Weekly Results 6 February 2018 - Part I
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Feb 2018
-Highlights:
-Murat Gassiev stops Yunier Dorticos in dramatic last round to unify IBF and WBA cruiser titles and moves through to the WBSS final
-Gilberto Ramirez outclasses and halts Habib Ahmed to retain WBO super middle title
-Jerwin Ancajas stops Israel Gonzalez to retain IBF super fly title
-Reece Bellotti halts Ben Jones in Commonwealth title defence and Josh Wale beats Bobby Jenkinson in British title defence
-Max Vlasov beats Olan Durodola to win WBC Silver title and Roman Andreev beats Craig Evans for WBO International light title and there are wins for Fabio Turchi, Omar Narvaez, Fedor Chudinov and Jesse Hart
2 February
Sloan, IA, USA: Super Middle: Ronald Ellis (14-0-2) DREW 10 Junior Younan (13-0-1). Light: Thomas Mattice (11-0) W TKO 7 Rolando Chinea (15-2-1). Super Light: Montana Love (9-0) W PTS 8 Sam Teah (12-2-1).
Ellis vs. Younan
This clash of two former high grade amateurs ends all even on the Showtime New Generation show and the USBA title remains vacant, It was a clash of styles and a fight which fell into two distinct halves. At the outset Ellis was pressing hard but Younan, a flashy, quick fighter was getting his punches off first and he had the better of a late exchange of shots to take the opening round. Ellis did better in the second as Younan?s output dropped. The third was a close round with Younan doing more and Ellis not having the same success as in the second. Younan did better at the start of the fourth but Ellis finished the round strongly. At that point Younan was in front on all three cards at 39-37 twice and 40-36. He also used some sharp counter punching to edge the fifth. Ellis finally began to roll from the sixth. His pressure was telling and he was landing some choice left hooks and he went on to sweep the seventh and eighth. As the pace dropped Younan moved and countered well enough to take a ninth a round he badly needed to win. Ellis edged a close tenth rocking Younan with a right uppercut and seemed to have just done enough to get the win. Scores 96-94 for Ellis, 96-94 for Younan and 95-95 so both guys preserve their unbeaten tag. For Ellis, the 28-year-old brother of unbeaten Rashidi Ellis, this was an exercise in shedding rust as he returned from injury in his first fight in 13 months. He was National Golden Gloves champion in 2010 beating Terrell Gausha in the tournament. Younan, 22, won a whole bundle of local and national Youth titles before turning pro a few weeks after his18th birthday and is one to watch.
Mattice vs. Chinea
Mattice comes from behind to halt Chinea. For most of the fight Chinea set a ridiculously fast pace. He was rolling forward throwing bunches of punches from both hands. Mattice just could not get into the fight. He was constantly on the back foot and too often fighting with his back against the ropes. After six rounds Chinea was on his way to victory being ahead 59-55 in the cards. In the seventh Mattice, a noted power puncher, found the punch he badly needed. A right suddenly had Chinea in deep water and Mattice landed a series of punches punctuated by a left hook that sent Chinea towards the floor and the fight was stopped. ?Gunna Man? Mattice, 27 is a former US National Championships bronze medal winner. He has nine wins by KO/TKO including five in his last five fights. Puerto Rican Chinea, 26, was coming off an impressive win over unbeaten Kenneth Sims Jr and can rebound from this.
Montana vs. Teah
Montana takes a chance in coming in as a late substitute and it pays off as he wins majority verdict over Teah. Southpaw Montana used his speed and superior skills to outbox Teah. Teah kept pressing but had trouble handing the slick boxing of Montana. Montana?s lack of preparation, he came in at four days notice, began to tell over the closing rounds which let Teah into the fight. Teah finished the fight strongly but it was already a lost cause. Scores 78-74 twice for Montana and 76-76. Montana, 23, said he had injured his left hand early in the fight. He had been sparring with Robert Easter and Adrien Broner which must have helped. Liberian-born Teah just lacked the skill to match Montana
Florence, Italy: Cruiser: Fabio Turchi (14-0) W TKO 1 Dario Balmaceda (15-17-2). Light Heavy: Vigan Mustafa (19-3) W TKO 2 Nicola Ciriani (15-2-1). Fly: Mohammad Obbadi (14-1) W PTS 6 Khvicha Gigolashvili (16-26).
