Check out Eric Armit’s comprehensive report in The Week In Boxing – August 1, 2017!
Highlights:
-Mikey Garcia wins wide unanimous decision over Adrien Broner
-Sho Kimura shocks Shiming Zou to lift WBO title
-Jermall Charlo beats a badly handicapped Jorge Heiland to put himself in line for a shot at the winner of Gennady Golovkin vs. Saul Alvarez
-Rau’shee Warren moves down to super fly and wins eliminator over McJoe Arroyo
-Jarrell Miller batters Gerald Washington to defeat in eight rounds
-Gideon Buthelezi retains IBO Title
-Sadam Ali and Victor Ortiz score wins in welter action
July 26
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Welter: Carlos Adames (12-0) W PTS 11 Carlos Molina (28-7-2). Welter: Julio De Jesus (26-1) W TKO 5 Francisco Aguero (13-2). Middle: Alantez Fox (23-0-1) W TKO 5 Euri Gonzalez (24-10-1). Light Heavy: Gilberto Lenin Eduardo Castillo (16-1-1) W KO 1 Eduardo Mercedes (32-19).
Adames vs. Molina
Adames continues to progress as he gets his best win so far but the scoring is unkind to a very competitive Molina. It was Molina who made a positive start coming forward and scoring with long jabs and rights to the body. Adames chose to fight southpaw and did not really exert much pressure allowing Molina to take the round. Adames was fired up for the second. He had changed to orthodox and looked a different fighter scoring with blistering left hooks to the body. Late in the round a double right to body and head put Molina down. Adames went looking for the finish but Molina defended well. Molina outlanded Adames in the third. He was boxing cleverly not looking for power but just scoring shots. Adames dominated most of the fourth but just before the bell Molina landed a great right that rocked Adames, the best punch of the fight so far. Adames pressed hard with left hooks to the body a straight rights over the fifth and sixth. Molina was boxing cleverly but the power rested with Adames. Molina had a good seventh as he worked hard for all three minutes getting his punches off first as Adames did very little. Adames landed a series of rights to the head in the eighth and did enough to take the round but he also wasted his time with some flashy stuff and that allowed Molina to land two heavy punches with Adames pantomiming his knees wobbling instead of getting on with the business at hand. Both fighters had good spells in the ninth with Adames finishing the round by shaking Molina with two hard rights. Adames was clowning again in the tenth hands down exaggerated bobbing and weaving whilst Molina kept working but Adames was angered when Molina did a bit of theatrics of his own and the Dominican finished the round strongly. Adames had a storming last round. He shook Molina early with a right and then ploughed in and landed head punches from both hands. Molina tried to punch his way out of trouble but a bad cut was opened over his left eye and he looked in serious trouble at the bell. Scores 110-89, twice and 109-99. The 23-year-old New York-based Adames was a regular in the Republic’s amateur team. He lifted a gold medal at the Pan American Youth Championships and competed at the World Youth Championships as well as getting a bronze at the Pan American Championships and competing at the World Championships. He is showing real promise as a pro with the scalps of Patrick Lopez, Ivan Alvarez and Juan Carlos Prada already hanging from his belt. Former IBF super welter champion Molina, 34, has won his last six fights but they have all been low key matches as he has ongoing problems with US Immigration preventing him from fighting in the USA.
De Jesus vs. Aguero
De Jesus gets another inside the distance win as he halts competitive fellow-Dominican Aguero. There was some bad blood on show as both indulged in some taunting. De Jesus had height and reach over Aguero. He has a powerful jab but hardly used it. He was walking through the punches from Aguero and scoring with long scything hooks. Aguero made more use of his jab and caught the advancing De Jesus flush with hard counters. De Jesus probably had a slight lead after three rounds but the fourth was a wild affair that virtually decided the fight. Aguero came out so fast you would have thought he was late for a hot date and he landed a series of hard head punches that sent De Jesus back across the ring to the ropes. Aguero went in throwing punches and left himself open and De Jesus nailed him with a huge right. Aguero staggered back on wobbly legs and for the rest of the round he was running and holding to survive. De Jesus came out to finish it in the fifth. He drove Aguero to the ropes and as he unloaded punches Aguero slipped out between the ropes and almost fell out of the ring. The referee stopped the fight and helped him back up. For me the ropes had held Aguero up and there should have been a count. Aguero was shaky and De Jesus trapped him on the ropes and threw punches until the referee stopped the fight with 17 seconds left in the round. The tall 35-year-old De Jesus was stopped in three rounds by Victor Cayo but has now won eleven in a row since then 10 of them by KO/TKO out of a total of 24 inside the distance wins. Aguero scored 11 wins in his first year as a pro but was inactive in 2014 and then again in 2016 and lost to Ricardo Garcia for the Dominican title in March this year.
Fox vs. Gonzalez
This was a farce. Fox 6’4” (193cm) towered over little Gonzalez. It was almost a case that Gonzalez would have had to climb to the top of the ring post to look Fox in the eye. Fox used his elongated jab and left hooks to the body with Gonzalez just throwing himself forward trying to get close enough to punch. Fox took his time breaking Gonzalez down. By the fifth Fox was stalking Gonzalez as the Dominican circled the ring. When Fox trapped him he was landing chopping rights and digging to the body. At the end of the round Gonzalez’s corned called the doctor over and they signalled to the referee the fight was over. The 25-year-old from Maryland has won 16 on the bounce since an early career draw with Frank Galarza. He is rated No 14 by both the IBF and WBA. The farce did not even provide Fox with any useful sparring. Gonzalez, 38, a former NABF and Dominican welter champion has now lost his last 7 fights 5 of them by KO/TKO.
Castillo vs. Mercedes
Farce seems the word of the day and this was also one. The 6’2” (188cm) Castillo, a former top amateur, was a good head taller than Mercedes who had fought as a welter/super welter early in his career. Castillo immediately took Mercedes to the ropes and attacked the body with left and right hooks. Mercedes tried to fire back but was being driven around the ring soaking up punishment. He managed to fight his way off the ropes but walked into a thunderous right uppercut that put him down on his back. He slowly climbed to his feet using the ropes to pull himself up and it looked as though that took about 12 seconds but the referee waived the fight over anyway. Gilberto “Lenin” was 15-0-1 in his first 16 fights before losing a majority decision to unbeaten Joseph Williams in February. As an amateur he put on weight as he progressed. He was Dominican Youth champion at 69kg, Pan American Junior champion at 69kg, Dominican Republic champion in 2007 at 69kg, won his way throught the Americas Qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics at 69kg beating Tureano Johnson, competed at the Olympics at 69kg, competed at the World Championships in 2009 at 81kg and won the Dominican title again in 2009 at 91kg. He has skill and power so could yet be a player. Mercedes is 4-7 in his last 11 fights with 6 of those losses by KO/TKO.
Kingston, Jamaica: Super Welter: Sakima Mullings (23-3) W TKO 6 Phil Rose (9-5-1). Middle: Kemahl Russell (11-1) W KO 1 Nigel Edwards (9-2).
Mullings vs. Rose
Mullings outclasses Rose to win the Contender championship belt yet again. Mullings used speed and skill to outbox Rose from the start. Rose had promised to knock Mullings out but that was never going to happen. Mullings was able to avoid the big slow punches of Rose over the first three rounds. After a big right from Rose did land Mullings got down to business. He landed a cluster of punches in the fifth that had Rose in trouble at the bell. In the sixth Mullings trapped Rose on the ropes and was unloading heavy punches when the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The 35-year-old Mullings makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO. He has lost only 2 of his last 21 fights and they were a split decision against Clive Atwell and a majority decision to Frederic Lawson with both fights taking place in the other guy’s home territory. He picks up a $17,000 prize. Canadian-based Rose, 28, had won his last four fights.
