Weekly Results 6 February 2018 - Part II
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Feb 2018
Corpus Christi, TX, USA: Super Middle: Gilberto Ramirez (37-0) W TKO 6 Habib Ahmed (25-1-1). Super Fly: Jerwin Ancajas (29-1-1) W TKO 10 Israel Gonzalez (21-1). Super Middle: Jess Hart (23-1) W KO 1 Thomas Awimbono (25-8-1). Super Middle: Rohan Murdock (22-1) W TKO 4 Frankie Filippone (24-7-1). Super Light: Teo Lopez (8-0) W PTS 6 Juan Pablo Sanchez (30-15). Welter: Jose Benavidez (26-0) W TKO 8 Matt Strode (24-6).
10
Ramirez vs. Ahmed
Ramirez has no problem in retaining his WBO title as he halts an outclassed and overmatched Ahmed inside six one-sided rounds.
Round 1
Ramirez made good use of his longer reach to keep Ahmed on the back foot. The challenger showed a sharp jab and some clever upper body movement. He was looking to draw the jab and get inside but Ramirez was quicker and scored with a nice combination as the round ended.
Score 10-9 Ramirez
Round 2
Ahmed made a good start to the round coming forward behind a stiff jab and landing a couple of rights. Ramirez against started to drive Ahmed back and worked the Ghanaian over with hooks and uppercuts. Ahmed scored with a good straight right late in the round but it was another round for Ramirez.
Score 10-9 Ramirez 20-18
Round 3
Ramirez was landing some crisp right hooks to the body and threading uppercuts through the guard of Ahmed. Ahmed came forward with some combinations of his own. A clash of heads saw Ramirez suffer a cut on the side of his left eyebrow. He kept Ahmed against the ropes for the rest of the round and scored with some hefty rights to the head that had Ahmed floundering.
Score 10-9 Ramirez 30-27
Round 4
Ramirez bossed the fourth. For the full three minutes he stalked Ahmed around the perimeter of the ring occasionally trapping Ahmed on the ropes and firing home hooks from both hands. There was very little coming back from Ahmed who was really looking to survive.
Score 10-9 Ramirez 40-36
Round 5
Ramirez handed out a steady and brutal beating to Ahmed in the fifth. Ahmed hardly moved off the ropes and Ramirez was landing heavy hook to the body and neck-snapping lefts to the head. Ahmed seemed hard-wired to circle to his left so Ramirez always knew which way Ahmed was going to go making it easy to cut off the ring.
Score 10-9 Ramirez 50-45
Round 6
Mercifully Ramirez ended it in this one. He battered the Ghanaian around the ring scoring with some big lefts to the head which had the referee on the point of stopping the fight. Ahmed covered up enough for the referee to give him another chance-some chance-as Ramirez poured on more punishment until with Ahmed’s second already starting to climb the steps the referee jumped in and stopped the fight.
Ramirez makes a successful third defence of his WBO title and makes it 24 wins by KO/TKO although this was one of his easiest fights. A return against Jesse Hart is supposed to happen after he scored a narrow decision win over Hart in September. He has also talked about wanting to fight the winner of the super middleweight WBSS tournament. Habib was never in with a chance here. He showed some nice moves but was way in over his head. He was giving away 6” in height and a lot in reach, was fighting a southpaw, was fighting outside of Ghana for the first time and had never faced anyone even close to the top 50 in the super middles and of his 25 victims most-15-had amassed only 17 wins between them-but hey he was No 4 with the WBO!! At least this exposure will hopefully get him higher profile fights than the domestic walkovers he has been fed in the past.
Ancajas vs. Gonzalez
Ancajas makes a successful fourth defence of his IBF title as he floors Gonzalez three times and halts him in the tenth.
Round 1
Gonzalez had slight edges in height and reach but Ancajas was quickly threading home his right jab. Gonzalez moved in the throw some body punches and Ancajas landed a lovely left hook counter that sent Gonzalez to the canvas on his rump. Gonzalez was up quickly and after the eight count tried to take the fight to Ancajas but clever movement and quick jabbing frustrated Gonzalez’s attempts.
