventh. Sandoval was quicker, busier and more accurate than the experienced Nicaraguan. Sandoval was able to use his height and long reach to score well with his jab and to keep Buitrago on the back foot. Sandoval switched guard at times and in the third was adding neck-snapping uppercuts to the diet of jabs and straight rights he was feeding Buitrago. When Sandoval stood inside it gave Buitrago a chance to connect with some hooks but he was taking steady punishment. Sandoval landed series of heavy rights in the fifth and Buitrago showed signs of wilting. It was one-way traffic in the sixth with a tiring Buitrago just trying to survive and the referee indicated unless things improved for Buitrago he would stop them fight. Early in the seventh as Sandoval bombed Buitrago with punches the referee did as he threatened and stepped in to save Buitrago. Sandoval’s kayo of Jay Harris in June lifted him into the No 1 spot with the IBF and he accepted this fight at short notice to stay busy as he waits for a date for a title shot at Sunny Edwards. Buitrago also took the fight without a lot of time to prepare as he had not had a fight since October 2020. Buitrago has had four title shots but his recent form shows him as 2-5 with three of the losses in title fights.

 

December 2

 

New York, NY, USA: Heavy: Jerry Forrest (26-4-2) DREW 10 Michael Hunter (20-1-2). Heavy: George Arias (17-0) W PTS 10 Cassius Chaney (21-1) W George Arias (17-0) W PTS 10. Heavy: Mike Balogun (18-0) W TKO 1Trey Lippe (18-1).

Forrest vs. Hunter

Hunter looks fortunate to get away with a majority  draw against Forrest. Hunter made the more positive start firing shots looking to blow Forrest away. He shook Forrest a couple of times but Forrest settled into the fight coming forward behind a high guard and making Hunter work hard in every round. As the fight progressed Forrest began to eat into the lead Hunter had established with his early aggression. By the end of the eighth Hunter had run out of gas and only just managed to make it though those last two rounds with Forrest looking to have done enough to take the decision. Scores 96-94 Forrest, 96-94 Hunter and 95-95. In Forrest’s last fight in February he was down in each of the first three rounds but battled back to earn a draw. This was a huge result for Forrest who was trying to get revenge for a loss to Hunter way back in 2014. Forrest was unrated and Hunter was WBA No 2 now the WBA has to make a decision on what you when an unrated fighter leaves you with egg on your face. A draw with Alexander Povetkin and wins over Martin Bakole, Sergey Kuzmin, and Mike Wilson had seen Hunter flying high now his No 2 spot has to be at risk.

Arias vs. Chaney

Arias wins split decision over Chaney in a clash of unbeaten heavyweights. Chaney at 6’6” was 6” taller than Arias but Arias chose to box on the outside early which suited Chaney who collected those rounds. Arias came into the fight in the third rocking Chaney with a left. The pace was slow in this fight and there was not a lot of action over the middle rounds. Chaney seemed reluctant to take any risks and his output dropped with Arias by no means busy but busier than Chaney and that was enough to give him the edge in some very strange scoring of 99-91 and 97-93 for Arias and 96-94 for Chaney. Only five inside the distance victories for Dominican Arias and at 6’0” he is small for today’s heavyweights. He was giving away 24lbs to Chaney. For Chaney this is a big setback as at 32 time is not on his side.

Balogun vs. Lippe

Balogun wipes out Lippe in one round. Balogun was on target early and dropped Lippe. He managed to get up and come forward punching but was down again from a combination of punches. Lippe made it to his feet but was wobbling and the referee stopped the fight. Balogun, 38, gets his ninth first round win and Lippe, the son of Tommy Morrison, gets a taste of reality.

 

December 3

 

Bilbao, Spain: Super Welter: Kevin Lejarraga (34-2) W KO 9 Jack Flatley (17-2-1). Super Middle: Damian Biacho (12-0) W RTD 7 Guillermo Rivero (8-1-1). Super Light: Jonathan Alonso (21-1) W PTS 8 Mohamed El Marcouchi (28-3). Super Fly: Samuel Carmona (6-0) W TKO 1 Luis Villa (13-3-2). Super Light: Campbell Hatton (5-0) W KO 2 Attila Csereklye (10-25).