Russell vs. Edwards
If you came to ogle the ring card girls this was not your night. Edwards made a lively start until a left hook to the head put him face down on the canvas after just 74 seconds. The fight was immediately waived off with the doctor called in to help tend to Edwards so no round two and no ring cards required.. Now 9 wins by KO/TKO for 28-year-old Jamaican Russell. Last time out in March he was stopped in five rounds by world rated Sergiy Derevyanchenko so a welcome return to winning ways. Edwards, 38, from Trinidad and Tobago has a win over experienced Kirt Sinnette but was coming off a loss to fellow Trinidadian Sheldon Lawrence in January
July 28
Shanghai, China: Fly: Sho Kimura (15-1-2) W TKO 11 Shiming Zou (9-2).
4
Kimura breaks Chinese hearts as he beats Zou on a late stoppage to win the WBO title.
Round 1
It was caution to the winds here as Zou and Kimura were trading punches from the outset. Kimura was forcing the fight scoring with left hooks to the body with Zou getting home some right counters but under pressure all the way
Score 10-9 Kimura
Round 2
Kimura continued to storm forward in the second setting a very fast pace. Zou was on the back foot for the whole three minutes. He was boxing with both hands down at thigh level and firing quick, accurate counters as Kimura marched forward
Score 10-9 Zou 19-19 Even
Round 3
Kimura continued to march forward in the third firing hooks to the body. Zou was looking confident again holding his hands low in position to counter and frustrating Miura with good footwork.
Score 10-9 Zou 29-28 Zou
Round 4
In this one Kimura continued his relentless attacking. Zou never used his gloves to block a punch relying completely on footwork and upper body movement. Although Zou was not loading up on his punches he was finding gaps as Kimura walked forward and took the round.
Score 10-9 Zou 39-37 Zou
Round 5
Kimura clearly took this one. He was focusing on the body. Initially Zou adopted an orthodox hands up style and stood and traded but with Kimura landing with hooks from both hands and some straight rights Kimura went on to back foot with his hands down and it was Kimura’’s round
Score 10-9 Kimura 48-47 Zou
Round 6
Early in the sixth as Zou lunged forward their heads clashed and Kimura was cut badly over his right eye. The referee immediately called for the doctor to examine Kimura. It was a long cut and bled heavily so a serious handicap but Kimura was allowed to continue. He swarmed after Zou walking onto light counters but pumping out punches with both hands to win the round.
Score 10-9 Kimura 57-57 Even
Round 7
Kimura pounded away to the body in this one. Kimura’s cut was causing him problems but Zou was looking tired and his work rate dropped under the constant pressure from Kimura. However Kimura was moving in on a straight line that helped Zou acquire the target for his counters
Score 10-9 Zou 67-66 Zou
Round 8
Kimura’s punch output was incredible in this round. He pumped out hooks to the body forcing Zou to raise his hands in a tradition guard and Kimura went on punching and punching. Zou was slotting home accurate counters but with no power so he was not able to halt the challenger’s march.
Score 10-9 Kimura 76-76 Even
Round 9
It was hands by his side against for Zou in this one. His movement was frustrating Kimura who was chasing in vain and pawing at his right eye where the blood from the cut was hampering him. Zou did not seem to possess anything even remotely like a power punch as he was just stabbing his punches but he was the one doing the scoring.
Score 10-9 Zou 86-85 Zou
Round 10
Kimura seemed tireless as he pursued Zou for all three minutes. At distance it was Zou finding gaps and just poking out punches with no power whatsoever and Kimura continually banging away at the body with hooks. Zou slipped to the canvas twice and whilst the offending water was being towelled away Zou’s second entered the ring unbidden and tried to rough up the sole of Kimura’s boots and he was lucky as it could have led to his boxer’s disqualification as the referee had not indicted he could enter the ring.
Score 10-9 Kimura 95-95 Even
Round 11
It looked like same old same old in the eleventh as Kimura stormed forward. He landed a series of good head punches. Kimura was dominating the round chasing Zou and landing to head and body. It looked as though a tiring Zou was close to being overwhelmed but Kimura was now also slowing and looking exhausted. Somehow Kimura found some more energy and stepped up his attacks again bombarding Zou with punches until with just 50 seconds left in the round Zou dropped to his knees looking finished. He staggered up on unstable legs and was swaying back and forth and the referee rightly waived the fight over.
Official scores at the finish: 97-93 and 96-94 for Zou and 96-94 for Kimura.
Sheer tireless aggression won this one for Kimura. He lost his first pro fight so is now 15-0-2 in his last 17. Despite that he did not look a risky challenger as he has never faced a rated opponent. He owed his WBO No 7 rating to winning the WBO Asia Pacific title against an 8-0 novice and his last three wins were over fighters with combined records of 14-4. This was a disaster for 36-year-old Zou on a number of levels. It cost him his WBO title, it highlighted his lack of a punch, made his breaking with Top Rank look a poor decision and must have harmed his status in Chinese eyes.
East London, South Africa: Super Fly: Gideon Buthelezi (20-5) W PTS 12 Ryan Ray Ponteras (20-12-1). Super Bantam: Ludumo Lamati (12-0-1) W PTS 12 Luis Melendez (47-11-1).Bantam: Mzuvukile Magwaca (19-0-2) W KO 2 Yesner Talavera (15-5-1,1ND). Minimum: Siphamandla Baleni (12-1-1) W PTS Bangile Nyangani (4-1).
Lamati vs. Melendez
Lamati continues to climb and continues to impress. The 25-year-old from Johannesburg comprehensively outboxed experienced Colombian southpaw Melendez to win a wide unanimous decision and the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title. Scores 119-108 twice and 120-107. Lamati already holds the African Boxing Union and South African titles. As an amateur he was South African champion three times and competed at the World Championships and All-African Games but did not get through the African Qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics. He is one of those saved by boxing. As a youth he ran with the wrong crowd and was briefly imprisoned before boxing became his way of life. He owes a great deal to the late Nick Durandt. Melendez, 37, lost to Fernando Montiel for the WBO super fly title in 2007 and to Joseph Agbeko for the IBO bantam crown and was 13-1 in his last 14 fights going into this one
Buthelezi vs. Ponteras
As expected Buthelezi proves too good for Filipino Ponteras and retains his IBO title with big points difference. It was not one of Buthelezi’s most sparkling performances. Initially the South African set out to end this one early but Ponteras absorbed Buthelezi’s punches and hit back with enough of his own for Buthelezi to be forced to fight on the back foot for much of the contest as has been his usual style. After four rounds Buthelezi had already established a big lead with the cards reading 40-36 twice and 39-37 for the champion. He easily outboxed the challenger but could never stop Ponteras advancing but had done enough to increase his lead after eight to 79-73 twice and 78-74. Ponteras had a good ninth but it was not enough to turn the tide. Buthelezi finally broke through flooring Ponteras in the eleventh but had to settle for a points win. Scores 118-109, 118-111 and 118-112. Buthelezi was making the third defence of his IBO title. He is a three-division champion with the IBO have previously held their minimum and light fly titles but when he tried for a WBC title at light fly he was crushed in two rounds by Adrian Hernandez. He is the only South African to have a win over Hekkie Budler. Filipino champion Ponteras had won his last seven fights.
Magwaca vs. Talavera
Magwaca wins the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title with kayo of Nicaraguan Talavera. “Old Bones” makes it 11 wins by KO/TKO. He was world rated back in 2015 but contractual problems led to him being inactive throughout 2016. He returned to the ring in March winning the WBFederation title on a split verdict over Jason Canoy and is currently rated No 13 by the IBF. First loss by KO/TKO for Talavera but also first fight for 17 months.
