Check out Eric Armit’s comprehensive report in The Week In Boxing – September 4, 2017!
Highlights:
-Danny Roman batters Shun Kobo over nine rounds to win the secondary WBA title
-Antonio Margarito gets lucky technical victory over Carson Jones
-British stars of the future Joe Cordina, Conor Benn, Joshua Buatsi and Lawrence score wins
-Young Mexican guns Jaime Munguia and Eduardo Hernandez pound their opponents in early endings lifting their combined records to 49-0-3 with 41 wins by KO/TKO
August 31
Panama City, Panama: Bantam: Ricardo Nunez (29-6) W PTS 9 Iwier Henriquez (10-10-1,1ND). Nunez wins the vacant WBA Fedecaribe title. It looked like an early night when the Panamanian floored Hernandez twice in the first round. The Venezuelan survived to the bell but was down again in the second. Nunez tried hard to end things in the third but Henriquez was slowly recovering from the disastrous start and from the fourth onwards he found some gaps as Nunez continued to try for an inside the distance win and although he did not win a round he was never really in danger again. Scores 90-79 twice and 90-80 all for Nunez. The 29-year-old “Mathematicion” lost to Moruti Mthalane for the IBF fly title and Juan Carlos Reveco for the secondary WBA title and this was his first fight for 11 months. Henriquez was having his second shot at this title and is now 1-6,1ND in his last 8 fights
September 1
London, England: Light Heavy: Jake Ball (10-1) W PTS 10 Joe Sherriff (11-1). Super Welter: Ted Cheeseman (10-0) W DISQ 3 Francesco Lezzi (9-9-1).Super Feather: Joe Cordina (4-0) W TKO 1 Jamie Speight (15-13). Welter: Connor Benn (8-0) W TKO 2 Kane Baker (4-1). Light Heavy: Joshua Buatsi (2-0) W TKO 5 Baptiste Castegnaro (8-13). Cruiser: Lawrence Okolie (5-0) W PTS 6 Blaise Mendouo (3-4).
Ball vs. Sherriff
Ball gets points victory over Sherriff in this all-southpaw scrap. Both started cautiously getting their jabs working. Ball had a big second. He slotted home a right jab and as Sherriff went back also landed a left to the body. Neither punch looked hard and it seemed as though Sherriff’s legs slipped out under him and he pitched forward touching the canvas with his gloves. He was up immediately but after the eight count Ball pounced on him. Sherriff was in deep trouble and dropped to one knee under a storm of punches from Ball, Sherriff lasted to the bell but it was a disastrous round for him. Sherriff came out firing in the third looking to claw back those lost points and it developed into a real crowd pleaser. Sherriff had to force the fight and he scored with some good straight lefts but Ball was countering well and was more accurate. Sherriff had a good eighth as he hammered home two straight lefts which shook Ball but ball bounced back with a good ninth and outscored Sherriff in the last. Referee’s score 97-94 for Ball. Adding up the scores was all the referee had to do as this was a fast, open contest with hardly a clinch and no naughty stuff. A credit to both fighters. The 24-year-old 6’4” (193cm) Ball gets his third win since a shock first round loss to JJ McDonagh in November. Sherriff tried to overcome the deficit from that second round and showed good skills and stamina in his first ten round fight.
Cheeseman vs. Lezzi
Cheeseman gets unsatisfactory win as Lezzi is thrown out for pushing the referee. No idea where the aggression came from as from the bell he actually managed to go backwards never strayed more than one step away from the ropes and did not throw a single punch in the three minutes. Cheeseman chased hard and threw some good rights but it was more like a foot race than boxing. Before the bell for the second round the referee warned Lezzi to start throwing punches. Cheeseman was throwing punches and a straight right put Lezzi down. He was up and talking to the referee about what I have no idea. Cheeseman chased the retreating Italian who continued to throw remarks at the referee and also his corner and again made no effort to throw a punch. After the bell he walked over to the referee to again complain about something and was sent back to his corner. Both Lezzi and his second left the corner and again approached the referee claiming that Cheeseman had landed a punch to the back of the head but were again sent back to their corner. It was becoming farcical. In the third Cheeseman continued to chase Lezzi and Lezzi continued to throw remarks at the referee. After two minutes during which Lezzi never threw a punch the referee stopped the action to warn Lezzi about lunging in with his head down. Lezzi then pushed the referee waived his arms and walked back to his corner and the referee disqualified him. It was a farce as a contest which also left Cheeseman disgusted over a wasted night. Lezzi was a disgrace.
