The Past Week in Action: Brandon Figueroa Defeats Mark Magsayo; Jose Resendiz Upsets Jarrett Hurd
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 08 Mar 2023
Highlights:
-Brandon Figueroa wins the vacant interim WBC featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Mark Magsayo and there are wins for Jose Resendiz over Jarrett Hurd and for Terrell Gausha over Brandyn Lynch
-Murat Gassiev returns to action at heavyweight
with a second round knockout of unbeaten Mike Balogun
-Ohara Davies scores a ninth round kayo over Lewis Ritson in WBA super lightweight eliminator and Uzbek Otabek Kholmatov stops Thomas Patrick Ward in five in a WBA bantamweight final eliminator
-Agit Kabayel wins the vacant European heavyweight title with a third round victory over Agron Smakici
-Walid Ouizza Collects the vacant European Union super lightweight title with split verdict over Alejandro Moya
World Title/Major Shows
March 4
Ontario, CA, USA: Feather: Brandon Figueroa (24-1-1) W PTS 12 Mark Magsayo (24-2). Middle: Jose Resendiz (14-1) W KO 10 Jarrett Hurd (24-3). Middle: Elijah Garcia (14-0) W TKO 4 Amilcar Vidal (16-1). Super Welter: Terrell Gausha (23-3-1) W TKO 9 Brandyn Lynch (12-2-1,2ND). Welter: Travon Marshall (8-0) W TKO 3 Justin DeLoach (19-6). Super Light: Samuel Teah (19-4-1) W PTS 8 Enriko Gogokhia (13-1-2).
Figueroa vs. Magsayo
Figueroa wins the vacant interim WBC title with the help of two points deduction and a strong finish that saw him sweep the last three rounds.
Round 1
Figueroa had started switching guards in the first ten seconds of the round and continued to do that. Neither was committing to their jab but Figueroa staged a couple of quick raids getting inside and landing to the head. Magsayo dug in a nice left hook to the body and Figueroa with a left to the head.
Score: 10-9 Figueroa
Round 2
Magsayo started the round by connecting with a right to the head. Figueroa bored in trying to work inside but Magsayo showed some classy defensive work or tied Figueroa up. There was a frantic exchange of punches at the end of the round with Magsayo landing some hard rights.
Score: 10-9 MagsayoTIED 19-19
Round 3
Figueroa was trying to drag Magsayo into a brawl but the Filipino was getting his punches off and backing up before Figueroa could close the distance. Figueroa kept crowding but it was Magsayo doing the scoring in quick accurate bursts.
Score: 10-9 MagsayoMagsayo 29-28
Round 4
Figueroa tore into Magsayo and connected with a couple of right crosses at the start of the round and continued to hound Magsayo who was landing with sharp counters. Figueroa just could not pin Magsayo down was wide open to those counters.
Score: 10-9 MagsayoMagsayo 39-37
Round 5
Pressure, pace and stamina are Figueroa’s strengths and he continued to hound Magsayo for every second of the round. Figueroa was doing most if the scoring with only one flashing combination from Magsayo not being enough to cancel out Figueroa’s work inside.
Score: 10-9 FigueroaMagsayo 48-47
Round 6
A very close round. Again, Magsayo did his best work in brief spurts of punches whereas Figueroa worked solidly if less spectacularly inside and landed some swinging hooks at distance and just had a slight edge.
Score: 10-9 FigueroaTIED 57-57
Round 7
Figueroa was relentless. He kept taking the fight to Magsayo in his usual style and you had to wonder whether Magsayo could stay the pace. He was holding more and ducking low to avoid Figueroa’s punches. Figueroa was scoring with looping punches on the way in and when Magsayo staged his quick fire bursts Figueroa out landed him.
Score: 10-9 FigueroaFigueroa 67-66
Round 8
Magsayo was holding again at the start of the eighth and was deducted a point*. From there Magsayo let his hands go. He was back to those quick bursts but was also countering Figueroa on the way in and scoring with hooks inside.
Score: 9*-9 TiedMagsayo 76-75
Round 9
Magsayo made a good start to the round. He was scoring on Figueroa at distance and putting together some solid combinations and hooking well when they were in close. Figueroa came on strong at the end of the round as Magsayo finally looked to be tiring
Score: 10-9 MagsayoTIED 85-85
Round 10
After a short spurt of punching at the start of the bell from Magsayo it was all Figueroa’s round. He was again applying relentless pressure scoring with hooks, uppercuts and straight shots with Magsayo firing back sporadically still holding too much and twice ducking low and dropping to his knees.
Score: 10-9 FigueroaFigueroa 95-94
Round 11
Magsayo was again guilty of holding and was deducted another point*. The round had been fairly even until then but Figueroa did what clean scoring there was with Magsayo flirting with disqualification as he was again holding to smother Figueroa’s work inside.
