The Past Week in Action 15 July 2024: Ennis Retires Avanesyan in 5; Nicolson Outpoints Vargas; Chocolatito Stops Barrera
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Jul 2024
Ennis drops Avanesyan.
Highlights:
-Jaron Ennis successfully defends the IBF welterweight title as challenger David Avanesyan retires after five rounds
-Skye Nicolson retains the WBC featherweight title with points win over Dyana Vargas
-Roman Gonzalez returns to action with a tenth round stoppage of Rober Barrera and will now decide whether to go to bantam to try to become a five-division champion or stay at super fly
- Albert Batyrgaziev stops Jono Carroll in the ninth round to win the vacant temporary (interim) WBA super featherweight title and Muslim Gadzhimagomedov stops Zhaoxin Zhang to collect the vacant WBA Bridgerweight title.
- Raymond Muratalla outpoints Tevin Farmer but in an upset unranked Ugandan Sulaiman Segawa decisions WBC No 1 featherweight Roman Villa
Major Shows
July 12
Managua, Nicaragua: Super Fly: Roman Gonzalez (52-4) W TKO 10 Rober Barrera (27-6,1ND). Light Fly: Azael Villar (21-3-4) W PTS 8 Kevin Vivas (7-3).
Gonzalez vs Barrera
After a slow start Gonzalez batters Barrera to defeat in the tenth round. Gonzalez was hunting down Barrera getting past Barrera’s right jab and scoring with left hooks to the body. Barrera kept switching guards but that made no difference. Barrera was busy busy at the start of the second circling Gonzalez firing jabs and hooks and uppercuts with Gonzalez complaining a couple of times about Barrera being careless with his head. Gonzalez finally came to life in last minute of the round scoring to the body but Barrera ended the round with a flourish. Barrera had not come to lie down and he stood and traded body shots in the third. He was outworking and out landing Gonzalez who finished the round strongly with more body punches. Once again it was Barrera doing all of the work with Gonzalez just covering up or laying on the ropes and throwing nothing back and in fact he did not throw a single punch for the first two minutes of the round. He upped the pressure over the second half of the round but Barrera kept punching back although his work was ragged. In the fourth Gonzalez was letting his hands go early. Berrera was now constantly on the back foot and his work rate dropped as he began to pay for early excesses when he was the one doing most of the punching. More early pressure from Gonzalez in the sixth as he was walking through Barrera’s punches and hammering away at the Colombian’s body with hooks and uppercuts from both hands and Barrera was warned for holding. It was now a case of how much punishment the referee was willing to let Barrera take. Barrera was now standing in front of Gonzalez just pushing out punches as he no longer had the strength to do any fancy footwork. A sustained attack saw Barrera drop to a knee at the end of the eighth and he beat the count with not enough time left for Gonzalez to finish him. A series of body punches again had Berrera going down on one knee at the start of the ninth. Barrea made it to his feet and disgracefully the referee let him take another two minutes of punishment when it was obvious he was finished. Gonzalez battered Barrera around the ring in the tenth when the referee belatedly stopped the fight. Gonzalez said after the fight that he had injured his left hand in the third but once he decided he had some rounds under his belt he was more like the old Gonzalez. His aim is to be a five-division champion. All four versions of the major sanctioning body titles at bantamweight are held by Japanese fighters and although none are in the Naoya Inoue league they might just be too much for a 37-year-old Gonzalez. Former WBA light-fly challenger Barrera made Gonzalez work for his win but it was disgraceful that he was allowed to take so much punishment in the ninth and tenth when he was so clearly finished in the eighth.
