The Past Week in Action 13 February 2023: O'Shaquie Foster Beats Rey Vargas; Mario Barrios Stops Jovanie Santiago
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Feb 2023
Highlights:
-O’Shaquie Foster takes wide unanimous decision against Rey Vargas to win the vacant WBC super featherweight title
-Mario Barrios stops Jovanie Santiago at super lightweight
-Lenier Pero wins the clash of unbeaten heavyweight when Viktor Vykhryst is forced out of the fight in the eighth round due a rib injury
-Zak Chelli surprises as he easily outpoints Anthony Sims and there are wins for hot prospects super lightweight Adam Azim and cruiserweight Caroline Dubois
- Belgian Geram Eloyan wins the vacant European Union super bantamweight with split decision over Florian Montels
World Title/Major Shows
February 11
San Antonio, TX, USA: Super Feather: O’Shaquie Foster (20-2) W PTS 12 Rey Vargas (36-1). Super Light: Mario Barrios (27-2) W TKO 8 Jovanie Santiago (14-3). Heavy: Lenier Pero (9-0) W TKO 8 Viktor Vykhryst (11-1). Super Feather: Claudio Marrero (27-5) W KO 5 Gonzalo Fuenzalida (12-2). Middle; Eumir Marcial (4-0) W TKO 2 Ricardo Villalba (20-8-1,1ND). Heavy: Dainier Pero (3-0) W PTS 4 Daniel Zavala (2-2-2).
Foster vs. Vargas
Foster comprehensively outboxes Vargas to win the vacant WBC title.
Round 1
Foster was quicker than Vargas. He was moving around Vargas firing and landing jabs. Both connected with a good right but Foster was still getting through with jabs and then dancing out of range. Foster looked to have put Vargas down with a jab but it was ruled a slip. Vargas had some success to make it a close round but clearly one for Foster.
Score: 10-9 Foster
Round 2
Great footwork from Foster saw him getting him into range landing a punch and then out again before Vargas could counter. Vargas just could not find the target with his jab and Foster connected with a good right to the head. Vargas was just following Foster around the perimeter of the ring not quick enough to catch Foster who continued to snap jabs through the guard of Vargas.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 20-18
Round 3
Once again Foster was snapping out his jab and then moving out with Vargas just not fast enough to find the target with his own jab and he missing with desperation rights. A jab from Foster opened a small cut beside the left eye of Vargas.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 30-27
Round 4
Foster continued to score with snappy jabs and landed a sharp left hook. Vargas went into counter puncher mode looking to draw Foster forward. Vargas had some success as they traded shots a couple of times but Foster was still finding stabbing home jabs.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 40-36
Official Scores: Judge Tim Cheatham 40-36 Foster, Judge David Sutherland 39-37 Foster, Judge Alejandro Rochin 39-37 Foster.
Round 5
Vargas started the round well connecting with a few jabs and landing a right cross. Foster stuck to his jab until late in the round when he added some rights and some left hooks in a speedy attacks that gave him the edge.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 50-45
Round 6
A much better round from Vargas. He was beating Foster to the jab, bring his right into play and scored with a burst of shots when he managed tom catch Foster against the ropes. Vargas was again on the back foot and Foster had trouble getting off his jab.
Score: 10-9 VargasFoster 59-55
Round 7
A good round for Vargas. He was on the back foot but getting his jab off first and Foster was standing in front of Vargas instead of constantly moving and changing angles. Vargas scored with quick attacking bursts and Foster was doing very little work.
Score: 10-9 VargasFoster 68-65
Round 8
Foster was back in charge. He was still on the front foot but was using his superior hand speed to get his jabs home. When Vargas attacked Foster was either countering him on the way in or skipping out of reach and then daring back with punches of his own
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 78-74
Round 9
A dominant round for Vargas. Whether in the front foot or the back he was constant scoring with jabs and with hooks and when he darted into range and fired a burst of punches was also landing with hooks and uppercuts. Foster hardly used his jab and threw few punches.