Lejarraga vs. Flatley

Lejarraga knocks out Flatley in European title defence. It looked as though this one might be over in the first three minutes as Lejarraga landed some good body punches then dropped Flatley with a left. Flatley recovered and had a good second round and used his longer breach to score with some good counters through Lejarraga’s leaky defence. From the fifth Lejarraga continued to take the fight to Flatley and the Englishman survived with some nifty movement and good defensive work but he was being weakened by some hurtful body punches. The end was near after Flatley was floored in the eighth and Lejarraga ended it in the ninth. He connected with a left to the body and a thundering short right to the head. Flatley went down heavily on his back and the referee waived the fight over. The “Revolver” was defending the title he won in September with a technical decision over Frenchman Dylan Charrat and a return with Charrat may be next for Lejarraga. Former English champion Flatley had at best tenuous rights to a title shot but he was competitive until the heavier punching from Lejarraga wore him down.

Biacho vs. Rivero

Biacho wins the vacant Spanish title with victory over local fighter Rivero. This was Rivero’s first fight since March 2019 and he was never able to get a foothold in the fight. Biacho softened Rivero up with body punches before dropping him in the third and twice more in the sixth with the bell saving Rivero. Biacho scored another knockdown in the seventh and Rivero did not come out for the eighth. Biacho was defending the national title.

Alonso vs. El Marcouchi

“Maravilla” Alonso impresses as he outboxes Belgian El Marcouchi. The visitor did what he could to hustle, bustle and rough up Alonso but to no effect as Alonso was in charge from bell to bell and all three judges scored it 80-72 for the Dominican-born Spaniard.  Alonso was out for 19 months before returning with a win in July. Alonso, who reportedly won 98 of 110 amateur fights, suffered his only pro defeat when he lost to Alberto Puello for the interim WBA super light title in July 2019 when all three judges gave it to Puello 115-113- so as close as it gets. El Marcouchi had lost only one of his last 27 fights but showed nothing here.

Carmona vs. Villa

Olympian Carmona gets his fourth inside the distance victory as he stops Villa in ninety seconds. Carmona was an outstanding amateur and is a significant addition to the flyweight ranks in Europe. Third consecutive loss for Mexican Villa.

Hatton vs. Csereklye

Hatton, 20, gets his first inside the distance victory as he floors Csereklye twice in the first round and again in the second. Hutton is the son of Ricky Hatton. Ninth loss in a row for Hungarian Csereklye.

 

London, England: Feather: Luis Lopez (24-2) W KO 7 Isaac Lowe (21-1-3)).Bantam: Charlie Edwards (17-1) W TKO 2 Jacob Barreto (13-4).

Lopez vs. Lowe

Mexican Lopez wins IBF final eliminator with kayo of Lowe. Lopez showed his power within the first few seconds of the fight as he floored Lowe with a left hook. Lowe beat the count and fought back hard in an exciting opening round. The danger was not past and a right from Lopez put Lowe down again in the second. In a repeat of the earlier action Lowe got up and stood and traded punches with Lopez to the bell.  Being four points behind after two rounds may have affected Lowe’s approach as he too often allowed himself to be dragged into exchanging punches instead of boxing and was rocked again at the end of the third. Despite that Lowe was working hard and connecting with some good shots. Lopez was not as accurate but still dangerous and clearly the harder puncher. Lopez upped his pace in the seventh launching a fierce attack and landing a series of punches that had Lowe reeling and a left to the body sent him down and he just failed to beat the count. Position 1 and 2 are vacant in the IBF ratings and since neither Lopez (No 5) nor Lowe (No 8) had beaten an IBF ranked boxer so neither could go to 1 or 2 but with both ranked this win will make Lopez the mandatory challenger for Kiko Martinez. Mexican Lopez, 28, was 11-1 in his last twelve fights with wins over Andy Vences and Gabriel Flores Jr with the loss coming against Ruben Villa. Former Commonwealth and WBC International champion Lowe had won his last seven fights and at 27 can come back stronger.

Edwards vs. Barreto

No problems for former undefeated WBC flyweight champion Edwards. A left hook dumped Barreto in a corner and the fight was over with the referee seeing Spaniard Barreto was unable to continue. An easy night’s work for Edwards.  Barreto a lamb to the slaughter.

 

Ilsenburg, Germany: Middle: Denis Radovan (15-0-1) W RTD 7 Brian Rose (32-8-1). Super Welter: Abass Baraou (11-1) W PTS 10 Meriton Karaxha (29-6-3). Middle: Patrick Wojcicki (15-0-1) W KO 6 Alexander Pavlov (12-3). Super Middle: Christina Hammer (27-1,1ND) W TKO 1 Daniele Bastieri (3-2). Light Heavy: Leon Bunn (16-0) W PTS 8 Iago Kiziria (5-3).

