Weekly boxing results June 2 2016
May 25
Beijing, China: Fly: John Riel Casimero (22-3) W KO 4 Amnat Ruenroeng (17-1). Minimum: Jose Antonio Jimenez (17-5-1) W PTS 12 Zhao Zhong Xiong (26-7-1).
Casimero vs. Ruenroeng
Casimero blasts out Ruenroeng in revenge win to collect the IBF title. The little Filipino came out aggressively taking the fight to Ruenroeng who was boxing on the back foot and trying to lure Casimero onto counters. It would not be a Ruenroeng fight unless he threw his opponent to the floor which he did in this round, and somehow he always lands on top of his opponent. Casimero was trying to land his right cross but Ruenroeng drew out of range and then fired home a hard right of his own. Both were more cautious at the start of the second. Casimero scored with some left hooks to the body and finally found the target with his right with Ruenroeng doing a little clowning to show he was not hurt, but Casimero finished the round on the attack. Ruenroeng was taking the fight to Casimero in the third. He scored with a good right and then again barged Casimero back and threw him to the canvas. There was a clash of heads at the start of the fourth but luckily neither fighter was cut. Ruenroeng made it a hat trick of wrestling falls as he sent Casimero over and fell on top of him. As Ruenroeng lunged forward Casimero met him with a devastating short right hook to the chin which put Ruenroeng down on his hands and knees. Ruenroeng was badly hurt. He struggled to his feet at eight and staggered back a couple of paces but the fight went on. Casimero was tigerish in his follow up attack but wild and it looked as though Ruenroeng was going to get through the round. That hope died as after Ruenroeng blocked two body punches Casimero drove home a third one which killed Ruenroeng’s legs. He slid down the ropes to a sitting position then slid back flat on the canvas. The referee waived the fight off and Ruenroeng needed medical attention before recovering. The 26-year-old Casimero, a former undefeated IBF light fly champion, lost on points to Ruenroeng in a challenge for the Thai’s IBF title in June last year. Ruenroeng, 36, was making the sixth defence of his title.
Jimenez vs. Xiong
Jimenez wins IBF eliminator with split decision over home fighter Xiong. The Chinese fighter got the perfect start as he floored Jimenez in the first with a leaping left hook that sent the Colombian skidding down to the canvas on his back. Jimenez survived but was sent reeling a couple of more times in the early rounds as he failed to use his edges in height and reach. Over the second half of the fight Xiong slowed and Jimenez was making use of his jab and fast combinations to claw his way back into the fight but it was close. Scores 114-113 twice for Jimenez and 116-111 for Xiong. Jimenez, 33, had no right being in an eliminator as since 2014 he had taken part in two eight round, two six round and two four round fights with his last three victims having combined records of 0-57. However he took the chance when it was presented. Xiong, 33, a former WBC minimum champion lost to Hekkie Budler for the WBA and IBO titles in 2014 but won his two fights in 2015 and collected the WBC International title.
Hurtsville, Australia: Bilal Akkawy (14-0-1) W KO 1 Francisco Ramon Benitez (15-4). Akkawy blows away Argentinian Benitez inside a round. A left hook from Akkawy ended this one after just 87 seconds as he retains his WBC EPBC title and wins the vacant WBA Oceania title. Now 11 wins by KO/TKO for the 23-year-old from Sydney who is No 7 in the ANBF ratings. Benitez, 35, has fought in Australia four times and is 0-4 with all four losses by KO/TKO.
Kingston, Jamaica: Welter: DeMarcus Corley (45-22-7) W KO 1 Revlon Lake (9-14-2). Corley gets this ridiculous match over early. After just 55 seconds a right hook to the head put Lake down and out. The excuse for this was that it was a quarter-final in the annual Wray & Nephew Boxing Series and to make it even more ridiculous in the semi-final Corley will meet novice Mike Gardner who is 2-0. Guyanan Lake, 37, is now 3-9 in his last 12 fights with eight of those losses by KO/TKO.
May 26
Pathum Thani, Thailand: Bantam: Tepparith (35-3) W RTD 7Junior Bajawa (14-8). Tepparith gets a payday and keeps busy with win over Indonesian Bajawa. Tepparith was in no hurry as he slowly ground down the gutsy Indonesian until Bajawa was done and retired at the end of the seventh round citing an arm injury. The 27-year-old former WBA super fly champion usually only fights twice a year but he has already had a couple of wins this year. He is WBA 11 so may struggle to get another title shot. Bajawa has lost his last 7 fights.
May 27
Paris, France: Light Heavy: Mehdi Amar (33-4-2) W PTS 12 Serhiy Demchenko (16-10-1). Welter: Ahmed El Mousaoui (24-2-1) W KO 2 Viktor Plotnykov (34-4,1ND). Bantam: Nordine Oubaali (10-0) W KO 7 Iran Diaz (11-2-2). Middle: Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (33-2) W TKO 2 Robert Swierzbinski (16-6-1). Light Heavy: Hakim Zoulikha (23-8) W PTS 8 Gabriel Lecrosnier (19-38-4). Super Light: Renald Garrido (17-13-1) TKO 4 Chaquib Fadli (13-7). Super Light: Marvin Petit (18-1-1) W KO 7 Dame Seck (10-13-2).
Amar vs. Demchenko
Amar tops big show in Paris and wins the vacant European title with very close unanimous verdict over Rome-based Ukrainian Demchenko. These two had fought for the European Union title in October with Amar getting a close but unanimous decision now they stepped up to contest the full European title and it was once again close. Demchenko was taking the fight to the Frenchman but Amar boxed cleverly on the back foot showing plenty of movement getting his jab home, occasionally switching guards, and getting through with rights to the head. Amar was again getting the better of the exchanges in the second when with 40 seconds to go in the round there was total confusion as everybody in the ring “heard” the bell and the action stopped with both fighters going back to their corners and the seconds climbing into the ring. It was quickly clarified that the round was not over and the fight started again. The fight almost ended then as Amar landed a big right and Demchenko was badly shaken. Amar then fired right after to Demchenko’s head with Demchenko staggering and stumbling under the storm and almost going down on two or three occasions until the bell-which the clock showed was 10 seconds early! The battering that Demchenko took had one judge giving it as a 10-8 round even without a knockdown. Demchenko showed amazing powers of recovery as he outboxed Amar to take the third with Amar edging the fourth. At that point two judges had Amar in front 39-36 and 39-37 but the third had then all level at 38-38. A clash of heads in the fifth saw Demchenko emerge with a cut over his right eye but he did enough to edge the round. Amar then took over and swept the sixth and seventh. In the eighth a left jab from Amar saw Demchenko go down but it looked as though he slipped on some water in the corner. However the referee saw it as a knockdown to Demchenko’s disgust. At the end of the round Amar was in front on all three cards at 78-73 twice and 78-74 with one judge seeing the incident in the eighth as a slip, which it was, and marking it a 10-9 round for Amar. Amar took the ninth to effectively put the fight beyond the reach of Demchenko unless he could score a knockdown or a knockout and although he dominated the last three rounds against a tiring Amar he could not close the gap. Scores 116-111, 115-112 and 115-113 all for Amar although the first score looked harsh on Demchenko. Amar, 33, a former undefeated European Union champion from Marseilles and is now 10-0-2 in his last 12 fights. Demchenko, 36, looked to be on the road to nowhere when he went 1-6-1 in eight fights including the first loss to Amar. He battered his way into title contention with tenth round stoppage of world rated Italian Mirco Ricci to win the European Union title Amar had vacated.