Score: 10-9 VargasFoster 87-84
Round 10
Speed was the biggest factor in this round. Foster was on the front foot and using his jab again. Neither scored consistently but Vargas was coming up short with his jab and Foster was jumping in and jolting Vargas with short hooks inside.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 97-93
Round 11
Another round for Foster. He was constantly in the face of Vargas hunting him down scoring with lightning fast jabs and landing rights inside. He had no trouble skipping way from the occasional attack from Vargas who went down three times but none were genuine knockdowns. Vargas was finding Foster a very elusive target and was sloppy with his work.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 107-102
Foster’s round. He was hunting the retreating Vargas blocking or evading punches and scoring with jabs and quick rights. He landed three strong rights late in the round then cruised his way to the bell.
Score: 10-9 FosterFoster 117-111
Brilliant exhibition of skill by Texan Foster to overcome the height and reach advantages of the more experienced two-division champion Vargas. There was no indication of things to come when he lost to 6-1 Samuel Teah and 12-1-1 Rolando Chinea or when squeezing out a majority verdict over 2-0-1 Kaylyn Alfred in 2018 but seven fights after the Alfred tussle he is a title holder. Vargas was 7-0 in title fights but he will have to battle hard to get another title shot.
Barrios vs. Santiago
Barrios too big and strong for Santiago and floors and halts him in the eighth round. Barrios had height and reach plus youth on his side and was scoring with jabs and left hooks in the first. He continued to find gaps for his jab in the second and stunned Santiago with a left hook in the second. Santiago connected with some body punches at the start of the third but then Barrios took over. He brought blood from Santiago’s nose with his jabs and had Santiago holding on. Barrios continued to dominate the action over the fourth and fifth. The sixth was a painful three minutes for Santiago. He had no answer to the jabs from Barrios and took punishment against the ropes with the end looking near. Santiago’s corner was threatening to pull him out of the fight if he did not improve but again he took heavy punishment in the seventh including a thunderous chopping right. A burst of body punch floored Santiago in the eighth and although he made it to his feet Barrios battered him around the ring until two brutal rights to the head had the referee moving in and stopping the fight. After going 26-0 and winning the secondary WBA super lightweight title Barrios suffered consecutive losses against Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman. This Santiago fight was his first since that February 2022 defeat by Thurman and with the inactivity his only rating was No 10 with the WBC and it will mean taking some riskier fights to get close to a title chance. With previous losses to Adrien Broner and Gary Antuanne Russell, this makes it three defeats in a row for Santiago.
Pero vs. Vykhryst
Pero wins on an eighth round stoppage after Vykhryst is unable to continue due a rib injury. Pero took the first round. He was quicker than Vykhryst circling the Ukrainian then lunging in to score with lefts to the body. Vykhryst was walking Pero down but Pero connected with a couple of good head shots late in the round. Vykhryst fired a series of punches at the start of the second but Pero landed a copuple of fast lefts to the head. Vykhryst went back to just prodding with his jab but Pero again pierced his guard with three lefts to the head. They traded punches late in the round with both landing good shots but it was Pero’s round. Vykhryst had a better third working harder and knocking Pero off balance with a right at the bell. Vykhryst also took the fourth and fifth. He was throwing punches continually. Most were just tapping punches being blocked by Pero. However, Vykhryst was also landing more with Pero’s output dropping away and Vykhryst in control. The sixth and seventh were closer with Pero stepping forward trying to close Vykhryst down and throwing a few more punches particularly jab to the body. The end came unexpectedly in the eighth. Pero landed a right to the side of Vykhryst who stepped back and tuned away from the action holding his left side. With no reason for him to stop Pero landed some punches on Vykhryst who made no attempt to defend himself. He was obviously in pain and the referee jumped in to stop the fight. It seemed Vykhryst had suffered an injury to his ribs and could not continue. An unfortunate end as Pero had started well, Vykhryst had then taken over and Pero was coming back into the fight. Pero was No 6 with the WBA (75 with Box rec) but the way the WBA ratings currently read there is no space for him to move up. Vykhryst was unrated, but No 56 with Box Rec having faced slightly better opposition, but they are both a long way from a sniff of a title fight.