Radovan vs. Rose

Radovan retains the IBF European belt as Rose retires after seven rounds due to a swelling affecting his vision. After a couple of even rounds Radovan began to exert plenty of pressure but Rose was countering well. Both scored with good shots in the fourth but by the end of the round there was swelling around the left eye of Rose. The Englishman put in a big effort in the fifth but Radovan was taking control. Left jabs from Radovan increased the swelling in the sixth as they swapped hard punches with Rose’s output dropping. Rose was deducted a point in the seventh for a low punch and with his vision affected by the swelling around his eye Rose did not come out for the eighth. Second defence of the IBF European belt for Radovan. Rose had lost on points to Sergio Martinez in September.

Baraou vs. Karaxha

Baraou takes unanimous verdict over Karaxha. Baraou controlled much of the fight with hard accurate jabs and some powerful rights. Karaxha was under constant pressure but competed well. Baraou was firing some impressive combinations and built a substantial lead but Karaxha fought strongly over the seventh and eighth before Baraou finished put in a big effort over the ninth and tenth to emerge the winner on all three cards. Scores 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93 for Baraou who gets his second win since losing a split decision against Jack Culcay in August last year. He remains a big threat in this division. Belgian-based Albanian Karaxha had gone 11-0-2 in his previous 13 fights.

Wojcicki vs. Pavlov

Wojcicki returns after more than two years out of the ring and disposes of Pavlov in six rounds. Wojcicki had no trouble outboxing the inexperienced Pavlov. He got in some valuable ring time before ending it in the sixth. He drove Pavlov to the ropes and put him down and out with a couple of head punches. Only the IBF knows why with the first two positions in their middleweight ratings vacant why Wojcicki who has never faced a rated fighter and has been inactive for two years is their highest rated fighter at No 3. Pavlov lacked the skill and experience to compete against Wojcicki

Hammer vs. Bastieri

Unfortunate ending in this one as Bastieri is unable to continue after suffering an injury. Southpaw Bastieri missed with a punch and then turned away in pain having dislocated her right shoulder. Hammer had spent 2021 trying to qualify for the Olympic Games but failed to get through to Tokyo. Her only loss came against Claressa Shields in April 2019. Brazilian Bastieri lost in nine rounds against Savannah Marshall in August 2019

Bunn vs. Kiziria

Disappointing performance from Bunn in his first fight for 14 months as he struggles to majority verdict over Georgian neophyte Kiziria. Scores 77-75 twice and 76-76. Domestic wins over Leon Harth and Enrico Koelling have seen Bunn rated WBO 6/WBC 9 but on this performance his No 11 with the EBU looks more realistic. Kiziria had shown well in losing only on a split verdict against 27-1 Wanik Awdijan but then lost to a fighter with a 3-0 record

 

Turin, Italy: Feather: Davide Tassi (13-0) W PTS 10 Jacopo Lusci (6-9-1). Super Feather: Daniele Limon (18-8-1) W PTS 10 Hassan Nourdine (13-6).

4

Tassi vs. Lusci

Tassi wins a wide unanimous verdict over Lusci in a national title defence. Southpaw Tassi was just too quick and too clever for Lusci who was never really able to exert enough pressure on the constantly moving champion. Tassi was down in the eighth but it was a slip. There was concern as Tassi seemed to have injured himself in the slip but was given a little recovery time and was able to continue and boxed his way to victory. Scores 99-91 twice and 99-92 for Tassi who is in his second reign as champion. Lusci, 33, had lost in a shot at the super bantamweight title in 2019

Limon vs. Nourdine

Limon is Italian champion again as he outpoints champion Nourdine. Limon looked to use his skill and movement to blunt the attacks of the aggressive Nourdine. Limon worked well with his jab scoring at distance and building a slight lead over the first half of the fight but Nourdine did some good work when he was able to get inside. Limon built on that with a good sixth but his legs were unhinged by a right in the seventh. Limon recovered and the closing rounds were close. Scores 97-94 twice and 97-93 for Limon.  He is a former featherweight champion and has also lost in shots at this same super featherweight title and three times at the super bantamweight. Moroccan-born Nourdine loses his title in his first defence.

 

Panama City, Panama: Minimum: Oscar Collazo (4-0) W TKO 3 Pedro Villegas (13-2). Fly: Gilberto Pedraza (19-8-2) W PTS 8 Gabriel Ramirez (10-23-1).

Collazo vs. Villegas

Outstanding Puerto Rican prospect Collazo wins a title in only his fourth pro fight. He ended this one with three knockdowns in the third round and took the vacant WBO NABO title. He is 24 and a former Pan American Games gold medallist so one to follow. After eight wins Ecuadorian Villegas is 1-2 in his last three bouts.