Score:10-8* FigueroaFigueroa 105-102
Round 12
Both scored inside at the start of the round but after the first minute Magsayo had nothing left. Figueroa just kept pumping out outpunches with Magsayo just leaning on. He fired one last bunch of punches but had been outscored.
Score: 10-9 FigueroaFigueroa 115-111
Figuerola had lost his WBC and secondary WBA titles on a majority decision against Stephen Fulton in November 2011 but had bounced back with a sixth round stoppage of 27-1 Carlos Castro in July and will be looking to get another shot at the WBC title. Magsayo had won the WBC title with a decision over Gary Russell in January last year but lost it to Rey Vargas on a split decision in July.
Resendiz vs. Hurd
Resendiz scores an upset stoppage victory over Hurd and perhaps brings the curtain down on Hurd’s career. Hurd is a notoriously slow starter and was also carrying the rust from almost two years out of the ring. Resendiz was able to take advantage of that. He was busier and was connecting with hard shots and although Hurd had a good third round, he struggled to get into his stride. By the fourth Hurd was starting to find the target with his own heavy artillery as they fought inside swopping hooks and uppercuts but Resendiz continued throwing more and landing and with his higher work rate he was more effective. By the seventh Hurd just seemed to be hoping to end the fight with one big punch and his output dropped. They fought hard over the eighth and ninth by the end of which was Hurd shipping heavy punishment. He was bleeding from the nose and had suffered a dad cut on his upper lip. The referee asked the doctor to examine the injury to Hurd’s lip at the start of the tenth and it was decided the cut was too serious for the fight to continue. Resendiz was in front 87-84 on two cards and 89-92on the third. He was coming off a win over 20-1 Heber Romero in October but Hurd was a huge jump in standard of opposition. After losing his IBF/IBO/WBA titles to Julian Williams Hurd also lost to Luis Arias but Resendiz with his lack of experience looked a reasonably safe return for Hurd and it remains to be seen whether this is the end of his career.
Garcia vs. Vidal
Southpaw Garcia drops and stops after a brutal war. The opening round was close are they traded punches with Vidal perhaps just having a narrow edge. The second saw both scoring well with Garcia leaking blood from his nose but forcing Vidal back with rights to the head Garcia took the third he was landing well to the body and forcing Vidal to the ropes and working him over. It was punch for punch in the fourth as they stood and let fly. Vidal was throwing more but leaving himself open and a right from Garcia sent him stumbling to the ropes. Garcia then pounded him with punches until Vidal dropped to his hands and knees and the referee waived the fight over. Big win for the 19-year-old from Arizona who gets his twelfth inside the distance victory and wins the WBC Latino title. Uruguayan Vidal was 3-0 was 3-0 in the USA including a victory over Immanuwel Aleem but was well beaten here.
Gausha vs. Lynch
Gausha stops Lynch with three knockdowns in the ninth round. Gausha started well shaking Lynch with a right to the head in the first and had more success with that punch later in the round whilst keeping Lynch out with stiff jabs. Lynch tried to get past Gausha’s jab in the second but Gausha was fast and accurate and also added some counter rights. Gausha controlled the action from the centre of the ring in the third with Lynch circling looking for a chance to dart inside and when he did he landed a nice combination. Lynch upped his pace in the fourth and fifth but was still having trouble getting past Gausha’s jab and was being caught by straight rights. It was the same in the seventh. Lynch could not get away from the precise jabbing from Gausha who landed some heavy right hands. Gausha kept working the jab in the eighth and was mixing in more rights to the head and body punches in a bad round for Lynch. Ten seconds into the ninth round Gausha floored Lynch heavily with a right. Lynch was up at four and when the eight count was completed the referee wiped Lynch’s gloves ready for Lynch to continue. The referee had let Gausha go to the nearest neutral corner and as he stood aside Gausha only had to take two quick paces and cracked Lynch with a right before Lynch even knew Gausha was that close. Lynch went down again. He made it to his feet but when the action restarted Gausha landed a series of rights to the head sending Lynch down for the third time and the referee stopped the fight. In his last fight in March last year Gausha had lost on points to Tim Tszyu at the end of a 2-3-1 run. This win keeps him in the super welterweight picture-just. Lynch was unbeaten in his last thirteen fights but was no match for Gausha.