Turchi vs. Balmaceda
Easy win for southpaw Turchi as he blasts out a sliding Balmaceda. Turchi scored early with his strong right jab before flooring Balmaceda with a stunning left hook. Balmaceda only just beat the count but body punches dropped him again and the towel flew in from the Argentinian?s corner with just one second left in the round. The 24-year-old ?Stone Crusher? makes it 11 wins by KO/TKO and retains the WBC International title. Turchi has good amateur credentials being Italian champion four times, winning a gold medal at the Mediterranean Games, silver at the World Military Games and a bronze at the World Youth championships in a 106-9 record. Balmaceda, 33, a former Argentinian super middle title challenger suffers his tenth loss by KO/TKO and is 2-5 in his last 7 fights.
Mustafa vs. Ciriani
Minor surprise as Mustafa floors and halts champion Ciriani to win the Italian title. Ciriani made a confident start taking the fight to Mustafa who boxed well on the back foot. Ciriani stepped up the pace in the second forcing Mustafa to the ropes but as he moved in a short left hook put him down heavily and the fight was waived off. Kosovon-born Mustafa wins the title at the grand old age of 38. Back in 2011 he suffered a heavy kayo loss and decided to retire. He was away from the ring for over five years but after returning in 2016 he had scored three wins before this title challenge. Ciriani, 29, was making the first defence of the national title and had won 11 of his last 12 fights but the roof fell in on the bricklayer here.
Obbadi vs. Gigolashvili
Former unbeaten EU champion eases his way back with a points win over Georgian Gigolashvili. Obbadi?s skill and speed were too much for the taller visitor. Obbadi made a big effort to stop Gigolashvili over the last two rounds but the Georgian was still there at the final bell. The 24-year-old Moroccan-born Obbadi is rebuilding after a loss to Cristofer Rosales for the vacant WBC International flyweight title in October. Gigolashvili has only failed to go the distance once.
Sheffield, England: Bantam: Josh Wale (26-9-2) W TKO 9 Bobby Jenkinson (11-4-1). Super Fly: Brad Watson (11-2) W TKO 10 Loua Nassa (10-1). Super Fly: Kyle Yousaf (13-0) W PTS 6 Isaac Quaye (31-16-1).
Wale vs. Jenkinson
Wale retains the British title with late stoppage of Jenkinson. The fight started badly for the champion as a clash of heads in the first round saw him cut over his right eye. Despite that Wale took the fight to the clever boxing Jenkinson. Wale was willing to walk through the counters from Jenkinson and his strength and aggression began to tell with Jenkinson cut by his left eye and Wale boxing hands down to show his confidence. There was a moment of stupidity in the eighth. With Wale having Jenkinson rocking someone at ringside attempted to throw a chair into the ring. Luckily no one was hurt. Wale continued to batter away at Jenkinson in the ninth and put the challenger down with a right to the head and the fight was stopped. The 29-year-old ?Outlaw? now has 13 wins by KO/TKO and needs one more defence to win a magnificent Lonsdale Belt for himself. Former Commonwealth champion Jenkinson drops to four losses by KO/TKO.
Watson vs. Nassa
Watson makes history as he becomes the first fighter from the Channel Island of Guernsey to win an English title. Local fighter ?Golden Kid? Nassa was definitely the favourite here and for most of the way the fight went in accordance with the script. Nassa took the first two rounds with his neat, clever boxing. Watson managed to land some shots in the third but also suffered a cut to his nose. Nassa outboxed Watson over the fourth and fifth to build a commanding lead. He did the same for much of the sixth but late in the round a right from Watson floored Nassa for the first time in his career. Watson tried to end things then but Nassa survived. Nassa fought back hard in an exciting seventh as both just stood and traded punches and in the eighth both were rocked. Watson began to dominate a tiring Nassa in the ninth before flooring him with a right in the tenth. Nassa beat the count but was floored again and although he made it to his feet the fight was stopped. Watson, 27, was coming off two consecutive losses but gets his fifth win by KO/TKO and the English title which had been vacant, At 22 Nassa has time to recover from this and come again.
Yousaf vs. Quaye
Yusaf cruises to victory over Ghanaian Quaye. The lanky Sheffield fighter won every round and is ready for better opposition, Referee?s score 60-54. Former Commonwealth title challenger Quaye has now lost 4 of his last 5 fights.
3 February
Adler, Russia: Cruiser: Murat Gassiev (26-0,1ND) W TKO 12 Yunier Dorticos (22-1). Light: Roman Andreev (21-0) W TKO 9 Craig Evans (17-2-2). Cruiser: Max Vlasov (42-2) W RTD 10 Olan Durodola (27-5). Light: Hurricane Futa (24-7-1) W KO 7 Vage Sarukhanyan (17-2-1). Super Middle: Fedor Chudinov (17-2) W RTD 7 Timo Laine (21-10,1ND). Bantam: Mikhail Aloyan (4-0) W PTS 10 Alexander Espinoza (15-1-2).