Pedraza vs. Ramirez

Pedraza snaps a five-bout losing streak as he floors and decisions Ramirez. Pedraza put Ramirez down in the second and won on scores of 80-71 on the three cards. Mexican Ramirez has lost 7 of his last 8.

 

Villa Maria, Argentina: Middle: Gerardo Vergara (15-0) W PTS 10 Diego Ramirez (24-6-1).

Vergara retains the Argentinian title as he outpoints Ramirez. The fight started badly for Vergara as a punch from Ramirez busted his nose open and he continued to bleed form the nose throughout the fight. The taller Ramirez took the first two rounds but Vergara battled black and repaid Ramirez bringing blood from Ramirez’s nose in the third. Vergara’s strength and harder punch began to tell and he won the late rounds forcing Ramirez to the ropes and handing out steady punishment. Scores 96-94 twice and 97-93 ½ although Vergara looked a clearer winner than the scores indicate. First defence of the national title for Vergara. Ramirez was having his second shot at the title.

 

December 4

 

London, England: Light Heavy: Anthony Yarde (22-2) KO 4 Lyndon Arthur (19-1). Super Welter: Hamzah Sheeraz (14-0) W TKO 9 Bradley Skeete (29-4). Light Sam Noakes (8-0) W TKO 9 Shaun Cooper (11-3).

Yarde vs. Arthur

Yarde gets his revenge as he kayos Arthur in the fourth round. For the first three rounds this followed the pattern of their first fight. Arthur was boxing on the retreat using his longer reach to spear the advancing Yarde with jabs and then smothering Yarde’s work by holding on the inside. Yarde started with plenty of fire but Arthur’s tactics had him frustrated and Arthur scored with two heavy rights at the end of the third round. After Arthur landed another right in the fourth Yarde launched a furious attack. He drove Arthur along with ropes firing punches until two rights dropped Arthur and he was counted out. Sweet revenge for Yarde who had lost a split decision to Arthur in December. Yarde wins the Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental titles. Arthur was No 1 with the WBO and with Frank Warren having a good working relationship with the WBO Yarde could be fighting for the WBO title early next year. A huge blow for Arthur who was making the third defence of the Commonwealth title.

Sheeraz vs. Skeete

Sheeraz gets controversial win over Skeete. From the start Skeete was boxing quite brilliantly. He was constantly moving, changing direction, changing guard and slotting punches through the guard of Sheeraz. Although Sheeraz was much the bigger man with the longer reach he just could not pin Skeete down and it was Skeete who was piling up the points. Sheeraz managed to land some heavy punches but never had Skeete in any trouble and Skeete looked to have won the early rounds. Sheeraz finally hunted Skeete down in the eighth and landed two heavy rights. He caught Skeete with a glancing blow as Skeete went down but then landed two substantial punches when Skeete was clearly on the floor. Instead of disqualifying Sheeraz the referee chose to give Skeete ample time to recover. Skeete was not surprisingly reluctant to get up and box on but he did. Sheeraz closed on Skeete in the ninth and connected with two rights that saw Skeete drop to one knee. He watched the referee’s count and made it to his feet but had been counted out. The incident of the punches landed when Skeete was on the floor in the eighth are subject to a review by the BBB of C but as it stands Sheeraz is the winner and retains the WBO European belt. Two second round losses suffered by Skeete had knocked the former British and Commonwealth title off track but he was boxing with real skill in this one so an unfortunate ending.

Noakes vs. Cooper

Noakes maintains 100% record of inside the distance wins as he stops Cooper in the ninth round. This was an entertaining scrap between two good young fighters. From the outset Noakes was his usual aggressive self putting Cooper under constant pressure and connecting with hooks and uppercuts. Cooper showed a very useful left jab and lots of clever defensive moves whilst landing some good shots of his own. Noakes was being made to work hard as he tried to hunt Cooper down. He was investing in some choice body punches but Cooper kept coming right back at him. Noakes had never been past the fifth round before and the pace slowed a little in the sixth before Noakes picked it up again in the seventh. He was busier than Cooper but Cooper was moving and countering. In the ninth a left hook to the head put Cooper down. He beat the count and boxed well. The crisis looked to have passed but Noakes landed heavily again and when a right to the temple rocked Cooper the referee stopped the fight. Cooper protested strongly and it looked a bit early but Noakes had landed some powerful head punches just before the stoppage. Excellent learning fight for Noakes who had taken less than eighteen rounds for his seven previous wins. He lifts the vacant WBC International Silver title. Cooper played his part in making it tough for Noakes and providing plenty of action.

 

Brisbane, Australia: Cruiser: Floyd Masson (11-0) W PTS 10 Mark Flanagan (25-9). Super Welter: Luke Woods (8-4) W PTS 10 Tysinn Best (14-2).

