The Past Week in Action 1 May 2018 -- Part I
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 May 2018
Lejarraga (L) and Skeete in action.
Highlights
-Isaac Dogboe halts Jesse Magdaleno to win the WBO title giving Ghana its ninth world champion and its youngest
-Daniel Jacobs and Jarrell Miller win points decisions in New York
-Kevin Lejarraga crushes Bradley Skeete in two rounds to win vacant European title
-Jesse Hart and Bryant Jennings score wins in Philadelphia
- Fernando Santana, Chris van Heerden, Frederick Lawson and Brad Solomon win through to the semi-finals of the Jose Sulaiman International tournament- --Arthur Abraham gets controversial points win over Patrick Nielson
- Vicente Legrand wins the vacant European flyweight title
-Liam Cameron retains Commonwealth title with stoppage of Nicky Jenman
April 26
Sarcelles, France: Middle: Bilel Jkitou (10-0) W PTS 10 Christian Arvelo Segura (11-3). Jkitou wins the vacant WBC Mediterranean title with wide unanimous decision over Segura. Jkitou, who won the WBC ABU title in February, took this incident filled fight on scores of 97-90 twice and 95-92. Bilel is the younger brother of unbeaten Rachid Jkitou. Italian-based Dominican boxer Segura had won his last six fights
Tokyo, Japan: Super Welter: Takeshi Inoue (13-0-1) W PTS 12 Yuki Nonaka (31-10-3). Inoue keeps on track with victory over veteran Nonaka in a bloody and exciting scrap. Southpaw Nonaka used his longer reach to take the first round but Inoue stepped up the pace and managed to get inside and work the body to be in front by the end of the third. Nonaka used good footwork to open some space over the middle rounds and scored well with his left but a punch from Inoue opened a cut over his right eye in the eighth. A clash of heads saw Inoue cut over his left eye in the ninth as they kept up the frantic pace with Inoue having built a good lead. Nonaka took the tenth and had a good eleventh to make it close but the younger man had more left and clearly won the last and the decision. Scores 116-112, 116-113 and 115-113 all for the 28-year-old OPBF champion Inoue. Julian Williams fills the No 1 spot in the IBF ratings with the No 2 spot vacant. The winner of this fight was reportedly going to rise to No 2 in the ratings so although Inoue was only rated No 9 (8) and Nonaka No 11(9) Inoue will now jump over fighters such as Kanat Islam, Erislandy Lara, Kell Brook and Dennis Hogan. The 40-year-old Nonaka, a former OPBF champion, and twice Japanese champion was 12-1-1 in his last 14 fights but had lost to Dennis Hogan in his last fight. He will probably now retire.
Dallas, TX, USA: Light Heavy: Sam Clarkson (21-4) W RTD 3 Milton Nunez (35-19-1). Clarkson beats a very much abused Nunez. In the opening round Texan Clarkson hurt Nunez early with a body punch and then floored him later in the round. Clarkson continued to clobber Nunez in the second and third and the Colombian?s corner retired their man at the end of the round. Clarkson is 14 -2 in his last16 fights with the defeats coming against Jesse Hart and Dmitry Bivol. This is win No 14 by KO/TKO. The 30-year-old Nunez was at one time 21-1-1 but was then blown away in 58 seconds by Gennady Golovkin in a 2010 challenge for the interim WBA middle title and this is his fifteenth loss by KO/TKO.
April 27
Buenos Aires: Argentina: Welter: Luis Veron (14-0) W PTS 10 Gabriel Ledesma (12-2). Veron relieves Ledesma of the WBC Latino title with a majority decision that should have been unanimous. From the outset Veron was quicker and more accurate using his longer reach to set Ledesma up for some powerful right crosses. Ledesma pressed hard over the fourth and fifth but was having trouble getting past Veron?s jab. Ledesma was marked up with a swelling around his right eye and was being hurt by left hooks to the body from Veron. The challenger looked to have won comfortably. He was the winner on two cards by 99-91 and 96-94 with the third judges scoring it 95-95. The 25-year-old Veron, the Argentinian No 6, was moving up to ten rounds for the first time. ?Pitbull? Ledesma, 24, had been rated No 2 and had won his last two fights by KO/TKO.