Vilar vs. Vivas
Panamanian Villar gets back on track with a points win over Nicaraguan Vivas. At 5’6” Villar is tall for a light fly and he has a sharp jab and used it well to score and control the fight at distance. Vivas worked hard to get inside and scored with hooks but Villar matched him in close and kept up a steady stream of jabs at distance. The pace was fast and with Villar comfortable at distance or toe-to-toe there were plenty of fierce exchanges and Villar dominated them over the first five rounds. Villar tired in the sixth and Vivas scored heavily snapping Villar’s head back a couple of times with uppercuts. Villar recovered and took the seventh banging at the body of Vivas and raking him with rights and outscored him the eighth. Villar won on scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75. Third loss in a row for Vivas who without ever facing an opponent remotely near being rated and with only one eight round fight, which he won against a guy with a 16-18-3 record found himself fighting for the WBO temporary (interim) title. What a farce.
Serpukhov, Russia: Super Feather: Albert Batyrgaziev (11-0) W TKO 9 Jono Carroll (24-3-1). Heavy: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (4-0) W TKO4 Zhaoxin Zhang (12-3-1).
Batyrgaziev vs. Carroll
Impressive performance from Batyrgaziev in an all-southpaw battle as he survives a rocky moment in the third and dismantles, floors and stops tough Irishman Carroll in the ninth. Batyrgaziev was working mostly with the jab and firing straight lefts when he saw a gap. He was not punching hard enough to discourage Carroll who was also using lots of jabs and coming in below Batyrgaziev’s jab to keep Batyrgaziev on the back foot and under pressure. Batyrgaziev was busier and more accurate but Carroll looked dangerous. In the third After Batyrgaziev had landed two hard right hooks as he backed to the ropes a right to the temple from Carroll knocked the legs out from under him and he stumbled sideways along the ropes touching the canvas with his left glove and only just avoiding going down. He was badly shaken and Carroll followed him landing more heavy punches. Batyrgaziev boxed his way out of trouble and he was the one landing heavy shots at the bell. Carroll landed a left to the head at the start of the fourth but Batyrgaziev was soon back in the groove firing right jabs and accurate straight lefts and continually moving. Carroll was still trying to forge forward but the volume and accuracy of Batyrgaziev’s punching was forcing Carroll on to the back foot. Carroll was still able to land some beefy lefts but the pace was too hot for him and he was tiring. He put in a big effort in the sixth and seventh which saw both fighters in give-and-take action throughout the round but Carroll took lots of punishment in the eighth having to eat jab after jab. A barrage of punches saw Carroll drop to his hands and knees in the ninth. He made it to his feet but another barrage from Batyrgaziev again sent him down on his hands and knees and the referee waived the fight over. Olympic gold medal winner Batyrgaziev wins the vacant WBA temporary (interim) title. He was No 7 in the WBA ratings with Carroll No 2 so now Batyrgaziev is in with a chance of a title shot before the end of the year. Carroll had lost to Tevin Farmer for the IBF super feather in 2019 and to Maxi Hughes in 2020 and had rebounded with six wins. He gave Batyrgaziev a scare in the third but failed to finish the job.
Gadzhimagomedov vs. Zhang
Gadzhimagomedov wins the vacant WBA Bridgerweight title with fourth round stoppage of China’s Zhang. Gadzhimagomedov was able to use his longer reach to pick off the limited Zhang at distance and Zhang was constantly on the defensive. Gadzhimagomedov was dishing it more punishment to Zhang in the fourth when the referee stopped the fight. The 27-year-old 6’ 4 ½” Gadzhimagomedov won gold medals at the World and European Championships and a silver at the Tokyo Olympics. Zhang had lost to Ryad Merhy in a challenge for the secondary WBA cruiser title in 2021 but sprung a surprise with a second round kayo of unbeaten Evgeny Romanov in February. Russian Evgeny Tishchenko had won this WBA title in December but was stripped after testing positive for a banned substance
July 13
Philadelphia, PA, USA: Welter: Jaron Ennis (32-0,1ND) W RTD 5 David Avanesyan (30-5-1). Welter: Kalil Hackett (9-0) W PTS 10 Peter Dobson (16-2). Light Heavy: Khalil Coe (9-0-1) W TKO 2 Kwame Ritter (11-2,1ND). Feather: Skye Nicolson (11-0) W PTS 10 Dyana Vargas (19-2). Super Feather: Christopher Diaz-Velez (29-4) W TKO 2 Derlyn Hernandez (12-2-1). Bantam: Christian Caro (23-1) W RTD 3 Carlos Buitrago (38-14-1,1ND).