Score 10-8 Ancajas
Round 2
Gonzalez had completely recovered from that first round shock and boxed well behind a fast jab. He scored with a hard right and some body punches. Ancajas was quicker and more accurate landing regularly with his straight left and just did enough to edge the round.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 20-17
Round 3
Gonzalez started the fourth with a barrage of body punches but then Ancajas took over. His jab was getting past the guard on Gonzalez and he was banging over straight lefts with Gonzalez too slow to counter.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 30-26
Round 4
Ancajas simply outboxed Gonzalez in this one. Sticking almost exclusively with his right jab he was getting the punch home and leaving Gonzalez swishing air as he tried to counter. As the round ended Ancajas brought the left into play and stopped Gonzalez in his tracks with some solid shots.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 40-35
Round 5
Gonzalez made a big effort to get into the fight at the start of this round. He pressed hard and upped his punch rate and had some success. However after the first minute it was Ancajas in control. He was doing the pressing and connecting with sharp accurate punches from both hands with Gonzalez on the back foot and not landing anything.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 50-44
Round 6
Ancajas had to deal with a different set of tactics in this one. Gonzalez went on to the back foot and waited until Ancajas threw his jab and then tried to counter. Ancajas had done of his best work in the earlier rounds with counters but here he had to take the fight to Gonzalez. Ancajas did not have as much success as he had when countering but his jab was still too quick so Gonzalez’s tactic did not work.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 60-53
Round 7
This was a quieter and much closer round. Neither fighter really threw many punches but again it was a thudding right hook and the accuracy of his jabs that saw Ancajas just have the edge.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 70-62
Round 8
Ancajas boxed beautifully in this one. He kept his jab in Gonzalez’s face and was letting fly with accurate left crosses. He was ducking under anything Gonzalez threw and coming up with hard counters as he went from controlling the fight to dominating it.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 80-71
Round 9
Ancajas handed out some serious hurt over these three minutes. He was stabbing home his jab and getting through constantly with his left. Gonzalez work rate dropped and when he did try launch an attack he was running into counters and looked completely disheartened.
Score 10-9 Ancajas 90-80
Round 10
Ancajas finished in style. Gonzalez tried to take the fight to Ancajas but was rocked by right hook and went back to the ropes. Gonzalez tried to punch his way out of trouble but was put down by a straight left. He climbed to one knee and was up at eight. When the action resumed Ancajas walked forward and landed a thunderous left to the head and Gonzalez went down again and the referee immediately waived the fight off.
Official scores at the stoppage: 90-80 for Ancajas from all three judges
Another master class from the 26-year-old Filipino who has now won 15 of his last 16 fights by KO/TKO including all four of his title defences. He has great, movement, fast hands, a boxing brain and real power. This is a very very tough division with Srisaket, Naoya Inoue, Juan Francisco Estrada, Carlos Cuadras and Khalid Yafai all in the picture but Ancajas is right up there with them. He is not yet ready to be put up alongside Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire but is only 26 so who knows how far he can go. Mexican Gonzalez the IBF No 9 gave it a good try here but he never had the speed or skill to extend Ancajas.
Hart vs. Awimbono
Hart gets this poor match over quickly and becomes the first man to stop Awimbono. Hart dropped Awimbono early with a right to the body. Awimbono got up but Hart bombarded him with a series of punches that put him down again and the fight was stopped. All over ion 88 seconds. Hart is the WBO No 1 so in line for a return with Ramirez. This is his 19th win by KO/TKO. Ghanaian Awimbono is now 0-4 in fights in the US and this was his first fight for almost a year.