Gassiev vs. Dorticos
Gassiev scores dramatic last round finish to unify the IBF and WBA titles and move through to the final of the WSBB tournament in Jeddah in May against Olek Usyk.
Round 1
Gassiev handed the initiative to Dorticos and conceded the opening round. He immediately went on to the back foot and threw very few punches. Dorticos had his jab working well and landed some hefty body punches as he shadowed Gassiev around the ring.
Score 10-9 Dorticos
Round 2
In the second Gassiev was again mainly on the retreat but this time he threw a lot more punches. He scored well with a strong jab and left hooks to the body. Dorticos threw more but landed less and Gassiev edged it.
Score 10-9 Gassiev 19-19
Round 3
Dorticos was on the front foot for the whole three minutes. He was finding gaps for his jab and letting fly with some overhand rights and hooks to the body. Gassiev was again very accurate but not throwing enough.
Score 10-9 Dorticos 28-29
Round 4
A one-sided round as Dorticos continued to pierce the guard of the retreating Gassiev and behind the jab came rights to the head and left hooks. Gassiev seemed to have no answer to the jab although he did score with a clubbing left to the head.
Score 10-9 Dorticos 37-39
Round 5
Dorticos bossed the first two minutes of this one mainly with his jab. Gassiev landed some hard left hooks to the body but was being outscored. Late in the round Gassiev began to throw more and rocked Dorticos with a right to the head. The first time either fighter had been hurt.
Score 10-9 Gassiev 47-48
Round 6
Gassiev changed tactics in this one. Now he was the one coming forward. Dorticos was still pinging Gassiev with jabs but Gassiev was landing stiff jabs and thumping body punches with Dorticos on the retreat for most of the round.
Score 10-9 Gassiev 57-57
Round 7
This was a close round. The action all took place in the centre of the ring as Gassiev was standing and trading with Dorticos. The Cuban continued to work his jab and scored with uppercuts. The heavy punches from Gassiev were in the form of hooks to the body but Dorticos just outworked him.
Score 10-9 Dorticos 66-67
Round 8
Another round for Dorticos. He used almost exclusively a jab/right cross approach and found the target consistently throughout the round with Gassiev not getting his punches off and having no answer to the jab of the Cuban.
Score 10-9 Dorticos 75-77
Round 9
Gassiev needed to get back in the fight and he did here. He landed a four-punch combination early in the round and on four occasions rattled Dorticos chin with uppercuts. Dorticos worked hard but the round belonged to Gassiev.
Score 10-9 Gassiev 85-86
Round 10
Gassiev was really rolling now. He was looking the stronger and again getting through with uppercuts and cracking shots to head and body. Dorticos closed the round strongly but it was the Russian?s round.
Score 10-9 Gassiev 95-95
Round 11
Dorticos worked hard in this one. He was throwing more and although not as accurate as Gassiev was pumping out lots punches but looked arm weary. He was taking the round on volume but that changed over the last 30 seconds. Gassiev landed a left hook and then a right to the head and Dorticos was badly shaken and staggered almost going down. Gassiev tried to land another big punch but Dorticos clinched and almost pushed Gassiev over the top rope. The referee split them and Dorticos fought his way to the bell.
Score 10-9 Gassiev 105-104
Round 12
Dorticos made a good start to the last round again with his jab/right cross approach but the big punches were coming from Gassiev. After being rocked by a couple of Gassiev rights as Dorticos walked in a big left hook from the Russian crashed onto his chin and he went back and down heavily. He was up at five but stumbled across the ring. After the eight count Gassiev landed a couple more rights to the head and a left hook and Dorticos went down again. This time he was up at four and when the action resumed Gassiev forced Dorticos to the ropes and landed a series of punches with a big right putting Dorticos out on his feet. Gassiev punched away as Dorticos slid along the ropes and after more head punches the Cuban slid down and half way out of the ring over the bottom rope and the referee immediately signalled it was over.