El Mousaoui vs. Plotnykov
“Non puncher” El Mousaoui gets big win as he knocks out EBU No 1 Plotnykov. Both were firing jabs in the early action but as the round progressed El Mousaoui was slotting his jab through the guard of Plotnykov and scoring with left hooks and straight rights with Plotnykov looking very rattled by the hand speed of the French fighter. El Mousaoui was in command in the second. Plotnykov was trying to jab his way into the fight but El Mousaoui was finding the Ukrainian’s head with jabs and left hooks. A right to the chin staggered Plotnykov and El Mousaoui followed up with a trio of shots that Plotnykov blocked but a short left hook inside that Plotnykov never saw coming sent him crashing to the canvas. He was up at six leaning in a corner with his elbows resting on the ropes. He was looking at his corner and did not respond when the referee asked him to step forward and the referee waived the fight off just as the towel came in. The former undefeated French and EU champion looked imperious here, real quality. He was 22-1-1 his first 24 fights before losing a clear unanimous decision to Australian Jeff Horn in December which in reflection was a great result for Horn. Despite the power he showed here this is only his sixth win by KO/TKO but it puts him right in line for a shot at Leonard Bundu for the European title. Ukrainian Plotnykov, 38, had impressed with a wide unanimous decision over Denton Vassell in Belfast in February last year but as with El Mousaoui he also lost to Jeff Horn in August last year and he looked weak at the weight and a bit shop-worn. This is his first loss by KO/TKO.
Oubaali vs. Diaz
Former amateur star Oubaali makes it 7 wins by KO/TKO as he knocks out Diaz in the seventh round. The 29-year-old southpaw is a real danger to any European bantam. One of 18 children in his family (he was No 13 but that does not seem to have been unlucky for him) he may have stayed amateur too long. He was French champion in 2006/07/09/10 and won a bronze medal at the World Championships. He almost spoiled the party at the 2008 Olympics by holding Zou Shiming to a draw but then lost out by a deciding vote of the judges. Second loss by KO/TKO for Mexican Diaz with the other defeat coming in March last year to the 26-2 Juan Hernandez Navarrete.
N’Jikam vs. Swierzbinski
No sort of test for N’Jikam as he stops Pole Swierzbinski in two rounds. N’Jikam was a class above Swierzbinski and he spent the first round speeding around the ring spearing the aggressive Pole with double and triple jabs with Swierzbinski trying unsuccessfully to trap N’Jikam on the ropes. It was almost exhibition stuff from N’Jikam. There was a bad clash of heads with N’Jikam ducking under a punch and bring his head up sharply crashing into Swierzbinski’s face which saw a swelling develop over the left eye of the Pole. N’Jikam was standing and trading in the second and although getting through with some punches he was also sloppy and missed with as many shots as he landed. Swierzbinski remained aggressive and had some success with body punches but N’Jikam scored with a number of straight punches which saw a bad cut open under the lump over Swierzbinski left eye. The referee stopped the fight and asked the doctor to examine the cut and it was ruled to be too serious for Swierzbinski to continue. The 32-year-old from the Cameroon gets his second win since losing to David Lemieux for the vacant IBF title in June last year. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for Swierzbinski, with both Chris Eubank Jr and Tommy Langford stopping him in fights in Britain but this was an unlucky loss.
Zoulikha vs. Lecrosnier
Zoulikha continues to rebuild as he floors experienced Lecrosnier but can’t get an early finish. Scores 80-71 twice and 79-71. The 29-year-old former French champion lost 4 in a row at the end of 2014 and early 2015 including defeats by Egor Mekhontsev and Sullivan Barrera. He rebounded in March with a good win over Hugo Kasperski and is official challenger for his old national light heavy title. Lecrosnier, the FFB No 3, has now lost 8 of his last 9 fights.
Garrido vs. Fadli
Garrido makes it a good night for boxers from Marseilles as he bowls over favoured Fadli. He floored Fadli in the first and a couple of times more in the second to win the vacant French title. Garrido looked to be on the road to nowhere when he had a 2-6 run with 5 of the losses on his travels. However that does not tell the whole story as two of the losses were majority verdicts against Serhiy Fedchenko (33-3) and Aslanbek Kozaev (26-2-1). The result that really turned things around for him was a split decision over unbeaten former Olympic silver medallist Daouda Sow in March. That landed him a second shot at the national title and now he is champion. Former French champion Fadli gets his fourth loss in a row.
Petit vs. Seck
Former undefeated French champion Petit continues his successful comeback with kayo of fellow Frenchman Sek. Petit’s only loss was a close points decision to world rated Yvon Mendy in June 2013. He was then inactive for almost three years and this is his fifth win since returning. Sek, 27, is 2-8 in his last 10 fights.
Niagara Falls, USA: Heavy: Jarrell Miller (17-0-1) W TKO 2 Nick Guivas (12-4-2). Light: Hermonito Dela Torre (18-0) W PTS 8 Guillermo Sanchez (15-19-1).
Miller vs. Guivas
Miller gets predictable early win over Guivas. The huge fighter from Brooklyn was too big and too heavy but then Guivas never stood a chance anyway. Early in the first Miller floored Guivas with a left to the body. A right to the head put Guivas down for the second time and Guivas did well to still be there at the bell. In the second a pair on thumping body punches put Guivas down on his knees. He only just beat the count but got some brief respite as Miller landed a low punch. Guivas was given some recovery time but another body punch put him down and the referee stopped the fight. The 27-year-old Miller wins the vacant WBO-NABO title. He makes it 14 wins by KO/TKO. The draw was an early fight with Joey Dawejko and his best win is a stoppage of Donovan Dennis. He is rated WBA11/WBO 11/IBF 15(13). Guivas, 37, rally just a prelim fighter who gets stopped when he steps up. What sort of a match is it when an beaten fighter who is 6’4” (193cm) 283lbs is put in with a 6’0 ½” (184cm) 229 ¾ lbs?
Dela Torre vs. Sanchez
Filipino prospect Dela Torre gets a win in his first fight in the USA but struggles to get there. Over the first three rounds he had trouble with the southpaw style of the taller Sanchez. The Filipino just could not get his jab on target and any time he missed Sanchez made him pay with quick counters and he frustrated Dela Torre’s attempts to trap him on the ropes. In the fourth Dela Torre seemed to settle he was picking and placing his punches better and the Puerto Rican seemed to tire and was holding more. Dela Torre continued to force the fight being busier and both throwing and landing more. The good work Sanchez did over the closing was mainly defensive and in the end Dela Torre had avoided a banana skin as he took the majority verdict. Scores 78-74 and 77-75 for Dela Torre and 76-76. The 22-year-old “Hammer” is No 15 with the WBA but still has a lot to prove after this modest start. Sanchez is 2-17 in his last 19 fights but he looked better than that.
Klerksdorp, South Africa: Super Feather: Koos Sibiya (21-10-4) W PTS 12 Samuel Kapapu (15-9-1). Local fighter Sibiya wins the vacant WBC ABU title with unanimous decision over Namibian Kapapu. The South African controlled the bout most of the way being busier and more accurate than Kapapu. Scores 119-113, 118-112 and 116-112 all for Sibiya. The “Great Last Warrior” is now 2-2 in his last four bouts. He lost on a split decision to former IBF champion Mzonke Fana and a decision to Jasper Seroka but was coming off a good win over Ashley Dlamini. The Namibian “Hammer” Kapapu, a former national champion, was a useful 8-2-1 going in but was well beaten.
Trois-Rivieres, Canada: Heavy: Avery Gibson (7-5-3) W PTS 6 Didier Bence (10-3). Heavy: Heavy: Simon Kean (5-0) W TKO 5 Daniel Cota (17-7-1).
Gibson vs. Bence
Despite strong amateur credentials Bence just does not seem to have it as a pro. In his first fight since October 2014 Bence makes a very slow start. Gibson is taking the fight to the Canadian over the first two rounds and is scoring easily with his jab as Bence struggles to get into the fight. Both fighters slip to the canvas a couple of times but in the third Gibson scores a valid knockdown with Bence holding to survive. The Canadian has a better fourth but in the fifth finds himself spending too much time pinned to the ropes. A left from Gibson puts Bence down again in the sixth, although it looked more of a slip, and Gibson is on top and trying for an inside the distance win in the last but runs out of time. Scores 60-52 twice and 59-53. Gibson, 33, had won his last two fights but in a previous visit to Canada lost a wide points decision to unbeaten Bogdan Dinu. Difficult to see where 28-year-old Bence goes from here. He was Canadian amateur champion in 2007/2008/2009 and 2010 but this is his third loss in his last four fights to a fighter he should have been able to beat.
