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By Eric Armit
What a week it has been for boxing. Two tragedies, a farce, yet another reported positive test for a leading heavyweight and finally a triumph. The tragedies concerned Russian Maxim Dadashev and Argentinian Hugo Santillan. With hindsight there were danger signs in Dadashev’s case. He was very tired and had taken a great deal of punishment but had still been throwing punches up to the bell at the end of the eleventh round of his fight with Subriel Matias. He stumbled on his way back to his corner and it was not until he was on the point of collapse after leaving the ring that he was put on a stretcher so it is a case of asking whether the signs should have been spotted earlier. The ESPN team covering the fight thought everything had been done correctly although Tim Bradley felt there should have been some earlier involvement of the doctor. There is no such grey area with regard to the death of Santillan. From before until after there was just so much wrong about this fight. The Argentinian took the fight at very short notice but much more serious he took the fight whilst under a medical suspension. Santillan had fought Artem Harutyunyan in Germany on 15 June and lost on points. He took such a beating that the Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer slapped Santillan with a 45 day suspension for “many blows to the head” which appeared on Santillan’s record on BoxRec. Box Rec took steps to try to get this drawn to the attention of the local authorities prior to the fight. Despite this the fight went ahead and ended in a draw. Initially there were no signs of distress from Santillan as he actually climbed on the ropes in a corner to show he thought he had won. He then collapsed. The result had not been announced so Santillan's seconds half carried half dragged him to the centre of the ring and held him up. He was totally unresponsive with his head sagging on his shoulders. The result was a draw so the referee grasped Santillan’s hand and pulled it as high as he could then the referee and Santillan’s seconds dragged him back to his corner and tried to sit him on his stool;. He was unconscious and slid off the stool and onto the canvas. It was only when lying there prone did a doctor finally enter the ring. He was taken to hospital but had to be resuscitated twice and was then operated on for a serious brain injury. He never recovered consciousness and died early Thursday morning. He was just 23 and was failed by those whose duty it was to protect him. R.I.P Maxim and Hugo. Farce: The farce came in France-and naturally involved the WBA. Frenchman Michel Soro was to fight Russian Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant secondary WBA super welter title. There was a whole story behind that from which no one involved any credit. Kurbanov had his visa on the morning of the fight-but was in Russia. He had a private plane supplied to fly him to France but his trainer did not have his visa so Kurbanov refused to travel. Panic ensued as this was to be a world title fight and TV cameras were there to cover the event. French middleweight champion Anderson Prestot had weighed in at 161lbs for a six round fight in the show. He was told that if he could get down to 154lbs on the day of the fight he could then fight for this vacant version of the WBA title. It was stated that Prestot had got down to 154lbs by 10.30am on the day of the fight so the title fight went on. However in view of the circumstances with Prestot not being in their ratings the WBA rapidly had a contract drawn up which said that the fight would be a defence by Soro of the Gold title he already held. Soro won and the French TV and newspapers were delighted that they had another world champion- because no one had told them that the fight had been downgraded. Cue rage the next day from French TV and newspapers and Soro was not particularly happy either. The WBA have already approved a contest between Erislandy Lara and Roberto Alvarez for the vacant interim title so the mess goes on. Naturally the report that Dillian Whyte’s A sample had tested positive for a banned substance was big news. One of the problems associated with test results from an A sample on its own is that a fighter has a right to insist his B sample is tested. Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (ADA) covers this in its Results and Management Policy as follows “Sufficient proof of a doping violation is established by either of the following: presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in the Athlete’s A Sample where the Athlete waives analysis of the B Sample and the B Sample is not analyzed; or, where the Athlete’s B Sample is analyzed and the analysis of the Athlete’s B Sample confirms the presence of the prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers found in the athlete’s A Sample.” That means that where the athlete insists the B sample is tested he is not technically guilty until the results of the B Sample test is known. On that basis there were no grounds for suspending Whyte prior to the Oscar Rivas fight and there would have been some very costly legal actions flying around if Whyte had been prevented from fighting only for his B sample to be clean. Already Rivas and his team are calling for the result of the fight to be changed and Andy Ruiz is citing this case as a reason for not fighting Anthony Joshua in the UK but until the results of the B sample are known it is all just speculation. Triumph: There is no other word than triumph to describe the victory for Manny Pacquiao over Keith Thurman and over Old Father Time. It was good to see Pacquiao still had much of his old hand speed and he fought a brilliant tactical battle. His eight-division champion feat consist of being recognised as champion in six divisions by one or other of the sanctioning bodies and in two other divisions by Ring Magazine. Truly amazing achievements. The only down side is that before he has even had his gloves removed he is exchanging jibes with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Please no Manny. You have introduced a bill in the Philippines to set up a Philippines Boxing Commission-currently control of boxing falls under the Philippines Games and Amusements Board-focus on the day job. It would be great for you to get a big win next year but please not Mayweather again. The purses for the Pacquiao show were Manny $10 million, Thurman $2.5 million, Caleb Plant $750k, Mike Lee $250k,Yordenis Ugas $300k, Omar Figueroa $300k, Sergey Lipinets $250k, Jayar Inson $10k, Luis Nery $150k, Juan Carlos Payano $25k,Efe Ajagba $15k, Ali Eren Demirezen $10k so Manny took home more than the rest of the bill put together and there will have been other ancillary money for Manny. One source has stated that Thurman suffered a rib injury prior to the fight with Pacquiao. If so I am surprised it wasn’t until the tenth round before a punch from Pacquiao to the body visibly hurt Thurman. I can remember in the days under Chairman Mao when any sniff of capitalism would lead to banishment- if you were lucky. How the old man must be twitching in his mausoleum. The Chinese Boxing Federation has engaged the services of Mayweather Jr to help them improve on the three medals they won in the Rio Olympics. It is difficult to think of anyone who so personifies everything Chairmen Mao was against than Mr Money. How the world has changed! Great to see Joe Frazier being honoured again in Philadelphia. The Mural Arts Philadelphia has completed an impressive mural which is sited near the Boxer’s Trail gym in Fairmont Park where Frazier trained. I am sure it is partially nostalgia but it seems to me that the best did fight the best in those days and Frazier’s use of positive substance refereed to his left hook. The WBO have ordered purse bids for Oscar Valdez’s defence of his featherweight title against Shakur Stevenson. The closing date for bids is August 2 with the minimal acceptable bid at $150,000. Both fighters are promoted by Top Rank but are under different management. Still on purse offers the EBU have set a deadline of September 3 for bids for Agit Kabayel’s defence of the heavyweight title against Joe Joyce and July 31 for bids for Yves Ngabu’s defence of the cruiser title against Lawrence Okolie. Other European title fights lined up include Stefan Haertel defending the super middleweight title against Juergen Brahmer in October, Dominic Boesel putting his light heavy title on the line against Igor Mikhalkin with this one under negotiation and a tasty defence by Sergio Garcia against Cedric Vitu at super welter. Amir Khan has another fight lined up in Saudi Arabia for November. No opponent named yet but it won’t be Manny Pacquiao that’s for sure. Farce time again with Anthony Mundine un-retiring to fight 43-year-oldMuay Thai exponent John Wayne Park in November. Mexican-based American Dewayne Beamon is getting an undeserved shot at Juan Francisco Estrada’s WBC super fly title on August 24. Losing and winning last year against Martin Tecuapetla and not fighting for eight month hardly constitutes grounds for elevating him from 27 to 15. Discussing his options WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz has said he is looking for a unification fights against Josh Warrington or Gary Russell and if that does not happen then perhaps a third fight with Carl Frampton. Hey Leo why don’t you unify the WBA title by facing Can Xu-sorry now I am just being silly.
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We've spoken multiple times about how great the fights for the Japanese Middleweight title often are. In 2016 we saw the "interim" belt give us something totally mind blowing as veteran Makoto Fuchigami and hard hitting fighter Tomohiro Ebisu put it on the line in a pre-Christmas treat at the Korakuen Hall. The bout, as mentioned for the interim title, had come about following an out of the ring accident for Hikaru Nishida, who had fallen down some stairs forcing him to cancel a planned defense. Whilst the reason for the bout wasn't a good one, the fight it's self was something special. The Fight Tomohiro Ebisu (16-4, 16) vs Makoto Fuchigami (23-11, 14) December 24th 2016 saw Hachioji Nakaya promote one of their most memorable bouts. The card it's self was most forgetable, barring the main event. In fact the 6 under-card bouts combined for just 14 rounds, but the main event gave us a late runner for the Fight of the Year, or at least the Japanese Figth of the Year. In one corner was former world title challenger Makoto Fuchigami, who had famously fought Gennady Golovkin in 2012, but had been in a number of thrillers at the domestic and regional level, including his 2011 bout with Koji Sato. The win over Sato had seen him unify the OPBF and Japanese titles but in the years that followed he had sort of struggled, going 5-5 including the loss to Golovkin, and a pair of losses to both Akio Shibata and Hikaru Nishida. In fact when Nishida suffered his injury he was training for a third bout with Fuchigami. For those who haven't seen much of Fuchigami, perhaps only the Golovkin fight, he had an awkward style. He was super relaxed, rode punches well and threw them from some unorthodox angles himself. Although lacking in power he often landed clean blows at this level and showed real guts to time and time again, to turn fights around. He was never the most explosive, or toughest, but he was one of the gutsiest, bravest and exciting Japanese Middleweights of his time. In the other corner was the stop of be stopped Tomohiro Ebisu. Like Fuchigami he had previously held the Japanese Middleweight title, stopping Sanosuke Sasaki in 2013, though had a very short reign and lost the belt in his first defense less than 6 months later. Through his first 20 fights, leading up to this bout, he had never heard the final bell, with an 8th round TKO win over Yasuyuki Akiyama being the closest he had come, having just over 2 minutes of that bout left. Of his 20 bouts 12 had finished, one way or another, in the first 3 rounds. He was a true glass cannon Although not the most skilled of fighters Ebisu's power and dodgy chin made him a must watch fighter. An offensive monster, who knew he had to try and take a fighter out before they caught him on the jaw. He made for short but lively fighters, and whilst few of them were truly memorable, they were often fun, exciting and edge of the seat stuff. What we got when Fuchigami and Ebisu clashed as a skilled boxer, against a huge puncher and they gave for a stylistically thrilling match up, that had both men landing bombs from the early stages. Fuchigame tried to fight as the smart man, using his edge in speed and technical ability, whilst Ebisu looked to land booming power shots, trying to take out the more experienced man. It made for a hot start to the fight, which just got better and better. Even moments of lower activity where thrilling, with Ebisu refusing to just be held and punching as Fuchigami tried to tie him up, forcing Fuchigami to use a different defensive approaches. From round 1 this was a cracking back and forth, and was a pre-Christmas treat for fight fans looking to open present the following day. Originally this bout was available for free on the A-sign boxing site, before becoming a reward for those who had used the paid service. Since then it has been one of the most under-watched videos on the A-Sign youtube channel, and really deserves so much more love than it's hard since being uploaded for free this past March. Give it a watch, as this is a closet classic that shouldn't be left in the closet! By Eric Armit
R.I.P Maxim Dadashev Highlights: -Manny Pacquiao wins split decision over Keith Thurman for WBA welterweight title -Dillian Whyte outpoints Oscar Rivas to win the interim WBC heavyweight title -Teo Lopez continues his winning run with points victory over Masayoshi Nakatani -Caleb Plant retains IBF super middle title with inside the distance win over Mike Lee - Michel Soro wins a WBA title with victory over one day substitute Anderson Prestot but no one is too clear which title it is -Puerto Rican super light Subriel Matias stops Maxim Dadashev in IBF eliminator -Yordenis Ugas and Luis Nery win important fight in Las Vegas -Tureano Johnson returns with a win as he stops previously unbeaten Jason Quigley -In heavyweight action Derrick Chisora knocks out Pole Artur Szpilka and Dave Price halts Dave Allen World Title Shows June 20 Las Vegas, NV, USA: Welter: Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2) W PTS 12 Keith Thurman (29-1,1ND). Super Middle: Caleb Plant (19-0) W TKO 3 Mike Lee (21-1). Welter: Yordenis Ugas (24-4) W PTS 12 Omar Figueroa (28-1-1). Welter: Sergey Lipinets (16-1) W TKO 2 Jayar Inson (18-3). Bantam: Luis Nery (30-0) W KO 9 Juan Payano (21-3). Heavy: Efe Ajagba (11-0) W PTS 10 Ali Eren Demirezen (11-1). Welter: Abel Ramos (25-3-2) W TKO 4 Jimmy Williams (16-3-1,1ND). Fly: Genisis Libranza (19-1) W TKO 4 Carlos Maldonado (11-4). Pacquiao vs. Thurman Pac Man or Miracle Man either will do as the amazing Filipino ignores a ten year age gap to floor Thurman in the first and go on to take a split decision to win the WBA title Round 1 Confident and quick start from both boxers. Thurman looking much bigger and heavier than Pacquiao. Thurman was getting the better of the exchanges scoring with some good left hooks to the body and then firing a burst of punches. Pacquiao came forward and landed with a left and right on the retreating Thurman who went down. Not a heavy knockdown so Thurman was up quickly and with less than 15 seconds left after the count there was no more action. Score 10-8 Pacquiao Round 2 Pacquiao was strong early in this one with Thurman looking hesitant. Pacquiao was coming forward connecting with rights and straight lefts. He was too quick for Thurman stabbing jab through Thurman’s guard and scoring with clefts. Thurman was not committing himself to his punches. Pacquiao did a little Ali Shuffle at the bell. Score: 10-9 Pacquiao Pacquiao 20-17 Round 3 Some really impressive jabbing from Pacquiao as he rocked Thurman’s head back with rights. Thurman was trying to press more and pinned Pacquiao to the ropes but Pacquiao fought his way off and again was getting through with fast right jabs. Score: 10-9 Pacquiao Pacquiao 30-26 Round 4 Pacquiao was forcing Thurman back with hooks and uppercuts as this one opened but then Thurman landed well with body punches and was putting on more pressure. Pacquiao was flitting around Thurman throwing quick punches but not many landed and Thurman was working well with his jab. Score: 10-9 Thurman Pacquiao 39-36 Round 5 Thurman was starting to boss the action with his jab. Pacquiao was spending more time on the back foot and against the ropes. Thurman cracked Pacquiao with a sharp right to the head and was getting through with jabs. Pacquiao burst into action at the end of the round but most of his punches were blocked. Thurman seemed to have a damaged nose Score: 10-9 Thurman Pacquiao 48-46 Round 6 Slowest round so far. Thurman doing the work and throwing the punches with Pacquiao just threatening and Thurman connected with a hard straight right. Pacquiao tried to swing the round his way by attacking late but it was Thurman who landed a couple of crisp head punches. Score: 10-9 Thurman Pacquiao 57-56 Round 7 Thurman was dictating the action with his jab and as Pacquiao dived forward Thurman clipped him with a sharp right to the head. Thurman was boxing cleverly on the back foot and getting his punches off first. Once again he anticipated Paquiao’s late burst but this time it was Thurman doing the scoring with rights. Score: 10-9 Thurman Tied 66-66 Round 8 Pacquiao had lost the last four rounds by only fighting in short burst but in this one he was more active for all three minutes. Thurman was still finding the target with jabs and rights but Pacquiao was throwing lots of quick combinations-not hard punches but scoring punches. It was Thurman who finished strongly but he had not done enough to take it. Score: 10-9 Pacquiao Pacquiao 76-75 Round 9 Thurman was using his jab well and dropping in rights and looked to be bossing the action. Pacquiao fired back and was getting through with jabs but then Thurman caught him with a heavy right to the head and then outscored Pacquiao the rest of the way. Score: 10-9 Thurman Tied 85-85 Round 10 Thurman was the one doing the scoring early in this one. He kept sticking out the jab and finding the target with rights. Pacquiao upped his pace and threw a series of punches. A left to the body suddenly stopped Thurman in his tracks and sent him on the retreat. Pacquiao was hunting Thurman down and landing heavily. Thurman fired back but that body punch had taken the fire out of him for a while just enough for Pacquiao to take the round. Score: 10-9 Pacquiao Pacquiao 95-94 Round 11 Thurman did the scoring early with straight rights but Pacquiao came back with a body punch. Thurman took this one better than the one in the last round and was quickly on the front foot forcing Pacquiao to the ropes with his jab and letting fly to the body. He turned up the heat with another quick attack and connected with more rights and then bobbed and weaved to frustrate Pacquiao’s attempt to stage a strong finish. Score: 10-9 Thurman Tied 104-104 Round 12 Pacquiao showed the mark of a true champion with a champion’s finish. He was quicker and fresher than Thurman flitting around him landing hooks, uppercuts and straight lefts. Thurman tried some rushing attacks but Pacquiao evaded them and then countered and won the round and the fight. Score: 10-9 Pacquiao Pacquiao 114-113 Official Scores: 115-112 Pacquiao, 115-112 Pacquiao, 114-113 Thurman The 40-year-old champion will now return to his work as a Senator back home. He has fought just once in both 2017 and 2018 and has said he will not fight again until 2020 but no indication who might be in the other corner. Thurman, 30, so nearly won this one. The first round knockdown and the brilliant finish in the twelfth made the difference. He looked so much better than his disappointing title defence against Joselito Lopez in January and he wants a return but I can’t see Pacquiao giving him that. Plant vs. Lee Plant has no trouble in despatching Lee inside three rounds in the first defence of his IBF title. Round 1 Plant was moving in quickly and landed rights to the body. Lee was waiting too long to throw his punches and when he did throw them Plant had no trouble dodging them. Late in the round Plant connected with a crisp left hook that dumped Lee on his rump. Lee was up quickly and avoided any more trouble to the bell. Score: 10-8 Plant Round 2 Lee tried to pressurise Plant and landed a couple of punches when he had Plant against the ropes but that was his only success. Plant was threading jabs through Lee’s leaky defence and banging home body punches Score: 10-9 Plant Plant 20-17 Round 3 Lee was down early in this one. After spearing Lee with three jabs Plant landed a clubbing shot to the side of the head and Lee went over. After the count Lee rushed at Plant who landed a left to the side of the head. Lee skidded and fell to the canvas. It was ruled no knockdown but Lee was slow getting up. He again took the fight to Plant but a left hook to the head put Lee down again. As he started to rise the referee indicated he had stopped the fight but Lee threw the referee’s arm aside and protested that he was able to carry on but the fight was over. The 27-year-old champion from Tennessee gets his eleventh win by KO/TKO. He has no mandatory challenger so could go for a voluntary. A unification fight with the winner between WBC champion Andre Dirrell and David Benavidez but that fight is not until September. Lee was unrated and had not met anyone even remotely close to being rated and the gap in class showed here. Ugas vs. Figueroa Ugas just too quick and too skilful for the determined Figueroa. Figueroa likes to fight inside and he was rolling forward in the first working to the body with hooks and then landing a hard overhand right. Ugas was having trouble finding space to punch but late in the first a right to the head sent Figueroa stumbling back across the ring and into the ropes. The referee rightly judged that the ropes kept Figueroa from going down and applied a count. Ugas landed a heavy right but Figueroa was punching back as the round closed. Ugas did not want to fight inside and in the second and third he was meeting the advancing Figueroa with hooks and then clinching. A clash of heads in the fourth opened a cut high on Figueroa’s hairline and in the fifth Ugas lost a point for holding. Almost as big a problem for Figueroa was Ugas using his shoulders and elbows to shove Figueroa back to get punching room. Ugas landing heavy head punches before the bell to end the sixth. In the sixth Figueroa kept marching forward; and Ugas kept meeting him with hooks and uppercuts and then launching a fierce attack before the end of the round. Ugas was given another warning for holding in the ninth and continued to connect with hooks and uppercuts on the ever advancing Figueroa. There was nothing Figueroa could do to change the pattern of the fight and Ugas was outscoring him in every round. By the end Figueroa was showing heavy bruising around his left eye and was a well beaten fighter. Scores 119-107 for Ugas on the cards of the three judges. Supposedly this was an eliminator to find the mandatory challenger for the WBC title but with Ugas No 5 and Figueroa No 15 that’s a strange eliminator. Ugas, 33, lost a split decision to Shawn Porter for the WBC title in March so deserves a return but first Porter has to get by IBF champion Errol Spencer in their unification fight in September. Texan Figueroa,29, a former undefeated WBC lightweight champion had scored wins over Ricky Burns, Antonio De Marco, Robert Guerrero and John Molina so this first loss is a big setback Lipinets vs. Inson Lipinets produces a devastating left hook to end this one. The hard punching Kazak was walking Filipino Inson down in the first looking to end things early. In the second as Inson shaped to throw a right hook Lipinets beat him to it with a dreadful left hook that sent Inson down face first. Somehow Inson beat the count and wanted to continue but the referee rightly stopped the bout. Kazak Lipinets , a former IBF super light champion, was to have faced John Molina but Molina pulled out with a back injury and Inson, who was to have fought on the show against another opponent stepped up to face Lipinets. Nery vs. Payano Nery wins this clash of former champions with kayo in the ninth round. Payano was the busier at the start of this clash of southpaws. Nery was the bigger man but Payano was connecting with jabs and straight lefts. After that slow start Nery began to roll in the second stepping back from Payano’s jab and landing hooks to the body and a succession of jabs and hooks had Payano backing up rapidly. Nary took the third and then shook Payano in the fourth with a right. The fifth was a close competitive round as Payano scored well in the exchanges. Nery’s power was becoming a bigger and bigger factor. Payano’s quickness saw him still landing plenty of punches but he did not have the power to match Nery. Payano was under heavy bombardment at the end of the sixth and a left in the seventh saw Payano’s nose damaged. Nery was handing out more punishment in the eighth. Payano was still fighting back hard but Nery was walking through his punches and connecting with hooks and uppercuts. At the end of the round a very tired Payano had blood streaming down his face from a cut. In the ninth Nery forced Payano to the ropes then landed a left hook to the body. At first Payano did not react except to throw a couple of punches but then the pain bit and he first dropped to his knees and then flat on the canvas on his back and was counted out. The undefeated 24-year-old from Tijuana makes it 23 wins by KO/TKO. He lost his WBC bantam title when he failed to make the weight for a defence of the title but a four round victory over McJoe Arroyo has him at No 1 with the WBC so he should get a shot at WBC champion Nordine Oubaali either later this year or early next. Payano, 35, a former WBA and IBO bantam champion lost his titles to Rau’shee Warren and was then knocked out in 70 seconds by Naoya Inoue for the secondary WBA title in a WBSS tournament bout. He showed good skills here and is rated WBC 6/WBO 10/WBA 10 so a title shot next year is not out of the question. Ajagba vs. Demirezen Ajagba wins this clash of unbeaten former Olympians. Ajagba had big advantages in height and reach and initially stuck to boxing on the outside using his left jab to score and stem Demirezen's attempts to attack. The Turkish fighter did manage to get close and land a couple of hooks to the body and a big overhand right in the second but his successes were few as Ajagba was quicker with both hands and feet. It was a slow paced fight without a great deal of variety in the action. Ajagba was finding gaps for his jabs and occasional rights and Demirezen only really looked dangerous with his long rights. Ajagba connected with good rights in the fourth and fifth and also dug in a solid body punch but then went back to the jab. Ajagba kept Demirezen out with his jab in the sixth but Denizen connected with a barrage of hooks and uppercuts in the seventh. Ajagba slowed in the eighth as Demirezen kept rumbling forward but the big Nigerian was able to use his jab to collect the points over the last two rounds. Scores 99-91 twice and 97-93 for Ajagba. A clear winner but the 99-91 scores looked harsh on Demirezen. As an amateur the 25-year-old Texas-based Ajagba won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games beating Junior Fa in one of the early rounds and he won a gold medal at the African Games, He reached the quarter-finals in Rio but lost to Ivan Dychko. German-based Demirezen was rated No 10 by the WBO going into this one. As an amateur he was Turkish champion, twice won gold medals at the prestigious Ahmet Comert Tournament and competed at the 2015 World Championships. He also qualified to compete in Rio but lost to Filip Hrgovic Ramos vs. Williams Ramos extends his current winning run to seven with stoppage of Williams. Ramos was hunting Williams down with Williams, the taller fighter, boxing but not having the power to keep Ramos out for long. Williams managed to stay out of serious trouble until the fourth when he was stunned by a left and then Ramos launches an onslaught that had the referee stepping in to save Williams. The only fighters to have beaten Ramos are Regis Prograis, Ivan Baranchyk and Jamal James with James winning on a majority verdict in his own home city. Williams lost on points to mark DeLuca last time out. Libranza vs. Maldonado Libranza makes it a double for the Pacquiao team as he stops Maldonado. No study time here as Libranza and Maldonado went to war from the outset. Libranza rolling forward with hooks and uppercuts and Maldonado was throwing straight shots as they traded punches. Over the second and third Libranza was raking Maldonado with jabs and left hooks to the body with Maldonado bravely trying to punch with the talented little Filipino. They traded body punches in the fourth until Libranza began to drive Maldonado back with hooks to head and body. Maldonado’s head was being jerked from side to side but he stayed inside. Libranza kept pounding Maldonado and with Maldonado no longer fighting back the referee stopped the fight with just four seconds remaining in the round. The 25-year-old Filipino “Cobra” has won eight in a row and this is his eleventh win by KO/TKO. His only loss came in a challenge against Moruti Mthalane for the IBO flyweight title in 2017. Californian Maldonado had scored a good win over Miguel Cartagena in June last year but was decisioned by McWilliams Arroyo in February this year. London, England: Heavy: Dillian Whyte (26-1) W PTS 12 Oscar Rivas (26-1). Heavy: David Price (25-6) W RTD 10 David Allen (17-5-2). Heavy: Derrick Chisora (31-9) W KO 2 Artur Szpilka (22-4). Cruiser: Richard Riakporhe (10-0) W PTS 10 Chris Billam-Smith (9-1). Cruiser: Lawrence Okolie (13-0) W TKO 7 Mariano Gudino (13-3). Whyte vs. Rivas Whyte climbs off the floor to outpoint Rivas and win the interim WBC title which somewhere in the far distant future might actually get him a shot at the full WBC title-maybe. Round 1 Rivas took the initiative. He was scoring with strong jabs on the retreating Whyte. Whyte landed a couple of clubbing punches but Rivas responded with hooks to head and body and jabbed well to capture the round. Score: 10-9 Rivas Round 2 Whyte started this round with a series of powerful jabs and then followed one of the jabs with a straight right to the head that had Rivas hurt, unsteady and retreating with Whyte following him throwing punches. Rivas steadied himself then punched back but Whyte landed a heavy combination and controlled the rest of the action with his jab. Score: 10-9 Whyte Tied 19-19 Round 3 Whyte had height, reach and weight over Rivas and the reach part was a big factor. Whyte was constantly banging double jabs through the defence of Rivas and then following with rights. Rivas was not throwing enough punches. Each time he looked set to throw a punch a Whyte jab would hit him on the nose and kill that ambition. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 29-28 Round 4 If it ain’t broke don’t fix it and Whyte’s reliance heavily on his jab was working. He tried an occasional heavy right but it was the jab that was winning him the fight. Again Rivas was not throwing enough punches and relying on landing one of the big rights he threw now and then. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 39-37 Round 5 Whyte was not as effective with his jab in this round. He was tending to throw the left as half hook half jab and it was not connecting. Rivas threw more punches but it was Whyte who was dong the most effective work and he rocked Rivas with a right uppercut Score 10-09 Whyte Whyte 49-46: Round 6 Rivas threw more punches in this round. He let fly with some combinations early in the round with Whyte being short with his jab. Whyte then began to get the jab working and was sending straight rights along behind the jab to make the round his. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 59-55 Round 7 Rivas woke up to the fact that he was losing this fight and attacked strongly. He took Whyte to the ropes and blasted away to head and body sustaining his attack for the first time in the fight. He was stopped in his tracks by a right uppercut but was soon taking Whyte to the ropes and letting fly again. Whyte replied with some hard counters but Rivas took the round. Score: 10-9 Rivas Whyte 68-65 Round 8 Whyte was back in control in this round. He went back to his jab often doubling up and connecting with solid body punches. Rivas was a bit livelier but he kept walking onto the jab and getting caught with hooks. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 78-74 Round 9 Finally some drama as Rivas had Whyte against the ropes and connected with a right uppercut and a left to the head that sent Whyte down. He was up at five and after the count Rivas landed a couple more heavy rights and it was crisis time for Whyte. He moved and jabbed but had to survive a couple more heavy rights before punching back strongly at the end of the round. Score: 10-8 Rivas Whyte 86-84 Round 10 This round was critical. I had Whyte four points in front going in the ninth with only four rounds to go. Now Whyte was two points in front with three rounds to go. Whyte needed to win this one and he did. He was jabbing again and then connecting with clubbing punches to the body. He staggered Rivas with a right to the head and finished the round with a huge right. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 96-93 Round 11 Whyte fed Rivas a diet of jabs and threw in some uppercuts and solid body punches. Rivas had slowed and never really managed to throw a punch that threatened danger as Whyte boxed without taking chances. