Check out Eric Armit’s comprehensive report in The Week in Boxing – July 9, 2018

 

Highlights:

-Beibut Shumenov wins the vacant WBA secondary cruiser title with stoppage of Hinzi Altunkaya giving the WBA four champions in this division

-Egidijus Kavaliauskas gets win over Juan Carlos Abreau to move closer to a title fight

-Former IBF minimumweight champion Jose Argumedo gets a win

-Andy Ruiz marks his return with win over Kevin Johnson

-Andy Vences, Oscar Negrete, Harold Calderon, Japanese Hope Junto Nakatani and Ardin Diale score victories

 

July 6

 

Melbourne, Australia: Super Feather: Nort Beauchamp (17-2) W PTS 10 Joel Brunker (33-3). New Zealander Beauchamp scores upset win over Brunker. Beauchamp came away with a split decision but some wildly fluctuating scores as on the cards Beauchamp won by 99-91, 96-94 and 93-97 so all three judges saw a different fight-only in boxing do you this type of scoring. At just 5’1 ½” (156cm) the New Zealand southpaw gives away height and reach in every fight. He won the vacant IBO Oceania title in this fight. Beauchamp’s record was deceptive as his previous 16 victims had amassed only 17 wins between them and in his only fight against a name opponent he was outclassed by Kye McKenzie in November.  Big win for the former New Zealand amateur champion who was a quarter-finalist at the Commonwealth Championships. Big blow for 32-year-old Brunker, the WBA No 9 feather. His other losses were against Lee Selby and Josh Warrington and he had won his last five fights.

 

Milan, Italy: Cruiser: Fabio Turchi (15-0) W PTS 8 Yassine Habachi (5-15-4,1ND). Comfortable win for southpaw Turchi. The visitor proved a better fighter than his record indicated and he made Turchi fight hard. They had some exciting exchanges in the third but Turchi was usually in control and emerged a clear winner but not one of his best showings. The 24-year-old “Stone Crusher” remains one of the best prospects in Italy and is No 10 with the EBU. As an amateur he won silver at the World Youth Olympics and bronze at the World Youth Championships as well as being Italian champion in 2012 and 2013. Moroccan Habachi was 1-9-3,1ND in his last 14 fights drawing his last three which was a good return as the fights were all in the other guy’s back yard and two of the opponents were unbeaten.

 

Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Welter: Jose Del Rio (28-7-1) DREW 8 Mamadou Goita (5-10-1). Del Rio comes through a harder fight than he was looking for and is lucky to salvage a draw against Goita. From the outset the taller Goita was finding gaps for his punches and by the half way mark southpaw Del Rio was already showing damage with a nasty swelling under his right eye. Del Rio needed a strong finish to get into the fight and he just did enough to salvage some pride. One judge saw the local fighter the winner and two saw the fight as a draw. The 32-year-old Spaniard, the EBU No 1,1 is now 10-1-1 in his last 12 fights with the loss being on points against Kerman Lejarraga for the Spanish title in November. Del Rio is mandatory challenger to the EU champion the 20-0 Jordy Weiss with the bout in France in October or November but he will have to do better than this if he hopes to win. The 26-year-old Goita from Mali is tall for a welter at 6’1” (186cm) but was 1-4-2 going into this fight.

 

Bristol, England: Super Bantam: Duane Winters (10-1) W PTS 10 Martin Hillman (10-6). Local fighter Winters wins the vacant BBB of C Southern Area title with one point victory over Hillman after a close, competitive fight. “Gas Man” Winters was moving up to ten rounds for the first time. Hillman has been on the wrong end of the scores in two fights in a row both of which could have gone to either man.

 

Los Angeles, CA, USA: Bantam: Oscar Negrete (18-1) W PTS 8 Diuhl Olguin (13-10-3). Super Feather: Rigoberto Hermosillo (11-0-1,1ND) W KO 5 Ernesto Guerrero (29-23).

Negrete vs. Olguin

Colombian Negrete returns with a win. The former world title challenger was just too quick and too busty for Olguin. Negrete scored well with left hooks and rights to the head in the first. There was a clash of heads but neither fighter was hurt. In the second Negrete was firing combinations inside and often scoring with right leads. Olguin finished the round strongly with a shower of hooks but lacked the power to keep Negrete out. Olguin made a good start to the third with  jab and hooks from both hands but Negrete closed the round strongly. Negrete was getting through with rights in the fourth and landed a cracking left hook just before the bell. They both worked in close the fifth with Negrete getting the better of the exchanges with hooks, uppercuts and overhand rights. The sixth was closer with Olguin finding the target with short punches but he had no leverage on his punches and Negrete was able to stay busy and that was the pattern over the seventh and eighth with Negrete outworking Olguin but never looking likely to bring about a stoppage. Scores 79-73 twice and 78-74 for Negrete. First fight for 30-year-old Negrete since losing on points to Rey Vargas for the WBC super bantam title. Negrete was a very successful amateur as Colombian champion and medallist at Central American and South American championships but his road to the Olympics ended at the Americas qualifiers where he lost to Oscar Valdez. Olguin was an unimpressive 2-6 going into this one but his win in May was over prospect Kevin Rivers.