Ennis vs. Avanesyan
Ennis retains the IBF title as Avanesyan retires after five one-sided rounds.
Round 1
Ennis went straight to work slotting jabs though the guard of Avanesyan and curving rights around Avanesyan’s guard. Avanesyan managed to get inside with a couple of past the longer reach of Ennis but Ennis was scoring to head and body with his quicker hands. As Avanesyan came inside Ennis landed a low right hook which sent Avanesyan to his knees in agony. Avanesyan was given just over two minutes recovery time and Ennis landed two more belt-line punches before the end of the round.
Score: 10-9 Ennis
Round 2
Avanesyan was trying to come forward but Ennis kept spearing him with jabs and firing combinations. There weas a fierce exchange of punches with both going low. Avanesyan landed some hooks but Ennis more scoring more and with better punches. Ennis landed another very low punch but the referee took no action. They traded punches again with both going low.
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 20-18
Round 3
Ennis took the fight to Avanesyan driving him back with jabs and hooks and he kept forcing him back standing in close with Avanesyan only able to cover up and not return the fire. Ennis was landing to head and body with hooks and uppercuts. Avanesyan managed to turn Ennis around and put him against the ropes and score with hooks but was too close to get any leverage. Ennis came off the ropes and again had the better of the exchanges inside
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 30-27
Round 4
Avanesyan was throwing jabs but then he was forced to retreat as Ennis opened up with his jab and some flashing combinations. Avanesyan stood and traded with Ennis but Ennis was the one doing the scoring. Avanesyan stayed inside trying to deny Ennis leverage but was still having to take body shots some low enough to guarantee Avanesyan would have bruised thighs later. Ennis windmilled one arm to taunt Avanesyan
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 40-36
Round 5
Ennis made a fast start but swung a punch and missed and almost went down. Not surprisingly Avanesyan spread his arms wild taunting Ennis for the miss. Avanesyan took Ennis to the ropes and landed to head and body but Ennis moved off the ropes and scored with a couple of punches. This time Avanesyan almost went down when he missed with a swipe. Avanesyan bulldozed Ennis to the ropes and got through with hooks and a right to the head. As Avanesyan again tried to bull Ennis to the ropes Ennis landed a straight left the floored Avanesyan. He was up at four but took some serious punishment and did not come out for the sixth.
Score: 10-8 EnnisEnnis 50-45
Ennis was making the first defence of the title and fighting in his home city for the first time since 2018. UK-based Armenian Avanesyan came in as a replacement for Cody Crowley. A former WBA temporary (interim) champion Avanesyan had lost in other title fights against Lamont Peterson and Terrence Crawford.
Hackett vs. Dobson
Hackett had more speed and better skills and kept Dobson on the back foot over the first two rounds and landed some good overhand rights. His movement and hand speared were doing the job for Dobson who was just too slow to cover or counter and Hackett continued to win the rounds with Dobson constantly on the back foot. It was the sixth before Dobson began to make any impression. Hackett had been setting a fast pace and he had slowed. Now in the seventh it was Dobson on the front foot and scoring with jabs and he outscored Hackett over the eighth and ninth. Hackett found there was still something left in the well and he dredged it up to take then tenth. Scores; 97-93 twice and 96-94 for Hackett whom had won his last five by KO/TKO. Dobson had lost a wide unanimous decision to Conor Benn in April.
