Check out Eric Armit’s comprehensive report in The Week In Boxing – October 30, 2017!
Highlights:
-Anthony Joshua halts Carlos Takam to retain his heavyweight titles
-Khalid Yafai retains WBA super fly title with comfortable win over Sho Ishida
-Juergen Braehmer eases past Rob Brant to move on to fight Callum Smith in a WBSS semi-final
-Dillian Whyte outpoints Robert Helenius to move closer to a fight with Deontay Wilder
-Frank Buglioni retains British light heavy title
-Lolenga Mock defies age to beat Roman Shkarupa
October 26
Petionville, Haiti: Super Welter: Wilky Campfort (24-3) W TKO 3 Jean Carlos Prada (33-5-1). Light: Evans Pierre (29-1) W KO 5 Jesus Laguna (21-11-2). Light Fly: Gilberto Pedroza (18-3-2) W PTS 8 Saul Juarez (23-7-1). Super Feather: Roger Gutierrez (17-1-1) W TKO 5 Brayner Vazquez (9-3). Super Welter: Adrian Perez (7-2) W TKO 6 Luis Fernando Pina (19-1). Super Feather: Pablo Vicente (8-0,1ND) W RTD 1 Pedro Verdu (20-18-3).
Campfort vs. Prada
Haitian Campfort gets his third win in a row and retains the WBA Fedelatin title with stoppage of experienced Prada. Campfort was just punching too hard for Prada. After taking the first two rounds Campfort landed a right to the body that had Prada backing to the ropes. Another right to the ribs put Prada down on one knee. He got up and when the action resumed Prada stepped forward throwing punches but another right to the body floored him and the fight was over. The tall 33-year-old “Silky” Campfort is rebuilding after back-to-back losses to Jermall Charlo and Patryk Szymanski. Venezuelan Prada, also 33, was unbeaten in his first 31 fights but then went 3-4 losing inside the distance to Luis Abregu, Jack Culcay for the interim WBA title, Carlos Adame and Diego Chaves.
Pierre vs. Laguna
Pierre wins this one with a vicious body shot. The classy Haitian was comfortable boxing on the back foot with deceptively languid style. Laguna forced the fight hard walking forward with Evans moving smoothly and sliding home quick accurate counters as the Mexican advanced. Laguna maintained his forward march and had some success with body punches in the fifth until Evans sunk a vicious left to the ribs and Laguna collapsed in severe pain and was counted out. Evans, 33, “The Sun City Kid” was making the fourth defence of his WBA Fedelatin title. He now has 19 wins by KO/TK0 and is on a 17-bout winning streak that has seen him rise to No 2 in the WBA ratings. Now eight losses by KO/TKO for Laguna but he had won his last 9 fights
Pedroza vs. Juarez
Pedroza gets important win over Mexican Juarez. The Panamanian floored Juarez on the sixth and went on to take victory on a split decision. Now seven wins in a row for 24-year-old Pedroza a former Panamanian minimumweight champion. H e is rated WBA6/IBF 12(10)/WBC 13 at super fly. Juarez has now lost three on the bounce including an unsuccessful shot at the WBC minimumweight crown against Wanheng in August last year. He is 4-2-1 in fights against other world title holders but unfortunately none of the fighters he beat were champions at the time.
Gutierrez vs. Vazquez
Gutierrez shows excellent skills and real power in beating Vazquez. Gutierrez had edges in height and reach. He was able to keep Vazquez on the back foot with a stabbing jab. Vazquez was getting the worst of the exchanges and two rights to the head in the fifth rocked him. Gutierrez took Vazquez to the ropes and a huge chopping right put Vazquez down, He made it to his feet but the fight was stopped. The 22-year-old “Kid” now has 14 wins by KO/TKO. He was unbeaten in his first 16 fights before losing to more experienced Rene Alvarado. Dominican Vazquez had won 4 of his last 5 fights.
Perez vs. Pina
This definitely did not go the way it was supposed to as Perez halts favourite Pina in six rounds with a rib-breaking body punch. The tall Venezuelan southpaw looked safe enough on paper but that’s not how it turned out and Pina lost his unbeaten tag. Perez gets his fifth win by KO/TKO. Pina had won his last seven fights by KO/TKO but the opposition had been mediocre at best.
Vicente vs. Verdu
Cuban Vicente gets his sixth win by KO/TKO as Verdu has had enough after just three minutes and retired at the end of the first round. The 24-year-old Panama-based fighter would have seven by KO/TKO but instead it is recorded as a No Decision as the video showed the punch he put his opponent away with landed below the belt and the decision was changed from a first round kayo to No Decision. Nine losses by KO/TKO for Verdu.
October 27
Schwerin, Germany: Super Middle: Juergen Braehmer (49-3) W PTS 12 Rob Brant (22-1). Super Middle: Vincent Feigenbutz (27-1) W KO 11 Gaston Vega (27-12-2,1ND). Middle: Ronny Mittag (30-2-2) DREW 8 Abdul Khattab (15-2-1). Cruiser: Micki Nielsen (24-1) W KO 7 Taras Oleksiyenko (8-4). Heavy: Filip Hrgovic (2-0) W KO 1 Pavel Sour (6-1).