Hermosillo vs. Guerrero

Hermosillo returns from almost 13 months out and knocks out Guerrero. Hermosillo had big advantages in height and reach and from the opening bell was using his long right jab to set Guerrero up for straight lefts. Guerrero pressed hard in the third and had Hermosillo on the back foot but Hermosillo was scoring with counters as Guerrero piled forward. Guerrero continued to press in the fourth and continued to be punished as he did. He did land a sharp left hook to the chin but Hermosillo was landing time and again with counters and long lefts. In the fifth Hermosillo landed a left to the body that went low. Guerrero was given some recovery time but Hermosillo scored with heavy lefts and as Guerrero marched forward and a left to the head sent him to his knees and he was counted out. Eighth win by KO/TKO for Mexican Hermosillo but his opposition has been of a very moderate standard. Now 16 losses by KO/TKO for Guerrero.

 

Hollywood, FL, USA: Welter: Harold Calderon (17-0) W PTS10 John David Martinez (10-1). Super Light: Logan Yoon (12-0) W PTS 10 Luis Flores (24-10,1ND). Heavy: Ivan Dychko (7-0) W KO 1 Maurice Harris (26-22-3,1ND).

Calderon vs. Martinez

Tall southpaw Calderon outboxes and outscores Martinez in this clash of Miami-based fighters. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91 for Calderon. Although born in Chicago the 5’11” (180cm) Calderon is of Honduras antecedents. He was Honduras amateur champion and won a silver medal at the Central American Championships. He also tried for the US Olympic Team but lost out in one of the “last chance” qualifiers. Calderon was too big a step up in quality for Martinez whose 10 victims had only eight wins between them.

Yoon vs. Flores

Yoon gets unanimous verdict in a disappointing fight. Yoon forced the fight but the experienced Flores managed to score with clever counters without ever threatening Yoon’s domination. Yoon was cut over the left eye in a clash of heads but overcame the handicap. It was a useful learning fight for the 19-year-old “Korican Kid” from Honolulu. Scores 97-93 twice and 99-91. Second win in a row for Yoon over an experienced veteran having decisioned former WBA and IBF champion Jorge Salgado. Yoon won bronze medals at the 2013 and 2014 US Youth Championships. Salgado and Florez both have huge upset wins on their record. Salgado stopped Jorge Linares in 73 seconds to win the WBA title and Florez halted Miguel Berchelt in 99 seconds in 2014.

 Dychko vs. Harris

Dychko ends this bit of rubbish in quick time. One right hook was enough to put an elderly Harris down even if the punch did not look that hard. All over in 99 seconds. The Florida-based 6’9” (206cm) Kazak gets his third one round win in a row and his fifth overall. His other two wins came in the third round so he has had less than eleven rounds as a pro. In the amateurs Dychko took the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics losing 13-11 to Anthony Joshua and a bronze and two silver medals at the World Championships. He later lost to Tony Yoka in the final of the 2015 World Championships and to Joe Joyce in Rio. He is still only 27 so does not need to be rushed. Whoever felt it was a good idea to match Dychko against a 42-year-old 6’4” Harris who was having his first fight for 30 months and had lost each of his last two fights back then inside two minutes is certainly no friend of boxing. Disgraceful

 

July 7

 

Tokyo, Japan: Fly: Junto Nakatani (16-0) W KO 3 Dexter Alimento (13-4).

Tall southpaw Nakatani disposes of Filipino Alimento in three rounds. The young Japanese prospect used his longer reach to control the action in the first round. In the second Nakatani landed lefts to the head and body of Alimento and a powerful right hook to the body put Alimento down. Nakatani ended it in third with another right to the body which sent Alimento down to his knees and he was counted out. The 20-year-old Nakatani is 5’7” (170cm) so could end up fighting in much heavier divisions. This is win No 12 by KO/TKO for Nakatani, the WBC No 5. First loss by KO/TKO for the 5’3” (160) 22-year-old Alimento. He won his first eleven fights but is now 2-4 with the losses all being in the opponent’s territory.

