The Past Week in Action 1 August 2017 - Part II
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 Aug 2017
Sadam Ali (R) connects with a right at Johan Perez.
Tucson, AZ, USA: Welter Sadam Ali (25-1) W PTS 10 Johan Perez (22-4-2,1ND). Super Welter: Patrick Teixeira (27-1) W PTS 8 Andrew Hernandez (19-6-1). Welter: Alejandro Barrera (29-3) W PTS 10 Eddie Gomez (20-3). Super Welter: Daquan Arnett (16-1) W PTS 8 Jorge Silva (22-14-2).
Ali vs. Perez
Ali wins unanimous decision against an aggressive Perez. Ali was forced to fight much of the time on the back foot using good upper body movement and clever footwork to offset the attacks of the experienced Venezuelan. Perez was taller with a longer reach but instead of trying to use those attributes he chose to take the fight to Ali throughout. Ali was finding plenty of gaps and scoring repeatedly with counters whilst blocking or avoiding the efforts of Perez. Ali scored a knockdown in the third. His skills kept him on top but he could never stop Perez from advancing but the Venezuelan was often wild with his punches. Ali was particularly impressive when he stepped inside and fired quick combinations and got out again before Perez could catch him. Perez’s best moments came when he could trap Ali on the ropes and land with left hooks to the body. Perez had a big moment in the eighth. He was angered by one of the many head clashes and landed a booming right which shook Ali. Perez went for broke as Ali slithered around the ropes bobbing and weaving and holding to survive. There were no more scares and Ali was a clear winner. Scores 97-92 twice and 98-91all for Ali. The 28-year-old from Brooklyn wins the vacant WBA International title and gets his third win since losing on a ninth round stoppage to Jessie Vargas for the vacant WBO title in March last year. His only current rating is No 8 spot in the IBF ratings (effectively No 6 as the first two slots are vacant) and he has the talent to climb higher. Perez, 34, a former interim WBA super light champion, a title he won by beating Paul Spadafora, is tall for the weight at 5’ 10” and an awkward handful for anyone.
Teixeira vs. Hernandez
Teixeira returns with a win. The tall Brazilian southpaw was having his first fight for 14 months but showed no rust. He just kept pumping out his jab with the smaller Hernandez having trouble getting inside. Almost 90% of the punches Teixeira throws are right jabs and he tends to lean in rather than step in with his left so they lose some snap. He is strictly a front foot fighter and uses his extended reach to keep the opposition on the back foot and mixes some nice left hooks to the body when he gets inside. The pattern of the fight did not vary much until Teixeira injured his left hand in the fifth and only used that hand sparingly over the last three rounds. Hernandez did not press enough to take advantage of that and allowed Teixeira to box his way to victory. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Teixeira. First fight for the 5’11” 26-year-old Teixeira since being destroyed in two rounds by Curtis Stevens in May last year. With his height and reach he is too good for the medium level opposition but that will not be enough when he tries to step up again. Hernandez had won 9 of his last 10 fights including an upset win last May over highly rated Russian Arif Magomedov but he was halted in three rounds by Jesse Hart in November.
Barrera vs. Gomez
Despite this being his first fight for 20 months a combination of a higher work rate and clever tactics won this one for the more experienced Mexican. Barrera figured out a way to circumvent the counter punching tactics of Gomez. Much like the tactics Carl Frampton used in his first fight with Leo Santa Cruz Barrera nipped in with a punch and then anticipated when Gomez was going to counter and took a couple of steps back leaving Gomez no target. That plus his higher punch output saw Barrera build an early lead and he needed it. In the seventh a clash of heads saw Barrera cut over his right eye and then a left hook put Barrera down. He survived and the last three rounds were all close but Barrera had done enough to hold on to his lead. Scores 96-93 twice for Barrera and 95-94 for Gomez. Barrera, 30, won his first 20 fights before losing to Armando Robles in 2012. He then won 8 of his next 9 fights only to lose on a fifth round stoppage to Errol Spence in November 2015 after which he was inactive until this fight. Bronx-born of Honduras lineage “E-boy “ Gomez, 24,won two National Junior Olympic titles and was a Ney York Golden Gloves champion. He won 19 of his first 20 fights beating some good level opposition before being blown away in 79 seconds by Rashidi Ellis last December.