Kean vs. Cota
Prospect Kean has no trouble halting Mexican Cota but gets taken beyond the second round for the first time. The 6’5” (196cm) Kean used his height and reach to outbox the chubby and much smaller Cota over the first two rounds with Cota struggling to get inside. Kean stepped up the pace in the third and fourth using his right more and he shook off a right from Cota. In the fifth a right to the head followed by a left hook and a right uppercut put Cota down on his knees by the ropes. He got up and then rumbled forward unsteadily and fell to the canvas with no count applied. Kean drove Cota back with straight rights and uppercuts and after Cota went down again the fight was stopped. Five wins by KO/TKO in five fights for 27-year-old Kean. The big Canadian was in a wheelchair after an accident a few years back and it seemed he would not box again but he fought his way back to become Canadian champion. He beat the current world amateur champion Tony Yoka at the 2012 Olympics but went out to eventual bronze medallist Ivan Dychko and lost to Cam Awesome at the 2015 Pan American Games. Four losses in a row for Cota with the other three losses being inside the distance against Deontay Wilder in 2011 and Oscar Rivas in 2014 and on points against Guillermo Jones in November last year.
Piacenza, Italy: Welter: Michele Esposito (9-2-1) W TKO 9 Giacomo Mazzoni (12-5-1). Esposito wins the vacant Italian title in hard fought contest with Mazzoni. Esposito almost makes it quick as late in the first he nails the taller Mazzoni with a right to the chin. Mazzoni goes down and although he somehow makes it to his feet he slides to the canvas again just as the bell sounds. Esposito is firing punches throughout the second but Mazzoni managed to survive despite the pressure. In the third and fourth Esposito is attacking again but Mazzoni has recovered and may have done enough to edge both rounds. The pace seems to catch up with Esposito in the fifth as his work rate drops but he comes back strongly to take the sixth and seventh and it is Mazzoni who is tiring. In the eighth Mazzoni finds another gear and they just stand and trade going toe-to-toe. The end comes suddenly early in the ninth. Esposito bangs home a right to the head and two left hooks and Mazzoni goes down. He gets up but the referee makes the right decision and stops the fight. The 30-year-old Esposito wins the title at the second attempt having fought a first round technical draw with Alessandro Caccia in a challenge for the title in October. It was the first time Esposito had gone past the sixth round. Mazzoni had been knocked out inside a round by Caccia for the vacant title in July last year so he is 0-2 in Italian title fights.
Panama City, Panama: Light: Ricardo Nunez (15-2) W RTD 2 Eric Castro (12-8-2). Nunez gets kayo win over Castro but some controversy. Nunez seemed to have the fight well in hand when at the end of the second round he floored Castro with a right hook that landed a split second after the bell. The local commissioner decided it was accidental and Castro was given five minutes recovery time. At the end of the five minutes Castro was not able to continue so effectively he retired. Nunez, the 22-year-old Panamanian “Scientist” is 9-1 in his last 10 fights all of which have ended by KO/TKO within the first three rounds including a revenge win over the guy who beat him. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for Castro.
Krasnodar, Russia: Super Bantam: Vyacheslav Mirzaev (6-0) W PTS 12 Nugzar Chavchavadze (13-6). Mirzaev wins the vacant WBC CIS title with unanimous decision over Georgian Chavchavadze. The 27-year-old southpaw from Krasnodar is already the UBO World champion and has had to go the full distance for all of his wins. Chavchavadze has yet to score a win outside of Georgia.
Madrid, Spain: Super Light: Nicolas Gonzalez (18-0) W KO 6 Steve Jamoye (19-3-1). Local fighter Gonzalez again shows his power as he comes from behind to kayo Jamoye. The Belgian made the better start after Gonzalez took the first Jamoye took ring centre and scored with quick accurate punches. Gonzalez was putting on pressure but after four rounds the scores were 39-37 twice for Jamoye and 38-38. Gonzalez cut loose in the fourth. He was bleeding from the nose but he upped his work rate and scored with punches to the head and with thumping hooks to the body with Jamoye fading under the punishment. Gonzalez continued the bombardment in the sixth focusing on the body and a crunching left hook to the body put Jamoye on the floor and he was counted out. It was two minutes before he could rise. Gonzalez, 27, now has 13 wins by KO/TKO including 6 early finishes in his last 7 fights. He wins the vacant WBC International title which will give his profile a huge boost. First loss inside the distance for Jamoye. His other losses were decisions against high level opposituion in Luca Giacon 26-1 for the WBC Silver title and Sandor Martin 25-1.
Ayutthaya, Thailand: Bantam: Petch Sor Chitpattana (37-0) W PTS 10 Rambo Lagos (6-1-2). Super Fly: Noknoi (57-4) W TKO 4 Falazona Fidal (25-45-2). Light Fly: Wanheng (42-0) W KO 4 Edo Anggoro (7-6).
Chitpattana vs. Lagos
Lagos showed a tight guard and a quick jab with southpaw Chitpattana scoring well with lead lefts. Lagos had a good spell in the second round driving Chitpattana back to the ropes and scoring with hooks and uppercuts but Chitpattana banged back to take the round. The Thai was dominating the action using his strong jab and body punches but Lagos although shaken on occasion remained competitive with hooks to the body inside and straight counters. After four rounds all three judges had it 39-37 for Chitpattana. The Thai continued to press through the fifth with Lagos constantly on the back foot but firing good counters. Both scored with uppercuts in the sixth and late in the round a very low punch from Chitpattana saw Lagos given recovery time. Chitpattana attacked relentlessly over the closing rounds but Lagos was constantly finding gaps in the Thai’s defence and more than matching Chitpattana as the action was non-stop for every minute of each of the last four rounds with the strong finish from Lagos making it a very close fight. Scores 96-94 twice and 97-93 all for 22-year-old Chitpattana who retains the WBC Youth title. He deserved the victory but Lagos certainly made him work for it and exposed flaws in the defence of the young Thai who is No 7 with the WBC. Asian Boxing Federation champion Eugene “Rambo” Lagos was light on experience but showed enough to ensure he will be heard from again.
Noknoi vs. Fidal
Noknoi wins over distinctly eccentric Fidal. The pudgy Indonesian southpaw had a very strange side on style. Noknoi could pretty much do as he liked as Fidal just retreated around the ring behind a high guard with Noknoi throwing jab, hooks, uppercuts etc. Now and then Fidal would stop and theatrically wind up his glove and throw an occasional punch. Noknoi handed out punishment in the third and at the end of the round Fidal dropped his hands and made his legs quiver like jelly and a startled Noknoi was too amazed to take advantage of it. In the fourth Fidal came to life throwing five southpaw right hooks in succession but as he turned away Noknoi landed a left which seemed to be a kidney punch and Fidal went down spat out his mouthpiece and complained to the referee. The referee made it clear he was ignoring that punch and when Fidal got up a couple of more punches saw the referee stop the fight. A waste of time as a fight. Noknoi has 56 wins in a row and if he keeps fight opposition like this he could get another 56 and it would mean nothing. He is rated No 3 flyweight by both the WBA and WBC. Fidal, 39, is 0-29 in fights in Thailand which is easy to understand.
Wanheng vs. Anggoro
This was not even useful sparring for Wanheng. He hardly threw a punch in anger against an opponent without even the most basic technique. Wanheng began to take the fight seriously late in the second as Indonesian Anggoro irritated him with some light combinations. After a clash of heads at the start of the third Wanheng went hunting throwing hooks and uppercuts at Anggoro who tried to fire back but Wanheng just walked through his light punches. Wanheng ended it in the fourth after shaking Anggoro with a right he landed a four-punch combination that put Anggoro on his back and the fight was waived off. Just some paid sparring for the WBC minimum champion. Since returning after almost five years out of the ring Anggoro loses inside the distance for the fourth time in a row.
Durban, South Africa: Cruiser: Thabiso Mchunu (17-2-0) W TKO 2 Boniface Kabore (18-4). On a weekend when a new WBC cruiser champion is crowned Mchunu gets back into the ring and is obviously hoping to get back in the mix. He had no trouble blasting out poor Kabore who was somehow allowed to give away 22lbs to the home fighter. “The Rock” Mchunu fought his way into the ratings with wins over Flo Simba, Danie Venter, Eddie Chambers and Olanrewaju Durodola but was knocked in 11 rounds by Illunga Makabu in May last year and this is his first fight since then. Kabore was having his first fight outside Burkina Faso and showed nothing.