Murdock vs. Filippone
Australian Murdock impresses in his first fight in the USA. Murdock was just too strong and too aggressive for Filippone. The Australian had no problem with Filippone’s southpaw style and was on top in every round. He handed Filippone a steady beating and Filippone’s corner retired their man after four one-sided rounds. The 25-year-old Murdock, the WBO Oriental champion, extends his winning run to 19 fights and gets win No 15 by KO/TKO. A victory over former WBA champion Manny Siaca back in 2014 is the only win over a “name” on his record but in this fight he was being assessed as a possible opponent for Gilberto Ramirez down the line.
The 37-year-old Filippone had won 8 of his last 9 fights so was a reasonable test for Murdock.
Lopez vs. Sanchez
Olympian Lopez remains undefeated as he outpoints experienced Mexican Sanchez. Lopez took the first round but in the second suffered a bad cut over his left eye in a clash of heads. Despite the cut leaking blood throughout the fight Lopez was never really hampered by it and was just too sharp for the slower Sanchez. Lopez staggered Sanchez with a left hook in the fourth and landed some heavy shots in the fifth on the way to a clear win. Scores 60-54 twice and 59-55. The 20-year-old Lopez was National Golden Gloves champion in 2015 and won the US Olympic Trials. However new AIBA rules meant there was no Olympic place available to him through the US Trials so having Honduran antecedents he entered the Americas qualifier and finished runner-up which got him to Rio but he failed to medal. If his past record is anything to go by Sanchez is finished for the year as he had just one fight in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017
Benavidez vs. Strode
Good to see Benavidez back in the ring and winning. The former undefeated interim WBA champion badly needed some ring time and Strode gave him just that. Benavidez was always on top but Strode was an awkward fighter who took a good punch and stood up well until the fight was stopped with just 39 seconds left in the last round. Benavidez has had a long lay-off after being shot in the leg. It was felt that it could take him as much as two years to fully recover but he has made it in 17 months and will be looking to get back to world title level by next year. He is the elder brother of WBC super middles champion David Benavidez. Strode had lost his last three fights but to good level opposition in Mark DeLuca, Ramon Alvarez and Mike Alvarado.
London, England: Feather: Reece Bellotti (12-0) W TKO 6 Ben Jones (22-7-1,1ND). Super Welter: Ted Cheeseman (13-0) W PTS 10 Carson Jones (40-13-3,2ND). Cruiser: Lawrence Okolie (8-0) W PTS 10 Isaac Chamberlain (9-1). Bantam: Paul Butler (26-1) W TKO 8Jefferson Vargas (5-8).Super Fly: Charlie Edwards (12-1) W TKO 1 Ricky Little (3-2-1). Light Heavy: Joshua Buatsi (4-0) W KO 2 Jordan Joseph (7-2-1). Sean McGoldrick (4-0) W TKO 3 Michael Barnor (14-20-3). Heavy: Nick Webb (12-0) W KO 2 Ante Verunica (3-5-1). Super Bantam: Gamal Yafai (14-0) W KO 3 Jose Hernandez (4-16-1).
Bellotti vs. Jones
Bellotti retains the Commonwealth title with stoppage of Jones. Because he came in over the weight limit Jones could not win the title but Bellotti was never going to let Jones win anyway. The champion had early success opening a cut over Jones left eye in the first round. Bellotti boxed in a more measured way than in previous fights. He was on the front foot from the second round and after taking the third he dropped Jones with a vicious left to the body in the fourth. Jones beat the count and fought back hard. Bellotti continued to box patiently and also continued to dig shots into the body of Jones. Those body shots took their toll and in the sixth a cracking right from put Jones down again and this time the referee stepped in and halted the contest. The 27-year-old “Bomber” Bellotti is in impressive form and this is his ninth inside the distance win on the bounce. Jones, 35, was expected give Bellotti a tough test. He had a 7-0,1ND run until losing a split decision to Jason Cunningham in April last year for this same title and he has plenty of fights left in him.
