The Past Week in Action 15 January 2023: Jessica Nery Outpoints Kim Clavel, Unifies WBA/WBC Belts; Efe Ajagba Defeats Stephan Shaw
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 16 Jan 2023
Highlights:
-Jessica Nery breaks the hearts of Canadian fans as she outpoints Kim Clavel to unify the WBA and WBC female super-lightweight titles
-Super-Lightweight Mazlum Akdeniz moves to 18 wins with points victory over Cristian Bielma
-Efe Ajagba outpoints previously unbeaten Stephen Shaw at heavyweight
Abraham Nova scores two knockdowns on the way to outpoint Adam Nova and Jonathan Rice gets an injury victory over Guido Vianello
-Jin Sasaki wipes out favourite Ryota Toyoshima in the first round to win the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific welterweight belts
World Title/Major Shows
January 13
Laval, Canada: Light Fly: Jessica Nery (29-2) W PTS 10 Kim Clavel (16-1). Super Light: Mazlum Akdeniz (18-0) W PTS 10 Cristian Bielma (19-5-2). Welter: Marie-Pier Houle (8-0-1) W PTS 8 Marisol Moreno (6-4).
Nery vs. Clavel
A big disappointment for Montreal fans as Mexican Nery scores a unanimous decision over local favourite Clavel adding Clavel’s WBC title to the WBA title she already holds. This was a fiercely fought bout carried out at a frantic pace. Both showed plenty of offence but little defence. Clavel constantly took the fight to Nery but the Mexican was willing to stand and trade punches for three minutes in every round. The rounds were all close but Nery threw more and landed more. By the fifth Clavel was bleeding from the nose and although she continued to fight hard, she could not match Nery’s punch output and Nery was stronger and swept the late rounds and was a clear winner. Scores 97-93 twice and 96-94. Nery had won the WBA title with an impressive victory over 37-2 Yesica Yolanda in March and this is her eighth consecutive victory. A distraught loser Clavel was making the third defence of the WBC belt.
Akdeniz vs. Bielma
Local southpaw Akdeniz had too much of everything for Mexican Bielma and scored three knockdowns on his way to a one-sided victory. Akdeniz Came close to flooring Bielma in the second before putting him down with a right hook in the third. Bielma was down again from a left hook in the fifth and soaked up more punishment going to the floor for a flash knockdown in the seventh but making it to the final bell. Scores 100-87 for Akdeniz from the three judges. The 25-year-old is of Kurdish antecedents and was making the first defence of his WBC Continental Americas title. Bielma had lost only one of his last nine fights but against very modest domestic opposition.
Houle vs. Moreno
Quebecois Houle remains unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Mexican Moreno. This was tight all the way. Houle was bigger and stronger with Moreno countering well. Houle looked to have done just enough to take the decision with a strong last round but the scores did not reflect how close it was with Houle winning on scores of 80-72,79-73 and 77-75. A former bronze medallist in the Canadian championships was in her first eight round fight and this is her sixth consecutive victory. Third loss in a row for Moreno.
January 14
Verona, NY, USA: Heavy: Efe Ajagba (17-1) W PTS 10 Stephen Shaw (18-1,1ND). Super Feather: Abraham Nova (22-1) W PTS 10 Adam Lopez (16-4,1ND) W. Heavy: Jonathan Rice (16-6-1) W TKO 7 Guido Vianello (10-1-1). Welter: Brian Norman (23-0,1ND) W PTS 8 Rodrigo Coria (10-5). Feather: Bruce Carrington (6-0) WPTS 6 Juan Lopez (17-13-1). Super Feather: Haven Brady (9-0) W PTS 8 Ruben Cervera (13-4).