Braehmer vs. Brant
Well they can’t all be good and this sat right alongside Usyk vs. Huck as one of the least interesting WBSS fights. Braehmer was just too quick and too mobile for Brant who never really posed any threat to Braehmer. The American had some limited success over the first three rounds landing a few right hooks until Braehmer found his range but basically Brant had no idea of how to deal with Braehmer’s southpaw right jab. He tried to throw long jabs of his own and he tried lunging in with his attacks. When he threw his long jabs Braehmer was taking a couple of steps back and then countering the off balance Brant. And when he lunged forward Braehmer was stepping inside the jab and countering with his left. The pattern of the fight did not vary a great deal except that as Braehmer increased his work rate Brant dropped his. From the fourth round Brant seemed to have conceded the fight and allowed Braehmer to control the action and the pace of the fight. Too often Brant was on the back foot allowing Braehmer to slot home his punches with little coming back. There were no sustained attacks by either fighter and neither fighter was ever in any trouble in what must have been one of the easiest nights Braehmer has had in a long time. He had his tactics just right, boxed cleverly and really took no chances and had no need to. Brant disappointed. Scores 119-110, 118-110 and 116-112 all for Braehmer. This in many ways was the Achilles heel of an otherwise strong super middle tournament. Braehmer was in because Team Sauerland wanted him in. This despite the fact that Braehmer had not fought at super middle since 2007 and had not had a fight for a year and that previous fight was a stoppage loss against Nathan Cleverly. At 39 this has to be a last throw of the dice for Braehmer and in matching him with Brant the dice were loaded in his favour. Much more was expected from Brant but he had not faced a single name opponent and his lack of experience at this level was exposed. At 27 this is by no means the end of the road for Brant but he has some improving to do if he is going to get back to a position to challenge for a title.
Feigenbutz vs. Vega
Feigenbutz gets his sixth win in a row and retains his IBF Inter-Continental title with kayo of brave Argentinian Vega. Feigenbutz made a positive start coming forward behind his jab and landing a sharp right to the head. Vega showed some clever defensive work. Although on the back foot Vega had a good jab of his own and scored with quick rights making Feigenbutz work hard. Feigenbutz developed a bruising under his right eye from a clash of heads in the second but continued to press the fight with Vega elusive and countering well. It was turning into an interesting fight. At the end of the fourth as Feigenbutz leapt in and landed a right to the head Vega countered with a hard right and Feigenbutz went back and down. The referee ruled it a slip but it looked a genuine knockdown. Vega was showing a bad cut in the bridge of his nose which bled for the rest of the fight. Feigenbutz continued to work well with his jab and straight rights with Vega landing sneaky counters out of a semi-crouch. Gradually the pressure from Feigenbutz was wearing Vegas down and a series of punches floored him late in the seventh. Both fighters wore facial damage from the exchanges but Vega was fading and a left to the body almost sent him down in the tenth. Feigenbutz landed some heavy rights in the eleventh with Vega fighting back hard until a left hook to the body sent him down in agony and he just could not recover and was counted out. The 22-year-old German, a former interim WBA champion, makes it 24 wins by KO/TKO. He showed his usual aggression and power but also his leaky defence which makes his fight so entertaining. He is rated WBA 4/IBF 7(5)/WBO 14 and has the backing to get a world title shot but the current crop of super middle champions would be too good for him. Vega, 34, a former Argentinian title challenger is brave and clever but gets beaten inside the distance whenever he steps up.
Mittag vs. Khattab
Mittag and Khattab end all even after a close entertaining eight rounds. Dane Khattab showed excellent skills and outboxed Mittag over the early rounds and built a lead. Over the second half of the contests as Khattab faded Mittag came on stronger and rocked Khattab twice in the seventh. It looked as though Khattab’s early work might have been enough to get him the decision but it was very close as the 76-76 score from each of the three judges shows and it would make a great return. German Mittag, 29, was on a run of seven wins including victory over Conrad Cummings and is rated IBF 12(11). Khattab, 24, a former Danish Youth champion born in the Palestinian Territory, rebounded well from an inside the distance loss to Arman Torosyan in January.
Nielsen vs. Oleksiyenko
Tall Dane Nielsen continues his reconstruction job with win over German-based Ukrainian. Nielsen bossed the fight over the early rounds and floored Oleksiyenko twice once with a body punch and then with a right to the head. Oleksiyenko was counted out on that second knockdown. The 6’3” (190cm) 24-year-old southpaw was riding high in the ratings until he dropped a majority verdict to Kevin Lerena in October last year. He is still No 10 with the IBF and still a good prospect. Second loss this year to unbeaten fighters for Oleksiyenko.