Astana, Kazakhstan: Cruiser: Beibut Shumenov (17-2) W Hizni Altunkaya (30-1). Shumenov, somehow the WBA No 2 despite not having had a fight for over two years, wins the secondary WBA title with east victory over Altunkaya, who was suddenly parachuted into the WBA ratings at No 3 specially for this fight and will disappear again just as quickly. Shumenov was walking Altunkaya around the ring and landed a strong left hook to the body that saw Altunkaya go down on one knee. He was up at seven but in some pain. He kept moving and Shumenov was too slow to curt off the ring and Altunkaya safely made it to the bell. Shumenov only fought in bursts in the second but turned up the pressure in the third and fourth taking the fight to Altunkaya and landing strong jabs and long body punches. Altunkaya landed one good left hook in the fourth but other than that he was on the retreat and covering up. Shumenov was twice warned about punches to the back of the head. Altunkaya was a bit more active in the fifth but when Shumenov started to come forward once again he was able to land jabs and hooks to the body. It was all Shumenov in the sixth, seventh and eighth as he paced after Altunkaya stabbing out stiff jabs and slinging punches to the body with little or nothing coming back. In the ninth Shumenov took Altunkaya to a corner and rained right hooks until Altunkaya slumped to the floor. He was up at six. Shumenov tried to finish it but he was right hand happy and as long as Altunkaya circled away from the right Shumenov did not have the footwork to cut him off so Altunkaya survived but when he went back to his corner he indicated he was still having problems with his ribs from the left  that had put him down in the first round and he retired. The 34-year-old Kazak had retired partially due to an eye injury and to fights falling through. He is not in the Usyk-Gassiev class so it is difficult to see where he can go from here. In this division the WBA now have a unified champion in Gassiev, a secondary champion in Shumenov, an interim champion in Arsen Goulamirian and a champion in recess in Denis Lebedev. German Altunkaya won his first 29 fight against carefully selected opposition before losing every round and being stopped in five rounds by Krzys Glowacki in June last year. His only fight since then was a six rounds win over the 3-7-1 Niko Lohmann so no excuse at all for the WBA’s blatant manipulation of their ratings.

 

Ciudad Acuna, Mexico: Light: Alejandro Zuniga (18-1) W PTS 10 Eliud Montoya (12-23). Bantam: Gerardo Castillo (23-1) W TKO 6 Ivan Najera (2-15). Super Light: Luis Hernandez (13-0) W KO 1 Rodolfo Castillo (5-9).

Zuniga vs. Montoya

Home town fighter Zuniga makes it five wins on the bounce as he takes the unanimous decision over Montoya. Despite his indifferent record Montoya put up a good fight but Zuniga had the edge. The 20-year-old “Cat” is scheduled to travel to Russia next month to contest the vacant WBC International title. Montoya now a poor 1-13 in his last 14 fights. The shows was held to honour the former WBC interim middle champion Marco Antonio Rubio who retired in 2015.

Castillo vs. Najera

“The Shadow” Castillo makes it 14 wins by KO/TKO as he halts Najera in six rounds. Castillo has had to overcome the handicap of being a deaf-mute to be a successful pro. Najera falls to 1-13 including two points losses to Zuniga.

Hernandez vs. Castillo

“Matador” Hernandez gets this one over in quick time as he puts Castillo down and out late in the first round. Hernandez has won 12 of his 13 fights by KO/TKO. Eight losses by KO/TKO for Castillo and since his nickname is “Little Bull” not an unexpected win for the “Matador”

 

Guadalajara, Mexico: Light Fly: Jose Argumedo (21-4-1) W Moises Calleros (28-8-1). Former IBF minimumweight champion Argumedo gets his second win of the year. Argumedo tried to overwhelm Calleros with his swarming aggressive attacks and he took the first two rounds. From the third Calleros was making space and countering Argumedo’s wild rushes with hooks and uppercuts. The fight was in the balance until the superior conditioning of Argumedo made the difference and he had a big seventh round in which Calleros lost a point for a punch to the back of the head and was floored with a right. In the end Argumedo was a clear winner. Scores 97-91 twice and 99-90 for Argumedo. The 29-year-old from Tepic was having his second fight since losing the IBF to Hiroto Kyoguchi last July. Calleros lost a split verdict to Tatsuya Fukuhara for the interim WBO minimumweight title and in his last fight in March this year was beaten in eight rounds by Ryuya Yamanaka for the full WBO title.

 

Tagbilaran City, Philippines: Feather: Dave Penalosa (13-0) W TKO 2 Ricky Manufoe (27-35-3). Fly: Carlo Penalosa (12-1) W KO 5 Iwan Key (11-22-3). Light: Mark Bernaldez (17-11) W TKO 2 Ryan Bongcawil (8-14-6).