Ajagba vs Shaw
Ajagba wins a narrow unanimous decision over Shaw. In a close opening round both stuck mainly to their jab with Ajagba just a shade quicker and doing enough to have the edge. The battle of jabs was also the feature of the second with Shaw taking this one as he mixed in the occasional right to even things up. He found the target with his jabs and rights to the head in the third but all three rounds had been close and the action was slow. Ajagba came into his own over the fourth and fifth as he picked-up his pace. The speed and accuracy of his jab had Shaw on the back foot and he was getting through with straight rights. Shaw was just not active enough and although he had a reasonable sixth, he was letting Ajagba dictate the pace. Ajagba was in control in the seventh. He again had Shaw on the back foot with his jab and he was coming in behind his jab and connecting with rights. Ajagba’s corner had told him to let his punches go and Shaw was drifting out of the fight. The level of action was not high with jabs still the weapon of choice for both fighters but Ajagba was showing more fire and was outscoring Shaw who just did not seem able to up his pace and the crowd was restless over the lack of fire in the fight. Shaw did enough to make the ninth close but Ajagba had swept the last four rounds and was a clear winner. All three judges scored it 96-94 for Ajagba. Since he is rebuilding after a bad loss against Frank Sanchez in 2021 Ajagba did not need this to be a great fight-only a winning one and he looked to have won by a bigger margin than the scores. Shaw was disappointing but he took this fight at less than one month’s notice and like Ajagba he now needs to show he can rebound from a loss.
Nova vs. Lopez
Nova scores two knockdowns on the way to a unanimous decision against Lopez. The first two rounds saw both fighters feeling each other out with Lopez circling Nova looking to find a way inside to work with sweeping hooks and Nova using his longer reach and fast hands. The fight warmed-up with some fiery exchanges in the third and fourth with both having some success. In the fifth as they traded punches Nova dropped Lopez with a short right hook. Lopez was up at six and then used some smart movement and clever upper body work to stay out of trouble. In the sixth in ducking and weaving and back peddling from hooks from Nova Lopez was off balance and looked to have slipped down but was given a count. Nova chased Lopez down for the rest of the round and seemed to have the edge as they traded punches in the seventh. Lopez rebounded with a good eighth and they exchanged fiercely through the ninth and tenth. Nova won on scores of 98-90 twice and 97-91. Nova gets back on track after a fifth round kayo loss against Robeisy Ramirez in June. Lopez was coming off an impressive victory over 19-2 William Encarnacion.
Vianello vs. Rice
Rice gets win over Vianello due to a cut. Vianello dominated the first two rounds finding gaps for his jabs and landing left hooks against a slow Rice who was just not busy enough. Both connected with rights in the third but again Vianello’s jab was the dominant punch and that picture continued in the fourth with Rice yet to make any impression. Vianello upped his pace in the fifth starting to put together some combinations but it was a slow paced bout without any highlights. Vianello outboxed Rice in the sixth with Rice’s only contribution a hard right. However, that right opened a bad cut over Vianello’s left eye. With the cut bleeding heavily in the seventh the referee stopped the fight. He had seen the cut as being caused by a clash of heads and was ready to call for the judge’s cards. A Top Rank team member and a local Commission official both advised the referee it was caused by a punch and after reviewing the tape the referee agreed it was a punch making Rice the winner on a stoppage. Rice had stopped and then outpointed previously unbeaten Michael Polite Coffie in his previous two fights so is riding high but to balance that he looked awful in this fight and was on his way to wide points defeat before that cutting punch. Big disappointment for 2016 Olympian Vianello who has stuttered a bit as a pro.
Norman vs. Coria
In his first fight for thirteen months Norman goes the distance for victory over tough Argentinian Coria. The moment the bell sounded for the start of the fight Norman exploded with a ferocious attack and came near to blowing Coria away with the bottom rope all that stopped Coria from going down. No count was applied and Norman dialled back his aggression and Coria survived. Norman had the better of the exchanges over the second and third. Coria had a good fourth working to the body and made the fifth and sixth close but Norman had done just enough to take them. Coria had a big seventh staggering Norman with head punches. A frantic eighth saw Norman stunned by a counter and then drop Coria to his knees only for Coria to stagger Norman again before the final bell. Scores 77-74 twice and 79-72 for Norman. This was Norman’s first fight for Top Rank and he may have been looking to impress with that first round blitz but as he had taken less than twelve rounds to win his last six fights the ring time here would have been valuable for him. Coria had won 6 of his last 7 fights
Carrington vs. Lopez
“Shu Shu” Carrington, 25, was just too skilful and quick for Mexican-born Texan Lopez. He comfortably controlled the fight without ever looking likely to end it early. Carrington lost to Joe Cordina in the World Series of Boxing but beat Duke Ragan at the US Olympic Trials with Ragan going on to win a silver medal in Tokyo. Eleven of Lopez’s losses have come against unbeaten fights.