Hobart, Australia: Feather: Luke Jackson (16-0) W KO 2 Surachet Thongmala (7-9). ?Action? Jackson marches on. The local hero overpowered late substitute Thongmala to register his seventh win by KO/TKO. The 33-year-old Olympian, the WBO No 9, will have to move up to tougher opposition soon. He suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder but says that in fact it gives him an edge when it comes to his focus on defence. Thongmala came in as a very late substitute after Argentinian Javier Herrera had visa problems. Seven losses by KO/TKO now for Thongmala.
Barranquilla, Colombia: Bantam: Yenifel Vincent (30-3-2,1ND) W TKO 4 Walberto Ramos (24-9-2). Feather: Luis Lebron (11-0-1) W PTS 10 Luis Ruiz (9-2) . Bantam: Jeyvier Cintron (5-0) W TKO 4 Jonathan Burgos (13-4-1).
Vincent vs. Ramos
Vincent wins the vacant WBO Latino title as he massacres poor Ramos. The WBO No 12 almost finished it in the first as he put Ramos down twice. Vincent continued to land heavily in the second flooring Ramos again and a fourth knock down came in round four. Ramos was shipping punishment in the fifth when the fight was stopped. The 31-year-old Miami-based Dominican Vincent makes it 23 wins by KO/TKO including five on the bounce. His losses have been against Chris Avalos, Juan Antonio Rodriguez and Eric Hunter so he stumbles when the hurdles are higher. Ramos came in as a very late replacement and was having his first fight in 21 months.
Lebron vs. Ruiz
Lebron powers to victory with a unanimous verdict over local fighter Ruiz to win the vacant WBO Latino title. Ruiz made a good start showing plenty of speed and getting through with a serious uppercut. In the second Lebron hunted Ruiz down and a vicious body shot saw Ruiz take a count. Ruiz then went off the plan and mixed it with Lebron and the fight really caught fire. Lebron was hunting Ruiz down and Ruiz was boxing skilfully and countering hard and picking up rounds but the fight turned again in the ninth when another body punch forced Ruiz to go down on one knee. Ruiz fought back and took the last but could not overcome the two knockdowns. Scores 95-93 twice for Lebron and a way out 99-91. Good win for the 24-year-old Puerto Rican ?Popeye? and his third victory in a row over good level opposition. Ruiz, also 24, had won his last three fights by KO/TKO.
Cintron vs. Burgos
Hot prospect Cintron makes it five in a row with stoppage of Burgos. The talented 23-year-old Puerto Rican looks likely to make quite a splash. He broke into the Puerto Rican national team at 17ans scored two wins over Emmanuel Rodriguez who fights Paul Butler for the vacant IBF bantam title on May 5. Now trained by former champion Ivan Calderon he is the only Puerto Rican to have fought at two Olympics, the 2012 and 2016, and was a silver medal winner at the World Youth Championships. Too good for guys like Colombian Burgos although he had won 4 of his last 5 fights.
Massy, France: Middle: Anderson Prestot (21-1) W RTD 5 Kamel Abdesselam (16-12-1). Super Bantam: Adel Hadjouis (10-6-1) W PTS 10 Sofian Bellahcene (8-14-3).
Prestot vs. Abdesselam
Prestot delights his home fans as he wins the vacant French title against useful Abdesselam. Prestot was scoring heavily with hooks and uppercuts with Abdesselam lacking the power to match him. Abdesselam showed some good defensive work to keep himself in the fight but a series of hard, accurate body punches in the fourth effectively ended the fight, Abdesselam lasted to the bell then complained of a pain in his side and when his coach asked if he wanted out he nodded. Prestot lost to the very experienced Frank Haroche for the French super welter title in 2015 but since moving up to middle has won six in a row. He is No 21 in the European Union ratings and presumably he will now work towards a shot at the EU title. Former champion Abdesselam was No 16 with the EU due to an unexpected win Davy Armand at the end of 2016.