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 106-102 Round 12 A tired last round really produced no fireworks. Whyte was not looking to take chances and Rivas did not have the energy left to stage a strong finish and I thought Whyte just took it. Score: 10-9 Whyte Whyte 116-111 Official Scores: 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111 all for Whyte. Despite wins over Derrick Chisora twice, Robert Helenius, Lucas Browne and Joseph Parker Whyte has never even had a whiff of a shot at Deontay Wilder it is to be hoped this win will get him one-of course he may have to wait until Luis Ortiz and Tyson Fury both get their second shot which shows just how much value there is in being rated No 1 by the WBC when there are bigger fights to be sanctioned. Colombian Rivas had stopped Bryant Jennings in ten rounds in January but that is the only name of note on his record and he was well beaten in this one. Price vs. Allen Allen never found a way to get past Price’s jab and paid the price (pardon the pun). A strong jab followed by a straight right was all Price needed here and he rocked Allen with a right in the first. Price boxed in a very composed and controlled manner. Allen kept trying to lure him into trading punches but Price stayed outside and with Allen having to reach upwards with his punches he could not get any power into his shots. On the occasions when Allen did get inside he was able to land a few hooks to the body but generally Price just tied him up and then moved out of range. Price stuck to the jab and began to hurt Allen when he started mixing in uppercuts and left hooks as Allen strode forward. Price had won every round and Allen’s only hope was that Price’s suspect stamina would let him down so he kept trying to attack the body but was soaking up jabs and uppercuts. By the end of the ninth Allen was cut over his right eye and out of energy and Price kept sticking him with the jab in the tenth. It was a lost cause and Allen retired at the end of the round. Price breathes some life back into his career as he gets his third win in a row. He collects the vacant WBA Continental belt but stoppage losses to Christian Hammer, Alex Povetkin and Sergey Kuzmin are indication that the 36-year-old from Liverpool will struggle when he tackles good quality opposition. This may be the end of the road for “The White Rhino” Allen is a very popular and brave fighter but has limitations and despite wins over Nick Webb and Lucas Browne has gone as far as he can. Chisora vs. Szpilka Chisora continues his journey towards a fight with former WBO champion Joseph Parker as he crushes Szpilka with scary second round kayo. Szpilka was quickly snapping out jabs and connecting with straight rights at the slower Chisora. There was no real power in the Pole’s punches and Chisora looked dangerous when he took Szpilka to the ropes and unleashed ponderous hooks. Szpilka was moving well in the second until Chisora pinned him to the ropes and landed a booming right to the head. Szpilka’s legs stiffened and two more thunderous rights to the head dropped him face first on the canvas with the referee immediately stopping the fight. It was a worrying long time before they were able to get Szpilka to his feet. Chisora, 35, is 6-4 in his last10 fights with the four losses being in big fights against Kubrat Pulev, Dillian Whyte twice, and Agit Kabayel. He is No 11 with the WBC but not rated by the other bodies however a win over Parker would change that and even see Chisora get a second world title shot seven years after the lost to Vitali Klitschko for the WBC belt. Former world title challenger Szpilka was coming off a big domestic win over Mariusz Wach in November but this was a particularly brutal kayo and it might be time to think about retiring. Riakporhe vs. Billam Smith From the first round there was too much clinching and wrestling as theses two big cruisers struggled to take control. Riakporhe was looking to dictate with his longer reach and Billiam-Smith was looking to counter. Billiam-Smith made a brighter start to the second coming forward and punching inside but the referee gave them both a lecture about wrestling. Both fighters have good jabs but neither was using their jab enough and the styles were not making for an entertaining fight. There were very few times when they stood and traded punches which was making the rounds close and they were warned again about wrestling in the fifth. Later in the round they did trade a few punches. There was plenty of action in seventh with Riakporhe rocking Billiam-Smith with a right to the head. He then cornered him and connected with a series of head punches. Billiam-Smith was in trouble and he turned away with Riakporhe’s attack leaving him draped over the top rope. The referee saw that the ropes were holding Billiam Smith up so applied a standing count and then Billiam-Smith was able to avoid a rushing attack from Riakporhe for the remaining seconds. It was that count that gave Riakporhe the victory as neither man dominated the remaining rounds. Scores 97-92 and 95-94 for Riakporhe and 96-93 for Billiam Smith. The 29-year-old 6-5” Riakporhe was making the second defence of the WBA Inter-Continental title and is rated No 5 by that body. Billiam-Smith deserves a return but a disappointing fight like is not one too many will want to see again. Okolie vs. Gudino Okolie hunts down and floors Gudino four times before the fight is stopped in the seventh round. Not much variety of tactics in this fight. The 6’5” Okolie spent each round tracking Gudino around the ring. The Argentinian was constantly circling the perimeter of the ring and occasionally lunging forward throwing a few punches before clinching and then returning to his circular tour. Rights to the body were Okolie’s best punches but it was a right to the head floored Gudino in the third. He got up and then stayed out of trouble. A tiring Gudino slipped to the floor three times in the fifth trying to avoid Okolie’s punches and as he slowed Okolie was cutting off the ring more often and landing rights. In the seventh Gudino dropped to his knees after a series of punches from Okolie. He made it to his feet but later in the round went down again from a right hook. He was up early but just before the bell he went down from another right and although he climbed up the referee stopped the fight. The 26-year-old British and Commonwealth champion gets his tenth win by KO/TKO and was making the third defence of his WBA Continental title. That title, rather than the quality of his victims, has him at No 2 with the WBA. Second loss by KO/TKO for Gudino. June 18 Le Cannet, France: light Heavy: Mathieu Bauderlique (18-1) W PTS 12 Doudou Ngumbu (38-10). Super Welter: Dylan Charrat (18-0-1) W PTS 12 Howard Cospolite (17-7-3). Light: Yvon Mendy (43-5-1) W PTS 12 Diego Eligio (20-4-1). Bauderlique vs. Ngumbu Bauderlique passes his toughest test to date with wide unanimous decision over veteran Ngumbu. The tall French southpaw was able to use his longer reach to outbox Ngumbu on the outside. Ngumbu never stopped rolling forward but from the fourth round was hampered in his effort by a cut over his right eye which bled for the rest of the fight. Ngumbu tried to stay inside when he could but overdid it in the seventh and lost a point for holding. Bauderlique dominated the action and tried hard to end this one inside the distance but Ngumbu is tough and wily and did not crumble. Scores 119-108 twice and 117-110 for the 30-year-old Rio bronze medal winner who retains the WBA Inter-Continental title. Ngumbu 37 lost to Igor Mikhalkin for the IBO title in 2017 and to Olek Gvozdyk for the WBC title last March when he was forced out of the fight with a calf injury. Charrat vs. Cospolite Charrat wins the vacant EU title after terrific battle with fellow-Frenchman Cospolite. “Butterfly” Charrat is an excellent boxer. Quick footwork, fast hands, plenty of movement and variety in his work-but no power. Cospolite kept rolling forward pumping out hooks and uppercuts but finding the fleet Charrat n an elusive target. Charrat was firing hooks and uppercuts then blocking many of Cospolite’s punches. Cospolite pressed hard in every round and outworked Charrat often enough to make it a tight fight with Charrat just having an edge in accuracy. Scores 115-113 twice and 117-111 all for Charrat. The 25-year-old local and Cospolite had fought to a draw for this title in October. The 36-year-old Cospolite was having his third shot at this title. Mendy vs. Eligio Mendy given a much tougher time than expected against Mexican Eligio. Mendy had the better skills and fought his usual aggressive fight but was never able to subdued Eligio and had to fight hard to the end of this one. Scores 116-112 twice and 118-110 for “The Lion”. Mendy, rated WBA 5/WBC 6 is now 13-1 in his last 14 fights including a win and a loss to Luke Campbell. Eligio, 22, was 4-0-1 in his last 5 fights. Indio CA, USA: Middle: Tureano Johnson (21-2-1) W RTD 9 Jason Quigley (16-1). Super Bantam: Leonardo Baez (16-2) W PTS 10 Alberto Melian (5-1). Fly: Ricardo Sandoval (16-1) W KO 5 Marco Sustaita (12-2-1). Light: Carlos Morales (19-4-3) W KO 1 Rosekie Cristobal (15-5). Johnson vs. Quigley Bahamian Johnson revitalises his career as he grinds down unbeaten Quigley. Johnson was quick and aggressive from the start. He was using stiff jabs to force Quigley back and then getting inside with hooks. Quigley was landing plenty of counters but could not keep Johnson out. Quigley stood his ground more over the third and fourth but Johnson was relentless and was catching Quigley inside with sharp uppercuts. It was trench warfare in the fifth and sixth with both connecting with hooks and uppercuts inside but Johnson, who changed to fighting southpaw, was on top and was starting to bully Quigley. In the seventh Quigley carried out a sustained attack marching forward pumping out punches for three minutes but by the bell he had swelling around both eyes and blood trickling from a cut over his left eye. Johnson looked the fresher fighter in the eighth with Quigley battling hard but tiring rapidly. Johnson had Quigley pinned to the ropes for much of the ninth firing bursts of punches. By the end of the round an exhausted Quigley almost dropped to the floor but made it to the bell and then retired. A stoppage loss to Sergiy Derevyanchenko and a split draw with Fernando Castaneda had put a question mark over his future but the 35-year-old Bahamian but was impressively sharp and aggressive here so is back in the picture. Irishman Quigley 28 had scored wins over Glen Tapia and Freddy Hernandez and was No 5 with the WBC so this is a big set-back. Baez vs. Melian Mexican Baez outslugs Melian to win a unanimous decision. Baez was the bigger and stronger man and that made the difference in a contest that was more brawl than craft. He stayed on top of Melian never giving the unbeaten Argentinian any chance to use his better skills . They really just stood inside and battered away at each other, Baez generally got the better of the exchanges but Melian had spells where he was outworking Baez and forcing Baez onto the back foot. Melian looked strong in the seventh and eighth. By the end of the round Baez was cut on his forehead and Melian had a swelling under his left eye. Baez changed tactics and danced-not very elegantly- and boxed his way throught the round and two exhausted fighters pumped out punches in the last . Scores 97-93 on the three cards for Baez. Four wins in a row for Baez. Two-time Olympian Melian blows his unbeaten record. Sandoval vs. Sustaita Plenty of action here as Sandoval dropped Sustaita twice in the first round and was himself on the floor inside those three minutes and climbed off the floor again in the second to stop Sustaita in the fifth. The first knockdown came less than ten seconds into the fight by way of a stiff left jab which dropped Sustaita on his rump. After the eight count the very next punch was a short left hook that floored Sustaita again. When the action restarted Sandoval was steaming forward throwing punches trying to take Sustaita out but he was nailed by a right to the chin and went down-and the round was not even a minute old. They then fought fiercely over the remainder of the round. The excitement wasn’t over as Sustaita floored Sandoval with a left hook early in the second. Sandoval held and boxed and avoided any more trouble. Sandoval had problems with the swarming attacks of Sustaita in the third and fourth but was landing crisp counters. In the fifth as Sustaita strode forward he was shaken badly by a couple of punches. Sandoval then drove Sustaita around the ring connecting with a series of head punches and the referee stopped the fight. Still only 20 Sandoval, the WBC Youth champion, has twelve wins by KO/TKO but he flirted with danger here. After losing his first pro fight Californian Sustaita then went 12-0-1 with ten wins by KO/TKO. Morales vs. Cristobel Morales floors Cristobal twice and stops him in the second round. In the first round southpaw Cristobal was fighting out of a crouch and stepping in with jabs. Morales was jabbing strongly and trying straight rights and looking for openings. In the second round Morales connected with a short right inside and Cristobal tumbled back and down by the ropes. He was up at six and when the count was over Morales drove Cristobal to the ropes and landed a left and a right and Cristobal dropped to the canvas and was counted out. It was quite a few minutes before Cristobal was able to get to his feet. Morales, 29, suffered back-to-back losses in 2018 to unbeaten Ryan Garcia on a majority decision and to WBA No 1 Rene Alvarado so a welcome win. Cristobal has three loses by KO/TKO but all to good standard opponents. Panama City, Panama: Super Welter: Charlie Navarro (29-9) W PTS 11 Johan Gonzalez (22-1). Bantam: Leo Nunez (10-0) W PTS 10 Otto Gamez (18-2). Super Bantam: Liborio Solis (30-5-1,1ND) W KO 1 Karluis Diaz (23-10). Welter: Alex Duran (19-0) W RTD 5 Pascual Salgado (12-13-1). Navarro vs. Gonzalez Venezuelan veteran Navarro upsets the odds with split decision over fellow-Venezuelan Gonzalez. Scores 105-104 twice for Navarro and 105-104 for Gonzalez. Four wins in a row for 39-year-old Navarro as he collects the vacant WBA Fedelatin title and breathes life back into a fading career. Panamanian-based Gonzalez, 28, had won all 22 of his fights by KO/TKO fifteen in the first round and all crammed into less than two years as a pro. They are from two different generations with Navarro competing at the 1999 World Championships and Gonzalez at the 2013 Worlds. Nunez vs. Gamez Cuban Nunez springs a mild upset of his own here as he outpoints Venezuelan Gamez. The 24-year-old Panamanian-based Nunez floored Gamez in the last but was so far ahead he did not need the knockdown for his win. Scores 99-90 for Nunez on all of the cards. He won two bronze medals and a silver in the Cuban championships and you have to be good to do that. Gamez, the IBA world champion, had won his last eleven fights. Solis vs. Diaz Solis gets his fifth win on the trot. In back-to-back fights against Jamie McDonnell for the secondary WBA bantamweight title Solis lost the decision in the first and the other fight ended in a No Decision due to cuts. The 37-year-old Venezuelan, a former WBA super fly champion, is No 1 with the WBA so he is awaiting the outcome of the WBSS final to see whether Nonito Donaire or Naoya Inoue is the champion. Colombian Diaz was knocked out in one round by Hekkie Budler for the WBA and IBO titles in 2014 and has now lost his last four fights by KO/TKO Duran vs. Salgado Panamanian southpaw Duran gets his fourth inside the distance win in his last five fights as he floors Salgado in the second and third before stopping him in the fifth. No relation to Roberto, southpaw Alexander, 26, was voted Boxer of the Year by the Panama Commission in 2018. Silgado is now 0-7-1 in his last 8 fights. July 19 Oxon Hill, MD, USA: Light: Teo Lopez (14-0) W PTS 12 Masayoshi Nakatani (18-1). Super Light: Subriel Matias (14-0) W RTD 11 Maxim Dadashev (13-1). Middle: Esquiva Falcao (24-0) W TKO 8Jesus Gutierrez (25-4-2). Super Feather: Tyler McCreary (16-0-1) W PTS 8 Jesse Cris Rosales (22-3-1). Heavy: Cassius Chaney (16-0) W TKO 1 Joel Caudle (8-3-2,1ND). Middle: Tyler Howard (18-0) W PTS 8 Jamaal Davis (18-15-1). Middle: Dusty Hernandez Harrison (33-0-1) W TKO 7 Juan De Angel (21-12-1). Lopez vs. Nakatani Lopez goes twelve rounds for the first time and overcomes the height and reach of Nakatani to win a unanimous decision. Nakatani made a confident start. He was using his longer reach to probe with jabs and testing Lopez with overhand rights and left hooks. Both scored with some sharp hooks but Nakatani had edged the round. In the second great upper body movement from Lopez had Nakatani missing with his jabs and Lopez was stepping inside and scoring with lefts to the body and it was his round. Nakatani had his jab working again in the third with Lopez looking to drop overhand rights to the head but coming up short with Nakatani just doing enough inside to win the round. Lopez took the next one. He upped his pace in the fourth was getting past Nakatani’s jab and landing hooks from both hands. It looked as though Lopez had scored a knockdown when Nakatani dropped at the ropes but the punch from Lopez landed on Nakatani’s shoulder and the Japanese fighter’s leg slid on the canvas causing him to go down. Lopez continued to press and it was his round. After four I had then even at 38-38.The fifth was closer but still Lopez’s. Nakatani was using his jab less whereas Lopez was using his more. He was getting his punches off first and landed two thudding rights to the head. Nakatani was coming forward behind his jab with quick combinations in the sixth but Lopez was countering well and jabbing well to take the round by a narrow margin and at this stage I had it 58-56 for Lopez. Lopez took the seventh. He was getting his punches off first scoring with left jabs and quick rights to the head with Nakatani pressing hard but not landing much. Nakatani went back to his jab in the eighth. He was following in with right crosses one of which connected flush on the chin of Lopez and was the best punch he had landed so far as he clawed back a round. My score at this point was 77-75 for Lopez. The ninth was tight one Lopez started strongly ducking and weaving under Nakatani’s jab and getting inside to land hooks and uppercuts. Nakatani then had Lopez against the ropes and landed lefts and rights only for Lopez to finish the round strongly to make it his. He also took the tenth. He was stepping inside Nakatani’s jabs and countering with left hooks and scoring with overhand rights. They both landed a heavy right as they traded but other than that punch Nakatani just could not get on target. The eleventh went to Nakatani. He pressed the action finding the range with his jab and connecting with rights. When they traded hooks Nakatani was the one landing. Lopez took the last. He was catching Nakatani with hooks and uppercuts with Nakatani being off target and Lopez ended the round connecting with a barrage of punches which had Nakatani stumbling. The judges saw this one 118-110 twice and 119-109 for Lopez which seemed too wide and I had Lopez winning 116-112. The 21-year-old from Brooklyn had never gone past six rounds before so this was some invaluable experience for him. This was an IBF eliminator so the win makes Lopez the mandatory challenger for Richard Commey. He is No 2 with the WBO so there could be a fight with champion Vasyl Lomachenko down the line. At 5’11 ½” Nakatani, 30, is tall for a lightweight. He showed good skills and plenty of speed so will probably go back to Japan and rebuild looking to find another route to a title fight. Matias vs. Dadashev Puerto Rican “Browny” Matias just could be the next big star in Puerto Rican boxing, he put on a high level power show to force Dadashev out of the fight after eleven rounds. After the fight Dadashev collapse and was taken to hospital. He was found to have suffered a bleed to the brain and after an operation remains in a critical condition. Matias forced the fight from the start. Dadashev could not match the Puerto Rican’s power so he went on the back foot using a strong jab and movement to stay in the fight. Matias kept forging forward hurting Dadashev with punches to head and body. Dadashev was having to work hard to keep in the fight and the body punching from Matias had the Russian tiring. Dadashev was being outworked and forced to stand and trade and Matias was connecting with more and more heavy punches. By the eleventh Dadashev was exhausted and just before the bell a punch from Matias had Dadashev reeling. At the end of the round his trainer Buddy McGirt pulled him out of the fight. Winning this eliminator allows Matias to fill the vacant No 2 spot in the IBF ratings making a fight with the winner of the contest between IBF champion Josh Taylor and WBA champion Regis Prograis in the WBSS final. Dadashev needed help to leave the ring and collapsed on the way back to the dressing room. He was put on a stretcher and taken immediately to the hospital where he was operated on for a swelling to the brain but tragically passed away today. Falcao vs. Gutierrez Brazilian southpaw Falcao notches up another win as he tries to find a route to a world title shot. He pummelled Gutierrez to head and body in round after round. Gutierrez soaked up the punishment but lacked the power to change the path of the fight. He held out until the eighth when three lefts from Falcao sent him tumbling back and down. Gutierrez was up at eight and Falcao landed some heavy head punches. Gutierrez indicate for Falcao to bring it on and he did. A few more head punches had the referee stopping the fight with Gutierrez complaining bitterly at the stoppage, The former Olympic silver medal winner is No 7 with the IBF, WBA and WBC with his best bet of a title shot looking to be against fellow Top Rank promoted fighter Ryota Murata the holder of the secondary WBA belt. Losses to Murata cost Falcao the gold medal in London and he had to settle for a bronze medal after losing to Murata at the 2011 World Championships. Second inside the distance loss in a row for Gutierrez having been knocked out in two rounds by Steven Butler in November. McCreary vs. Rosales McCreary marches on. Toledo’s McCreary was busier and more accurate in a competitive fight but Rosales pressed hard and finished strongly to make it close. In the end McCreary deservedly took the split decision. Scores 78-74 and 77-75 for McCreary and 77-75 for Filipino Rosales. Former local Golden Gloves champion McCreary was coming off a disappointing majority draw with veteran Roberto Castaneda so he badly needed to win here. Rosales went 21-0-1 before being knocked out in two rounds in an overly optimistic fight with Jhonny Gonzalez in 2017. He was stopped in four rounds by Shakur Stevenson in January so this is his second loss in a row. Chaney vs. Caudle Chaney halts a vastly overmatched Caudle. Chaney was battering Caudle with head punches with the flabby Caudle stumbling badly. A couple of punches saw Caudle take a head dive through the ropes. He managed to cushion his fall to the floor then got up and climbed back in the ring and was allowed to box on. Chaney probed with two jabs and then landed a right that saw Caudle stumble and the fight was stopped. Fifth inside the distance win in a row for Chaney who was named after Cassius Clay. The 6’6” heavyweight was a basketball star at University but when he moved over to boxing he won a gold medal at the Police Athletic League Tournament and a bronze at the US National championships turning pro at 27. First inside the distance loss for Caudle. Howard vs. Davis Howard too quick, busy and too young for journeyman Davis. Howard found plenty of space to use his jab and gaps for some solid left hooks but never really had Davis in any serious discomfort. Scores 80-72 twice and 78-73 for the fighter from Tennessee. No names of note on Howard’s record yet but these are good learning fights. Third loss this year for 38-year-old Davis. Harrison vs. De Angel After being inactive in 2016 and 2017 Hernandez is keeping busy and he stops De Angel for his third win this year. Hernandez outboxed De Angel early and with his other two wins in 2019 giving him less than five rounds of action he was getting some useful ring time. He ended it in the seventh dropping De Angel to his knees with a right and although De Angel managed to get up the referee stopped the contest. Prior to his spell away from the ring Hernandez had scored wins over Mike Dallas and Thomas LaManna. He has 19 wins by KO/TKO. He turned pro at 17 and is still only 25 so has time to make up for that spell away. Colombian De Angel has won only one of his last eight fights. Mexico City, Mexico: Light Fly: Ganigan Lopez (36-9) W PTS 10 Saul Juarez (25-10-2). Former world champion Lopez boxes his way to split decision victory over an aggressive Juarez in defence of the WBC Fecarbox title. Lopez was jabbing and moving using his southpaw jab to break up Juarez’s attacks. Juarez kept pushing hard and had success when he could cut off the ring and pin Lopez to the ropes but Lopez was connecting with jabs and some fierce uppercuts inside. The pace told on Lopez over the closing rounds but he held off a strong finish from Juarez to preserve his early lead. Scores 97-94 and 96-94 for Lopez and 96-94 for Juarez. Now 37 the former WBC light fly champion had looked a spent force when losing on an eighth rounds stoppage against Angel Acosta in a challenge for the WBO light fly title in March. “Baby” Juarez was looking to open a path to another world title shot having lost in challenges for the WBC minimum and light fly belts. Bangkok, Thailand: Super Fly: Yodmongkol (55-4) W PTS 10 Mateo Handig (15-19). Former interim WBA flyweight champion Yodmongkol (Sirichai Thaiyen) wins the vacant OPBF Silver title with unanimous verdict over Filipino Handig who gives Yodmongkol a tougher time than expected. Scores 97-93 for the Thai on all three cards. Yodmongkol lost to Juan Reveco for the secondary WBA title and to and Artem Dalakian for the full title. Handig is now 2-14 in his last 16 fights. July 20 Marseilles, France: Super Welter: Michel Soro (34-2-1) W TKO 5 Anderson Prestot (23-2). (17-0). Super Middle: Kevin Lele Sadjo (13-0) W TKO 10 Walter Sequeira (22-6). Super Middle: Gustave Tamba (14-1) W TKO 8 Ruslan Shchelev (16-13-1). Soro vs. Prestot For Soro this fight was to have been against Magomed Kurbanov for the recently vacated secondary WBA title but after suffering visa delays Kurbanov realised he would only arrive one day before the fight so pulled out. Prestot stepped in at one day’s notice and the reward for the winner was down rated to the WBA Gold title although was kept quiet. Prestot had height and reach over Soro and he used his jab well in the first with Soro moving in quickly and landing a right to the head but then having trouble getting past the jab and a straight right from Prestot made Soro stumble. Soro upped his attacks in the second but again Prestot was spearing Soro with jabs. He then launched a furious attack forcing Soro back with hooks and uppercuts with blood tricking from Soro’s mouth but just before the bell a right to the head had Prestot seriously shaken. Prestot connected with a couple of hard hooks and an uppercut at the start of the third but then a clash of heads opened a cut on Prestot’s forehead. Soro was starting to find the target with right crosses and after a booming right Prestot was looking unsteady under the pressure. Soro dominated the fourth. Prestot was already looking tired. His jab had no snap and he was spending most of the time backed to the ropes as Soro scored to head and body. Prestot decision to take this fight at one day’s notice was telling now. In the fifth Soro was driving Prestot along the ropes. Prestot gamely fought back but Soro trapped him on the ropes and kept him there raining punches until Prestot slid to the floor. Prestot made it to his feet but the referee stopped the fight just as the towel came in from Prestot’s corner. Ivory Coast-born Frenchman Soro, 31, was 15-1-1 before this fight with the loss being to Brain Castano for the interim WBA title. Soro will now be hoping that the fight with Kurbanov can be rescheduled. Prestot has not fought at super welter since 2015 having won three titles: the French, EU and WBC Mediterranean: at middleweight and although competitive for two rounds he not surprisingly faded quickly. Sadjo vs. Sequeira Sadjo wins his first international title with stoppage of gutsy Argentinian Sequeira. Over the early rounds Sadjo was marching forward with a strong jab and going to the body. Sequeira boxed well on the back foot firing counters. Sadjo tried to overwhelm Sequeira over the third and forth marching forward showering Sequeira with punches. Sequeira was rocked a few time but kept punching back in an entertaining scrap. Sequeira soaked up heavy punishment in the fifth and dropped to his knees in the sixth after Sadjo connected with a left to the body. Sequeira survived but was hurt with body punches again in the seventh and caught by some neck-snapping punches in the eighth. Sadjo’s work rate dropped in the ninth but Sequeira was exhausted holding more and punching less. In the tenth Sequeira was rocked by head punches and then dropped to his knees from a left to the body. Whilst on his knees Sequeira spat out his mouthguard and the fight was stopped. The 29-year-old former undefeated French champion lifts the vacant WBA Inter-Continental title. He showed good skills and plenty of power with all thirteen of his wins coming inside the distance but did not turn pro until he was 27. A former footballer and ankle injury forced him to look for another sport. He was runner-up in the French Championships in 2016 and won the national title in 2017. He won the French title in his fifth fight after less than a year as a pro. Sequeira had won 5 of his last 6 fights with the loss coming against Anthony Yarde on a fourth round stoppage in October. Tamba vs. Shchelev French champion Tamba gets his eleventh win by KO/TKO as he floors Ukrainian Shchelev three times before the fight is stopped in the eighth round. Tamba moves the twelve wins in a row. Third loss by KO/TKO for Shchelev. San Nicolas, Argentina: Light: Eduardo Abreu (10-1-1) DREW 10 Hugo Santillan (19-6-2). Abreu retains the WBC Latino title with draw against Santillan but there is just so much wrong about the before and after of this fight in what might yet be a tragedy for Santillan’s family and boxing in Argentina. In the fight Santillan swept the first three rounds being busier and more active than Abreu. In the fourth Santillan began to bleed heavily from the nose and Abreu’s heavier punching put him in control. Santillan tired badly and got through the tenth by moving and jabbing and plenty of holding. At the bell Santillan raised his arm in triumph and climbed on the ropes in a corner signalling to the crowd. Before the result could be announced Santillan passed out. Instead of then getting him medical attention his seconds half carried half dragged him to the centre of the ring. Santillan just hung there head down not capable of standing as the scores were read out. One judge had it 97-93 for Santillan one had it 96-94 and the third saw it at 95-95. The referee had to grab Santillan’s arm to raise it alongside Abreu’s and then Santillan’s seconds with the referee’s help dragged an unresponsive Santillan to his corner. He was so out of it that he slid off his seat to the floor and only then did a doctor enter the ring to examine Santillan. It had been obvious from before the result was announced that he was in serious trouble but neither the doctor or any local supervisor took any action until Santillan had been dragged back to his corner. So much was wrong here before the fight. Santillan took the fight at very short notice when another bout on the show fell though and even worse he had taken a savage beating against Artem Harutyunyan in Germany on 15 June and was under suspension by the German Board until 30 July “for many blows to the head”. Santillan was taken to hospital having to be resuscitated twice and then operated on for a serious brain injury. He remains in intensive care and the prognosis is not good. Justiniano Posse, Argentina: Super Middle: William Scull (13-0) W TKO 6 Sebastian Papeschi (14-2). Cuban Scull keeps his 100% record and lifts the South American title with stoppage of local southpaw Papeschi. Scull floored Papeschi in the fifth round and three more times in the sixth to force the stoppage. The 27-year-old Scull has six wins by KO/TKO. Papeschi was making the first defence of the title. He had reversed his only previous loss. Brisbane, Australia: Cruiser: Aaron Russell (13-6) W PTS 10 Vikas Singh (9-1-1). Super Welter: Ben Mahoney (8-0) W TKO 5 Rahul Kumar (5-3-1). 10 Russell vs. Singh Local fighter Russell wins the vacant IBF Australasian title with points victory over inexperienced Singh. Russell, who has fought for the OPBF heavyweight title, was down to his optimum weight for this one and gets his second win against very poor Indian opposition. First fight outside India and first loss for Singh. Mahoney vs. Kumar Mahoney has no problems against Indian novice Kumar. Mahoney had won every round before ending it in the fifth. Kumar was very crude and in the fifth he walked onto a left hook that staggered him. Mahoney teed-off on him with jabs and then landed a series of punches that dropped Kumar to his knees. He staggered up but Mahoney landed a fierce uppercut and a left hook and the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. The 24-year-old Queenslander was moving up to eight rounds for the first time but did not need that many rounds to win against Kumar. Accra, Ghana: Welter: Freddy Kiwitt (16-2) W TKO 5 Samuel Turkson (15-6). Light: Emanuel Tagoe (31-1) W TKO 6 Ishmael Aryeety (13-5). Kiwitt vs. Turkson Liberian-born Kiwitt wins the vacant ABU title with stoppage of Ghanaian Turkson. The London-based German “ Pretty Boy” was in charge from the start and shook Turkson repeatedly with strong uppercuts until the fight was stopped. Kiwitt, who also holds the WBO European title makes it nine wins by KO/TKO. Kiwitt has done most of his fighting in the UK where he has lost decisions against Akeem-Ennis Brown and Louis Green. He won the WBO European title in February with a victory over Paddy Gallagher which has netted him a No 12 rating with the WBO. Ghanaian Turkson came in as a substitute and suffers his second inside the distance loss. Tagoe vs. Aryeetey An undemanding pay day for Tagoe as he stops Aryeetey in six rounds. The former undefeated IBO champion is rated No 1 by the WBO which makes him Vasyl Lomachenko’s mandatory challenger. Aryeetey has now lost is last two fights by KO/TKO. Mazatlan, Mexico: Super Fly: Pedro Guevara (35-3-1) W PTS 12 Janiel Rivera (18-5-3). Super Bantam: Karim Arce (16-0-2) W PTS 8 Pedro Rodriguez (14-24-3). Guevara vs. Rivera Guevara keeps alive his hopes of becoming a champion again as he outclasses Rivera in defence of his WBC Fecarbox title. The home town fighter outboxed the brave Puerto Rican shaking him time and again with rights. Rivera did not fold but was never really able to match the skill or power of Guevara. There were some fierce exchanges late in the fight as Guevara looked for an inside the distance win and Rivera for the knockout he needed as he was way behind on points. Scores 119-108 twice and 118-109 for Guevara. The former WBC light fly champion lost to current champion Ken Shiro on a majority decision in Tokyo in 2017 and has registered useful wins over Roberto Sanchez and Marvin Solano since then but seems to have moved up to super fly where the WBC have him at No 6. Rivera, really only a flyweight at most has lost 3 of his last 5 fights. Arce vs. Rodriguez Arce is struggling to live up to the Arce name as he gets disputed verdict over Rodriguez. Arce never managed to impose himself on this fight. Rodriguez although with a very spotty record had 5” height advantage and more experience and he pressed Arce all the way with Arce too often finding himself pinned to the ropes. Rodriguez looked worth at least a draw but the judges gave it to Arce on scores of 77-75 twice for Arce and 77-75 for Rodriguez. A loudly booed result. The 21-year-old Arce had had to settle for draws against very modest opposition in 2 of his last 4 fights and is too small at 5’2 ½” for the super bantam division. Rodriguez won his last fight but the result was changed to No Decision after a positive test and he is under suspension from the Nevada Commission until January 2020 Brentwood, England: Welter: Michael McKinson (17-0) W PTS 10 Evgeny Pavko (18-3-1). Welter: Shaquille Day (13-0) W PTS 10 Louis Adolphe (10-2). Feather: Thomas Patrick Ward (27-0) W PTS 8 Brayan Mairena (10-12-1). McKinson vs. Pavko McKinson wins the vacant WBO European title with decision over Russian Pavko. The Russian was pressing the fight hard from the first bell. Southpaw McKinnon was boxing and countering and shook Pavko in the first with a straight left. McKinnon was quicker and more mobile with Pavko very upright throwing one punch at a time. He had problems with the crouching style of McKinson but had good rounds in the fifth and sixth when he connected with some strong combinations. The seventh and eighth were close rounds as Pavko kept coming and McKinson looked to be tiring. McKinson took the ninth with some clever boxing and left hook counters and then jabbed and connected with straight lefts to outbox Pavko in the last. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 for McKinnon. The Belfast-based McKinson will probably get a rating from the WBO for winning this title as he adds this one to the WBC International title he won in March. After turning pro Pavko went 15-0-1 before losing in a fight for the WBC International Silver title at lightweight against unbeaten Manvel Sargsyan and is no 2-3 in his last 5. Day vs. Adolphe Day wins the vacant BBB of C Southern Area title. Day had the longer reach and the classier style but Adolphe showed good movement and was continually setting traps for Day. It was an even fight for the first six rounds with Day scoring well at distance and Adolphe suddenly unleashing quick bursts of punches. Adolphe was given a strong warning for holding in the seventh as his work became ragged and Day was showing a cut over his left eye. Adolphe went down on one knee early in the eighth. Not from a punch but because his shorts were rapidly descending towards his ankles. After a dress adjustment Adolphe did some more holding and was deducted a point. Adolphe was not looking to engage at all in the ninth and as Day pursued him and landed a right Adolph he went down. It looked a slip but the referee applied a count. He went down again late in the round under an attack from Day and the bell went when the count was completed. Adolphe slipped over three times in the last round as a frustrated Day emerged a clear winner. Referee’s score 96-92 for Day who was going past the sixth round for the first time. Adolphe’s only previous loss was a disqualification and he flirted with that a few times here. Ward vs. Mairena Just a gentle run out for unbeaten Ward as he easily outboxes Mairena. Ward never really had to get of second gear but Mairena stayed busy and tried hard. Referee’s score 79-73 for Ward. The 25-year-old former undefeated British champion is No 4 with the WBO and should land a title fight next year if he stays unbeaten. Nicaraguan Mairena has lost his last 13 fights but then that’s how he earns his money. Fight of the week (Significance): Any time Manny Pacquiao fights is of significance and his win over Keith Thurman will lead to huge speculation over who he will fight next year. Fight of the week (Entertainment): It only lasted five rounds but the fight between Ricardo Sandoval had five knockdowns with both fighters on the canvas and action all the way Fighter of the week: Manny Pacquiao still a star at 40 with honourable mention to Teo Lopez as he drives on to a title fight Punch of the week: Any one of the three rights from |Derrick Chisora that felled Artur Szpilka and the left hook from Sergey Lipinets which dropped Jayar Inson was special Upset of the week: Veteran Charlie Navarro was not expected to beat the 22-0 22 wins by KO/TKO Johan Gonzalez Prospect watch: French super middle Kevin Lele Sadjo impressed as he went 13-0 with stoppage of Walter Sequeira . By Eric Armit