Marrero vs. Fuenzalida
In his first fight for over a year Marrero scores three knockdowns on his way to a stoppage win over Fuenzalida. There were some fierce exchanges in the opener as Fuenzalida took the fight to Marrero but the hooks to the body from Marrero impressed more. Fuenzalida came forward throwing punches in the second and again they traded shots in close for most of the round. The pattern remained in the third until late in the round when a left hook to the body saw Fuenzalida take a step back and go down on one knee. After the count Fuenzalida stood and exchanger punches with Marrero until Marrero landed a low punch and Fuenzalida was given a short break which allowed him to make it to the bell. In the fourth two left hooks to the body again sent Fuenzalida down on one knee. He was up at eight and with one minute remaining in the round Marrero backed-off and made no attempt to finish the fight. When another left hook to the body sent Fuenzalida down in the fourth the referee waived the fight over. Consecutive losses in 2020 against Kid Galahad and Xavier Martinez have pushed the former IBO and interim WBA title holder way down the pecking order. Chilean Fuenzalida had won his last seven fights but could not match the power of Marrero
Marcial vs. Villalba
Marcial had faster hands, better mobility and more power. He was spearing fellow-southpaw Villalba with right jabs in the first and landed a left to the bod that saw Villalba drop to one knee. Villalba was up at eight and the bell went before Marcial could land another punch. Villalba stormed out for the second but was met with a couple of lefts to the body that had him backing up and a clubbing shot to the side of the head dropped him to his knees. Villalba climbed up but rocked on his feet and the referee stopped the fight. Marcial, 27, won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. Fourth consecutive loss for former Argentinian super welterweight champion Villalba.
Pero vs. Zavala
A farce sees Cuban Pero use obese Texan Zavala as a punch bag for four rounds. Zavala was seven inches shorter the 6’5” Pero and although bravely plodding forward he just soaked up punishment. The referee examined him at the end of the first and the doctor looked at him at the end of the third. Pero just kept hammering home punches but Zavala took it all and was there at the bell. Scores 40-36 twice and 40-35 (a 10-8 round without a knockdown). The 23-year-old Pero had taken 1:40 in total to win his first two fights so got a few rounds in. Pero won a gold medal at the Youth World Championships and Pan American Games where he beat Richard Torrez in the semi-finals but he lost to Torrez the Tokyo Olympics. He also scored a win over Viktor Vykhryst.
February 8
Guasave, Mexico: Welter: Alessandro Riguccini (28-0) W TKO 5 Eleazar Valenzuela (25-24-6, 1ND).
Italian Riguccini returns to action with a win over Guasave’s Valenzuela on a fifth round stoppage. First fight for eleven months for Riguccini and his seventeenth win in a row by KO/TKO with his last fight being a third round kayo of Valenzuela in March 2022. Valenzuela is 1-5-1 in his last seven fights.
February 10
La Huerta, Mexico: Super Fly: Carlos Cuadras 40-5-1) W PTS 10 Lamberto Macias (16-8-1).
In his first fight since losing on points to Jesses Rodriguez in a fight for the vacant WBC super fly title in February last year Cuadras eases his way back into action as he outpoints Macias. Cuadras was looking to take Macias out early and was driving forward raking Macias with power punches. Macias managed a few useful counters and tried holding to smother Cuadras inside. Cuadras almost ended it in the fourth landing a series of shots that had Macias stumbling and badly shaken. Macias made it to the bell but was staggered again in the fifth. He refused to crumble and Cuadras dialled back on his attacks and boxed more over the second half of the fight before winning on scores of 99-91 on two cards and 97-93 on the third. Cuadras is aiming for a third fight against Juan Francisco Estrada but is 2-0 down in their series. Sixth loss in a row for Macias
Worcester, MA, USA: Light Heavy: Richard Rivera (23-1) W PTS 10 Isaac Rodrigues (28-4).