Coe vs. Ritter
Coe destroys Ritter in the second. Coe had his jab working well in the first and floored Ritter with a salvo of punches in the second. Ritter arose but after the eight count but Coe pounded him with punches until the referee stopped the fight. This was supposed to be Cole’s first ten round fight but instead it counts as his fifth inside the distance win in his last five fights. Ritter had won his first 11 fights 9 of them in the first round.
Nicolson vs. Vargas
Australian southpaw Nicolson makes a successful first defence of the WBC title as she wins every round over Dominican Vargas. It was a very one-sided rather dull fight. Vargas did not have the skill, reach, speed or punch to worry Nicolson. For round after round Vargas chased and Nicolson jabbed and slipped away from her attacks. Luckily for Vargas is not a puncher with just one inside the distance win but Vargas takes the punishment and keeps trying in vain as the three judges all score it 100-90 for Nicolson in her first title defence.
Diaz-Valdez vs. Hernandez
Diaz stops Hernandez in two rounds. Third inside the distance win in a row for Diaz as he builds back after losses to Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO feather title and to Isaac Dogboe. Dominican Hernandez had won his last five fights against very weak opposition.
Carto vs. Buitrago
Local hope Carto beats four-time title challenger Buitrago. Carto floored Buitrago in the first but Buitrago survived. Carto continued to boss the action and scored heavily and Buitrago did not com our for the fourth round. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for Carto. He was knocked out in two rounds by experienced Victor Ruiz in 2019 and was inactive in 2020and 2023 but has scored three quick wins this year. Nicaraguan Buitrago has fallen a long way from when he was 27-0 and drew with Merlito Sabillo for the WBO minimumweight belt in 2013 and has now lost 5 of his last 6 fights.
Las Vegas, NV, USA: Light: Raymond Muratalla (21-0) W PTS 10 Tevin Farmer (33-6-1,1ND). Feather: Sulaiman Segawa (17-4-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Ruben Villa (22-2). Super Feather: Jonathan Lopez (16-0) W KO 1 Leonardo Padilla (23-6-1,1ND). Super Light: Charlie Sheehy (10-0) W PTS 8 Ricardo Quiroz (13-5).
Muratalla vs. Farmer
Muratalla staged a strong finish to win a unanimous decision over veteran Farmer. Muratalla was pressing from the start. Both were tentative with their jabs and both had minor success with Muratalla scoring with a right to the body and Farmer with a counter left and a couple of quick punches in a close, low action, round. Plenty of pressure from Muratalla in the second as he threw a couple of long rights but Farmer was moving and darting out jabs then looking to counter when Muratalla committed himself. Muratalla managed to trap Farmer against the ropes briefly and landed two long lefts but Farmer got through with a series of lefts before the bell. Farmer had probably just edged the first two rounds but again Muratalla was walking down Farmer in the third. He had been having trouble pinning Farmer down due to some fast footwork from Farmer but was doing a better job of cutting off the ring and was able to scores with two lefts to the head and a right to the body. Both landed rights early in the fourth with Muratalla again tracking Farmer. Muratalla connected with some rights to the body with Farmer responding with lefts before Muratalla scored with some more rights. The clever movement from Farmer was giving Muratalla problems but he was on target with rights at the start of the fifth. Farmer was not happy under the pressure and was holding often. Muratalla was able to catch Farmer and landed some good right hands to clearly take the round. Famer stayed in front of Muratalla in the sixth and used fast hands to score with jabs but a right to the head from Muratalla had him backing off and Muratalla got through with rights. Farmer was on target with lefts at the start of the seventh but was again warned for holding. Farmer was quicker with his punches and was getting a couple through then darting inside to clinch and both were warned for holding. Muratalla scored with a couple of hooks but Farmer scored again with lefts at the end of a good round for him. They stood and swapped punches at the start of the eighth with Muratalla getting the better of the action and Farmer clinching. The referee stopped the action and deducted a point from Farmer for holding. Muratalla was able to force Farmer to the ropes and land rights with Farmer again holding so a good round for Muratalla. He was having success at chasing down Farmer in the ninth he was getting through with left jabs and straight rights with Farmer firing an occasional counter but he had slowed and Muratalla was in charge. Muratalla looked to shake Farmer badly with a right in the tenth and snapped his head back with lefts Farmer banged back but was outscored. Muratalla won on scores of 97-92, 96-93 and 95-94. It was not a great fight or a particularly entertaining one but Muratalla retains the NABF and wins the vacant WBO NABO title as he got the job done against a very quick and tricky Farmer who had won three in a row since losing his IBF super feather title against Joseph Diaz in 2020.
