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The Past Week in Action 23 July 2024: Nakatani KOs Astrolabio in 1; Olascuaga Stops Kano in 3; Rocha Outpoints Domiguez

By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Jul 2024


Nakatani KOs Astrolabio.

Highlights:
-In Tokyo Junto Nakatani kayos Vincent Astrolabio in the first round in a WBC bantamweight title defence and Anthony Olascuaga kayos Riku Kano in three round to win the vacant WBO flyweight title
-Alex Rocha outpoints previously undefeated 27-0 Santiago Dominguez at welterweight.
-Carlos Canizales outpoints Ivan Garcia to win the WBC Silver light flyweight title inn Caracas and Jose Uzcategui knocks out Fernando Brito
-Brad Pauls knocks out champion Nathan Heaney to win the British and Continental American middleweight titles and in other fights Chantelle Cameron outpoints Elhem Mekhaled to win the inter/temporary WBC super lightweight title, Andrew Cain wins the British and Commonwealth Bantamweight titles with a stoppage of Ashley Lane, Ekow Essuman stops Owen Cooper in ten rounds to win the WBO European welterweight title, Ezra Taylor wins the WBO European title and there are victories for Zach Parker, Solomon Dacres and Shabaz Masoud
-Amanda Serrano beats Stevie Morgan inn Tampa and there are wins for Lucas Bahdi, Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
-In Costa Rica Francisco Fonseca halts Jezreel Corrales in four rounds and former IBF and WBO minimumweight champion Yokasta Valle beat Ramandeep Kaur in two rounds.
-Argentinian lightweight Alan Chaves outpoints South African Xolisani Ndongeni to go 17-0

Major Shows

July 20

Tokyo, Japan: Bantam: Junto Nakatani (28-0) W KO 1 Vincent Astrolabio (19-5). Fly: Anthony Olascuaga (7-1) W KO 3 Riku Kano (22-5-2).Super Bantam: Tenshin Nasukawa (4-0) W TKO 3 Jonathan Rodriguez (17-3-1) . 



Nakatani vs. Astrolabio
In WBC title defence Nakatani almost cuts Astrolabio in half and finishes him in less than three minutes. Both probed early and Astrolabio tried to use his jab to get inside. Both threw a couple of punches without really landing. Nakatani was fighting out of a slight crouch and throwing his jab upwards and Astrolabio was keeping his guard high. Nakatani threw two right jabs to the head and as Astrolabio raised his guard to defend against them Nakatani drove a devastating straight left into Astrolabio’s body. The Filipino took a step back twisted away and collapsed to his hands and knees and was counted out. Nakatani, 26, was making the third defence of the WBC title and has won 9 of his last 11 fights inside the distance. Astrolabio had scored wins over Guillermo Rigondeaux and Nikolay Potapov but lost a majority decision to Jason Moloney for the vacant WBO belt in May last year. 