Baleni vs. Nyangani
Baleni retains South African title with unanimous decision over former top amateur Nyangani. Scores 117-111, 117-114 and 115-113. Second defence of the national title for “Toyboy” who had won his last 5 fights and has a ridiculous No 8 rating from the WBA for winning their Pan African title by beating a guy with 10-5-4 record. This was the first time Nyangani, the South African No 2 and former South African amateur champion, had gone past six rounds
Kissimmee, FL: USA: Super Bantam: Daniel Lozano W TKO 2 David Carmona (20-5-5). Carmona blows his world rating and only has himself to blame. He was to have fought unbeaten Puerto Rican Jose Martinez for the vacant WBO-NABO title but Carmona came in 4lbs over the contract weight. Martinez declined to fight so Daniel Lozano was pulled in at 24 hours notice. In the first round Carmona used quicker hands and a slight edge in reach to box confidently piercing Lozano’s guard with jabs and he scored with a sizzling straight right. Carmona was bossing the second round slotting home jabs and landing a sharp left hook. Just past the two minute mark Lozano suddenly uncorked a thunderbolt of a left hook that sent Carmona flying back and down spread-eagled on the canvas. He struggled to get to his feet taking a couple of attempts and when he made he was very rocky and the fight should have been stopped. The referee let it continue and Lozano drove Carmona along the ropes landing a right to the head and a left. Another left put Carmona down on his back half out under the ropes and after initially starting to count the referee just waived the fight over. Floridian Lozano, 27, had been preparing for another fight so was in good shape. He gained revenge for a points loss to Carmona in 2015 one of three losses in a row he had suffered in tough fights coming into this one. He now has 11 wins by KO/TKO and with Carmona rated by the WBA, WBC and WBO it should lead to a world ranking spot. Disaster for 26-year-old Carmona and he only has his own carelessness with his weight to blame. He had come up short in a shot at the WBO super fly title in 2013 being halted by Omar Narvaez. He then drew with Warlito Parrenas for the interim WBA title in 2015 before losing on points to Naoya Inoue in a second shot at the WBO tile in May last year. He again lost in March this year but it was almost as good as a win as he gave Carlos Cuadras all sorts of problems before losing on points and going into this one was rated WBA 11/WBC 15/WBO 15 at super fly.
Managua, Nicaragua: Fly: Cristofer Rosales (24-3) W PTS 10 Jose Martin Tecuapetla (13-8-4). Super Light: Winston Campos (27-3-5) W KO 4 Marco Acevedo (10-2). Super Fly Keyvin Lara (21-2-1) W Yader Cardoza (22-12-1).
Rosales vs. Tecuapetla
Rosales gets back to the winning habit with hard earned victory over Mexican Tecuapetla. The world rated Nicaraguan had edges in height and reach and as long as he made use of them he was able to dominate. Tecuapetla did not let that happen very often. The Mexican was constantly getting inside and scoring with hooks from both hands and Rosales decided to match him instead of boxing. A fiery fourth typified the action with Rosales landing a series of rights to the head forcing Tecuapetla on to the back foot only for Tecuapetla to end the round driving Rosales back with a series of wild hooks. The local fighter was fighting Tecuapetla’s fight and was getting the better of the exchanges but lacked the punch to seriously hurt the Mexican and at the end of the seventh a left to the head shook Rosales. The stood and traded throughout the eighth but there was an extended break before the start of the ninth. One of the adverts on the canvas was torn and they had to wait until someone cut off the offending article and when the action did start Rosales dominated the action in the ninth and held off desperate attacks from Tecuapetla in the last. Scores 97-93, 96-92 and 96-94 all for Rosales. The 22-year-old local retains the WBC Latino title. His two losses have both come in Britain against talented little man in Khalid Yafai and Andrew Selby and he had Selby on the floor in the first round before losing a wide decision. He is rated WBC 10/IBF 14(12). Tecuapetla is due some luck. In 2014 the little 27-year-old Mexican lost a majority decision to the now IBF light fly champion Milan Melindo in Manila and in May last year lost a split verdict to Akira Yaegashi in Tokyo in a challenge for the IBF light fly title. He has been no luckier in 2017 as he fought a majority draw with Maximino Flores in April and he put up a great effort here and went away with nothing. He is No 15 light fly with the IBF.
Campos vs. Acevedo
Campos scores scary crushing kayo over Dominican Acevedo. Both fighters are southpaws and Campos used his longer reach to score from the outside. When Acevedo used his own jab it was sharp but too often he found himself on the end of the local fighter’s jab and running into counters as he came forward. Campos was able to keep Acevedo out over the first three rounds and in the fourth he landed a series of long left crosses. He forced Acevedo back towards a corner and then landed a brutal combination that put Acevedo down on his back. The knockdown was so powerful that Acevedo was lying on his back with his right leg from the knee up folded under his body and he needed considerable attention before recovering. Campos, 25, gets win No 16 by KO/TKO. He has lost only two of his last 25 fights with both of the losses to good opposition in the winner’s back yard. Acevedo, 23, a former Dominican and World Boxing Foundation champion, was just too small to be competitive
Buenos Aires: Argentina: Light: German Benitez (19-1) W PTS 10 Damian Yapur (13-7-3). Benitez outpoints Yapur in a disappointing, low key fight. Benitez scored well with head punches over the first two rounds getting through with a hard right cross in the second. Yapur just edge the third and one of his right crosses was the best punch of the fourth. The fifth was a poor round but the action picked up in the sixth with Benitez taking that one but there was too much holding. Yapur got back into the fight in the seventh hurting Benitez with a right hook to the body and looked to have edged a close eighth. Benitez needed a strong finish and he provided it winning the ninth and he scored with a heavy right cross and a left hook to the body on his way to securing the decision. The three judges each saw Benitez the winner but by wildly varying scores at 100-91, 97 ½-96 and 98-97. The 26-year-old Benitez, the Argentinian No 6, went 16-0,1ND in his first 17 fights before being floored and halted by Sergio Gil in July last year in an upset and has not really impressed since then. Yapur, 29 has struggled lately and is 2-6-1 in his last 9 fights,
Osaka, Japan: Light Fly: Tetsuya Hisada (29-9-2) W TKO 8 Atsushi Kakutani (19-6-1). Hisada retains the Japanese title and wins this battle of local boxers heading in different directions. Although Hisada has had more fights Kakutani had competed at a higher level and took an early lead. He was boxing behind his jab and landing stinging right counters with Hisada struggling to be effective. At the half way mark Kakutani’s good work had put him in the lead 49-46, 49-47 and 48-47. Hisada tried to up the pace in the sixth but again the skill and experience of Kakutani saw him edge the round. The fight changed in the seventh as the pressure from Hisada finally began to tell and a tiring Kakutani was put down by a fierce left hook. Kakutani made it to the bell but he was taking serious punishment in the eighth and the fight was stopped. First defence of the national title for 32-year-old Hisada who boxes out of the Harada gym. He has won 7 of his last 8 fights by KO/TKO and is rated IBF 9(7)/WBO 9. Kakutani, also 32, was stopped in four rounds by Adrian Hernandez for the WBC title in 2013 and this is his third and probably last attempt to win the national title.
Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Welter: Jose Del Rio (26-6) W PTS 8 Aristides Quintero (20-7-1). Local draw Del Rio outboxes Panamanian Quintero as he tries to work his way back into position to challenge for European Union title. He had too much skill for a ring rusty Quintero and won a clear unanimous decision. The 31-year-old southpaw has lost only one of his last 12 fights and that was a kayo defeat against Orland Fiordigiglio for the EU super welter title in 2015. He is down at No 14 in the EU ratings so has some work to do. Quintero, 25, had won 16 of his last 18 fights but this was his first fight for 19 months so hence his move to Europe.