Cheeseman vs. Jones
Cheeseman takes a big step up in the level of opposition and gets an impressive win over veteran Jones in an entertaining contest. The fight was closer over the early rounds with Jones starting strongly and Cheeseman under plenty of pressure, Cheeseman’s relatively short pro experience saw him allow Jones to tempt into some fierce exchanges particularly in the fourth round. From the fifth Cheeseman started to go with the original game plan and the fight changed. He was boxing on the outside making use of his longer reach to score with accurate
jabs and getting his punches off first. He was much quicker than Jones and also showed good defensive skills as he built a commanding lead. Jones put in a lot of hard work in the ninth looking to find the punch he needed but Cheeseman stuck to his boxing and emerged a clear winner over his first name opponent. Scores 99-91 twice and 100-89. English champion Cheeseman, 22, wins the vacant WBA International title. Jones, 31, came in over the weight and could not win the title. He has enjoyed some good pay days in Britain in two fights with Kell Brook, two with Brian Rose and also against Ben Hall. This was his first fight since losing a technical decision to Antonio Margarito in September.
Okolie vs. Chamberlain
This much publicised grudge match between two unbeaten British fighters saw Okolie score a clear victory in a fight that did not live up to the hype. Chamberlain was down inside the first minute of the fight. It looked more of a push as Okolie lunged in and Chamberlain ducked under a right but Chamberlain was up quickly and made no complaint as the referee counted out the eight seconds. Okolie was wild in his attempts to finish the fight and was given a stern warning after blatantly pushing Chamberlain over late in the round. The fight was messy in the second round and Chamberlain was deducted a point for continually holding. There was very little clean work being done by either boxer. Chamberlain had no real answer to Okolie’s longer reach and was continually lunging under the jab and clinching inside. Neither fighter was scoring a great deal but what clean work there was was coming from Okolie who landed a hard overhand right in the third and he had built a big lead by the half way mark. Chamberlain seemed to be doing better in the sixth as he threw more punches and lunged inside less but he was clipped with a right to the head that saw him lurch sideward and touch the canvas with his glove resulting in another eight count. Over the closing rounds Chamberlain finally began to get into the fight as Okolie seemed to tire, not having been past the sixth round before, the rounds were more competitive with Chamberlain now doing the pressing. Constant holding saw Okolie deducted a point in the ninth but he had a big lead and was a winner by wide margins at the bell. Scores98-89, 97-89 and 96-90 all for Okolie. The 25-year-old Olympian remains undefeated but it showed here that he is still very much a work in progress and he only 25 fights to his name when he qualified for Rio. Chamberlain 23 took too long to get into the fight. He had won the BBB of C Southern Area title despite dislocating a shoulder and with the level of determination he will rebound from this loss.
Butler vs. Vargas
Butler gets win but Hernandez takes him into the last round. Ecuadorian Vargas proved more resilient than many of the Latin American imports and although not constituting any threat to Butler he climbed off the floor in the fifth and was within a minute of lasting the distance when a crunching body punch put him down and he was counted out. Butler, a former undefeated IBF bantam champion makes it nine wins in a row since losing to Zolani Tete for the IBF super fly title in 2015. He is No 4 with the IBF but with the first two positions vacant then IBF champion Ryan Burnett and also Jamie McDonnell, the holder of the secondary WBA title could be fights for him later this year.
Edwards vs. Little
British champion gets quick win as Edwards halts Little inside a round. The former IBF title challenger was several classes above Little. He gets his fifth win by KO/TKO and his fourth since his stoppage loss against Joel Casimero for the IBF title in 2016. He is the official challenger for the European title so will be in line to face the winner of Vincent Legrand’s title defence against Andrew Selby which takes place in France on 28 April. Either of those would be a very tough proposition. Little had not been past four rounds before and this was a poor match.