Hrgovic vs. Sour
Olympic bronze medallist Hrgovic gets his second quick win in four weeks as he stops Czech Sour in the first round. Just before the bell the Croat prospect landed a huge overhand right to the side of the head and Soul went down heavily. He started to get up but then tumbles into the ropes. He did manage to get to his feet but was swaying badly and the referee counted him out. The 25-year-old 6’6” (198cm) Hrgovic has stellar amateur credentials being Croatian champion six times, winning a gold medal at the World Youth Championships beating Tony Yoka in the final, taking gold at the European Championships and being 26-4 in the WSB. He is also the fighter who ruined the proposed Tyson Fury vs. David Haye fight in 2013 when he cut Haye over the eye in sparring. He has to be considered a good prospect. Soul, 35, had three first round wins himself but against inferior opposition.
Montreal, Canada: Super Light: Steve Claggett (26-4-1) W PTS 10 Yves Ulysse Jr (14-0). Heavy: Simon Kean (11-0) W TKO 2 Randy Johnson (13-3). Super Welter: Steven Butler (20-1-1) W TKO 8 Silverio Ortiz (36-21). Super Light: Batyrzhan Jukembayev (10-0) W TKO 1 Jose Emilio Perea (24-9). Welter: Mathieu Germain (11-0) W RTD 4 Ricardo Lara (12-3). Super Light: David Theroux (13-2) W TKO 3 Junjesie Ibgos (12-2).
Claggett vs. Ulysse
Claggett goes into Ulysse’s back yard and comes away with the split decision and a valuable win. Claggett could not match Ulysse for skill but he pressed the fight from the first bell to the last. Ulysse did well enough in the early rounds landing sharp right uppercuts but was unable to keep Claggett out and paid the price. From the fourth Claggett’s constant aggression saw Ulysse’s work rate and accuracy drop. The local fighter steadied the ship briefly with a good sixth round but he was more and more being forced to stand and trade instead of being able to fight on the outside and use his better skills. Scores 97-93 twice for Claggett and 96-94 for Ulysse. Claggett, 28, the Canadian No 1, has now won 6 of his last 7 fights with the loss being to Chris van Heerden on a majority decision last year. He wins the vacant IBF North American title. Canadian No 2 Ulysse, 29, represented Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and two World Championships and has the tools to come back from this loss.
Kean vs. Johnson
Kean climbs off the floor from a questionable knockdown to floor and stop Johnson. The elderly Johnson had very little chance of winning here and whatever chance he did have disappeared in the first round. The 6-5” (196cm) Kean towered over the smaller and lighter Johnson and floored him in the first with a couple of clubbing shots to the head. Johnson went down awkwardly and looked to have injured his right leg. When the eight count was finished Kean rushed into finishing things but as they collided Kean went backwards and put his gloves down to avoid hitting the floor. The referee decided it was a knockdown and Gave Kean a count. Kean ended it in the second. Johnson had limited mobility and he stumbled as he threw a jab and fell into the ropes. Kean followed him and landed a left and right to the head and an incidental right to the side as Johnson was on his knees. Johnson watched the referee count to nine and then arose but the referee waived the fight over. The 28-year-old from Trois-Rivieres now has ten wins by KO/TKO. He certainly has the build for a heavyweight but so far his opposition has been very low standard so it is hard to say how far he can go. He was Canadian champion as an amateur and competed at the 2012 Olympics and the 2015 Pan American Games. His fighting years have been interrupted by out of ring incidents of very differing natures. He was seriously injured in an accident which put him out of action for six months but he also spent ten months in prison for assault, causing bodily harm and issuing death threats. Johnson, 39, had won his last eleven fights but the opposition was very moderate.
Butler vs. Ortiz
Butler handles Mexican veteran Ortiz with ease. The young Canadian was a good 6” taller than Ortiz. The experienced Mexican is now carrying 30lbs more than he did when he first turned pro and it showed around his waist. As is his style Ortiz tried to chug forward and Butler was able to score continually with jabs, left hooks to the body and straight rights but wasn’t able to stop the Mexican plodding forward. Ortiz had a little success when he managed to walk through the punishment but was being taken apart. In the fifth Butler wobbled Ortiz with a peach of a right uppercut and then battered the Mexican with five downward chopping rights in succession and the referee stepped in and halted the massacre. The 22-year-old Butler, the Canadian No 5, suffered a huge set-back when he was halted by fellow-Canadian Brandon Cook in January and this is his second win since then. He had been sparring with Saul Alvarez and Miguel Cotto so is working hard on his skills but there is still a question over his stamina. Ortiz, 34, is 2-7 in his last 9 fights and 1-3 in fights in Canada.
Jukembayev vs. Perea
Kazak southpaw Jukembayev continues to impress. One corrosive right to the body had Perez on the floor with no chance of getting up. All done and dusted in 64 seconds. The 26-year-old southpaw has nine win by KO/TKO including a stoppage of Cosme Rivera. He claims 203 wins in 243 amateur fights. Perea, 34, is well on the way down the slope. He had a run of 21 wins in a row but now he is 2-7 in his last 9 fights.