Segawa vs. Villa
Segawa pulls off a huge upset as he take a unanimous decision over Villa. The Ugandan won the battle of southpaws making use of his longer reach and a high work rate. He was feeding Villa right jabs from the start with Villa looking sluggish as Segawa was getting his punches off first and putting together some sharp combinations. Villa was having no luck with his natural counter puncher style and was often on the front foot being targeted by counters from Segawa with very little success for himself. Segawa was finding gaps in Villa’s defence that should not have been there. Villa stepped up his own work rate but Segawa was more accurate continually finding the target with straight lefts. On the occasions when they stood and traded punches Segawa was throwing more and landing more. Villa had a good fourth landing some crisp uppercuts and twice rocking Segawa with rights and outscored Segawa in the sixth but that did not preface any change in the flow of the fight. Segawa was again putting in the higher level of work in the seventh and surprisingly outboxing the more skilful Villa who was not firing with his normal accuracy. Segawa was working overtime with his right jab and using his strength to push Villa away when Villa got inside and Villa had heavy bruising around his left eye. Villa rocked Segawa with a right hook in the eighth but Segawa then landed two hard lefts only for Villa to drive home a series of body shots that had Segawa backing off. Segawa took the ninth as Villa was just not throwing enough punches and Segawa closed the round scoring with a series of punches. Segawa used his jab to boss the first half of the tenth and Villa attacked hard in the second half but it was Segawa’s round and Segawa’s fight. Scores 98-92. 97-93 and 96-94 for Segawa who wins the WBC Silver title. Villa was No 1 with the WBC so a huge win for Segawa and a big blow for Villa. Segawa had lost widely against unbeaten Argentinian Mirco Cuell over eight rounds in March so looked a fairly safe opponent for Villa but Villa never really cale to terms with the high work rate of Segawa and had a night he will want to forget.
Lopez vs. Padilla
Lopez confirms his “one to watch” status as he wipes out Padilla in the first round. Padilla came forward trying to hustle Lopez with Lopez sliding away from the attacks and measuring Padilla with his right jab. With Lopez against the ropes Padilla lunged forward but Lopez side-stepped and landed a wicked left hook to the body with Padilla tumbling into the ropes and almost out of the ring. He extracted himself but was on shaky legs and in a delayed reaction to the body shot dropped to a knee and was counted out. The 21-year-old Lopez gets his twelfth win by KO/TKO. In the amateurs he scored wins over currently unbeaten prospects Xavier Zayas and Abdullah Mason. Venezuelan Padilla had beaten some acceptable level opponents including Andy Vences.
Sheehy vs. Quiroz
Sheehy comes through a testing fight against Quiroz and emerges with a close unanimous decision. Sheehy had some early problems with the clever boxing of Quiroz and with a cut over his left eye caused by a punch. He dealt with those problems and worked well with his jab and got the better of some late exchanges to win a close but deserved decision. Scores 77-75 twice and 78-74 for Sheehy. Good learning fight for 25-year-old Sheehy in both dealing with an injury early and going eight rounds. All of Quiroz’s losses have come against unbeaten or high quality opposition and in his last two fights he had lost a majority decision to Delante Johnson and was outpointed by 21-1 Giovanni Cabrera.
JULY 12
Grosseto, Italy: Light: Giuseppe Carafa (20-6-2) W PTS 10 Francesco Santacroce (12-3-1).