Penalosa vs. Manufoe

Penalosa makes a successful return to action with stoppage of Indonesia travelling loser Manufoe. The body punching from Penalosa was too much for Manufoe. The Indonesian was floored in the first and three more times in the second. Penalosa, a 27-year-old southpaw, was having his first fight since September 2016. What a family. David is son of Dodie, nephew of Gerry and Jonathan, younger brother of Dodie Junior and grandson of Carl. Manufoe falls to 19 losses by KO/TKO.

Penalosa vs. Key

No real test here for Penalosa. He won every round before putting Key down and out with a left to the chin in the fifth. Also a member of the Penalosa clan and also a southpaw but a bit younger a 25 Carlo has five wins by KO/TKO. Fourteenth loss by KO/TKO for Key.

Bernaldez vs. Bongcawil

Bernaldez just too much of everything for Bongcawil. After almost two rounds of absorbing punishment with just one second to go in the round Bongcawil told the referee he was finished and the fight was stopped. The 26-year-old “Machete” Bernaldez is rebuilding after losing his unbeaten in a seventh round stoppage loss to Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Tameda in May 2015 but returned with a win in April. Poor Bongcawil is 1-11-4 in his last 16 fights.

 

Pasay City, Philippines: Fly: Ardin Diale (34-12-4) W PTS 12 Cris Alfante (14-7-1). Diale gets majority decision over Alfante in a very close fight which was a war all the way. Southpaw Alfante the younger and less experienced fighter made a strong start marching forward behind a strong jab but a clash of heads in the first saw Diale cut on his left eyelid and that cost Alfante a one point deduction. To undo his good work and put Alfante even further behind Diale scored a knockdown in the third. Alfante kept pressing and Diale was countering with the harder punches. The pace was very fast with furious exchanges all the way and the rounds were close. There was not much in it at the end with Diale landing the harder punches and Alfante the busier.  It was the point deduction and the 10-8 third round that cost Alfante the fight. Scores 115-111 and 114-112 for Diale and 113-113. The 29-year-old Diale wins the WBC ABC Continental title. “The Jackal” turned pro at 17 and is a former Philippines and OPBF champion. He lost to Julio Cesar Miranda in a challenge for the WBO fly title in 2011and last year lost tough matches to Andrew Selby and to Moruti Mthalane. Alfante, 26, was making the second defence of the WBC ABC Continental title. He has also lost some tough asks against Daigo Higa and Andrew Moloney.

 

 

Fresno, CA, USA: Welter: Egidijus Kavaliauskas (20-0) W PTS 10 Juan Carlos Abreu (21-4-1, 1ND). Super Feather: Andy Vences (21-0-1) W PTS 10 Frank De Alba (22-4-2). Heavy: Andy Ruiz (31-1) W PTS 10 Kevin Johnson (32-10-1). Super Feather: Gabriel Flores (9-0) W PTS 6 James De Herrera (4-5).

Kavaliauskas vs. Abreu

This fight was bumped up to the main event after Danny O’Connor collapsed with dehydration and the WBC title fight between Juan Carlos Ramirez and O’Connor was cancelled. The styles did not gel and it was not an exciting fight but for Kavaliauskas any win would put him in line for a shot at a title. Although Kavaliauskas just took the first round a clash of heads saw the Lithuanian cut over his right eye and Abreu cut over his left. Abreu used some clever boxing and some dubious tactics to take the second and in the third a punch from Abreu opened a cut over the left eye of Kavaliauskas. A round which also seemed to go to Abreu. The rounds remained close over the fourth and fifth but over the sixth and seventh Kavaliauskas was taking them as he closed down Abreu’s space and outlanded the Dominican. Abreu was doing plenty of holding to blunt the attacks of Kavaliauskas but it was not working and a strong finish from Kavaliauskas put the decision beyond doubt. Scores 97-93 twice and 96-94 for Kavaliauskas. The “Mean Machine” from Lithuania was defending his NABF title. He is rated WBA 4/WBC 5/IBF 15. Terrence Crawford would be an obvious choice for Kavaliauskas as he is also promoted by Bob Arum but the WBO did a very strange switch on Kavaliauskas. Their May ratings had Jeff Horn as champion with Crawford at 1, Manny Pacquiao at 2 and Kavaliauskas at 3. However in their June ratings Custio Clayton suddenly leaps from No 7 to No 1 with Kavaliauskas at No 2 so nothing is clear at this time. Losses to Jamal James and Alex Martin had cost Abreu his rating. He had recovered with wins over Jesus Soto Karass and Luis Hernandez but with this loss slips back down the ladder.