July 29
New York, NY, USA: Super Light: Mikey Garcia (37-0) W PTS 12 Adrien Broner (33-3,1ND). Middle: Jermall Charlo (26-0) W TKO 4 Jorge Heiland (29-5-2). Super Fly: Rau’shee Warren (15-2,1ND) W PTS 12 McJoe Arroyo (17-2). Heavy: Jarrell Miller (19-0-1) W TKO 8 Gerald Washington (18-2-1). Light: Billy Dib (42-4,1ND) NO DECISION 3 Yardley Armenta Cruz (22-8,1ND).
Garcia vs. Broner
Already a three-division champion Garcia books his seat at the super light table with convincing win over Broner
Round 1
A very cautious start from both boxers with hardly a punch thrown with any intent. Broner was circling the perimeter of the ring and scoring with a few jabs and Garcia landed a left to the body near the bell.
10-9 Broner
Round 2
Garcia took the second. He began to let his punches go and landed a couple of good body punches but the footwork and bobbing and weaving of Broner were making him a difficult target. Broner was not throwing anything except jabs which fell short. He was doing more taunting than punching
10-9 Garcia 19-19 Even
Round 3
Garcia also took this one. He was getting through with his jab and landed three hard left hooks to the head before taking Broner to the ropes and scoring with an uppercut and more left hooks. Broner was too busy worrying about Garcia’s punches to land any of his own.
Score 10-9 Garcia 29-28 Garcia
Round 4
Broner boxed well early in this one. He was making Garcia miss wildly and getting home with some punches including a sneaky right to the head. Garcia closed the round strongly managing to trap Broner on the ropes a couple of times and scoring with an uppercut and some body punches but Broner’s better start to the round gave him the edge.
Score 10-9 Broner 38-38 Even
Round 5
Broner used a high guard here and walked forward. He was blocking most of Garcia’s punches and slotting home jabs. Garcia was getting through with some jabs but did not really break through until late in the round when he landed enough to offset Broner’s earlier work.
Score 10-9 Garcia 48-47 Garcia
Round 6
Garcia simply outworked Broner in this one. Most of his punches were being blocked by the high guard of Broner but he did score with some hefty body punches with Broner throwing very little.
Score 10-9 Garcia 58-56 Garcia
Round 7
A good round for Garcia. Broner was a little less defensive and that gave Garcia more openings. He was able to get through with powerful jabs and lefts to the body and he ended the round with the first really sustained attack scoring with shots from both hands.
Score 10-9 Garcia 68-65 Garcia
Round 8
Broner was giving rounds away. He spent much of this round just avoiding Garcia or covering up and allowing Garcia to bang in hard jabs and body shots. Again he was taunting Garcia instead of fighting. He suddenly became aggressive over the last minute and for once the fight actually became interesting but Garcia did the better work.
Score 10-9 Garcia 78-74 Garcia
Round 9
Broner’s round. From the bell he was coming forward forcing Garcia onto the back foot for the first time in the fight. He scored with quick jabs and some fast combinations and instead of firing once punch and running he stayed in the pocket and punched. Garcia landed some hard jabs but it was Broner’s three minutes.
Score 10-9 Broner 87-84 Garcia
Round 10
The style reversal continued in this one with Broner marching forward and Garcia boxing on the retreat. The difference from the ninth was that Broner was not throwing enough punches. Garcia was able to slot home jabs and land meaty hooks to the body but seemed to lack the power to hurt Broner.
Score 10-9 Garcia 97-93 Garcia
Round 11
Easily Garcia’s round. Again Broner tried to march forward with a high guard and allowed Garcia to counter. Garcia was finding plenty of gaps for his jabs, straight rights and hooks to the body with Broner just not being able to land anything of his own and swinging wildly at times.
Score 10-9 Garcia 107-102 Garcia
Round 12
Garcia wrapped up the fight by taking the last. Broner threw more punches than in previous rounds but Garcia still threw more than him and landed more to emerge a clear winner
Score 10-9 Garcia 117-111 Garcia
Official scores 116-112, 116-112 and 117-111 for Garcia
This was too much of a technical affair and Broner did not fight like a man who was desperate to win. No title at stake but much more hanging on the fight than the silly WBC Diamond belt. Garcia, 29, is now right in the mix but with the exception of Terrence Crawford there are no really big fights for Garcia at super light although if Crawford beats Julius Indongo and moves up to welter there will be four vacant titles if Garcia wants to become a four division champion. For Broner the future is less promising. He has tremendous skills but he struggled to get a split decision over Adrian Granados in February and here even though he must have known his tactics were not working he never looked as though he had the hunger to do whatever was required and went out like a lamb when he needed to be a lion.
Charlo vs. Heiland
This was really over before Heiland even climbed in the ring. His left leg was heavily taped and he had obviously injured the leg before the fight. The New York Commission had his seconds remover the tape before the fight started. Charlo looked huge alongside Heiland which just added to the Argentinian’s problems. In the first southpaw Heiland was trying to take the fight to Charlo but was hobbling with no flexibility in his left leg. His footwork such as it was was stilted and almost robotic and Charlo was able to stay out of reach and slide home some straight rights. In the second Charlo used plenty of movement with Heiland unable to adjust. He also could not go backwards and when he tried to walk forward he missed with a punch and the impetus started him toppling with Charlo landing a right to the side of the head meaning it counted as a knockdown even though Heiland was already on his way to the floor. He struggled to get up and steady his legs but was not hurt so easily able to continue. Charlo tried to finish it then firing rights and lefts with Heiland having to rely on bobbing and weaving to survive to the bell. When the bell went to start the third the referee called a doctor to the ring to examine Heiland’s left leg but the fight continued. It was painful to watch a hobbling Heiland trying to walk forward in the third. All Charlo had to do was take a step back and that would leave an open target as Heiland tumbled off balance. Charlo was scoring with hard punches from both hands and it was obvious this could not go on for long. Heiland was examined again by the doctor before the start of the fourth and then the referee also clarified that it was all right for Heiland to continue. Two right uppercuts and a straight right saw Heiland staggering in the fourth with the referee looking ready to step in. Heiland continued to try to come forward but a left clipped on the side of the head and he took another step forward and then fell sideward to the floor. He managed to get upright at five but then overbalanced and fell back into the ropes and the referee had to leap forward and catch him before he fell again. For former undefeated IBF super welter champion Charlo this was a big win as it effectively puts him in line to face the winner of the Gennady Golovkin vs. Saul Alvarez fight so a huge money fight waiting there. He will give whoever wins that a tough challenge. Heiland was taken to the hospital where it was reported that he had a severe knee strain and possible rupture of his cross ligament. He stated he had twisted the knee early in the first round and that injury was aggravated by the knockdown in the second round. Rubbish! From the moment he took his first step in the ring he had limited mobility and the wrapping around his knee is further confirmation. He should never have tried to go ahead with this fight with that injury. I can understand why he did not pull out and I have to feel sorry for him. The WBC put him to No 1 in their ratings in April 2015 so he has been waiting for over two years for a title shot and instead he ends up fighting a brute like Charlo with an injured leg.
Warren vs. Arroyo
Warren moves down to super fly and gets comfortable victory over Arroyo in an all-southpaw contest between two former Olympians both of whom had lost their titles in their last fight. Warren looked comfortable at the weight and was busier and more accurate than the Puerto Rican. He scored well with counters over the early rounds but the Cincinnati fighter is not a power puncher so Arroyo was able to get into range and stand and trade making for an entertaining contest. A clash of heads in the second saw Arroyo suffer a cut over his right eye but it was never a factor in the fight. Arroyo managed to do enough to win a round here and there but never really threatened to overturn Warren’s dominance and in the end Warren was a clear winner on all three cards. Scores 117-112 twice and 118-110 all for Warren. The 33-year-old Warren lost his WBA bantam title to Zhanat Zhakiyanov in February but now is targeting IBF super fly champion Jerwin Ancajas. Warren was No 13 in the IBF ratings and Arroyo 12 so it was effectively an IBF eliminator. Arroyo, 31, lost the IBF title to Ancajas in September so this ruins his hopes of an early return fight with the Filipino. Warren fought at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and Arroyo at the 2008 Olympics.