Cordina vs. Speight
Cordina blows away useful test Speight inside the first round. Cordina showed a fast accurate jab and then used the jab to set Speight up for a right cross which shook the more experienced fighter. As he trapped Speight on the ropes Cordina landed some more quality punches with Speight on the back foot trying to survive the storm. A left hook followed by a right uppercut again had Speight hurt. Cordina trapped Speight on the ropes and unloaded with hooks and uppercuts and the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight. The Welsh 25-year-old has glittering amateur credentials winning a gold medal at the European Championships, a bronze at the Commonwealth Championships and a silver medal at the World Combat Games. He also represented Wales at the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics. He has won his four fights inside the distance, three of them in the first round. Speight, 28, has been used as a test for many of the young boxers coming through and this is the first time he has been beaten inside the first round.
Benn vs. Baker
Benn’s power proves too much for Baker. Baker made a busy start stabbing out his jab and staging some leaping attacks. Over the second half of the round Benn began to let his hands go and late in the round a straight right sent Kane staggering and it was only the ropes that prevented him going down. Benn was fired up at the start of the second throwing fast, hard combinations. The referee stopped the action to take a point from Baker for a deliberate butt and Baker was proving an awkward opponent. That changed when Benn landed a powerful left hook to the chin that shook Baker badly. As he dived forward trying to punch his way out of trouble a right to the head saw him pitch down face forward to the canvas. He was up quickly and seemed to be protesting that he had tripped and walked away from the referee. The referee asked him to put his gloves up but he did not do so and the fight was stopped. The 20-year-old son of Nigel has power and good skills and is progressing well. This is his sixth win by KO/TKO and there is no need to rush such an obviously talented young fighter. Before turning pro he had 22 fights in Australia but never competed at the top level there. First loss inside the distance for Baker who certainly came to fight.
Buatsi vs. Castegnaro
Buatsi gets stoppage of Frenchman Castegnaro. Buatsi was up against an awkward opponent who continually rushed forward head down throwing wild swipes and did lots of clinching making for an untidy fight. Buatsi stuck to his boxing but had to be careful not to get caught by Castegnaro’s head in those rushes. Despite 20 pro fights Castegnaro had not learnt how to punch and flapped his right with an open glove. Buatsi landed some heavy head shots at the end of the second but the bell went before he could follow-up. Castegnaro back-pedalled and held his way through the third with Buatsi showing his irritation. Castegnaro had some success with his swings in the fourth but was also being caught with powerful rights and from Buatsi. He was cut over his right eye and was too exhausted to hold his hands up and stumbled to the floor just before the bell. The Frenchman was finished in the fifth. He was totally exhausted and after a left to the body from Buatsi he stepped back and went down on one knee and the referee stopped the fight. Against an opponent such as Castegnaro there is no way Buatsi could look good but he got the job done. The 24-year-old Ghanaian-born Buatsi won a bronze medal at the European Championships and was a revelation as he looked unlucky to have to settle for a bronze medal in Rio. Opponents such as Castegnaro are a necessary part of his introduction to the pro ranks. Castegnaro is 2-9 in his last 11 fights but this is only the second time he has been stopped.
Okolie vs. Mendouo
Okolie taken past the first round against tough Mendouo. Okolie was letting his hands go early but Mendouo, who is based in Britain was not intimidated and fired back although a bit wildly. Okolie had big edges in height and reach and was able to score on the outside but Mendouo got inside enough to make things uncomfortable for Okolie. When the bell to start the second round sounded it was the first time in Okolie’s fledgling career that he had to come out for the second round. Okolie scored with some hard rights early in the second but Mendouo absorbed them and marched forward. Okolie continued to tee-off on the advancing Mendouo but was under pressure and his work looked ragged and he was being forced to hold inside. Okolie was the one landing the cleaner punches but Mendouo was taunting him and indulged in some clowning. Mendouo dropped his hands at the start of the fourth and paid for it as a heavy right from Okolie put him down. He was up quickly and saw out the round comfortably. Okolie scored with some quick combinations at the beginning of the fifth but then let himself be dragged into a brawl. It was more of the same in the sixth with what clean work there was coming from Okolie. Referee’s score 59-54 for Okolie. The 24-year-old from Hackney had taken just over five minutes to end his other four fights so this was a good test for him and he will have some lessons to take on board. Four losses in a row now for Mendouo. He was wild at times but was strong and awkward. As an amateur he represented Cameroon at the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. He also won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and a gold medal at the African Championships
Los Angeles, CA, USA: Feather: Manny Robles Jr (14-0) W RSC 7 Jose Estrella (18-13-1). Light: Everton Lopes (5-0) W RSC 2 Daniel Bastien (4-7).