Hadjouis vs. Bellahcene
The super bantam division is not very strong in France and although only really a journeymen Bellahcene was making the third defence of the national title. Unfortunately the dream came to an end here for him as Hadjouis won a clear unanimous decision. Scores 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 for Hadjouis. Neither of these fighters will get past domestic standard but this was a big night for them both.
Accra, Ghana: Light: George Ashie (28-4-1) W PTS 12 Michael Mokoena (12-2). Super Bantam: Isaac Sackey (20-0-1) W PTS 12 Ray Commey (18-6). Middle: Obodai Sai (34-3) W TKO 1 Richard Ashong (0-12).
Ashie vs. Mokoena
Ashie makes one of his rare appearances and wins the interim WBO African title with a majority decision over South African. It was the visitor who took the eye early using his long jab and some accurate rights to edge ahead. In the fourth a clash of heads saw Ashie cut over his left eye and that acted as a wake-up call. He then went to the body heavily in the fourth and rocked Mokoena with an uppercut in the fifth. The next three rounds were close with Ashie having a slight edge but Mokoena went back to his jab in the ninth and they both fought hard over the last three rounds with first one and then the other getting home hard punches as they traded to the last bell. Scores a reported 117-105 for Ashie which just not seem possible but that was as it was reported, 117-113 for Ashie and 116-116. Ashie, a former Commonwealth champion has lost only one of his last 18 fights and that was to the 28-1current IBO champion Emmanuel Tagoe. However he had only one fight each in years 2013 and 2014 was inactive in 2015 and had only one fight in 2016 and 2017. Mokoena had won his last five fights and this one was much closer than even the 117-113 score indicates.
Sackey vs. Commey
Ghanaian champion Sackey wins this domestic battle for the WBO African title with victory over Commey, It was one-way traffic with Commey struggling to get a foothold in the fight. Sackey dominated the action and won on wide margins on all three cards. Scores 120-109 twice and 117-111 for Sackey. The new champion has impressive looking statistics but Commey is the first test of any kind he has faced and hopefully he will now move up to more competitive matches. Former Ghanaian champion Commey was 3-3 going into this but the losses included overseas assignment against tough opposition in China and Philippines
Sai vs. Ashong
A disgraceful piece of rubbish here as Sai halts pathetic Ashong inside the first round. Former Commonwealth title challenger Sai goes to 26 wins by KO/TKO and poor Ashong gets his eighth loss by KO/TKO in his last nine fights and the records say this was his first fight since March 2014.
San Marzano al Sarno, Italy: Light: Gianluca Ceglia (14-3-1) DREW 10 Pasquale Di Silvio (21-10-2). Light: Domenico Valentino (4-0) W Milan Delic (6-13).
Ceglia vs. Di Silvio
The EU title remains vacant as these two fight to a split draw. Ceglia was the younger boxer by ten years and it was expected Di Silvio would pace the fight. However Di Silvio came out fast working behind his jab and Ceglia took a while to settle allowing Di Silvio to build a good lead despite suffering a cut in a clash of heads in the fourth. The fight eventually changed when Di Silvio started to try to slow the pace partially due to tiredness but also to an injury to his right hand. That led to a lot of clinching and also to heads banging together and Ceglia took control of some back-and ?forth action over the closing rounds. Scores 116-113 for Ceglia, 115-114 for Di Silvio and 114-114. Local fighter Ceglia, a former undefeated Italian champion was 5-1 in his last 6 fights with the loss being to Swedish star Anthony Yigit. The 38-year-old Roman Di Silvio, also an undefeated former Italian champion, had failed in an earlier challenge for the European title.