Rivera takes the second step in his rebuilding process with a comfortable victory over Brazilian Rodrigues on scores of 100-90,99-91 and 98-92. “Popeye The Sailor Man” suffered his only loss when he dropped a split decision against Badou Jack in August last year. He is ranked No 7 by the WBA and No 13 by the WBC. Rodrigues, 38, was inactive in 2019 and 2020 but had since sored three wins over very modest opposition.
Marseilles, France: Super Welter: Mathis Lourenco (11-4-3) WTKO 2 Mahmoud Taha (10-10-3).
In a clash of two Marseilles fighters French champion Lourenco retained the national title with a second round stoppage of Taha. A hefty right to the head from Lourenco floored Taha in the second and the referee halted the fight. Second title defence by Lourenco. He had beaten Taha in seven rounds in 2018. Taha had been beaten by Howard Cospolite for the same title in 2021.
Rotherham, England: Light: Reece Mould (17-1) W PTS 10 Hamed Ghaz (18-1).
Mould picks up two titles with a close unanimous verdict over Ghaz. Mould made a good start scoring with hard counters in then first and then shook Ghaz a couple of times with hooks in the second. The third saw both have some success with Ghaz perhaps just edging the round in what was already an entertaining fight. The fourth was another slug fest with both landing hard, clean shots. Mould seemed to land the better punches over the fifth and sixth but they were close rounds. Ghaz forced then fight throughout the seventh and closed the early points gap Mould had built. Both were tired in the eighth with Mould jabbing well and Ghaz was cut over his right eye in a clash if heads. Mould had just that little bit more in the tank and shook Ghaz with a right in taking then round. Scores 96-94 twice and 97-94 for Mould. He collects both the English and WBA Continental titles which were vacant. His only loss ninth round stoppage against Leigh Wood at featherweight in 2021 with Wood winning the secondary WBA featherweight title in his next fight. The 26-year-old Afghan-born Brit Ghaz came close here and boosted his profile with his showing.
Sosua Dominican Republic: Light: Nikolay Shvab (11-0) W TKO Helber Rojas (18-8-2) W. Super Feather: Frency Fortunato (15-1) W KO Keine Montenegro (13-3).
Shvab vs. Rojas
Miami Beach-based Kazak Shvab is 5-0 in fights in the Dominican Republic. Shvab was undern fire against then ropes but rolled off them then turned Rojas and finished him with a wicked body shot. Not sure of the round. Shvab was defending the WBA Fedecaribe belt
Fortunato vs. Montenegro
Local puncher Fortunato bets his fifth win in a row with brutal kayo of Venezuelan Montenegro. No sure of the round but as they traded punches Fortunato connected with a blistering left hook that put Montenegro down on his back with the referee immediately waiving fight over. Eleventh win by KO/TKO for Fortunato who in his last fight in September won a split decision over 16-0 Bernard Angelo Torres.
February 11
Wembley, London: Super Light: Adam Azim (8-0) W PTS 10 Santos Reyes (12-1,1ND). Super Middle: Zak Chelli (13-1-1) W PTS 10 Anthony Sims (23-2). Middle: Tyler Denny (16-2-3) W PTS 10 Brad Pauls (16-1). Light: Caroline Dubois (6-0) W TKO 3 Feriche Mashaury (10-8). Cruiser: Viddal Riley (8-0) W TKO 4 Anees Taj (7-3). Light Heavy: Jordan Reynolds (5-0) W TKO 6 Mohamed Cherif Benchadi (4-21-2).