Official scores at the finish: 106-193, 106-103 and 105-104 all for Gassiev
The WSBB the gift to boxing that keeps on giving! This was a top class tactical battle between two fighters with high KO percentages (Gassiev 70% and Dorticos 91%). Both also showed excellent skills in a clean open battle where in the eleven and a half rounds the referee never had to call break and never had to issue any warnings. Gassiev won this one not just because he had the better power but also because he fought a measured pace and had more left in the tank at the end. Still only 24 Gassiev will be around for some time. He will start as the outsider against Usyk in what could be yet another WSBB classic. Dorticos wants a return and the 31-year-old Cuban deserves one. He will be a factor in the division once the WSBB tournament is over. His 21 wins inside the distance had only seen him go past six rounds twice and never past ten rounds and that may have been a factor.
Andreev vs. Evans
Andreev wins the vacant WBO International title as he wears down and halts gutsy Evans. As expected Andreev exerted heavy pressure from the start. Evans scored well with his right jab at distance and landed some good left hook counters but could not keep Andreev out. The Russian was marching forward and pumping out hooks and uppercuts whenever he was getting past the jab. When they stood and traded in the early rounds Evans held his own and had Andreev bleeding from the nose in the third but Andreev pressed and pressed and Evans was spending more time up against the ropes with Andreev pounding away to head and body. Evans did better in the fourth as he managed to stay off the ropes used his jab and countered well with uppercuts. Andreev was hunting Evans down in the fifth and for most of the round Evans was strictly on the defensive but he exchanged heavy shots with the Russian as the round closed. Andreev was relentless over the sixth, seventh and eighth maintaining a frantic work rate ignoring counters. Evans who looked to be tiring and had suffered a small cut over his right eye with Andreev also cut there. In the ninth a right from Andreev drove Evans to the ropes and Andreev landed two rights that had Evans sliding down the ropes. He was sat on the middle rope with his hands down and Andreev landed three more head punches before the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. The 31-year-old Russian now has 15 wins by KO/TKO. He is No 3 with the WBO and with Nos. 1 and 2 Ray Beltran and Paulus Moses fighting for the vacant title he will move to No 1 and probable get a title shots later in the year. Evans, 28, came in at short notice which contributed to his fading late in the fight. He has been in a series of tough domestic fights against Scott Cardle and Thomas Stalker and was the WBO European champion. A win would have put him in line for the title shot and he fought hard here but the relentless pressure from Andreev was too much for him in the end.
Vlasov vs. Durodola
Vlasov uses speed skill and accuracy to beat down Durodola to win the vacant WBC Silver title on a late stoppage. From the start Vlasov was using quick bursts of punches from both hands and then clever movement to dodge Durodola?s counters. Many of Vlasov?s punches were fast rather than powerful but when he did sit down on his punches he was able to stop Durodola in his tracks and he even rocked Durodola early with a jab. Both fighters were indulging in some rough stuff but the referee stamped that out early which helped the fight flow. Over the third and fourth Vlasov was darting in with a cluster of punches and then moving inside to deny Durodola the room he need to get his punches off. Vlasov momentarily switched to southpaw in the fifth and thumped Durodola with a hard right. Durodola was marching forward swinging but missing the target. Vlasov upped his work rate in the sixth landing a series of uppercuts and in turn Durodola pressed much harder in the seventh but Vlasov got through with a hard right and was working Durodola over on the ropes at the bell. Durodola was slowing in the eighth and Vlasov was banging home more rights at the start of the round and staggering Durodola with another right late in the round. Vlasov continued to boss the action in the ninth and in the tenth after an early effort from Durodola it was Vlasov following the retreating Durodola around the ring and landing hooks and uppercuts. One left hook looked to have split open a cut on Durodola?s lower lip and he was shipping punishment at the bell. In the interval after much discussion Durodola retired. The 31-year-old Russian is No 3 with the WBC, WBA and WBO but will have to await the final outcome of the WBSS tournament to see which road opens for him. Since moving up from super middle he has won his last 12 fights including victories over Rakhim Chakhkiev and Denton Daley but would struggle against both Olek Usyk and Murat Gassiev. Kansas City-based Durodola suffers his fourth loss by KO/TKO having been beaten inside the distance by both Mairis Breidis and Dmitry Kudryashov and at 37 has gone as far as he can.