Highlights: -Ryota Murata regains the secondary WBA middle title with second round stoppage of Rob Brant -Ken Shiro destroys Jonathan Taconing in WBC light fly title defence -Rey Vargas outpoints Tomoki Kameda in WBC super bantam title defence -Amir Khan stops Dilly Dib in Saudi Arabia and in other bouts in Jeddah Michell Banquez wins vacant IBO bantam title with points victory over unbeaten Prince Patel and South African Loreto Dlamini wins the vacant WBC International Silver feather belt with points victory over Dave Penalosa -In heavyweight action Daniel Dubois knocks out Nathan Gorman in five rounds in clash of unbeaten English fighters, Joe Joyce outpoints Bryant Jennings for the WBO Gold title, Tony Yoka returns to the ring and stops Alex Dimitrenko in three rounds, Gerald Washington knocks out Robert Helenius in eight rounds, Hughie Fury stops Samuel Peter in seven and Charles Martin stops Daniel Martz in four. -James Dickens, Martin Murray and Terry Flanagan win in Liverpool -Ronny Rios ends the unbeaten run of Diego De La Hoya and there are wins for Shakur Stevenson, Vijender Singh, Marcus Morrison, Liam Williams, Joet Gonzalez and Joshua Greer WORLD TITLE SHOWS July 12 Osaka, Japan: Middle: Ryota Murata (12-2) W TKO 2 Rob Brant (25-2). Light Fly: Ken Shiro 16-0) W TKO 4 Jonathan Taconing (28-4-1).Super Feather: Joe Noynay (18-2-1) WTKO 6 Satoshi Shimizu (8-1). Murata vs. Brant Sometimes Murata is Dr Jekyll and sometimes Mr Hide. This time it was the good doctor who turned up and destroyed Bent in two rounds to regain the secondary WBA title. Round 1 Brant went straight to work firing jabs and straight rights with Murata just covering up. Brant then went onto the back foot countering the advancing Murata and with less than a minute gone Murata’s face was red from Brant’s punches. Murata had thrown too few punches in losing his title to Brant but now he began to let fly with purpose. Brant continued to outpunch Murata but Murata was connecting with some heavy rights to the head. As they traded before the bell it was Murata landing the heavier artillery but Brant’s early work just gave him the round Score: 10-9 Brant Round 2 Brant was snapping out jabs and landing short hooks but Murata was walking through the punches. A left to the body and a right to the head rocked Brant who was suddenly floundering as Murata connected with more heavy head shots until once again a left to the body and a right to the head sent Brant tumbling to the ropes. Brant tried to cover up but Murata drove him along the ropes. Brant reversed direction and tried to get off the ropes but was blasted with punches until trapped in a corner and a series of punches saw Brant tumble down to the canvas. He was up quickly but after the eight count Murata plastered Brant with punch after punch. The referee was about to step in a couple of times but Brant threw an occasional punch so the referee gave him a little more time but hooks and uppercuts from Murata had Brant stumbling badly and this time the referee did stop the fight. Murata, 33, had hardly put up a fight when losing the title to Brant in October Brant won then by ten points on two cards and eight on the third. This was a totally different Murata a fierce and focused fighter who just blew Brant away. It was the same when Murata lost to Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam for the vacant title in May 2017 and then halted N’Jikam in October 2017. Whether Jekyll or Hide turn up he is no match for Saul Alvarez, Demetrius Andrade, Gennady Golovkin or Jermall Charlo. Brant, 28, fought way above expectations when beating Murata and I can’t see him raising his game enough to compete in this very tough division. Shiro vs. Taconing Shiro makes a successful sixth defence of the WBC title with stoppage of a game but outclassed Filipino Taconing Round 1 Shiro used his longer reach to keep Taconing on the end of his jab early when Taconing managed to bundle his way inside Shiro tied him up. Taconing tried to get under the jab but Shiro began to connect with straight rights at distance and landed right uppercuts as southpaw Taconing tried to come forward. Shiro shoved Taconing backwards to the canvas at the bell but it was not a knockdown. Score: 10-9 Shiro Round 2 Shiro was boxing beautifully. Quick movement, sharp accurate jabs and crisp uppercuts. Taconing continued to march forward but Shiro was too mobile and was again scoring with right uppercuts. Score 10-9 Shiro Shiro 20-18 Round 3 As Taconing lunged in Shiro met him with a perfectly timed right uppercut. Taconing was rocked and Shiro exploded with a series of lefts and rights. Taconing survived that crisis but Shiro was still planting rights on the Filipino’s head and was happy to stand and trade. A clash of heads shook Taconing and opened a vertical gash over his right eye. The doctor was asked to inspect the injury and allowed the fight to continue. The referee deducted a point from Shiro* under the WBC rule that if there is a cut in a clash of heads the boxer who is not cut loses a point. Taconing attacked fiercely but Shiro was still slotting home rights. Score 9*-9 Shiro 29-27 Round 4 Taconing stormed forward in the fourth but was walking onto hard counters. Shiro began to drive forward landing inside. Taconing fought back and as he moved forward he was nailed with a right to the head that dropped him to his knees. He climbed up immediately but was unsteady and with blood trickling from the cut and from his nose the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. Shiro “The Amazing Boy” gets his ninth win by KO/TKO. He does not look a puncher but that is deceptive as the speed and accuracy of his punches together with the fact the his opponents tend to throw themselves forward trying to get past his jab has a cumulative effect as he showed here. The light flyweight division is not a strong one at this time so he may have to move up to be really tested. Taconing gave it his best shot but he never found a way to get inside and paid the price for his lunging attacks. This is his third shot at the WBC light fly title but he is a tough fighter with a good record and would have a better chance at one of the other three versions of the title. Noynay vs. Shimizu The Japanese fans were expecting to make it three out of three for the home fighters but Filipino Noynay scuppered those hopes as he batters the unbeaten former Olympian Shimizu in an all-southpaw contest. It was almost over inside the first three minutes. Shimizu stumbled after a southpaw left clipped his head and then he was staggered by a right jab. Shimizu then seemed to settle using his own right jab until a left to the head sent him stumbling back and he put his gloves on the canvas to avoid going down. After the count Noynay was connecting with hooks inside and then a left hook to the chin floored Shimizu hard. He was up at four and after the eight with almost one minute left in the round Shimizu wrestled Noynay to the floor landing on top of the |Filipino and then ran and held to the bell. It did not get much better in the second as Noynay rocked Shimizu three times with lefts to the head but Shimizu had a good third being on the front foot and looking to have Noynay on shaky legs. The fourth was Noynay’s as he battered Shimizu with right jabs and hooks inside. Shimizu was now showing swelling around his eyes. In a brutal fifth even though much the smaller man with the shorter reach Noynay was landing hurtful jabs and left hooks with Shimizu looking to have no defence against them. In the sixth Noynay was again getting through with heavy punches. The referee stopped the fight and had the doctor examine the swelling around Shimizu’s eyes but allowed the fight to continue. Noynay landed a series of punches and Shimizu turned away from the action and started to walk to his corner. With no indication the referee had stopped the fight Noynay pursued Shimizu and knocked him down but the referee stepped in accepting Shimizu’s surrender. “Jaw Breaker” Noynay, the WBO No 6, retains his WBO Asia Pacific title in his fifth defence and gets his seventh win by KO/TKO. The 33-year-old Shimizu looked terrible. He showed no real power and very little punch resistance. Big things were hoped for as he won a bronze medal at the 2012 beating Isaac Dogboe before losing to Luke Campbell in the semi-finals. He will have hurt his reputation by surrendering in the middle of a round. July 12 Carson, CA, USAL Super Bantam: Rey Vargas (34-0) W PTS 12 Tomoki Kameda (36-3). Super Bantam: Ronny Rios (31-3) W TKO 6 Diego De La Hoya (21-1,1ND). Feather: Joet Gonzalez (23-0) W TKO 6 Manuel Avila (23-2-1). Welter: Alexis Rocha (14-0) W TKO 8 Berlin Abreu (14-3). Super Feather: Roger Gutierrez (22-3-1) W TKO 1 Eduardo Hernandez (28-1). Vargas vs. Kameda Vargas makes a fifth successful defence of his WBC title as he proves too quick and too tall for Kameda who pressed hard all the way but never came to terms with the champions physical advantages. Round 1 As usual in a Vergas title defence his big advantage in reach dictated the tactics. Vargas was on the back foot moving and jabbing with Kameda taking quick steps forward behind a double jab trying to get close. The challenger did land one good right cross but Vargas was scoring with his jab and an occasional right. Score: 10-9 Vargas. Round 2 Excellent round from Vargas. After Kameda managed to pin him to a corner and land a couple of punches the rest of the round belonged to Vargas. Apart from the perennial left jab he was digging left hooks to the body and using the same punch to counter Kameda as he charged forward. Vargas chose to stand and trade for a few seconds and landed a flashing combination. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 20-18 Round 3 Kameda needed to be on the front foot to win this but Vargas was making that impossible. The champion was following his jab with hooks from both hands rocking Kameda back on his heels and when Kameda came forward he was met either with a counter or was chasing a shadow. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 30-27 Round 4 Vargas took this one but he was not as dominant. Kameda was pressing harder and had some success along the ropes landing a three-punch combination to the head but Vargas was scoring consistently with his jab and left hooks to the body. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 40-36 Official Scores: Judge Lou Moret 39-37 Vargas, Judge Kevin Scott 39-37 Vargas, Judge Zachary Young 40-36 Vargas Round 5 Kameda was still chasing Vargas down but without success. With his huge stride length and quick footwork Vargas was able to get away from trouble with ease and then step back in rage quickly with a burst of punches and connected with some hard rights to the head. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 50-35 Round 6 Kameda managed to land two crisp left hooks in this one but again he was being kept on the end of the champion’s jab and running into hooks and uppercuts as he leapt forward. The pace was ferocious with Kameda chasing hard but Vargas was in control. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 60-54 Round 7 Kameda stood off in this one inviting Vargas to come forward. That was to the champion’s liking as he was able to thread jabs through Kameda’s guard and follow those with some strong right crosses. Eventually Kameda changed tactics but was swinging wildly and leaving himself open to counters. Score 10-9 Vargas Vargas 70-63 Round 8 This was a much closer round. In his early attacks Kameda landed some hard hooks with a right to the head the best punch he had landed in the fight. Vargas was not throwing as many punches and Kameda just outworked him. Score: 10-9 Kameda Vargas 79-73 Official Scores: Moret 79-73 Vargas, Scott 78-74 Vargas, Young 79-73 Vargas Round 9 In this one Kameda decided to throw his arms wide and invite Vargas to com e forward and hit him. Vargas did that but coolly spearing Kameda with jabs and straight rights and by the time Kameda got serious Vargas already had the round won and had no trouble stifling Kameda’s attacks. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 89-82 Round 10 It was jab and move with some hard rights in the mixture from Vargas. Kameda was throwing himself into violent attacks but Vargas was tying him up inside. Kameda landed a couple of quality left hooks but Vargas closed the round with a series of quick, accurate punches. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 99-91 Round 11 Kameda piled forward throughout this one. He managed to land a few hooks looking to have briefly have buckled the knees of the champion but not a lot of scoring was done with Vargas short with his jabs and not throwing many rights with Kameda just edging it . Score: 10-9 Kameda Vargas 108-101 Round 12 Kameda stupidly threw away a point early in this last round. He was holding Vargas against the ropes and when the referee stepped between them to break them up Kameda then connected with a couple of head punches thrown past the referee and was rightly deducted a point*. Kameda attacked ferociously and managed to land some short punches inside with Vargas just happy to dance to the bell;. Score 9*-9 Tied Vargas 117-110 Official Scores: Moret 117-110, Vargas, Scott 117-110, Young 117-110 Vargas It is difficult to see where Vargas goes from here. There are no big money fights for him in his own division and although he is skilful his last six fights have all been points victories which have generated little in the way of excitement. Unification fights with Daniel Roman and Emanuel Navarrete would be attractive if they could be made but Vargas is a difficult fighter to look good against and is in danger of becoming the Guillermo Rigondeaux of the super bantams. Former WBO bantam champion Kameda was interim WBC champion going into this one and he will probably get another title shot in 2020 as he is an attraction. Rios vs. De La Hoya Rios proves a road block on De La Hoya’s way to a title shot. This was a fiercely contested contest. De La Hoya is a fighter who likes to take a fight inside and work to the body. Rios had the same idea so they traded hard body punches for much of the six rounds. Rios made the better start digging left hooks to the ribs with De La Hoya seeming to lack any snap in his work. De La Hoya improved some using his jab more and connecting with straight rights to the head putting Rios on the defensive. Rios came back into the fight strongly with his inside work and slowly took control. By the fifth de La Hoya looked to be flagging and the body punching from Rios was having its effect. In the sixth Rios was still working the body and as De La Hoya moved inside Rios met him with a left to the body and then a vicious right uppercut. De La Hoya went down on one knee watching the count. He was up at eight but then told the referee he did not want to continue and the fight was over. A points loss to Rey Vargas for the WBC super bantam title in 2017 was a blow but in some ways the stoppage loss to Azat Hovhannisyan was the one that put a question mark over the future of Rios. With De La Hoya being rated No 3 by the WBA this win puts Rios back into the title mix. A shocking loss for De La Hoya. Not so much for losing to Rios but for the way he simply chose to quit. His “no mas” moment. He is 24 and a “name” so can hopefully put this behind him. Gonzalez vs. Avila Gonzalez collects a couple more titles as he stops Avila in the sixth round. The 25-year-old Californian adds the vacant WBA Continental and WBO Global titles with his fourteenth victory by KO/TKO. He has won 8 of his last 9 bouts inside the distance. He sits behind Shakur Stevenson at No 2 in the WBO ratings so there are some good challenges ahead for Oscar Valdez. Avila was flying high after winning his first 22 contests but then lost a wide unanimous decision to Joseph Diaz in May 2017. Following a routine win in November 2017 he did not fight against until drawing with Jose Gonzalez in March this year. Rocha vs. Abreu Rocha grinds down Abreu in a gruelling inside battle. Rocha was on top of Abreu from the off. He was standing in close pounding Abreau’s body with hooks. Abreu was almost static at times in front of Rocha getting the worst of the exchanges. He was making Rocha’s job easy for him as he was not firing back often enough or hard enough and not moving. Abreu did start to move around a little in the fifth and sixth but took a beating in the seventh as Rocha began to switch his punches from head to body. A right to the head followed by a left hook to the body and a right uppercut seriously weakened Abreu in the seventh. A big right shook Abreu in the eighth and a left hook sent him against the ropes. Somehow he stayed upright but Rocha then unloaded with head punches and with Abreu stumbling the referee stopped the fight. The 22-year-old southpaw was defending the WBC Continental Americas title and this is his ninth win by KO/TKO. He was coming off a good win over Mexican-based Japanese fighter Shoki Sakai in April and may soon be ready for better opposition. Puerto Rican Abreu put together a run of seven wins but was then inactive for 17 months before losing on a third round retirement against Gary O’Sullivan in May last year. Gutierrez vs. Hernandez Tremendous upset as Venezuelan stops unbeaten WBC No 3 Hernandez inside a round. Both of these fighters have scored most of their wins by KO/TKO and Hernandez seemed to have no respect for Gutierrez’s power. Hernandez was marching forward trying to work inside and had early success with a punch causing a cut inside Gutierrez’s mouth but he was being caught with rights to the head with every step he took. Gutierrez hammered home a series of rights which first stopped Hernandez in his tracks and then put him on the canvas on his back. Hernandez tried to rise but toppled over again and the referee promptly waived the fight over. Gutierrez,24, now has 19 wins by KO/TKO but he did not seem a dangerous opponent having consecutive losses in 2018 against Hector Tanajara and Oscar Duarte. He was rated WBO 9 going into this fight now he has beaten the WBC No 3 so a world title shot is a possibility. Hernandez is just 21and he can rebuild. He has WBC champion Miguel Berchelt as an example as Berchelt was once stopped in 99 seconds by Luis Florez but is now a champion. July 11 Rome, Italy: Middle: Marcus Morrison (21-3) TKO 9 Emanuele Blandamura (29-4). Light Heavy: Serhiy Demchenko (22-14-1) W TKO 7 Hakim Zoulikha (26-11). Cruiser: Tommy McCarthy (15-2) W RTD 2 Francesco Cataldo (7-6). Light: Emiliano Marsili (38-0-1) W PTS 6 Brayan Mairena (10-12-1). Super Welter: Vincenzo Bevilacqua (16-0) W PTS 6 Novak Radulovic (9-4-1). Light Heavy: Valentino Manfredonia (1-0) W PTS 4 Sokol Arsic (1-3-2). Morrison vs. Blandamura Morrison wins the vacant WBC International title with stoppage of Blandamura after a stirring battle. There were plenty of fierce exchanges over the early rounds with both fighters being rocked. Blandamura was fighting with his heart and not his head as Morrison was the harder puncher and the Italian’s corner was urging him to box but Blandamura was unwilling to take a step back or take a punch without immediately firing back. He was also facing a taller opponent with a longer reach so used his experience to work around Morrison’s jab. Morrison rocked Blandamura with rights in the fifth sending the home fighter staggering into the ropes but Blandamura fought back. It was a fast-paced, open fight and at the end of the eighth it was very evenly balanced on the cards although Morrison was getting on top late in the eighth rocking Blandamura with eye-catching head punches. In the ninth Blandamura started by pinning Morrison against the ropes and hooking to the body. Morrison made it off the ropes and was beginning to let his punches go when the action was stopped so that Blandamura’s bootlace could be retied. Morrison then landed four hard rights to the head. An exhausted Blandamura absorbed them but a fifth sent him down on his hands and knees. He crawled to the ropes and levered himself up but was gazing out into the crowd in no condition to continue and the referee stopped the fight with Blandamura collapsing in the referee’s arms and having to be carried to his corner and it was some time before he recovered. 26-year-old Englishman Morrison registers his fifth win in a row and his 15th win by KO/TKO. A real power performance. Blandamura, 39, was trying to regain the title he held back in 2012. A former European champion he was stopped in eight rounds by Ryota Murata in a challenge for the WBA secondary title in April last year. He is a tremendously popular fighter so the hope is he will now retire but Blandamura did say he likes fighting so much he may continue. Demchenko vs. Zoulikha In a return match Demchenko comes from behind to stop Frenchman Zoulikha and collects the vacant European Union title. Demchenko had injured his left arm some time prior to the match and made a cautious start. Zoulikha was buzzing around the bigger man able to find plenty of gaps for his wide hooks. Demchenko looked hesitant and was not really throwing enough punches and although Zoulikha was cut over his left eye in a clash of heads in the third by the end of the fourth round he had built a lead. Demchenko was cut badly over his right in a clash of heads in the fifth and Zoulikha was connecting with hooks around Demchenko’s high guard. As Zoulikha came forward Demchenko exploded a right to the Frenchman’s head. Zoulikha was out on his feet stumbling to left and right and then pitching down to the canvas on his hands and knees. It looked impossible for him to get up but he did and despite more heavy rights from Demchenko Zoulikha was punching back at the bell. An amazing recovery. They both fought hard in the sixth with Demchenko getting on top late in the round. In the seventh a big right from Demchenko shook Zoulikha and then Demchenko drove Zoulikha across the ring landing lefts and rights until the referee made a good stoppage. The 39-year-old Ukrainian-born Rome-adopted Demchenko had beaten Zoulikha on a technical decision to win the EU title and this victory marks the start of his third spell as EU champion. He has a spotty record but is dangerous as he showed here. Zoulikha, 35, the EBU No 5, is also a former EU title holder but has tended to lose the big fights. McCarthy vs. Cataldo McCarthy floors late substitute Cataldo twice on the way to victory. Cataldo took the fight at just three days notice when Fabio Turchi was forced to pull out due to an injury. McCarthy was content to just dance around the slower Cataldo in the first firing jabs and trying an occasional right. McCarthy planted his feet in the second going for power and knocked Catalano down with two rights. Cataldo beat the count and managed to stay out of trouble until the end of the round when heavy punches from McCarthy put him down again. He was up and waited out the eight count with the bell going at the end of the count but his corner then retired their man. The 28-year-old Belfast-based McCarthy makes it 8 wins by KO/TKO. His two losses have been in hard contests against Matty Askin and Richard Riakporhe. Cataldo, 37, is a former Italian title challenger but is now 1-4 in his last 5 fights. Marsili vs. Mairena Just a light workout for Marsili. He breezed through this one with too much skill and experience for the very limited Nicaraguan winning every minute of every round. Scores 60-54 for southpaw Marsili from the judges. The 42-year-old southpaw has been floating around the upper levels of the world ratings for years now but has never landed a title fight and it is difficult to see how he can land one now. Twelfth loss in a row for Spanish-based Mairena. Bevilacqua vs. Radulovic Former undefeated Italian champion Bevilacqua eases his way to victory with decision over Kosovon-born Radulovic. Bevilacqua made a slow start but then took charge and easily outpointed Radulovic without every looking as though he could stop him. Scores 59-55 twice and 60-54 for 25-year-old southpaw Bevilacqua who is still looking for his first inside the distance win. Third loss in his last four fights for Radulovic. Manfredonia vs. Arsic Manfredonia hands in his vest and enters the pro ring for the first time. Arsic was no real test. He was able on occasions to take advantage of Manfredonia’s low guard to connect with some punches but Manfredonia was always in charge. Score 39-37 from the three judges. Brazilian-born Manfredonia is a former Italian amateur champion who won a gold medal at the European Union Championships and a silver at the European Games before representing Italy at the 2016 Olympics in his home country but at 29 time is against him as a pro. Serb Arsic had no chance in this one. July 12 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Welter: Amir Khan (34-5) W TKO 4 Billy Dib (45-6,1ND). Feather: Lerato Dlamini (13-1) W PTS 12 Dave Penalosa (15-1). Bantam: Michell Banquez (19-1) W PTS 12 Prince Patel (19-1-1) W. Heavy: Hughie Fury (23-2) W TKO 7 Samuel Peter (38-8). Khan vs. Dib Khan too fast and too big for Dib and floors Dib twice before the fight is stopped in the fourth round. In a messy start the two fighters got tangled a few times. The real action came late in the round with Khan firing a burst of punches most of which missed and Dib taunting Khan for missing. Khan floored Dib in the second with a short left hook inside. Dib did not look badly shaken and after the eight count moved and held to the bell that seemed to go 18 seconds early. Khan was stringing 5-6 punch combinations together in the third and Dib was under pressure all the way. The fight ended in confusion in the fourth. Khan took Dib to the ropes and connected with a volley of hooks and uppercuts with Dib dropping to the floor. The referee had only just started the count when the towel came in from Dib’s corner flashing past the referee who did not see it. Dib’s second climbed into the ring and started to walk over to Dib. The towel had landed behind the referee who was still counting. Dib’s corner man started to back up waiving his hands as if to retract the retirement and Khan’s corner were celebrating. Not having seen the towel the referee was surprised to see Khan’s men in the ring celebrating and then waived the fight off. Kahn wins the vacant WBC International title. This one was just about the money and will have done nothing to improves Khan’s chances of a fight with the winner of Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman but he showed that he still has great hand speed and gets in some ring time as he waits to see what door open next. Former BF feather champion Dib, 33, stepped in as a substitute and the speed of his corner’s action in throwing in the towel showed that they knew their man was overmatched against a more talented and naturally bigger fighter. Dlamini vs. Penalosa A sparkling performance from the relatively unknown Dlamini which nets him the vacant WBC Silver title. Dlamini was quicker than southpaw Penalosa and was able to land some good body punches and use fast movement to get in and out before Penalosa could counter. Constant changes of direction by Dlamini had Penalosa searching for a target and not throwing enough punches. Penalosa scored well with body punches in the third but generally he was a step behind the speedy Dlamini. Penalosa was walking forward in the fourth when a counter right hook from Dlamini put him on his rump. He was up quickly and the bell went shortly after the count was over. Dlamini’s tactics did not vary. He was slotting jabs through the guard of Penalosa then moving quickly out of range before springing back in the a series of punches and getting out with a frustrated Penalosa swishing air. The only success for the Filipino came when he could pin Dlamini to the ropes or when Dlamini chose to stand and trade but those occasions were few. The referee had the doctor examine Penalosa in the ninth suspecting a jaw injury but the doctor cleared Penalosa to continue as Dlamini boxed his way to victory. Scores 117-109 twice and 118-110. After losing his first pro fight Dlamini has now won 13 in a row and although small for a featherweight at 5’5” he looks a very good fighter. Penalosa, the son of former IBF champion Dodie, had won 6 of his last 7 fights inside the distance and was No 10 with the WBO but was comprehensively outboxed in this fight. Patel vs. Banquez Banquez wins the vacant IBO title with unanimous decision over unbeaten Patel. Venezuelan Banquez set out his stall early connecting with strong jabs and thudding body punches through the high guard the taller southpaw Patel. Banquez was outworking Patel and more worrying for the Englishman he was also being out jabbed. Patel had some success when he worked his jab and long rights but Banquez had more variety in his work hooking to head and body. There was not a lot of power in Banquez punches but he was rattling off combinations on a static Patel. By just walking in behind a high guard Patel was not using his reach advantage and was allowing Banquez to pick his spots and then move too quickly for Patel to counter. The high guard approach was not working for Pastel but he had no plan B and although he did better over the closing rounds Banquez still outworked him and was a clear winner. Scores 119-109 twice and 118-110 for Banquez. The 29-year-old Venezuelan has a heavily padded record with his first 14 opponents having just 11 wins between them and he lost a wide decision to Chilean Miguel Gonzalez last June in his only fight of note. He displayed a tremendous work rate here but Patel’s tactics made it easy for him and he will struggle against better opposition. Patel’s record was also heavily padded with a series wins over low level opposition in Hungary. He had won the UBO and WBFederation title and was No 6 with the WBO and the IBF had him at 14(13) but he was a big disappointment here. Fury vs. Peter A poor fight ends early as Peter retires in the seventh round claiming an arm injury. Fury was too speedy and too tall for the 38-year-old Nigerian who although quicker than he looks was restricted to some dangerous looking swings and a few fouls. Fury was able to flit around the ring catching Peter with quick jabs and occasional rights. Peter was warned for a low punch in the third, lost a point for hitting on the break in the fourth and was warned for low punches in the fifth with Fury taking quite a while to recover. In the same fifth round Peter also landed two deliberate punches to the back of Fury’s head. Fury was content to outbox Peter connecting with long jabs and right hand counters and was able to score at distance and hold in close.. Although four inched smaller Peter was 43lbs heavier than Fury and tired from trundling after Fury. He had run out of gas in the seventh and after a clinch he indicated that in twisting his arm he had suffered an injury and could not continue. No real benefit here to Fury except for a few rounds of ring time and a payday. His only current rating is No 15 with the IBF and if he is going to climb he needs to set his sights higher than oldies such as Peter. The former WBC champion from Nigeria has left his best days way behind and is too fat and slow to be a test for a young fighter such as Liverpool, England: Feather: James Dickens (27-3) W PTS 10 Nathaniel May (21-2).Super Middle: Martin Murray (38-5-1) W PTS 10 Rui Manuel Pavanito (10-9-1). Light: Terry Flanagan (34-2) W KO 5 Jonas Segu (19-9-2).Welter: Sam Maxwell (12-0) W TKO 2 Oscar Amador (10-21). Dickens vs. May Dickens sues skill and speed and two knockdowns to bear Australian hope May. In a fast start May was coming forward with strong left hooks to the body and Dickens was using his right jab and some good body punches of his own. A right to the temple staggered Dickens in the second with May landing a couple more clubbing shots until Dickens used movement and his jab to blunt the Australian’s attack. Dickens controlled the action with his jab in the third and fourth. May went down early in the fourth. It was ruled a slip but later in the round a short right hook put May down and after he got up Dickens kept him pinned on the ropes firing hooks and uppercuts to the bell. May tried to up his pace in the fifth but again had trouble getting past Dickens jab and when May missed with a couple of punches he overbalanced and fell to the floor for a questionable knockdown. May fought back fiercely in the sixth and seventh rumbling forward but he was being outworked and looked to be tiring as Dickens consistently scored with his right jab and straight lefts. Dickens boxed intelligently in the eighth and ninth spearing May with jabs and he was now the one doing the pressing. May needed a knockout in the tenth but too often he was swinging wildly and Dickens kept moving pinging May with quick jabs and May just could not land anything of note. Scores 97-91, 97-92 and 96-92 all for former British champion Dickens who wins the vacant IBF European title. His losses have come against Kid Galahad and Thomas Patrick Ward for the British super bantam title and Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBA title. The win over May is his fifth on the bounce. May, 22, had won his last 17 fights and was IBF No 8(7). Dickens outboxed him here but at 23 he can come again. Murray vs. Pavanito Murray moves back up to super middle and gets an easy victory over limited Pavanito. Murray’s jab was too strong for the Portuguese fighter and he was able to control the action in every round. Murray never really had to engage a high gear but he did get some useful work. Pavanito was trying to come forward and Murray was content to let him do so on occasions. Murray used his power to keep Pavanito trapped against the ropes and landed some meaty hooks to the body but did not press too hard. Pavanito landed some crisp uppercuts in the third and Murray hurt Pavanito with lefts to the body in the sixth and seventh and staggered him twice in the eighth as it began to look as though Murray was trying to finish the fight inside the distance. He had Pavanito in deep trouble in the ninth but the Portuguese fighter survived that and was still there at the final bell. Referee’s score 99-92 for Murray. There will be much tougher fights ahead for Murray. This was his first fight since losing to Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in a WBC Silver middleweight title defence in December and there plenty of goods fights for him out there. Pavanito had won five moderate level fights going into this one. He took his lumps and never really threatened an upset. Flanagan vs. Segu Flanagan gets back into the winning groove with win over Tanzanian Segu. Flanagan was content to let Segu dance about prodding out left jabs but just before the bell when the Tanzanian rushed in Flanagan met him with a short left to the chin that put him down. Segu made it to his feet and although he took more punishment he defied Flanagan’s efforts to end the fight. Flanagan found the awkward rushing tactics of the Tanzanian were making it difficult for him to land cleanly and he had to be careful as Segu was throwing himself forward head first. In the fourth Flanagan was anticipating Segu’s charges and connecting regularly with straight lefts. In the interval Segu sat head down and hardly even lifted his head so that his second had to thrust his mouthguard in his mouth. Segu then made no attempt to throw a punch but just backed into a corner with Flanagan hardly able to land a punch before Segu slumped to the canvas sitting resting with his back on the ropes and he made no move at all to try to rise so was counted out. After consecutive losses to Maurice Hooker and Regis Prograis last year the former WBO light champion has dropped out of the ratings so will be looking to get some wins under his belt and land a title shot. Segu was lightweight in terms of power and ability and took the easy way out. Maxwell vs. Amador WBO European champion Maxwell was untroubled in this one. He was finding gaps with his jab and connecting with quick rights to the head. Just before the bell a stiff jab caught the advancing Amador and he went down. He arose quickly just as the bell sounded. In the second Amador aimed to get inside but walked onto a right hook that dropped him to his knees with his head touching the canvas and he stayed like that for the full count.Ten wins by KO/TKO for the Liverpool fighter. Sixth defeat by KO/TKO for Nicaraguan Amador and his 14th loss in a row. Hollywood, FL, USA: Welter: Derrick Cuevas (22-0-1) W PTS 10 Jesus Beltran (17-3-2). Heavy: Ivan Dychko (9-0) W KO 2 Nate Heaven (9-3). Cuevas vs. Beltran Puerto Rican hope Cuevas retained the WBA Fedelatin title with all three judges seeing him a clear winner with scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92. In winning his last 17 fights the 24-year-old from Guaynabo has worked his way through the usual suspects in Silverio Ortiz, Breidis Prescott, and Ed Paredes. Beltran had lost only one of his last 18 fights. Dychko vs. Heaven Dychko makes it nine out of nine as he kayos Heaven in two rounds. Heaven was down twice with a booming right causing the second knockdown and ending the fight. The 28-year-old 6’9” Kazak has won all of his fights by KO/TKO taking less than 16 rounds in total. In the amateurs he won two silver medals and a bronze at the world championships and lost to Anthony Joshua in the semi-finals in the London Olympics. Heaven, 6’6” and 33-years-old was having his first fight four over four years but at 33 he is much younger that Dychko’s last two victims Maurice Harris at 43 and Ray Austin at 48 so need to get too excited over Dychko yet. Everett, MA, USA: Super Welter: Greg Vendetti (22-3-1) W PTS 12 Michael Anderson (17-3-1). Super Light: Luis Arcon (8-0) W KO 3 Mario Lozano (18-4-1). Vendetti vs. Anderson Popular local battler Vendetti wins a world title of sorts as he outpoints New Jersey’s Anderson to pick up the vacant IBA belt. Vendetti’s non-stop punching tactics were just too much for Anderson who could not match the phenomenal work rate of “The Villain”. Vendetti dominated every minute of every round with Anderson too busy defending to stage any meaningful offence of his own and by the end of the twelve rounds he was a battered and beaten man. The fight was so-one-sided that one of the judges saw a couple of round 10-8 even without a knock down. Scores 120-108 twice and 120-106 for Vendetti. He scored an important win over Japanese toughie Yoshihiro Kamegai in August last year and has lost only one of his last 18 fights. That was a stoppage against world rated Michel Soro in December and this is Vendetti’s second win since then. Anderson, 38, was having only his second fight in four years having been out of the ring from June 2015 until returning with a win in December last year. Arcon vs. Lozano Arcon is just too good for this level of opposition. After hunting down Lozano in the first he ended the fight with a brutal kayo 70 seconds into the second. The 27-year-old Venezuelan has won his eight fights by KO/TKO taking less than 17 rounds in total. He was a silver medallist at the Pan American Championships and the South American Games, took a bronze at the Pan American Games and competed at the 2016 Olympics. Argentinian southpaw Lozano suffers his third inside the distance loss this year. Tacoma, WA, USA: Heavy: Jermaine Franklin (19-0) W PTS 10 Jerry Forrest (25-3). Heavy: Constantin Bejenaru (14-0,1ND) W TKO 6 Jose Corral. Super Feather: Giovanni Mioletti (17-0) W PTS 10 Luis Porozo (14-1). Feather: Eric Hunter (22-4) W TKO 5 German Meraz (62-57-2,1ND) Franklin vs. Forrest Franklin remains unbeaten with controversial split decision over Forrest. They started trading punches in a hectic first round with Franklin looking for another quick win and Forrest matching him punch for punch. The pace slowed in a close second with Franklin landing a good right. Forrest boxed cleverly in the third slotting home southpaw jabs and long lefts. Franklin was able to work Forrest over against the ropes in the fifth and they both landed well in the sixth. Franklin was attacking hard over the seventh and eighth but Forrest was slick and quick and changing angles. Franklin had a strong ninth. Forrest looked to be tiring and Franklin was landing well to the body and they both put in a big effort in the last. Scores 97-93 twice for Franklin and 96-95 for Forrest. The scores for Franklin looked too wide and the one for Forrest looked about right. Michigan’s Franklin, 25, rode his luck a little here but it was a good test and a good learning fight. Lafayette’s Forrest had an 18-bout winning streak snapped but will consider himself unlucky to lose. Bejenaru vs. Corral New York-based Moldovan Bejenaru stops Mexican Corral in a bout that was hastily cobbled together after BJ Flores was denied a licence on medical grounds and his fight with Otto Wallin was cancelled. Bejenaru quickly shook of the dust from twenty months of inactivity and was soon landing some heavy shots on the slow and overmatched Corral. Bejenaru rocked Corral in the fourth and pounded on Corral all the way. A savage combination in the sixth had Corral in deep water and the fight was halted. The 30-year-old Bejenaru was high in the world ratings after wins over unbeaten Stivens Bujaj and Thabiso Mchunu before inactivity halted his climb. Although born in Moldova he boxed for Romania as an amateur winning national titles at 81 &91kg, competing at the 2005, 2007 and 2009 World championships and twice taking a silver medal at the European Union Championships. Now 35 he could not really afford that 20 months off. Corral, 38, is 1-6 in his last 7 fights. Mioletti vs. Porozo There was another former top level amateur in this fight but Ecuadorian Porozo after making a good start then faded badly and lost the unanimous decision to Chicago southpaw Mioletti. Porozo brought his skills from the amateur days with him and outboxed Mioletti early. He was quick and smart and sliding punches through Mioletti’s guard. Mioletti pressed hard and shook Porozo with a left in the third. The Ecuadorian recovered and continued to box skilfully. Mioletti just kept pressing and eventually Porozo slowed and Mioletti was able to finish strongly to emerge a good winner. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93 for Mioletti. It was the right result but the first two cards were harsh on Porozo. The 24-year-old Mioletti, a crowd favourite at the Battle on the Boat, is being matched sensibly. He had won his last four fights by KO/TKO but will have learned more from this fight than those other wins. Porozo, 29, competed for Ecuador at the 2008 Olympics, the 2007 and 2009 World Championships and the Pan American Games. Hunter vs. Meraz As with Bejenaru Hunter also had a thick coat of dust to disperse. Meraz with over 120 fights behind him was hustling and bustling early proving a more testing opponent than expected. Hunter eventually found the range and floored Meraz with left hook in the third. He continued to press Meraz hard over the fourth with the Mexican looked to have adopted survival tactics. In the and fifth a banging together of heads saw Meraz cut over his left eye. The referee had the doctor examine the cut and he advised the fight be stopped. As it had gone past the fourth round it was decided on the scorecards with Hunter in front 50-44 on all three score sheets. First fight for Hunter since losing to Lee Selby in an IBF featherweight title challenge in April 2016. Meraz is 1-10 in his last 11 fights. July 13 London. England: Heavy: Joe Joyce (10-0) W PTS 12 Bryant Jennings (24-4). Middle: Liam Williams (21-2-1) W TKO 2 Karim Achour (27-6-3). Heavy: Daniel Dubois (12-0) W TKO 5 Nathan Gorman (16-1). Super Feather: Archie Sharp (16-0) W PTS 10 Jordan McCrory (18-6-1). Super Fly: Sunny Edwards (12-0) W PTS 10 Hiram Gallardo (12-3-2). Joyce vs. Jennings Important victory for Joyce who goes past the eighth round for the first time on his way to victory. Joyce made a confident start with some hefty jabs. Jennings then began to land with jabs and quick hooks inside. Joyce was looking slow and ponderous but nothing Jennings hit him with seemed to even register with Joyce. The next three rounds belonged to Joyce. He does not snap his jab but pushed it with a great deal of power behind it and he was using that, his strength and extra poundage to force Jennings to the ropes and score with long heavy lefts and rights The fifth was closer as Jennings moved more and threw more punches. Joyce was still swinging heavy punches which hurt wherever they landed but Jennings outscored him in the sixth and seventh. He was blocking many of Joyce’s punches and connecting with hooks and rights to the head but it was still a case that nothing he landed had any effect on Joyce who at times reminds one of George Foreman in his style and power. Joyce worked hard to take the eighth. He was walking forward pumping out lefts and rights and keeping Jennings on the back foot. Joyce again worked hard in the ninth throwing punches but Jennings came on late in the round. Joyce was looking arm weary and it was now a case that very little Joyce was landing was stopping Jennings moving forward. The tenth saw some good two-way action with Joyce connecting with powerful jabs and clubbing head punches and Jennings seeing out the storm and firing back. Late in the round a left from Jennings went low and the referee deducted a point although it looked harsh, however Jennings landed another low punch before the bell and was given a last warning. Joyce outworked Jennings in the eleventh and kept Jennings trapped on the ropes as he pounded away. Jennings was blocking most of the punches but not throwing any himself. Scores 118-109, 117-110 and 115-112 all for Joyce. I saw it 116-112 for Joyce. The two big pluses for Joyce, apart from the win, were that he went twelve rounds and that he beat a heavyweight who was not all washed up unlike Bermane Stiverne and Alex Ustinov. The downside is that he never had Jennings really hurt at any time in the fight whereas both Luis Ortiz and Oscar Rivas had stopped Jennings. Joyce’s only rating before this fight was No 14 with the WBC and Jennings was unrated. Joyce is the official challenger to European champion Agit Kabayel with the deadline for agreement or purse offers of 7 August. Kabayel is rated No 3 (2) with the IBF with only Kubrat Pulev ahead of him-the No 2 spot is vacant- so a win over Kabayel would put Joyce very close to a world title fight but Kabayel is 19-0 and has a win over Derrick Chisora. At 34 Jennings is not finished yet and there are a whole clutch of young heavyweights out there looking to get a name on their list of victims. Williams vs. Achour Williams crushes Achour to win the vacant WBC Silver title. Williams had his jab working well in the opening round forced Achour onto the back foot landing with a hefty left hook to the body. Williams continued to come forward with Achour hiding behind a high guard and already looking to be in survival mode hardly throwing a punch. In the second Williams was firing hard jabs and testing the Frenchman’s guard with following rights. He took Achour to a corner and connect with body punches. Achour escaped from the corner but was caught with a powerful right hook and stumbled back before dropping to the canvas on his side. He made it to his feet only for punches from Williams sending him stumbling back to a corner and down for a second time. Achour got up but was finished and after the eight count the referee stopped the fight. The 27-year-old British champion from Wales now has 16 wins by KO/TKO. His two losses came in 2017 against Liam Smith the first on a cut and the second a majority decision. Up at middle now he looks a real threat. Achour, a former French, European Union and WBC International champion was 13-1-1 going into this one with the loss being on points to David Lemieux over twelve rounds in May last year. This is his first inside the distance defeat. Dubois vs. Gorman Dubois wins the vacant British title with stoppage of previously unbeaten Gorman. Dubois made a confident start coming forward behind quick jabs and connecting with some right crosses. Gorman was on the back foot looking to counter and landed a sharp uppercut inside. There were some furious exchanges in the second with Dubois landing some good rights one of which opened a cut over the left eye of Gorman. A series of clubbing rights in the third sent Gorman down on his knees and reopened the cut. After the count Gorman threw himself forward firing wild punches but Dubois took charge again and had Gorman under pressure to the bell. In a quieter fourth Dubois continued to stalk the retreating Gorman trying to open him up with the jab and landed rights crosses. Dubois staggered Gorman badly with a right early in the fifth and after good work with his jab put Gorman on the floor with a right to the head. Gorman made it to his feet but the referee stopped the fight. The 6’5” 21-year-old Londoner showed maturity and power here. He worked his openings with his jab, kept cool picking his moments to attack and then demonstrated why his nickname is “Dynamite” with some big rights. Gorman was never in with a chance. He was outboxed and outpunched with Dubois proving to be in a different class. Sharp vs. McCrory Sharp floors and outpoints McCrory in WBO European title defence. Sharp scored in the first with a left hook then used his superior speed to get inside and land another good hook then ducked and weaved around McCrory's attempts to counter. Sharp was taller with a longer reach and quick hands and McCrory only really had any success on the occasions when he could catch Sharp on the ropes. Sharp also fitted in some very showy work but there was nothing showy about the left hook to the ribs that put McCrory down in the third. McCrory bent forward with his head touching the canvas and it looked as though the fight was over but the Scot got up and danced through the few seconds to the bell. McCrory had a good spell at the end of the fifth as he connected with some head shots as they stood and traded but other than the skills of Sharp were the deciding factor in the fight. Sharp switched guards seamlessly and rattled McCrory with hooks and uppercuts. McCrory tried to walk through the punches to force Sharp back but he was being showered with quick punches by Sharp who was able bob and weave around McCrory and then pop up and clout McCrory with counters on his way to a wide points victory. Scores 98-91 for Sharp on the three cards as he retains the WBO European title. That WBO European title gets Sharp a No 10 rating with the WBO. He has lots of talent but is in a tough division. McCrory has now lost three of his last four fights but the other two losses have been against 29-2 Patrick Kinigamazi for the WBFederation title and unbeaten Sam Bowen for the British title. Edwards vs. Gallardo Edwards breezes past crude Mexican Gallardo. Edwards was able to slot jabs through the Mexican’s poor defence and connect with counters as Gallardo piled forward head down. Gallardo was on the floor in the second but it looked as though he slipped after missing with a punch but it resulted in an eight count. Edwards was comfortable boxing either orthodox or southpaw. His jabs were too quick for Gallardo to block and his foot speed allowed Edwards to dart inside to score and then get out of range before Gallardo could counter. Gallardo kept lunging forward but he was too crude to pose any threat to Edwards, The downside is that Edwards never had Gallardo in any trouble and never looked close to stopping him. Scores three times 99-90 for Edwards. He is the younger brother of WBC champion Charlie and will be aiming to become the second world champion in the family but super fly is a very strong division. Gallardo is the WBC Youth silver champion but to put that in context his defence of that title in March was against a fighter who had never previously had a pro fight. Minneapolis, MN, USA: Welter: Jamal James (26-1) W PTS 10 Antonio De Marco (33-8-1). Heavy: Gerald Washington (20-3-1) W KO 8 Robert Helenius (28-3). Welter: Bryant Perrella (18-2) W TKO 3 Dominique Dolton (22-3-1). Heavy: Charles Martin (27-2-1) W TKO 4 Daniel Martz (18-7-1). Bantam: Gary Antonio Russell (14-0) W PTS 10 Francisco Pedroza (13-9-2). Light: Carlos Balderas (9-0) W TKO 7 Robert Frankel ( 37-22-1). Super Light: Gary Antuanne Russell (10-0) W KO 3 Larry Ventus (9-14-1). James vs. De Marco Fighting in his home city James outpoints De Marco over ten tough, entertaining rounds. James had height and reach on his side and De Marco had his experience and his southpaw stance going for him. James was the aggressor in the first pinning De Marco to the ropes early and firing a burst of punches. Late in the round with De Marco backed into a corner they both threw plenty of punches with James getting the better of the trading. De Marco changed tactics in the second coming forward and forcing James to the ropes and clobbering him with overhand rights. James fired back and for the rest of the round both fighters were letting their hands fly in an exciting melee. De Marco had taken that round but sanity returned in the third and fourth as James boxed on the outside with De Marco chasing. He had some success when he was able to get close but James was monopolising the scoring. The pace slowed in the fifth with James using his jab to keep De Marco out and landing hurtful rights to the head. James let himself be dragged back into a brawl in the sixth with De Marco connecting with some rib-bending right hooks. They went to war again in the seventh but this time it was James connecting with the better punches. A hard right drove De Marco back and at the end of the round De Marco had swellings under both eyes. It was brawl time again in the eighth and James was throwing more and landing more but with De Marco connecting with some corrosive hooks and uppercuts. James was on his bicycle in the ninth moving around the slower De Marco back peddling for much of the time but scoring with his jab and short bursts of punches. De Marco was so exhausted in the tenth that a left jab sent him reeling across the ring and down but the referee decided it was not a knockdown. They both fought fiercely to the last bell with James pounding on De Marco at the end. It had been tough, gruelling and exciting fight and it was great to see the two fighters showing so much respect for each other as they embraced at the end. Scores 98-92 for James on the three cards. The scores were correct but could not reflect the way that De Marco made James fight so hard for every point. The 32-year-old James is tall for a welter at 6’2” and has good hand and foot speed and some power. His only defeat is a points decision against Yordenis Ugas in 2016 and he has registered victories over Ionut Dan Ion, Diego Chaves, Mahonri Montes and now De Marco. He is handily placed at WBA 5/WBC 11/IBF 13 (12) but probably needs a win over a rated fighter to put himself in line for a title chance. Former WBC lightweight champion De Marco, 33, is slower and fleshier than at his peak and falls to 2-5 in his last 7 fights but all of the losses have been to world class opposition. Helenius vs. Washington Washington outlasts Helenius for an eighth round victory. Helenius controlled the early action with his longer reach .Washington was having trouble getting past the jab of Helenius and when he did get past it Helenius was countering him with sharp rights. The Finn hurt Washington with a couple of rights late in the third but Washington stepped up his pace in the fourth landing some good jabs and long rights. The pace of the fight was slow and the rounds were close. Helenius took the fifth and sixth with some strong jabs with Washington landing some quick punches inside early in the seventh as Helenius was looking exhausted. It was a tired man’s fight in the eighth until Washington connected with a right cross that shook Helenius, Washington then threw a bunch of hooks that sent Helenius staggering across the ring and down on his back with his head resting on the bottom rope. The referee started the count but with Helenius in some distress he waived the fight over. The 37-year-old Washington was level on two cards before being stopped by Deontay Wilder in a WBC title fight in 2017 but inside the distance defeats at the hands of Jarrell Miller and Adam Kownacki had banished him from the ratings and this fight was one he could not afford to lose. Swedish-born Helenius has lost only three fights but they have been critical to his career. He was knocked in six rounds by Johann Duhaupas and lost a decision to Dillian Whyte when winning either fight could have led to a world title shot but with this loss that dream has died. Perrella vs. Dolton Floridian Perrella continues along his switchback ways as he stops Dolton in what looked a very even match on paper. Both fighters were quick off the mark Dolton snapping out jabs and southpaw Perrella not as quick but more accurate and Perrella was the one connecting. Having been on the back foot in the first Perrella began taking the fight to Dolton in the second. He was using lots of right hooks and switching his attack to head and body. He connected with a powerful left hook which sent Dolton staggering to the ropes but the bell went before he could capitalise on that. Perrella jumped on Dolton at the start of the third pinning him against the ropes and firing hooks and uppercuts. Dolton tried to fight his way off the ropes but Perrella kept unloading until the referee steeped in a halted the contest. After winning his first fourteen fights Perrella then lost to Yordenis Ugas, beat Alex Martin then dropped a majority verdict against Luis Collazo but it was an upswing for him here his 14th win by KO/TKO. Dolton has lost swing fights against Justin DeLoach and Jamontay Clark but had won his last three fights by KO/TKO. Martin vs. Martz Martin a few classes above Martz and gets an inside the distance win. In the first southpaw Martin was much quicker than the lumbering Martz and was able to slot home right jabs to head and body and was on target with occasional lefts. Martin’s punches caused a big bruise to grow under the right eye of Martz in the second but Martz managed to land a couple of clubbing rights . Martin began to find the range in the third connecting with long lefts to the head of Martz. Just seconds into the fourth a left to the head from Martin had Martz backing up and then going down on one knee. Martz was up at nine but when he tried to take the fight to Martin he was caught with three head punches and then a left to the body and dropped to one knee again. He got up at eight but did not complain when the referee waived his arms to end the fight. The 33-year-old former IBF champion has a rebuilding job on his hands after losing a close decision to Adam Kownacki in September and this is another very small step on the road back. The 6’7 ½” Martz loses badly whenever he tries to step up. Russell vs. Pedroza Just a light workout for the talented Russell as he wins every round against young Mexican Pedroza. Scores 100-90 for Russell from the three judges. The 26-year-old is the middle brother of the three Gary Russells fighting pro and is the only one of the three not to go to the Olympics. He is being over-protected and is ready for better opposition. Pedroza, 25, is really just a prelim level fighter. Balderas vs. Frankel Former Olympian Balderas continues to knock the opposition over and moves to eight wins inside the distance with stoppage of seasoned pro Frankel. It is the first time the 23-year-old Californian has had to go past the fourth round for victory so some useful ring time against Frankel. Balderas gained entry to the 2016 Olympics through his record in the World Series of Boxing so did not have to go through the Trials but he lost in the quarter-finals in Rio to Cuban star Lazaro Alvarez. Frankel, 39; was a replacement and a much tougher opponent than the guy he replaced but now often finds himself in the role of a late notice fighter brought in to face a rising young prospect. Russell vs. Ventus It is now ten fights and ten wins by KO/TKO for Russell. He blasted out Detroit’s Ventus with three knockdowns before the fight was stopped late in the third round. The 23-year-old Maryland southpaw, the younger brother of both WBC feather champion Gary and Gary Antonio Russell. Gary Antuanne was National Golden Gloves champion and competed at the 2016 Olympics. His ten wins have taken him less than 19 rounds. Ventus drops to six defeats by KO/TKO. Newark, NJ, USA: Bantam: Joshua Greer (21-1-1) W PTS 12 Nikolai Potapov (20-2-1). Feather: Shakur Stevenson (12-0) W KO 3 Alberto Guevara (27-5). Super Middle: Vijender Singh (11-0) W TKO 4 Mike Snider (13-6-3,1ND). Light Joseph Adorno (13-0)W KO 2 Adriano Ramirez (10-4). Super Light: Julian Rodriguez (17-0) W KO 1 Hevinson Herrera (24-18-1). Greer vs. Potapov Greer gats majority decision over Potapov with more heat being generated by the decision than the actual fight. Potapov seemed to go in front over the opening three rounds but Greer clawed his way back into the fight forcing Potapov back with some strong jabs and straight rights. The six was close as first Potapov and then Greer had good spells but the crowd was getting restive over the low tempo of the fight. The seventh was also close but Potapov had done the better work. The crowd was booing again as neither fighter really seemed to be ready to take chances. The closer rounds had been going to Potapov but Greer came on strong over the closing rounds to make it tight but with most feeling Potapov had done enough to win. Scores 116-112 and 115-113 for Greer and 114-114. With the No 2 place in the IBF ratings vacant Greer No 4 qualified to fill that spot by beating Potapov who was rated No 11. With IBF champion Naoya Inoue engaged in the WBSS final and Filipino Michael Dasmarinas No 1 Greer will probably have to wait until 2020 to get his title shot. Brooklyn-based Russian Potapov lost to on a seventh round retirement against Omar Narvaez in October 2017 but somehow found his way into the IBF top 15 in September 2018 with his only fight after the loss to Narvaez being over a guy with an 11-45-3 record in a fight in which Potapov weighed 130 ¼ lbs! He was an even more surprising No 3 with the WBO so may drop down their list. Stevenson vs. Guevara Fighting in his home city Stevenson crushes a reluctant Guevara inside three rounds. Guevara had only one gear in the opener and it was reverse. Stevenson prowled after the experienced Mexican occasionally landing with long southpaw lefts but was unable to bring Guevara to trade punches. Guevara tried some lunging attacks in the second but Stevenson easily evaded them and then got throught with a couple of punches with Guevara briefly trapped on the ropes. Stevenson then stepped in and connected with a straight left to the body and a right to the side that had Guevara sliding gown to the canvas. He was up quickly but after the count a right from Stevenson put him down again. Guevara was up at eight and the round was over. Stevenson was doing some show-boating as he pursued Guevara in the third. Guevara was given some rest time after a left from Stevenson landed low but then Stevenson caught Guevara with three head punches that sent the Mexican tumbling to the floor. Guevara arose just as the referee counted ten and there was no real conviction in Guevara’s protest that he had beaten the count. The 22-year-old Olympic silver medallist retains the WBO NABO title with his seventh win by KO/TKO. He is No 1 with both the WBO and WBA so is the mandatory challenger for both Leo Santa Cruz and Oscar Valdez but probably needs another two or three fights before going against either champion. Guevara, 28, has had shots at both the IBF and WBC titles at bantam but was coming off a loss against Hugo Ruiz in January and was never in this fight and looked a beaten man from the first bell but then he came in as a substitute at eight days notice. Singh vs. Snider Indian Singh returns to the ring with a stoppage over Snider. After taking a round to dust off his skills Singh landed a right in the second which sent Snider into the ropes but Snider did not go down. Singh dominated the second and third and was beating on Snider in the fourth when the referee halted the fight. The 33-year-old Singh competed at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics winning a bronze medal in 2008. As an amateur he recorded wins over Badou Jack, Terrell Gausha and Ron Gavril. This is his first fight since December 2017 and he may struggle to make an impact now. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for 38-year-old Snider. Adorno vs. Ramirez Adorno bangs out Ramirez in two rounds. The New Jersey-born Adorno took the first with some quick accurate jabbing and then put Ramirez away in the second. A left hook floored Ramirez for the first knockdown and although he made it to his feet he was clobbered by stunning left hook and then a left-right combination that sent him down and the referee stopped the fight with bothering with a count. The 20-year-old prospect makes it eleven wins by KO/TKO. He turned pro at 17 and is an outstanding talent. Third loss in a row for Dominican Ramirez. Rodriguez vs. Herrera In his first fight for almost two years “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez finds his punch again as he blasts out seasoned pro Herrera. A right to the chin put the Colombian down and although he made it to one knee he was counted out at the one minute mark. The New Jersey hope, a former National Golden Gloves champion, put together a run of eight wins inside the distance but then had to go the distance for his next three victories. He was then out of action due to a shoulder injury. This is his seventh first round victory. Herrera falls to 2-6 in his last 8 bouts. Antibes, Francs: Heavy: Tony Yoka (6-0) W TKO 3 Alex Dimitrenko (41-6). Bantam: Elie Konki (7-0) W PTS 10 Sebastian Jacobs (4-2-1). Super Welter: Souleymane Cissokho (10-0) W KO 4 Jose Carlos Paz (23-10-1). Super Welter: Ahmed El Mousaoui (30-3-1) W PTS 8 Alex Sharonov (12-4-2). Yoka vs. Dimitrenko Yoka returns after a one year suspension for ducking the testers three times and stops Dimitrenko. A nothing first round saw both fighters just pushing out jabs with no power or conviction and usually coming up short and not throwing anything except jabs. Yoka showed more purpose in the second trying to come in behind his jab and punch to the body. He forced Dimitrenko back and connected with a couple of hooks and uppercuts. Dimitrenko was throwing very little and mainly just moving on the back foot to avoid Yoka’s punches. After a cautious start to the third Yoka stepped inside and landed a right cross and then used the same hand to connect with an uppercut with Dimitrenko dropping to his knees. Dimitrenko only just beat the count. When the action resumed Yoka landed three rights to the head with Dimitrenko spinning round and collapsing over the top rope and almost tipping out of the ring as the referee stopped the fight. Fifth win by KO/TKO for 6’7” Frenchman a gold medal winner in Rio who scored wins over unbeaten pros Joe Joyce, Fillip Hrgovic and Ivan Dychko when in the amateurs. Dimitrenko, 37, suffers his third inside the distance loss in a row and the punches that finished him here did not look that great. Officially he was under suspension until October from the California Commission on the basis of a possible fractured shoulder suffered when losing to Andy Ruiz in April. However the suspension was either until October or until, cleared by a physician so I would have thought by passing the doctor’s medical check for this fight he was effectively cleared by a physician. Konki vs. Iacobas “The Spider” Konki makes a successful second defence of the French title with unanimous decision over former undefeated champion Iacobas, The 27-year-old Konki, one the best French prospects in the lighter divisions, was a six-time national champion in the amateurs and competed at the 2016 Olympics. Iacobas won the French title in April last year but never defended it and this is his first fight since then. Cissokho vs. Paz Another outstanding display by Cissokho sees him crush Argentinian Paz in four rounds. A left and a right to the side of the head floored Paz in the first and he was never in the fight after that. Solid jabs kept Cissokho in control and Paz was just soaking up punishment. Cissokho was also connecting with wicked body punches which quickly drained away the Argentinian’s resolve. He was shaken by an uppercut in the third and almost cut in half by a body punch. In the fifth as Paz tried to fight his way off the ropes he was forced back and another body punch had Paz dropping to his knees in pain and he was counted out even the towel came flying in from Paz’s corner. The Senegalese-born Olympic bronze medallist registers his seventh win by KO/TKO and looks ready to start collecting some belts. Paz had scored wins over Omar Chavez and Jorge Paez Jr, was beaten by Jaime Munguia and Anthony Fowler but only lost on a split decision against Ramon Alvarez. El Mousaoui vs. Sharonov El Mousaoui comes in at short notice as a replacement for injured Cedric Vitu and outpoints the tough but limited Sharonov. El Mousaoui rocked the Russian a few times with right crosses and some searing uppercuts but could not find a punch to end things. Sharonov lost a point in the third for a low punch and battled hard but El Mousaoui was just too good for him. Scores 80-71 twice and 79-73. The 29-year-old former EU champion had been re-thinking his career after losses to Jeff Horn and Ceferino Rodriguez but after eleven months of contemplation and with a win under his belt will be aiming to get back in to contention for the EU or EBU titles. Ladispoli, Italy: Heavy: Luca D’Ortenzi (10-1) W TKO 8 Sergio Romano (10-13-3). Local boxer D’Ortenzi wins the vacant Italian title with stoppage of Romano. Over the first two rounds “Gentleman” D’Ortenzi found plenty of space and outboxed “Wild Boar” Romano. In the third Romano pressed harder and cut down D’Ortenzi’s space getting inside and working well. The fight was close over the fourth and fifth but in the sixth D’Ortenzi rocked Romano with punches and then had him in deep trouble with a left hook. Romano made it to the bell although taking more punishment and he fought his way through the seventh. D’Ortenzi wrote the final chapter in the eighth. A heavy right stunned Romano and although he stayed upright another booming punch had the referee stepping in to save