Valentino vs. Delic
It still pains me that Valentino has waited too long to turn pro. He breezed through this fight almost finishing it when scoring two knockdowns in the fourth only for the game young Serbian to survive and go the distance. The 33-year-old Valentino is a supreme stylist. As an amateur he took time out from his role as a policeman to medal at every World Championships between 2005 and 2013 winning a gold, a silver and three bronze medals. He was three times European Union champion ,and Italian champion in 2003/04/05/06 and 2007 and scored wins over Jose Pedraza, Robinson Conceicao, Jose Ramirez, Josh Taylor and many others. The 20-year-old Delic turned pro at 17 and has been a busy loser.
Guadalajara, Mexico: Super Middle: Zac Dunn (26-1) W RTD 5 Enrique Rubio (2-3). Super Welter: Luis Pina (20-1) W KO 5 Miguel Angel Vazquez (10-4-2).
Dunn vs. Rubio
Australian Dunn turns up on a small show in Guadalajara (I love typing that place. When spelling it if in doubt just put another A) and beats Rubio who retires after five one-sided rounds. Dunn launched a focused body attack from the opening bell with Rubio just being trapped on the ropes all the way and taking on board some wicked hooks. At the end of the fifth his corner retired their man. The 27-year-old former Commonwealth champion from Melbourne gets his third win since losing the Commonwealth title to Dave Brophy in March last year. He wins the vacant WBC Fecarbox title. My old geography teacher would be spinning in his grave at the absurdity of an Australian winning a Caribbean title! Poor Rubio, only really a super welter was to have fought Luis Pina but stepped up to face Dunn when the Australian?s original opponent dropped out.
Pina vs. Vazquez
Pina returns to the winning column with a fifth round victory over substitute Vazquez. A crunching left to the body put Vazquez down in the fifth and he was counted out. Pina, 24 suffered his first career loss in October to a fighter with a 6-2 record so has some work to do to restore his reputation. Vazquez was 4-1-2 going in but all four of his losses have been by KO/TKO.
Sheffield, England: Middle: Liam Cameron (21-5) W RSC 3 Nicky Jenman (20-11 Home town fighter Cameron retains the Commonwealth title in a one-sided bout after Jenman failed to make the weight being 2lbs over the limit. The title was only on the line for Cameron and the result was never in doubt. Cameron had big edges in height and reach and was using the jab to set Jenman up for the right cross. Cameron landed with a couple of those and a strong left hook with Jenman trying to fire back but having trouble getting past the jab and Cameron rocked him with a right late in the first. Cameron continued to work with the jab in the second and also mixed in some sharp right uppercuts. Jenman tried hard but there was no way into the fight for him and late in the third he was hurt by a couple of left hooks to the body and then felled by a straight right. He made it to his feet but staggered into the ropes and the referee ended the fight. The 27-year-old champion was making the first defence of the title he won at the third attempt with an upset stoppage of Sam Sheedy in October, He gets his ninth win by KO/TKO. Southpaw Jenman just never got into the fight and suffers his sixth loss by KO/TKO.
Ontario, CA, USA: Welter: Giovanni Santillan (24-0) W KO 2 Alejandro Barboza (11-2). In a defence of his WBO NABO title Santillan gets this one over quickly. The San Diego southpaw took the fight too Barboza immediately and was landing heavily to head and body in the first. He continued to dominate in the second and ended things with a left to the body that dropped Barboza who never looked like beating the count. The 26-year-old ?Gallo de Oro? was making the second defence of the title and now has 14 wins by KO/TKO. Although born in San Diego Santillan went down to try out for the Mexican Junior Olympic team before finally turning pro. Mexican ?Bad Boy? Barboza failed to make the weight and suffers his second loss in a row by KO/TKO.
Louisville, KY, USA: Welter: Francisco Santana (25-6-1) W PTS 10 Felix Diaz (19-3). Welter: Chris van Heerden (26-2-1) W PTS 10 Timo Schwarzkopf (18-2). Welter: Frederic Lawson (27-1) W PTS 10 Baishanbo Nasiyiwula (13-2-1). Welter: Brad Solomon (28-1) W PTS 10 Paddy Gallagher (13-4). Welter: Sergey Lubkovich (8-0) W PTS 10 Karim Mayfield (21-5-1).