Robles impresses with kayo of gutsy Estrella. Robles had Estrella on the back foot in the first scoring with sharp jabs and quick rights. Estrella was coming forward more in the second getting through with jabs and left hooks but with ten seconds to go as he had Robles trapped on the ropes and was firing hooks and uppercuts he left himself wide open and was floored by a sweeping left hook. He was up quickly and did not look badly hurt and the bell went as the referee completed then eight count. It was phone booth stuff in the third as they just stood and traded hooks and uppercuts but Robles took the fourth with a series of quick accurate jabs and left hooks to the body. Estrella closed the round with a furious attack but lacked the power to match Robles. The fifth also went to Robles and a wide left hook opened a cut over the right eye of Estrella. Robles scored heavily late in the sixth. Estrella was under fire from hurtful combinations in the seventh and a heavy right to the head put him down on his knees and he just watched the referee count to ten. Now 6 wins by KO/TKO for the 23-year-old Californian. He is the son of Manny Robles who trains Oscar Valdez, Jesse Magdaleno and Michael Conlan. Estrella took a lot of punishment before resigning himself to defeat and his second inside the distance loss in a row to an unbeaten fighter.
Lopes vs. Bastien
Lopes returns with a win. The former amateur star put Bastien down in the first with a body punch and was pounding Bastien on the ropes in the second when the referee stopped the fight. First contest in two years for Lopes an elite level two-time Olympian and World Championship gold medal winner. He beat Jeff Horn, Jose Pedraza, Anthony Yigit, Denis Berinchyk and many others before surrendering his vest. Six losses in a row for Bastien.
Sydney, Australia: Light: Kye MacKenzie (17-1) W TKO 6 Jonel Alibio (21-19-5).
Mackenzie wins the WBA-Oceania East West title with stoppage of game Filipino Alibio. Mackenzie had huge edges in height and reach. He dominated from the start and won the first five rounds on all three cards. He continued to pound Alibio in the sixth until the referee mercifully stopped the fight to save Alibio from more punishment. The 26-year-old “Mr Frenzy” makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO and is rolling again after having only one fight in 2016. Alibio, 34, a former OPBF featherweight champion, drops to four losses by KO/TKO.
Matamoros, Mexico: Light: Adrian Estrella (27-1) W TKO 4 Roberto Almazan (4-7). Estrella returns with a win. It took Estrella a couple of rounds to shed the rust and then he went to work. He floored the overmatched Almazan in the third and twice more in the fourth and the fight was over. Win No 24 by KO/TKO for 25-year-old “Diamante”. This is his first fight since only just scraping past oldie DeMarcus Corley on a majority decision in April last year. Now he needs to work himself into the ratings. Now 4 losses in his last 5 fights for Almazan.
St John’s, New Zealand: Heavy: Hemi Ahio (10-0) W PTS 10 Daniel Tai (22-11-4). New Zealand champion Ahio wins the vacant IBO Oceania title with wide unanimous decision over Tai. Ahio had a big edge in reach over the 5’7” (170cm) Tai and was the lighter and quicker man. He continually forced the fight and scored consistently with his jab but it lacked power and the little fireplug Tai was able to get inside and bang away to the body. Ahio showed more power with his left hooks and short rights and was in charge when he boxed at distance but Tai is a little tank and he kept rumbling forward. Eventually Tai tired badly and was exhausted in the tenth when a right to the head put him down. He beat the count and brawled his way to the bell. Scores 98-91 twice and 99-90 all for Ahio. The 27-year-old Ahio had never been past the fourth round before so this was useful experience. He showed some good skills but his footwork looked very stilted and he needs more snap in his jab. The 40-year-old Tai had taken highly touted prospect Junior Fa the distance in March only losing on a majority decision. The only fighter to stop him is Danny Green way back in 2001.