Miller vs. Washington
In the first Miller was walking forward behind a high guard but leaving gaps where Washington was able to score with some body punches and some rights to the head one of which seemed to shake Miller. Washington was not able to stop Miller walking forward but Miller was only throwing punches when he had Washington on the ropes. Miller was a different fighter in the second as he was throwing lots of leather and driving Washington around the ring. Washington was still able to land punches through the loose guard of Miller but a right uppercut and a right cross from Miller were the best punches in the round. Miller maintained the pressure in the third and fourth as he ignored Washington’s punches and got inside and banged to the body. The fight was one-sided in the fifth and sixth and Miller no longer needed a high guard as Washington was too tired to get any snap in his punches and with Washington trapped in a corner and absorbing a series of head punches it looked as though the bell saved him. The beating down continued in the seventh with Washington hardly able to hold his hands up and Miller also having slowed was still banging home meaty hooks. The referee visited Washington’s corner before the start of the eighth to warn Washington that he might have to stop the fight. It was another round of punishment for Washington and he was being bombarded with head punches at the bell. Washington was finished but the referee took the decision out of the hands of Washington’s corner making it clear the fight was over and without waiting he walked over to the seated Miller grabbed him by the hand and lifted the arm to show Miller was the winner. The 29-year-old 6’4” ((193cm) Miller is fat. There is no other word for a 298 ¾ lbs (135kg) guy and he is slow and predictable but he is immensely strong and seems to have a great chin he just broke Washington down and bludgeoned him to defeat. Whether those tactics would work with a more mobile boxer or a bigger puncher is questionable but he is No 6 with the WBO and 7 with both the IBF and WBA so very much a player. Washington, 35, had height and reach over Miller but just could not stop Miller’s forward march or hurt him. Washington had drawn with Amir Mansour and beaten Eddie Chambers and Ray Austin and two judges had him level on points with Deontay Wilder before he was halted in five rounds so on paper this was very much a 50/50 fight.
Dib vs. Cruz
This one was over too early. A clash of heads in the third round saw Cruz cut and he was unable to continue. Any disappointment for the Australian former IBF feather champion Dib disappeared when it was announced that he was to face Francisco Fonseca in a final eliminator to decide who gets a shot at the winner of Gervonta Davis vs. Roman Martinez.
Tucson, AZ, USA: Welter Sadam Ali (25-1) W PTS 10 Johan Perez (22-4-2,1ND). Super Welter: Patrick Teixeira (27-1) W PTS 8 Andrew Hernandez (19-6-1). Welter: Alejandro Barrera (29-3) W PTS 10 Eddie Gomez (20-3). Super Welter: Daquan Arnett (16-1) W PTS 8 Jorge Silva (22-14-2).
21
Ali vs. Perez
Ali wins unanimous decision against an aggressive Perez. Ali was forced to fight much of the time on the back foot using good upper body movement and clever footwork to offset the attacks of the experienced Venezuelan. Perez was taller with a longer reach but instead of trying to use those attributes he chose to take the fight to Ali throughout. Ali was finding plenty of gaps and scoring repeatedly with counters whilst blocking or avoiding the efforts of Perez. Ali scored a knockdown in the third. His skills kept him on top but he could never stop Perez from advancing but the Venezuelan was often wild with his punches. Ali was particularly impressive when he stepped inside and fired quick combinations and got out again before Perez could catch him. Perez’s best moments came when he could trap Ali on the ropes and land with left hooks to the body. Perez had a big moment in the eighth. He was angered by one of the many head clashes and landed a booming right which shook Ali. Perez went for broke as Ali slithered around the ropes bobbing and weaving and holding to survive. There were no more scares and Ali was a clear winner. Scores 97-92 twice and 98-91all for Ali. The 28-year-old from Brooklyn wins the vacant WBA International title and gets his third win since losing on a ninth round stoppage to Jessie Vargas for the vacant WBO title in March last year. His only current rating is No 8 spot in the IBF ratings (effectively No 6 as the first two slots are vacant) and he has the talent to climb higher. Perez, 34, a former interim WBA super light champion, a title he won by beating Paul Spadafora, is tall for the weight at 5’ 10” and an awkward handful for anyone.
Teixeira vs. Hernandez
Teixeira returns with a win. The tall Brazilian southpaw was having his first fight for 14 months but showed no rust. He just kept pumping out his jab with the smaller Hernandez having trouble getting inside. Almost 90% of the punches Teixeira throws are right jabs and he tends to lean in rather than step in with his left so they lose some snap. He is strictly a front foot fighter and uses his extended reach to keep the opposition on the back foot and mixes some nice left hooks to the body when he gets inside. The pattern of the fight did not vary much until Teixeira injured his left hand in the fifth and only used that hand sparingly over the last three rounds. Hernandez did not press enough to take advantage of that and allowed Teixeira to box his way to victory. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Teixeira. First fight for the 5’11” 26-year-old Teixeira since being destroyed in two rounds by Curtis Stevens in May last year. With his height and reach he is too good for the medium level opposition but that will not be enough when he tries to step up again. Hernandez had won 9 of his last 10 fights including an upset win last May over highly rated Russian Arif Magomedov but he was halted in three rounds by Jesse Hart in November.
Barrera vs. Gomez
Despite this being his first fight for 20 months a combination of a higher work rate and clever tactics won this one for the more experienced Mexican. Barrera figured out a way to circumvent the counter punching tactics of Gomez. Much like the tactics Carl Frampton used in his first fight with Leo Santa Cruz Barrera nipped in with a punch and then anticipated when Gomez was going to counter and took a couple of steps back leaving Gomez no target. That plus his higher punch output saw Barrera build an early lead and he needed it. In the seventh a clash of heads saw Barrera cut over his right eye and then a left hook put Barrera down. He survived and the last three rounds were all close but Barrera had done enough to hold on to his lead. Scores 96-93 twice for Barrera and 95-94 for Gomez. Barrera, 30, won his first 20 fights before losing to Armando Robles in 2012. He then won 8 of his next 9 fights only to lose on a fifth round stoppage to Errol Spence in November 2015 after which he was inactive until this fight. Bronx-born of Honduras lineage “E-boy “ Gomez, 24,won two National Junior Olympic titles and was a Ney York Golden Gloves champion. He won 19 of his first 20 fights beating some good level opposition before being blown away in 79 seconds by Rashidi Ellis last December.
Arnett vs. Silva
Floridian Arnett has no problem in getting by travelling loser Silva. Arnett won every round forcing Silva on to the back foot and scoring with hard combinations. Silva seemed more interested in clowning than fighting at times. The pressure got to a tiring Silva from the sixth as he clinched more and more to survive. He overdid it in the seventh and was docked a point for holding but stayed around to hear the final bell. Scores 80-71 for Arnett from all three judges. The 24-year-old is from Orlando-not the glitzy theme park Orlando but the tough streets of West Orlando. His only loss is to Eddie Gomez back in 2014 and he has now won five on the bounce including a good victory over Cuban Yudel Johnson. Mexican Silva is 2-10 in his last 12 fights.
Long Beach, CA, USA: Feather: Tramaine Williams (12-0,1ND) W KO 1 William Gonzalez (30-8). Light Heavy: Junior Younan (12-0) W Mike Guy (9-2-1).