Buatsi vs. Joseph
Buatsi clubbed his way to victory as he pounded the fight out of Joseph inside two rounds. Buatsi was already rocking Joseph with overhand rights in the first minute of the fight and Jordan was not helping his cause by holding his left low. Buatsi continued to fire rights but Joseph landed a sharp uppercut and a couple of hooks to the body. Buatsi shrugged them off and continued to score with sweeping punches to head and body. Joseph countered well but was badly shaken by a right just before the bell. In the second Joseph stood and traded with Buatsi but was again shipping heavy rights to the head. He found gaps for some counters but then a series of rights to the head had him staggering across the ring to the ropes and as Buatsi got through with more head shots the referee stepped in just as the towel fluttered over the ropes. Then 24-year-old Ghanaian-born Buatsi won both the Ghana and English amateur championships and went on to represent Britain in Rio where he was the surprise packet at the Games winning a bronze medal. This is his third win by KO/TKO. Joseph landed some good punches in this one but just could not match the power of Buatsi.
McGoldrick vs. Barnor
No problems for former top amateur McGoldrick as he halts perennial loser Barnor in three rounds. The 26-year-old from Wales makes it two wins by KO/TKO. He was 18 and still at school when he won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. That medal was subsequently changed to gold after his Indian opponent tested positive for a banned substance. He also won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Ghanaian Barnor is now 0-14-1 in his last 15 fights.
Webb vs. Verunica
Easy win for Webb over poor opponent but ends the fight with a thunderous punch. Verunica proved to be a small flabby fighter with no skill and only wild swings when attacking. Webb staggered him twice in the first round but was forgetting his boxing dropping his hands and just throwing punches wildly although more accurate than the swings from Verunica. Webb boxed better in the second using his jab more and catching the onrushing Verunica with counters. Webb finished the fight with a huge right cross which laid Verunica on the canvas on his back. Verunica was struggling to get up but even as the referee was needlessly counting Verunica’s seconds were in the ring. The 30-yerart-old 6’5” (196cm) Webb gets his tenth win by KO/TKO and his fifth in his last six fights. Webb was a high level amateur over six years but unfortunately on three occasions he had to get past Joe Joyce to win the English ABA but failed each time. He is ready for better opposition. Croatian Verunica gets his fourth loss in a row. He was halted in two rounds by Dillian Whyte in 2014.
Yafai vs. Hernandez
Unbeaten prospect “The Beast” Yafai finishes early in warm up for his challenge to Gavin McDonnell. This really was little more than paid sparring for the brilliant Birmingham fighter. After taking the first two rounds a rib-bending body punch dumped Hernandez on the canvas and he was counted out. Although he has only 14 pro fights behind him the 26-year-old Yafai is already a former unbeaten Commonwealth champion and as an amateur was English champion at 17 and was also British champion and European Union champion. Of his brothers Khalid is the WBA the WBA super fly champion and Galal competed at the 2016mOlympics so a very talented family. Spanish-based Nicaraguan gets his sixth loss by KO/TKO having lost his previous five fights on points.
Belfast, Northern Ireland: Super Feather: James Tennyson (21-2) W KO 1 Arnoldo Solano (14-15). Super Feather: Ronnie Clark (20-4-2) W PTS 6 Dean Evans (6-18-2).
Tennyson vs. Solano
Tennyson destroys Nicaraguan Solano inside a minute. Tennyson was coming forward forcing Solano back. He took Solano to the ropes and landed a hard left to the chin. Solano ducked under the following right but Tennyson dug a wicked left hook to the body and Solano collapsed to the floor in pain and never looked like getting up. The 24-year-old Belfast “Assassin now has 17 wins by KO/TKO. He has lost only one of his last thirteen fights and that was to Ryan Walsh for the British title. Eleven losses in a row for Solano.
Clark vs. Evans
Clark wins a keep busy fight with decision over Evans. Clark took every round. Referee’s score 60-54. The 33-year-old Dundee southpaw makes it 7 wins out of 8 with the loss being to unbeaten Martin Joseph Ward for the British title. Evans drops to 1-7-1 in his last 9 fights.