May 28
Glasgow, Scotland: Super Light: Ricky Burns (40-5-1) W TKO 8 Michele Di Rocco (40-2-1). Super Light: Tyrone Nurse (33-2-1) W TKO 9 Willie Limond (39-5). Cruiser: Tommy McCarthy (9-0) W PTS 10 Jon-Lewis Dickinson (17-5). Middle: John Ryder (23-2) W PTS 6 Robert Talarek (13-12-2). Light: Charlie Flynn (8-0) W PTS 4 Abdon Cesar (3-7). Super Bantam: Joe Ham (8-0) W PTS 6 Paul Holt (4-3). Light: Scott Cardle (20-0-1) W PTS 6 Ivan Njegac (7-2). Middle: Anthony Ogogo (9-0) W TKO 3 Gary Cooper (4-20-1).Super Light: Conor Benn (2-0) W PTS 4 Luke Keleher (2-5-1).
Burns vs. Di Riocco
“Rickster” Burns makes history as he becomes the first Scottish boxer to win a world title in three divisions as he outclasses Italian Di Riocco for the vacant WBA title. Di Riocco made an aggressive start throwing his jab and combinations with Burns slotting home jabs and boxing mainly on the back foot. As the round progressed Burns began to get though more with his jab and near the end of the round a left jab sent Di Rocco stumbling from one side of the ring to the other. Di Rocco recovered quickly but Burns hurt him with a right and was unloading on the Italian when the round ended. In the second Burns used his longer reach to work on the outside penetrating Di Rocco’s guard time and again with stiff jabs and following with right crosses as Di Rocco followed the Scot around the ring without being able to land a serious punch. Burns went onto the front foot for the last minute and was again finding gaps for his jabs and straight rights. Burns was controlling the third round when a left hook from him landed very low. Di Rocco went down and was given time to recover with Burns receiving a warning. Burns was boxing beautifully letting Di Rocco come to him and walking him onto straight rights. At the end of the round Burns surged forward with a series of punches. Only the last two, a straight left and a chopping right cross to the chin landed but they were both good head punches and Di Rocco slid to the canvas. He was up and ready to continue but the bell went. Di Rocco made a fiery start to the fourth coming forward trying to cut off the ring but again Burns could not miss him with the jab. Burns work rate dropped a bit and he was wild with some of his right in a fairly equal round. Burns continued the left jab/ straight right work in the fifth and one long right sent Di Rocco stumbling back into a corner. He got out of that trap and although the tough, aggressive Italian did land a good long right he was being outboxed. Di Rocco had the better of the action early in the sixth ploughing forward keeping Burns on the defensive but late in the round a long right from Burns snapped back Di Rocco’s head and made his legs wobble. The Italian recovered quickly and was again coming forward at the bell. Di Rocco hustled and bustled through the whole of the seventh but mainly in vain. Burns used his jab a little less but was getting through with the right. In the eighth Burns snapped the Italian head back with a jab and shook him with a right to the temple. Di Rocco tried to keep coming forward but a right drove him to a corner and an overhand right crashed into the side of the Italian’s head. That punch sent him slumping sideward’s and he tumbled to the canvas. He beat the count but turned away from the referee and did not turn around when asked to and the fight was stopped. The 33-year-old Scot adds the WBA title to the WBO super feather and light titles he has held in the past. He has rebounded in style from a rocky period that saw him go 1-3-1 in five fights drawing with Ray Beltran and losing to Terrence Crawford, Dejan Zlaticanin and Omar Figueroa. It looked as though his career might be over but Matchroom showed faith and he has repaid them in some style. Although Di Rocco, 34, is a former undefeated European champion and had won 29 fights in a row there were no big names on his record. Burns made him look a limited one-dimensional fighter and Di Rocco never really got into the fight. He showed courage and persistence and scored well to the body when he got inside but he was out-classed by Burns.
Nurse vs. Limond
Nurse retains the British title with stoppage of Scottish veteran Limond. The Scot is a noted puncher and usually a fast starter. He certainly started fast here pressing the action against Nurse who has a lazy style but is a clever and quick boxer. Limond was by far the busier and he scored with some rights. In the fourth Limond landed a big right which momentarily shook Nurse but he did not go down and the fight changed at the point. In the fifth with Limond seeming to have punched himself out with his fast start Nurse began to go to work spearing the Scot with jabs and hammering home body punches. Nurse was grinding Limond down over the middle rounds with the Scot looking tired and bleeding from the nose as Nurse pierced his guard time and again with jabs and kept working on the body. Limond slowed badly and although he kept firing away looking to turn the fight with one punch the body punches from Nurse were beginning to tell. Finally in the ninth when Nurse landed some more body punches with nothing coming back from Limond the fight was stopped. The 26-year-old Nurse took seven years and 35 fights to win the British title and after this win and having served such a long apprenticeship he will be looking to get some high profile fights. Limond, a former undefeated CBC and British champion, had Amir Khan on the floor in their fight for the CBC title in 2007 but lost big fights to Erik Morales and Anthony Crolla. He kept active and regained the CBNC title and later the British title. He then flirted with retirement being out of the ring for 18 months before returning with a one round win in January which meant he had less than three minutes of ring time in two years going into this one. He has now indicated he will retire.
McCarthy vs. Dickinson
There was some feeling that the tall former British champion Dickinson might be too experienced for the London-born Belfast-based McCarthy who was having only his ninth fight. McCarthy proved the doubters wrong as he boxed his way to victory. Dickinson made the better start scoring well with his jab and straight rights but in the second McCarthy was quicker to the punch and countering well. Dickinson was jabbing well in the third but eventually McCarthy was timing Dickinson’s attacks and scoring with quick combinations. For every jab Dickinson was throwing McCarthy was firing back three or four punches. A right uppercut from McCarthy in the fourth was the best punch in the fight to that point but Dickinson kept trying to come forward behind the jab and was scoring with the occasional straight right. Dickinson did a bit better in the fifth following inside after throwing his jab and scoring with hooks but McCarthy was again countering with hard punches from both hands. Dickinson made a good start to the sixth scoring with a series of jabs and straight rights but was nailed by a left hook which saw him stagger back and saw him end up face down on the floor. He was up at seven and when the action resumed McCarthy wasted his chance by going right hand happy and missing with most of the heavy punches he threw. Dickinson did some good work in the seventh again with the jab and straight rights. McCarthy was still dangerous with counters but Dickinson was not staying in the pocket but getting off his jab and moving out. He was a long way behind but over the last three rounds as McCarthy tired his punches had less snap and accuracy allowing Dickinson to be more competitive. McCarthy found some extra energy to finish strongly and take the decision. Scores 97-92 twice and 98-91 all for McCarthy. A clear winner but the scores looked just a little wide. The 25-year-old McCarthy, a Commonwealth games silver medal winner, will now go on to face Matty Askin for the British title. Dickinson, 30, had a couple of losses in 2014 to Ovill McKenzie and Courtney Fry but in his only fight in 2015 he beat Stephen Simmons for the WBC International Silver title. He was then inactive for 11 months before returning with a win in March.
Ryder vs. Talarek
Just a keep busy fight for Ryder as he decisions modest Polish opponent. “The Gorilla” gets his third win since losing to Nick Blackwell for the vacant British title in May last year. The 27-year-old southpaw from London will be a match for any other middleweight so hopes to land another shot at the British title. Talarek had scored three low level wins before going into this one but has only lost once by KO/TKO and that was to Liam Smith.
Flynn vs. Cesar
“Mailman” Flynn gets past awkward Cesar. The former Commonwealth Games gold medal winner found it hard to deal with the constant clinching of Cesar but was a clear winner. Referee’s score 40-36. The 22-year-old Scot, a postman, also won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth and endeared himself to Scottish fans when in his speech celebrating his gold medal he thanked his mother for doing his washing! He is one of a bunch of promising young Scottish boxers coming through. Cameroon fighter Cesar, based in the North East of England, gets his third loss in a row.