Futa vs. Sarukhanyan
Wild man Futa wins the WBC International title as he flattens Sarukhanyan with a left hook. Futa lived up to his nickname here as he came out throwing punches with the ferocity forcing Sarukhanyan on to the back foot. Futa ran into some right hand counters but just shrugged them off and continued his onslaught. His attacks were wild and crude and he twice fell to the canvas in the second after missing with wide swings. Sarukhanyan boxed neatly at the start of the third but then made the mistake of standing and trading and was put on the floor by a left hook. He made it to his feet and Futa was too wild in trying to finish things and Sarukhanyan recovered and scored with a quick combination at the end of the round. Sarukhanyan boxed well to take the fourth and fifth. He was scoring with quick jabs and rights, tying Futa up inside and moving too quickly for Futa to catch. with Futa?s blind rushes almost sending himself head first out of the ring. Futa stepped up the pace in the sixth. Sarukhanyan was able to score with counters but was under pressure throughout the round. Sarukhanyan again scored well with counters in the seventh. Futa looked to be tiring and Sarukhanyan pushed him to ropes and bombarded Futa with punches. Suddenly Futa uncorked a wicked left hook to the chin which put Sarukhanyan down heavily on his back and the referee immediately waived the fight off. The 30-year-old Futa was a modest 5-4 in his last 9 fights and only No 7 in the Japanese ratings but back in 2016 he destroyed Australian Will Tomlinson with a similar left hook so is a dangerous if crude and wild swinger. Armenian-born Sarukhanyan had won his last nine fights including victories over Gamaliel Diaz and Hedi Slimani but paid the price for trading with a puncher.
Chudinov vs. Laine
Chudinov keeps the WBA International title with inside the distance win over gutsy Laine. Chudinov quickly took control of this one using a stiff jab and rights to the body. Laine fought in spurts but there was no real power behind his punches. Chudinov mixed in left hooks and uppercuts in the second but Laine had a good spell with some hooks to the body. There was too much mauling and brawling in the third and Laine, who came in as a very late replacement, was already dropping his hands. Laine spent much of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds trapped on the ropes as Chudinov banged away with body punches and overhand rights. Laine had very little left but he battled back hard at the end of the sixth with even Chudinov showing signs of slowing. Laine gave it one last try over the first two minutes of the seventh but for the last minute he was totally spent and Chudinov hammed home a series of body punches over the closing seconds. There was some confusion as to whether Laine had retired or not but in the end the sensible decision was taken and the fight was over. Russian Chudinov, 30, is a former WBA super middle champion. He won the secondary WBA title with a victory over Felix Sturm and defended it by beating Frank Buglioni and was upgraded to full champion. He lost that title to Sturm in a return match. Sturm tested positive for a banned substance the investigation took so long that Sturm chose to vacate the title. Chudinov then lost to George Groves for the title in May last year. This is his third win since then and he is No 3 with the WBA so yet another one waiting to see how the WBSS pans out. Finn Laine, 33, had won 6 of his last 7 fights. He gave it a good try here but the notice was too short for him to be in top condition and he did well to last as long as he did.
Aloyan vs. Espinoza
Aloyan gets split decision over Espinoza after ten round of all-out war in every minute of every round. This was a tough, gruelling fight between two fighters with plenty of skill but somehow it ended up as a trial of strength as they spent every round pumping punches at close quarters with neither willing to take a backward step. Aloyan seemed stronger and had built a small lead after four rounds. In the fifth Espinoza took the points as he scored with a series of rights to the head and he carried that over into the sixth. He shook Aloyan early with a right uppercut and then a cluster of shots to head and body and Aloyan was in trouble. He was just covering up firing nothing back and Espinoza poured on the pressure. For a while it looked as though Aloyan was about to crumble but he fought back at the bell. The seventh was yet another all-action round. Aloyan was cut under the left eye and he again had to absorb a lot of punishment but he also dished out his share and Espinoza looked to be tiring from the huge effort he had put into the sixth. It was punch for punch all of the way through the eighth with Aloyan choosing to box more but it was back to the phone booth in the ninth with Aloyan just looking the stronger and landing some big head punches to take the round. The last round was three minutes of non-stop punching from both men with Aloyan just edging it and for me he deserved the decision but it was mighty close. Scores 96-94 and 96-95 for Aloyan and 96-94 for Espinoza but neither fighter deserved to lose if a great little scrap. Aloyan, 29, retains the WBA International title. He is already rated No 7 by the WBA. As an amateur he beat top names such as Rau?shee Warren, Andrew Selby, Khalid Yafai and Amnat Ruenroeng. He won gold medals at the World and European Championships. He also won a silver medal in Rio but had to return it after testing positive for a banned substance. Nicaraguan ?Supernova? Espinoza, 24, the WBA No 8, was also a good class amateur winning a gold medal at the 2011, 2012 and 2014 Central American championships and he gave a world level showing here.
Click here for Part II
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.
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