Puerto Madryn, Argentina: Bantam: Omar Narvaez (48-2-2) W PTS 10 Jesus Vargas (16-12-1). Narvaez goes over old ground as he easily decisions former Victim Vargas. Venezuelan Vargas was competitive early. He had height and reach over Narvaez but that is something Narvaez is used to. Vargas was looking to take the fight to Narvaez but the little Argentinian southpaw set a high work rate. From the third he was getting inside and firing home bundles of short hooks. He is no longer the “Huaracan” of old but still has a good engine. The rounds were a bit closer than the scores suggest but Vargas was too low on power to keep Narvaez out. The sixth was the best round of the fight as they stood and exchanged punches for most of the round but Vargas was already slowing. His work rate had dropped and he was bruised under both eyes. Narvaez tried hard to finish it in the ninth but an exhausted Vargas just did enough to dissuade the referee from stepping in. Somehow Vargas found the energy to match Narvaez in the tenth but just seconds before the final bell was deducted a point for punches to the back of the head. Scores 100-95 twice and 100-90 ½. Now 42 the former WBO fly and super fly champion was using this as a warm up for his delayed shot at Zolani Tete for the WBO bantam title. A win would make him Argentina’s first three division champion but to be honest at 42 he is slower than he was and with Tete’s speed, skill and power plus a 7” advantage in height I can’t see Narvaez even going the distance. The 25-year-old Vargas improved on his previous fight against Narvaez in 2016 when he retired after seven rounds. He is now 2-9 in his last 11 fights.
Inglemunster, Belgium: Super Light: Steve Jamoye (24-4-1) W TKO 9 Hedi Slimani (28-5). Super Light: Ahmed El Hamwi (15-8-2) W PTS 8 Bibi Ondoua (15-9-1).
Jamoye vs. Slimani
Jamoye gets a very important win in bragging rights contest with Slimani. Losing important fights against Sandor Martin, Nicolas Gonzalez and Jason Easton seemed to indicate that the 26-year-old battler was going nowhere. Another loss here would have been a huge blow but he came through with the win he needed and retained his BeNeLux title. Belgian-based Tunisian Slimani had a 19 bout winning streak halted by a loss to Richard Commey in March last year in a fight for the vacant WBC International title and was stopped in five round by Vage Sarukhanyan in another shot at the WBC International title in August so was hoping to get a win here.
Ondoua vs. El Hamwi
El Hamwi comes in as a late substitute and gains a very narrow unanimous decision over Frenchman Ondoua. Scores 77-75 twice and 77-76. After a rocky spell when he went 0-3-1 in four fights the 31-year-old French-based Belgian champion has won his last three. Ondoua is 3-3 in his last 6 fights with all three losses being on decisions which could have gone either way
Halle an der Saale, Germany: Heavy: Tom Schwarz (20-0) W TKO 4 Samir Nebo (10-2-1). Cruiser: Juergen Uldedaj (8-0) W PTS 10 Jakub Synek (8-1-1). Super Middle: Robin Krasniqi (47-5) W PTS 8 Bartlomiej Grafka (20-28-3,1ND).
Schwarz vs. Nebo
Schwarz halts Nebo in four rounds. The unbeaten German hope had lots of height and reach over Syrian-born. Nebo. In the first Schwarz used a strong jab to force Nebo on to the back foot and keep him on the ropes for much of the round. Schwarz launched a sustained attack with clubbing shots to head and body. Nebo weathered the storm and then invited Schwarz to try some more. Schwarz landed some more jabs and had no trouble getting out of the way of wild swings from Nebo. The was some confusion early in the second. A punch from Schwarz drifted low. Nebo stepped back and indicated the foul to the referee. Initially the referee started forward as if to signal some recovery time for Nebo he was too slow and said nothing Schwarz waded in and landed some punches. The riled Nebo and he wrestled Schwarz to the floor for which he was deducted a point. Schwarz again finished the round with strong jabs. In the third Nebo was more aggressive and had some success with lunging attacks but was wild with his punches. In the fourth Schwarz landed a combination of hard punches to the head. Nebo was bundled back to the ropes and Schwarz kept punching even as Nebo was lying over the top rope with his back to the ring. The referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The stoppage looked premature and Nebo protested. The 23-year-old 6’5 ½ (197cm) Schwarz retains the WBO Inter-Continental title and wins the vacant BDB version of the German title. This was his first fight since April 2017 after surgery for a cervical injury. He has 13 wins by KO/TKO and although he has yet to meet even any European rated fighter he is No 5 with the WBO. His No 13 rating with the EBU is a better indication of the opposition he has faced. He is young, big and strong but untested. Nebo had won his last ten fights by KO/TKO but looked crude and limited.