Marshall vs. DeLoach
Marshall drops and stops DeLoach in the third. These two had clashed at the weigh-in and the first round saw a fired-up DeLoach taking the fight to Marshall and scoring with some sharp combinations. Marshall shrugged off those shots and banged back hard himself investing in some choice body punches and DeLoach was bruised and bleeding from the nose at the end of the round. DeLoach launches a fierce attack at the start of the second trying to steam-roller Marshall. That storm did not last long and Marshall was again digging in some powerful body shots. DeLoach slowed and Marshall began to jolt DeLoach with overhand rights and uppercuts. Now it was practically target practice for Marshall with little coming back from DeLoach who seemed to have shot his bolt. DeLoach came out firing in the third and it was toe-to-toe stuff for a while. Once again Marshall took over and as they traded shots he connected with a right to the head. DeLoach staggered to the side and then collapsed face down on the canvas. DeLoach made it to his feet but when the referee asked him to take a few steps forward he just stood swaying unsteadily and the fight was stopped. Sixth inside the distance finish in a row for Marshall who impressed with his power. At one time DeLoach was 17-1 so has fallen away badly.
Teah vs. Gogokhia
Teah takes a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Gogokhia. Teah had Gogokhia down in the first. He drove Georgian Gogokhia to the ropes and threw a right. As Gogokhia ducked under it his feet slipped and he went down and was given a dubious count. Southpaw Gogokhia was quicker but tended to paw with his jab. Teah was able to get past Gogokhia’s weak jab and consistently found the target with right counters. Gogokhia was down briefly in the fourth but that was due to their legs getting tangled. From the fifth Terah was putting Gogokhia under increased pressure and dominating the action with Gogokhia lacking the power to turn the tide and a strong last round from Teah cemented his victory Scores 78-73 twice and 79-72 for Teah. He lost a majority decision against Montana Love but was knocked out in three rounds by Brandun Lee. Gogokhia’s last two fights were both draws against unbeaten Kent Cruz.
Newcastle, England: Super Light: Ohara Davies (25-2) W KO 9 Lewis Ritson (23-3). Feather: Otabek Kholmatov (11-0) W TKO 5 Thomas Ward (33-1-1). Super Bantam: Lee McGregor (12-0-1) W PTS 8 Alexis Kabore (29-8).
Davies vs. Ritson
Davies kayos Ritson in WBA eliminator. Both had some success in a close opening round and although Ritson boxed well in the second, he was hurt by rights from Davies. The third was a big round for Davies. Once again, he connected with strong rights to the head and things were already looking ominous for Ritson. It was more competitive in the fourth and fifth as Ritson landed some useful body punches but those rights from Davies were landing again and he was mixing in more body shots. Davies was back in charge in the sixth hurting Ritson with a spiteful body punch then shaking him with an uppercut. Ritson tried to box at distance in the seventh but was being weakened by the body punches from Davies. Ritson did a bit better in the eighth as he worked inside giving Davies less room but Davies connected with a left hook and an uppercut late in the round. Davies dropped Ritson in the ninth with a left to the body and Ritson stayed down for the count and there was some concern for his condition but he did recover. With this win Davies is now in position to challenge Alberto Puello for the WBA title. His losses have come against Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall but this is his seventh successive win. Ritson was stopped by Jeremias Ponce in June 2021 but had returned with two useful wins and was No 4 with the WBA.
Kholmatov vs. Ward
Ward kissed his unbeaten record and his world title shot away as he was stopped in five round by Uzbek Kholmatov in a WBA final eliminator. Kholmatov got the perfect start as he floored Ward late in the opening round with a left hook. Waed was unsteady after the count but made it to the bell. Ward steadied himself and found his way into the fight over the second round. He was competitive for most of the third but Kholmatov was walking through Ward’s punches and always looked dangerous. Ward was cut over his left and was badly shaken late in the round. Ward battled bravely in the fourth but a series of heavy punches late in the round sent him down to his knees. He made it to his feet and defied Kholmatov’s attempts to end the fight. That was a temporary reprieve and when he was floored again although the referee stated to count the towel came in from Ward’s corner. Kholmatov is now the mandatory challenger to Mauricio Lara and with his ten wins by KO/TKO that should be an interesting clash of punchers. Obviously, a huge setback for Ward as he has been building towards a title shot through 34 fights and almost eleven years as a pro and it remains to be seen whether he can climb the mountain again.
McGregor vs. Kabore
McGregor returns with a win. In his first fight for thirteen months the Scot managed some vital ring time as he outpointed Kabore. The referee scored it 79-74 for McGregor. The inactivity has cost him British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight titles so he has some work ahead of him. Kabore, from Burkina Faso, drops to 1-5 in his last six fights.
March 3
Yerevan, Armenia: Heavy: Murat Gassiev (30-1) W KO 2 Mike Balogun (20-1). Heavy: Artem Suslenkov (9-0) W RTD 4 Mirzohidjon Abdullaev (3-1-1).