Barranquilla, Colombia: Fly: Ronald Ramos (40-16-4) W PTS 8 Pablo Carrillo (21-5) This was never supposed to end the way it did. It was meant to be a gift second win for Carrillo since returning from a successful campaign in Japan but veteran Ramos spoiled the party by winning a split decision over world rated Carrillo. Ramos was badly hurt in the first round but made it the bell. After that he used his southpaw jab and his considerable height and reach advantages over the diminutive 5’0 ½” (154cm) Carrillo and despite tiring late took the deserved decision. Scores 77-75 twice for Ramos and 77-75 for Carrillo. The 40-year-old Ramos, who will celebrate his 20th year as a pro in November, lost to Julio Cesar Miranda for the WBO fly title in 2010 and then just became another opponent on the record of good level flyweights. Carrillo, 29, the WBA No 15, had gone the distance twice with Luis Concepcion and was outpointed by Kazuto Ioka but had won his last five fights.
September 2
Chihuahua, Mexico: Super Welter: Antonio Margarito (41-8,1ND) W TEC DEC 7 Carson Jones (40-12-3,2ND). Super Welter: Jaime Munguia (25-0) W KO 2 Uriel Gonzalez (16-3-1). Middle: Ramon Alvarez (24-6-3,1ND) DREW 8 Johnny Navarrete (33-10-2 ).
Margarito vs. Jones
Margarito gets very questionable win over Jones as the fight is stopped due to a cut suffered by Margarito in the second and the stoppage come when a totally exhausted Margarito was on his way to defeat. Carson took the fight to Margarito immediately letting go long rights and left hooks. They exchanged heavy punches in a close round but Jones looked to have edged it with his better start. In the second just a few seconds after the bell there was a clash of heads. Margarito backed off pawing at his right eye. The referee stopped the action and asked for the doctor to examine a cut that had opened over the right eye of Margarito and after a lengthy examination the fight continued and it was unrelenting savagery as they tossed bombs at each other to the bell. Again Jones looked to have been the more effective and he shook Margarito with a right to the head. Margarito took the third and fourth clearly. he peppered Jones with jabs, hooks and uppercuts. Jones kept rolling forward into the punches and was swinging some wild shots. Both showed signs of tiring from the all-out punch fest. In the fifth. As Jones lunged in his head banged into the face of Margarito and the referee deducted a point for a butt. Margarito was throwing more and was more accurate with his punches. Jones was just head down and swipe. Some of those swipes landed but not enough. Jones had a good sixth as now his wild swings were connecting to the head of a tiring Margarito who was making no real effort to block them and although Margarito was scoring with hooks it was Jones landing the power shots. Margarito was exhausted in the seventh. He had no power in his punches and Jones was just walking through them and landing booming head punches with both hands and Margarito dropped to his knees with exhaustion when he missed a punch. He was trapped on the ropes with Jones teeing off as the bell went and it was clear he was finished for the night. In the interval the doctor examined the cut over Margarito’s eye and decided that the fight should be stopped. The cut had been dripping blood in every round since it occurred and had not worsened. Jones realised that it was going to go to the cards and he left his corner to protest the decision to stop the fight but in vain. Scores 67-64 twice and 68-64 all for Margarito. The 39-year-old former IBF. WBA and WBO champion can consider himself lucky as he staring at defeat until the fight was called off. Talk of a fight with Miguel Cotto particularly in view of the cheating Margarito practised in the past. Even with concrete in his glove he would not last six rounds with Cotto. Jones showed once again that if you give him even a hint that he could win a fight he is a different fighter and capable of giving anyone an uncomfortable night-as Kell Brook can confirm.