Carafa makes a successful defence of the Italian title with a majority decision over Santacroce after ten entertaining rounds. Carafa made use of his skills and movement to take the lead early and Santacroce was cut on his right cheekbone. Strong pressure allowed Santacroce to get a foot-hold in the fight and by the end of the sixth he had closed the gap. A great seventh could have been scored either way but Carafa was quicker and better over the closing sessions and won on scores of 97-94 and 97-93 with the third judge soring it 95-95. Second defence and fourth win in a row for Carafa since losing to Francesco Patera for the WBO Gold title in 2022. Second unsuccessful challenge for the title by Santacroce.
Tokyo, Japan: Minimum: Yuni Takada (15-8-3) W PTS 10 Yuri Kanaya (5-3).
Takada holds off a strong finish from challenger Kanaya to retain the Japanese title. Takada made a confident start finding the target with jabs and straight rights and landing some good body shots. Kanaya scored well in the fourth and opened a cut over Tadaka’s left eye with a punch but Tadaka banged back to take the fifth. After the fifth Tadaka was in front 49-46 on two cards and 48-47 on the third. Tadaka again connected with good body punches in the sixth and despite a big effort from Kanaya looked to have done enough to have edged the seventh. Kanaya came again and might have had the edge in the eighth and there were torrid exchanges in the ninth and tenth but Takada’s early lead was enough and he won on scores of 96-94 twice and 97-93. Takada, the WBA No 2, who was born in the Philippines, has won his last seven fights. Second straight loss for Kanaya.
Atlanta, GA, USA: Bantam: Saul Sanchez (21-3) W PTS 8 Arthur Villanueva (35-6-1). Super Feather: Haven Brady Jr (13-0) W PTS 8 Jesus Vasquez Jr (11-3). Super Welter: Oshae Jones (7-0) W TKO 5 Simone Aparecida da Silva (17-34).Light: Kurt Scoby (14-1) W KO 1 Daniel Lim (11-).
Sanchez vs. Villanueva
Sanchez gets unanimous decision over Filipino veteran Villanueva in a tremendous scrap. These two must have come close to setting a record for the most punches thrown in a fight as they traded a ton of punches in each round. Sanchez took the lead early with some good combination punches and collected the first three rounds despite shipping some heavy stuff from Villanueva. The fourth saw a punch from Villanueva bring blood flowing from Sanchez’s nose and the Filipino outscored a slowed Sanchez in the fifth to narrow the gap. Sanchez boxed his way to winning the fifth but Villanueva surged again to outland Sanchez in the sixth. They went toe-to-toe though the seventh and eighth both of which were close rounds and could have been scored either way but the decision went to Sanchez 78-74 twice and 77-75 which did not reflect what a close competitive match this fight had been and both fighters deserved credit for the entertainment they provided. Sanchez won on scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75. First fight for Sanchez since losing a majority verdict against Jason Moloney for the WBO bantam title in January. “King” Arthur” was 30-1 before losing to Zolani Tete for the vacant WBO temporary (interim) bantam title in 2017 and he subsequently lost on a sixth round retirement against Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantam title in 2019.
Brady vs. Vasquez
Brady wins the vacant WBC USA Silver title as he easily outscores southpaw Vasquez. Brady was just too quick, too strong and too aggressive for Vasquez who never managed to be competitive lacking the power to hold Brady off. Scores 80-72 from all three judges as Brady, 22, marches on. He had a reported 65-10 record as an amateur and won a gold medal at the US Police Athletic League championships. Vasquez had gone the distance with unbeaten Charlie Sheehy in November.
Jones vs. da Silva
Jones too strong for a gutsy da Silva and stops her in five. Jones dominated all the way. da Silva did not have the power to match the strength and high volume attacks of Jones. She took the punishment but was forced to the floor in the fifth and taking more punishment when the referee stopped the fight. Third inside the distance win for NABF champion Jones who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Poor da Silva, 40,has now lost hem last 21 fights.