Vences vs. De Alba

Dominating performance from Vences as he takes wide unanimous decision over De Alba. Vences made a good start rocking southpaw De Alba a couple of times in the first and although De Alba had his jab working well in the second again Vences was getting through with rights. The third was a close round as was the fourth but Vences was the busier. He tried switching to southpaw and worked the body well. Vences clearly took the fifth he had De Alba backing up and was scoring with both hands from both guards. De Alba had the better of the exchanges early in the sixth but Vences fired back late in the round. Vences just edged the seventh despite De Alba scoring well with rights. Vences was on top in the eighth scoring heavily with rights and looked to have De Alba hurt in the ninth. De Alba made a big effort in the tenth and might just have done enough to edge it. Scores 99-91 twice and 98-92 for “The Shark” who was making the second defence of the WBC Continental Americas title. He had his 100% record ruined by a draw with 17-0 Erick De Leon in March but is back on track. De Alba did better than the scores indicate as some rounds were close but following his defeat at the hands of O’Shaquie Foster in April that makes back-to-back losses for the Puerto Rican.

Ruiz vs. Johnson

Andy Ruiz continues his campaign to get back in the title picture with points win over Kevin Johnson. It is hard to be entertaining when fighting Johnson but Ruiz had more need of a victory and he settled for that entertaining or not.. At 252lbs Ruiz is still a very chubby boxer but he makes up for any loss of mobility with excellent hand speed and he took the decision on scores of 97-93 twice and 99-91. After losing a majority decision to Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO title in December 2016 Ruiz was inactive until knocking out Devin Vargas in March.His only rating at this moment is No 15 with the WBC but he will climb. Johnson., 38, is now 3-7 in his last ten fights and the only way for him is down.

Flores vs. De Herrera

Outstanding prospect Flores floors Texan De Herrera in the first but has to go the full six rounds for victory. Scores 60-53 for Flores from all three judges. The 18-year-old Flores is a former US Junior and Under-17 champion and lifted a silver medal at the World Under-17 championships. Now 5 losses in his last 6 fights for De Herrera.

 

Rome, Italy; Feather: Mauro Forte (10-0-1) W PTS 10 Levan Tsiklauri (10-3-1).

A fast-paced competitive fight sees local boxer Forte take the unanimous decision. Forte dominated the early action sweeping the first three rounds. He was quick on his feet and scored with fast accurate counters as Tsiklauri tried to force the fight. From the fourth the Georgian stepped up his attacks and Forte was being pinned to the ropes for periods. Forte showed some excellent defensive work and eventually as Tsiklauri tired Forte was able to get control of the fight again and emerged a clear winner. Scores 97-93 for Forte on all three cards. Italian champion Forte, 24, wins the vacant WBC Mediterranean title and will now look towards a shot at the European Union title. Georgian Tsiklauri posed some threat with his eight wins by KO/TKO and fought hard but Forte was just too clever for him.

 

Brisbane, Australia: Cruiser: Ben Kelleher (9-1-2) W PTS 10 Jayden Nichols (7-1-1). Local fighter Kelleher wins the Australian title with unanimous points victory over title holder Nichols. New Zealand-born Kelleher who has an extensive background in Martial Arts wins the crown at the second attempt having been stopped in three rounds by unbeaten jai Opetaia in January. Scores 99-91, 97-93 and 97-94. Tasmanian Nichols was making the first defence of the national title he won in April so a short reign. Good opposition is hard to find sometimes and the eight other fighters Nichols met had combined records of 6-8.

 

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: Feather: Felix Caraballo (9-1-2) W KO 3 Mario Briones (29-7-2). Caraballo gets back to winning ways with kayo of Mexican Briones. Caraballo was cautious over the first round as Briones had a good kayo percentage. Gradually the Puerto Rican began to let his hands go and in the third a right hook to the jaw put Briones down for the count. Now seven wins by KO/TKO for Caraballo who lost his unbeaten tag in a domestic fight in January. Briones was 2-2 going it with the losses being to 19-0 Miguel Flores and 28-0-2 Jorge Lara.

 

Fight of the week:  Ardin Diale vs. Chris Alfante twelve rounds of war

Fighter of the week: No one really stood out. Important wins for Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Beibut Shumenov and Andy Vences good but not great performances

Punch of the week: Again nothing stood out

Upset of the week: Nort Beauchamp beating WBA no 9 Joel Brunker

One to watch:  Junto Nakatani 16-0 12wins by KO/TKO.