Munguia vs. Gonzalez
Munguia gets another inside the distance victory. The first round saw Munguia using a quick jab to set Gonzalez up for his right cross. Gonzalez attacked in short bursts in an interesting first round. Munguia was still throwing right crosses early in the second but suddenly a left hook had Gonzalez going one way and his legs going another. He tried to punch his way out of trouble but was shaken again by a couple of hooks. He took some punishment when trapped on the ropes but fought his way out and was taking the fight to Munguia with the crisis seemingly past. As the round was ending a left to the side of the head sent Gonzalez into the ropes and a huge right hand followed by a left hook that clipped him on the chin sent Gonzalez down to the canvas on his face. The referee counted Gonzalez out but before he reached ten the doctor was already standing behind him waiting to examine Gonzalez. The 20-year-old from Tijuana has 21 wins by KO/TKO including 15 in his last 16 fights. No big names on his record yet but he had over 60 amateur fights and won a number of trophies and looks to have a solid technique and real power. Gonzalez, local sources gave his record as 18-2-1 going into the fight, had won 4 of his last 5 fights with the loss being a split decision against world rated Canadian Francis Lafreniere in Quebec in February.
Alvarez vs. Navarrete
Alvarez and Navarrete end up all even after an entertaining scrap. Both fighters tried to establish domination early but there was back-and-forth action all the way. Navarette had the better jab but Alvarez was able to bull his way past it and land clubbing hooks inside. The pace dropped in the third with Alvarez edging in front with his more accurate punching. Navarette surprised Alvarez with a furious attack at the start of the fourth before Alvarez fired back. Navarette staged a strong finish to take the fifth but over the sixth and seventh there was nothing between them as they both continued to land hard punches and although Alvarez looked to have taken the last he had to settle for a draw. Scores 77-75 for Alvarez, 77-75 for Navarrete and 76-76.Ramon, the elder brother of Saul, is a tough battler but can’t seem to just climb the next step up to the top level. He has won and lost in fights with Omar Chavez and only lost on a split decision against Margarito in August last year. Navarrete is a good journeyman-type who has a win over Jorge Paez Jr. but lost on points to Munguia and Custio Clayton earlier this year.
Leon, Mexico: Super Feather: Eduardo Hernandez (24-0-3) W KO 3 Raul Centeno (20-4-1). Karim Arce (12-0) W PTS 8 Ivan Meneses (19-16-1).
Hernandez vs. Centeno
Yet another impressive performance by youngster Hernandez. Centeno showed some nice skills in the first round. He worked well with his jab, had good movement and scored with some serious head punches. Hernandez was walking forward loading up on every punch raking Cermeno with swingeing hooks and uppercuts and looking dangerous but also leaving too many gaps in his defence. Centeno again boxed neatly in the second. He was permanently on the back foot but moving well and catching the oncoming Hernandez with hooks and uppercuts. Hernandez came on strong just before the bell driving Cermeno to the ropes and landing some eye-catching combinations. Centeno had Hernandez on the back foot at the start of the third and scored with a scorching right uppercut that jarred Hernandez’s head back. Disaster struck just seconds later for the Argentinian as a short right to the chin from Hernandez stiffened Centeno’s lags and a second put him down on his back. He rolled over onto his face but got no further as the referee completed the ten count. Still only 19 Hernandez has compiled some impressive statistics since turning pro at 15 when he took up boxing to protect his then overweight body from bullies. Now he is the bully with 20 wins in a row, 17 by KO/TKO in an overall total of 20 wins by KO/TKO in his career to date. He retains his WBC Youth title, is rated No 7 by the WBC and already has a win over former WBC champion Victor Terrazas. He will have to tighten his defence and was lucky that Centeno is not a puncher (8 wins by KO/TKO) but he is certainly an exciting prospect. Centeno, 29, had a 10-0-1 streak broken by consecutive losses to Carlos Ruiz and former WBNO title challenger Vicente Rodriguez but had scored a low level win in November. This is the first time he has lost by KO/TKO.
Arce vs. Meneses
Arce marches on with another win over experienced Meneses. This was a tough one for Arce. Both fighters were looking to dominate so there was plenty of two-way action with Arce coming out on top. Arce, 18, the nephew of Hall of Fame fighter Jorge Arce, was going eight rounds for the first time and this is his sixth points win in a row. He had 60 amateur fights before turning pro at 16 and is making steady progress. Now 6 losses in his last 7 fights for Meneses.