Azim vs. Reyes
Enormously talented Azim is given some rounds of work by Nicaraguan Reyes who takes Azim past the sixth round for the first time. Holding his left arm at thigh level Azim was shooting jabs through the centre of the Nicaraguan’s guard then following with left hooks to the body and rights to the head. The speed of the punches had Reyes pawing at air when he tried to counter. If Reyes tried to get close by the time Reyes got where he was going Azim was already somewhere else. As Reyes came forward in the second a flashing right to the head sent him staggering back and down. He was up at eight and covered up and retreated and despite some more hefty thumps from Azim survived the round. The fight followed the same pattern in round after round. Reyes stuck tohis task padding forward trying to get within range. Azim fed him a diet of razor sharp jabs and whizzing rights and either used slick upper body movement to dodge them or danced away from the Nicaraguan’s punches. Reyes was using a high guard and from the sixth Azim targeted the body with his jabs to try to get Reyes to lower his guard. Reyes stuck with that guard and landed a good left hook in the seventh but paid for that as a right uppercut snapped his head back. Reyes kept walking forward to the last bell soaking up some harsh punishment with Azim winning on scores of 100-89 on the judge’s cards. Still only twenty Azim was English Schoolboy’s champion twice, GB Three Nations Schoolboys Champion, English, Three Nations and European Junior Champion and English Youth Champion so he has the credentials. This was the first fight outside of Nicaragua for Reyes and he holds the WBA Fedecentro title.
Chelli vs. Sims
Londoner Chelli pulls of an upset as he takes a wide unanimous decision over formerly world rated Sims. Both were trying to establish their jab in the first with Chelli much busier. Sims put together some bursts of hooks early in the second but Chelli did good work doubling and tripling his jab and it was a close round. Chelli took the third and fourth. Sims was all threat and no result whereas Chelli was working continually with his jab and although a bit wild when lunging forward he landed a three-shot combination to the head of Sims in the third and a couple of clubbing head punches in the fourth. Two huge overhand rights to the head shook Sims in the fifth and Chelli continued to land the jab and drove home another right at the end of the round. Chelli started the sixth by landing two left hooks and a right to the head and he connected with two more head punches in the round. Sims showed good hand speed when he let his punches go but most of the time he was doing more posing than punching and Chelli outscored him in the seventh. Sims must have known he was behind and he made a fiery start to the eighth piling forward slinging wild punches and almost threw Chelli out of the ring-twice but did enough to take the round as Chellie was looking gassed and holding more. The ninth was Chelli’s round. He began by landing a series of jabs and then a hard right to the head then repeated the jab and right to the head sequence. He drove Sims to the ropes and banged away with body punches. He continued to score to head and body and although a right hook from Sims snapped his head back, he continued to land jabs and rights in the most one-sided round in the fight. A dispirited Sims could not even manage a big effort in the last round with Chelli taking it and the decision. Scores 98-92 twice and 99-92. Huge win for Chelli. His sixth in a row. Sims had lost a split decision against 25-1 Roamer Angulo in 2020 and had won his last three fights but he never looked like winning here.
Denny vs. Pauls
Denny retains the English title with a unanimous decision against Pauls. The first two rounds were fairly even with southpaw Denny perhaps having a very small edge in the first and Pauls taking the second scoring with some good left hooks. Denny upped his pace in the third landing well to the body and although Pauls ended the round strongly Denny had done enough to take the round. Denny outworked Pauls in the fourth and fifth again landing some good body punches and blocking many of Pauls punches with a high guard. Pauls connected with some strong rights in the sixth to sneak a round but again good defensive work and hurtful body punches saw Denny pocket the seventh. Both were showing signs of tiredness but Denny had more left in the tank and picked up the eighth. Pauls was still dangerous catching Denny with a right in the ninth but it was Denny landing with heavy rights in the last to take the decision. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-93 all for Denny. He was making the third defence of the Englich belt. He lost a majority decision to Linus Udofia in 2019 but is 4-0-1 since then but has yet to win inside then distance so a lack of power might be a handicap. Former Southern Area champion Pauls can rebound from this.
Dubois vbs. Mashaury
Dubois blows away a seriously overmatched Mashaury. From the first bell Dubois battered Mashaury with a succession of punches with little or nothing coming back. Mashaury bravely refused to crumble until forced to her knees by a storm of punches late in the second. She beat the count and survived to the bell. It was more of the same in the third before the referee stepped in to save Mashaury. Fifth win by KO/TKO for Dubois. Tanzanian Mashaury is 0-5 in fights in the UK.