Scoby vs. Lim
Scoby wipes out Lim in the first round. A left hook sent Lim down on his back early and although he beat the count another left hook sent him down. Again, he got up but a left to the body dropped him and he was in agony and counted out on his knees. Scoby was coming off an upset stoppage loss so important win his twelfth by KO/TKO. Second inside the distance loss in his last three fights for Filipino Lim.
JULY 13
Nicaragua: Fly: Felix Alvarado (41-4) W PTS 10 Francisco Gomez (14-13).
Alvarado outpoints former victim Gomez. Alvarado was landing heavy shots from the start but Gomez was competitive over those early rounds working hard and throwing plenty of punches. A right to the body sent Gomez down in the fifth but in the sixth Alvarado was down. The referee ruled it a slip but it looked as though a left hook had knocked Alvarado off balance and Gomez connected with some hard shots late in the round. Alvarado sent Gomez down again in the eighth with a body punch and almost had Gomez out of there in the last but a gutsy Gomez made it to the bell. Alvarado took the decision on scores of 97-92,97-91 and 98-90. He had beaten Gomez in three rounds in 2018. Alvarado lost his IBF flyweight title to Sunny Edwards in 2022 and dropped a close decision against Mexican Angel Ayala in October last year. He is still in the top ten with the IBF and WBC so is looking to get another title shot. Sixth loss in a row for Gomez.
Modesto, CA, USA: Light: Manuel Jaimes (16-1-1) W PTS 8 Jonathan Romero (35-4). Minimum Jesus Haro (12-2) W PTS 8 Lito Dante (21-13-4).
Jaimes vs. Romero
Jaimes floors and decisions Romero. The first round was close. Romero was down but it was ruled a slip. Jaimes registered a genuine knockdown with a combination in the second and outworked Romero in the third. Romero did better in the fourth finding gaps in the defence of Jaimes but that was his high water mark. From the fifth it was all Jaimes as he continually forced Romero to the ropes and scored with hooks and uppercuts. Romero tired but just could not match the younger fighter’s work rate and Jaimes won all of the late rounds. Scores 79-72 twice and 80-71 for Jaimes. He had lost to Pedro Bernal for the WBC Youth title in 2022 but has scored four wins in a row against acceptable level opposition. Colombian Romero was 23-0 at the start of his career before losing to Kiko Martinez in a challenge for the IBF super bantam title in 2013. He then won twelve straight before suffering back-to-back kayo losses against Abraham Nova and Albert Bell.
Haro vs. Dante
Haro takes an early lead and then just holds on to get the unanimous decision. Haro dominated the early rounds shaking Dante with a left in the first and then using his skills to outbox Dante in the second and third. Dante had a better fourth as he managed to cut the ring off to restrict Haro’s clever movement. Haro made adjustments and outscored Dante again over the fifth and sixth. From there pressure from Dante turned the fight his way as he shook Hario with a left inn the seventh and is stronger over the seventh and eighth. Scores 80-72, 78-74 and 77-75 for Haro. After losing his first pro fight Haro scored 11 wins in a row before losing to WBO minimumweight champion Wilfredo Mendez for the vacant WBO gold title in April. Filipino Dante lost to Simpiwe Konkco for the IBO minimumweight title in 2017 but had won 5 of his last 6 fights.
JULY 14
Sequals, Italy: Middle: Samuel Nmomah (20-0) W PTS 10 Oleksandr Shytyi (8-2-2).
Italian-based Nigerian Nmomah retains the vacant WBC International Silver title with a unanimous decision over Ukrainian Shytyi on scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. Nmomah had done all of his fighting in Italy and has largely flown under the radar but hopefully will get some more international fights. Shytyi was 5-0-1 in his last 6 fights.