Arnett vs. Silva
Floridian Arnett has no problem in getting by travelling loser Silva. Arnett won every round forcing Silva on to the back foot and scoring with hard combinations. Silva seemed more interested in clowning than fighting at times. The pressure got to a tiring Silva from the sixth as he clinched more and more to survive. He overdid it in the seventh and was docked a point for holding but stayed around to hear the final bell. Scores 80-71 for Arnett from all three judges. The 24-year-old is from Orlando-not the glitzy theme park Orlando but the tough streets of West Orlando. His only loss is to Eddie Gomez back in 2014 and he has now won five on the bounce including a good victory over Cuban Yudel Johnson. Mexican Silva is 2-10 in his last 12 fights.
Long Beach, CA, USA: Feather: Tramaine Williams (12-0,1ND) W KO 1 William Gonzalez (30-8). Light Heavy: Junior Younan (12-0) W Mike Guy (9-2-1).
Williams vs. Gonzalez
Williams blows away Gonzalez inside a round. The little southpaw exploded early putting Gonzalez down three times with the referee waiving the count after the third knockdown. With just over a minute gone Williams landed a combination to the head that sent Gonzalez into the ropes and down. Gonzalez was ready to continue after the count but Williams cut loose with both hands and again Gonzalez went back into the ropes. This time he sat on the middle rope which held him up and resulted in a second count. Gonzalez did not look badly hurt but when the action resumed Williams walked forward and landed a thunderbolt of a right that flattened Gonzalez. He was spread-eagled on the canvas out cold so no count required. The 24-year-old 5’4” (163cm) “Mighty Midget” had halted Chris Martin in June so is finally showing some power as this is only his fifth win By KO/TKO. Williams is a former National Golden Gloves champion who lost out at the final US Trials for 2012 Olympics. There is a gap in his career caused by prison time for possession of drugs and a weapon but let’s hope he has put all of that behind him as he is a hot hope. Nicaraguan Gonzalez lost a majority verdict to Joseph Agbeko for the IBF bantam title in 2008 and this is his fifth loss by KO/TKO.
Younan vs. Guy
Guy does young Younan a favour by lasting the full eight rounds which is the furthest the Brooklyn prospect has had to go for victory and in the end it was closer than Younan would have wanted. Guy was aggressive from the start with Younan scoring well with counters but despite his impressive KO % he could neither stop Guy coming forward or shake the fighter from Sacramento and only a point deducted from Guy for wrestling Younan to the canvas in the sixth was the margin in Younan’s victory. The 21-year-old from Brooklyn has scored 8 first round wins and only once previously gone past the fourth round. He had a great record as a Junior he was National Junior Golden Gloves champion and the No 1 rated Junior in the US. Guy, 35, has a sparse record but his other two losses have been to high quality opposition in the form of a points loss to Tyrone Zeuge and a stoppage by Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Durango. Mexico: Super Feather: Cris Mijares (57-8-2) W PTS 8 Rafael Hernandez (11-8-2,1ND). Welter: Ivan Alvarez (27-7) W PTS 8 Luis Vidales (12-5). Bantam: Elias Emigdio (3-0) W KO 2 Victor Herrera (2-1).
Mijares vs. Hernandez
Mijares wins unanimous decision over Hernandez but makes heavy weather of it. After a low key opening round they both let their punches go but Mijares had trouble with the height and reach of the of the Venezuelan . Mijares was lucky to escape without a cut after a clash of heads in the second round. Both landed some heavy stuff in the third and Mijares rocked Hernandez with a couple of uppercuts in the fourth. Hernandez was trying to match Mijares punch for punch and he had the edge in the fifth and sixth with Mijares forced onto the back foot. There were plenty of exchanges in the seventh and the pace began to tell on both fighters. Mijares had a big eighth as he shook Hernandez with an uppercut and then landed a series of punches that put Hernandez down. Hernandez survived the round and was still fighting hard at the final bell as Mijares boxed his way through the tenth not looking to take any chances. Scores 97-91, 97-92 and 96-93 all for the local hero Mijares. The 35-year-old southpaw, a former WBA/WBC/IBF super fly champion, has won his last eight fights including victories over Andres Gutierrez and Tomas Rojas and is No 5 with the WBC. Since losing his titles he has been unsuccessful in four challenges for other versions of a world title but is hoping to land a shot at WBC champion Miguel Berchelt. Hernandez, 34, lost in a challenge to Thai Poonsawat for the interim WBA super bantam title in 2008 but was just 2-2 in his last 4 fights.