Gassiev vs. Balogun
In his first fight since August Gassiev knocks out unbeaten Balogun in the second round. Gassiev spent the first round just shadowing Balogun around the ring. Balogun was circling Gassiev tossing right jabs and an occasional straight left but his shots were either coming up short of being blocked. Gassiev did not throw a single punch in anger. The pattern was the same in the second until as Gassiev moved in Balogun caught the advancing Gassiev with a couple of lefts and backed to the ropes. Gassiev threw a powerful straight right to the head that dropped Balogun face down. He rolled up to his hands and knees and crawled a couple of steps away from the referee and stayed like until the referee counted to ten. Balogun then climbed immediately to his feet without any signs of a wobble that you might have expected from a boxer who had just been knocked out. Only the second fight in twenty months for the 29-year-old former IBF and WBA cruiserweight title holder. He wins the vacant WBA Inter-Continental belt. His only heavyweight rating prior to this fight was No 13 (12) with the IBF so he has a lot of work to do to get anywhere near a title shot and he was carrying 40lbs more that in his cruiserweight days. Balogun, 39, had won his last six fights by KO/TKO without having to go past the second round including a first round stoppage of unbeaten Trey Lippe Morrison but this one just did not look right.
Suslenkov vs. Abdullaev
Suslenkov gets his fourth inside the distance win in a row as Abulllaev retires after the fourth round. Suslenkov was too mobile for the grossly overweight Abdullaev. For the first two rounds Suslenkov handed steady punishment to Abdullaev who spent much of the time pinned against the ropes just covering up. The Uzbek was more competitive in the third and fourth firing back a bit more but a clash of heads saw him get a serious cut up on his hairline over his right eye and he did not come out for the fifth. The 27-year-old Russian registers his seventh win by KO/TKO but his last six victims had only “amassed” twelve wins between them. Abdullaev’s last fight was in February 20128 when he weighed 178lbs but he was up around 230lbs for this fight.
Northridge, Australia: Light Fly: Alex Winwood (2-0) W TKO 4 Tibo Monabesa (21-2-21ND).
Former Elite level amateur Winwood scores three knockdowns as he stops experienced Indonesian southpaw Monabesa in the fourth round. Winwood dominated the first round and landed some hefty body shots in the second. A body punch floored Monabesa in the third and he was down twice more in the fourth and the fight was stopped. Winwood’s limited pro experience is deceptive as the 25-year-old from Perth has extensive amateur background as a two-time Australian champion who competed at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019 and the Tokyo Olympic Games. Monabesa is a former undefeated WBC International title holder and lost to Omari Kimweri for the vacant IBO light flyweight title in 2019.
Blagnac, France: Light Heavy: Marlon Brun (15-1) W PTS 10 Cyrille Joly (12-14-2). Super Feather: Samir Ziani (34-3-1) W PTS 8 Hector Betancourt (14-6).
Brun vs. Joly
Southpaw Brun wins the vacant French title with wide unanimous verdict over Joly in a disappointing fight. Brun looked to have edged the first with Joly taking the second. From the third Brun outworked Joly and he had the harder punch. There was a bit too much holding for it to be entertaining but Joly showed enough life to take or share the last. Scores 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 for Brun who gets his sixth win in a row. Joly was having his second shot at winning the national title.
Ziani vs. Betancourt
Ziani gets in some much needed ring time as he decisions Betancourt over eight rounds. A rusty Ziani took a couple of rounds to get rolling but from the third he was in charge and had Betancourt rocking in the last but the Venezuelan survived. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Ziani. The former undefeated European champion was having his first fight since November 2021. Fifth consecutive points loss for Spanish-based Betancourt.
Tijuana, Mexico: Bantam: Victor Reyes (22-2-1) W PTS 10 Jose Cayetano (22-8). Super Welter: Dubiel Sanchez (19-1-2) W RTD 6 Brandon Perez (9-5)
Reyes vs. Cayetano
Neighbourhood favourite Reyes gets a win over former WBA belt challenger Cayetano. “Scarface” Reyes boxed his way to victory deciding not to stand and trade with Cayetano but used good footwork, quicker hands and a higher work rate to ease his way to victory. All three judges scored it 100-90 for Reyes who moves to thirteen wins in a row, Cayetano had lost on a ninth round stoppage when he faced Scott Quigg for the secondary WBA featherweight title in 2016 and was halted in ten rounds by Kid Galahad in 2017. This was his first fight in almost four years.
Sanchez vs. Perez
Sanchez makes it a win double for the home team as he beats Perez. Sanchez won the opening round and then gradually dialled up the pressure. He scored heavily in the fourth with the bell saving Perez. The pace slowed in the fifth but Sanchez again landed some heavy shots in the sixth with Perez bleeding heavily from the nose and Perez did not come out for the seventh round. Now fourteen victories by KO/TKO for Sanchez.