Riley vs. Taj
Riley beats Taj who is forced out of the fight in the fourth round by a cut. Taj tried to blow Riley away with a ferocious attack at the start of the first round. Riley stayed cool and countered well. Taj again attacked hard at the start to the second and the pressure paid off as he just edged the round. Riley began to find the target with rights in the third shaking Taj and another right opened a cut over Taj’s left eye. The wound worsened and the fight was stopped at the start of the fourth round. Riley was moving up to eight rounds for the first time but instead gets his fifth inside the distance victory. Taj had won his last two fights.
Hamilton, Canada: Cruiser: Ryan Rozicki (17-1) W TKO 3 Arturs Gorlovs (10-3-2).
Rozicki stops Gorlovs in the third. After outscoring Gorlovs in the first Rozicki dropped Gorlovs with a left hook late in the second round. Another knockdown in the third brought the finish. Sixteenth victory by KO/TKO for the 27-year-old “Bruiser”. Latvian Gorlovs had lost only one of his last thirteen fights.
Adge, France: Super Bantam: Geram Eloyan (9-4) W PTS 10 Florian Montels (24-3-2, 1ND). Middle: Diego Natchoo (25-3-5,1ND) W TKO 4 Sofiane Khati (12-4).
Eloyan vs. Montels
Visitor Eloyan scored an upset here as, with a poor record and having lost three of his last four fights, he took the split decision over home town fighter Montels. After a cautious opening round the action heated up. Eloyan used his longer reach to match the hooking attacks from Montels. Eloyan also showed a good left hook of his own but was marked up facially from Montels work inside. There were fierce exchanges over the middle rounds and it was only over the last couple of rounds that Eloyan opened a small gap which was just enough to give him the decision. Scores 116-112 and 115-113 for Eloyan and 113-115 for Montels. Armenian-born Belgian Eloyan had lost in a challenge for this same title in August. Montels had a 14-bout unbeaten run going into this fight.
Natchoo vs. Khati
In front of his home fans Natchoo makes a successful first defence of the national title. Plenty of action from the start in this one. Khati shows impressive jabbing with Natchoo aiming to get inside and work to the body with hooks. Clever boxing saw Khati just edge the first two rounds but Natchoo was having success late in the third. He continued that into the fourth landing corrosive hooks to the body. Khati suddenly turned away from the action and vomited. The referee stopped then fight and consulted with the doctor who recommended the fight be stopped. “L’Indian” is 4-0-1 in his last five fights. After winning his first ten fights Khati is 2-4 in his last six.
General Santos City, Philippines: Super Fly: K J Cataraja (16-0) W PTS 12 Edward Heno (15-2-6). Super Fly: Dave Apolinario (18-0) W RTD 2 Frengky Rohl (8-13-1).
Cataraja vs. Heno
Cataraja wins the vacant OPBF title with unanimous decision against Heno. Most of the drama in this fight came over the closing rounds. Over the early action Cataraja outboxed southpaw Heno. Solid jabs and hard rights together with good defensive work saw Cataraja build a big lead. Heno had a good fifth but by the end of the eighth Cataraja was well in front. In an incident filled ninth a clash of heads opened a cut over the right eye of Heno. Cataraja then landed one below the belt and Heno was given some generous recovery time. When the action started again Heno nailed Cataraja with two right hooks. Cataraja’s legs were gone and he clutched Heno desperately to survive. Heno continued to get through with punches and Cataraja held and held and only just made it to the bell. Heno continued to land in the tenth with Cataraja still only looking to survive. A clash of heads saw Heno cut over his left eye in the eleventh and his chance had gone. Heno did enough to win the twelfth but he could not close the wide points gap from the early rounds. Scores 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 for Cataraja. He is rated WBO 6/ IBF 13 (12) and if he can continue to rack-up wins he could be in line for a title shot later this year. He is one of Naoya Inoue’s main sparring partners. Heno lost a close decision against Elwin Soto for the WBO light flyweight title 2019 but was then inactive for almost three years and was 1-1- in two low key fights last year.