Doncaster, England: Super Feather: Maxi Hughes (17-3-2) W PTS 10 Ryan Moorhead (9-2). Feather: Jason Cunningham (23-3) W PTS 6 Jay Carney (5-3-2 ). Super Light: Curtis Woodhouse (22-7) W PTS 6 Arvydas Trizno (25-68-3). Super Feather: Jordan Gill (17-0) W TKO 2 Jordan Ellison (7-12).
Hughes vs. Moorhead
Hughes wins the vacant BBB of C Central Area title with a hard earned points win over Moorhead on another quality show promoted by ex-pro Steffy Bull. Hughes was much the more experienced fighter and he used his educated southpaw jab to control most of the action. He spent much of the time on the back foot slotting home jabs and scoring with counters when Moorhead pressed. Moorhead managed to land some choice head punches but Hughes generally was able to box on the outside and pile up the points. It was a fast open and entertaining fight with Hughes the clear winner. Referee’s score 97-74. Hughes will be looking to fight his way back into contention for a British title shot. His only losses have been to top level opposition in Scott Cardle and twice against Martin Joseph Ward. He had floored Ward in a drawn fight before losing in fights for the WBC International and then British titles to him. Moorhead, 29, had won his last six fights and was moving up to ten rounds for the first time so this was a very creditable performance.
Cunningham vs. Carney
Commonwealth champion Cummings gets in some ring time waiting for his next big fight. Carney was a late choice as an opponent but did his job by going six rounds without every looking likely to win a session. Referee’s score 60-55 for Cunningham. He has lost only one of his last ten fights and that was on points for the vacant British super fly against the now WBA champion Khalid Yafai. Since then Cunningham has won the vacant English bantam title and the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title. Carney made Cunningham work hard but the gap in both class and experience was a wide one.
Woodhouse vs. Trizno
Woodhouse shifts some rust with a good workout against Trizno. The former British champion dropped out of the picture for just over three years after losing his British title and failing to lift the Commonwealth title against Willie Limond in June 2014. A former top level footballer Woodhouse is giving it one more try. Trizno never presented any danger but he messed Woodhouse about and upset his rhythm and made the fight closer than expected but the important thing was the 18 minutes of ring time for Woodhouse. Referee’s score 58-56. Woodhouse will need some more fights before he finds out if he can still compete at the top level. Lithuanian Trizno is just 28 but already he is closing in on the 100 contests mark which he has shoehorned into eight years as a pro.
Gill vs. Ellison
Gill gets rare inside the distance win as he crushes Ellison. Gill almost ended it in the first as he floored Ellison twice but Ellison made it to the bell. Another knockdown in the second saw the fight stopped. Gill, a 23-year-old from “Dave “Boy Green country”, gets his fourth win by KO/TKO and looks ready to move up to eight rounds. Two inside the distance losses in a row for Gill.
Guadalajara, Mexico: Super Welter: Miguel Vazquez (39-5) W KO 4 Jose Daniel Ruiz (34-11-2,1ND). Fighting in front of his home fans former IBF light champion Vazquez gets win over experienced Ruiz. After some lively exchanges in the first Vazquez took over in the second. He got through with some corrosive punches in the round and continued the beat down in the third before ending the fight with a wicked left to the body in the fourth. Vazquez wins the vacant WBC Latino title. Although he made seven defences of his IBF title and is now hoping to get a fight for the WBC Silver title at super light he is almost the forgotten man. Ruiz was coming off two losses last year in tough fights against Aik Shakhnazaryan and Humberto Soto.
Malvinas, Argentinas, Argentina; Jose Gregorio Ulrich (16-0) W KO 1 Bruno Hong (8-5-1). Ulrich goes over old ground as he scores second win over Hong. A right to the chin put Hong down early in the first. He beat the count but another series of punches sent him reeling across the ring and down on his rump to be counted out. The 25-year-old “El Tigre de Maria Juana” was making the third defence of the WBC Latino title. He also holds the Argentinian title but that was not on the line here as he gets his sixth win by KO/TKO. He had won a four round points decision over Hong in 2014. Hong was giving away 11lbs in weight and having only his second fight in almost two years so a miserable bit of matching here.
Tokyo, Japan: Light: Masayuki Ito (22-1-1) W TKO 6 Glenn Enterina (11-3-1).