Romano. D’Ortenzi, 21, lost a close verdict to Salvatore Erittu for the Italian cruiser title in July last year and at 6’1” and under 210lbs he is small by today’s heavyweight standards. Romano was having his second shot at this title having been beaten on points by Fabio Turchi also in July last year. Kingston, Jamaica: Heavy: Vladimir Tereshkin (21-0-1) W RTD 8 Williams Ocando (21-9). Light: Headley Scott (14-1) W PTS 8 Jesus Laguna (22-16-3). Tereshkin vs. Ocando Russian southpaw Tereshkin towered over cruiserweight Ocampo and had about 50lbs weight advantage. Tereshkin was able to use his height and longer reach to work Ocando over at distance. Ocando showed some good head movement as he duck around and under Tereshkin's jabs but he was too small to be really competitive. Tereshkin was able to force Ocando to the ropes and batter away to head and body. It was never anything but a lost cause for Ocando and he did not come out for the ninth round. The 6’6” Russian has won his last 13 fights by KO/TKO but no real tests in his list of victims. Venezuelan Ocando loses whenever he gets adventurous over his opposition and this is his eighth defeat by KO/TKO. Scott vs. Laguna Scott, born in New York but a Rastafarian of Jamaican decent, hustled, bustled and bullied Laguna all the way taking every round with the judges all scoring the fight 80-72 for Scott. His loss was a stoppage against unbeaten Giovanni Mioletti in November and this is his third win since then. Laguna drops to Rosarito, Mexico: Middle; Luis Ramon Campas (108-17-3) W RTD 5 Alexis Canett (12-3-2). Former IBF light middle champion “Yori Boy” Campas makes one of his rare appearances and grinds down inexperienced Canett. Campus just kept working the body of Canett. For a few rounds Canett was able to stand his ground and work inside with Campas but by the fifth he was exhausted and could hardly lift his arms and retired at the end of the round. Now 47 Campas has scored 82 wins by KO/TKO. It is now 32 years since he had his first pro fight. Canett just an inexperienced prelim level fighter. Tonala, Mexico: Super Light: Gabriel Valenzuela (18-2-1) W KO 4 Nery Saguilan (39-13-1). Valenzuela pushes a sliding Saguilan a bit further down the hill with a fourth round kayo. Valenzuela was on the attack from the start and scoring strongly to head and body. Saguilan tried to punch with him but was getting the worse of the exchanges. In the fourth a straight right crashed into the head of Saguilan and put him down and out. Valenzuela a 24-year-old from Guadalajara wins the vacant WBC Fecarbox title his first title as a pro. He extends his unbeaten run to 16 contests with his eleventh win by KO/TKO. The eccentric 31-year-old Saguilan was once flying high in the ranking but is now 2-8 in his last 10 fights. Managua, Nicaragua: Super Light: Francisco Fonseca (25-2-1) W TKO 7David Bency (14-11-1,1ND). Light: Freddy Fonseca (26-3-1) W Moises Olivas (14-13). Fonseca vs. Bency Fonseca wears down and halts Bency. For the first two rounds the bigger Bency managed to hold his own against the powerful body punches of Fonseca. That was as good as it was going to get for gutsy Bency and from the third Fonseca slowly cut him down piling on the punishment until Bency was struggling in the seventh and the referee stepped in over Bency’s protests. Fonseca went 19-0-1 in his first 20 fights until knocked out in eight rounds by Gervonta Davis in a fight for the vacant IBF super feather title in 217. Davis failed to make the weight which is why the fight was for the vacant title. Fonseca had a second shot at the IBF title in December last year but lost on points against Tevin farmer. He has scored three inside the distance wins this year. Bency, really a super-light, now has four losses by KO/TKO. Fonseca vs. Olivas Southpaw Freddy makes it a family double as he stops Olivas. Fonseca put Olivas down in the fourth and was punishing Olivas in the fifth when the fight was halted. In his last fight in May Fonseca was stopped in seven rounds by Joseph Diaz in a fight for the vacant WBA Gold title. Fonseca had kayoed Olivas in two rounds in May last year. Boquete, Panama: Feather: Bryan De Gracia (25-2-1) W RTD 1 Daniel Diaz (23-9-2).Super Fly: Luis Concepcion (38-8) W KO 4 Felix Moncada (9-11-1). De Gracia vs. Diaz Panamanian De Gracia brushes aside Nicaraguan Diaz with ease. The hard-punching De Gracia floored Diaz twice. He also opened a gash on the left side of the visitor’s cheek and Diaz retired before the start of the second round. The 25-year-old “The Rock” blew any chance of a title shot this year when he was stopped in nine rounds by 21-1-3 Eduardo Ramirez in March but at 25 the chance will come again. This is win No 21 by KO/TKO for him. Diaz, 35, has been thrown in over his head quite a few times and suffered losses in the USA, Mexico and the Philippines. Concepcion vs. Moncada Concepcion, a former holder of the secondary WBA fly and super fly titles, is given a gift in the shape of late substitute Moncada. After a slow start Concepcion punched too hard for the Nicaraguan. He got away with some questionable body punching before putting Moncada down in the fourth with a body punch-which Moncada complained was low-and that ended the fight. A necessary win for the 33-year-old Panamanian following consecutive losses to unbeaten fighters Andrew Moloney and Alex Marin. Sixth loss in a row for Moncada. Conroe, TX, USA: Light Heavy: Alfonso Lopez (31-3) W RTD 4 Alex Theran (21-4). Texan Lopez wins the vacant WBO NABO title with win over Colombian Theran. The 37-year-old Texan is in his twelfth year as a pro and with this title and nine wins in a row he may find himself in the WBO ratings. Once a star of the Colombian amateur scene Theran went 17-1 at the start of his time as a pro but inside the distance losses to Tureano Johnson and Radivoje Kalajdzic have blunted his ambitions. Ekaterinburg, Russia: Super Feather: Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (14- ) W KO 2 Jhon Gemino (20-12-1). Yaqubov crushes Filipino Gemino with a devastating body punch. Yaqubov pressed hard in the first but Gemino managed to avoid any real trouble. In the second Yaqubov landed two good southpaw lefts to the body and then drove home a third that sent Gemino to the floor in agony. He rolled around and then lay face down on the canvas and never looked likely to make it to his feet. Tajikistan southpaw Yaqubov, 24, is WBC International champion and rated No 13 by that body. This is his ninth win by KO/TKO and he looks very useful. Gemino had won his last three fights including a victory in Japan and a win over 22-1 Carlos Ornelas in Mexico so he looked capable of testing Yaqubov until that body punch landed. Cordoba, Argentina: Middle: Francisco Torres (13-3) W PTS 10 Jonathan Sanchez (15-4-1). Torres outpoints Sanchez to win the “Copa Carlos Monzon Super 8” tournament. This was an even fight over the first four rounds but then Torres took control and dominated the action. He outboxed Sanchez and stayed cool despite Sanchez’s using his elbows and employing his head as a third fist. The skill, movement and counter-punching of Torres hovered up the rounds and a frustrated Sanchez was lucky only to suffer one deduction for a butt in the sixth. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-92. Torres also wins the vacant Argentinian title. He was very much an outsider when this Tournament started but he beat two of the favourite’s Alan Castano and Gonzalo Coria on the way to the final so deserved to emerge the winner. Sanchez had won his last three fights. Toowoomba, Australia: Light: Gaige Ireland (7-3-2) W TKO 4 Brent Rice (8-2). Ireland regains the Australian lightweight title with stoppage win over Rice. The stoppage was due to a cut above the right eye of Rice. Ireland had lost the title to Jacob Ng in his first defence in December. Former Australian super feather champion Rice had dropped his national title in his second defence in November. Fight of the week (Significance): Tony Yoka’s stoppage of Alex Dimitrenko was a big result for French boxing and there are some good young fighters there who can fly on his coattails Fight of the week (Entertainment): Marcus Morrison vs. Emanuele Blandamura was action all the way with honourable mention to Jamal James vs. Antonio De Marco Fighter of the week: I go for Ronny Rios for his win over Diego De La Hoya with honourable mention to Daniel Dubois for his crushing victory over Nathan Gorman Punch of the week: Marcus Morrison’s right hook that put away Emanuele Blandamura was special and the body punch from Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov that finished Jhon Gemino was devastating Upset of the week: Joe Noynay beating highly touted Olympian Satoshi Shimizu was a big surprise as was Roger Gutierrez destroying 28-0 Eduardo Hernandez inside a round. Prospect watch: Featherweight Loreto Dlamini 13-1was a revelation in beating Dave Penalosa and Joseph Adorno 13-0 again showed his KO power and is a lightweight to watch. The Past Week in Action 17 July 2019 Highlights: -Ryota Murata regains the secondary WBA middle title with second round stoppage of Rob Brant -Ken Shiro destroys Jonathan Taconing in WBC light fly title defence -Rey Vargas outpoints Tomoki Kameda in WBC super bantam title defence -Amir Khan stops Dilly Dib in Saudi Arabia and in other bouts in Jeddah Michell Banquez wins vacant IBO bantam title with points victory over unbeaten Prince Patel and South African Loreto Dlamini wins the vacant WBC International Silver feather belt with points victory over Dave Penalosa -In heavyweight action Daniel Dubois knocks out Nathan Gorman in five rounds in clash of unbeaten English fighters, Joe Joyce outpoints Bryant Jennings for the WBO Gold title, Tony Yoka returns to the ring and stops Alex Dimitrenko in three rounds, Gerald Washington knocks out Robert Helenius in eight rounds, Hughie Fury stops Samuel Peter in seven and Charles Martin stops Daniel Martz in four. -James Dickens, Martin Murray and Terry Flanagan win in Liverpool -Ronny Rios ends the unbeaten run of Diego De La Hoya and there are wins for Shakur Stevenson, Vijender Singh, Marcus Morrison, Liam Williams, Joet Gonzalez and Joshua Greer WORLD TITLE SHOWS July 12 Osaka, Japan: Middle: Ryota Murata (12-2) W TKO 2 Rob Brant (25-2). Light Fly: Ken Shiro 16-0) W TKO 4 Jonathan Taconing (28-4-1).Super Feather: Joe Noynay (18-2-1) WTKO 6 Satoshi Shimizu (8-1). Murata vs. Brant Sometimes Murata is Dr Jekyll and sometimes Mr Hide. This time it was the good doctor who turned up and destroyed Bent in two rounds to regain the secondary WBA title. Round 1 Brant went straight to work firing jabs and straight rights with Murata just covering up. Brant then went onto the back foot countering the advancing Murata and with less than a minute gone Murata’s face was red from Brant’s punches. Murata had thrown too few punches in losing his title to Brant but now he began to let fly with purpose. Brant continued to outpunch Murata but Murata was connecting with some heavy rights to the head. As they traded before the bell it was Murata landing the heavier artillery but Brant’s early work just gave him the round Score: 10-9 Brant Round 2 Brant was snapping out jabs and landing short hooks but Murata was walking through the punches. A left to the body and a right to the head rocked Brant who was suddenly floundering as Murata connected with more heavy head shots until once again a left to the body and a right to the head sent Brant tumbling to the ropes. Brant tried to cover up but Murata drove him along the ropes. Brant reversed direction and tried to get off the ropes but was blasted with punches until trapped in a corner and a series of punches saw Brant tumble down to the canvas. He was up quickly but after the eight count Murata plastered Brant with punch after punch. The referee was about to step in a couple of times but Brant threw an occasional punch so the referee gave him a little more time but hooks and uppercuts from Murata had Brant stumbling badly and this time the referee did stop the fight. Murata, 33, had hardly put up a fight when losing the title to Brant in October Brant won then by ten points on two cards and eight on the third. This was a totally different Murata a fierce and focused fighter who just blew Brant away. It was the same when Murata lost to Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam for the vacant title in May 2017 and then halted N’Jikam in October 2017. Whether Jekyll or Hide turn up he is no match for Saul Alvarez, Demetrius Andrade, Gennady Golovkin or Jermall Charlo. Brant, 28, fought way above expectations when beating Murata and I can’t see him raising his game enough to compete in this very tough division. Shiro vs. Taconing Shiro makes a successful sixth defence of the WBC title with stoppage of a game but outclassed Filipino Taconing Round 1 Shiro used his longer reach to keep Taconing on the end of his jab early when Taconing managed to bundle his way inside Shiro tied him up. Taconing tried to get under the jab but Shiro began to connect with straight rights at distance and landed right uppercuts as southpaw Taconing tried to come forward. Shiro shoved Taconing backwards to the canvas at the bell but it was not a knockdown. Score: 10-9 Shiro Round 2 Shiro was boxing beautifully. Quick movement, sharp accurate jabs and crisp uppercuts. Taconing continued to march forward but Shiro was too mobile and was again scoring with right uppercuts. Score 10-9 Shiro Shiro 20-18 Round 3 As Taconing lunged in Shiro met him with a perfectly timed right uppercut. Taconing was rocked and Shiro exploded with a series of lefts and rights. Taconing survived that crisis but Shiro was still planting rights on the Filipino’s head and was happy to stand and trade. A clash of heads shook Taconing and opened a vertical gash over his right eye. The doctor was asked to inspect the injury and allowed the fight to continue. The referee deducted a point from Shiro* under the WBC rule that if there is a cut in a clash of heads the boxer who is not cut loses a point. Taconing attacked fiercely but Shiro was still slotting home rights. Score 9*-9 Shiro 29-27 Round 4 Taconing stormed forward in the fourth but was walking onto hard counters. Shiro began to drive forward landing inside. Taconing fought back and as he moved forward he was nailed with a right to the head that dropped him to his knees. He climbed up immediately but was unsteady and with blood trickling from the cut and from his nose the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. Shiro “The Amazing Boy” gets his ninth win by KO/TKO. He does not look a puncher but that is deceptive as the speed and accuracy of his punches together with the fact the his opponents tend to throw themselves forward trying to get past his jab has a cumulative effect as he showed here. The light flyweight division is not a strong one at this time so he may have to move up to be really tested. Taconing gave it his best shot but he never found a way to get inside and paid the price for his lunging attacks. This is his third shot at the WBC light fly title but he is a tough fighter with a good record and would have a better chance at one of the other three versions of the title. Noynay vs. Shimizu The Japanese fans were expecting to make it three out of three for the home fighters but Filipino Noynay scuppered those hopes as he batters the unbeaten former Olympian Shimizu in an all-southpaw contest. It was almost over inside the first three minutes. Shimizu stumbled after a southpaw left clipped his head and then he was staggered by a right jab. Shimizu then seemed to settle using his own right jab until a left to the head sent him stumbling back and he put his gloves on the canvas to avoid going down. After the count Noynay was connecting with hooks inside and then a left hook to the chin floored Shimizu hard. He was up at four and after the eight with almost one minute left in the round Shimizu wrestled Noynay to the floor landing on top of the |Filipino and then ran and held to the bell. It did not get much better in the second as Noynay rocked Shimizu three times with lefts to the head but Shimizu had a good third being on the front foot and looking to have Noynay on shaky legs. The fourth was Noynay’s as he battered Shimizu with right jabs and hooks inside. Shimizu was now showing swelling around his eyes. In a brutal fifth even though much the smaller man with the shorter reach Noynay was landing hurtful jabs and left hooks with Shimizu looking to have no defence against them. In the sixth Noynay was again getting through with heavy punches. The referee stopped the fight and had the doctor examine the swelling around Shimizu’s eyes but allowed the fight to continue. Noynay landed a series of punches and Shimizu turned away from the action and started to walk to his corner. With no indication the referee had stopped the fight Noynay pursued Shimizu and knocked him down but the referee stepped in accepting Shimizu’s surrender. “Jaw Breaker” Noynay, the WBO No 6, retains his WBO Asia Pacific title in his fifth defence and gets his seventh win by KO/TKO. The 33-year-old Shimizu looked terrible. He showed no real power and very little punch resistance. Big things were hoped for as he won a bronze medal at the 2012 beating Isaac Dogboe before losing to Luke Campbell in the semi-finals. He will have hurt his reputation by surrendering in the middle of a round. July 12 Carson, CA, USAL Super Bantam: Rey Vargas (34-0) W PTS 12 Tomoki Kameda (36-3). Super Bantam: Ronny Rios (31-3) W TKO 6 Diego De La Hoya (21-1,1ND). Feather: Joet Gonzalez (23-0) W TKO 6 Manuel Avila (23-2-1). Welter: Alexis Rocha (14-0) W TKO 8 Berlin Abreu (14-3). Super Feather: Roger Gutierrez (22-3-1) W TKO 1 Eduardo Hernandez (28-1). Vargas vs. Kameda Vargas makes a fifth successful defence of his WBC title as he proves too quick and too tall for Kameda who pressed hard all the way but never came to terms with the champions physical advantages. Round 1 As usual in a Vergas title defence his big advantage in reach dictated the tactics. Vargas was on the back foot moving and jabbing with Kameda taking quick steps forward behind a double jab trying to get close. The challenger did land one good right cross but Vargas was scoring with his jab and an occasional right. Score: 10-9 Vargas. Round 2 Excellent round from Vargas. After Kameda managed to pin him to a corner and land a couple of punches the rest of the round belonged to Vargas. Apart from the perennial left jab he was digging left hooks to the body and using the same punch to counter Kameda as he charged forward. Vargas chose to stand and trade for a few seconds and landed a flashing combination. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 20-18 Round 3 Kameda needed to be on the front foot to win this but Vargas was making that impossible. The champion was following his jab with hooks from both hands rocking Kameda back on his heels and when Kameda came forward he was met either with a counter or was chasing a shadow. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 30-27 Round 4 Vargas took this one but he was not as dominant. Kameda was pressing harder and had some success along the ropes landing a three-punch combination to the head but Vargas was scoring consistently with his jab and left hooks to the body. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 40-36 Official Scores: Judge Lou Moret 39-37 Vargas, Judge Kevin Scott 39-37 Vargas, Judge Zachary Young 40-36 Vargas Round 5 Kameda was still chasing Vargas down but without success. With his huge stride length and quick footwork Vargas was able to get away from trouble with ease and then step back in rage quickly with a burst of punches and connected with some hard rights to the head. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 50-35 Round 6 Kameda managed to land two crisp left hooks in this one but again he was being kept on the end of the champion’s jab and running into hooks and uppercuts as he leapt forward. The pace was ferocious with Kameda chasing hard but Vargas was in control. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 60-54 Round 7 Kameda stood off in this one inviting Vargas to come forward. That was to the champion’s liking as he was able to thread jabs through Kameda’s guard and follow those with some strong right crosses. Eventually Kameda changed tactics but was swinging wildly and leaving himself open to counters. Score 10-9 Vargas Vargas 70-63 Round 8 This was a much closer round. In his early attacks Kameda landed some hard hooks with a right to the head the best punch he had landed in the fight. Vargas was not throwing as many punches and Kameda just outworked him. Score: 10-9 Kameda Vargas 79-73 Official Scores: Moret 79-73 Vargas, Scott 78-74 Vargas, Young 79-73 Vargas Round 9 In this one Kameda decided to throw his arms wide and invite Vargas to com e forward and hit him. Vargas did that but coolly spearing Kameda with jabs and straight rights and by the time Kameda got serious Vargas already had the round won and had no trouble stifling Kameda’s attacks. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 89-82 Round 10 It was jab and move with some hard rights in the mixture from Vargas. Kameda was throwing himself into violent attacks but Vargas was tying him up inside. Kameda landed a couple of quality left hooks but Vargas closed the round with a series of quick, accurate punches. Score: 10-9 Vargas Vargas 99-91 Round 11 Kameda piled forward throughout this one. He managed to land a few hooks looking to have briefly have buckled the knees of the champion but not a lot of scoring was done with Vargas short with his jabs and not throwing many rights with Kameda just edging it . Score: 10-9 Kameda Vargas 108-101 Round 12 Kameda stupidly threw away a point early in this last round. He was holding Vargas against the ropes and when the referee stepped between them to break them up Kameda then connected with a couple of head punches thrown past the referee and was rightly deducted a point*. Kameda attacked ferociously and managed to land some short punches inside with Vargas just happy to dance to the bell;. Score 9*-9 Tied Vargas 117-110 Official Scores: Moret 117-110, Vargas, Scott 117-110, Young 117-110 Vargas It is difficult to see where Vargas goes from here. There are no big money fights for him in his own division and although he is skilful his last six fights have all been points victories which have generated little in the way of excitement. Unification fights with Daniel Roman and Emanuel Navarrete would be attractive if they could be made but Vargas is a difficult fighter to look good against and is in danger of becoming the Guillermo Rigondeaux of the super bantams. Former WBO bantam champion Kameda was interim WBC champion going into this one and he will probably get another title shot in 2020 as he is an attraction. Rios vs. De La Hoya Rios proves a road block on De La Hoya’s way to a title shot. This was a fiercely contested contest. De La Hoya is a fighter who likes to take a fight inside and work to the body. Rios had the same idea so they traded hard body punches for much of the six rounds. Rios made the better start digging left hooks to the ribs with De La Hoya seeming to lack any snap in his work. De La Hoya improved some using his jab more and connecting with straight rights to the head putting Rios on the defensive. Rios came back into the fight strongly with his inside work and slowly took control. By the fifth de La Hoya looked to be flagging and the body punching from Rios was having its effect. In the sixth Rios was still working the body and as De La Hoya moved inside Rios met him with a left to the body and then a vicious right uppercut. De La Hoya went down on one knee watching the count. He was up at eight but then told the referee he did not want to continue and the fight was over. A points loss to Rey Vargas for the WBC super bantam title in 2017 was a blow but in some ways the stoppage loss to Azat Hovhannisyan was the one that put a question mark over the future of Rios. With De La Hoya being rated No 3 by the WBA this win puts Rios back into the title mix. A shocking loss for De La Hoya. Not so much for losing to Rios but for the way he simply chose to quit. His “no mas” moment. He is 24 and a “name” so can hopefully put this behind him. Gonzalez vs. Avila Gonzalez collects a couple more titles as he stops Avila in the sixth round. The 25-year-old Californian adds the vacant WBA Continental and WBO Global titles with his fourteenth victory by KO/TKO. He has won 8 of his last 9 bouts inside the distance. He sits behind Shakur Stevenson at No 2 in the WBO ratings so there are some good challenges ahead for Oscar Valdez. Avila was flying high after winning his first 22 contests but then lost a wide unanimous decision to Joseph Diaz in May 2017. Following a routine win in November 2017 he did not fight against until drawing with Jose Gonzalez in March this year. Rocha vs. Abreu Rocha grinds down Abreu in a gruelling inside battle. Rocha was on top of Abreu from the off. He was standing in close pounding Abreau’s body with hooks. Abreu was almost static at times in front of Rocha getting the worst of the exchanges. He was making Rocha’s job easy for him as he was not firing back often enough or hard enough and not moving. Abreu did start to move around a little in the fifth and sixth but took a beating in the seventh as Rocha began to switch his punches from head to body. A right to the head followed by a left hook to the body and a right uppercut seriously weakened Abreu in the seventh. A big right shook Abreu in the eighth and a left hook sent him against the ropes. Somehow he stayed upright but Rocha then unloaded with head punches and with Abreu stumbling the referee stopped the fight. The 22-year-old southpaw was defending the WBC Continental Americas title and this is his ninth win by KO/TKO. He was coming off a good win over Mexican-based Japanese fighter Shoki Sakai in April and may soon be ready for better opposition. Puerto Rican Abreu put together a run of seven wins but was then inactive for 17 months before losing on a third round retirement against Gary O’Sullivan in May last year. Gutierrez vs. Hernandez Tremendous upset as Venezuelan stops unbeaten WBC No 3 Hernandez inside a round. Both of these fighters have scored most of their wins by KO/TKO and Hernandez seemed to have no respect for Gutierrez’s power. Hernandez was marching forward trying to work inside and had early success with a punch causing a cut inside Gutierrez’s mouth but he was being caught with rights to the head with every step he took. Gutierrez hammered home a series of rights which first stopped Hernandez in his tracks and then put him on the canvas on his back. Hernandez tried to rise but toppled over again and the referee promptly waived the fight over. Gutierrez,24, now has 19 wins by KO/TKO but he did not seem a dangerous opponent having consecutive losses in 2018 against Hector Tanajara and Oscar Duarte. He was rated WBO 9 going into this fight now he has beaten the WBC No 3 so a world title shot is a possibility. Hernandez is just 21and he can rebuild. He has WBC champion Miguel Berchelt as an example as Berchelt was once stopped in 99 seconds by Luis Florez but is now a champion. July 11 Rome, Italy: Middle: Marcus Morrison (21-3) TKO 9 Emanuele Blandamura (29-4). Light Heavy: Serhiy Demchenko (22-14-1) W TKO 7 Hakim Zoulikha (26-11). Cruiser: Tommy McCarthy (15-2) W RTD 2 Francesco Cataldo (7-6). Light: Emiliano Marsili (38-0-1) W PTS 6 Brayan Mairena (10-12-1). Super Welter: Vincenzo Bevilacqua (16-0) W PTS 6 Novak Radulovic (9-4-1). Light Heavy: Valentino Manfredonia (1-0) W PTS 4 Sokol Arsic (1-3-2). Morrison vs. Blandamura Morrison wins the vacant WBC International title with stoppage of Blandamura after a stirring battle. There were plenty of fierce exchanges over the early rounds with both fighters being rocked. Blandamura was fighting with his heart and not his head as Morrison was the harder puncher and the Italian’s corner was urging him to box but Blandamura was unwilling to take a step back or take a punch without immediately firing back. He was also facing a taller opponent with a longer reach so used his experience to work around Morrison’s jab. Morrison rocked Blandamura with rights in the fifth sending the home fighter staggering into the ropes but Blandamura fought back. It was a fast-paced, open fight and at the end of the eighth it was very evenly balanced on the cards although Morrison was getting on top late in the eighth rocking Blandamura with eye-catching head punches. In the ninth Blandamura started by pinning Morrison against the ropes and hooking to the body. Morrison made it off the ropes and was beginning to let his punches go when the action was stopped so that Blandamura’s bootlace could be retied. Morrison then landed four hard rights to the head. An exhausted Blandamura absorbed them but a fifth sent him down on his hands and knees. He crawled to the ropes and levered himself up but was gazing out into the crowd in no condition to continue and the referee stopped the fight with Blandamura collapsing in the referee’s arms and having to be carried to his corner and it was some time before he recovered. 26-year-old Englishman Morrison registers his fifth win in a row and his 15th win by KO/TKO. A real power performance. Blandamura, 39, was trying to regain the title he held back in 2012. A former European champion he was stopped in eight rounds by Ryota Murata in a challenge for the WBA secondary title in April last year. He is a tremendously popular fighter so the hope is he will now retire but Blandamura did say he likes fighting so much he may continue. Demchenko vs. Zoulikha In a return match Demchenko comes from behind to stop Frenchman Zoulikha and collects the vacant European Union title. Demchenko had injured his left arm some time prior to the match and made a cautious start. Zoulikha was buzzing around the bigger man able to find plenty of gaps for his wide hooks. Demchenko looked hesitant and was not really throwing enough punches and although Zoulikha was cut over his left eye in a clash of heads in the third by the end of the fourth round he had built a lead. Demchenko was cut badly over his right in a clash of heads in the fifth and Zoulikha was connecting with hooks around Demchenko’s high guard. As Zoulikha came forward Demchenko exploded a right to the Frenchman’s head. Zoulikha was out on his feet stumbling to left and right and then pitching down to the canvas on his hands and knees. It looked impossible for him to get up but he did and despite more heavy rights from Demchenko Zoulikha was punching back at the bell. An amazing recovery. They both fought hard in the sixth with Demchenko getting on top late in the round. In the seventh a big right from Demchenko shook Zoulikha and then Demchenko drove Zoulikha across the ring landing lefts and rights until the referee made a good stoppage. The 39-year-old Ukrainian-born Rome-adopted Demchenko had beaten Zoulikha on a technical decision to win the EU title and this victory marks the start of his third spell as EU champion. He has a spotty record but is dangerous as he showed here. Zoulikha, 35, the EBU No 5, is also a former EU title holder but has tended to lose the big fights. McCarthy vs. Cataldo McCarthy floors late substitute Cataldo twice on the way to victory. Cataldo took the fight at just three days notice when Fabio Turchi was forced to pull out due to an injury. McCarthy was content to just dance around the slower Cataldo in the first firing jabs and trying an occasional right. McCarthy planted his feet in the second going for power and knocked Catalano down with two rights. Cataldo beat the count and managed to stay out of trouble until the end of the round when heavy punches from McCarthy put him down again. He was up and waited out the eight count with the bell going at the end of the count but his corner then retired their man. The 28-year-old Belfast-based McCarthy makes it 8 wins by KO/TKO. His two losses have been in hard contests against Matty Askin and Richard Riakporhe. Cataldo, 37, is a former Italian title challenger but is now 1-4 in his last 5 fights. Marsili vs. Mairena Just a light workout for Marsili. He breezed through this one with too much skill and experience for the very limited Nicaraguan winning every minute of every round. Scores 60-54 for southpaw Marsili from the judges. The 42-year-old southpaw has been floating around the upper levels of the world ratings for years now but has never landed a title fight and it is difficult to see how he can land one now. Twelfth loss in a row for Spanish-based Mairena. Bevilacqua vs. Radulovic Former undefeated Italian champion Bevilacqua eases his way to victory with decision over Kosovon-born Radulovic. Bevilacqua made a slow start but then took charge and easily outpointed Radulovic without every looking as though he could stop him. Scores 59-55 twice and 60-54 for 25-year-old southpaw Bevilacqua who is still looking for his first inside the distance win. Third loss in his last four fights for Radulovic. Manfredonia vs. Arsic Manfredonia hands in his vest and enters the pro ring for the first time. Arsic was no real test. He was able on occasions to take advantage of Manfredonia’s low guard to connect with some punches but Manfredonia was always in charge. Score 39-37 from the three judges. Brazilian-born Manfredonia is a former Italian amateur champion who won a gold medal at the European Union Championships and a silver at the European Games before representing Italy at the 2016 Olympics in his home country but at 29 time is against him as a pro. Serb Arsic had no chance in this one. July 12 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Welter: Amir Khan (34-5) W TKO 4 Billy Dib (45-6,1ND). Feather: Lerato Dlamini (13-1) W PTS 12 Dave Penalosa (15-1). Bantam: Michell Banquez (19-1) W PTS 12 Prince Patel (19-1-1) W. Heavy: Hughie Fury (23-2) W TKO 7 Samuel Peter (38-8). Khan vs. Dib Khan too fast and too big for Dib and floors Dib twice before the fight is stopped in the fourth round. In a messy start the two fighters got tangled a few times. The real action came late in the round with Khan firing a burst of punches most of which missed and Dib taunting Khan for missing. Khan floored Dib in the second with a short left hook inside. Dib did not look badly shaken and after the eight count moved and held to the bell that seemed to go 18 seconds early. Khan was stringing 5-6 punch combinations together in the third and Dib was under pressure all the way. The fight ended in confusion in the fourth. Khan took Dib to the ropes and connected with a volley of hooks and uppercuts with Dib dropping to the floor. The referee had only just started the count when the towel came in from Dib’s corner flashing past the referee who did not see it. Dib’s second climbed into the ring and started to walk over to Dib. The towel had landed behind the referee who was still counting. Dib’s corner man started to back up waiving his hands as if to retract the retirement and Khan’s corner were celebrating. Not having seen the towel the referee was surprised to see Khan’s men in the ring celebrating and then waived the fight off. Kahn wins the vacant WBC International title. This one was just about the money and will have done nothing to improves Khan’s chances of a fight with the winner of Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman but he showed that he still has great hand speed and gets in some ring time as he waits to see what door open next. Former BF feather champion Dib, 33, stepped in as a substitute and the speed of his corner’s action in throwing in the towel showed that they knew their man was overmatched against a more talented and naturally bigger fighter. Dlamini vs. Penalosa A sparkling performance from the relatively unknown Dlamini which nets him the vacant WBC Silver title. Dlamini was quicker than southpaw Penalosa and was able to land some good body punches and use fast movement to get in and out before Penalosa could counter. Constant changes of direction by Dlamini had Penalosa searching for a target and not throwing enough punches. Penalosa scored well with body punches in the third but generally he was a step behind the speedy