Alvarez vs. Vidales
Alvarez outpoints Vidales. The useful southpaw had to battle with the handicap of a bad cut on his left eyebrow caused by a clash of heads but he was a clear winner getting the unanimous decision. He is 14-2 in his last 16 fights including useful wins over Javier Prieto and Abner Lopez. Vidales had won his last five fights.
Emigdio vs. Adame
Olympian Emigdio gets his first inside the distance win as a pro. A wicked left hook to the body put poor Adame down and he was counted out. The 24-year-old “Tiger de Zitlala” represented Mexico at the World Championships and the 2016 Olympics. He was 17-3 in the WSB representing Mexico Guerreros and currently serves in the Mexican Army. Adame out of his depth here.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Feather: Matias Rueda (28-1) W TKO 2 Aldimar Silva (19-12). Light Heavy: Walter Sequeira (19-4) W PTS 10 Martin Fidel Rios (22-12-4,1ND).
Rueda vs. Silva
Rueda obliterates Silva inside two rounds. The Argentinian scored with a strong right cross in the first which put Silva on the defensive. In the second the Brazilian landed a right to the head but Rueda shook it off and in turn landed a booming right to the head that put Silva down on his back. He struggled to his feet but staggered and the referee stopped the fight. The 29-year-old “Little Cobra” retains the South American title. He already holds the Argentinian title and has 25 wins by KO/TKO. His loss was a second round defeat against Oscar Valdez for the vacant WBO title in July last year and this is his second win since then. Silva, 36, now has seven losses by KO/TKO.
Sequeira vs. Rios
Sequeira gets a wide unanimous decision over experienced Rios in the first defence of his national title. Rios used his longer reach to good effect in the first round but Sequeira took over from the second. He worked his way past the jab and raked Rios with short punches to the body. From there the aggressive champion was able to keep pressing with Rios forced to spend a large part of each round pinned to the ropes and unable to find any space to counter effectively. Rios had some success in the fourth and the seventh but Sequeira swept the last three rounds clearly with a tiring Rios losing a point in the last for spitting out his mouthguard. Scores 99-91½, 98-91, 98 ½-91½. Sequeira 30, lost both of his fights in 2016 being outpointed by Avni Yildirim and knocked out by Ezekiel Maderna but had scored a win in January over Elio Trosch to collect the Argentinian title. Rios, 25, the Argentinian super middle champion, was just not strong enough to hold Sequeira off.
Tokyo, Japan: Minimum: Tsubasa Koura (11-0) W KO 4 Jaysever Abcede (14-7). Super Bantam: Yusaku Kuga (15-2-1) W PTS 10 Ryoichi Tamura (8-3-1).
Koura vs. Abcede
Koura wins the vacant OPBF title with victory over Abcede. Koura boxed cautiously behind his jab early respecting the power of the Filipino southpaw. Things began to change in the third as Koura halted Abcede in his tracks with a straight right. Abcede continued to press in the fourth but koura again landed some good rights before sinking a left into Abcede’s body. The Filipino went down in obvious distress and was counted out. The promising 22-year-old from Yokohama now has 8 wins by KO/TKO and is rated No 14 by the WBA. Abcede, 22, the Philippines No 2 light fly gets his second loss by KO/TKO and is now a very modest 4-3 in his last 7 fights.