Williams vs. Gonzalez
Williams blows away Gonzalez inside a round. The little southpaw exploded early putting Gonzalez down three times with the referee waiving the count after the third knockdown. With just over a minute gone Williams landed a combination to the head that sent Gonzalez into the ropes and down. Gonzalez was ready to continue after the count but Williams cut loose with both hands and again Gonzalez went back into the ropes. This time he sat on the middle rope which held him up and resulted in a second count. Gonzalez did not look badly hurt but when the action resumed Williams walked forward and landed a thunderbolt of a right that flattened Gonzalez. He was spread-eagled on the canvas out cold so no count required. The 24-year-old 5’4” (163cm) “Mighty Midget” had halted Chris Martin in June so is finally showing some power as this is only his fifth win By KO/TKO. Williams is a former National Golden Gloves champion who lost out at the final US Trials for 2012 Olympics. There is a gap in his career caused by prison time for possession of drugs and a weapon but let’s hope he has put all of that behind him as he is a hot hope. Nicaraguan Gonzalez lost a majority verdict to Joseph Agbeko for the IBF bantam title in 2008 and this is his fifth loss by KO/TKO.
Younan vs. Guy
Guy does young Younan a favour by lasting the full eight rounds which is the furthest the Brooklyn prospect has had to go for victory and in the end it was closer than Younan would have wanted. Guy was aggressive from the start with Younan scoring well with counters but despite his impressive KO % he could neither stop Guy coming forward or shake the fighter from Sacramento and only a point deducted from Guy for wrestling Younan to the canvas in the sixth was the margin in Younan’s victory. The 21-year-old from Brooklyn has scored 8 first round wins and only once previously gone past the fourth round. He had a great record as a Junior he was National Junior Golden Gloves champion and the No 1 rated Junior in the US. Guy, 35, has a sparse record but his other two losses have been to high quality opposition in the form of a points loss to Tyrone Zeuge and a stoppage by Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Durango. Mexico: Super Feather: Cris Mijares (57-8-2) W PTS 8 Rafael Hernandez (11-8-2,1ND). Welter: Ivan Alvarez (27-7) W PTS 8 Luis Vidales (12-5). Bantam: Elias Emigdio (3-0) W KO 2 Victor Herrera (2-1).
Mijares vs. Hernandez
Mijares wins unanimous decision over Hernandez but makes heavy weather of it. After a low key opening round they both let their punches go but Mijares had trouble with the height and reach of the of the Venezuelan . Mijares was lucky to escape without a cut after a clash of heads in the second round. Both landed some heavy stuff in the third and Mijares rocked Hernandez with a couple of uppercuts in the fourth. Hernandez was trying to match Mijares punch for punch and he had the edge in the fifth and sixth with Mijares forced onto the back foot. There were plenty of exchanges in the seventh and the pace began to tell on both fighters. Mijares had a big eighth as he shook Hernandez with an uppercut and then landed a series of punches that put Hernandez down. Hernandez survived the round and was still fighting hard at the final bell as Mijares boxed his way through the tenth not looking to take any chances. Scores 97-91, 97-92 and 96-93 all for the local hero Mijares. The 35-year-old southpaw, a former WBA/WBC/IBF super fly champion, has won his last eight fights including victories over Andres Gutierrez and Tomas Rojas and is No 5 with the WBC. Since losing his titles he has been unsuccessful in four challenges for other versions of a world title but is hoping to land a shot at WBC champion Miguel Berchelt. Hernandez, 34, lost in a challenge to Thai Poonsawat for the interim WBA super bantam title in 2008 but was just 2-2 in his last 4 fights.
Alvarez vs. Vidales
Alvarez outpoints Vidales. The useful southpaw had to battle with the handicap of a bad cut on his left eyebrow caused by a clash of heads but he was a clear winner getting the unanimous decision. He is 14-2 in his last 16 fights including useful wins over Javier Prieto and Abner Lopez. Vidales had won his last five fights.
Emigdio vs. Adame
Olympian Emigdio gets his first inside the distance win as a pro. A wicked left hook to the body put poor Adame down and he was counted out. The 24-year-old “Tiger de Zitlala” represented Mexico at the World Championships and the 2016 Olympics. He was 17-3 in the WSB representing Mexico Guerreros and currently serves in the Mexican Army. Adame out of his depth here.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Feather: Matias Rueda (28-1) W TKO 2 Aldimar Silva (19-12). Light Heavy: Walter Sequeira (19-4) W PTS 10 Martin Fidel Rios (22-12-4,1ND).
Rueda vs. Silva
Rueda obliterates Silva inside two rounds. The Argentinian scored with a strong right cross in the first which put Silva on the defensive. In the second the Brazilian landed a right to the head but Rueda shook it off and in turn landed a booming right to the head that put Silva down on his back. He struggled to his feet but staggered and the referee stopped the fight. The 29-year-old “Little Cobra” retains the South American title. He already holds the Argentinian title and has 25 wins by KO/TKO. His loss was a second round defeat against Oscar Valdez for the vacant WBO title in July last year and this is his second win since then. Silva, 36, now has seven losses by KO/TKO.
Sequeira vs. Rios
Sequeira gets a wide unanimous decision over experienced Rios in the first defence of his national title. Rios used his longer reach to good effect in the first round but Sequeira took over from the second. He worked his way past the jab and raked Rios with short punches to the body. From there the aggressive champion was able to keep pressing with Rios forced to spend a large part of each round pinned to the ropes and unable to find any space to counter effectively. Rios had some success in the fourth and the seventh but Sequeira swept the last three rounds clearly with a tiring Rios losing a point in the last for spitting out his mouthguard. Scores 99-91½, 98-91, 98 ½-91½. Sequeira 30, lost both of his fights in 2016 being outpointed by Avni Yildirim and knocked out by Ezekiel Maderna but had scored a win in January over Elio Trosch to collect the Argentinian title. Rios, 25, the Argentinian super middle champion, was just not strong enough to hold Sequeira off.
Tokyo, Japan: Minimum: Tsubasa Koura (11-0) W KO 4 Jaysever Abcede (14-7). Super Bantam: Yusaku Kuga (15-2-1) W PTS 10 Ryoichi Tamura (8-3-1).
Koura vs. Abcede
Koura wins the vacant OPBF title with victory over Abcede. Koura boxed cautiously behind his jab early respecting the power of the Filipino southpaw. Things began to change in the third as Koura halted Abcede in his tracks with a straight right. Abcede continued to press in the fourth but koura again landed some good rights before sinking a left into Abcede’s body. The Filipino went down in obvious distress and was counted out. The promising 22-year-old from Yokohama now has 8 wins by KO/TKO and is rated No 14 by the WBA. Abcede, 22, the Philippines No 2 light fly gets his second loss by KO/TKO and is now a very modest 4-3 in his last 7 fights.
Kuga vs. Tamura
Kuga retains the Japanese tile with close unanimous decision over underrated challenger Tamura. Kuga began in his usual aggressive style with Tamura having to take punishment but not backing down as this became a real war. Scoring with some heavy right hooks Kuga had the better of the exchanges over the first half of the fight and was well in front at 50-45, 49-46, 49-47. It was expected with his greater experience and Tamura never having gone past eight rounds before Kuga would get stronger over the second half of the fight. Then the unexpected happened as Tamura refused to crumble and instead stormed through the second half of the fight. Tamura had good rounds in the sixth and seventh. Kuga had the better of the early action in the eighth but Tamura had Kuga struggling by the end of the round. They fought hard over the ninth and tenth with Kuga probably just settling things with a strong finish but it was close. Scores 97-94 twice and 96-94. The 26-year-old Kuga has lost only one of his last twelve fights and stopped his conqueror in a return. He is rated WBC 11/WBA 12/IBF 15. Tamura, 30, the Japanese No 5,had won his last 5 fights.