Santana vs. Diaz
Santana comes in as a replacement and upsets the favourite and moves into the semi-finals in this Jose Sulaiman World Invitation tournament with majority decision over southpaw Diaz. Santana won this one by outworking Diaz but it was close. Santana took the first round but Diaz settled down and took the second. Santana was working harder but Diaz was more accurate and looked to have the harder punch. The fight swung one way and then the other with Santana having a good sixth and Diaz close to getting a knockdown in the seventh. Over the last three rounds the pressure and higher work rate saw Santana pull away and take the decision. Scores 98-92 and 96-94 for Santana and 95-95. Two other judges were also scoring every fight and they had it 98-92 for Santana. Good win for the 31-year-old Californian as he had lost his last two fights to Jose Benavidez and Mahonry Montes and was having his first contest since the Montes loss in April last year. Dominican Diaz won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics and was paid a signing bonus of $100,000 when he turned pro. His losses have been a majority decision against Lamont Peterson and a stoppage defeat by Terrence Crawford in a challenge for the WBC and WBO super light titles. Santana will meet Brad Solomon in the semi-final.
van Heerden vs. Schwarzkopf
South African van Heerden won this one clearly as he used his deeper experience to outbox German-based Kosovon Schwarzkopf and then survived some rocky moments later in the fight. Southpaw van Heerden swept the early rounds with better movement and more accuracy and looked to be in cruise control. . However the strong Schwarzkopf broke through with some heavy shots in the seventh and eighth which had van Heerden holding on until he recovered and controlled the last two rounds. Scores 98-92 for van Heerden from the three deciding judges with the other two both scoring it 97-93 for van Heerden. The 30-year-old ?Heat? had a nine bout winning streak which took him into the world ratings but he was stopped in seven rounds by Errol Spence in 2015. He had a couple of good level wins in 2016 but this was his first fight since October 2016. Schwarzkopf had scored wins over some useful European opposition in Junior Witter, Gianluca Frezza and Massimiliano Ballisai with his only loss being to Swedish star Anthony Yigit. van Heerden will face Frederic Lawson in the semi final.
Lawson vs. Nasiyiwula
Lawson set it up to be a good weekend for Ghana with a victory over China?s Nasiyiwula. Lawson was a clear winner and controlled most of the fight but Nasiyiwula had enough good moments to make it competitive and entertaining with the scores diverging greatly from the three judges at 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94 for Lawson with the other two judges both scoring it 97-93 for Lawson. A broken jaw suffered in his loss to Kevin Bizier in 2015 saw Lawson inactive until march last year when he returned with a majority decision over Sakima Mullings and he is going to be a tough one to beat. Nasiyiwula, 23, an ethnic Kazak born and raised in China, suffered his only loss on a split decision to Rikki Naito in Tokyo but had won the WBA Asia and WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental titles in January. He is tall for the weight. He started as a bantam in the amateur and could grow to middleweight where he might be stronger.
Solomon vs. Gallagher
Solomon wins the only fight in these quarter-finals that ended in a split decision. He made a very rocky start as Belfast?s aggressive Gallagher put Solomon down with a body punch at the end of the first round. Solomon beat the count but was under pressure in the second. He finally got into the fight from the third but at the half way point Gallagher was ahead on two cards. Solomon clawed himself into contention over the second half of the fight just edging the close rounds but it could have gone either way. Scores 97-93 and 96-94 for Solomon and 96-93 for Gallagher with the other two judges both seeing it 95-94 for Solomon. The talented Solomon has underachieved and a less than entertaining style has not helped him. As an amateur he scored wins over Demetrius Andrade, Jesse Vargas and Danny Garcia and as a pro has beaten Kenny Galarza, Demetrius Hopkins, Freddy Hernandez and Ray Serrano but lost a split decision to unbeaten Konstantin Ponomarev in 2016 and needs to win this tournament to make any kind of statement.BBB of C Celtic champion Gallagher had lost only one of his last nine fights and will consider himself an unlucky loser here.