Brady vs. Cervera
Prospect Brady takes a unanimous decision over Cervera. Accuracy, a higher work rate and superior skills saw Brady through this one. He dictated for much of the fight but Colombian Cervera was dangerous at times. Brady put together some flashing combinations and occasionally switched guards. Cervera rocked Brady with a right in the fifth and stayed competitive to the end. Brady won on scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74. Eight rounds of useful work for the 21-year-old prospect from Georgia who has a degree in Business Management. Cervera had won eleven of his fights by KO/TKO.
January 14
Monte Grande, Argentina: Welter: Leandro Fonseca (15-1-1) W TKO 5 Santiago Sanchez (9-9-1). Light: Loren Agoutborde (4-3-4) W PTS 10 Tamila Abellaneda (15-6-1).
Fonseca vs. Sanchez
Fonseca pounds Sanchez to defeat in five rounds. Sanchez was aggressive in the first but Fonseca took control from the second. He battered Sanchez to heads and body in the second and third with Sanchez only just surviving. There was more punishment for Sanchez in the fourth and Fonseca ended it in the fifth. A right to the head staggered Sanchez and he was given a standing count. Fonseca drove Sanchez around the ropes with a gutsy Sanchez trying to punch back but he was fighting like a boxer waiting for the referee to step in which he did belatedly to save the reeling Sanchez. Fonseca wins the vacant South American title rebounding well from a loss against Jose Rosa for the Argentinian title in October. Only one win in his last eight fights for Sanchez.
Agoutborde vs. Abellaneda
In a clash of styles Agoutborde wins the Argentinian title with a split decision over champion Abellaneda. The smaller but bull-like Agoutborde used her strength to march forward for the whole fight. She opened a cut on Abellaneda’s forehead with a punch in the first round and hunted Abellaneda down for the full ten rounds. Abellaneda had reach, height and better skills on her side and kept the fight close but could not keep Agoutborde out and paid the price. Scores 96-94 twice for Agoutborde and 96-94 for Abellaneda who was making the fifth defence of the title.
Tokyo, Japan: Welter: Jin Sasaki (14-1-1) W TKO 1 Ryota Toyoshima (16-3-1).
A shock result as big puncher Sasaki wipes out champion Toyoshima in the opening round to lift the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific belts. Toyoshima scored first with a right hook but then a left hook from Sasaki wobbled Toyoshima. Sasaki connected with body punches and an uppercut before rocking Toyoshima with a left hook and then putting him down with another left hook and the fight was stopped after just 116 seconds. The 21-year-old former Japanese Youth champion has won 13 of his fights by KO/TKO. He has had weight problems in the past being ruled after failing to make the weight for a bout in the annual Rookie of the Year Tournament and then failing to make the weight in a fight for the Japanese and WBO Asia Pacific super lightweight titles in 2021. The fight went ahead and he was stopped in the eleventh round by Andy Hiraoka. Sasaki was only rated No 12 welterweight by the OPBF so this was a real upset. First inside the distance defeat for Toyoshima who was making the third defence of his titles.
Cartagena, Colombia: Super Light: Jonathan Montrel (15-1) W RTD 4 Aristides Perez (33-19-3).
Louisiana’s Montrel makes it ten inside the distance victories as Colombian Perez retires after four rounds. Montrel, 32, picks up the vacant American Boxing Federation Inter-Continental Americas belt. He was knocked out by 9-1 Greg Outlaw in 74 seconds in March. A busy Perez, 41, was 2-6-1 in his 9 fights last year.