Ham vs. Holt
Ham gets six rounds of useful work against Holt. Before the fight Ham suffered a serious eye infection which closed one eye but it had mostly cleared up by fight time. He comfortably outboxed novice southpaw Holt but what looked like a slip by Ham in the sixth was ruled a knockdown which made the fight look closer on the referee’s 58-55 scorecard than it really was. The 24-year-old from Glasgow was a regular member of the Scottish amateur team winning a number of tournaments overseas and competing at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. Holt, 25, put up a good fight but was rusty as this was his first fight for 11 months.
Cardle vs. Njegac
British champion Cardle gets easy win but is cut again. The brilliant Cardle outboxed Croatian Njegac in every round although he again showed a lack of power which sometimes makes fights tougher than they should be for a boxer as talented as Cardle. More worrying was Cardle picking up a cut over his right eye making it the fourth fight in a row where he has suffered a cut. Referee’s score 60-53 to Cardle. Cuts featured in his last two fights, his win and draw against Sean Dodd, which has to be a concern. Njegac came in as a late substitute and has now lost his last two fights.
Ogogo vs. Cooper
Ogogo returns to action with stoppage victory over Gary Cooper who came in as a late notice substitute. Ogogo was busy from the start scoring with left hooks to head and body and using his longer reach to fire though some jabs. Cooper covered up and tried to punch back when he could. In the second the work rate and hand speed of Ogogo was impressive as he threw four and five punch combinations to head and body. Again Cooper was willing to stand and trade and landed some rights and left hooks of his own. A left/right shook Cooper late in the round and Ogogo fired off a salvo of punches but Cooper fought his way to the bell. Ogogo was thumping home hooks and straight rights in the third and Cooper was badly shaken by an uppercut. Ogogo kept up the attacks until the towel came in from Cooper’s corner. The 27-year-old former Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games silver medal winner beat Ievgen Khytrov, Stefan Haertel, Vijender Singh and many other top names as an amateur and looked a cant’ miss prospect but injuries have limited him to just 9 fights in three years. He has the talent to make it to the top if he can stay injury free and active. Cooper was having his second fight in eight days and he made a brave effort to stay with Ogogo in the exchanges but Ogogo had too much speed and power. Ogogo owes him thanks for coming in and allowing Ogogo to get some ring time.
Benn vs. Keleher
Benn gets a reality check as the slightly more experienced Keleher refuses to buckle. Benn, the son of the former world champion, had blown away his first opponent in 127 seconds but Keleher did not bend or buckle. Benn was busier but could not put Keleher over and was caught with some counters as he got careless at times. He did better when he settled down over the last two rounds and showed some good skills. Referee’s score 40-36. The 19-year-old “Destroyer” is still very much a novice so it would be silly to rush him and he needs more fights like this. Keleher is 0-3-1 in his last four fight.
Bacolod City, Philippines: Light Fly: Donnie Nietes (38-1-4) W RTD 5 Raul Garcia (38-4-1). Light Fly: Milan Melindo (34-2) W TEC DEC 7 Maximino Flores (19-3, 2ND). Bantam: Arthur Villanueva (29-1) W KO 4 Juan Jimenez (22-10).
Nietes vs. Garcia
Nietes retains his WBO title with win over Garcia. Both fighters were cautious early. Nietes was throwing long lead rights to the body of southpaw Garcia but the Mexican scored the best punch of a close round when he banged home a straight left. In the second it was Garcia showing best. He kept sticking out his right jab and piercing Nietes’ guard with straight lefts as a notoriously slow-starting Nietes was just looking to counter and not throwing much and giving away the first two rounds. There was a sense of purpose about Nietes in the third and he was letting his punches go more. A thunderous left caught the advancing Garcia snapping his head back and he wobbled back and went down on one knee. He was up at eight but the referee had a very close look making Garcia walk forward twice before he let the action continue. Nietes came forward immediately and a straight right to the head followed by another right to the body saw Garcia sink to his haunches. Again he was up at eight and with Nietes a bit wild with his punches Garcia boxed cleverly to the bell. Despite coming off a disastrous round Garcia took the fight to Nietes in the fourth scoring well with his jab and long lefts with Nietes landing a couple of hard straight rights but just looking for a big punch and too often missing. Garcia continued to come forward in the fifth but Nietes was scoring with right counters. As the rounds ended the Filipino was scoring with vicious punches to the body which had Garcia wincing in pain but it was still a surprise when Garcia retired at the end of the round. “Aha” Nietes, 34, has made nine defences of the WBO title he won back in 2011 by beating Raul Garcia’s twin brother Ramon. When you add his two title winning fights and his four defences from his days as WBO minimum champion he is 14-0-1 in 15 title fights. The draw was with Moises Flores and he kayoed Flores in a return. He is also unbeaten in his last 30 fights with his only career loss being a split decision to Indonesian Angky Angkotta in Jakarta in 2004. A remarkable record by a great little fighter. Garcia, 33, a former IBF and WBO minimum champion, showed excellent skills but instead of using those he chose to punch with Nietes and paid the price with his first loss by KO/TKO.
Melindo vs. Flores
Flores was making good use of his big edges in height and reach. He was able to score with jabs from the outside and left hooks to the body. Melindo was having trouble getting inside over the first two rounds. In the third Flores stopped using his jab and chose to stand and trade which suited Melindo who was able to score with uppercuts and left hooks to the body and at the end of the round both fighters were showing cuts from heads banging together. Melindo also had a good fourth as Flores looked to be tiring and was standing right in front of Melindo with the Filipino again scoring with short punches from both hands. Flores survived an inspection of his cut then it was a three minute war as they slugged away toe-to-toe and the fifth was the same. Flores was constantly a danger as he was bent over with his head swishing from side to side and making contact with the head of Melindo. By the end of the sixth both fighters looked tired but Flores was again making it easy for Melindo by getting involved in a brawl. Inevitably in the seventh Flores was rolling his head around and it banged into the face of Melindo. The fight was stopped and with blood streaming down Melindo’s face from a bad gash over his left eye and a cut on the bridge of the nose the fight was over and went to the cards. Scores 69-64, 68-65 and 67-66 all for Melindo. The 28-year-old “Method Man’s” two losses have come against Juan Jose Estrada in 2013 for the WBA/WBO flyweight titles and Javier Mendoza on a technical decision for the IBF light fly title in May last year. He is rated IBF 4(2)/WBO 5/WBC 11. He came in 4lbs over the contract weight for this one made at 110lbs. He will be inactive for a while until these cuts heal. Flores fought a dumb fight getting down in the trenches when he had all of the physical advantages. Most of his opposition has been modest and not surprisingly the two No Decision both came about through cuts from head clashes.
Villanueva vs. Jimenez
Villanueva gets win but mired in controversy. This was a fiery fight with both looking for an early win and plenty of exchanges and not too much defence. Jimenez shocked Villanueva and the locals by flooring the local fighter in the second round. Villanueva rebounded to put Jimenez down in the third. What looked to be developing into a great little scarp ended in the fourth when a clash of heads saw Jimenez drop to the floor badly dazed. He was down and out cold for quite a while as the doctors worked with him and used an oxygen mask to help him recover. Villanueva was declared the winner by knockout when it should have been a No Decision due to the circumstances. Villanueva’s promoter has promised Jimenez a return fight when he has fully recovered. This was the second fight for the 27-year-old “King Arthur” since losing to McJoe Arroyo for the vacant IBF title in July. Mexican Jimenez, 24, had won 6 of his last 7 fights with the loss being to Vic Darchinyan in February last year.