Masson vs. Flanagan

Masson gets off the floor to outpoint champion Flanagan to win the Australian title. It looked as though “Bang Bang” Flanagan was going to live up to his nickname as he floored Masson in the opening round. The punch did not land flush and Masson was up immediately. After the count he showed some nifty footwork and he was standing and trading with Flanagan at the end of the round. Flanagan forced the fight but Masson showed some clever movement and good hand speed. He alternated between stabbing jabs, darting in with quick lefts and choosing his moment to go toe-to-toe. Flanagan did his best work inside and always looked dangerous with his rights but Masson’s mobility gave him the edge. Scores 96-92 twice for Masson and 94-94. Flanagan constituted a huge step-up in the quality of his opposition for New Zealand-born Masson but he won impressively. Flanagan had lost big fights against Arsen Goulamirian, David Light and Jai Opetaia before winning the Australian title in June.

Woods vs. Best

Tasmanian southpaw Woods too good for local lad Best on the night and successfully defends the national title with a unanimous points victory. Relentless pressure from Woods was just too much for Best. Scores 99-92, 98-92 and 97-93 for Woods. Former welterweight champion Best had moved up to super welter after losing his welterweight title.

 

Brisbane, Australia: Heavy: Lucas Browne (30-3) W KO 7 Faiga Opetu (14-3-1) W. Welter: Andrew Hunt (8-0-1) W PTS 10 Ben Kite (18-6-1). Middle: Isaac Hardman (12-0) W TKO 4 Adam Stowe (6-2-2,1ND). Super Feather: Dana Coolwell (7-1) W KO 10 Miles Zalewski (9-2). Cruiser: Jai Opetaia (21-0) W TKO 3 Daniel Russell (7-3-2).  

Browne vs. Opetu

Browne lifts his career out of the dustbin with kayo of young Samoan-born Opetu. Browne had looked awful in losing to Paul Gallen in April and he looked on his way to losing this one as well. Opetu won the early rounds with Browne just too slow. Browne was landing and landing hard when he did. Those punches finally started to catch up with Opetu in the seventh and with Opetu pinned to the ropes a series of punches ending with a left hook dropped him on his face on the canvas and he was counted out. Browne wins the vacant WBA Oceania title.  A career saver for Browne but at 42 he has a very limited shelf life now. Former Australian champion Opetu lost his national title when he was stopped in seven rounds by Justis Huni in October last year in what was Huni’s first pro fight.

Hunt vs. Kite

Hunt and Kite could probably fight each other a dozen times as the result would always be close. When they met in April Hunt lifted Kite’s Australian title with paper-thin unanimous decision. There was no difference in this fight. Southpaw Hunt was able to use his longer reach to connect at range but is no power puncher so Kite was able to get inside and do some good work. The score were even closer this time with Hunt retaining the title on a majority decision on scores of 96-94 twice and 95-95.

Hardman vs. Stowe

Hardman wore down and stopped Stowe in four rounds-and saved himself a bundle of money. A confident Hardman had said he would buy everyone in the place a beer if Stowe lasted more than five rounds. He floored Stowe with a right in the second and with a body punch in the third. Erich time Stowe got up and stood and punched with Hardman. In the fourth Hardman trapped Stowe in a corner and as he landed a sickening right hook to start Stowe on the way down the towel came in from Stowe’s team. Tenth win by KO/TKO for Hardman and the third defence of the Australian title. Brave display from Stowe who was having his first fight since February 2020.

Coolwell vs. Zalewski

Coolwell wins the vacant Australian title with last round kayo of Zalewski. Coolwell looked on his way to an inside the distance win when he had Zalewski in trouble in the sixth round but the bell saved Zalewski-a bell went 59 seconds early! Coolwell finally ended the fight with a left hook in the tenth round which put Zalewski down on his back as his corner threw in the towel. Fifth inside the distance finish for Coolwell. Zalewski is a former Australian lightweight champion.

Opetaia vs. Russell

Opetaia stops Russell in three. After taking the first round Opetaia put Russell down in the second. A series of head punches sent Russell down on one knee at the start of the third and when a three-punch series saw Russell drop to one knee later in the round the fight was stopped. Now 17 wins by KO/TKO for Opetaia. He is the second highest rated Cruiser with the IBF so a title shot should come in 2022. First fight for Russell since being stopped in one round by Jason Whateley for the Australian title in December 2019. This was a catchweight fight at 95kg (209lbs).