Dlamini. Penalosa was walking forward in the fourth when a counter right hook from Dlamini put him on his rump. He was up quickly and the bell went shortly after the count was over. Dlamini’s tactics did not vary. He was slotting jabs through the guard of Penalosa then moving quickly out of range before springing back in the a series of punches and getting out with a frustrated Penalosa swishing air. The only success for the Filipino came when he could pin Dlamini to the ropes or when Dlamini chose to stand and trade but those occasions were few. The referee had the doctor examine Penalosa in the ninth suspecting a jaw injury but the doctor cleared Penalosa to continue as Dlamini boxed his way to victory. Scores 117-109 twice and 118-110. After losing his first pro fight Dlamini has now won 13 in a row and although small for a featherweight at 5’5” he looks a very good fighter. Penalosa, the son of former IBF champion Dodie, had won 6 of his last 7 fights inside the distance and was No 10 with the WBO but was comprehensively outboxed in this fight. Patel vs. Banquez Banquez wins the vacant IBO title with unanimous decision over unbeaten Patel. Venezuelan Banquez set out his stall early connecting with strong jabs and thudding body punches through the high guard the taller southpaw Patel. Banquez was outworking Patel and more worrying for the Englishman he was also being out jabbed. Patel had some success when he worked his jab and long rights but Banquez had more variety in his work hooking to head and body. There was not a lot of power in Banquez punches but he was rattling off combinations on a static Patel. By just walking in behind a high guard Patel was not using his reach advantage and was allowing Banquez to pick his spots and then move too quickly for Patel to counter. The high guard approach was not working for Pastel but he had no plan B and although he did better over the closing rounds Banquez still outworked him and was a clear winner. Scores 119-109 twice and 118-110 for Banquez. The 29-year-old Venezuelan has a heavily padded record with his first 14 opponents having just 11 wins between them and he lost a wide decision to Chilean Miguel Gonzalez last June in his only fight of note. He displayed a tremendous work rate here but Patel’s tactics made it easy for him and he will struggle against better opposition. Patel’s record was also heavily padded with a series wins over low level opposition in Hungary. He had won the UBO and WBFederation title and was No 6 with the WBO and the IBF had him at 14(13) but he was a big disappointment here. Fury vs. Peter A poor fight ends early as Peter retires in the seventh round claiming an arm injury. Fury was too speedy and too tall for the 38-year-old Nigerian who although quicker than he looks was restricted to some dangerous looking swings and a few fouls. Fury was able to flit around the ring catching Peter with quick jabs and occasional rights. Peter was warned for a low punch in the third, lost a point for hitting on the break in the fourth and was warned for low punches in the fifth with Fury taking quite a while to recover. In the same fifth round Peter also landed two deliberate punches to the back of Fury’s head. Fury was content to outbox Peter connecting with long jabs and right hand counters and was able to score at distance and hold in close.. Although four inched smaller Peter was 43lbs heavier than Fury and tired from trundling after Fury. He had run out of gas in the seventh and after a clinch he indicated that in twisting his arm he had suffered an injury and could not continue. No real benefit here to Fury except for a few rounds of ring time and a payday. His only current rating is No 15 with the IBF and if he is going to climb he needs to set his sights higher than oldies such as Peter. The former WBC champion from Nigeria has left his best days way behind and is too fat and slow to be a test for a young fighter such as Liverpool, England: Feather: James Dickens (27-3) W PTS 10 Nathaniel May (21-2).Super Middle: Martin Murray (38-5-1) W PTS 10 Rui Manuel Pavanito (10-9-1). Light: Terry Flanagan (34-2) W KO 5 Jonas Segu (19-9-2).Welter: Sam Maxwell (12-0) W TKO 2 Oscar Amador (10-21). Dickens vs. May Dickens sues skill and speed and two knockdowns to bear Australian hope May. In a fast start May was coming forward with strong left hooks to the body and Dickens was using his right jab and some good body punches of his own. A right to the temple staggered Dickens in the second with May landing a couple more clubbing shots until Dickens used movement and his jab to blunt the Australian’s attack. Dickens controlled the action with his jab in the third and fourth. May went down early in the fourth. It was ruled a slip but later in the round a short right hook put May down and after he got up Dickens kept him pinned on the ropes firing hooks and uppercuts to the bell. May tried to up his pace in the fifth but again had trouble getting past Dickens jab and when May missed with a couple of punches he overbalanced and fell to the floor for a questionable knockdown. May fought back fiercely in the sixth and seventh rumbling forward but he was being outworked and looked to be tiring as Dickens consistently scored with his right jab and straight lefts. Dickens boxed intelligently in the eighth and ninth spearing May with jabs and he was now the one doing the pressing. May needed a knockout in the tenth but too often he was swinging wildly and Dickens kept moving pinging May with quick jabs and May just could not land anything of note. Scores 97-91, 97-92 and 96-92 all for former British champion Dickens who wins the vacant IBF European title. His losses have come against Kid Galahad and Thomas Patrick Ward for the British super bantam title and Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBA title. The win over May is his fifth on the bounce. May, 22, had won his last 17 fights and was IBF No 8(7). Dickens outboxed him here but at 23 he can come again. Murray vs. Pavanito Murray moves back up to super middle and gets an easy victory over limited Pavanito. Murray’s jab was too strong for the Portuguese fighter and he was able to control the action in every round. Murray never really had to engage a high gear but he did get some useful work. Pavanito was trying to come forward and Murray was content to let him do so on occasions. Murray used his power to keep Pavanito trapped against the ropes and landed some meaty hooks to the body but did not press too hard. Pavanito landed some crisp uppercuts in the third and Murray hurt Pavanito with lefts to the body in the sixth and seventh and staggered him twice in the eighth as it began to look as though Murray was trying to finish the fight inside the distance. He had Pavanito in deep trouble in the ninth but the Portuguese fighter survived that and was still there at the final bell. Referee’s score 99-92 for Murray. There will be much tougher fights ahead for Murray. This was his first fight since losing to Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in a WBC Silver middleweight title defence in December and there plenty of goods fights for him out there. Pavanito had won five moderate level fights going into this one. He took his lumps and never really threatened an upset. Flanagan vs. Segu Flanagan gets back into the winning groove with win over Tanzanian Segu. Flanagan was content to let Segu dance about prodding out left jabs but just before the bell when the Tanzanian rushed in Flanagan met him with a short left to the chin that put him down. Segu made it to his feet and although he took more punishment he defied Flanagan’s efforts to end the fight. Flanagan found the awkward rushing tactics of the Tanzanian were making it difficult for him to land cleanly and he had to be careful as Segu was throwing himself forward head first. In the fourth Flanagan was anticipating Segu’s charges and connecting regularly with straight lefts. In the interval Segu sat head down and hardly even lifted his head so that his second had to thrust his mouthguard in his mouth. Segu then made no attempt to throw a punch but just backed into a corner with Flanagan hardly able to land a punch before Segu slumped to the canvas sitting resting with his back on the ropes and he made no move at all to try to rise so was counted out. After consecutive losses to Maurice Hooker and Regis Prograis last year the former WBO light champion has dropped out of the ratings so will be looking to get some wins under his belt and land a title shot. Segu was lightweight in terms of power and ability and took the easy way out. Maxwell vs. Amador WBO European champion Maxwell was untroubled in this one. He was finding gaps with his jab and connecting with quick rights to the head. Just before the bell a stiff jab caught the advancing Amador and he went down. He arose quickly just as the bell sounded. In the second Amador aimed to get inside but walked onto a right hook that dropped him to his knees with his head touching the canvas and he stayed like that for the full count.Ten wins by KO/TKO for the Liverpool fighter. Sixth defeat by KO/TKO for Nicaraguan Amador and his 14th loss in a row. Hollywood, FL, USA: Welter: Derrick Cuevas (22-0-1) W PTS 10 Jesus Beltran (17-3-2). Heavy: Ivan Dychko (9-0) W KO 2 Nate Heaven (9-3). Cuevas vs. Beltran Puerto Rican hope Cuevas retained the WBA Fedelatin title with all three judges seeing him a clear winner with scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92. In winning his last 17 fights the 24-year-old from Guaynabo has worked his way through the usual suspects in Silverio Ortiz, Breidis Prescott, and Ed Paredes. Beltran had lost only one of his last 18 fights. Dychko vs. Heaven Dychko makes it nine out of nine as he kayos Heaven in two rounds. Heaven was down twice with a booming right causing the second knockdown and ending the fight. The 28-year-old 6’9” Kazak has won all of his fights by KO/TKO taking less than 16 rounds in total. In the amateurs he won two silver medals and a bronze at the world championships and lost to Anthony Joshua in the semi-finals in the London Olympics. Heaven, 6’6” and 33-years-old was having his first fight four over four years but at 33 he is much younger that Dychko’s last two victims Maurice Harris at 43 and Ray Austin at 48 so need to get too excited over Dychko yet. Everett, MA, USA: Super Welter: Greg Vendetti (22-3-1) W PTS 12 Michael Anderson (17-3-1). Super Light: Luis Arcon (8-0) W KO 3 Mario Lozano (18-4-1). Vendetti vs. Anderson Popular local battler Vendetti wins a world title of sorts as he outpoints New Jersey’s Anderson to pick up the vacant IBA belt. Vendetti’s non-stop punching tactics were just too much for Anderson who could not match the phenomenal work rate of “The Villain”. Vendetti dominated every minute of every round with Anderson too busy defending to stage any meaningful offence of his own and by the end of the twelve rounds he was a battered and beaten man. The fight was so-one-sided that one of the judges saw a couple of round 10-8 even without a knock down. Scores 120-108 twice and 120-106 for Vendetti. He scored an important win over Japanese toughie Yoshihiro Kamegai in August last year and has lost only one of his last 18 fights. That was a stoppage against world rated Michel Soro in December and this is Vendetti’s second win since then. Anderson, 38, was having only his second fight in four years having been out of the ring from June 2015 until returning with a win in December last year. Arcon vs. Lozano Arcon is just too good for this level of opposition. After hunting down Lozano in the first he ended the fight with a brutal kayo 70 seconds into the second. The 27-year-old Venezuelan has won his eight fights by KO/TKO taking less than 17 rounds in total. He was a silver medallist at the Pan American Championships and the South American Games, took a bronze at the Pan American Games and competed at the 2016 Olympics. Argentinian southpaw Lozano suffers his third inside the distance loss this year. Tacoma, WA, USA: Heavy: Jermaine Franklin (19-0) W PTS 10 Jerry Forrest (25-3). Heavy: Constantin Bejenaru (14-0,1ND) W TKO 6 Jose Corral. Super Feather: Giovanni Mioletti (17-0) W PTS 10 Luis Porozo (14-1). Feather: Eric Hunter (22-4) W TKO 5 German Meraz (62-57-2,1ND) Franklin vs. Forrest Franklin remains unbeaten with controversial split decision over Forrest. They started trading punches in a hectic first round with Franklin looking for another quick win and Forrest matching him punch for punch. The pace slowed in a close second with Franklin landing a good right. Forrest boxed cleverly in the third slotting home southpaw jabs and long lefts. Franklin was able to work Forrest over against the ropes in the fifth and they both landed well in the sixth. Franklin was attacking hard over the seventh and eighth but Forrest was slick and quick and changing angles. Franklin had a strong ninth. Forrest looked to be tiring and Franklin was landing well to the body and they both put in a big effort in the last. Scores 97-93 twice for Franklin and 96-95 for Forrest. The scores for Franklin looked too wide and the one for Forrest looked about right. Michigan’s Franklin, 25, rode his luck a little here but it was a good test and a good learning fight. Lafayette’s Forrest had an 18-bout winning streak snapped but will consider himself unlucky to lose. Bejenaru vs. Corral New York-based Moldovan Bejenaru stops Mexican Corral in a bout that was hastily cobbled together after BJ Flores was denied a licence on medical grounds and his fight with Otto Wallin was cancelled. Bejenaru quickly shook of the dust from twenty months of inactivity and was soon landing some heavy shots on the slow and overmatched Corral. Bejenaru rocked Corral in the fourth and pounded on Corral all the way. A savage combination in the sixth had Corral in deep water and the fight was halted. The 30-year-old Bejenaru was high in the world ratings after wins over unbeaten Stivens Bujaj and Thabiso Mchunu before inactivity halted his climb. Although born in Moldova he boxed for Romania as an amateur winning national titles at 81 &91kg, competing at the 2005, 2007 and 2009 World championships and twice taking a silver medal at the European Union Championships. Now 35 he could not really afford that 20 months off. Corral, 38, is 1-6 in his last 7 fights. Mioletti vs. Porozo There was another former top level amateur in this fight but Ecuadorian Porozo after making a good start then faded badly and lost the unanimous decision to Chicago southpaw Mioletti. Porozo brought his skills from the amateur days with him and outboxed Mioletti early. He was quick and smart and sliding punches through Mioletti’s guard. Mioletti pressed hard and shook Porozo with a left in the third. The Ecuadorian recovered and continued to box skilfully. Mioletti just kept pressing and eventually Porozo slowed and Mioletti was able to finish strongly to emerge a good winner. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93 for Mioletti. It was the right result but the first two cards were harsh on Porozo. The 24-year-old Mioletti, a crowd favourite at the Battle on the Boat, is being matched sensibly. He had won his last four fights by KO/TKO but will have learned more from this fight than those other wins. Porozo, 29, competed for Ecuador at the 2008 Olympics, the 2007 and 2009 World Championships and the Pan American Games. Hunter vs. Meraz As with Bejenaru Hunter also had a thick coat of dust to disperse. Meraz with over 120 fights behind him was hustling and bustling early proving a more testing opponent than expected. Hunter eventually found the range and floored Meraz with left hook in the third. He continued to press Meraz hard over the fourth with the Mexican looked to have adopted survival tactics. In the and fifth a banging together of heads saw Meraz cut over his left eye. The referee had the doctor examine the cut and he advised the fight be stopped. As it had gone past the fourth round it was decided on the scorecards with Hunter in front 50-44 on all three score sheets. First fight for Hunter since losing to Lee Selby in an IBF featherweight title challenge in April 2016. Meraz is 1-10 in his last 11 fights. July 13 London. England: Heavy: Joe Joyce (10-0) W PTS 12 Bryant Jennings (24-4). Middle: Liam Williams (21-2-1) W TKO 2 Karim Achour (27-6-3). Heavy: Daniel Dubois (12-0) W TKO 5 Nathan Gorman (16-1). Super Feather: Archie Sharp (16-0) W PTS 10 Jordan McCrory (18-6-1). Super Fly: Sunny Edwards (12-0) W PTS 10 Hiram Gallardo (12-3-2). Joyce vs. Jennings Important victory for Joyce who goes past the eighth round for the first time on his way to victory. Joyce made a confident start with some hefty jabs. Jennings then began to land with jabs and quick hooks inside. Joyce was looking slow and ponderous but nothing Jennings hit him with seemed to even register with Joyce. The next three rounds belonged to Joyce. He does not snap his jab but pushed it with a great deal of power behind it and he was using that, his strength and extra poundage to force Jennings to the ropes and score with long heavy lefts and rights The fifth was closer as Jennings moved more and threw more punches. Joyce was still swinging heavy punches which hurt wherever they landed but Jennings outscored him in the sixth and seventh. He was blocking many of Joyce’s punches and connecting with hooks and rights to the head but it was still a case that nothing he landed had any effect on Joyce who at times reminds one of George Foreman in his style and power. Joyce worked hard to take the eighth. He was walking forward pumping out lefts and rights and keeping Jennings on the back foot. Joyce again worked hard in the ninth throwing punches but Jennings came on late in the round. Joyce was looking arm weary and it was now a case that very little Joyce was landing was stopping Jennings moving forward. The tenth saw some good two-way action with Joyce connecting with powerful jabs and clubbing head punches and Jennings seeing out the storm and firing back. Late in the round a left from Jennings went low and the referee deducted a point although it looked harsh, however Jennings landed another low punch before the bell and was given a last warning. Joyce outworked Jennings in the eleventh and kept Jennings trapped on the ropes as he pounded away. Jennings was blocking most of the punches but not throwing any himself. Scores 118-109, 117-110 and 115-112 all for Joyce. I saw it 116-112 for Joyce. The two big pluses for Joyce, apart from the win, were that he went twelve rounds and that he beat a heavyweight who was not all washed up unlike Bermane Stiverne and Alex Ustinov. The downside is that he never had Jennings really hurt at any time in the fight whereas both Luis Ortiz and Oscar Rivas had stopped Jennings. Joyce’s only rating before this fight was No 14 with the WBC and Jennings was unrated. Joyce is the official challenger to European champion Agit Kabayel with the deadline for agreement or purse offers of 7 August. Kabayel is rated No 3 (2) with the IBF with only Kubrat Pulev ahead of him-the No 2 spot is vacant- so a win over Kabayel would put Joyce very close to a world title fight but Kabayel is 19-0 and has a win over Derrick Chisora. At 34 Jennings is not finished yet and there are a whole clutch of young heavyweights out there looking to get a name on their list of victims. Williams vs. Achour Williams crushes Achour to win the vacant WBC Silver title. Williams had his jab working well in the opening round forced Achour onto the back foot landing with a hefty left hook to the body. Williams continued to come forward with Achour hiding behind a high guard and already looking to be in survival mode hardly throwing a punch. In the second Williams was firing hard jabs and testing the Frenchman’s guard with following rights. He took Achour to a corner and connect with body punches. Achour escaped from the corner but was caught with a powerful right hook and stumbled back before dropping to the canvas on his side. He made it to his feet only for punches from Williams sending him stumbling back to a corner and down for a second time. Achour got up but was finished and after the eight count the referee stopped the fight. The 27-year-old British champion from Wales now has 16 wins by KO/TKO. His two losses came in 2017 against Liam Smith the first on a cut and the second a majority decision. Up at middle now he looks a real threat. Achour, a former French, European Union and WBC International champion was 13-1-1 going into this one with the loss being on points to David Lemieux over twelve rounds in May last year. This is his first inside the distance defeat. Dubois vs. Gorman Dubois wins the vacant British title with stoppage of previously unbeaten Gorman. Dubois made a confident start coming forward behind quick jabs and connecting with some right crosses. Gorman was on the back foot looking to counter and landed a sharp uppercut inside. There were some furious exchanges in the second with Dubois landing some good rights one of which opened a cut over the left eye of Gorman. A series of clubbing rights in the third sent Gorman down on his knees and reopened the cut. After the count Gorman threw himself forward firing wild punches but Dubois took charge again and had Gorman under pressure to the bell. In a quieter fourth Dubois continued to stalk the retreating Gorman trying to open him up with the jab and landed rights crosses. Dubois staggered Gorman badly with a right early in the fifth and after good work with his jab put Gorman on the floor with a right to the head. Gorman made it to his feet but the referee stopped the fight. The 6’5” 21-year-old Londoner showed maturity and power here. He worked his openings with his jab, kept cool picking his moments to attack and then demonstrated why his nickname is “Dynamite” with some big rights. Gorman was never in with a chance. He was outboxed and outpunched with Dubois proving to be in a different class. Sharp vs. McCrory Sharp floors and outpoints McCrory in WBO European title defence. Sharp scored in the first with a left hook then used his superior speed to get inside and land another good hook then ducked and weaved around McCrory's attempts to counter. Sharp was taller with a longer reach and quick hands and McCrory only really had any success on the occasions when he could catch Sharp on the ropes. Sharp also fitted in some very showy work but there was nothing showy about the left hook to the ribs that put McCrory down in the third. McCrory bent forward with his head touching the canvas and it looked as though the fight was over but the Scot got up and danced through the few seconds to the bell. McCrory had a good spell at the end of the fifth as he connected with some head shots as they stood and traded but other than the skills of Sharp were the deciding factor in the fight. Sharp switched guards seamlessly and rattled McCrory with hooks and uppercuts. McCrory tried to walk through the punches to force Sharp back but he was being showered with quick punches by Sharp who was able bob and weave around McCrory and then pop up and clout McCrory with counters on his way to a wide points victory. Scores 98-91 for Sharp on the three cards as he retains the WBO European title. That WBO European title gets Sharp a No 10 rating with the WBO. He has lots of talent but is in a tough division. McCrory has now lost three of his last four fights but the other two losses have been against 29-2 Patrick Kinigamazi for the WBFederation title and unbeaten Sam Bowen for the British title. Edwards vs. Gallardo Edwards breezes past crude Mexican Gallardo. Edwards was able to slot jabs through the Mexican’s poor defence and connect with counters as Gallardo piled forward head down. Gallardo was on the floor in the second but it looked as though he slipped after missing with a punch but it resulted in an eight count. Edwards was comfortable boxing either orthodox or southpaw. His jabs were too quick for Gallardo to block and his foot speed allowed Edwards to dart inside to score and then get out of range before Gallardo could counter. Gallardo kept lunging forward but he was too crude to pose any threat to Edwards, The downside is that Edwards never had Gallardo in any trouble and never looked close to stopping him. Scores three times 99-90 for Edwards. He is the younger brother of WBC champion Charlie and will be aiming to become the second world champion in the family but super fly is a very strong division. Gallardo is the WBC Youth silver champion but to put that in context his defence of that title in March was against a fighter who had never previously had a pro fight. Minneapolis, MN, USA: Welter: Jamal James (26-1) W PTS 10 Antonio De Marco (33-8-1). Heavy: Gerald Washington (20-3-1) W KO 8 Robert Helenius (28-3). Welter: Bryant Perrella (18-2) W TKO 3 Dominique Dolton (22-3-1). Heavy: Charles Martin (27-2-1) W TKO 4 Daniel Martz (18-7-1). Bantam: Gary Antonio Russell (14-0) W PTS 10 Francisco Pedroza (13-9-2). Light: Carlos Balderas (9-0) W TKO 7 Robert Frankel ( 37-22-1). Super Light: Gary Antuanne Russell (10-0) W KO 3 Larry Ventus (9-14-1). James vs. De Marco Fighting in his home city James outpoints De Marco over ten tough, entertaining rounds. James had height and reach on his side and De Marco had his experience and his southpaw stance going for him. James was the aggressor in the first pinning De Marco to the ropes early and firing a burst of punches. Late in the round with De Marco backed into a corner they both threw plenty of punches with James getting the better of the trading. De Marco changed tactics in the second coming forward and forcing James to the ropes and clobbering him with overhand rights. James fired back and for the rest of the round both fighters were letting their hands fly in an exciting melee. De Marco had taken that round but sanity returned in the third and fourth as James boxed on the outside with De Marco chasing. He had some success when he was able to get close but James was monopolising the scoring. The pace slowed in the fifth with James using his jab to keep De Marco out and landing hurtful rights to the head. James let himself be dragged back into a brawl in the sixth with De Marco connecting with some rib-bending right hooks. They went to war again in the seventh but this time it was James connecting with the better punches. A hard right drove De Marco back and at the end of the round De Marco had swellings under both eyes. It was brawl time again in the eighth and James was throwing more and landing more but with De Marco connecting with some corrosive hooks and uppercuts. James was on his bicycle in the ninth moving around the slower De Marco back peddling for much of the time but scoring with his jab and short bursts of punches. De Marco was so exhausted in the tenth that a left jab sent him reeling across the ring and down but the referee decided it was not a knockdown. They both fought fiercely to the last bell with James pounding on De Marco at the end. It had been tough, gruelling and exciting fight and it was great to see the two fighters showing so much respect for each other as they embraced at the end. Scores 98-92 for James on the three cards. The scores were correct but could not reflect the way that De Marco made James fight so hard for every point. The 32-year-old James is tall for a welter at 6’2” and has good hand and foot speed and some power. His only defeat is a points decision against Yordenis Ugas in 2016 and he has registered victories over Ionut Dan Ion, Diego Chaves, Mahonri Montes and now De Marco. He is handily placed at WBA 5/WBC 11/IBF 13 (12) but probably needs a win over a rated fighter to put himself in line for a title chance. Former WBC lightweight champion De Marco, 33, is slower and fleshier than at his peak and falls to 2-5 in his last 7 fights but all of the losses have been to world class opposition. Helenius vs. Washington Washington outlasts Helenius for an eighth round victory. Helenius controlled the early action with his longer reach .Washington was having trouble getting past the jab of Helenius and when he did get past it Helenius was countering him with sharp rights. The Finn hurt Washington with a couple of rights late in the third but Washington stepped up his pace in the fourth landing some good jabs and long rights. The pace of the fight was slow and the rounds were close. Helenius took the fifth and sixth with some strong jabs with Washington landing some quick punches inside early in the seventh as Helenius was looking exhausted. It was a tired man’s fight in the eighth until Washington connected with a right cross that shook Helenius, Washington then threw a bunch of hooks that sent Helenius staggering across the ring and down on his back with his head resting on the bottom rope. The referee started the count but with Helenius in some distress he waived the fight over. The 37-year-old Washington was level on two cards before being stopped by Deontay Wilder in a WBC title fight in 2017 but inside the distance defeats at the hands of Jarrell Miller and Adam Kownacki had banished him from the ratings and this fight was one he could not afford to lose. Swedish-born Helenius has lost only three fights but they have been critical to his career. He was knocked in six rounds by Johann Duhaupas and lost a decision to Dillian Whyte when winning either fight could have led to a world title shot but with this loss that dream has died. Perrella vs. Dolton Floridian Perrella continues along his switchback ways as he stops Dolton in what looked a very even match on paper. Both fighters were quick off the mark Dolton snapping out jabs and southpaw Perrella not as quick but more accurate and Perrella was the one connecting. Having been on the back foot in the first Perrella began taking the fight to Dolton in the second. He was using lots of right hooks and switching his attack to head and body. He connected with a powerful left hook which sent Dolton staggering to the ropes but the bell went before he could capitalise on that. Perrella jumped on Dolton at the start of the third pinning him against the ropes and firing hooks and uppercuts. Dolton tried to fight his way off the ropes but Perrella kept unloading until the referee steeped in a halted the contest. After winning his first fourteen fights Perrella then lost to Yordenis Ugas, beat Alex Martin then dropped a majority verdict against Luis Collazo but it was an upswing for him here his 14th win by KO/TKO. Dolton has lost swing fights against Justin DeLoach and Jamontay Clark but had won his last three fights by KO/TKO. Martin vs. Martz Martin a few classes above Martz and gets an inside the distance win. In the first southpaw Martin was much quicker than the lumbering Martz and was able to slot home right jabs to head and body and was on target with occasional lefts. Martin’s punches caused a big bruise to grow under the right eye of Martz in the second but Martz managed to land a couple of clubbing rights . Martin began to find the range in the third connecting with long lefts to the head of Martz. Just seconds into the fourth a left to the head from Martin had Martz backing up and then going down on one knee. Martz was up at nine but when he tried to take the fight to Martin he was caught with three head punches and then a left to the body and dropped to one knee again. He got up at eight but did not complain when the referee waived his arms to end the fight. The 33-year-old former IBF champion has a rebuilding job on his hands after losing a close decision to Adam Kownacki in September and this is another very small step on the road back. The 6’7 ½” Martz loses badly whenever he tries to step up. Russell vs. Pedroza Just a light workout for the talented Russell as he wins every round against young Mexican Pedroza. Scores 100-90 for Russell from the three judges. The 26-year-old is the middle brother of the three Gary Russells fighting pro and is the only one of the three not to go to the Olympics. He is being over-protected and is ready for better opposition. Pedroza, 25, is really just a prelim level fighter. Balderas vs. Frankel Former Olympian Balderas continues to knock the opposition over and moves to eight wins inside the distance with stoppage of seasoned pro Frankel. It is the first time the 23-year-old Californian has had to go past the fourth round for victory so some useful ring time against Frankel. Balderas gained entry to the 2016 Olympics through his record in the World Series of Boxing so did not have to go through the Trials but he lost in the quarter-finals in Rio to Cuban star Lazaro Alvarez. Frankel, 39; was a replacement and a much tougher opponent than the guy he replaced but now often finds himself in the role of a late notice fighter brought in to face a rising young prospect. Russell vs. Ventus It is now ten fights and ten wins by KO/TKO for Russell. He blasted out Detroit’s Ventus with three knockdowns before the fight was stopped late in the third round. The 23-year-old Maryland southpaw, the younger brother of both WBC feather champion Gary and Gary Antonio Russell. Gary Antuanne was National Golden Gloves champion and competed at the 2016 Olympics. His ten wins have taken him less than 19 rounds. Ventus drops to six defeats by KO/TKO. Newark, NJ, USA: Bantam: Joshua Greer (21-1-1) W PTS 12 Nikolai Potapov (20-2-1). Feather: Shakur Stevenson (12-0) W KO 3 Alberto Guevara (27-5). Super Middle: Vijender Singh (11-0) W TKO 4 Mike Snider (13-6-3,1ND). Light Joseph Adorno (13-0)W KO 2 Adriano Ramirez (10-4). Super Light: Julian Rodriguez (17-0) W KO 1 Hevinson Herrera (24-18-1). Greer vs. Potapov Greer gats majority decision over Potapov with more heat being generated by the decision than the actual fight. Potapov seemed to go in front over the opening three rounds but Greer clawed his way back into the fight forcing Potapov back with some strong jabs and straight rights. The six was close as first Potapov and then Greer had good spells but the crowd was getting restive over the low tempo of the fight. The seventh was also close but Potapov had done the better work. The crowd was booing again as neither fighter really seemed to be ready to take chances. The closer rounds had been going to Potapov but Greer came on strong over the closing rounds to make it tight but with most feeling Potapov had done enough to win. Scores 116-112 and 115-113 for Greer and 114-114. With the No 2 place in the IBF ratings vacant Greer No 4 qualified to fill that spot by beating Potapov who was rated No 11. With IBF champion Naoya Inoue engaged in the WBSS final and Filipino Michael Dasmarinas No 1 Greer will probably have to wait until 2020 to get his title shot. Brooklyn-based Russian Potapov lost to on a seventh round retirement against Omar Narvaez in October 2017 but somehow found his way into the IBF top 15 in September 2018 with his only fight after the loss to Narvaez being over a guy with an 11-45-3 record in a fight in which Potapov weighed 130 ¼ lbs! He was an even more surprising No 3 with the WBO so may drop down their list. Stevenson vs. Guevara Fighting in his home city Stevenson crushes a reluctant Guevara inside three rounds. Guevara had only one gear in the opener and it was reverse. Stevenson prowled after the experienced Mexican occasionally landing with long southpaw lefts but was unable to bring Guevara to trade punches. Guevara tried some lunging attacks in the second but Stevenson easily evaded them and then got throught with a couple of punches with Guevara briefly trapped on the ropes. Stevenson then stepped in and connected with a straight left to the body and a right to the side that had Guevara sliding gown to the canvas. He was up quickly but after the count a right from Stevenson put him down again. Guevara was up at eight and the round was over. Stevenson was doing some show-boating as he pursued Guevara in the third. Guevara was given some rest time after a left from Stevenson landed low but then Stevenson caught Guevara with three head punches that sent the Mexican tumbling to the floor. Guevara arose just as the referee counted ten and there was no real conviction in Guevara’s protest that he had beaten the count. The 22-year-old Olympic silver medallist retains the WBO NABO title with his seventh win by KO/TKO. He is No 1 with both the WBO and WBA so is the mandatory challenger for both Leo Santa Cruz and Oscar Valdez but probably needs another two or three fights before going against either champion. Guevara, 28, has had shots at both the IBF and WBC titles at bantam but was coming off a loss against Hugo Ruiz in January and was never in this fight and looked a beaten man from the first bell but then he came in as a substitute at eight days notice. Singh vs. Snider Indian Singh returns to the ring with a stoppage over Snider. After taking a round to dust off his skills Singh landed a right in the second which sent Snider into the ropes but Snider did not go down. Singh dominated the second and third and was beating on Snider in the fourth when the referee halted the fight. The 33-year-old Singh competed at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics winning a bronze medal in 2008. As an amateur he recorded wins over Badou Jack, Terrell Gausha and Ron Gavril. This is his first fight since December 2017 and he may struggle to make an impact now. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for 38-year-old Snider. Adorno vs. Ramirez Adorno bangs out Ramirez in two rounds. The New Jersey-born Adorno took the first with some quick accurate jabbing and then put Ramirez away in the second. A left hook floored Ramirez for the first knockdown and although he made it to his feet he was clobbered by stunning left hook and then a left-right combination that sent him down and the referee stopped the fight with bothering with a count. The 20-year-old prospect makes it eleven wins by KO/TKO. He turned pro at 17 and is an outstanding talent. Third loss in a row for Dominican Ramirez. Rodriguez vs. Herrera In his first fight for almost two years “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez finds his punch again as he blasts out seasoned pro Herrera. A right to the chin put the Colombian down and although he made it to one knee he was counted out at the one minute mark. The New Jersey hope, a former National Golden Gloves champion, put together a run of eight wins inside the distance but then had to go the distance for his next three victories. He was then out of action due to a shoulder injury. This is his seventh first round victory. Herrera falls to 2-6 in his last 8 bouts. Antibes, Francs: Heavy: Tony Yoka (6-0) W TKO 3 Alex Dimitrenko (41-6). Bantam: Elie Konki (7-0) W PTS 10 Sebastian Jacobs (4-2-1). Super Welter: Souleymane Cissokho (10-0) W KO 4 Jose Carlos Paz (23-10-1). Super Welter: Ahmed El Mousaoui (30-3-1) W PTS 8 Alex Sharonov (12-4-2). Yoka vs. Dimitrenko Yoka returns after a one year suspension for ducking the testers three times and stops Dimitrenko. A nothing first round saw both fighters just pushing out jabs with no power or conviction and usually coming up short and not throwing anything except jabs. Yoka showed more purpose in the second trying to come in behind his jab and punch to the body. He forced Dimitrenko back and connected with a couple of hooks and uppercuts. Dimitrenko was throwing very little and mainly just moving on the back foot to avoid Yoka’s punches. After a cautious start to the third Yoka stepped inside and landed a right cross and then used the same hand to connect with an uppercut with Dimitrenko dropping to his knees. Dimitrenko only just beat the count. When the action resumed Yoka landed three rights to the head with Dimitrenko spinning round and collapsing over the top rope and almost tipping out of the ring as the referee stopped the fight. Fifth win by KO/TKO for 6’7” Frenchman a gold medal winner in Rio who scored wins over unbeaten pros Joe Joyce, Fillip Hrgovic and Ivan Dychko when in the amateurs. Dimitrenko, 37, suffers his third inside the distance loss in a row and the punches that finished him here did not look that great. Officially he was under suspension until October from the California Commission on the basis of a possible fractured shoulder suffered when losing to Andy Ruiz in April. However the suspension was either until October or until, cleared by a physician so I would have thought by passing the doctor’s medical check for this fight he was effectively cleared by a physician. Konki vs. Iacobas “The Spider” Konki makes a successful second defence of the French title with unanimous decision over former undefeated champion Iacobas, The 27-year-old Konki, one the best French prospects in the lighter divisions, was a six-time national champion in the amateurs and competed at the 2016 Olympics. Iacobas won the French title in April last year but never defended it and this is his first fight since then. Cissokho vs. Paz Another outstanding display by Cissokho sees him crush Argentinian Paz in four rounds. A left and a right to the side of the head floored Paz in the first and he was never in the fight after that. Solid jabs kept Cissokho in control and Paz was just soaking up punishment. Cissokho was also connecting with wicked body punches which quickly drained away the Argentinian’s resolve. He was shaken by an uppercut in the third and almost cut in half by a body punch. In the fifth as Paz tried to fight his way off the ropes he was forced back and another body punch had Paz dropping to his knees in pain and he was counted out even the towel came flying in from Paz’s corner. The Senegalese-born Olympic bronze medallist registers his seventh win by KO/TKO and looks ready to start collecting some belts. Paz had scored wins over Omar Chavez and Jorge Paez Jr, was beaten by Jaime Munguia and Anthony Fowler but only lost on a split decision against Ramon Alvarez. El Mousaoui vs. Sharonov El Mousaoui comes in at short notice as a replacement for injured Cedric Vitu and outpoints the tough but limited Sharonov. El Mousaoui rocked the Russian a few times with right crosses and some searing uppercuts but could not find a punch to end things. Sharonov lost a point in the third for a low punch and battled hard but El Mousaoui was just too good for him. Scores 80-71 twice and 79-73. The 29-year-old former EU champion had been re-thinking his career after losses to Jeff Horn and Ceferino Rodriguez but after eleven months of contemplation and with a win under his belt will be aiming to get back in to contention for the EU or EBU titles. Ladispoli, Italy: Heavy: Luca D’Ortenzi (10-1) W TKO 8 Sergio Romano (10-13-3). Local boxer D’Ortenzi wins the vacant Italian title with stoppage of Romano. Over the first two rounds “Gentleman” D’Ortenzi found plenty of space and outboxed “Wild Boar” Romano. In the third Romano pressed harder and cut down D’Ortenzi’s space getting inside and working well. The fight was close over the fourth and fifth but in the sixth D’Ortenzi rocked Romano with punches and then had him in deep trouble with a left hook. Romano made it to the bell although taking more punishment and he fought his way through the seventh. D’Ortenzi wrote the final chapter in the eighth. A heavy right stunned Romano and although he stayed upright another booming punch had the referee stepping in to save Romano. D’Ortenzi, 21, lost a close verdict to Salvatore Erittu for the Italian cruiser title in July last year and at 6’1” and under 210lbs he is small by today’s heavyweight standards. Romano was having his second shot at this title having been beaten on points by Fabio Turchi also in July last year. Kingston, Jamaica: Heavy: Vladimir Tereshkin (21-0-1) W RTD 8 Williams Ocando (21-9). Light: Headley Scott (14-1) W PTS 8 Jesus Laguna (22-16-3). Tereshkin vs. Ocando Russian southpaw Tereshkin towered over cruiserweight Ocampo and had about 50lbs weight advantage. Tereshkin was able to use his height and longer reach to work Ocando over at distance. Ocando showed some good head movement as he duck around and under Tereshkin's jabs but he was too small to be really competitive. Tereshkin was able to force Ocando to the ropes and batter away to head and body. It was never anything but a lost cause for Ocando and he did not come out for the ninth round. The 6’6” Russian has won his last 13 fights by KO/TKO but no real tests in his list of victims. Venezuelan Ocando loses whenever he gets adventurous over his opposition and this is his eighth defeat by KO/TKO. Scott vs. Laguna Scott, born in New York but a Rastafarian of Jamaican decent, hustled, bustled and bullied Laguna all the way taking every round with the judges all scoring the fight 80-72 for Scott. His loss was a stoppage against unbeaten Giovanni Mioletti in November and this is his third win since then. Laguna drops to Rosarito, Mexico: Middle; Luis Ramon Campas (108-17-3) W RTD 5 Alexis Canett (12-3-2). Former IBF light middle champion “Yori Boy” Campas makes one of his rare appearances and grinds down inexperienced Canett. Campus just kept working the body of Canett. For a few rounds Canett was able to stand his ground and work inside with Campas but by the fifth he was exhausted and could hardly lift his arms and retired at the end of the round. Now 47 Campas has scored 82 wins by KO/TKO. It is now 32 years since he had his first pro fight. Canett just an inexperienced prelim level fighter. Tonala, Mexico: Super Light: Gabriel Valenzuela (18-2-1) W KO 4 Nery Saguilan (39-13-1). Valenzuela pushes a sliding Saguilan a bit further down the hill with a fourth round kayo. Valenzuela was on the attack from the start and scoring strongly to head and body. Saguilan tried to punch with him but was getting the worse of the exchanges. In the fourth a straight right crashed into the head of Saguilan and put him down and out. Valenzuela a 24-year-old from Guadalajara wins the vacant WBC Fecarbox title his first title as a pro. He extends his unbeaten run to 16 contests with his eleventh win by KO/TKO. The eccentric 31-year-old Saguilan was once flying high in the ranking but is now 2-8 in his last 10 fights. Managua, Nicaragua: Super Light: Francisco Fonseca (25-2-1) W TKO 7David Bency (14-11-1,1ND). Light: Freddy Fonseca (26-3-1) W Moises Olivas (14-13). Fonseca vs. Bency Fonseca wears down and halts Bency. For the first two rounds the bigger Bency managed to hold his own against the powerful body punches of Fonseca. That was as good as it was going to get for gutsy Bency and from the third Fonseca slowly cut him down piling on the punishment until Bency was struggling in the seventh and the referee stepped in over Bency’s protests. Fonseca went 19-0-1 in his first 20 fights until knocked out in eight rounds by Gervonta Davis in a fight for the vacant IBF super feather title in 217. Davis failed to make the weight which is why the fight was for the vacant title. Fonseca had a second shot at the IBF title in December last year but lost on points against Tevin farmer. He has scored three inside the distance wins this year. Bency, really a super-light, now has four losses by KO/TKO. Fonseca vs. Olivas Southpaw Freddy makes it a family double as he stops Olivas. Fonseca put Olivas down in the fourth and was punishing Olivas in the fifth when the fight was halted. In his last fight in May Fonseca was stopped in seven rounds by Joseph Diaz in a fight for the vacant WBA Gold title. Fonseca had kayoed Olivas in two rounds in May last year. Boquete, Panama: Feather: Bryan De Gracia (25-2-1) W RTD 1 Daniel Diaz (23-9-2).Super Fly: Luis Concepcion (38-8) W KO 4 Felix Moncada (9-11-1). De Gracia vs. Diaz Panamanian De Gracia brushes aside Nicaraguan Diaz with ease. The hard-punching De Gracia floored Diaz twice. He also opened a gash on the left side of the visitor’s cheek and Diaz retired before the start of the second round. The 25-year-old “The Rock” blew any chance of a title shot this year when he was stopped in nine rounds by 21-1-3 Eduardo Ramirez in March but at 25 the chance will come again. This is win No 21 by KO/TKO for him. Diaz, 35, has been thrown in over his head quite a few times and suffered losses in the USA, Mexico and the Philippines. Concepcion vs. Moncada Concepcion, a former holder of the secondary WBA fly and super fly titles, is given a gift in the shape of late substitute Moncada. After a slow start Concepcion punched too hard for the Nicaraguan. He got away with some questionable body punching before putting Moncada down in the fourth with a body punch-which Moncada complained was low-and that ended the fight. A necessary win for the 33-year-old Panamanian following consecutive losses to unbeaten fighters Andrew Moloney and Alex Marin. Sixth loss in a row for Moncada. Conroe, TX, USA: Light Heavy: Alfonso Lopez (31-3) W RTD 4 Alex Theran (21-4). Texan Lopez wins the vacant WBO NABO title with win over Colombian Theran. The 37-year-old Texan is in his twelfth year as a pro and with this title and nine wins in a row he may find himself in the WBO ratings. Once a star of the Colombian amateur scene Theran went 17-1 at the start of his time as a pro but inside the distance losses to Tureano Johnson and Radivoje Kalajdzic have blunted his ambitions. Ekaterinburg, Russia: Super Feather: Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (14- ) W KO 2 Jhon Gemino (20-12-1). Yaqubov crushes Filipino Gemino with a devastating body punch. Yaqubov pressed hard in the first but Gemino managed to avoid any real trouble. In the second Yaqubov landed two good southpaw lefts to the body and then drove home a third that sent Gemino to the floor in agony. He rolled around and then lay face down on the canvas and never looked likely to make it to his feet. Tajikistan southpaw Yaqubov, 24, is WBC International champion and rated No 13 by that body. This is his ninth win by KO/TKO and he looks very useful. Gemino had won his last three fights including a victory in Japan and a win over 22-1 Carlos Ornelas in Mexico so he looked capable of testing Yaqubov until that body punch landed. Cordoba, Argentina: Middle: Francisco Torres (13-3) W PTS 10 Jonathan Sanchez (15-4-1). Torres outpoints Sanchez to win the “Copa Carlos Monzon Super 8” tournament. This was an even fight over the first four rounds but then Torres took control and dominated the action. He outboxed Sanchez and stayed cool despite Sanchez’s using his elbows and employing his head as a third fist. The skill, movement and counter-punching of Torres hovered up the rounds and a frustrated Sanchez was lucky only to suffer one deduction for a butt in the sixth. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-92. Torres also wins the vacant Argentinian title. He was very much an outsider when this Tournament started but he beat two of the favourite’s Alan Castano and Gonzalo Coria on the way to the final so deserved to emerge the winner. Sanchez had won his last three fights. Toowoomba, Australia: Light: Gaige Ireland (7-3-2) W TKO 4 Brent Rice (8-2). Ireland regains the Australian lightweight title with stoppage win over Rice. The stoppage was due to a cut above the right eye of Rice. Ireland had lost the title to Jacob Ng in his first defence in December. Former Australian super feather champion Rice had dropped his national title in his second defence in November. Fight of the week (Significance): Tony Yoka’s stoppage of Alex Dimitrenko was a big result for French boxing and there are some good young fighters there who can fly on his coattails Fight of the week (Entertainment): Marcus Morrison vs. Emanuele Blandamura was action all the way with honourable mention to Jamal James vs. Antonio De Marco Fighter of the week: I go for Ronny Rios for his win over Diego De La Hoya with honourable mention to Daniel Dubois for his crushing victory over Nathan Gorman Punch of the week: Marcus Morrison’s right hook that put away Emanuele Blandamura was special and the body punch from Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov that finished Jhon Gemino was devastating Upset of the week: Joe Noynay beating highly touted Olympian Satoshi Shimizu was a big surprise as was Roger Gutierrez destroying 28-0 Eduardo Hernandez inside a round. Prospect watch: Featherweight Loreto Dlamini 13-1was a revelation in beating Dave Penalosa and Joseph Adorno 13-0 again showed his KO power and is a lightweight to watch. A few weeks ago we looked at a great fight featuring Venezuelan fighter Liborio Solis and Daiki Kameda. Today we return to the Closet Classic for a different Solis fight as he again fought in Japan and fought in an amazing bout, this time with the always fun to watch Kohei Kono. Entering the bout the two men were part of the political title mess the WBA had created with their "regular" and "interim" titles, but in the ring the two men gave us a show for the ages, and a totally enthralling must watch from back in 2013. The fight Kohei Kono (28-7, 11) Vs Liborio Solis (14-3-1, 7) The first it's self was a WBA "regular" and WBA "interim" Super Flyweight unification bout pitting 32 year old Japanese veteran Kohei Kono against unheralded Venezuelan Liborio Solis. Coming in Kono was the WBA world champion, having won the title 5 months earlier from Tepparith Kokietgym in a huge career best win for his and having come as the third win in a row. Solis on the other hand had entered the bout on the back of 5 wins, including victories over Rafael Concepcion and Jose Salgado, but was fighting in Asia for the first time. At the age of 32 Kono was a proven quantity of sorts by this point. Win or lose he'd always come to fight, he had proven his great chin, fantastic engine but also shown his limitations. He could be out boxed, out sped and out moved. In fact it wasn't much before this fight that he had been beaten by the then 2-0 Yohei Tobe, with that loss being a third straight defeat following set backs against Tomas Rojas and Yota Sato. Despite his losses he had always shown himself to be a warrior, someone who entered the ring looking for a proper war. Despite having less than half the fights that Kono had Solis was also no youngster, in fact he was 31 at the time and despite debuting way back in 2000, his career took a long of time to really get going, with more than 5 years away from the ring from 2002 to 2007. Coming in to this he was on a role, with his 2 best wins, a 5 fight winning run and he had picked up wins in Panama, Mexico and his native Venezuela. When the men got in the ring they both had a steel determination to shine and that showed from the opening round, with Kono trying to take the fight to Solis and Solis responding with clean shots on the advancing Kono. By round 2 the bombs were coming thick and fast and, with big right hands being thrown with bad intentions. A huge counter right from Kono would buckle Solis' knees, which was scored a knockdown, and from then on the touch paper was well and truly alight. Solis would get revenge a few rounds later, dropping the tough Kono with a left hand, and from then on the two men battled hard, each knowing there was little to separate them. This was, sadly, one of 2013's most over-looked wars, but we'd suggest you all take the opportunity to enjoy this amazing war now, a little over 6 years after Kono and Solis beat the snot out of each other. On July 19th we'll see unbeaten Japanese fighter Masayoshi Nakatani (18-0, 12) make his US debut, as he takes on the fast rising Teofimo Lopez (13-0, 11) in an IBF Lightweight world title eliminator. Since the bout was announced we've been asked a lot about Nakatani, making him an ideal candidate for a "Fighter Focus", and a chance for us to talk about Nakatani, and try to educate though who aren't as well versed on the unbeaten Osakan fight. As is our usual format for the "Fighter Focus" we'll give give some simple details and then work our way through Nakatani's career, experienced and successes in more detail trying to give as much information on him as possible. Though please note we will not talk about the upcoming bout in too much detail, as we'll be previewing the contest separately.
 Now lets dig deeper into the career of Masayoshi Nakatani, the Osakan Lightweight hopeful.
Nakatani was born in Osaka and whilst his amateur career isn't the most well reported he did run up an impressive looking 45-15 (30) amateur record whilst competing on both the domestic and international scene. He was boxing as an amateur out of the Apollo Gym, when he began boxing in primary school, and made a mark thanks to being part of 5 notable hopefuls from the Kiyokuni High School, along with Kazuto Ioka, Ryo Miyazaki Yuta Uetani and Ryo Okayama. Specific results have been hard to find, though we did find that he'd reached the last 8 of the Tammer Tournament in 2008, winning a preliminary bout before losing to the eventual runner up Georgian Popescu of Romania. It would be a few years after the Tammer Tournament that Nakatani would turn professional signing with the Ioka gym, which was run by Kazunori Ioka. The gym's focus at the time was Kazunori's son, Kazuto Ioka, who had claimed the WBC Minimumweight title at the start of 2011 and had been part of the Kyokuni High School 5 along with Nakatani. Nakatani's debut came on the under-card of Ryo Miyazaki's OPBF Light Flyweight title defense against Donny Mabao at the IMP Hall in Osaka in June 2011. At the time Miyazaki was the second most notable name at the Ioka gym, and this was a good opportunity for Nakatani. The debuting Nakatani would stop Katsuhisa Shiokawa in the 4th round, of a scheduled 4 rounder, and send Shiokawa into retirement. Nakatani would return to the IMP Hall for another Miyazaki under-card in November 2011, and go the 6 round distance to take a unanimous decision over the durable Tetsuto Sebiyo Tonomura. He would actually fight his third at the same venue, stopping his first international opponent, Filipino Roel Laguna, in the 5th round, in March 2012. It was the win over Laguna that first seemed to suggest that Nakatani had some spite on his punches, in March 2012. It was the win over Laguna that first seemed to suggest that Nakatani had some spite on his punches, and that was shown again 5 months later when he stopped Ronnel Esparas inside a round, at the Central Gym in Kobe, on a Shinsei promoted card. In April 2013 Nakatani took his third straight stoppage, taking out Thai foe Nampol Sor Chantasith in 2 rounds, whilst against fighting at the Central gym in Kobe. This served a bit of a stay busy fight for Nakatani before a major step up bout in July 2013, as he travelled to Tokyo to fight and the legendary Korakuen Hall. His Korakuen Hall debut saw him take on the hard hitting Shuhsei Tsuchiya, who had won the 2010 All Japan Rookie of the Year at Lightweight and boasted a record of 14-1 (12). Coming into this bout Nakatani was 5-0 (4) as a professional, and wasn't just the less experienced man but was also fighting in enemy territory, with Tsuchiya being based on Tokyo at the time. Despite stepping up Nakatani made this look easy, using his hight, reach and speed to neutralise Tsuchiya, who was surprisingly broken down by body shots from Nakatani. It was the body shots of Nakatani that left Tsuchiya in agony, and sent him to the canvas several times. Tsuchiya, a true warrior, tried to get to battle on but was counted out whilst rising to his feet, giving Nakatani a huge win. Nakatani would return to the Korakuen Hall for his seventh professional bout, and his next step up in class, taking on the JBC and OPBF unifed Lightweight champion Yoshitaka Kato. This was a massive step up, and was a huge risk, though Nakatani would do enough to take a decision win over the tough Kato, who tested Nakatani hard over 12 rounds. Despite Kato being a double champion Nakatani was only challenging for the OPBF title, claiming the belt with a majority decision over Kato. The win over Kato was a mixed bag. It showed how good Nakatani was, but also saw him getting rocked, and showed that whilst he had an excellent jab his defense was poor and he was easy to hit. Nakatani would build on his wins over Tsuchiya and Kato by defending the OPBF title against the very testing Filipino Ricky Simsundo. This was a great first defense and saw Nakatani out box, out speed and out jab the aggressive Sismundo to record a third solid win. Sadly though since then we've not seen Nakatani's team really risk him against top regional contenders. Instead of facing the best the region has Nakatani has defended the belt against the likes of Accel Sumiyoshi, a solid but unspectacular Japanese fighter, Tosho Makoto Aoki, a chinny but hard hitting local veteran, Allan Tanada, an under-sized Filipino, and Hurricane Futa, a tough but crude Japanese puncher. The one real test Nakatani has had since beating Sismundo was the then unbeaten Izuki Tomioka, who was similar in stature to Nakatani, but much quicker, and the speed of Tomioka gave Nakatani fits over 8 rounds, before the difference in experienced played a part. It was Tomioka's 7th bout and he was stopped in the 11th round, whilst running Nakatani incredibly close on the scorecards. This showed that Nakatani could be out jabbed, out moved, out sped, as well as hit clean and really was a worry, despite him pulling the win out of the bag late on. When we watch Nakatani we see a talented, tall, rangy fighter with a nice jab, surprisingly good body shots, a hurtful straight right hand over the top and solid hooks when he unloads. We also however see a defensively open fighter who can get over-excited when he has his man hurt. Given his jab is such a key weapon it's no surprise that he looks to create space to work from, often preferring to work from range, until he has his man hurt. His footwork to create space is decent, but not amazing and he can look negative at times when creating space, though he has been effective with it so far. What's pretty notable is the lack of TV footage of Nakatani, with many of his bouts only having fan cam footage. Whilst this is better than nothing we are disappointed by the lack of multiple-camera angles and we do wonder whether he has intentionally been kept away from TV to minimise the flaws opponents can pick out, other than the fact he is very open when he goes for a finish. (Image courtesy of boxmob.jp) By Eric Armit
Highlights: -Nourdine Oubaali beats Arthur Villanueva on a sixth round retirement in WBC bantam title defence -Kanat Islam returns to action with a 14 second blow out of Dominican Julio De Jesus -Sebastian Formella wins the IBO welterweight title with decision over champion Thulani Mbenge and on the same show Igor Mikhaylenko wins the vacant IBO interim light heavy title with unanimous decision over Timur Nikarkhoev -Nick Hannig keeps hold of the WBC International title with draw against Ryno Liebenberg -Tommy Frank retains the Commonwealth super flyweight title with stoppage of John Chuwa WORLD TITLE SHOWS July 6 Astana, Kazakhstan: Bantam: Nordine Oubaali (16-0) W RTD 6 Arthur Villanueva (32-4-1). Welter: Zhankosh Turarov (24-0) W TKO 3 Mauro Godoy (31-5-1). Feather: David Oliver Joyce (11-0) W PTS 10 Breilor Teran (27-18-1). Light: Viktor Kotochigov (11-0) W PTS 10 Jairo Lopez (24-12,1ND).Light: Sultan Zaurbek (8-0) W TKO 7 Giorgio Gachechiladze (11-34-1).Cruiser: Ali Baloyev (9-0) W PTS 8 Hamilton Ventura (15-7-1). Super Welter: Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyev (6-0) W PTS 8 Elvin Akhundzada (4-2). Oubaali vs. Villanueva Oubaali retains the WBC title with classy and powerful performance against Filipino challenger Villanueva who retires after six rounds. Round 1 Oubaali quickly put Villanueva on the back foot. The Filipino tried some right leads but Oubaali picked them off and connected with lefts. Score: 10-9 Oubaali Round 2 The second was a bit closer. Villanueva managed to get on the front foot and connected with some rights. Oubaali had the quicker hands and when he cornered Villanueva he scored with right hooks and a straight left. Oubaali was the one landing at the bell. Score: 10-9 Oubaali Oubaali 20-18 Round 3 Oubaali upped the pace in this one. He was marching in firing clusters of hooks and uppercuts. Villanueva fired back but was taking a lot more than he was giving and was again being caught with quick combinations at the bell. Score: 10-9 Oubaali Oubaali 30-27 Round 4 The pace dropped a little with Oubaali throwing less but still with speed and accuracy. Villanueva continued to try to get close to nullify Oubaali’s speed but the champion was landing rapid right jabs and straight lefts. Score: 10-9 Oubaali Oubaali 40-36 Round 5 Oubaali move up a gear in this round. He was forcing Villanueva back with jabs and then connecting with lefts to the head. Anytime Villanueva threw a punch and missed he was made to pay by a range of counters and although he fought back hard at the end of the round he was taking plenty of punishment. Score: 10-9 Oubaali Oubaali 50-45 Round 6 Oubaali was boxing smoothly in the sixth and finding gaps in the Filipino’s guard. As Villanueva took a step forward Oubaali countered him with a left and a right to the temple and Villanueva dropped to one knee. He was up quickly and ready to resume after the count. Oubaali stormed after Villanueva connecting with hooks and uppercuts. Villanueva fired back enough to be able to stay on his feet but was rocked with hooks just before the bell. Score 10-8 Oubaali Oubaali 60-53 Villanueva retired in the corner. Impressive display by 32-year-old Frenchman Oubaali in his first defence of the WBC title which he won with a points decision over Rau’shee Warren in January. He showed quick skills and strong, accurate punching. There are tougher tests out there in the shape of WBC No 1 Luis Nery, No 2 Carlos Cuadras and No 3 Jason Moloney but on this form he is a match for them. In 2017 Villanueva, 30, lost on points to Zolani Tete for the interim WBO bantam title and was also stopped by Luis Nery. He had a win and a draw in two low level fights in 2018 so his credentials as a challenger were questionable. Turarov vs. Godoy Local fighter Turarov crushes Godoy in third round. Turarov was hunting down a retreating Godoy in the first and connected with some rights to the body. Godoy caught Turarov with a sneaky right counter but Turarov landed a hard combination before Godoy launched a series of punches just before the bell with a couple landing but lacking snap. Turarov had looked dangerous with rights in the opener and he was throwing more of those in the second but Godoy was moving and jabbing and Turarov just could not nail the Argentinian. Turarov continued to prowl after the back-peddling Godoy in the third with a quick left hook right cross combination signalling danger. Turarov forced Godoy to the ropes and an overhand right to the temple saw Godoy start to drop and a last left hook caught Godoy as he fell to his knees and was counted out. The 28-year-old Florida-based Kazak wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title which should get him a rating. He had dropped out of the rankings after almost two years of inactivity which he ended with a victory over Ghanaian Richmond Djarbeng last month. He has 17 wins by KO/TKO. “King” Godoy fails to last the distance for only the second time in his 37 fights. Joyce vs. Teran Joyce outpoints Venezuelan Teran. No problems for the former star of Irish boxing as he took the decision on scores of 100-86, 100-87 and 100-89. Teran was dangerous at times with counters but Joyce was always in command. As Teran tired over the second half of the fight he was deducted a point for holding in the seventh and the rounds were one-sided enough for a couple of the judges to score those 10-8 without a knockdown. The 32-year-old Irishman won a gold medal three times at the European Union Championships competed at the 2016 Olympics and scored wins over Luke Campbell and Carl Frampton in the amateurs. In both this and a fight in April he was still officially under suspension from the New York Commission. The 34-year-old Teran has mixed in high quality company but has always come up short. Kotochigov vs. Lopez Important win for Kotochigov as he takes unanimous decision over tough Mexican Lopez to win the vacant WBC International title. Kotochigov took the decision on scores of 99-91, 99-93 and 98-93. Already a world traveller Kazak Kotochigov, 26, has fought as a pro in Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Germany, Abkhazia, Poland, United Kingdom and Kazakhstan. Lopez has been in with tough competition including Luke Campbell, Jose Felix and Tomas Rojas. Zaurbek vs. Gachechiladze Zaurbek halts Georgian Gachechiladze for his sixth win by KO/TKO. It almost ended early as Zaurbek floored the little Georgian in the first round but Gachechiladze survive before being beaten in submission in the seventh. The 23-year-old UK-based Zaurbek was a silver medallist at the World Youth Championships. The 5’3” Gachechiladze broke a 15 bout losing streak with a win in Spain in last month. Baloyev vs. Ventura Kyrgyzstan born Kazak Baloyev is taken the distance for only the second time as he outpoints Brazilian Ventura. The decision was unanimous for the Las Vegas-based 26-year-old Baloyev. Ventura, 36, has lost four in a row all against unbeaten fighters. Shegaliyev vs. Akhundzada Shegaliyev had won his last four fights each inside the first round and he came close to doing the same here as he put Azeri Akhundzada down twice in the opening round. Akhundzada made it out of the round but was on the floor again in the second. Having survived those three knockdowns he went on to take Shegaliyev the distance although losing a very wide unanimous decision. The 24-year-old Uzbekistan-born Shegaliyev effectively doubled his number of pro rounds in this fight so some useful ring time. Second loss in a row for Akhundzada. July 5 Almatay, Kazakhstan: Super Welter: Kanat Islam (26-0) W KO 1 Julio De Jesus (27-2). Islam crushes De Jesus in just 14 seconds. The first punch Islam landed was a crushing overhand right that sent De Jesus reeling into a corner. Two more chopping rights sent De Jesus face down on the canvas and the referee immediately waived the fight over. Islam, 34, Chinese-born of Kazak ancestry, wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title with victory No 21 by KO/TKO. As Hanati Silamu he won bronze medals for China at the 2008 Olympics and the 2007 World Championships. This is his first fight since September 2017 so he has dropped out of the ratings but is a real danger man. Dominican De Jesus, 37, has impressive looking statistics but had never met any fighter of note and was unrated. Madrid, Spain: Super Bantam: Alvaro Rodriguez (10-3-1,1ND) W PTS 10 David Sanchez (14-9). 