Lubkovich vs. Mayfield
This was a fight to establish the reserve fighter should any of the semi-finalists drop out. It was the poorest fight of the night with the respective styles not making for an entertaining ten rounds. There was too much clinching and Russian Lubkovich was docked a point in the fourth for holding. Nevertheless he emerged winner with four judges giving him the verdict and one going for Mayfield. The 22-year-old Lubkovich, managed by former IBF super light champion Eduard Troyanovsky, was coming off a good win over Viktor Plotnykov in November. Mayfield at 37 and 3-5 in his last 8 fights is going nowhere now.
Rangsit, Thailand: Fly: Kongfah (21-1) W PTS 10 Renz Rosia (14-6). Light Fly: Palangpol (15-2) W TKO 5 Gauray Singh (0-3). Fly: Noknoi (65-5) W TKO 3 Abdul Gulomov (0-1)
Kongfah vs. Rosia
Thai Kongfah (Jakkrawut Majoogoen) wins the vacant OPBF Silver title with unanimous decision over Filipino southpaw Rosia. The first half of the fight saw Rosia giving Kongfah all the trouble he could handle but the local fighter controlled the second half of the contest to run out a clear winner. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-92 for Kongfah. Now seven wins on the bounce for Kongfah whose only loss is a seventh round kayo by then future and now former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa. ?Jaguar? Rosia came to fight but has lost tough fights out of a suitcase against Makazole Tete and Moruti Mthalane in South Africa.
Palangpol vs. Singh
In his first fight since losing to Kosei Tanaka for the WBO light fly title in September Palangpol (Rangsan Chayanram) stopped Indian novice Singh in five rounds. Ninth win by KO/TKO for the 32-year-old Palangpol and a typically disgraceful match for a Thai undercard.
Noknoi vs. Gulomov
Another piece of undercard rubbish as former WBA secondary title challenger Noknoi (Nare Yianleang) stops a Tajik with two names given for his opponent. He beat either Abdul Gulomov or Abdul Rusmov-take your pick with the only thing certain is that it was disgraceful to find a 65-4 Noknoi facing a guy having his first pro fight.
Harare, Zimbabwe: Heavy: Elvis Moyo (8-5-2) W TKO 1 Maksym Pedyura (14-13-1). Moyo floors Ukrainian oldie Pedyura twice and the referee stops the fight in the first round. The 34-year-old ?Bulawayo Bomber? was calling out Zimbabwe-born Dereck Chisora after this win but he is 6?1? and weighed just under 280lbs for his last fight so he should be more careful over what he wishes for. Poor 40-year-old Pedyura has now lost his last 10 fights, 8 of them by KO/TKO with those 8 fights all ending inside 4 rounds.
April 28
Villa Mercedes, Argentina: Feather: Alan Luques Castillo (25-7) W PTS 12 Esteban Stodulski (6-7-3). Super Feather: Fabricio Bea (9-0-1 W TKO 1 Augustin Leiton (15-13-1).
Luques vs. Stodulski
Luques retains the South American title with split decision over novice Stodulski. Experience won this one for Luques. Stodulski made a good start and built a lead after six rounds. From there Luques greater experience in pacing fights over distance saw him come from behind to just edge out the San Luis fighter. Scores 118-111 which was way out of court and 117 ?-116 for Luques and 117-116 ? for Stodulski. Luques, the Argentinian No 3, was making the second defence of the title. He has now won 6 of his last 7 fights with the loss being to Diego De La Hoya last year. Stodulski, 25, had never gone past six rounds and was not in the Argentinian ratings so put up an impressive show.
Bea vs. Leiton
Hot local hope Bea blows away more experience Leiton inside a round. Bea went straight to work taking Leiton to the ropes and landed a series of booming rights in the first minute that put Leiton down. He beat the count but more clubbing rights floored him again and the fight was stopped as the towel came in from Leiton?s corner. The 20-year-old Bea has scored all of his nine victories by KO/TKO including four first round finishes. Eighth loss by KO/TKO for Leiton.