 

Cologne, Germany: Cruiser: Firat Arslan (50-9-3) W TKO 4 Alejandro Berrio (39-10). Heavy: Edi Delibaltaoglu (8-5) W TKO 5 Sami Enbom (19-8). Cruiser: Huseyin Cinkara (17-0) W TKO 2 Gusmyr Perdomo (27-12). Cruiser: Yakup Saglam (45-7) W TKO 1 Andy Hoeschier (9-1).

Arslan vs. Berrio

Arslan continues his campaign for another title shot with stoppage of Berrio. As usual over the first two rounds Arslan walked forward behind a high guard just letting Berrio throw punches most of which Arslan blocked and with Arslan throwing an occasional counter. It was going the same way in the third until Arslan floored Berrio but failed to finish the job. In the fourth Arslan connected with body punches and sent Berrio down twice and the fight was stopped. Arslan is 16-1-1 in his last 18 fights but the only real opponent he has faced in that run is Kevin Lerena who stopped him in six rounds. Despite this the 51-year-old Arslan is No 6 with the WBA so could land the title shot he is chasing. Colombian Berrio, 41, won the IBF super middleweight title in 2007 but lost it in his first defence against Lucien Bute and has put on quite a bit of weight since then.

Delibaltaoglu vs. Enbom

Fourth consecutive win for Turkish-born Delibaltaoglu as Finn Enbom retires after four rounds. Delibaltaoglu collects the WBFederation Inter-Continental belt. Sixth inside the distance defeat in his last seven bouts for Enbom.

Cinkara vs. Perdomo

Another meaningless win for Cinkara. After tracking the retreating Perdomo in the first Cinkara landed series of punches in the second that saw Perdomo pitch forward and put his glove on the canvas to avoid going down. He was given a count and when Cinkara chased him to a corner and belted him a couple of times the referee came in as Perdomo was dropping to the floor and stopped the fight. Ten wins by KO/TKO in his last eleven contests for Cinkara and not a genuine test on his record. Perdomo, 44, had his best days as a super middle-a long time ago.

Saglam vs. Hoeschier

Oldie Saglam finishes Hoeschier in the first round. Saglam had done his fighting at heavyweight but took off more than 20lbs for this fight. He shook Hoeschier early and then put him down and the fight was all over. The 44-year-old Turkish-born Saglam wins the vacant German title with win No 41 by KO/TKO. Hoeschier had won all of his fights by KO/TKO taking less than 18 rounds in total for the wins. His opposition had been poor but even so this was a shock result.

 

Tokyo, Japan: Welter: Ryota Toyoshima (15-2-1) W PTS 12 Shoki Sakai (26-13-2).

Toyoshima defends the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific titles with a points victory over Saki. Toyoshima made the body his target from the outset with Sakai mixing his attack more with head and body shots. Sakai was competitive but Toyoshima was stronger and quicker. After five rounds Toyoshima was in front on the three cards at 50-45, 49-46 and 48-47 which looked a bit too generous to Sakai. The challenger tried hard to turn the fight his way but Toyoshima outscored Sakai over the middle rounds and then chose to coast over the last couple of rounds with Sakai finishing strongly but never likely to overturn Toyoshima’s lead. Scores 116-112 twice and 117-111 for Toyoshima who registers his eight win in a row. Sakai turned pro in  Mexico and fought extensively in the USA.

 

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: Bantam: Karina Fernandez (17-6-1) W PTS 10 Jacqueline Mucio (7-10-1). Welter: Marcos Gonzalez (21-2) W PTS 10 Dunis Linan (25-48-6).

Fernandez vs. Mucio

Home town fighter “La Bella” Fernandez gets unanimous decision over Mucio but it seems the judges were the only ones who felt Fernandez was the winner. Coming in as a substitute Mucio was more than ready to swop punches with Fernandez so they started at a fast pace. Mucio seemed to get the better of the exchanges with Fernandez often pinned to the ropes as Mucino unloaded on her. Fernandez had her moments but Mucino looked a clear winner. The judges scored it 97-93 twice and 96-94 for Fernandez who reportedly wins the belt from a newly constituted World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF).

Gonzalez vs. Linan

Gonzalez also looked to get the benefit of some home town support as he is given a questionable decision over Linan. Gonzalez was shaken in the first and under fire for most of the second. Linan eventually slowed letting Gonzalez into the fight  but at the end Linan looked to have done enough to cause an upset. Gonzalez was the unanimous selection by the three judges (no scores available) which moved him to 9-1 in his last 10 fights with the loss being a disqualification. Colombian Linan, 40, is used to losing as he is now 1-18-2 in his last 21 bouts.