Tlalpan, Mexico: Super Bantam: Emanuel Navarrete (21-1) W TKO 5 Jhon Gemino (16-9-1). Navarrete posts another inside the distance win as his power proves too much for Gemino. Navarrete took the first round he had a big edge in reach , kept switching guards and scored with stabbing jabs. When he came forward he fired left hooks into the body of Gemino who banged back strongly at the end of the round. Navarrete started out as a southpaw in the second but did not look comfortable. He switched back but then Gemino launched a furious attack which stirred Navarrete to action and he blasted through with shots from both hands shaking Gemino with a couple of left hooks. Gemino absorbed some brutal punishment in the third as Navarrete drove him around the ring landing long rights hooks and uppercuts. The storm abated for a while in the fourth as Navarrete slowed his work rate. He went to work again in the fifth and was driving Gemino around the perimeter of the ring again unloading long rights and left hooks and uppercuts until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The 22-year-old “Cowboy” makes it 18 wins by KO/TKO. He has won his last 16 fights, 13 inside the distance against a reasonable but not too tough opposition and is rated an unbelievable No 4 with the WBA although he has never met anyone rated anywhere. He has power but wastes his energy when he turns southpaw as he does not get any leverage on his punches in a right foot forward stance and his defence needs tightening. Former Philippines champion Gemino, 25, drops to 4 losses by KO/TKO with his best result being a one round stoppage of Toka Kahn Clary in September.
Managua, Nicaragua: Super Bantam: Alex Mejia (8-0) W PTS 11 Ramiro Blanco (16-2-3). “ Popeye” Mejia wins the vacant WBA Fedelatin title with split decision over fellow Nicaraguan Blanco. This was a great and very close little fight where the less skilled Mejia triumphed partially due to Blanco’s sluggish start and also to Mejia’s all-out aggression. Mejia swept the first three rounds as Blanco just could not get going. From the fourth Blanco had his jab working and began to eat into Mejia’s lead. The rounds were all close and both fighters suffered cuts but Mejia had done a good job of defending his early lead and deserved the decision. Scores 107-103 ½,106 ½-105 for Mejia and 106 ½-104 for Blanco. Mejia was a top level amateur winning a gold medal at the Central American Championships but his fighting style is more suited to the pro ranks. Blanco was unbeaten in his first 17 fights before losing to Can Xu in China for the WBA International title in September last year. He had rebounded with a couple of inside the distance wins over reasonable level opposition.
Puerto Armuelles, Panama: Welter: Brad Solomon (26-1) W David Bency (11-6-1,1ND). Fly: Muhammad Waseem (6-0) W Ivan Trejos (7-7-2).
Solomon vs. Bency
Solomon returns to the ring with comfortable points win over Nicaraguan Bency. Scores 90-82 twice and 90-81. Solomon wins the vacant WBA Fedebol title in his first fight since his only pro loss a split decision against Konstantin Ponomarev in April last year. Solomon, 34, has great technical ability but contract problems and a failure to excite the fans have held him back. Nicaraguan Bency had lost only one of his last ten fights.
Waseem vs. Trejos
Waseem remains unbeaten with easy win over Trejos Waseem made a slow measured start. He tracked the retreating Trejos around the ring looking for an opening. Trejos was stabbing out jabs and occasionally lunging forward throwing punches with Waseem blocking the punches but not really throwing many himself. He let his hands go more in the second with Trejos just looking to stay out of trouble. In the third Waseem backed Trejos into a corner and landed a left and a right to the head. Initially Trejos looked as though he was going to try to fight his way out of the corner but then he turned away bending over and Waseem landed another right as Trejos went down. He got up but made it clear he was not going to continue. An angered Waseem gesticulated for Trejos to fight on then turned away in disgust. The 29-year-old Korean-based Pakistani holds the WBC Silver title and is their No 1. Panamanian Trejos is 1-4 in his last 5 fights.
Paranaque City, Philippines: Light Fly: Jonathan Taconing (25-3-1) W TKO 3 Silem Sirang (8-14-1).
Just a gentle outing for highly rated Taconing. He was a few classes above Indonesian Sirang and floored him three times in the third for a stoppage. The 30-year-old Filipino southpaw has lost only two of his last 24 fights but they were both biggies. He lost on a technical decision against Kompayak for the WBC light fly title in 2012 and last July lost against Ganigan Lopez with both fights being for the WBC light fly title. He holds the WBC International title and is rated WBO 2/WBC 3 so there should be a third title shot somewhere down the line if he remains unbeaten. Sirang has won only one of his last seven fights.
San Juan, Puerto Rico: Super Welter: Marcos Osorio (8-0-1) DREW 8 Richard Gutierrez (30-17-2,2ND). Light: Nestor Bravo (11-0) W TKO 1 Hector Fernandez (3-6).
Osorio vs. Gutierrez
The WBC Fecarbox title remains vacant after these two fought to a draw. Osorio made a good start and looked to be building his way to a win until he injured his right hand in the third round. From there the local prospect had to rely heavily on his jab and Gutierrez was able to take chances as he pressed hard. Osorio showed excellent movement but without a right he was always going to find it hard to win this one against the much more experienced Colombian. Scores 77-75 for Osorio,77-75 for Gutierrez and 76-76. Osorio, a former Pan American Youth champion, wants a return to show that he can beat Gutierrez when he has two good hands. Gutierrez, 39, had a huge advantage when it comes to experience but this was his first fight for 16 months.
Bravo vs. Fernandez
Bravo gets this one over quickly as he put fellow Puerto Rican Fernandez twice for a first round stoppage. The 23-year-old prospect has seven wins by KO/TKO. As an amateur he became well known in Puerto Rico when he beat Felix Verdejo and almost torpedoed Verdejo’s chances of appearing at the 2012 Olympics. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for late choice Fernandez.
Manchester, England: Super Feather: Zelfa Barrett (18-0) W TKO 1 Jordan Ellison (7-11). Middle: Rafael Chiruta (13-39-1) W TKO 1 Reece Cartwright (17-1).
Barrett vs. Ellison
Barrett continues to look a real prospect as he destroys Ellison with two knockdowns. Ellison made a confident start moving forward behind his jab. Barrett was on the back foot just taking his time looking for an opening. He flashed out a right to the head and a couple of body punches. Ellison came forward again with a jab and a right cross and was still taking the fight to a retreating Barrett. The next time Ellison moved in Barrett nailed him with a right to the head that put Ellison down on his knees. He struggled to get up but made it and walk forward when asked to by the referee. Barrett finished in style opening Ellison up with three jabs and then landing a right to the head that had Ellison down and unable to beat the count. Now 11 wins by KO/TKO for the 24-year-old Manchester “Brown Flash” who gets his eighth win by KO/TKO in his last nine fights. One to watch. Only the second loss by KO/TKO for Ellison who came to fight only to be obliterated by those rights from Barrett
Chiruta vs. Cartwright
This one went to script for most of the first round. The unbeaten Cartwright made use of his 6’3” height and the added reach to stab home jabs and step in with lefts and rights to head and body. Chiruta was almost static just hiding behind a high guard. When he did react it was with huge wide swings which Cartwright easily avoided. Suddenly with Cartwright trapped on the ropes Chiruta landed an overhand right and then another sending Cartwright to his knees. He arose immediately only to be caught with another right. Chiruta landed punch after punch but somehow Cartwright kept upright and tried to fight back but a right to the temple had his legs wobbling and the fight was stopped with just ten seconds to go in the round. This is not the first time the 37-year-old Spanish-based Romanian has sprung and upset. Back in 2013 he battered top European Ruben Varon to defeat in two rounds and in his last fight in May floored and outpointed unbeaten Bulgarian Amaro Diallo (19-0). If he does this too often the work will dry up. Cartwright, 23, the IBF youth champion, had won 10 of his last 11 fights by KO/TKO so this was a huge upset.