Germain vs. Lara
Mathieu much too good for Mexican Lara and the visitor reties after four rounds. The 28-year-old Mathieu had over 80 amateur fights and this is his sixth win by KO/TKO as a pro. First loss by KO/TKO for Lara.
Theroux vs. Ibgos
Theroux gets an inside the distance wins as he tries to steady his career. The Canadian has lost a couple of fights he was expected to win and his love of a fight has sometimes made things harder than they should be. He was still the aggressor in this one but showed good punch selection and the referee halted the fight in the third to save Ibgos. The 23-year-old is a good ticket seller so it is good news for the promoter if he keeps winning but losses to Ignacio Mendoza-KO 7- and Jose Emilia Perea were poor results and he cannot afford another. Filipino southpaw Ibgos had gone ten rounds with Brandon Ogilvie in Australia but suffers his first loss by KO/TKO here.
Vallacidro, Italy: Middle: Alessandro Goddi (33-2-1) W TKO 5 Peter Orlik (23-22-1). Goddi halts brave Hungarian. Goddi was on the attack from the first bell but Orlik refused to cave in and fought back hard over the first two rounds. Goddi turned up the heat and Orlik was down twice end when he went down on one knee in the fifth the referee stopped the fight. The 29-year-old local “Highlander” has lost only one of his last 24 fights and the was a very close decision against Emanuele Blandamura for the European title in June. He gets his second win since then and is No 8 with the EBU. Orlik drops to 13 losses by KO/TKO.
Macao, S.A.R China: Light Heavy: Fanlong Meng (12-0) W PTS 10 Emmanuel Danso (28-2). The 6’2” (188cm) Fanlong had huge edges in height and reach and kept Danso on the end of his jab. Between those physical advantages for Fanlong and his southpaw style Danso was facing two obstacles and he had no idea how to overcome either of them. Danso was on the front foot for most of the fight but was too slow to catch Fanlong with anything and when he lunged in Fanlong was taking a step back and then stepping in and landing lefts to the head of Danso who was off balance. Danso never stopped his forward march but Fanlong constantly showed quick footwork turning past Danso’s punches and landing a burst of hooks then moving out of range. Fanlong took no chances and Danso was never in trouble but also never in the fight with a chance. Scores 100-90 for Fanlong from all three judges. The 29-year-old “Cold Blood” from Inner Mongolia competed in the World Junior Championships in 2006 and went on to win gold at the World Combat championships, twice take silver at the Asian Championships and compete at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. He is No 14 with the WBO. Danso, 28, was fighting outside Ghana for only the second time. Back in 2014 he was knocked out in seven rounds by Robin Krasniqi in Germany. Typically of so many Ghanaian records 14 of his victims had never won a fight and the rest were mediocre at best.
Mexico City, Mexico: Light: Antonio Moran (23-2) W TKO 2 Salvador Briseno (13-3). Moran punches too hard for Briseno. Moran took the first round. He worked his jab well moving around Briseno spearing him with jabs and firing quick, light combinations. Briseno was lunging in with his attacks trying to land his right but had only occasional success. Briseno was walking forward in the second trying to throw his right over the less than powerful jab of Moran who tended to leave his chin up in the air when he jabbed. Moran was scoring with some sharp counters and late in the round he caught Briseno with a left hook to the chin. Briseno staggered to the side and went down on his hands and knees. He was up at eight and when the action restarted Moran bombarded him with hooks to the head and the referee jumped in and caught Briseno just as he was about to tumble to the canvas and the fight was over. Moran retains the WBO Latino title and moves to 16 wins by KO/TKO. There are some experienced fighters in his list of victims but he also has some flaws that need work. Briseno’s skills are rudimentary and he is unlikely to go far.
Mandaue City, Philippines: Bantam: Jhalel Payao (16-1) W PTS 10 Raul Yu (9-2-2). Payao holds on to his Philippines Boxing Federation title with close decision over Yu. It was a scrap between two Cebu City natives. After three close-fought rounds which saw both fighters suffer minor cuts in head clashes a left hook from Payao put Yu down but he survived the crisis and fought back hard. Payao kept pressing with Yu countering with strong left hooks and Yu had almost closed the points gap but despite a strong last round Payao had done enough to hold on to his title. Scores 96-93 twice and 95-94all for Payao. His only loss was against more experienced Michael Dasmarinas for the WBC Youth title in 2015 but has rebounded well with five wins. Yu gets his second loss in a row having been outpointed by unbeaten former star amateur Jack Bornea in February.
Seshego, South Africa: Welter: Laszlo Toth (25-3-1) W PTS 12 Tsiko Mulovhedzi (12-8-3). Light: Thompson Mokwana (23-11-1,1ND) W PTS 12 Prince Dlomo (7-7).