Ito gets keep busy win with stoppage of Filipino Enterina. Ito faced a fired up Enterina and was under heavy pressure over the first two rounds as Enterina landed a hard right to the body and mixed in some useful uppercuts and left hooks. In the third Ito took control with strong jabs and increased his work rate before dropping Enterina with a right in the fourth. He dominated the fifth and Enterina was reeling under some heavy punishment when the referee stopped the fight in the sixth. Ito,26, gets win No 11 by KO/TKO. He holds both the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific titles at super feather and is No 3 with the WBO. Enterina, 22, had won 4 of his last 5 fights and this is his second loss by KO/TKO.
Managua, Nicaragua: Fly: Eliecer Quezada (21-6-£, 1ND) DREW 10 Cristian Narvaez (14-6-4). Bantam: Ricardo Blandon (7-0,1ND) ND 2 Martin Diaz (11-8-1,2ND).
Quezada vs. Narvaez
Quezada and Narvaez end up all level as they fight to a ten round draw and the WBC Latino title remains vacant. With score standing at 1-1 in their previous meetings but having lost the most recent Narvaez was the one pressing hard from the start. Once Quezada found his way into the fight he scored with hard counters to level things up. From there the fight swung one way and then the other and all of the rounds were close. You could make an argument for either winning and the judges all had very similar score cards so a draw was a fair result. Scores 96-94 for Quezada, 96-94 for Narvaez and 95-95. Quezada, 26, was 4-1, 1 ND in his last 6 fight with the loss being a split verdict against world rated Cristofer Rosales. Narvaez, 22, who turned pro at 18, had compiled seven wins since losing that second fight to Quezada in 2016.
Blandon vs. Diaz
Local prospect Blandon has his 100% record sullied by a No Decision. The young Nica made an impressive start firing hard and quick punches. Diaz did not back down but was getting the worse of the exchanges. In the second a clash of heads saw Blandon stunned and cut on his left eyebrow. The injury was too bad for the fight to continue so it was stopped and declared a No Decision. Blandon, 25 was making the first defence of his WBA Fedecentro title. As an amateur he was Nicaraguan champion, won a silver medal at the Central American Championships and competed at the 2013 World Championships. One of the bright hopes for Nicaragua. Diaz was 2-4 in his previous six fights.
September 3
Kyoto, Japan: Super Bantam: Daniel Roman (23-2-1) W TKO 9 Shun Kubo (12-1). Light: Masayoshi Nakatani (15-0) W KO 4 Ryan Sermona (20-9-1), Reiya Konishi (14-0) W PTS 10 Shin Ono (20-9-3).
Roman vs. Kubo
Roman upsets the odds and wins the secondary WBA title as he brutally batters champion Kubo to defeat.
Round 1
Both fighters just probed with their jabs. Southpaw Kubo had the longer reach and scored with a couple of lefts to head and body. Roman briefly got inside and landed a body punches. Neither man did anything significant but Kubo just took it.
Score 10-9 Kubo
Round 2
Roman took the second round. Roman needed to get past the jab but Kubo boxed on the outside for much of the round. Eventually Roman was able to force his way inside and did enough scoring to merit the round.
Score 10-9 Roman 19-19
Round 3
Kubo was showing some good skills and quick footwork but it was Roman’s round. He stepped up the pressure was getting past the jab hooking to the body and a classy left uppercut snapped Kubo’s head back.
Score 10-9 Roman 28-29
Round 4
Kubo started the round slotting home some lefts but again over the second half of the round Roman was storming forward banging to the body and head with Kubo being forced to stand and trade. Roman was walking through Kubo’s punches and dominating the action.
Score 10-9 Roman 37-39
Round 5
Kubo continued to find gaps for his straight left but was too often choosing to stand and trade. Roman landed repeatedly with rights and as they traded body punches there was a venom in Roman’s punches that was missing from Kubo’s
Score 10-9 Roman 46-49
Round 6
Roman raked Kubo with punches throughout the sixth. Kubo tried to counter but was being taken apart as Roman landed right after right. Just before the bell a right sent Kubo into the ropes and he almost went down.