But third defeat in a row for Perez.
Miami. FL, USA: Heavy: Anthony Martinez (15-2) W PTS 10 Santander Silgado (32-15). Super Welter: Yordan Barrera (2-0) W PTS 10 Wiston Campos (33-10-6). Super Bantam: Victor Abreu (3-0) W PTS 10 Cristian Perez (10-7).
Martinez vs. Silgado
“White Chocolate” Martinez wins the vacant NABA title with a unanimous verdict over experienced Colombian Silgado. No scores available but Silgado just could not cope with Martinez’s five inch height edge and longer reach. Martinez’s only loss in his last fifteen fights was a calamitous first round kayo against David Light in May last year. Silgado, 37, was knocked out by Denis Lebedev in a challenge for WBA cruiser title 2012 and he was up at 240lbs for this fight.
Barrera vs. Campos
No time being wasted for Cuban southpaw Barrera as in only his second pro fight he wins the vacant NABA belt with a unanimous decision over Nicaraguan southpaw Campos. No scores available. The 27-year-old 6’3” Barrera had the misfortune to be in the same division as Roniel Iglesias so no major amateur titles for him. In his last fight in December 2021 Campos was kayoed in two rounds by Kaisee Benjamin.
Abreu vs. Perez
Abreu is another Cuban in a hurry as he outpointed Venezuelan Perez to win the vacant NABA title in his third fight. No scores available. Abreu won a couple of minor titles but again was in a tough division including Iglesias. First fight outside Venezuela for Perez.
Maracaibo, Venezuela: Super Feather: Roger Gutierrez (27-4-1) W KO 2 Henry Delgado (20-2). Feather: Edixon Perez (27-8) W KO 2 Angel Guedez (5-2). Super Feather: Robinson Garcia (16-13) W TKO 1 Jose Aray (12-1).
Gutierrez vs. Delgado
In his first fight since losing his secondary WBA super feather belt Gutierrez floors Delgado four times to win. He was hunting down Delgado from the start and Delgado lacked the power to keep him out. Delgado was dropped by a punch that clearly landed at the back of his head. After the count Gutierrez blasted away at Delgado, including a couple more punches to the back of the head, but Delgado saw out the round. Gutierrez floored Delgado twice at the start of the second and was finally warned after more rabbit punches foul but the end came from a left hook to the body that had Delgado collapsing to the floor in agony and the referee immediately stopped the fight. Gutierrez wins the vacant WBA and was calling out Leo Santa Cruz and Emanuel Navarrete. Dominican Delgado had grounds for complaint over the punches to the back of his head.
Perez vs. Guedez
Perez punches too hard for fellow Venezuelan Guedez. Perez put Guedez down in the first and then knocked out cold in the second. A right uppercut sent Guedez face down with his head draped over the bottom rope with the referee not bothering to count so that Guedez could get medical attention. That takes his total of wins by KO/TKO to twenty-one. Guedez had won his last four outings.
Garcia vs. Aray
Experienced Garcia hands prospect Aray his first loss with a first round kayo. In the initial exchange Aray scored with a couple of jabs and then started to throw a left hook. Garcia beat him to the punch with a thunderous right cross which had Aray falling back and down like a felled tree. He ended up on his back with his head bouncing up and down on the bottom rope with no count required. All over in 18 seconds. Garcia has 12 wins by KO/TKO. Aray had scored nine inside the distance wins and this was just supposed to be a routine No 10.
March 4
Bochum, Germany: Heavy: Agit Kabayel (23-0) W TKO 3 Agron Smakici (19-2). Heavy: Alex Frank (22-0-1) WTKO 7 Rufat Hajiyev (8-1). Heavy: Ilja Mezencev (24-2,1ND) W KO 1 Sami Enbom (19-11). Super Middle: Fedor Michel (8-0) W TKO 1 Islam Teffahi (22-13-2).