Fight of the week: (Significance): The win for Jaron Ennis keeps in play the possibility of a fight with Terrence Crawford down the line
Fight of the week: (Entertainment) Saul Sanchez and Arthur Villanueva provided outstanding entertainment
Fighter of the week: Jaron Ennis did what expected against David Avanesyan and Raymond Muratalla was not at his most impressive so I go for the returning Roman Gonzalez
Punch of the week: Not a great week for thunderbolts so I go for the left hook to the body from Jonathan Lopez that ended Leonardo Padilla’s interest in their fight
Upset of the week: Has to be Sulaiman Segawa’s win over WBC No 1 Ruben Villa
Prospect watch: 21-year-old Super Feather Jonathan Lopez is 16-0 with 12 wins by KO/TKO and scored wins over Xander Zayas and Abdullah Mason in the amateurs so has the pedigree.
Observations
Rosette: Nice to see Matchroom getting Ennis back fighting in his home city for the first time since 2018
Red Card: To the referee of the Gonzalez vs. Barrera fight. Barrera was finished after being floored in the eighth and knew it. When the referee indicated to him to lift his gloves he left them hanging at his side so the referee grabbed them and swiped them against his shirt. So much for protecting the fighter.
-I thought after the Usyk vs. Dubois controversy it was clear that anything on or below the belt line was a foul but even after dropping Avanesyan with a very low punch in the first Ennis continually landed on and below Avanesyan’s belt line so now I have no idea of what constitutes a low blow. Perhaps they will adopt a knee line for future Ennis fights.
-Someone is making a fortune out of supplying rubbish glove wrappings. At the weekend the fights involving Roman Gonzalez, Albert Batyrgaziev, Ruben Villa and other all saw the action stopped for loose tape to be cut off and more tape added. I though this had been solved but if it is even happening in Nevada then obviously not.
-Beards seem to be the in thing in sport these days but there are limits. Light heavyweight Kwame Ritter, who lost to Khalil Cole at the weekend, has a very substantial chin adornment so much so that against his record of Commission suspensions is a note from the Californian Commission on Contest appearance “ All contestants shall be clean and tidy. Contestants facial is deemed an interference to the conduct of the bout. Contestant needs to trim or secure facial hair before next bout” . A Samson and Delilah for the 21st century!
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.”
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Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Award-winning docu ASSAULT IN THE RING set for Sept. 13 release on Apple TV for 15th anniversary
Sat, 07 Sep 2024Filipino and United States Chess Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. Claims Gold in the 3rd Laos International Chess Open Championship 2024
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Sep 2024October 12: Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title Showdown to Stream LIVE & Exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Sat, 07 Sep 2024DIXON VS. HARPER WORLD TITLE CLASH HEADLINES ON SEPTEMBER 28 IN SHEFFIELD AS FISHER SUFFERS INJURY
Sat, 07 Sep 2024Can Hiraoka and Sasaki Progress Further?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 06 Sep 2024Tapales risks WBC Asia title
Fri, 06 Sep 2024NCA’s Rapid Chess showdown on Sept. 15 in SMX
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 06 Sep 2024Press Conference Notes: Norfolk Native Keyshawn Davis Announces November 8 Homecoming Battle Against Gustavo Lemos @ Scope Arena
Fri, 06 Sep 2024Is Inoue unbeatable?
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 06 Sep 2024Filipino Giant 6’3” Unbeaten Middleweight, Blazen Rocili Set for 2024 Debut on CBN Card September 21 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
Fri, 06 Sep 2024THREE-DIVISION AND FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION YOKASTA VALLE AND GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS SIGN MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
Fri, 06 Sep 2024DPBL Probiotics Cup Season 6 kicks off in November
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 06 Sep 2024Complications Hound Inoue's Year-End Fight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 05 Sep 2024Two-Time World Champion Marlon Tapales Arrives in Cambodia Ahead of September 7 Bout
Thu, 05 Sep 2024Jaime Munguia: "We Need To Be Very Careful with Erik Bazinyan!"
Thu, 05 Sep 2024