Edmonton, Canada: Heavy: Adam Braidwood (13-1) W TKO 4 Hugo Leon (5-2).
Braidwood gets this one out of the way so that he can focus on more important business. The Vancouver fighter handed out lots of punishment with young Mexican Leon managing to get through with some overhand rights. A vicious uppercut in the fourth which probably left Leon with a broken nose led to the stoppage. The 33-year-old Braidwood has won his last 12 fights the last 10 of those victories by KO/TKO. His next date will be against unbeaten fellow-Canadian Simon Kean on 16 June for the IBO International title one that has Canadian fight fans excited. Leon, 19, just a prelim fighter suffers his second loss by KOTKO
Douai, France: Fly: Vincent Legrand (27-0) W PTS 12 Juan Hinostroza (7-9-1). Light Heavy: Mathieu Bauderlique (14-1) W PTS 10 Eddy Lacrosse (9-5-2). Welter: Mehdi Mouhib (16-0) W TKO 2 Bogdan Mitic (21-10). Light: Guillame Frenois (46-1) W RTD 5 Michal Dufek (24-17-2).
Legrand vs. Hinostroza
Local southpaw Legrand remains unbeaten and wins the vacant European title with one-sided victory over Hinostroza. Although it was an east win for the French southpaw who towered over Hinostroza (5?8 ??-174cm to 5?3? 160cm) it was not without its problems as he fought from the fourth round with an injured left hand and he counted it as a disappointing performance. Scores 120-108, 120-109 and 119-109 with Hinostroza falling below the standard of the usual EBU challenger. The 26-year-old Legrand held this title before but relinquished it hoping for a world title shot . He is rated No 11 super flyweight by both the WBA and WBO and is now under orders to defend his European title against the WBC No 1 Andrew Selby. Spanish-based Peruvian Hinostroza was a poor challenger.
Bauderlique vs. Lacrosse
Southpaw Bauderlique wins the vacant French title with unanimous decision over Lacrosse. Bauderlique had to climb off the floor in the second round but was not really threatened after that. The former top level amateur had the longer reach and superior skills and outboxed Lacrosse but was never comfortable and had to be careful as Lacrosse forced the fight and was dangerous with his wide slung hooks. Scores 99-92, 97-92 and 96-93. The 28-year-old local fighter suffered his only loss when he recklessly charged a badly shaken Dragan Lepei and was knocked down and out in the first round by a counter. A former Olympic bronze medallist, he lost to Julio Cesar Cruz in Rio, he was French champion and a AIBA pro champion. Lacrosse, the French No 3 has yet to lose inside the distance.
Mouhib vs. Mitic
Despite giving away height and reach French No 1 Mouhib had no trouble halting Serbian Mitic. The neighbourhood favourite gets his tenth win by KO/TKO as he tries to break into the European ratings. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for Mitic.
Frenois vs. Dufek
Frenois wins a keep busy fight as he hopes to land a world title shot. Frenois had height, reach and an abundance of skill which Dufek could not hope to match. Frenois was looking to get the full six rounds of practice and was disappointed when Dufek?s corner pulled their man out at the end of the fifth. The 34-year-old from St Quentin (That?s the French one not the Californian prison one) has won his last 15 fights but his highest rating is No 6 (4) with the IBF and with Billy Dib, Tevin Farmer and Gervonta Davis in front of him he may never land that shot. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for Dufek who was a late choice as opponent.
Offenburg, Germany: Super Middle: Arthur Abraham (47-6) W PTS 12 Patrick Nielsen (29-2). Super Middle: Nieky Holzken (14-1) W TKO 3 Bernard Donfack (23-19-4). Light Heavy: Leon Bunn (9-0) W PTS 8 Tomasz Adamek (26-1562). Cruiser: Kai Robin Havnaa (13-0) W KO 2 Frank Bluemle (15-6-2). Super Welter: Abass Barou (1-0) W TKO 4 Artur Mueller (5-01).