5 Rodriguez retains the Spanish title with win over former victim Sanchez. Over the first two rounds the fight saw plenty of action with Rodriguez working well at distance and Sanchez having success inside with hooks. In the third a left hook from Rodriguez put Sanchez over. Sanchez beat the count but in trying to get back into the fight was caught with hard counters. After four rounds Rodriguez was up 39-36 on two cards and 38-37 on the third. Sanchez tried to take the fight to Rodriguez but the champion was stronger and Sanchez was under constant pressure spending too much time against the ropes. At the end of seven rounds Rodriguez had increased his lead being in front 69-62, 69-63 and 68-63 and he continued to outscore Sanchez in the eighth and ninth then just concentrated on avoiding Sanchez in the last. Scores 98-91, 97-91 and 95-93. The 33-year-old “Ardi” is 4-0-1,1ND in six title fights including a points win over Sanchez in 2017. Sanchez 35 was having his first fight since November 2017. Sheffield, England: Super Fly: Tommy Frank (11) W TKO 7 John Chuwa (17-4). Feather: Josh Wale (28-11-2) W KO 1 Ekow Wilson (18-4). Frank vs. Chuwa Frank breaks down and halts Chuwa in seven rounds to retain the Commonwealth title. Frank was marching forward in the opening round with Chuwa showing plenty of defensive movement and throwing jabs but lacking any power. Frank continued to hunt Chuwa in the second but he was being frustrated by Chuwa’s clever upper body movement and wide hooks. In the third Chuwa was ducking under Frank’s punches and ended up ducking so low he was sitting on the bottom ropes so was given a count. Frank was starting to find the target with stiff jabs and left hooks Frank kept up the pressure and Chuwa began to tire in the fourth and all of his earlier movement was gone. Frank began to score with jabs, hooks and uppercuts on an arm-weary Chuwa in the fifth and sixth. Frank finished it in the seventh. He walked forward landing strong left hooks to the body and clubbing rights to the head. He walked Chuwa into a corner connecting with rights and as an exhausted Chuwa dropped to a knee the referee stopped the fight. Frank, 25, fighting in his home city, was making the first defence of the title he won with a victory over Luke Wilton in March. Chuwa, 21 suffers his first inside the distance loss and his third defeat in his last four fights. Wale vs. Wilson Wale beats Ghanaian Wilson inside a round. Both fighters stood and traded some hard punches with left hooks to the body from Frank catching the eye. Eventually those hooks and some head punches forced Wilson across the ring and into a corner. Wale kept him trapped there switching punches to head and body. Just as Wilson seemed to have escaped from the corner a left hook to the ribs saw him turn away and collapse to his knees. The referee started the count but it was obvious Wilson was in too much pain to get up and the referee waived the fight over. The 31-year-old Wale gets win No 14 by KO/TKO. This was a Commonwealth title eliminator so Wale, a former British champion, will get a third shot at winning the title that has eluded him so far. Wilson loses when he tries to step up but he had gone into the tenth round before being stopped by former world champion Joseph Agbeko in September. Santiago, Chile: Super Bantam: Jose Velasquez (26-6-2) W TKO 7 Ramon Averanga (9-1). Velasquez extends his winning streak to 18 with seventh round stoppage of Bolivian Averanga. The little Chilean as usually gave away lots of height and reach and Averanga proved a tough opponent over the first three rounds. From the fourth Velasquez’s greater strength and fitness told and Averanga began to fade. Velasquez was walking through Averanga’s punches in the seventh and bludgeoned the Bolivian to the canvas. Averanga was up at eight. The referee stepped back and signalled Averanga to walk towards him. Instead Averanga started walking away but the referee caught him and turned him to face him and then signalled for the fight to continue. Velasquez continued to drive Averanga along the ropes until the Bolivian dropped to one knee and the towel came in from his corner. The 5’ 2 ½” Velasquez wins the WBO Latino belt and has 18 wins by KO/TKO. Although No 15 with the WBO his opposition has not been strong and his defence is leaky. Averanga is now 3-1 in fights in Chile. Aviles vs. Godoy Grugliasco, Italy: Feather: Francesco Grandelli (12-1-1) W PTS 10 Nicola Cipolletta (14-8-2). Grandelli wins the vacant Italian title with victory over Cipolletta. Grandelli made the better start and floored Cipolletta in the third to move into a commanding lead. He had Cipolletta in trouble later in the fight and Cipolletta was deducted a point after losing his mouthguard four times. Cipolletta fought hard trying to get back into the fight but the heavier punching from Grandelli gave him an edge and he emerged a clear winner. Scores 97-92 twice and 98-91for Grandelli/ The 24-year old from Naples was inactive for a year before returning with a win in April. Former national featherweight champion Cipolletta falls to 1-4 in his last 5 fights June 6 Weisbaden, Germany: Light Heavy: Nick Hannig (7-0-1) DREW 12 Ryno Liebenberg (19-6-1).Light: Howik Bebraham (15-1) W KO 1 David Berna (17-9). Welter: Roman Belaev (19-3) W PTS 8 Betuel Ushona (36-9-1). Hannig vs. Liebenberg Hannig retains the WBC International title with a majority draw against South African Liebenberg. The Berliner took position in the centre of the ring and edged the first round with some crisp hooks. Liebenberg put on plenty of pressure in the second and third but Hannig was working well inside. Liebenberg landed some of his best punches so far in the fourth but was behind on two cards 40-36 and 39-37 with the third cards seeing them tied at 38-38. Liebenberg looked to have clawed back the points with a strong attack in the fifth and sixth but Hannig found his rhythm again in the seventh and eighth which were close. After the eighth Hannig had held on to his lead at 78-74 and 77-75 with once again the third official having them level at 76-76. The fight swung one way and then the other in the closing rounds with Hannig landing well with body shots but Liebenberg doing most of the scoring finding gaps for some hard rights and doing enough to come from behind to get a well deserved draw. Scores 114-114 twice and 115113 for Hannig. Hannig was making the first defence of the title he won with a close decision over Canadian Ryan Ford in February. Hannig has only just scraped through in winning that fight and at 32 may find it difficult to climb any higher. The 35-year-old Liebenberg has had no luck in Germany. He lost a split decision to Enrico Koelling and was stopped on a cut against Vincent Feigenbutz when he looked to be taking control of the fight. He is the ABU champion having won that with a stoppage of Alfonso Tissen in September. Bebraham vs. Berna In a horrible mismatch Bebraham stops the china-chinned Berna. Bebraham was on target quickly with left jabs and left hooks. Berna tried some jabs but every time Bebraham threw a punch Berna seemed to get his feet tangled and staggered. After some more sparring Bebraham threw a right cross that looked to just brush past Berna’s chin but he fell face down on the floor. He was up at eight but when the referee asked him to step forward he was unsteady and the referee stopped the fight after 111 seconds. Fourth inside the distance win for Bebraham but no real surprise as Hungarian Berna has lost his last four fights inside the first round. He needs someone to save him from himself. Belaev vs. Ushona Belaev gets a revenge win over Ushona. It was pressure, pressure and more pressure from Belaev. Ushona was reluctant to back up so there were plenty of meaty exchanges. Although spending much of the fight pinned to the ropes Ushona used his experience to stay in the fight and was always dangerous with counters but was outlanded by the aggressive Belaev who took the unanimous decision. Germany-based Russian Belaev won his first 14 fights but he then found Africa rings a inhospitable place as he lost to Ali Funeka and Paul Kamanga in South Africa and to Ushona in Namibia for the WBFederation title. He was having his first fight for 17 months here but intends to be more active. Now 37 Ushona has found German rings inhospitable as this is his third loss in a row in Germany Hamburg, Germany: Welter: Sebastian Formella (21-0) W PTS 12 Thulani Mbenge (15-1). Light Heavy: Igor Mikhalkin (23-2) W PTS 12 Timur Nikarkhoev (21-3).Cruiser: Nikola Milacic (20-1) W KO 1 Kai Kurzawa (38-8). Heavy: Erik Pfeifer (6-0) W TKO 3 Epifiano Mendoza (43-29-1). Formella vs. Mbenge Formella wins the IBO title with unanimous decision over champion Mbenge. Formella boxed cleverly early showing good movement and quick hands. Mbenge started to roll from the third connecting with hard rights. Over the middle rounds Mbenge began to build a lead with a focused body attack. Unfortunately Formella constantly claimed that many of the legal blows were landing low which both led to Mbenge being cautious about going to the body too often and more importantly led to the referee deducting a point from Mbenge in the ninth. Formella staged a strong finish as Mbenge seemed to lose some impetus and that just gave the Germany the edge in the scoring. The judges saw it 116-112, 115-112 and 114-113 for Formella. The 32-year-old German gets his biggest win to date. Mbenge was making the second defence of his title. He has inside the distance wins over Diego Chaves and Miguel Vazquez. The contract included a return clause and Mbenge’s team say they will enforce that. Mikhalkin vs. Nikarkhoev IBO have followed the course of the other sanctioning fee seekers by introducing interim titles and Russian Mikhalkin picked up their interim title here with a win over Belgian-based Nikarkhoev. Mikhalkin was just too accomplished for Nikarkhoev to really threaten Mikhalkin’s dominance. The Russian out boxed Nikarkhoev behind a stiff, accurate right jab and potent left hooks. He had Nikarkhoev rocking in the sixth but apart from that he never really looked likely to halt Nikarkhoev and had to settle for a points victory. Scores 120-108 twice and 119-109 tell the story. The 34-year-old Mikhalkin served a one year ban after testing positive for a banned substance in a European title defence against Patrick Bois in 2016. He scored good wins over Thomas Oosthuizen and Doudou Ngumbu before losing on a seventh round stoppage when challenging Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title in March last year. Nikarkhoev had won his last seven fights but this was too big a step up for him. Milacic vs. Kurzawa Milacic gets speedy win as he puts veteran Kurzawa down and out in 40 seconds. Kurzawa was coming forward when Milacic exploded a right to his chin and Kurzawa went down and was counted out. The 6’5” German has provided early endings in nine of his last ten fights but needs stiffer tests. Kurzawa, 42, has been stopped early in four of his last five contests. Pfeifer vs. Mendoza Pfeifer gets his fourth inside the distance win over a fat and old Mendoza. After a couple of one-sided rounds Mendoza’s corner pulled their man out of the fight in the third. The 32-year-old 6’3” Russian-born German competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and twice won a bronze medal at the World Championships. Mendoza, 43, weighed down at 150lbs when he turned pro but is now up around 250lbs. This is seventh loss in his last eight fights. Barranquilla, Colombia: Fly: Rober Barrera (23-2) W PTS 10 Josber Perez (16-2). Super Welter: Gabriel Maestre (1-0) W TKO 2Jeovanis Barraza (20-1). Super Feather: Angel Rodriguez (18-1) W TKO 5 Julian Aristule (34-11,1ND). Bantam: Yoel Finol (1-0) W KO 4 Jeyson Cervantes (8-18-1). Barrera vs. Perez Barrera was the only Colombian to win one of the major fights on the night. The local fighter was give a torrid night by Venezuelan Perez. There was never much between these two but the body punching from Barrera proved decisive. A left hook to the body put Perez on the floor in the fifth and although he beat the count it was enough to give Barrera the impetus to push on to a narrow victory. Scores 97-92 , 96-93 and 95-94 for Barrera. The 26-year-old Colombian has won 11 of his last 12 fights with the loss being a ninth round stoppage against Ryoichi Taguchi for the WBA light Fly title in 2017. Perez had won his last 13 fights but against moderate level foes. Maestre vs. Barraza When you see a fighter having his first pro fight being matched with a guy with a 20-0 record you know there is more to it than meets the eye. This marked the first pro fight for one of Venezuela’s most successful amateurs. Maestre got this one over quickly but with a bit of controversy. Maestre shook Barraza with a right to the head in the first then had him hurt again in the second as he connected with shots switching from body to head. A body punch put Barraza down with the Colombian protesting the punch was low. He beat the count but was put down again. He made it to his feet but Maestre was punishing him heavily and the referee stopped the fight. Maestre wins the vacant WBA Fedebol title. Maestre was a quarter-finalist at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. He also won gold medals at the Pan American Games and the South American Games and a bronze at the World Championships. All good stuff but at 32 he has left it too late to turn pro. Colombian welter champion Barraza had not met anyone nearly as high quality as Maestre. Rodriguez v. Aristule Mexican-based Venezuelan Rodriguez halted Argentinian southpaw Aristule in five rounds. Rodriguez came out fired-up but Aristule initially held his own as they went toe-to-toe. Gradually the harder punching of Rodriguez put him in charge and as he focused on body punching Aristule wilted and he was under heavy pressure in the fifth when the referee stopped the fight. Ninth win by KO/TKO for Rodriguez, a former Pan American Games bronze medallist He registers his tenth win on the bounce. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for former Argentinian super bantam champion Aristule Finol vs. Cervantes Finol makes it a double for debuting former members of the Venezuelan amateur elite ranks. Finol hurt Cervantes with body punches in each of the first two rounds and put him down with a left hook in the third. Cervantes managed to get to his feet and survived to the bell. In the fourth another body shot floored Cervantes and this time he stayed down for the full ten. The 22-year-old Venezuelan won bronze medals at the World Championships, the Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympics. Seventh loss in his last eight bouts for Colombian Cervantes. Both Maestre and Finol have both said they expect to fight at the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo, Japan: Super Feather: Kenichi Ogawa (24-1,1ND) W RTD 4 Glenn Medura (10-6-1). Super Feather: Shuya Masaki (13-1) W PTS 10 Al Toyogon (10-4-1). Ogawa vs. Medura Ogawa was to have faced South African Azinga Fuzile in an IBF title eliminator but Fuzile was unable to get his visa in time so Filipino Medura stepped in at short notice. Ogawa landed some right hooks in the first and then sent Medura down with a couple of body punches in the second. Ogawa had Medura trapped against the ropes for periods in the third and Medura took another count. Ogawa continued to paste Medura with punches in the fourth and the Filipino retired before the start of the fifth. The 31year-old Ogawa scored a unanimous points win over Tevin Farmer for the vacant IBF super feather title in December 2017 but the verdict was changed to No Decision as Ogawa tested positive for a banned substance. Ogawa was then inactive until returning with a win in February. It remains to be seen whether the Fuzile fight will be rescheduled. Medura, who came in as a late substitute, falls to 2-5 in his last 7 fights with all 5 losses coming by way of KO/TKO. Masaki vs. Toyogon Masaki moves up to ten rounds and gets wide decision over young Filipino Toyogon. Masaki had edges in height and reach and was much more mobile than Toyogon. He worked well to the body and connected with plenty of hard combinations but Toyogon took the lumps and lasted the distance. Scores 100-90 for Masaki on the three cards. The 25-year-old from Osaka was 54-8 as an amateur and is No 3 in the Japanese ratings. At 5’4” the 21-year-old Toyogon is small for a super feather but was a decent 5-1 in his last 6. Rzeszow, Poland: Heavy: Lukasz Rozanski (11-0) W KO 4 Izuagbe Ugonoh (18-2). Light Heavy: Marek Matyja (16-1-2) DREW 10 Pawel Stepien (12-0-1). Middle: Fedir Cherkashyn (13-0) W PTS 10 Wes Capper (20-3-1). Middle: Kamil Szeremeta (20-0) W PTS 8 Edwin Palacios (12-10-1). Rozanski vs. Ugonoh Rozanski steam rollers Ugonoh to defeat in four rounds. Rozanski was marching forward taking the fight to Ugonoh in the first and dominated the round with Ugonoh not throwing much and seemingly waiting for an opening that did not come. Rozanski continued to plough into Ugonoh in the second and although Ugonoh did land some rights they did not stop Rozanski and he put Ugonoh down in the third. In the fourth Rozanski drove Ugonoh to the ropes and kept punching until Ugonoh collapse to the canvas and was counted out. Rozanski, 33, gets his ninth win in a row by KO/TKO. Ugonoh, a Pole of Nigerian descent, won 17 consecutive victories before being knocked out in five rounds by Dominic Breazeale in February 2017. He had one fight in May 2016 and this was his first fight since then. Matyja vs. Stepien This one ended all even with a controversial drawn verdict. Stepien boxed well on the outside to take the first before Matyja found a way into the fight by moving inside late in the second. Stepien scored well with his jab and long rights to edge the third and the fifth with Matyja connecting with hooks to even things up taking the fourth and sixth. Over the last four rounds Stepien chose to box and counter and his good defensive work offered few chances to Matyja and he looked to have done enough to take the decision. The judges scored it 96-94 for Stepien, 97-93 for Matyja which looked way out, and 95-95 so the Polish title remains vacant. Matyja is no stranger to split verdicts as his loss and his other draw have both been splits. Stepien had won his last seven by KO/TKO and already holds the Polish International title. Cherkashyn vs. Capper Cherkashyn takes every round in contest against former undefeated Australian champion Capper. The unconventional style of Cherkashyn made it difficult for Capper to settle into the fight. The young Ukrainian was landing with strong left hooks to the body and straight rights in every round. His hands down style features lots of ducking and dodging and changing of angles. Capper had trouble finding the target but he stuck to his task pressing hard and scoring well in the fourth and sixth but that was not quite enough to win him even those rounds as Cherkashyn outlanded him. Capper seemed to fade over the closing rounds as Cherkashyn cruised to victory, Scores 100-90 from all three judges. First ten round fight for twenty-three-year-old Cherkashyn who had stopped oldie Kassim Ouma, a former IBF super welter champion, in March. Capper, 30, was 9-0-1 going into this one with a draw against Sam Soliman in March last year. Szeremeta vs. Palacios European champion Szeremeta gets in some paid sparring as he waits for a big fight to emerge. He really never really shifted out of low gear in this bout easily outboxing Nicaraguan Palacios. The visitor managed to land a few punches in the fourth and from the sixth Szeremeta shifted from first to second gear rocking Palacios with hooks and the Nicaraguan went deep into his shell to survive to the last. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Szeremeta. The 29-year-old Pole is ranked WBC 3/IBF 4(3)/WBA 5 but would probably have to go to America and beat a name fighter to raise his profile. Six losses in a row for Palacios. Doncaster, England: Light: Maxi Hughes (19-4-2) W TKO 4 Kieran McLaren (12-1-1). Local southpaw boxer Hughes makes an impressive return to action as he floors and halts unbeaten McLaren in the fourth round. Hughes was sharp from the start. He boxed with speed and accuracy over the first two rounds and began breaking McLaren down in the third. He was opening up McLaren’s guard and landing with hooks and lefts to the head. A series of punches put McLaren down early in the fourth. McLaren beat the count but was dropped again by a shot to the body and the referee stopped the fight. Hughes has lost in two challenges for the British super feather title and is now aiming for a chance at the lightweight belt. McLaren was coming off a creditable draw with Lee Appleyard but Hughes was just too good for him on the night. Fight of the week (Significance): Nordine Oubaali’s successful defence of his WBC title wins this award and it will hopefully lead to stiffer tests or a unification fight. Fight of the week (Entertainment) Roman Belaev vs. Betuel Ushona was an entertaining eight rounder Fighter of the week: Nordine Oubaali with honourable mention to Kanat Islam who sent out danger signals to other super welters Punch of the week: The devastating overhand right from Islam that led to his 14 second win over Julio de Jesus Upset of the week: None Prospect watch: Although only 1-0 as a pro Venezuelan Yoel Finol is worth watching. There are few fighters as revered with Japanese fight fans as the legendary Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. In the 1990's he was as close to a boxing mega star that Japan had, and in many ways his charisma and style was something totally different. He was able to draw audiences that other Japanese fighters could only dream of, and even in defeat he remained hugely popular. In 1997 he took part in one of his most iconic bouts, and one of the most exciting bouts to ever be staged in a Japanese ring. Not only that but he ripped up the form books and put in one of the best performances of his career, despite being seen as being a man on the slide. The fight Sirimongkol Singwancha (16-0, 6) Vs Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (14-4-1, 11) Thailand's unbeaten Sirimongkol Singwancha had won the WBC "interim" Bantamweight title in 1996 but was upgraded swiftly and defended the full version of the title just 6 months later, defeating Jesus Sarabia. In his third defense he would go on to defeat Victor Rabanales before heading on to Japan to take on Tatsuyoshi. He was beginning to get a reputation as a very talented fighter, and although he lacked fire power hee was highly skilled and strong at Bantamweight, and like many Thai's seemed to be able to drain himself down much lower than a typical fighter would. Tatsuyoshi on the other hand was a former champion, who had beaten Greg Richardson in 1991 for the WBC Bantamweight title, but had lost it in his first defense to the aforementioned Rabanales. He would go on to claim the interim title but lose in a unification bout to Yasuei Yakushiji and his career then meandered with 2 losses to Daniel Zaragoza, in 1996 and 1997. It seemed like his career was fading. He had had eye injuries, defeats and a very hard career, not helped by his aggressive style and poor defense. The bout started somewhat slowly, though not with a typical feeling out round, with the youth and energy of Sirimongkol looking like it was a little bit too much for a weary Tatsuyoshi. The Japanese fighter certainly didn't look terrible, but the crisp connects were most from the Thai who lacked the issues coming in that "Joe of Naniwa" had. From the bout got progressively more exciting and through rounds 4 and 5 the touch paper really got lit as Tatsuyoshi began to force his fight on the action. From there on the fight was just something special, with Sirimongkol slowing down and being forced to fight the wrong fight. With the fight being fought at close range we had none stop excitement as the two men went on to deliver one of the greatest back and forth wars of 1996. Amazingly after the bout both had significant success, with Sigimongkol later going on to win a world title at Super Featherweight and, in 2018, fighting as a Light Heavyweight, whilst Tatsuyoshi had an Indian summer in his career.  By - George Delis (@Delisketo) Heavyweight: -Evgeny Romanov (13-0): WBO #10 Romanov defended his WBO Global title against Ariel Esteban Bracamonte (9-3) on June 16. -Sergey Kuzmin (14-0): WBA #6 / IBF 10 The WBA Intercontinental champion marked his second defense, on March 9, against Joey Dawejko (19-7). -Alexander Povetkin (34-2): WBC #7 / WBA #10 The former Olympic & World champion has started training for his next match. (Opponent TBA) Cruiserweight: -Yury Kashinsky (18-0): IBF #3 / WBA #3 / WBO #4 / WBC #8 Kashinsky won the vacant IBF Intercontinental title, on June 16. -Ruslan Fayfer (24-1): IBF #6 / WBC #13 Ruslan defeated Serhiy Radchenko (7-4) on May 19. -Dmitry Kudryashov (23-3): WBC #5 Kudryashov went to war with Ilunga Makabu (25-2) in Russia but came up short. Light Heavyweight: -Maxim Vlasov (43-3): WBO #7 / IBF #14 The former WBC Silver & WBA International Cruiserweight champion will make his Light Heavyweight return on July 20 as he takes on 2 time world title challenger Isaac Chilemba (25-6). -Umar Salamov (24-1): WBO #4 / WBA #6 Salamov successfully defended the WBO International title against Norbert Dabrowski (22-8) this past April. -Igor Mikhalkin (22-2): WBC #3 Mikhalkin returns to the ring after almost an entire year of absence and faces Timur Nikarkhoev (21-2) for the interim IBO title, on July 6. Super Middleweight: -Fedor Chudinov (20-2): WBA #3 / IBF #6 / WBC #6 The former WBA World champion has already fought twice in 2019, earning victories over Wuzhati Nuerlang (11-3) & Rafael Bejaran (26-4), while also winning the vacant WBA Continental title. His next one will be on July 22nd as he faces Mike Gavronski (25-3). -Aidos Yerbossynuly (11-0): WBA #6 / WBO #10 The Kazakh defeated Lukas Ndafoluma (16-2) in March, to become the WBA International champion. Aidos already holds the WBO Global & WBC Asia Continental titles as well. He will put his WBA belt on the line, against Rocky Jerkic (17-1) in Australia, on August 14. -Aslambek Idigov (16-0): WBO #9 Idigov picked up a majority decision victory over Ronny Landaeta (16-2), on April 18, to become the WBO & IBF European champion. -Azizbek Abdugofurov (12-0): WBC #4 Abdugofurov won the WBC Silver title last year. Middleweight: -Gennady Golovkin (39-1): WBO #1 / WBA #1 / WBC #1 / IBF #3 Triple G stopped Steve Rolls (19-1) on June 8. -Magomed Madiev (12-0): WBA #6 Madiev will collide with fellow Russian fighter Evgeny Terentiev (14-1), on July 22, with the National & the WBA Asia titles at stake. Super Welterweight: -Magomed Kurbanov (17-0): WBA #7 / WBC #12 The undefeated Russian will meet Michel Soro (33-2) on July 20, for the vacant WBA (Regular) World championship, -Israil Madrimov (3-0): WBA #6 Accomplished amateur Uzbek boxer Madrimov knocked Frank Rojas (24-3) out in just 2 rounds, to defend the WBA Intercontinental title this past March. He made his successful Madison Square Garden debut, on June 8, against Norberto Gonzalez (24-13). -Bakhram Murtazaliev (16-0): WBO #4 / IBF #6 Murtazaliev successfully defended his WBC United States championship against Elvin Ayala (29-13) this past February. He then scored a first round finish of Bruno Leonardo Romay (21-7) in April. -Aram Amirkhanyan (12-0): WBO #7 / WBA #10 The unified WBO International & WBA Continental champion hasn’t fought since December of last year. Welterweight: -Kudratillo Abduqaxorov (16-0): IBF #1 / WBC #4 / WBO #9 Kudratillo defeated Keita Obara (21-4) this past March, to become the #1 contender for the IBF World title. -Sergey Lipinets (15-1): WBC #3 / WBO #4 / IBF #5 / WBA #11 Lipinets earned a significant victory on March 24, against 2 division World champion Lamont Peterson (35-5), after he stopped him in the 10th round. He now goes up against John Molina Jr. (30-8) on July 20. -David Avanesyan (24-3): WBC #8 / WBA #12 / WBO #13 The former interim WBA World title holder stopped Kerman Lejarraga (28-1), to win the EBU European championship, on March 30. -Alexander Besputin (13-0): WBA #1 / IBF #4 Besputin defended his USBA title for the second time against Alfredo Blanco (20-8) on April 12. Odds are we are going to see him and Butaev fight each other for the now vacant WBA (Regular) title, probably this August. -Nursultan Zhangabayev (7-0): WBA #10 Zhangabayev won the vacant WBA Intercontinental title after beating Ivan Matute (30-2) in March. He’s scheduled to make his Australian debut on August 14, when he goes toe to toe with the IBF Pan Pacific champion Steve Gago (11-0). -Radzhab Butaev (12-0): WBA #6 Butaev knocked out Lanardo Tyner (35-16) in March and then defeated Sliverio Ortiz (37-26) 2 months later. As said above, the 2 undefeated Russians might go at it for the WBA (Regular) crown. Super Lightweight: -Batyr Akhmedov (7-0): WBA #2 Akhmedov has continued his undefeated streak in 2019, with victories over Viktor Plotnikov (33-6) as well as Francisco Gabriel Pina (14-15). The WBA has now ordered him and Mario Barrios (24-0) to fight for the Regular title. -Shohjahon Ergashev (16-0): WBA #5 / IBF #7 / WBO #8 The former WBA International champion returned to the ring on February 15, defeating Mykal Fox (20-1). He will compete again on July 20. (Opponent TBA) -Maxim Dadashev (13-0): IBF #3 / WBC #4 Dadashev earned his 11th stoppage over Ricky Sismundo (35-13) on March 23rd. His next match will be on July 19 with Subriel Matias (13-0). -Georgi Chelokhsaev (16-1): WBO #9 Chelokhsaev won the Eurasian title in 2018. -Eduard Troyanovsky (27-2): WBC #6 The former World champion failed to capture the WBA title last year. Lightweight: -Roman Andreev (23-0): WBO #3 / IBF #11 Top Russian contender defeated Jesus Cuadro (17-5) on May 16. -Zaur Abdullaev (11-0): WBC #3 / WBO #15 The WBC Silver title holder stopped Humberto Martinez (33-9) on February 22nd. Super Featherweight: -Shavkat Rakhimov (14-0): WBC #4 / IBF #6 Rakhimov marked his 3rd IBO title defense, against Rofhiwa Maemu (18-8), on March 23rd. -Akzhol Sulaimanbek Uulu (14-0): WBA #4 Sulaimanbek stopped Pipat Chaiporn (46-13) in Russia, to defend his WBA Asia championship. -Denis Shafikov (40-4): IBF #9 Shafikov fought Gaybatulla Gadzhialiev (6-2), this past February, to a draw. Featherweight: -Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-0): WBC #1 / IBF #9 The 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist defeated Claudio Marrero (24-3) in January, to earn the vacant IBO belt. If Gary Russell (30-1) moves up a weight class, Tug could be facing top contender Scott Quigg (35-2) for the WBC title. Super Bantamweight: -Murodjon Akhmadaliev (6-0): WBA #2 The 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist made his pro debut last year and has already amassed 6 victories (5 stoppages) as well as the WBA Intercontinental title. He is now targeting the unified WBA & IBF World champion Daniel Roman (27-2). Their match could take place in September. Bantamweight: -Nikolai Potapov (20-1): WBO #3 / IBF #11 Potapov will fight the WBC Continental Americas champion Joshua Greer Jr. (20-1) on July 13.  By - George Delis (@Delisketo)
Heavyweight: -Zhilei Zhang (20-0): WBO #8 The 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist has signed with Matchroom and could be facing the undefeated Australian champion Demsey McKean (15-0) this Fall. Light Heavyweight: -Meng Fanlong (15-0): IBF #1 Meng won an IBF world title eliminator, on June 1st, against Adam Deines (17-1) and he’s now next in line to challenge Artur Beterbiev (14-0). Super Lightweight: -Apinun Khongsong (15-0): IBF #1 The undefeated Thai fighter stopped former WBO Asia Pacific champion Akihiro Kondo (31-8) with a thunderous uppercut, to become the #1 contender for the IBF World title. Lightweight: -Romero Duno (20-1): WBO #10 The Filipino Golden Boy fighter recently won the WBO NABO title in the States. Super Featherweight: -Joe Noynay (17-2): WBO #6 Noynay TKOed Kosuke Saka (18-5) this past April, to earn the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title. His inaugural defense will take place in Japan, on July 12, against Olympic Bronze Medalist Satoshi Shimizu (8-0). Featherweight: -Jhack Tepora (23-0): IBF #4 / WBA #13 The former interim WBA World champion earned a unanimous decision victory over Jose Luis Gallegos (16-7), on June 1st. -Dave Penalosa (15-0): WBO #10 Penalosa stopped Marcos Cardenas (20-7) this past February, to become the new WBO Oriental champion. The Filipino will clash with Lerato Dlamini (12-1), on July 12, for the vacant WBC Silver title. -Mark Magsayo (19-0): WBC #8 The former WBO International champion and #1 contender made a successful in ring return on April 12 against Ery Subiyasno (12-5). Super Bantamweight: -Marlon Tapales (33-2): WBO #1 / IBF #3 The former WBO Bantamweight World champion has 3 stoppage wins since moving up a weight class. -Juan Miguel Elorde (28-1): WBO #2 Elorde has been the WBO Asia Pacific champion since 2015 and has defended it successfully 4 times, most recently against Shohei Kawashima (17-3). -Albert Pagara (31-1): WBO #3 The WBO Intercontinental champion hasn’t been active close to 8 months now. -Jeo Santisima (17-2): WBO #8 The Filipino won the vacant WBO Oriental title this past summer and has defended it only once. Bantamweight: -Arthur Villanueva (32-3): WBO #4 / WBC #15 Villanueva will challenge Nordine Oubaali (15-0), on July 6, for the WBC World title. -Michael Dasmarinas (29-2): IBF #1 / WBC #11 Dasmarinas picked up a unanimous decision over Kenny Demecillo (14-5), on March 23rd, to become the #1 contender for the IBF World title. -Nawaphon Kaikanha (45-1): WBC #4 Kaikanha marked a second defense of his WBC Asia title against former World champion Sonny Boy Jaro (45-15) on May 18. -Tasana Salapat (49-1): WBC #8 / WBA #9 After failing to capture the interim WBC title in December, Salapat returned to the ring on April 24 and became the OPBF Silver champion. -Sukpraserd Ponpitak (23-10): IBF #5 “Sukkasem Kietyongyuth’s” suffered a defeat at the hands of the former IBF Super Bantamweight World champion Yukinori Oguni (21-2) on May 8. He then defeated Anucha Noithong (0-6) a month later. -Kenny Demecillo (14-5): IBF #10 Demecillo lost to Michael Dasmarinas (29-2) in Singapore, as mentioned above. Super Flyweight: -Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (47-5): WBC #1 / WBA #2 The former WBC, The Ring & Lineal champion already finds himself again at the top of the world rankings. -Donnie Nietes (42-1): IBF #4 / WBC #4 The 4 division world champion decided to relinquish his WBO strap. No news on his return yet. -Sirichai Thaiyen (54-4): WBA #4 The former interim WBA Flyweight World champion has been 4-0 since losing to Dalakian. Thaiyen will jump to Super Flyweight and fight Marzon Cabilla (17-18) for the OPBF Silver title, on July 18. -Aston Palicte (25-3): WBO #8 Palicte lost to Kazuto Ioka (24-2) and failed once again to capture the WBO crown. Flyweight: -Wulan Tuolehazi (12-3): WBA #3 / WBO #12 The WBC Silver champion fought Japanese standout Ryota Yamauchi (4-1) in March, to win the vacant WBA International title. He marked his first WBA defense against former OPBF champion Ardin Diale (35-14) on May 26. -Jayson Mama (13-0): IBF #9 / WBO #10 The undefeated Filipino prospect earned a major victory over the former WBA Strawweight World champion Ekkawit Songnui (49-7) on June 9. -Giemel Magramo (23-1): WBO #2 / WBC #4 / IBF #4 / WBA #5 Magramo defeated Wenfeng Ge (11-1) for the WBO International title on January 5th. -Nare Yianleang (70-5): WBA #1 / WBC #7 Since losing to Kazuto Ioka in 2017, Yianleang has won 8 fights in a row. -Komgrich Nantapech (25-5): IBF #3 No news yet on what’s next for the former IBF Pan Pacific champion. Light Flyweight: -Jonathan Taconing (28-3): WBC #1 The WBC International champion Taconing will be challenging the WBC World champion Ken Shiro (15-0) on July 12. -Edward Heno (14-0): WBO #1 / WBC #2 / WBA #2 / IBF #14 Heno made his third successful OPBF title defense, in February, against Koji Itagaki (18-14). There’s a good chance that the Filipino meets the newly crowned WBO World champion Elwin Soto (15-1), possibly in October. -Andika Fredikson Ha'e (16-0): WBA #4 “Sabu” became the WBA Asia champion on April 6. -Randy Petalcorin (30-3): IBF #9 / WBA #13 The former interim WBA World champion beat Thai journeyman Worawatchai Boonjan (14-22) on June 9. -Christian Araneta (17-0): IBF #3 / WBA #7 / WBO #12 / WBC #11 Araneta hasn’t been active since December of last year. -Ivan Soriano (20-2): IBF #10 / WBO #11 Soriano defeated Bonjun Loperez (12-12) this past January. -Sarawut Thawornkham (20-2): WBA #6 Sarawut came up short in his match against Artem Dalakian (19-0) for the WBA World championship on June 15. Strawweight: -Jing Xiang (16-4): WBO #5 Xiang successfully defended his WBC Silver Light Flyweight title against 2 division World champion Suriyan Satorn (60-7), on January 5th, in China. He will make his Strawweight debut on August 17 as he faces Jomar Caindog (9-1) for the inaugural WBO Global championship. -Samuel Salva (17-0): IBF #1 / WBO #2 Salva challenges DeeJay Kriel (15-1) for the IBF World title on August 24. -Lito Dante (16-10): WBC #8 / IBF #12 In a shocking turn of events, Dante managed to TKO top contender Tsubasa Koura (14-1) and not only become the OPBF champion but also place himself in the world rankings. - Rhenrob Andales (10-0): WBA #5 / WBO #13 ”ArAr” captured the vacant WBA Asia title earlier this year and defended it for the first time on April 13 against Cris Ganoza (17-3). -Melvin Jerusalem (14-2): WBC #2 / IBF #7 / WBO #10 Jerusalem got a unanimous decision victory over 2 time world title challenger Toto Landero (10-4) this past November. -Robert Paradero (18-0): WBO #3 / WBA #13 Paradero beat Jonathan Almacen (5-3) on April 5th. -Pedro Taduran (13-2): IBF #3 / WBC #4 / WBO #8 Taduran hasn’t competed since last year. -Rene Mark Cuarto (17-2): IBF #6 Cuarto defeated Mike Kinaadman (6-10) on June 28. -Mark Anthony Barriga (9-1): IBF #8 / WBC #6 / WBO #15 Barriga failed to capture the vacant IBF World Championship in December. -Joey Canoy (14-3): WBO #9 Canoy hasn’t fought since December. |
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