Toth vs. Mulovhedzi
It was a loss/loss night for Mulovhedzi. He lost his IBF Inter-Continental title when he failed to make the weight and then lost the fight which snapped his nine bout winning run. Mulovhedzi did not seem to be in the best condition and Toth proved better than many of the second rate Hungarian opposition seen so often in European rings and was a clear winner. Scores 118-111, 117-111 and 115-113. The 29-year-old Toth has done most of his fighting in Austria and his three losses have been to good quality opposition in their territory. He was coming off a useful win over Azad Azizov in Germany in July. Former undefeated South African and IBO champion Mulovhedzi had recovered from a 2-7 spell to win those titles.
Mokwana vs. Dlomo
Mokwana keeps his South African title with a majority decision but has to come from behind and looks lucky to survive the challenge. Dlomo boxed well over the first half of the fight but had never gone twelve rounds before and Mokwana was the stronger over the closing rounds. Scores 116-112 and 116-113 for Mokwana and 114-114. The former Commonwealth title challenger was making the first defence of the national title in his third spell as champion. He had faced former world champions in his last two fights losing on points to Paulus Moses a one-time holder of the secondary WBA light title and beating former IBF champion Mzonke Fana. Dlomo, the South African No 1, had turned his career around with 6 wins in his last 7 fights and hopefully will be granted another title shot.
Mambathao, South Africa: FLY: Moruti Mthalane (35-2) W TKO 2 Ardin Diale (33-12-4). Mthalane puts himself back in the flyweight mix with stoppage of Filipino Diale. The 35-year-old South African halted Diale in two rounds to win the vacant IBF International title and will now push for a shot at IBF champion Donnie Nietes. Mthalane has lost only one of his last 21 fights and that was on a cut against Nonito Donaire for the IBF title in 20018. He went on to win the IBF title in 2009 and defended the title four times before relinquishing it rather than make a mandatory defence against Amnat Ruenroeng in Thailand for a derisory purse. He subsequently won the IBO title but relinquished that to take this fight which holds out the hope of a fight with Nietes. Former OPBF and WBC International champion Diale lost his International title to Andrew Selby on points in February.
October 28
Cardiff, Wales: Heavy: Anthony Joshua (20-0) W TKO 10 Carlos Takam (35-4-1). Super Fly: Khalid Yafai (23-0) W PTS 12 Sho Ishida (24-1). Heavy: Dillian Whyte (22-1) W PTS 12 Robert Helenius (25-2). Light Heavy: Frank Buglioni (22-2-1) W PTS 12 PTS 12 Craig Richards (10-2). Light: Joe Cordina (5-0) W PTS 6 Lesther Cantillano (3-9). Light Heavy: Joshua Buatsi (3-0) W PTS 6Saidou Sall (10-7-2).Cruiser: Lawrence Okolie (6-0) W TKO 3 Adam Williams (1-2).
Joshua vs. Takam
Joshua retains his three titles as he halts Takam in the tenth round of a fight that was a slow starter and too one-sided to be entertaining.
Round 1
A quiet first round of feeling out. The physical gap looked-and –was enormous. Joshua stalked Takam and landed a couple of jabs but missed with his rights. Takam threw little and missed with what he did throw.
Score 10-9 Joshua
Round 2
Joshua continued to walk Takam down. The Frenchman was a little livelier and landed a left hook but other than that all of the work was being done by Joshua but he looked slower than usual. Fighting a guy so much smaller brings its own set of problems and one of those was his face banging into the top of Takam’s head resulting in a bloody nose that never quite stopped bleeding him but was not a problem.
Score 10-9 Joshua 20-18
Round 3
There was no change to the pattern of the fight with neither fighter committing himself. Joshua continued shadowing Takam and landing the occasional jab and right. Takam restricted himself to a couple of leaping attacks not really connecting with anything.
Score 10-9 Joshua 30-27
Round 4
The fight finally broke out in this round. Joshua was throwing with more purpose. In the first three rounds he had confined himself to a jab/straight right but now he threw combinations. Takam stood and traded a couple of times but was driven back and was cut over his right eye. A Joshua left hook saw him stumble back and almost go down and as his left glove touched the canvas that was ruled a knockdown and he was given an eight count.
Score 10-8 Joshua 40-35
Round 5
Takam came out throwing punches and they stood and traded but a left shook Takam and he went back on the defensive. The referee had the doctor examine Takam’s cut but the fight continued. Takam then began to take the fight to Joshua. The champion landed some hefty head punches but Takam also landed a good left hook and it was the first close round but Joshua landed the better punches
10-9 Joshua 50-44
Round 6
Takam looked to take the fight to Joshua again. He was coming forward more and landed some good body punches. However he was continually caught on the end of Joshua’s jab and was rocked again as Joshua brought his left hook into play more
Score 10-9 Joshua 60-53
Round 7
Takam’s best round. He found Joshua’s chin five times with right crosses and also landed a good left hook. Joshua was strong at the end of the round connecting with rights of his own but Takam had done enough to take the round.
Score 10-9 Takam 69-63
Round 8
Joshua was back on top in this one. He worked well at a distance with his jab and went to the body more. He was getting home with some powerful hooks with Takam looking tired and not working as hard as he had in the seventh.