Glendale, AZ, USA: Welter: David Avanesyan (22-1-1) W PTS 12 Shayne Mosley (49-10-1). Avanesyan retains the interim WBA title with unanimous decision over Mosley. Mosley took the first round circling Avanesyan scoring with some quick jabs and sneaky rights with the Russian short with his own punches. Avanesyan was much better in the second round closing the distance scoring well with his jab and long rights to the head and Mosley was warned for a low punch. The speed and strength of the Russian saw him take the third. He was down but this was from another low punch from Mosley, a punch that landed closer to Avanesyan’s knee than his waist, and Mosley was lucky not to lose a point. As the fight moved into the middle rounds Mosley was making some rounds close but the pressure, body punches and higher work rate was coming from Avanesyan. Mosley dominated most of the eighth round scoring with sharp jabs and right counters with Avanesyan missing with his punches. However at the end of the round a leaping left hook from Avanesyan wobbled Mosley and although the veteran banged back Avanesyan got through with some hard rights. Mosley was looking tired and Avanesyan took the ninth starting the round from a southpaw stance and getting through with jabs and left hooks and in the tenth although Mosley made a good start he twice landed low left hooks and was deducted a point in a round he had effectively won by clobbering Avanesyan with some rights and then spoiling his god work. Mosley was looking for the knockout he needed in the eleventh and started the round strongly but Avanesyan was coming forward and scoring with short hooks to the body as the round ended with Mosley’s early work just about allowing him to edge it. Mosley landed some heavy rights in the last but Avanesyan bossed the last two minutes scoring with both hands against a very tired Mosley. Scores 117-110 twice and 114-113 all for Avanesyan with the last score far too generous to a clearly beaten Mosley. The 27-year-old Avanesyan was making the first defence of his interim WBA title. He is now unbeaten in his last 21 fights and moves into position to challenge for the full title against the winner of the Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter fight. For Mosley at 44 there can’t be many more fights left in the former three division champion.
San Antonio, TX, USA: Super Light: Miguel Vazquez (36-5) W PTS 10 Erick Bone (16-4). Feather: Miguel Flores (20-0) W PTS 10 Ruben Tamayo (26-9-4).
Vazquez vs. Bone
Vazquez gets unanimous decision over less experienced Bone in a fight that never quite makes the sparks fly. Vazquez was the busier and more aggressive fighter with Bone looking to box on the outside. Their styles just did not mesh with Bone uncomfortable against the southpaw guard of Vazquez and the fight only really got interesting when Bone came forward and mixed punches with Vazquez. On those occasions the Ecuadorian showed good skills and did enough to make the fight close. In the end it was the more accurate punching of Vazquez that convinced the judges and he looked to have won clearly but with the judges coming up with a wide spread on the points tallies. Scores 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94 all for Vazquez with the middle score looking the best reflection of the action. The 29-year-old Vazquez lost his IBF light title to Mickey Bey on a split decision in September 2014 and then had a mixed 2015 beating Jerry Belmontes and losing to Argenis Mendez. This is his first fight at super light as he looks for another title shot. Bone, 27, represented Ecuador at the World Championships and won a bronze medal at the South American Games. He has lost his last three fights but in tough matches against Shawn Porter, Chris Algieri and now Vazquez. He came into this one as a late substitute and can continue to compete at a high level.
Flores vs. Tamayo
Houston-based Mexican Flores moves to 20 wins with wide unanimous verdict over fellow-Mexican Tamayo. Flores had early problems with the southpaw style of the tall Tamayo and had to fight from the second round with a cut resulting from a clash of heads . Once Flores got rolling there was only going to be one winner and although Tamayo was always competitive Flores was in control of the fight. Scores 98-92 twice and 100-90 all for Flores. The 23-year-old prospect has yet to meet a name fighter but has useful victories over Carlos Padilla, Alfred Tetteh and Mario Briones. “Canelito” Tamayo, 27, has had a rocky road lately. He lost in five rounds to Jesus Cuellar for the interim WBA title and then to Oscar Valdez, Joseph Diaz and Jhonatan Romero. Including Flores those last five fighters he has met have combined records of 104-2.
Lujan, Argentina: Super Welter: Ricardo Villalba (16-3-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Henri David Polanco (8-1). Villalba gets split decision over Polanco. Villalba had a mixed start. His aggressiveness saw him edge the first round and he floored Polanco with a right cross in the second. Unfortunately he was careless with his head and also lost a point for that in the second round. Polanco recovered well and evened the fight by taking the third, fourth and fifth but it was his turn to sin and in the fifth he lost a point for low punches. Villalba took the seventh to get his nose in front but from there the rounds were too close to call with Polanco showing the better technique and Villalba the aggression and Villalba just did enough to get the decision. The scores indicate how difficult it was to score because of the different styles. Scores 96-91 and 94-93 for Villalba and 96-91 for Polanco. The 26-year-old Villalba wins the WBO Latino title as he rebounds from losing his South American title in January. Dominican-born Polanco, 24, the interim South American champion, was making the first defence of his WBO Latino title.
Nagoya, Japan: Fly: Kosei Tanaka (7-0) W KO 6 Rene Patilano (15-2-2).
After relinquishing his WBO minimum title Tanaka moves up to light fly as he halts Filipino Patilano. The former undefeated WBO minimum champion used good movement and fast fists to outbox Patilano. The Filipino was pressing the fight early but then the quick, accurate combinations from Tanaka shut-down Patilano’s attacks and forced the Filipino onto the defensive. With the fight getting away from him Patilano put everything into a furious attack at the start of the fifth and when that did not work Tanaka was handing out pain. In the sixth a furious attack from Tanaka put Patilano down and he was counted out. Having won his WBO title in only his fifth fight the 20-year-old from Nagoya is No 2 with the WBO and so will get a chance to win his second title. “Mr Nice Guy” Patilano, 24, was 8-0-1 in his last 9 fights and was No 1 light fly with the GAB.
Acapulco, Mexico: Light: Marcos Villasana Jr (19-6) W PTS 12 Nery Saguilan (37-6-1). Villasana gets revenge win over Saguilan and also puts himself into the ratings. Saguilan had told everyone how easy this would be after he had beaten Villasana on a unanimous decision in March last year. This time Villasana came with a game plan and executed perfectly. The taller local fighter used his edge in reach to box on the outside with Saguilan wild with his punches. After four rounds Villasana was ahead 39-37 on all cards and he stuck to his tactics. Saguilan tried standing in mid-ring and inviting Villasana to come to him but Villasana ignored the invitation and continued to score with accurate jabs and rights. When Saguilan did land a punch Villasana deliberately shook his head to anger Saguilan. The frustration built and Saguilan lost a point in the eighth for a butt. At the end of the round Villasana had double his lead on all three cards to four points as the judges had him in front 79-73. Saguilan needed a knockdown or a knockout and he put in a big effort over the last four rounds. He kept trapping Villasana on the ropes but Villasana was countering cleverly and getting off the ropes without suffering any damage and emerged the winner. Scores 118-109 twice and 117-110 all for Villasana. The 25-year-old son of former world champion Marcos Snr has certainly found some form. His loss to Saguilan in March last year was the last fight in a 4-5 run which made it look as though he was just going to be a B level fighter at best. The question was still there before this fight as he had scored three wins after losing to Saguilan but against low level opposition in prelim 8/6 round fights. Now he has beaten the WBC No 4, a fighter who had won his last 19 fights, and won the his first title, the WBC Latino crown. The eccentric “Pantera” Saguilan was maybe one fight from a world title shot but his overconfidence has cost him dearly.
Szczecin, Poland: Cruiser: Krzys Wlodarczyk (51-3-1) W TKO 4 Kai Kurzawa (37-5). Cruiser: Michal Cieslak (13-0) W TKO 9 Alex Kubich (9-1). Heavy: Krzys Zimnoch (19-1-1) W TKO 4 Konstantin Airich (23-17-2).
Wlodarczyk vs. Kurzawa
After a slow start “Diablo” Wlodarczyk looks sharp in stoppage of German Kurzawa. The former IBF and WBC champion boxed cautiously in the first with Kurzawa taking the fight to a strangely passive Wlodarczyk who just stabbed out an occasional jab and kept his right sheathed apart from one cross which hurt Kurzawa. Kurzawa took advantage scoring with a good let hook and banging home left jab/straight right combinations through Wlodarczyk’s guard and working Wlodarczyk over on the ropes. Wlodarczyk used his jab more in the second slotting punches through Kurzawa’s guard but again letting Kurzawa barge him to the ropes and fire off some punches. Wlodarczyk was again letting Kurzawa come forward in the third but then he fired a triple jab and thumping a thumping right which saw Kurzawa take a knee. In the fourth Wlodarczyk shook Kurzawa with right and then followed with a left hook. Kurzawa took a couple of steps back and then went to take a knee but changed his mind and straightened up which caused a little confusion. Wlodarczyk then seemed to let Kurzawa off the hook as he hardly threw a punch until eventually he landed a right to the top of Kurzawa’s head and he went down again on one knee. He was up before the eighth but the referee had seen enough and Kurzawa only protested mildly. This was for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title but Kurzawa failed to make the weight so only Wlodarczyk could win the title. After losing his WBC title to Grigory Drozd in September 2014 Wlodarczyk did not fight again until returning with a stoppage win over Valery Brudov in February this year. Kurzawa, 39, had a 1-3 run back in 2006/7/8 including two losses in EBU title fights. With some very careful matching he had gone on to win 24 fights in a row before this fight.