Apolinario vs. Rohl
It would be wrong to call this a fight as Indonesian Rohl hid behind a high guard whilst Apolinario bombarded him with hooks and uppercuts with Rohl not really throwing a single punch with any aggressive intent for the whole of the first round. Apolinario continued to bombard Rohl with punches in the second. He twice battered Rohl to the floor and Rohl did not come out for the third round. First fight for Apolinario since July last year when he wiped out Gideon Buthelezi in one round to win the vacant IBO flyweight title. Rohl ridiculously overmatched and fought that way.
Stezyca, Poland: Heavy: Kacoer Meyna (11-1) WTKO 1 Jakub Sosinski (8-3-1).
Meyna demolishes Sosinski to retain the Polish title. Sosinski landed a good right early and then it was a massacre. Meyna battered Sosinski around the ring landing punch after punch. Sosinski was staggering and stumbling on stiff legs and trying to hold and took too much punishment before the referee stopped the fight. Fifth win in a row for Meyna. After losing his second pro fight Sosinski had put together an eight-bout unbeaten run.
Carmen de Areco, Argentina: Super Feather: Walter Leiva (11-3-1) W PTS 10 Lucas Montesino (9-5-1).
Southpaw Leiva retained the South American title as he outboxed Montesino. From the start Leiva was able to find the target with his right jab and straight lefts. Montesino plunged forward in round after round and although having some success clever footwork and accurate counters from Leiva gave him control. Montesino was shaken a few times but Leiva’s lack of power enabled him to go the distance. Scores 98-92 for Leiva on all three cards. First defence of the South American title for Leiva and his sixth win in a row. Montesino had previously lost in a challenge for the South American super feather belt.
Fight of the week (Significance): O’Shaquie Foster’s win over Rey Vargas adds another element to a flagging super featherweight division.
Fight of the week (Entertainment): Nothing leapt off the page at me
Fighter of the week: O’Shaquie Foster a slight outsider who boxed brilliantly to beat Rey Vargas
Punch of the week: The left hook from Frency Fortunato that flattened Keine Montenegro
Upset of the week: Zak Chelli was facing a more experienced Anthony Sims who had boxed at a higher level but Chelli won easily. Honourable mention to Belgian Geram Eloyan with an 8-3 record beating home town fighter 24-2-2 Florian Montels to win the vacant European Super Bantamweight title. He was chosen to lose but lost the script ion the way to the ring
Prospect watch: British superlight Adam Azim 8-0 has tremendous potential
Observations
Rosette Ben Shalom’s Wembley show. No big names but good exposure for some promising talent.
Red Card For matching IBO super fly champion Dave Apolinario 17-0 against inept Indonesian 8-12-1 Frengky Rohl. Rohl was petrified and you could count on one hand the number of punches he threw in the six minutes the farce lasted. I am afraid that the Caroline Dubois vs. Feriche Mashaury on Ben Shaolm’s card was a terrible waste of time. At least Mashaury tried to fight but it illustrates that there are a lot female boxers out there without any skills at all.
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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By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 29 Apr 2024Lugay, Catubig win in 21K BLD Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 29 Apr 2024Panamanian legend Hilario Zapata inducted into the California Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 29 Apr 2024FEDOR GORST WINS 2024 WORLD POOL MASTERS
Mon, 29 Apr 2024Megan Paragua wins back-to-back world titles in Albania
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 29 Apr 2024Asuela wins Gomez Jr. Birthday Chess Cup
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 29 Apr 2024JOSE RAMIREZ MAKES A WINNING STATEMENT IN GOLDN BOY DEBUT AGAINST RANCES BARTHELEMY IN FRONT OF HOMETOWN CROWD
Sun, 28 Apr 2024