Kabayel vs. Smakici
Home town fighter Kabayel survives near disaster to win the vacant European heavyweight title with a third round stoppage of Croatia’s Smakici. Kabayel marched forward in the first round with the taller Smakici using his longer reach to spear Kabayel with right jabs and straight lefts. Kabayel decided to up the pressure in the second. He forced Smakici to the ropes and drilled Smakici with a hard right. Smakici fired back with a left to the head and suddenly Kabayel’s legs shook. He was badly dazed and Smakici pounded him with a series of punches that had Kabayel tottering to the ropes. As he slid down, he grabbed the top rope and hung there. As the ropes were holding Kabayel up the referee stepped in and gave Kabayel a count. When the action resumed Smakici battered Kabayel around the ring. Kabayel was holding desperately to survived and incredibly Smakici had suddenly punched himself to exhaustion and he was now the one undern fire at the bell. In the third Smakici had nothing left and he was driven around the ring with Kabayel landing punch after punch. Kabayel wrestled Smakici to the canvas and it was painful to see Smakici clawing his way up the ropes to his feet. The fight should have been stopped then but even as Kabayel was again raking Smakici with head punches the Croatian was more by instinct than intent pushing out counters so the referee let it continue, A pair of heavy hooks dropped Smakici to his knees but he again struggled to his feet. After the eight count Kabayel exploded another couple of rights to the head and the referee came in and stopped the fight. Kabayel had held the European title before but relinquished it to go looking for a shot at one of the sanctioning body titles. That never materialised and with this being only his second fight in almost two years his best rating is currently No 8(7) with IBF and there is no sign of a seat at the top table for him. Croatian Smakici had been knocked out in the first round by Kazak Zhan Kossobutskiy in 2019 and done some minor rebuilding with four wins over modest opposition but it is amazing that he punches himself to exhaustion in a period of less than two minutes in that second round.
Frank vs. Hajiyev
Kazak-born German Frank stops a surprisingly tough Hajiyev in the seventh round. Frank handed out plenty of punishment but Hajiyev refused to buckle and put up a gutsy show. Frank final broke through in the six flooring Hajiyev for the first time and the fight was stopped after Frank scored two more knockdowns in the seventh. Ninth consecutive inside the distance finish for Frank and his nineteenth in all but his opposition has been modest at best. Azeri Hajiyev has now lost his last five fights.
Mezencev vs. Enbom
Mezencev, another Kazak-born German, needed only 118 seconds to brush aside Enbom. A body punch sent Enbom down and he was counted out. Twenty wins by KO/TKO for Mezencev against carefully vetted opponents. His two losses have come inside the distance against Tom Schwarz. Finn Enbom has lost 9 of his last 10 fights with all 9 losses coming by way of KO/TKO
Michel vs. Teffahi
Local fighter Michel was expected to win this one and he did-but in a strange way. Michel took control at the start of the first round. With only seconds remaining in the round Michel landed a punch that Teffahi protested landed on the back of his head. He stopped fight to protest and his trainer climbed on to the ring apron to add his complaint. Seeing the trainer on the ring apron the referee assumed he was signalling his fighter’s surrender and the referee stopped the fight and declared Michel the winner. There were more protestations but the referee’s decision stood and Michel was credited with a first round stoppage victory.
Barcelona, Spain; Super Light: Walid Ouizza (17-2) W PTS 12 Alejandro Moya (17-1). Super Feather: Moussa Gholam (20-1) W PTS 10 Abraham Montoya (20-5-1). Super Feather: Cristian Eusse (7-0) W PTS 8 Reuquen Arce (15-8-2). Super Welter: Ezequiel Gurria (28-11-2) W KO 5 Johan Perez (27-12-2).
Ouizza vbs. Moya
Frenchman Ouizza wins the vacant European Union titles with split decision over local boxer Moya. Ina close, competitive match Moya made the mistake of trying to match Ouizza punch-for punch. It made for an exciting twelve rounds but Ouizza was stronger inside and Moya might have done better to box more. Despite the narrow difference in the scores there were no complaints over the decision and Moya will regroup and come back stronger. Scores 117-111 and 115-113 for Ouizza and 116-115 for Moya. That makes it nine successive wins for the two-time French champion. Moya is a former undefeated Spanish champion.
Gholam vs. Montoya
Spanish-based Moroccan Gholam bounces back from his first loss with a victory over Mexican Montoya. Gholam was looking to impress and he was able to use his longer reach to dominate the action. Montoya soaked up the punches and kept trying to put Gholam undern pressure but Gholam’s clever boxing smoothed his way to victory on scores of 99-91 twice and 100-91. Gholam’s loss against Elnur Samedov in Russia in December with Gholam flooring Samedov but losing a split decision. Third tough ask in a row for Montoya who lost a majority decision to Gabriel Flores and a unanimous decision to Andres Cortes.
Eusse vs. Arce
Eusse continues unbeaten with a points victory over Arce. Despite having the longer reach and better skill set Eusse often chose to stand and trade but Arce lacked the ability to take advantage of that and never really troubled Eusse who won on scores of 79-74 twice and 80-73. Colombian-born Eusse is now looking to challenge unbeaten John Carter for the national title. Four defeats in his last five fights Argentinian Arce.
Gurria vs. Perez
Former Spanish champion Gurria finishes Perez in five rounds. Perez posed a few problems early but took over in the fourth before putting Perez down and out with a left to the body in the fifth. Gurria is now 5-1 in his last six bouts with the defeat being a sixth round stoppage against Hamza Sheeraz for the WBO European belt in July 2021. Venezuelan Peredz recent form is a mirror image of that of Gurria as he is 1-5 in his last six fights.