Abraham vs. Nielsen
Five words seem to come together too often. They are Arthur Abraham, controversial decision and Germany and once again against Dane Nielsen ?King Arthur? gets a much criticised win over in Germany. As usual the early rounds saw Nielsen taking the lead as he pounded away at the slow starting Abraham who used his familiar tactics of walking in behind a high guard and throwing few but accurate punches. He was blocking many of the Danes punches but Nielsen was throwing a lot more and subsequently landing more. Abraham stepped up the pace and staged his traditional strong finish over the last four rounds but it did not seem enough to overtake the lead Nielsen had built as the Dane did enough to make those rounds close. Scores 116-111 twice for Abraham and a more accurate looking 114-113 for Nielsen. It was difficult to w see where a five point advantage for Abraham came from but these decisions have happened too often in Abraham?s career for anyone to be really surprised. The 38-year-old former two-division world champion has had a great career with plenty of wins that have not been disputable so it is a pity that the controversial wins cast a shadow over his outstanding achievements. He wins the vacant WBO International title here and is aiming for another world title shot before retiring this year. He was beaten so comprehensively by Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Eubank Jr that this seems unlikely but he could get one huge last payday against the holder of the secondary WBA title Tyron Zeuge or young Vincent Feigenbutz in a non-title fight. Nielsen, 27, was coming off a crushing kayo loss to John Ryder in October and had said he would retire if he lost to Abraham but he will not want to walk away after losing a fight he will most certainly feel he won.
Holzken vs. Donfack
Dutchman Holzken much too good for Donfack. Holzken took a couple of rounds to find his distance and then went to work in the third. A series of hooks and uppercuts put Donfack down and although he beat the count and the referee was willing to let the fight continue Donfack?s corner threw in the towel. Now 11 wins by KO/TKO for the 34-year-old Holzken who gave Callum Smith a good fight when he was drafted into the WBBS semi-final at short notice. Holzken?s reward was being taken on by Sauerland Promotions and will be guided by them in future. Cameroon-born Donfack is now 0-5-1 in his last six fights.
Bunn vs. Adamek
Bunn gets good test against experienced Adamek. The young Germany hope made a fast start and landed well with punches from both hands over the first three rounds. After a slow start Adamek improved but Bunn continued to boss the exchanges with Adamek putting up stiff resistance Bunn decided to settle for going the distance and took the unanimous decision. In mainly domestic amateur competitions the Frankfurt 25-year-old collected a number of local titles in losing just three of 112 fights and is progressing well as a pro. The 37-year-old Adamek is 3-5 in his last 8 fights but a win last year in Norway against local fighter the 16-2 Tim Robin Lihaug shows he has to be respected.
Havnaa vs. Bluemle
Havnaa destroyed the over-matched Bluemle inside two rounds. The big Swedish cruiser used his strong jab to take control from the start and in the second a straight right to the temple put Bluemle down and out. The 29-year-old son of former WBO champion Magne Havnaa makes it eleven wins by KO/TKO in his last 12 fights. He is trained by Joey Gamache and is already the subject of a six-part TV documentary series covering his pro career. Now six losses by KO/TKO for Bluemle.
Barou vs. Mueller
Yet another former top amateur turns pro under the Sauerland banner. Barou had unbeaten Mueller under pressure from the start and had him in trouble and cut over his left eye in the second. Mueller was allowed to take too much punishment in a brutal third and slumped to his knees just before the bell. He should not have been allowed out for the fourth. Barou battered Mueller around the ring landing vicious uppercuts and left hooks to the body. Mueller tried to fight back but after another series of head snapping punches he went down again and although he bravely made it to his feet the referee finally came to his sense and stopped the fight but Mueller was allowed to take the sort of beating that can ruin a young fighter?s career. The 23-year-old Barou a German of Togolese parentage won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships losing to Cuban star Rosniel Iglesias but lifted the gold medal at the European Championships beating Brit Pat McCormack in the final. One to follow. Mueller had won a ten round decision in his most recent contest but was out of his league here.
Click here for Part II.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.
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