Uldedaj vs. Synek
German-based Albanian Uldedaj was in control from the outset. This was his first ten rounder and he paced the fight well. He floored a tiring Synek in the eighth and then again in the tenth. Synek made it to the final bell but was well beaten. Scores 100-89 twice and 100-88. The 20-year-old Uldedaj wins the vacant German International title. Synek, 33, gets his first loss.
Krasniqi vs. Grafka
Krasniqi returns to action and gets in some useful ring time against Pole Grafka. Krasniqi had to work hard for his win. He rocked Grafka a few times with right uppercuts but Grafka refused to fold and did enough to steal a round or two giving Krasniqi just the fight he needed to get back into form. Scores 79-73, 78-75 and 78-75 all for Krasniqi. The former WBO and secondary WBA title challenger from Kosovo was having his first fight since losing on points to Arthur Abraham in a non-title fight in April last year. Grafka had won his last two fights.
Tokyo, Japan: Super Feather: Masaru Sueyoshi (17-1) W TKO 8 Ken Osato (13-2-1). Sueyoshi retains the national title but only after a scare. After taking the first two rounds Sueyoshi was put over by a right from challenger Osato in the third. He beat the count and got back into the fight. He established a clear lead and after the fifth all three judges had him in front 48-46. Osato pressed hard in the sixth but Sueyoshi took control in the seventh. The fight ended in the eighth when a right from Sueyoshi opened a cut over the left eye of Osato and also caused immediately swelling. The referee had the ringside physician examine the injury and he decided it was too severe for Osato to continue and since the damage was caused by a punch Sueyoshi was declared the winner. He was making the first defence of his Japanese title and gets his fourteenth win in a row. He is No 10 with the WBO but can’t afford any slips like that in the third round. Osato, 23, was 9-0-1 in his last 10 fights and moving up to ten rounds for the first time. He was unlucky with the cut and will be hoping to get another title shot somewhere down the line.
Arendal, Norway: Cruiser: Kai Robin Havnaa (12-0) W TKO 2 Daniel Vencl (9-6). Light Heavy: Tim Robin Lihaug (17-4) W PTS 8 Vasyl Kondor (18-19-1). Light Heavy: Leon Bunn (7-0) W PTS 6 Jozsef Racz (7-20-1).
Havnaa vs. Vencl
Norwegian hope Havnaa halts replacement foe Venci. The big local followed orders from his trainer Joey Gamache and spent the first round studying Czech Venci. In the second a right floored the visitor. He made it to his feet but with Havnaa landing more heavy stuff the towel came flying in from the Czech’s corner. The 29-year-old Havnaa is the son of the former WBO cruiser champion Magne Havnaa. He has ten wins by KO/TKO. No names yet as he is being carefully matched but it is good to see boxing shows again in Norway. Venci drops to three losses by KO/TKO and is 3-4 in his last 7 fights.
Lihaug vs. Kondor
Lihaug returns to the winning column with a comfortable victory over Ukrainian Kondor. No real problems for Lihaug as he floors and outboxes Kondor all the way for the wide unanimous decision. Scores 80-71 twice and 80-70 for Lihaug. The 25-year-old from Bergen had lost his last two fights. He has been carrying the banner overseas for Norwegian boxing and this is only his second fight in his home country. Now 13 losses in a row for poor Kondor.