Cordoba, Argentina: Bantam: Nicolas Vergara (6-0) W KO 9 Jose Arias (9-2). Bantam: Juliana Basualdo (10-2) W PTS 10 Julieta Cardozo (12-7).
Vergara vs. Arias
Vergara wins the national title with a ninth round kayo of Arias. Vergara dictated this fight from the first round when a left hook staggered Arias. Vergara continued to handout heavy punishment shaking Arias again in the sixth but. Despite a damaged nose, the Argentinian-based Dominican, stayed in the fight and a counter right to the head in the eighth sent Vergara staggering back. Another right and a left hook had Vergara on shaky legs but he recovered and a tired Arias lost a point in the ninth for spitting out his mouthguard. Vergara ended the fight later in the round with two uppercuts which dropped Arias and he was counted out. Vergara, a former Argentinian Youth and Senior champion, gets his fifth win by KO/TKO. Arias was making the first defence of the title.
Basualdo vs. Cardozo
Basualdo extended her winning run to nine as she had too much power and skill for the limited Cardozo. Basualdo had Cardoza under persistent pressure forcing her onto the back foot and bloodying her nose. Cardozo fought back hard but whenever she tried to take the fight to Basualdo she ran into counters and was forced to retreat. Basualdo won on scores of 100-90 twice and 98-92. She collects the vacant WBA Fedelatin title. Only one win in her last eight fights for Cardozo who has had shots at the IBF and interim WBA title.
Albertslund, Denmark: Feather: Sarah Mahfoud (12-1) W PTS 10 Lara Ochmann (9-2). Super Welter: Oliver Meng 10-0) W PTS 8 Walisson Fagundes (5-3).
Mahfoud vs. Ochmann
Faroe Islands-born Mahfoud rebounds from her first loss with a comfortable victory over Germany’s Ochmann. Mahfoud bossed the action with her longer reach and better skills. Ochmann’s hopes were not helped by a cut over her left eye suffered in the second round. The pace told on Ochmann and she tired over the second half of the fight. Mahfoud scored heavily over the eighth and ninth with Mahfoud lacking the power to end the fight early. Mahfoud wins the vacant WBC Silver title. Her only loss came in September when she was outpointed by Amanda Serrano in a unification match with Mahfoud losing her IBF title. Ochmann had won her last four fights but this was her first ten round fight.
Meng vs. Fagundes
Danish prospect Meng shakes some dust with a unanimous decision over Brazilian Fagundes. Meng was on top with Fagundes not really having impact in the fight until the closing rounds but he was never a threat and Meng won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74. First fight for both Meng and Fagundes since April 2022.
Tokyo, Japan: Bantam: Keita Kurihara (17-7-1) W TKO 2 Kai Chiba (15-4).
Sweet revenge for Kurihara as he wipes out former conqueror Chiba and regains the OPBF title. Kurihara dominated the first scoring with jabs and body punches and putting Chiba on the back foot. In the second Kurihara caught the advancing Chiba with a stunning left Chiba staggered and Kurihara hit him with a short left hook and a booming straight right that drove Chiba back to the ropes and down. Chiba made it to his feet but Kurihara pounded him with punches until the referee jumped in to save Chiba. When they met in September Chiba had won on the a twelfth round stoppage this time he became Kurihara’s fifteenth inside the distance victim. Chiba was making the first defence title he had won from Kurihara.
Culiacan, Mexico: Angel Fierro (21-1-2) W TKO 7 Eduardo Estela (14-2). Super Feather: Eduardo Nunez (25-1) W TKO 2 Jesus Ceyca (18-1).
Fierro vs. Estela
Fierro retains the WBO NABO title with seventh round victory over Venezuelan Estela. Fierro’s power saw him take the first round and he shook Estela badly in the second but spoiled that by fouling and being deducted a point. Estela was shaken again in the third. He somehow made his way through a horrendous fourth when he suffered two knockdowns, the second of which saw him on his back with his body out under the ropes, but somehow, he made it to his feet and the bell went as the referee gave him a count. Estela had taken a brutal beating but came out punching in the fifth and sixth and it looked as though Fierro might have exhausted himself. However, he ended it in the seventh forcing Estela to the ropes and connecting with a series of head punches and the referee having seen enough stopped the fight at once. Fierro, 24, lost a majority verdict against Alex Martin in January 2020 but had knocked out Alberto Machado and drawn with seasoned pro Juan Burgos. Estela was halted in eight rounds by Mauricio Lara in 2019 but was coming off a win over 19-0 Ruben Torres in November.