Kuga vs. Tamura
Kuga retains the Japanese tile with close unanimous decision over underrated challenger Tamura. Kuga began in his usual aggressive style with Tamura having to take punishment but not backing down as this became a real war. Scoring with some heavy right hooks Kuga had the better of the exchanges over the first half of the fight and was well in front at 50-45, 49-46, 49-47. It was expected with his greater experience and Tamura never having gone past eight rounds before Kuga would get stronger over the second half of the fight. Then the unexpected happened as Tamura refused to crumble and instead stormed through the second half of the fight. Tamura had good rounds in the sixth and seventh. Kuga had the better of the early action in the eighth but Tamura had Kuga struggling by the end of the round. They fought hard over the ninth and tenth with Kuga probably just settling things with a strong finish but it was close. Scores 97-94 twice and 96-94. The 26-year-old Kuga has lost only one of his last twelve fights and stopped his conqueror in a return. He is rated WBC 11/WBA 12/IBF 15. Tamura, 30, the Japanese No 5,had won his last 5 fights.
Tlalpan, Mexico: Super Bantam: Emanuel Navarrete (21-1) W TKO 5 Jhon Gemino (16-9-1). Navarrete posts another inside the distance win as his power proves too much for Gemino. Navarrete took the first round he had a big edge in reach , kept switching guards and scored with stabbing jabs. When he came forward he fired left hooks into the body of Gemino who banged back strongly at the end of the round. Navarrete started out as a southpaw in the second but did not look comfortable. He switched back but then Gemino launched a furious attack which stirred Navarrete to action and he blasted through with shots from both hands shaking Gemino with a couple of left hooks. Gemino absorbed some brutal punishment in the third as Navarrete drove him around the ring landing long rights hooks and uppercuts. The storm abated for a while in the fourth as Navarrete slowed his work rate. He went to work again in the fifth and was driving Gemino around the perimeter of the ring again unloading long rights and left hooks and uppercuts until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The 22-year-old “Cowboy” makes it 18 wins by KO/TKO. He has won his last 16 fights, 13 inside the distance against a reasonable but not too tough opposition and is rated an unbelievable No 4 with the WBA although he has never met anyone rated anywhere. He has power but wastes his energy when he turns southpaw as he does not get any leverage on his punches in a right foot forward stance and his defence needs tightening. Former Philippines champion Gemino, 25, drops to 4 losses by KO/TKO with his best result being a one round stoppage of Toka Kahn Clary in September.
Managua, Nicaragua: Super Bantam: Alex Mejia (8-0) W PTS 11 Ramiro Blanco (16-2-3). “ Popeye” Mejia wins the vacant WBA Fedelatin title with split decision over fellow Nicaraguan Blanco. This was a great and very close little fight where the less skilled Mejia triumphed partially due to Blanco’s sluggish start and also to Mejia’s all-out aggression. Mejia swept the first three rounds as Blanco just could not get going. From the fourth Blanco had his jab working and began to eat into Mejia’s lead. The rounds were all close and both fighters suffered cuts but Mejia had done a good job of defending his early lead and deserved the decision. Scores 107-103 ½,106 ½-105 for Mejia and 106 ½-104 for Blanco. Mejia was a top level amateur winning a gold medal at the Central American Championships but his fighting style is more suited to the pro ranks. Blanco was unbeaten in his first 17 fights before losing to Can Xu in China for the WBA International title in September last year. He had rebounded with a couple of inside the distance wins over reasonable level opposition.
Puerto Armuelles, Panama: Welter: Brad Solomon (26-1) W David Bency (11-6-1,1ND). Fly: Muhammad Waseem (6-0) W Ivan Trejos (7-7-2).
Solomon vs. Bency
Solomon returns to the ring with comfortable points win over Nicaraguan Bency. Scores 90-82 twice and 90-81. Solomon wins the vacant WBA Fedebol title in his first fight since his only pro loss a split decision against Konstantin Ponomarev in April last year. Solomon, 34, has great technical ability but contract problems and a failure to excite the fans have held him back. Nicaraguan Bency had lost only one of his last ten fights.
Waseem vs. Trejos
Waseem remains unbeaten with easy win over Trejos Waseem made a slow measured start. He tracked the retreating Trejos around the ring looking for an opening. Trejos was stabbing out jabs and occasionally lunging forward throwing punches with Waseem blocking the punches but not really throwing many himself. He let his hands go more in the second with Trejos just looking to stay out of trouble. In the third Waseem backed Trejos into a corner and landed a left and a right to the head. Initially Trejos looked as though he was going to try to fight his way out of the corner but then he turned away bending over and Waseem landed another right as Trejos went down. He got up but made it clear he was not going to continue. An angered Waseem gesticulated for Trejos to fight on then turned away in disgust. The 29-year-old Korean-based Pakistani holds the WBC Silver title and is their No 1. Panamanian Trejos is 1-4 in his last 5 fights.