Bunn vs. Racz
German prospect Bunn gets back into action after a lay-off due to a hand injury. The young Sauerland fighter struggled a bit in the first round but did enough to take it. From the second he began to find his rhythm applied constant pressure and outboxed Hungarian Racz, Scores 60-54 from all three judges. The 25-yearold from Frankfurt looks very useful. Now eleven points losses in a row for Racz.
February 4
Naha, Japan: Fly: Daigo Higa (15-0) W KO 1 Moises Fuentes (25-5-1).
Higa defends his WBC title for the second time as he destroys Fuentes with a body punch. Higa was giving away lots in height and reach and Fuentes tried a few rights in the early sparring. Fuentes walked Higa back to the ropes a couple of times and landed sharp left hooks to the body. A left from Higa staggered Fuentes but he seemed to recover until a straight right to the jaw made his knees dip and Higa banged away with hooks from both hands. Fuentes fought his way off the ropes but a shot to the body had him retreating and after a right from Higa he dropped to his knees but the damage was done by that body punch. Fuentes spat out his mouthguard and got up just as the referee was waiving the fight over. Second defence of his title for 22-year-old Higa who has won all of his 15 fights by KO/TKO and 15 consecutive inside the distance wins is a Japanese record. Mexican Fuentes is a former WBO minimumweight champion but was stopped in seven rounds by Kosei Tanaka in a fight for the vacant WBO light fly title in 2016.
Fight of the week: Mikhail Aloyan vs. Alexander Espinoza a ten round war. Honourable mention to Murat Gassiev vs. Yunier Dorticos excellent technical contest but not a war
Fighter of the week: Murat Gassiev with honourable mention to Jerwin Ancajas
Punch of the week: Plenty but the right from Nick Webb just beats the Murat Gassiev left hook that put Dorticos down for the first time. Honourable mention to the left hook from Hurricane Futa that ended fight with Vage Sarukhanyan
Upset of the week: Hurricane Futa for his stoppage of Vage Sarukhanyan
One to watch: Italian cruiser Fabio Turchi 14-0 with 11 wins by KO/TKO and honourable mention to Olympian Teo Lopez 8-0 also making impressive progress.
Click here for Part I.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.
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Sat, 18 May 2024WEIGHTS FROM RIYADH: TYSON FURY - 262 LBS, OLEKSANDR USYK - 233.5 LBS
Sat, 18 May 2024THE UNDEFEATED KNOCKOUT MACHINE WILLIAM “EL CAMARÓN” ZEPEDA TO FACE TOP CONTENDER GIOVANNI CABRERA ON SATURDAY, JULY 6
Sat, 18 May 2024Asia Supremacy: Team Philippines Eyes Strong Showing Vs Team Chinese Taipei
Sat, 18 May 2024THREE TITLE FIGHTS AND THREE UNDEFEATED BOXERS TRAINED BY ROY JONES JR. HEADLINE JUNE 28 BOXING CARD AT LEGENDS CASINO LIVE WORLDWIDE ON BLK PRIME
Sat, 18 May 2024T-Wolves Mangle Denver 115-70, Force Game Seven in West Semis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 17 May 2024Press Conference Notes: Emanuel Navarrete Motivated to Claim Four-Division World Title Glory in San Diego
Fri, 17 May 2024DON KING PROMOTIONS: “FISTS OF FURY” PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 17 May 2024Kevin Brown vs Idalberto Umara Headlines Boxlab Promotions Card in Orlando, FL, May 31
Fri, 17 May 2024Press Conference: Fury & Usyk Set Serious Tone Two Days From Undisputed Showdown
Fri, 17 May 2024Zanfer Wins Purse Bid for Apolinario-Ayala IBF Fight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 17 May 2024Noynay loses to Sasaki by TKO in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 17 May 2024Boston Returns to East Finals; Dallas A Win Away for the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 16 May 2024