Nunez vs. Ceyca
Nunez flattens Ceyca in the second round. Nunez had Ceyca on the retreat with some powerful body shots in the first. Those body punches further weakened Ceyca in the second and when he backed to the ropes, he was looking out for some more body punches but instead Nunez nailed him with a fearsome right to the head that sent Ceyca down on his back and out with the referee immediately waiving the fight over. Nunez lost a six round fight back in 2018 and since then has scored 15 consecutive inside the distance victories and all of his wins have come that way. He is trained by Manuel Montiel the father of Fernando, Eduardo, Alejandro, Pedro and Manuel Jr. Ceyca was 18-0 and fighting in front of his home fans but the right from Nunez was crushing.
Merida, Mexico: Super Bantam: Alan Picasso (24-0-1) W TKO 6 Kevin Villaneuva (21-4-3). Fly: Angel Ayala (16-0) W PTS 8 Luis Rodriguez (8-3).
Picasso continues his unbeaten run as he halts Villanueva in the sixth. Villanueva was a lively opponent and made a good start fighting out of a crouch he caught Picasso with some solid rights. By the end of the round Picasso was landing jabs that jolted Villanueva’s head and landing left hooks to the body. Villaneuva was marching forward throwing punches in the second and gave Picasso some uncomfortable moments but Picasso was whacking him with jabs and hurtful hooks to the body and Villaneuva lost a point for holding. Villanueva still had some success with right hands in the third but Picasso’s more powerful and more accurate punching saw Villanueva starting to wilt. Villeneuve was badly rocked in the fifth and on unsteady legs at the bell. In the sixth a fierce onslaught from Picasso saw Villaneuva staggered time and again until he dropped to one knee. As the referee was counting the towel came in from Villaneuva’s corner. There was some confusion as the referee went to Villaneuva’s corner and threw the towel out but the fight was over. The draw on Picasso’s record was a technical draw and the 22-year-old “Rey” has won his last 20 fights. He is No 4 with the WBC and there is talk of a fight with Luis Nery who is No 2. Villaneuva was a late replacement for Peruvian Carlos Zambrano who was unable to obtain a visa.
Ayala vs. Rodriguez
This “keep busy” fight nearly ended in an acute embarrassment for the WBC as their No 1 flyweight Ayala only just squeezed past Box Rec’s No 102 Rodriguez. It looked as though it was going by the script when Ayala put Rodriguez down in the second and Rodriguez was cut over his left eye in the third. From there Rodrigues gave Ayala all sorts of trouble. He kept switching guards and had Ayala shaken in the fifth and by the seventh Ayala’s left eye was practically shut. Rodriguez was cut over his right eye in the eighth but staged a strong finish. Ayala won on scores of 78-73, 77-76 and 76-75. Wins over Cristofer Rosales and Juan Zuniga had seen Ayala climb to No 1 but on this showing, he is not ready to face Julio Martinez. Third defeat in a row for Rodriguez. The other two were split decisions in eight round fights with his last fight being fifteen months ago.
Orebro, Sweden: Heavy: Awadh Tamim (16-5) W TKO 3 Pezhman Selfkhani (14-1)
Tanzanian veteran Tamim won the vacant Swedish heavyweight title with an unexpected victory over Selfkhani. Tamim was down in the second but took over in the third scoring two knockdown to force the stoppage. Swedish-based Tamim, 39, gets his eleventh inside the distance victory. Selfkhani had won his last eight fights by KO/TKO so was a big favourite.
Bangkok, Thailand: Light: Hebi Marapu (18-1-1) W TKO 2 Phissanu Chimsunthom (47-10-2).
Indonesian Marapu has an easy night against Thai Senior Citizen Wisanu. Marapu dropped Wisanu three times before the fight was stopped in the second round. Marapu retains the IBA Inter-Continental title and wins the WBC ABC title. Thirteen wins by KO/TKO for Marapu. Wisanu (Phissanu Chimsunthom), 39, lost to Kazuto Ioka for the secondary WBA light flyweight title in 2013 and only returned to action last year after almost nine years out.
Fight of the week (Significance): Brandon Figueroa’s win over Mark Magsayo puts him in line for a shot at the WBC feather title.
Fight of the week (Entertainment): It didn’t last long but Agit Kabayel vs. Agron Smakici was wild and woolly while it lasted
Fighter of the week: Brancon Figueroa with honourable to Ohara Davies for his crushing victory over Lewis Ritson
Punch of the week: Some good ones. The right from Edixon Perez that felled Angel Guedez, the right from Eil Garcia that had Amilcar out on his feet before going down but I go for the brutal right from Mexican Eduardo Nunez that paralysed previously unbeaten Jesus Ceyca.
Upset of the week: Jose Resendiz was not expected to trouble Jarrett Hurd
Prospect watch: Welter Travon Marshall 8-0 (7)
Observation held over to next report.
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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