Paranaque City, Philippines: Light Fly: Jonathan Taconing (25-3-1) W TKO 3 Silem Sirang (8-14-1).
Just a gentle outing for highly rated Taconing. He was a few classes above Indonesian Sirang and floored him three times in the third for a stoppage. The 30-year-old Filipino southpaw has lost only two of his last 24 fights but they were both biggies. He lost on a technical decision against Kompayak for the WBC light fly title in 2012 and last July lost against Ganigan Lopez with both fights being for the WBC light fly title. He holds the WBC International title and is rated WBO 2/WBC 3 so there should be a third title shot somewhere down the line if he remains unbeaten. Sirang has won only one of his last seven fights.
San Juan, Puerto Rico: Super Welter: Marcos Osorio (8-0-1) DREW 8 Richard Gutierrez (30-17-2,2ND). Light: Nestor Bravo (11-0) W TKO 1 Hector Fernandez (3-6).
Osorio vs. Gutierrez
The WBC Fecarbox title remains vacant after these two fought to a draw. Osorio made a good start and looked to be building his way to a win until he injured his right hand in the third round. From there the local prospect had to rely heavily on his jab and Gutierrez was able to take chances as he pressed hard. Osorio showed excellent movement but without a right he was always going to find it hard to win this one against the much more experienced Colombian. Scores 77-75 for Osorio,77-75 for Gutierrez and 76-76. Osorio, a former Pan American Youth champion, wants a return to show that he can beat Gutierrez when he has two good hands. Gutierrez, 39, had a huge advantage when it comes to experience but this was his first fight for 16 months.
Bravo vs. Fernandez
Bravo gets this one over quickly as he put fellow Puerto Rican Fernandez twice for a first round stoppage. The 23-year-old prospect has seven wins by KO/TKO. As an amateur he became well known in Puerto Rico when he beat Felix Verdejo and almost torpedoed Verdejo’s chances of appearing at the 2012 Olympics. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for late choice Fernandez.
Manchester, England: Super Feather: Zelfa Barrett (18-0) W TKO 1 Jordan Ellison (7-11). Middle: Rafael Chiruta (13-39-1) W TKO 1 Reece Cartwright (17-1).
Barrett vs. Ellison
Barrett continues to look a real prospect as he destroys Ellison with two knockdowns. Ellison made a confident start moving forward behind his jab. Barrett was on the back foot just taking his time looking for an opening. He flashed out a right to the head and a couple of body punches. Ellison came forward again with a jab and a right cross and was still taking the fight to a retreating Barrett. The next time Ellison moved in Barrett nailed him with a right to the head that put Ellison down on his knees. He struggled to get up but made it and walk forward when asked to by the referee. Barrett finished in style opening Ellison up with three jabs and then landing a right to the head that had Ellison down and unable to beat the count. Now 11 wins by KO/TKO for the 24-year-old Manchester “Brown Flash” who gets his eighth win by KO/TKO in his last nine fights. One to watch. Only the second loss by KO/TKO for Ellison who came to fight only to be obliterated by those rights from Barrett
Chiruta vs. Cartwright
This one went to script for most of the first round. The unbeaten Cartwright made use of his 6’3” height and the added reach to stab home jabs and step in with lefts and rights to head and body. Chiruta was almost static just hiding behind a high guard. When he did react it was with huge wide swings which Cartwright easily avoided. Suddenly with Cartwright trapped on the ropes Chiruta landed an overhand right and then another sending Cartwright to his knees. He arose immediately only to be caught with another right. Chiruta landed punch after punch but somehow Cartwright kept upright and tried to fight back but a right to the temple had his legs wobbling and the fight was stopped with just ten seconds to go in the round. This is not the first time the 37-year-old Spanish-based Romanian has sprung and upset. Back in 2013 he battered top European Ruben Varon to defeat in two rounds and in his last fight in May floored and outpointed unbeaten Bulgarian Amaro Diallo (19-0). If he does this too often the work will dry up. Cartwright, 23, the IBF youth champion, had won 10 of his last 11 fights by KO/TKO so this was a huge upset.