Eisenhuettenstadt, Germany: Heavy: Rene Huebner (54-19-2,2ND) W TKO 7 Juergen Manger (7-2). Super Middle: Ferdinand Pilz (23-1) W TKO 4 Mariusz Biskupski (23-5-2,1ND). Super Welter: Ronny Gabel (30-7-1,1ND) W TKO 5 Martin Friesse (2-20-0).
Huebner vs. Manger
Fighting in his home town Huebner wins the vacant WBU (German version) European title with a seventh round stoppage of Manger in a clash of oldies. Huebner was Global Boxing Council title holder at heavyweight and cruiserweight. A pro since 2001 some careful matching has seen him win his last 23 fights. None of Manger’s fight have gone the distance. they are both 47-years-old!
Pilz vs. Biskupski
Berliner Pilz scores his seventh inside the distance victory in a row with stoppage of Biskupski late in the fourth round. Nineteenth win by KO/TKO for Pilz. His sols loss was a ninth round stoppage by Steven Butler in Canada in 2016. Pilz’s opposition has been dismal and Box Rec have him No 420 in the world. Biskupski suffers his twenty-fourth loss by KO/TKO. He is 46-years-old, and No 807 in Box Rec’s ratings.
Gabel vs. Friesse
Gabel, 38, makes it 7 wins in his last 8 fights as he stops Friesse in the fifth. Gabel was an early career victim of Billy Joe Saunders who halted Gabel in two rounds in 2009. Eighteenth defeat by KO/TKO for Friesse. At 6’2” it is amazing he can make the 153lbs he weighed for this fight. He has been as heavy as 178lbs:
Fight of the week (Significance): With the closeness of their fight both Efe Ajagba and Stephen Shaw are still fringe factors at heavyweight
Fight of the week (Entertainment) After a studied start Abraham Nova and Adam Lopez put on a good show.
Fighter of the week: Efe Ajagba for his win over unbeaten Stephen Shaw
Punch of the week: The left hook from Jin Sasaki that floored Ryota Toyoshima
Upset of the week: Sasaki’s win over Toyoshima was a shock
Prospect watch: Haven Brady 9-0 (4) won plenty of Youth title and a gold medal at the prestigious Police Athletic League Tournament
Observations
Rosette: To Top Rank for putting on the best show in a very slow weekend
Red Card: To the matchmaker for the ages and quality of the losers on the show in Eisenhuettenstadt:
- A) Mariusz Biskupski-46yo / 23-50-2 with 23 losses by KO/TKO
- B) Martin Friesse-32yo / 2-19-0 17 losses by KO/TKO
Red Card also to Top Rank if you had not put on the good class show I might have managed to avoid the grindstone for another week!
-Congratulations for Team Huebner for somehow finding easy opponents for Rene Huebner to be unbeaten in his last 23 fights including winning the WBU cruiserweight title at the age of 44!
About the Author
Born in Scotland, Eric Armit started working with Boxing News magazine in the UK in the late 1960’s initially doing records for their Boxing News Annual and compiling World, European and Commonwealth ratings for the magazine. He wrote his first feature article for Boxing News in 1973 and wrote a “World Scene” weekly column for the magazine from the late 1970’s until 2004. Armit wrote a monthly column for Boxing Digest in the USA and contributed pieces to magazines in Mexico, Italy, Australia, Spain, Argentina and other countries. Armit now writes a Weekly Report covering every major fight around the world and a bi-weekly Snips & Snipes column plus occasional general interest articles with these being taken up by boxing sites around the world. He was a member of the inaugural WBC Ratings Committee and a technical advisor to the EBU Ratings Committee and was consulted by John McCain’s research team when they were drafting the Ali Act. He is a Director and former Chairman of the Commonwealth Boxing Council. Armit has been nominated to the International Boxing Hall of Fame the past two years (2019 and 2020) to which he said, “Being on the list is an unbelievably huge honour.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.
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