Cieslak vs. Kubich
Cieslak gets win as he eventually breaks down the resistance of Russian Kubich. Being taller and stronger Cieslak was able to force Kubich onto the back foot but Kubich had a sound technique and came through the first two rounds without trouble. Cieslak stepped up the pace in the third scoring with a big right and a left hook. Kubich banged back in the fourth catching Cieslak with right uppercuts. Cieslak was back in charge in the sixth working behind his jab and he had Kubich badly hurt with a left hook. Kubich looked to be on his way to taking the seventh but Cieslak banged back to again shake Kubich and late in the round the referee took a point off Kubich for a butt. Cieslak turned up the pressure again in the eighth and some desperation head work from Kubich saw him lose a second point. Kubich continued to be careless with his head in the ninth and the Russian emerged with a bad cut on his right eyelid and the fight was stopped with Cieslak declared the winner. The 27-year-old 6’3” (190cm) Pole gets his ninth win by KO/TKO. He has won his last six inside the distance and has victories over Shawn Cox, Jarno Rosberg and Francisco Palacios. Kubich, 29, had won 6 by KO/TKO but 7 of the fighters he holds wins over had never won a fight and had combined records of 0-7.
Zimnoch vs. Airich
Zimnoch gets back in the winning column with victory of Airich. Zimnoch edged the first two rounds on the basis of his superior hand speed. Zimnoch continued the good work in the third scoring with a counter right and slotting home jabs. In the fourth Zimnoch landed a short right which had Airich wobbling and followed up with two more putting Airich down. Airich got up but after a couple more hard punches from Zimnoch the towel came in from Airich’s corner. First fight for the 32-year-old Pole since being crushed in 128 seconds by Mike Mollo in February. Kazak-born German Airich, 37, is just a “victim” these days. He is 2-9 in his last 11 fights with 7 of those losses by KO/TKO.
Visp, Switzerland: Welter: Alain Chervet (12-0-2) W KO 2 Shadrack Ignas (8-4-1). Local fighter Chervet wins the vacant IBF Youth title with knockout of Tanzanian Ignas. The visitor shook Chervet briefly with a right in the first in the first but in the second a right to the body and a left to the head floored Ignas and he took the count on one knee watching the referee toll off the ten and not trying to get up. The 25-year Chervet is the nephew on Fritz Chervet one of Switzerland’s best ever fighters who was European flyweight champion winning and losing against Brit John McCluskey but losing twice to Chartchai Chionoi for the WBA title. In all he lost only 10 of 71 fights. Chervet has yet to have to go past the sixth round for a win. Ignas had an 8-0-1run but the lost in January to a fellow Tanzanian with a 5-3-1 record so let’s not get too excited about Chervet’s win.
Wigan, England: Super Welter: Mark Thompson (28-5) W TKO 1 Kevin McCauley (11-120-8). Light: Jon Kays (22-5-1) W PTS 6 Ibrar Riyaz (4-97-4).
Thompson vs. McCauley
Thompson gets back into the winning column with quick stoppage of McCauley. A left hook put McCauley down and ended the fight after just 116 seconds. Beating a man with 120 losses may not seem much of an achievement but McCauley had not been beaten by KO/TKO in his last 54 fights. The 34-year-old Thompson was 24-1 in his first 25 fights but losses in big fights to Jack Culcay and Liam Smith saw him take 15 months out. He returned last September he lost to Bradley Skeete for the WBO European title when he dislocated his hip in the fight. Managing to avoid losses by KO/TKO has been important in allowing the 36-year-old McCauley to have 139 fights in eight years.
Kays vs. Riyaz
Kays made it a revival night for Lancashire boxers as he also rebounded from a loss by outpointing another member of the 100 + fight club. It was not straight forward as Kays was cut over his right eye in the second but went on to take the decision with the referee’s card reading 59-55 . Former English champion Kays, 33, was coming off a stoppage loss against Adrian Gonzalez in October. He has beaten Riyaz three times all on points but then Riyaz has not lost by KO/TKO in his last 49 fights.
Managua, Nicaragua: Minimum: Carlos Buitrago (29-2-1,1ND) W KO 1 Roger Collado (12-4-7). Buitrago gets an easy one as he sets himself back on the trail to a fourth title fight. He simply brushed Collado aside. Working with his jab as a range-finder he landed some fast combinations before putting Collado down and out with a left hook after 116 seconds. The 24-year-old “Chocorroncito” has had only bad luck in title fights. He was unlucky to have to settle for a split draw when challenging Merlito Sabillo for the WBO title in 2013 and has since lost twice on points in Thailand to Knockout CP Freshmart for the interim WBA title. This is his first fight since the second loss to CP Freshmart in February. He is WBC 6/WBA 12 but is better than either of those ratings and I still fancy him to win a world title. Collado just there as fodder and is 1-3-3 in his last 7 fights. Buitrago retired to the bar after his fight where a stupid hooligan attacked him. Buitrago put the guy down and the police had to save the guy from the people in the bar!
Boksburg, South Africa: Heavy: Osborne Machimana (21-8-2) W KO 4 Anton Nel (20-13-3). Machimana regains the South African title with kayo of old foe (literally) Nel. After three rounds of huffing and puffing Machimana ended it in the fourth. He goes 2-1 in front in their series with all of the fights being for the national title. Machimana, 37, will struggle to regain any real pride after the then South African champion standing 6’3 ½” (192cm) weighed a disgusting 299 ½ lbs (135kgs) against David Price in 2011. He took almost two years out of the ring from 2013 to 2015 and this is his third win since then. This time he was down to a slim 267lbs. Nel, 47, was making his fourth title defence in his third spell as South African champion. A pro since 1992 he was 264lbs although only slightly smaller than Machimana. These two are the best heavyweights in South Africa-boy are they in trouble. Oh for the days of Gerrie Coetzee, Kallie Knoetze, Corrie Sanders etc. Thank goodness for the quality little guys.
Neuwied, Germany: Cruiser: Hizni Altunkaya (27-0) W PTS 10 Gogita Gorgiladze (31-12). Altunkaya wins the vacant GBU world title with unanimous decision over Georgian Gorgiladze. It was very much a back and forth battle with first one fighter and then the other on top. Altunkaya hurt Gorgiladze with a good body punch in the fifth and also took the sixth. From then Altunkaya dominated when he could keep the fight at a distance and Gorgiladze had more success inside. Altunkaya finished strongly and was a clear winner. Scores 100-93, 98-92 and a more representative 97-94 all for Altunkaya. The Turkish-born German-based 28-year-old winner is a former interim WBFed champion but has been very carefully matched to avoid any real tests. Gorgiladze, 22, is making a living out of being young. So far he has fought for the IBF, WBC, WBC Silver, and WBO cruiser and heavyweight Youth titles.
May 29
Liverpool, England: Cruiser: Tony Bellew (27-2-1) W TKO 3 Illunga Makabu (19-2). Super Middle: Callum Smith (20-0) W TKO 6 Cesar Reynoso (14-8-3). Light: Sean Dodd (11-2-1) W PTS 10 Pasquale Di Silvio (20-8-1). Super Light: Tom Farrell (9-0) W PTS 10 Kofi Yates (13-2). Super Feather: Stephen Smith (24-2) W TKO 7 Daniel Brizuela (28-6-2,1ND). Heavy: David Price (20-3) W KO 2 Vaclay Pejsar (9-3). Super Middle: Paul Smith (37-6) W PTS 6 Bart Grafka (17-20-3). Light Heavy: Hosea Burton (17-0) W TKO 2 Jozsef Kormany (17-25).