Score 10-9 Joshua 79-72
Round 9
Takam was now cut over both eyes but he passed a doctor’s inspection and the fight continued. Joshua used his jab to control this one. He was getting home the jab with Takam trying to leap in to counter . Joshua ended the round with a strong left hook followed by a right to the head.
Score 10-9 Joshua 89-71
Round 10
Takam started the tenth aggressively but was soon stuck on the end of Joshua’s jab. When he tried to move inside Joshua caught him with two heavy right hooks. He had Takam backing up and landed more cracking punches to the head. Another couple of head punches had Takam backing to the ropes and the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. Takam protested the stoppage but he was bleeding from cuts over both eyes and his resistance looked to be crumbling.
This was never going to be an exciting fight. The physical differences ruined any chance of that. Takam, the IBF No 2, was of course battling insufficient time to prepare for such a big fight and was smaller and lighter than Joshua. The champion had to adjust to a change of opponent who was a totally different type and size of opponent to Kubrat Pulev. Joshua got the job done without ever having to get out of second gear.
Joshua retains the IBF, WBA and IBO titles and has yet to go the distance for a win. Takam, Cameroon-born but now a French citizen suffers his second inside the distance loss having been knocked out by Alex Povetkin in 2014. He had won 5 of his last 6 fights with the loss being a very creditable unanimous points defeat against Joseph Parker in May last year with one judge scoring 115-113 to Parker and he put up a gutsy performance here.
Yafai vs. Ishida
Yafai makes second successful defence of his WBA title with comfortable win by unanimous decision over Japanese challenger Ishida a very questionable mandatory challenger. Yafai made a confident start whereas Ishida seemed tense and hesitant. Yafai constantly found gaps for his jab and landed numerous rights to the body but it was his left hooks that caused Ishida most grief. The Japanese challenger finally started to get into the fight in the fifth. He was making use of his longer reach to score on the outside with his jab. In the sixth he landed the best punch of the fight to that point in the shape of a hefty right to Yafai’s head. A competitive seventh round saw both have some success with Ishida landing an impressive left but Yafai banged back late in the round to hurt Ishida with a body punch. Yafai was back in control in the eighth and again looked to have shaken Ishida with a body punch. Over the last four rounds Ishida had only modest success as Yafai upped his pace and outboxed and outscored Ishida to emerge a clear winner. Scores 116-112 twice and 118-110 with the first two scores looking generous to Ishida who never looked like winning or seriously threatening Yafai’s reign. The 28-year-old from Birmingham explained that both his hands were sore but there did not seem to be structural damage. There has been talk of a fight with Roman Gonzalez but the position in the super fly division is very fluid right now. With WBC champion Srisaket down to face Juan Francisco Estrada in February and IBF champion Jerwin Ancajas due to defend against Jamie Conlan in Belfast on 18 November. When you add WBO champion Naoya Inoue, Carlos Cuadras and Gonzalez to the mix there are big fights to be had. Yafai’s profile is not up there with Srisaket, Estrada or Cuadras yet but he has a good bargaining counter in his WBA title. Ishida, 25, tried hard and had some success but nowhere near enough to threaten Yafai. He was unbeaten but had never faced a rated fighter. In addition he had only two fights in the last 18 months both against Thai imports who had never previously had a professional fight-hey but this is the WBA remember!
Whyte vs. Helenius
Whyte wins the vacant WBBC Silver title with wide unanimous decision over Helenius. The visitor made the better start. He used his longer reach to score with jabs and countered Whyte with rights. He caught Whyte with one of those early in the second and scored with it again throughout the round with Whyte short with his jabs and too slow to land his own rights. That was as good as it got for Helenius. He continued to score with his jab but from the third Whyte increased the pressure and managed to take Helenius to the ropes more often and work the body. Helenius was no longer landing those right counters and there was a suspicion he might have injured his right arm. For whatever reason Whyte was now in control. He constantly had Helenius trapped on the ropes and pounded the body with hooks and uppercuts. He stalked Helenius in round after round with the Finn’s work rate dropping and Helenius looked to be tiring badly. Whyte tried hard for an inside the distance win but despite being raked with hard punches over the closing rounds Helenius didn’t cave in. The one-sided nature of the fight made it a pretty mediocre as a spectacle but for Whyte winning it could lead to a fight with Deontay Wilder so the result was what mattered most. Scores 119-109 twice and 118-110 which illustrated how one-sided it had become from the third round onwards. Whyte is No 3 with the WBC. The No 1 Bermane Stiverne fights Wilder on 4 November and No 2 Luis Ortiz is in limbo after his positive test so Whyte is in prime position to get a shot at the WBC title. Helenius, 33, stated after the fight that he had injured muscles in his right shoulder and his preparations had been interrupted by an illness for which he had received penicillin injections. He had only one fight in 2012, one in 2013 was inactive in 2014 but had stepped up his activity in 2015 and 2016. He has said he will think about whether it is time to end his career.