Score 10-9 Roman 55-59
Round 7
Roman welcomed Kubo to the seventh with a left hook that sent the Japanese fighter into full retreat. Roman pursued and Kubo stood and punched with him but his legs were unsteady. Roman dug in a couple of vicious body punches and then a right to the head sent Kubo staggering along the ropes and down in a corner. Kubo showed tremendous courage. He was up at eight and then fought hard throwing punch after punch. Her landed a lot but Roman had the power and he blasted and bombarded Kubo around the ring but could not get him to crumble.
Score 10-8 Roman 63-69
Round 8
Somehow Kubo came out for the eighth. He really should have been pulled out of the fight after that punishment in the seventh. Kubo fought bravely. He scored time and again with right jabs and straight lefts but he was just pushing the punches. Roman began to land thumping body punches then two rights to the head sent Kubo slumping down into the ropes and onto the canvas on one knee. He was up at eight and the bell went.
Score 10-8 Roman 71-79
Round 9
Kubo should never have been sent out for the ninth. Roman marched forward landing to head and body. He trapped Kubo on the ropes and pounded him with head punches until one sent Kubo staggering right across to the other side of the ring and the fight was mercifully halted.
Official scores 80-70 twice and 79-72 all for Roman.
Roman the WBA No 2 moves to 15 wins in a row. The 27-year-old Californian “The Baby Faced Assassin” impressed with his relentless body punching and now has plenty of lucrative options out there for him. Kubo, 27, a former undefeated OPBF champion, won the title by beating Nehomar Cermeno in nine rounds in April. He had 9 wins by KO/TKO but could not match Roman for power here. It was unsettling to see both Kubo’s corner and the referee let Kubo take so much extra punishment. He was finished at the end of the seventh round and it was clear did not have the power to turn the fight around and had too much guts to quit. That’s when his corner and the referee should have saved him from himself.
Nakatani vs. Sermona
Nakatani retains the OPBF title as he obliterates Sermona inside four rounds. Sermona stormed forward for the first bell trying to get inside the reach of the much taller champion. Nakatani used his jab to keep on the outside and then exploded in the third with a combination that put the Filipino down. Sermona made it to his feet was but was floored again by a right. Nakatani ended it in the fourth as he scored the third knockdown with a left/right and Sermona was counted out. The 28-year-old 5’11 ½” (182cm) Nakatani goes to 9 wins by KO/TKO. He was making the eighth defence of his OPBNF title and is rated WBC 6/IBF 6(7)/WBA 11. Southpaw Sermona drops to five losses by KO/TKO.
Konishi vs. Ono
Konishi retains the Japanese tile by majority verdict after bloody battle with former world title challenger Ono. As early as the third round a clash of heads opened a cut over the right eye of Ono. Konishi looked to have won 4 of the first 5 rounds but was deducted a point in the sixth for holding. Ono was cut again in the eighth and Konishi in the ninth but he did enough to deserve the decision. Scores 97-91, 97-92 and a dissenting 94-94. First defence of the national title for 24-year-old Konishi. Southpaw Ono, 34, a former OPBF champion lost to Katsunari Takayama in a challenge for the IBF title in 2014 and last December was outpointed by Knockout CP Freshmart for the WBA title.
Ciudad Obregon, Mexico: Super Fly: Iran Diaz (13-2-2) W PTS 10 Luis Concepcion (36-5). Diaz beats a second former world champion in consecutive fights and lifts the vacant WBC Latino title as he outpoints Concepcion. Wildly differing scores from the judges at 99-91, 98-91 and 97-95 all for Diaz. Concepcion was so sure he had won that he did his usual victory somersault in the ring but was not head over heels in love with the result. Local fighter Diaz suffered inside the distance losses against quality opposition in Juan Hernandez and unbeaten Nordine Oubaali but bounced back with a victory over former WBA champion Herman Marquez in December. Panamanian Concepcion, a former WBA champion was hoping to engineer another world title chance. He failed to make the weight when defending his title against Khalid Yafai in December and lost a wide unanimous decision.
Fight of the week: Antonio Margarito vs. Carson Jones a real battle but a bad ending
Fighter of the week: Danny Romano as he lifts the WBA title
Punch of the week: The right from Romano that put Shun Kubo down in the seventh round.
Upset of the week: None although Carson Jones came close and Romano was an outsider
One to watch: Jaime Munguia 25-0 with 21 wins by KO/TKO