 

Leon, Mexico: Atom: Montserrat Alarcon (17-4-2) W PTS 10 Silvia Torres (20-3-2).Feather: Sergio Chirino (17-1) W PTS 10 Alie Laurel (18-6-1).

Alarcon vs. Torres

Alarcon wins the vacant WBC Fecarbox Female title as she scores majority decision over Torres. This was one of those great fights if you just ignore the scores. Alarcon was busier at the start but despite being out of the ring for two years Torres boxed well and scored with accurate single shots. The rounds were close and the fight swung back and forth with Alarcon busy, busy and Torres cool and picking her punches well. The pace picked up as war broke out over the second half of the fight and they stood and traded punches. In the end Alarcon just seemed to have done enough and she got the decision on scores of 99-91 and 98-92 which were not a fair reflection of how close Torres made this with the third judge scoring it 95-95. Although the WBA Atom champion Alarcon’s title was not on the line. Torres is a former WBA interim champion who had fought a draw for the IBF Female light flyweight title and her inactivity might well have been a factor in this fight.

Chirino vs. Laurel

Now eight wins in a row for Chirino as he outboxes Filipino southpaw Laurel. Chirino was in top form and Laurel was never really a threat but also never really in any trouble. The judges all gave Chirino every round with scores of 100-90. Chirino’s only loss was a second round retirement in 2018 against Mauricio Lara who crushed Josh Warrington in London in February. Laurel was 5-1-1 going in.

 

Manila, Philippines: Super Bantam: Carl Martin (18-0) W PTS 12 Mark Geraldo (38-10-3). Super Feather: Charly Suarez (9-0) W PTS 10 Delmar Pellio (9-1). Super Bantam: Michael Dasmarinas (30-3-2) Tec Daw 2 Ernesto Saulong (22-7-3).

Geraldo vs. Martin

“Wonder Boy” Martin passes his biggest test to date as he takes unanimous decision over experienced fellow-southpaw Geraldo. Despite having won 12 of his last 13 fights inside the distance Martin displayed growing maturity as he curbed any instinct to go toe-to-toe with Geraldo but instead boxed cleverly using his longer reach to pick up the points. Geraldo had the strength and experience to be a consistent threat and in the end Martin only just squeezed past Geraldo to win the Philippines title on scores of 115-113 twice and 117-111. The 22-year-old Martin is No 14 (12) with the IBF and will now be looking for some international fights to boost his ratings. Geraldo had won his last four fights and is the only man to have beaten IBF champion Jerwin Ancajas.

Suarez vs. Pellio

“King’s Warrior” Suarez continues his winning start to his belated pro career with a points win over an unbeaten but much less experienced Pellio. Suarez had Pellio down twice but the young southpaw stuck it out to the final bell. Scores 99-89 twice and 100-88. At 33 Suarez needs to make a move soon.  Pellio was going ten rounds for the first time.

Dasmarinas vs. Saulong

If Dasmarinas was aiming for some extended ring time he was disappointed. He had taken the opening round but when heads banged together in the second Saulong suffered a bad cut on his left eyelid and the fight was halted and ruled a technical draw. First outing for Dasmarinas since his third round kayo loss against Naoya Inoue for the IBF and WBA belts in June. Second technical draw in his last five fights for Saulong.

 

Kempton Park, South Africa: Super Welter: Roarke Knapp (13-1-1) W RTD 5 Cristiano Ndombassy (12-6). Super Welter: Shervantaigh Koopman (8-0) W PTS 10 Henriques Lando (6-3).

Knapp vs. Ndombassy

Plenty of drama and controversy over this fight as Knapp climbs off the floor three times in a dramatic third round then battles back with Ndombassy retiring after the end of the fourth. Facing a late substitute Knapp made a confident start and looked to be on his way to a win when he connected with some hard body punches in the second. In the third Ndombassy, who had won nine of his fights inside the distance, shook Knapp with a couple of punches and then landed a fearsome right that sent Knapp down heavily. Knapp somehow dragged himself upright but was unsteady and went down from another right. He was up again and after going down from a slip a right put him on the canvas for the third time. It was a case of true grit as Knapp arose and made it to the bell. The situation changed dramatically again in the fourth. Ndombassy looked to have exhausted himself in his effort to finish the fight in the third and Knapp had shaken off the effects of those knockdowns. Now it was Knapp landing heavy rights and driving Ndombassy back with a storm of punches that had Ndombassy reeling and on the point of going down. Before the start of the fifth Ndombassy got up from his stool crossed the ring to say something to Knapp and then went back to his corner and the fight was over. Knapp showed tremendous guts to survive that third round and come back so strongly in the fourth. However this fight was for the vacant WBA Pan African title and was fought under WBA rules with the three knockdown rule in force so the fight should have been stopped in the third round and Ndombassy declared the winner. The result is in doubt as Ndombassy’s team have lodged a protest and Hall of Fame inductee Stanley Christodoulou who administers the Pan African activity for the WBA was supervisor at the fight so a decision one way or the other should be made very quickly. Knapp had been looking to get revenge for a knockout loss against Brandon Thysse in 2019 but Thysse tested positive for COVID-19 and Ndombassy replaced him.