Buglioni vs. Richards
Buglioni retains the British title with unanimous verdict over late substitute Richards. Buglioni set a fast pace over the first two rounds scoring with hooks to the body and trapping Richards in a corner in the second and unloading to the body. Richards had established his jab by the third and looked to have shaken Buglioni with a right and was getting through with hooks. Buglioni stepped up the pace over the middle rounds backing Richards up and banging away to the body and landing heavy rights Richards fought back to take the seventh. With Buglioni continuing to press the fight Richards looked to be tiring in the eighth but again he banged back to have a good ninth. Buglioni shook Richards with a big right in the tenth and although he added the eleventh to his collection he also suffered a cut over his left eye. It came too late to affect the decision and Buglioni also took the last round to end a clear winner. Scores 117-111 twice and 116-113. The 28-year-old “Wise Guy” Buglioni was making the second defence of his British title. He was to have defended against Callum Johnson but Johnson pulled out through injury so Buglioni had to adjust to a different opponent and a different style. Richards, 27, the Southern Area champion gave a very creditable showing considering the short notice he had of the fight and enhanced his standing so hopefully get more work as his reward.
Cordina vs. Cantillano
Cordina outclasses late substitute Cantillano and floors him on the way to winning every round. Cordina was taking the fight to the Nicaraguan from the start and whipping home some vicious punchers to head and body. He floored Cantillano late in the second but Cantillano survived and despite being under incessant pressure made it to the final bell. Referee’s score 40-36. The 25-year-old Welshman, a former European Championships gold medallist who competed at three World Championships and the 2016 Olympics almost doubled his pro ring time as he had taken less than seven rounds to get his other four wins. Now 8 losses in a row for Cantillano.
Buatsi vs. Sall
Olympic bronze medal winner Buatsi gets in some useful work as Frenchman Sall lasts the full six rounds. Buatsi worked well for all six rounds. He was impressive with uppercuts wobbling Sall with one in the second round. Sall defended well. He didn’t fold and withstood a determined effort from Buatsi in the last as Buatsi tried to get an inside the distance victory. It is obviously still early days in the career of the 24-year-old Ghanaian-born Buatsi but he is developing well. Sall, the French No 9 (out of 9) super middle did what he was imported to do here and resisted well.
Okolie vs. Williams
Okolie does overtime as he takes three rounds for the win . The 6-3” (196cm) Okolie had huge advantages in height and reach over Williams who was in over his head literally. Okolie was able to score with his jab and box on the outside over the first two rounds before ending it in the third. A sustained attack had Williams in deep trouble and a huge right put him down and he was counted out. Okolie, often a sparring partner for Anthony Joshua, was a member of the British team in Rio and had won his first four fights each inside a round before being taken the distance in his fifth fight but it was back to the early finishes here. Williams badly overmatched.
Mashantucket, CN, USA: Light: Matt Remillard (26-1) W TKO 4 Yardley Cruz (22-9,1ND). Middle: Steve Rolls (17-0) W TKO 3 Andrik Saralegui (8-5,1ND). Super Light: Mykquan Williams (9-0) W TKO 1 Sonner Martin (7-6).
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Remillard vs. Cruz
Remillard continues to put his career back on track with stoppage of Cruz. Remillard was hunting down Cruz from the first bell. He was able to trap Cruz on the ropes over the first three rounds and bombard him with an array of hurtful punches. After another barrage of punches to head and body the referee halted the fight in the fourth. Third win for 31-year-old Remillard since his release from prison in April. Sixth loss by KO/TKO for Mexican Cruz who has been fed to some tough opposition including Alberto Machado and unbeaten Mario Barrios.
Rolls vs. Saralegui
Canadian No 1 super middle Rolls just too good for Mexican Saralegui. Rolls used some slick boxing to control the fight and used some wicked body punches to weaken Saralegui. Rolls ended it in the third with a left hook downstairs which put Saralegui down and the fight was waived off. The 33-year-old Rolls did not turn pro until a few days before his 27th birthday following a time in the amateurs which saw him win the National title twice and represent Canada at the 2011 World Championships. He has 10 wins by KO/TKO and was coming off a good win in June over 17-1-1 Demond Nicholson. First fight for Saralegui since being stopped in 54 seconds by Jesse Hart in December 2015.
Williams vs. Martin
Williams gets another first round win as he demolishes Sonner early. The East Hartford teenager went after Sonner immediately and had him under fire from punishing punches from both hands. Sonner had no answer to the assault and was shaken, stirred and on wobbly legs as the referee stopped the fight just after the two minute mark. The 19-year-old Williams is managed by Jackie Kallen and promoted by DiBella Entertainment . He has five wins by KO/TKO, four in th4 first round. Sonner is 3-6 in his last 9 fights with 5 of those 6 losses by KO/TKO,
Villa Maria, Argentina: Emiliano Dominguez (21-0) W KO 1 Carlos Rivas (4-5-2).