Bellew vs. Makabu
Bellew towered over the DRC fighter and with Makabu fighting out of a semi-crouch the size difference was magnified. Both started cautiously probing with their jabs. Makabu was looking to come in under Bellew’s jab and Bellew was looking to catch Makabu with counters. Near the end of the round Bellew drove Makabu to the ropes and kept him pinned there as he unloaded lefts and rights to head and body. It looked as though Makabu was in serious trouble for a while. Makabu jabbed his way off the ropes and then landed a southpaw straight left which sent Bellew tumbling backwards to the canvas. He rolled over and was back on his feet immediately and walked to a corner with the bell going as the referee completed the standing eight count. There was very little action in the second Makabu scored with a couple of right jabs but was mainly trying to lure Bellew forward onto his left. Bellew was not biting but at the end of the round he turned Makabu on to the ropes and let fly with a short series of punches and backed off not wanting to get caught by a quick advance from Makabu as he had in the first. In the third Makabu took Bellew to the ropes but as he tried to fire off punches Bellew nailed him with a left hook and then cut loose with a series of head shots driving Makabu across the ring to the ropes and then battered away at the DRC fighter with lefts and rights and a vicious uppercut. Makabu managed to work his way out of the corner but Bellew followed him and a left hook had Makabu floundering. Bellew drove him back to the ropes banging away with lefts and right until Makabu’s defence crumbled and a vicious left hook sent him slumping to the canvas on his back out cold. It was sometime before Makabu recovered. Bellew celebrated and deservedly so. In previous title shots both at light heavy he had lost a majority decision to Nathan Cleverly for the WBO crown and been stopped in six rounds by WBC champion Adonis Stevenson. After the loss to Stevenson in 2013 he had moved up to cruiserweight and won six fights including a revenge victory over Cleverly and a close points win over Mateusz Masternak for the vacant European title. Here the 33-year-old from Liverpool had taken on a puncher and beaten him at his own game despite four weeks before the fight using a hyperbaric chamber to deal with a detached rib. He was immediately calling out David Haye but he was No 6 with the WBC so they may want him to defend against Marco Huck or Mairis Breidis. Makabu, 28, lost inside the distance in his first pro fight but after that he scored 19 wins in a row, 18 by KO/TKO. He had wins over Dymtro Kucher. Eric Fields, Glenn Johnson and Thabiso Mchunu but just could not stand up to the power of Bellew’s punches.
Smith vs. Reynoso
Smith gets a win in a stay busy fight. It looked as though it was going to be one round win No 10 for Smith when he dropped little Reynoso with a counter left hook in the first. Smith scored with some good left hooks to the body but by moving and punching back Reynoso saw out the round without any more trouble. Over the next three rounds Smith was stalking Reynoso and landing some heavy punches but the Argentinian proved a difficult target for the towering Smith ducking under the local fighter’s punches switching guards and firing occasional counters with one bringing blood from Smith’s nose. Smith came near ending it in the fourth. After Reynoso had Smith on the ropes for a short spell Smith landed two left hooks that put Reynoso on the ropes and he fired in hooks and uppercuts. Reynoso got off the ropes briefly but was put back there and rocked by a vicious right uppercut and left hooks to the body and went down on one knee. He was up at seven and was ducking and diving as Smith tried to nail him again and by the end of the round he was actually taking the fight to Smith. Two rib-crunching left hooks put the gutsy Argentinian down in the fifth but again he kept moving and although the referee looked poised to intervene he was still there at the bell. Smith ended it in the sixth with a sustained attack and although Reynoso did not go down he had no complaints when the fight was stopped. The 26-year-old from Liverpool is mandatory challenger to WBC champion Badou Jack and must have a good chance of lifting the title. Reynoso earned every pound of his money. There were a couple of occasions when he could have ducked out but instead he just kept getting up and fighting back and can look to get more work in Britain/Europe on this gutsy showing.
Dodd vs. Di Silvio
Dodd wins the vacant WBC International title with wide unanimous decision over useful Italian Di Silvio. The local fighter did nothing spectacular but he boxed intelligently and did the simple things well. He worked behind a sharp jab and used it set up his hard rights and Di Silvio struggled to get into the fight. He did have a good third round landing his best punch of the fight a right that stopped Dodd in his tracks but Dodd banged back to hurt Di Silvio in the fourth. From the mid-point of the fight Dodd got stronger and Di Silvio tired. The Italian never gave up but after losing and drawing two very controversial fights with Scott Cardle in his last two fights Dodd stayed strong to the end to make sure the decision went his way this time. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93. The 31-year-old “Masher” is a very popular fighter and it was good to see him get his just reward in the shape of the prestigious WBC International title. Di Silvio, the Italian champion and EBU No 15, proved a durable and awkward opponent.
Farrell vs. Yates
Farrell wins scrap between two emerging young English fighters. It was one of if not the beast fights of the night. A close, hard fought battle with many rounds too close to call but the Liverpool fighter edged the marginal rounds and was a clear winner in a contest in which both fighters only heightened their profiles. Referee’s score 98-93 to Farrell. The 26-year-old winner was moving up from six rounds for the first time and paced the fight well. “Casper” Yates, 24, the Central Area champion, had won his last seven fights and will come again.
Smith vs. Brizuela
Smith makes a quick return to the ring beating Brizuela only six weeks after coming up short against Jose Pedraza for the IBF title. Smith was going to the body from the start and that focus gave him control of the early rounds. Those tactics were grinding down Brizuela and he was visibly hurt by a right to the body in the fifth. Smith sensed that the experienced Argentinian was weakening and he continued with the body bombardment in the sixth. Brizuela tried to stay in the fight but was fading rapidly and a left hook put him down in the seventh. He made it to his feet and tried hold to survive but just before the bell another body punch put him down and the fight was stopped. Smith, 30, wins the vacant WBC Silver title. Collecting that title will see him climb much higher than the No 15 place he was in before this fight. Brizuela, 30, a former Olympian, is probably sick of British boxers having lost inside the distance to Tommy Coyle, Luke Campbell and now Smith.
Price vs. Pejsar
This was a physical mismatch and not much of a match on any other basis. Price had huge advantages in height and reach but to begin with his jab was tentative and did not stop the Czech fighter from leaping in with his attacks. When Price did finally get some venom into his punches he floored Pejsar with a short right uppercut inside. The Czech fighter was up quickly and looked shaky but survived to the bell and he was showing a growing bump under his left eye from that uppercut. In the second Price allowed Pejsar to take him to the ropes and the Czech threw a series of punches nearly all of which were blocked. Price ended the fight in style with another thunderous right uppercut which put Pejsar down on his back and he was struggling to get up as the referee waived the fight over. The 32-year-old 6’8”(203cm) was having his first fight since his crushing two round loss to drug cheat Erkan Teper for the vacant European title. This is still shown as a loss on Price’s record. Although the local Board, the BDB, have I understand changed it to a No Decision the EBU have not changed the result which seems wrong to me. A cheat should never prosper from his actions but this still shows as a win for Teper. As for Price it was unreasonable to expect him to be sharp in his first fight for ten months but whilst still having knockout power he still looks vulnerable but in fairness he is now under a new trainer, the highly rated Dave Coldwell, so will need time for the benefits from that to work their way through. Pejsar had taken German prospect Tom Schwarz and Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko the distance so this was his first loss by KO/TKO.
Smith vs. Grafka
Former WBO super middle title challenger Paul Smith gets his second win since returning to action. The eldest of the four fighting brothers Smith was given some useful ring time by late substitute Grafka as he boxed his way to victory on the referee’s score card by 59-56. This is his second fight since his ninth round TKO loss to Andre Ward in June last year. He is a quality fighter and is looking to get another title shot after two losses to Arthur Abraham for the WBO super middle title. Pole Grafka did his job by giving Smith six rounds of boxing so earned his money.
Burton vs. Kormany
With a British title defence cancelled due to any injury to his challenger Burton took a work day outing here. He halted Hungarian teenager Kormany inside two rounds but this was even more physically farcical than Price vs. Pejsar. The 6’4” (193cm) Burton was never going to have any trouble with the 5’7 ½” (172cm) Kormany and just had to careful not to trip over him. Burton gets his eighth win by KO/TKO and the 27-year-old “Hammer” will get a real test against Tony Dodson. He is growing in confidence and could go on to higher things. Kormany, 19, gets his eighth loss by KO/TKO but it is the first time he has failed to go the distance in his last 23 fights.