July 30
Bakersfield, CA, USA: Welter: Victor Ortiz (32-6-2) W TKO 4 Saul Corral (25-10). Super Welter: Nat Gallimore (19-1-1) W RTD 5 Justin DeLoach (17-2). Light: Karlos Balderas (2-0) W KO 1 Eder Amaro (3-4).
Ortiz vs. Corral
Ortiz returns to the ring and overpowers Corral for an inside the distance victory. Ortiz was firing hurtful southpaw lefts to the body and crowding Corral from the start. Corral was on the retreat and really did not have the skill or the power to keep Ortiz out. Corral was forced to trade in the second and a left to the head had him staggering. Ortiz kept up the pressure. Corral was scoring well in the trading but Ortiz had the bigger punch. Corral was constantly clinching and was given a stern warning at the end of the round. Ortiz was still ploughing forward in the third scoring with long powerful lefts and Corral clinched yet again and the referee deducted a point from him. Ortiz continued to land lefts to the body and in the last action of the round he got though with a succession of head punches. In the fourth Ortiz pinned Corral to the ropes and landed a series of punches ending with a devastating left that dumped Corral on the canvas on his rear. He somehow struggled to his feet but was in a bad way. He convinced the referee he was able to continue but when the action resumed Ortiz batter him on to the ropes and landed a barrage of head shots that brought the referee jumping in to stop the fight. The 30-year-old former WBC welter champion was having his first fight since being knocked out in four rounds by Andre Berto in April last year. We will need to see him against stronger opposition to find out how this comeback will work out. Only the third loss by KO/TKO for Corral who had taken both Sadam Ali and Josesito Lopez the full ten rounds in the last ten months.
Gallimore vs. DeLoach
Gallimore springs big surprise as he beats world rated DeLoach in an exciting slugging match. This one was not for the faint hearted as these two were exchanging bombs from the start. Near the end of the first round Gallimore caught DeLoach with a right to the body followed by a vicious left hook that sent him tumbling to the floor face down. DeLoach was up at four and the bell went as the eight count was completed. It was bombs away again in the second. DeLoach landed some heavy stuff but it did not faze Gallimore who was talking to DeLoach all through the round. DeLoach scored with a blistering right uppercut but in the next exchange a right from Gallimore had DeLoach stumbling wildly and another right followed by a left hook sent DeLoach down on the canvas and half way out through the bottom rope. He was up at nine and then survived some heavy pressure and in the dying seconds of the round he was staggered by a left and then landed a right of his own that stiffened Gallimore’s legs and briefly Gallimore looked in trouble. Already there had been more excitement in this fight than in the twelve rounds between Garcia and Broner. The pace dropped in the third but it was still as brutal. Both were taking and giving thunderous punches and both were urging the other man to bring it on. DeLoach seemed to be getting on top. No real change in the fourth as these two loaded up on their punches and pounded each other. Gallimore was scoring with some neck-snapping uppercuts and DeLoach seemed to be weakening. It was all Gallimore in the fifth as connected time and again with vicious uppercuts. DeLoach tried to punch back but late in the round another right to the head had his legs wobbling and he held desperately to get to the bell. When he went back to his corner he collapsed on his stool and overbalanced and almost fell out of the ring. His corner retired him. Huge, huge win for the 29-year-old Illinois-based Jamaican who now has 16 wins by KO/TKO. His only loss was a split decision against experienced Lithuanian Virgilijus Stapulionis in June last year and this is his sixth win by KO/TKO since then. The 24-year-old DeLoach was a firm favourite here. Of his last four victims three were unbeaten and the four had combined records of 57-1. He was rated IBF 4(3)/WBA 10/WBC 14but has blown those ratings and has some considerable rebuilding to do.