Dominguez floors Rivas twice for quick win. The first knockdown came from a left hook to the chin. Rivas beat the count but a left hook to the body put him down for the second time and he was counted out. Now seven wins by KO/TKO for the Argentinian No 2. Third loss by KO/TKO for Rivas.
Hamilton, Canada: Super Welter: Kevin Higson (13-1) W PTS 10 Phil Rose (9-6-1). Super Light: Steven Wilcox (17-2-1) W Cristian Arrazola (24-14-3).
Higson vs. Rose
Higson holds on to his WBA-NABA title with victory over Rose. The 28-year-old Canadian No 8 the neighbourhood fighter was making the second fence of the title. He has reversed his only loss and won his last five fights. Rose, 35 had won 4 of his last 5 fights and was also Canadian No 8 but at middleweight.
Wilcox vs. Arrazola
Wilcox keeps busy with a win over Mexican Arrazola. Wilcox, 27, also fighting in his home town is 10-1-1 in his last 12 with the loss coming when he was the victim of trusting people. His fight in Mexico in December was in the open air. It had rained heavily and Wilcox felt it would be unsafe to fight on the wet canvas. He finally agreed to go on with the fight on the understanding that the result would be a no decision only for the local judges and Commission to announce that his opponent had won on points. He reversed that “loss” in his last fight in June. Can’t question the consistency of Arrazola his last 11 fights have come out as W, L, W, L W,L,W,L.W,L, W, L.
Copenhagen, Denmark : Super Middle: Lolenga Mock (41-14-1) W PTS 10 Roman Shkarupa (27-7-2). It seems age is just a number to Mock as he records his tenth win on the bounce since returning to the ring in 2015. The DRC-born veteran took the unanimous decision but Shkarupa gave him a tougher fight than the scores indicate. Mock looked to have built a lead after taking the first two rounds but Shkarupa was rolling from the third and put the fight in the balance. Despite being by far the older man Mock used his experience to take control again but Shkarupa was never out of the fight. With a fight with Dmitri Chudinov on the cards this was probably a tougher test than Mock wanted but he was a good winner in the end. Scores 99-91, 99-92 and 96-94 all for Mock. The 45-year-old “Lumumba Boy”, a former EU champion, has scored useful wins over Derek Edwards and Luke Blackledge. Chudinov is No 7 with the WBC so Mock might have a faint hope of a world title shots if he wins that one. After ten months out Shkarupa, a mere stripling of 38, lost a hard job in October last year on points against Nadjib Mohammedi.
Trouville, France: Welter: Romain Nemery (6-6-3) W PTS 10 Karim Aliliche (10-7-2). An upset here as prelim fighter Nemery wins the French title with close decision over champion Aliliche. Nemery used constant pressure to overcome the more skilful Aliliche. Scores 96-94 twice and 99-91 all for Nemery. The new champion had never been in a ten round fight and had been in only one eight round bout. He was No 9 in the French ratings so it looked a no risk voluntary defence for Aliliche who had won the national title with a victory over former WBA super light champion Souleymane M’baye in June.
Mexico City, Mexico: Fly: Moises Fuentes (25-4-1) W KO 1 Ulises Lara (18-16-2). Feather: Emanuel Navarrete (22-1) W TKO 2 Danny Flores (15-11-1).
Fuentes vs. Lara
Fuentes gets revenge win over Lara. Fuentes was much the taller boxer with the longer reach and he used the jab to get Lara going back. He landed a short right hook to the chin which shook Lara and landed a series of other head punches that put Lara down on his knees. Lara made it to his feet at nine and walked back into trouble as Fuentes clobbered him with hooks to head and body. Lara bravely kept walking forward until a left hook to the body and a right to the head again dropped him to his knees and took the full count in the same position. Flores a 30-year-old former WBO minimumweight champion goes to 14 wins by KO. Lara the former Mexican champion had stopped former IBF light fly champion Javier Mendoza and taken a majority verdict over Fuentes in July but was outgunned here.
Navarette vs. Flores
Navarette gets another inside the distance win. Navarette was coming in behind his jab and landing straight rights. Flores was too slow and just before the bell Navarette landed a couple of hard uppercuts. Late in the second a big right from Navarette rocked Flores badly and Navarette continued to land rights on the reeling Flores until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The 22-year-old “Cowboy” who turned pro at 17 now has 19 wins by KO/TKO. Poor Flores is1-9-1 in his last eleven contests
Fight of the week: Vincent Feigenbutz vs. Gaston Vega with honourable mention to Frank Buglioni vs. Craig Richards
Fighter of the week: Anthony Joshua with honourable mentions to Khalid Yafai and Juergen Braehmer
Punch of the week: .The left hook from Evans Pierre that finished Jesus Laguna with honourable mentions to the right from Filip Hrgovic that put Pavel Sour down and the body punch from Vincent Feigenbutz that ended his fight with Gaston Vega
Upset of the week: Adrian Perez (6-2) inside the distance win over 19-0 Luis Pina
One to watch: Croatian heavy Filip Hrgovic looks good as does Mykquan Williams