July 30
Bakersfield, CA, USA: Welter: Victor Ortiz (32-6-2) W TKO 4 Saul Corral (25-10). Super Welter: Nat Gallimore (19-1-1) W RTD 5 Justin DeLoach (17-2). Light: Karlos Balderas (2-0) W KO 1 Eder Amaro (3-4).
Ortiz vs. Corral
Ortiz returns to the ring and overpowers Corral for an inside the distance victory. Ortiz was firing hurtful southpaw lefts to the body and crowding Corral from the start. Corral was on the retreat and really did not have the skill or the power to keep Ortiz out. Corral was forced to trade in the second and a left to the head had him staggering. Ortiz kept up the pressure. Corral was scoring well in the trading but Ortiz had the bigger punch. Corral was constantly clinching and was given a stern warning at the end of the round. Ortiz was still ploughing forward in the third scoring with long powerful lefts and Corral clinched yet again and the referee deducted a point from him. Ortiz continued to land lefts to the body and in the last action of the round he got though with a succession of head punches. In the fourth Ortiz pinned Corral to the ropes and landed a series of punches ending with a devastating left that dumped Corral on the canvas on his rear. He somehow struggled to his feet but was in a bad way. He convinced the referee he was able to continue but when the action resumed Ortiz batter him on to the ropes and landed a barrage of head shots that brought the referee jumping in to stop the fight. The 30-year-old former WBC welter champion was having his first fight since being knocked out in four rounds by Andre Berto in April last year. We will need to see him against stronger opposition to find out how this comeback will work out. Only the third loss by KO/TKO for Corral who had taken both Sadam Ali and Josesito Lopez the full ten rounds in the last ten months.
Gallimore vs. DeLoach
Gallimore springs big surprise as he beats world rated DeLoach in an exciting slugging match. This one was not for the faint hearted as these two were exchanging bombs from the start. Near the end of the first round Gallimore caught DeLoach with a right to the body followed by a vicious left hook that sent him tumbling to the floor face down. DeLoach was up at four and the bell went as the eight count was completed. It was bombs away again in the second. DeLoach landed some heavy stuff but it did not faze Gallimore who was talking to DeLoach all through the round. DeLoach scored with a blistering right uppercut but in the next exchange a right from Gallimore had DeLoach stumbling wildly and another right followed by a left hook sent DeLoach down on the canvas and half way out through the bottom rope. He was up at nine and then survived some heavy pressure and in the dying seconds of the round he was staggered by a left and then landed a right of his own that stiffened Gallimore’s legs and briefly Gallimore looked in trouble. Already there had been more excitement in this fight than in the twelve rounds between Garcia and Broner. The pace dropped in the third but it was still as brutal. Both were taking and giving thunderous punches and both were urging the other man to bring it on. DeLoach seemed to be getting on top. No real change in the fourth as these two loaded up on their punches and pounded each other. Gallimore was scoring with some neck-snapping uppercuts and DeLoach seemed to be weakening. It was all Gallimore in the fifth as connected time and again with vicious uppercuts. DeLoach tried to punch back but late in the round another right to the head had his legs wobbling and he held desperately to get to the bell. When he went back to his corner he collapsed on his stool and overbalanced and almost fell out of the ring. His corner retired him. Huge, huge win for the 29-year-old Illinois-based Jamaican who now has 16 wins by KO/TKO. His only loss was a split decision against experienced Lithuanian Virgilijus Stapulionis in June last year and this is his sixth win by KO/TKO since then. The 24-year-old DeLoach was a firm favourite here. Of his last four victims three were unbeaten and the four had combined records of 57-1. He was rated IBF 4(3)/WBA 10/WBC 14but has blown those ratings and has some considerable rebuilding to do.
Balderas vs. Amaroo
US Olympian Balderas did not hang around too long. One crippling body punch put Amaroo down and he could not beat the count. All over in 96 seconds. In his first pro fight his opponent retired after the bell ending the first round so Balderas is no time waster. The 20-year-old Californian qualified for the Olympics through the WSB where he was 5-1 over two seasons and he got through to the quarter-finals in Rio before losing to Cuban Lazaro Alvarez. Balderas another name to note. Second loss by KO/TKO for Amaroo.
Qunigdao, China: Heavy: Jun Long Zhang (18-0) W KO 1 Osborne Machimana (22-10-2) Zhang retains his WBA Oceania title with first round stoppage of South African fat man Machimana. The 35-year-old Chinese fighter has won all of his 18 fights by KO/TKO and has taken less than 36 rounds to do so but his opposition has not been strong. No weights given but Machimana, 38, is 6’3 ½” (192cm) and weighed 299lbs (135kg) for a fight in April which tells you all you need to know about him. This is his sixth loss by KO/TKO
Osaka, Japan: Bantam: Mark John Yap (27-12) W TKO 4 Kentaro Masuda (27-8). Middle: Koki Tyson (13-2-2) W PTS 12 Brandon Lockhart Shane (8-6-1). Super Welter: Ratchasi (9-3) W TKO 11 Jumbo Petagine (10-5).
Yap vs. Masuda
Yap holds on to his OPBF title with a remarkable turnaround. The Japanese-based Filipino was floored in the first by a right counter that put him face down on the canvas. Yap beat the count but heavy rights floored him twice more and after he made it to his feet he was saved by the bell. Masuda tried to finish it in the second but Yap recovered well and in the third he stopped Masuda in his tracks with two choice uppercuts. Yap ended it in the fourth flooring Masuda twice to force the stoppage. First defence of the OPBF title for “The Journey Man” who has 13 wins by KO/TKO. Japanese bantam champion Masuda, the OPBF No 2, had won his last six fights.
Tyson vs. Shane
Another successful OPBF champion as Tyson outpoints Shane. The size difference was huge here with Tyson standing 6’3” (190cm) and American Shane 5’6” (168cm). It didn’t help Shane’s case that Tyson is also a southpaw. Tyson was able to use his reach to score on the outside and floored Shane in the fourth. Shane recovered and tightened his defence and took the fight to Tyson getting some success. After eight rounds the cards showed Tyson in front 79-73, 77-72 and 76-74. Tyson stuck to his boxing and increased his lead but was rocked momentarily in the tenth before easing his way to victory. Scores 119-109, 117-109 and 115-111. The 24-year-old local has won 11 of his last 12 fights. Shane, who hails from Brooklyn, had never gone past eight rounds before and only once past four.
Ratchasi vs. Petagine
Ratchasi made it a treble for OPBF title holders as he recorded a late stoppage of local fighter Petagine. Petagine had edges in height and reach but Ratchasi applied plenty of pressure and found his way inside enough to build an early read being up on two cards 40-36 and 39-37 and even at 38-38 on the third. The champion continued to get stronger and widened his gap by outhustling Petagine over the middle rounds and after eight was up on all three cards at 78-74 twice and 79-72. Petagine had never been passed eight rounds before and he tired badly and was taking too much punishment and his corner threw in the towel in the eleventh. The 32-year-old Ratchasi was making the first defence of his OPBF title. He has an unimpressive record but has shown considerable improvement in winning his last three fights. Petagine, the OPBF No 11, has won only one of his last four fights. His full name is Jumbo Oda Nobunaga Shoten Petagine but life is too short for me to use that.
Fight of the week: Nat Gallimore vs. Justin DeLoach a war of attrition with both fighters rocked at times.
Fighter of the week: Mikey Garcia as he almost outclasses Adrien Broner and puts himself in line to become a four division champion
Punch of the week: Quite a few candidates but I go for the pulverising right from Tyrone Williams that flattened William Gonzalez with honourable mentions to the left hook from Daniel Lozano that effectively ended his fight against David Carmona and the left from Victor Ortiz that sent Saul Corral down in a heap against the ropes.
Upset of the week: Sho Kimura’s win over Shiming Zou with honourable mention to Gallimore’s win over DeLoach
One to watch: Tramaine Williams