Balderas vs. Amaroo
US Olympian Balderas did not hang around too long. One crippling body punch put Amaroo down and he could not beat the count. All over in 96 seconds. In his first pro fight his opponent retired after the bell ending the first round so Balderas is no time waster. The 20-year-old Californian qualified for the Olympics through the WSB where he was 5-1 over two seasons and he got through to the quarter-finals in Rio before losing to Cuban Lazaro Alvarez. Balderas another name to note. Second loss by KO/TKO for Amaroo.
Qunigdao, China: Heavy: Jun Long Zhang (18-0) W KO 1 Osborne Machimana (22-10-2) Zhang retains his WBA Oceania title with first round stoppage of South African fat man Machimana. The 35-year-old Chinese fighter has won all of his 18 fights by KO/TKO and has taken less than 36 rounds to do so but his opposition has not been strong. No weights given but Machimana, 38, is 6’3 ½” (192cm) and weighed 299lbs (135kg) for a fight in April which tells you all you need to know about him. This is his sixth loss by KO/TKO
Osaka, Japan: Bantam: Mark John Yap (27-12) W TKO 4 Kentaro Masuda (27-8). Middle: Koki Tyson (13-2-2) W PTS 12 Brandon Lockhart Shane (8-6-1). Super Welter: Ratchasi (9-3) W TKO 11 Jumbo Petagine (10-5).
Yap vs. Masuda
Yap holds on to his OPBF title with a remarkable turnaround. The Japanese-based Filipino was floored in the first by a right counter that put him face down on the canvas. Yap beat the count but heavy rights floored him twice more and after he made it to his feet he was saved by the bell. Masuda tried to finish it in the second but Yap recovered well and in the third he stopped Masuda in his tracks with two choice uppercuts. Yap ended it in the fourth flooring Masuda twice to force the stoppage. First defence of the OPBF title for “The Journey Man” who has 13 wins by KO/TKO. Japanese bantam champion Masuda, the OPBF No 2, had won his last six fights.
Tyson vs. Shane
Another successful OPBF champion as Tyson outpoints Shane. The size difference was huge here with Tyson standing 6’3” (190cm) and American Shane 5’6” (168cm). It didn’t help Shane’s case that Tyson is also a southpaw. Tyson was able to use his reach to score on the outside and floored Shane in the fourth. Shane recovered and tightened his defence and took the fight to Tyson getting some success. After eight rounds the cards showed Tyson in front 79-73, 77-72 and 76-74. Tyson stuck to his boxing and increased his lead but was rocked momentarily in the tenth before easing his way to victory. Scores 119-109, 117-109 and 115-111. The 24-year-old local has won 11 of his last 12 fights. Shane, who hails from Brooklyn, had never gone past eight rounds before and only once past four.
Ratchasi vs. Petagine
Ratchasi made it a treble for OPBF title holders as he recorded a late stoppage of local fighter Petagine. Petagine had edges in height and reach but Ratchasi applied plenty of pressure and found his way inside enough to build an early read being up on two cards 40-36 and 39-37 and even at 38-38 on the third. The champion continued to get stronger and widened his gap by outhustling Petagine over the middle rounds and after eight was up on all three cards at 78-74 twice and 79-72. Petagine had never been passed eight rounds before and he tired badly and was taking too much punishment and his corner threw in the towel in the eleventh. The 32-year-old Ratchasi was making the first defence of his OPBF title. He has an unimpressive record but has shown considerable improvement in winning his last three fights. Petagine, the OPBF No 11, has won only one of his last four fights. His full name is Jumbo Oda Nobunaga Shoten Petagine but life is too short for me to use that.
Fight of the week: Nat Gallimore vs. Justin DeLoach a war of attrition with both fighters rocked at times.
Fighter of the week: Mikey Garcia as he almost outclasses Adrien Broner and puts himself in line to become a four division champion
Punch of the week: Quite a few candidates but I go for the pulverising right from Tyrone Williams that flattened William Gonzalez with honourable mentions to the left hook from Daniel Lozano that effectively ended his fight against David Carmona and the left from Victor Ortiz that sent Saul Corral down in a heap against the ropes.
Upset of the week: Sho Kimura’s win over Shiming Zou with honourable mention to Gallimore’s win over DeLoach
One to watch: Tramaine Williams
Click here for Part I.
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Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024