Koopmans vs. Lando

South African champion Koopmans collected the vacant IBF Continental Africa title with unanimous decision over Angolan Lando. Scores 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 for Koopmans.

 

Durban, South Africa: Bantam: Sharadene Fortuin (12-1-1) W Melissa Miller (5-11-3)

Fortuin holds on to her national title with a split decision over past foe Miller. Scores 98-93 and 96-94 for Fortuin and 96-95 for Miller. These two have met three times now with Fortuin winning all three. When they met in August Fortuin took a majority decision. She is undefeated in eleven fights going back to 2013. Miller herself is a former South African champion at bantam.

 

Basel, Switzerland: Middle: Faton Vukshinaj (13-0-2) W TKO 2 Florin Cardos (21-3).

Fighting in his home city “Vulcan” Vukshinaj puts away useful Romanian Cardos in two rounds. After a round where the boxers were feeling each other out things heated up considerably in the second. Vukshinaj fired a series of punches punctuated by a right hook to the head that floored Cardos. The visitor got up but was put down for a second time. He again climbed to the vertical but was still dazed and the referee rightly stopped the fight. Vukshinaj wins the vacant WBC Francophone title with his eighth inside the distance finish. Former EU champion Cardos was having only his second fight in two years.

 

Pont-Sainte-Maxence, France: Light Heavy: Daniel Bienda Dos Santos (18-1) W PTS 8 Tomasz Bezvoda (11-17).

Dos Santos gets through an easy night as he wins every round against Czech Bezvoda. The referee scored it 80-72. Third win for Dos Santos since losing in May against Joshua Buatsi. What Bezvoda lacks in skill he makes up for with durability with only two inside the distance losses.

 

Fight of the week (Significance): Devin Haney’s win over Joseph Diaz keeps the pot boiling in the hot lightweight division

Fight of the week (Entertainment): Good mix of styles helped make Haney vs. Diaz a good fight to watch.

Fighter of the week: Haney for his win mover Diaz

Punch of the week: The short right from Kevin Lejarraga that floored Jack Flatley was a thunderbolt with honourable mention to the fight finishing Left hook from Lucas Browne that finished Faiga Opetu

Upset of the week: Jerry Forrest’s draw with Michael Hunter was a surprise

Prospect watch: Only 4-0 but Puerto Rican minimumweight Oscar Collazo looks good

 

Observations

Rosette: Big cards in Australia and Germany giving fighters work

Red Card No real horrors this week

There were two very controversial incidents at the weekend both involving referees. In the fight in South Africa between Roarke Knapp and Cristiano Ndombassy Knapp made a miraculous recovery from being knocked down three times in the third round to winning the fight when Ndombassy retired at the end of the fourth nrio9und. However this was for a WBA Regional title under WBA rules including the three knockdown rule so Ndombassy should have won on a third round stoppage.

In London when Hamzah Sheeraz twice landed hard punches to Bradley Skeete when Skeete was clearly on the floor should have led to instant disqualification.

Both results are being reviewed. Both referees are star level referees and have to make instant divisions in a highly charged atmosphere. They really are at the sharp end and I don’t envy them their roles.

There is a wide differing cultural approach towards nicknames between male and female fighters. This week we had Karina “La Bella” Fernandez and Susy Kandy “The Ruby” Sandoval and on the other hand Isaac “Headsplitter” Hardman. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with this but a bit of crossover would not hurt in these flexible gender days. We could have Primrose “I’ll Moider de Bum” Smith and Rocky “lacy knickers” Brown. Nah doesn’t work for me!

It must have been quiet in the old folk’s home this week. Out and about were Firat Arslan 51,Alejandro Berrio 45, Yakup Saglam 44, Gusmyr Perdomo 44,Lucas Browne 42, Kassim Ouma 42 and Dunis Linan 40…………….where have all the young men gone……………

I don’t know how he gets away with it but in every fight I have seen for Filip Hrgovic he consistently lands punches to the back of his opponents head. These are not the tip-tap punches you see in clinches but full blooded clubbing shots. An accident waiting to happen!

On the same subject Devin Haney was landing below the belt shots in every round but at least he did eventually get a warning.