Olascuaga vs. Kano
Olascuaga wins the vacant WBO title as he punches too hard for Kano and scores a third round kayo.
Round 1
Southpaw Kano was more active looking to dart inside and land to Olascuaga’s body. Kano had quick hands but looked to lack power. Olascuaga began to let his hands go and landed some stiff hooks then three consecutive rights followed by a whole series of hooks and uppercuts from both hands. Kano tried to hold but again Olascuaga banged home body shots and then landed three lefts to Kano’s head.
Score: 10-9 Olascuaga
Round 2
Kano fired a quick bunch of hooks but Olascuaga was jabbing strongly and showed nifty footwork in avoiding Kano’s lefts. Kano scored with a sharp right hook but Olascuaga paid him back with some strong hooking and Kano was looking to hold more. Kano boxed well over the late part of the round but Olascuaga had landed the harder shots.
Score: 10-9 OlascuagaOlascuaga 20-18
Round 3
They stood and traded hooks with both having some success. Olascuaga was flat-footed and loading up on every punch and Kano was being forced onto the back foot. Kano got through with some hooks to the body but Olascuaga ignored them then complained about a clash of heads. Kano was moving around Olascuaga and pinging him with lefts. Olascuaga stepped in and landed a vicious left hook to the jaw that sent Kano down flat on his back and he was counted out.
Californian Olascuaga was something of an unknown quantity. He had competed at the US Olympic Trials for the Tokyo Olympics but failed to qualify. Although he had never faced a rated opponent he was given a shot at WBA/WBC light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraj in only his sixth fight and was outclassed and stopped in the ninth round. He then stopped highly rated Filipino Giemel Magramo to earn this title shot. He showed tremendous power and it will be interesting to see how he develops from here. Kano owed his title shot to being the WBO Asia Pacific champion and not due to the quality of his opposition and this is his third inside the distance defeat.
Nasukawa vs. Rodriguez 
Former kickboxing star Nasukawa comes in as a late substitute against Rodriguez. After spending a while weighing up Rodriguez Nasukawa opened up and it was quickly evident he was much too quick for Rodriguez. In the second he nailed Rodriguez with a right. Rodriguez staggered back and Nasukawa turned away sure Rodriguez was going down. Rodriguez dipped at the knees but just stayed up so Nasukawa attacked again forcing him to the ropes and blasting him with rights and lefts until the bell went to save Rodriguez. In the third Nasukawa again had Rodriguez dipping at the knees with a left and this time did not turn away but connected with a left uppercut and sent Rodriguez down heavily against the ropes. Rodriguez got up at five and walked along the ropes to a corner. He seemed capable of continuing but the referee tolled off the eight and then stopped the fight over protests from Rodriguez. Interesting show from Nasukawa who showed real hand speed and punching power. Rodriguez, who stopped Khalid Yafai in one round, was to have challenged WBO champion Kosei Tanaka for the super flyweight title but came in 6.4 lbs over the limit so instead he fought Nasukawa at super bantam.

Birmingham, England: Middle: Brad Pauls (19-1-1)W KO 12 Nathan Heaney (18-1-1). Super Light: Chantelle Cameron (19-1) W PTS 10 Elhem Mekhaled (17-3). Heavy: Solomon Dacres (9-0) W TKO 7 Michael Webster (10-2). Welter: Ekow Essuman (20-1) W TKO 10 Owen Cooper (10-1). Bantam: Andrew Cain (12-1) W TKO 5 Ashley Lane (18-11-2). Light Heavy: Ezra Taylor (9-0) W PTS 10 Carlos Lamela (8-4). Super Middle: Zach Parker (25-1) W TKO 4 Jack Arnfield (26-4). Feather: Shabaz Masoud (12-0) W PTS 8 Marvin Solano (24-18).
Pauls vs. Heaney 
Pauls wins the British and WBA Continental titles with last round kayo of champion Heaney. The first round saw both trying to find the range with their jab with Heaney boxing on the back foot and landing a couple of useful rights. Heaney continued to stab out his jab in the second and Pauls was having trouble coming forward and Heaney again landed a few rights. They both scored with rights in the third and Pauls ended the round within a useful attack. Heaney connected with two rights in the fourth but near the end of the round Pauls launched a right to the head that sent Heaney down on his rump. Heaney was up at three and after the eight count Pauls landed two more rights but the bell went. The knockdown fired up Pauls and he landed more rights in the fifth bringing blood from Heaney’s nose and he scored with some impressive body punches in the sixth. Heaney had his jab working well in the seventh although Pauls ended the round catching Heaney with hooks. Heaney continued to use lots of jabs in the eighth but Pauls was landing some hefty hooks with Heaney under pressure and holding. Heaney came back to take the ninth controlling the action with his jab and digging in some left hooks to the body. The pace slowed a little in the tenth with Heaney’s jabbing just giving him the edge. The fight was very close and could go either way. The eleventh was tight until the last thirty seconds when Pauls landed heavy rights then forced Heaney to the ropes and connected with more rights with Heaney clinching to survive. In the twelfth Pauls landed two rights to the head that sent Heaney into the ropes then connected with a left hook to the head and a right to the body and Heaney pitched forward going down clasping Pauls’ legs. The referee did not count it as a knockdown but Pauls roared forward landing clubbing rights until Heaney collapsed to the floor propped up against the ropes. He climbed to his knees holding the ropes and looking out into the crowd and got up just as the referee completed the eight count. These two fought to a split draw in March with Pauls convinced he had won, The only loss on his record came in a points defeat against Tyler Denny in February 2023. Henney had looked impressive in beating Jack Flatley and WBO title challenger Denzel Bentley.
Cameron vs. Mekhaled
Cameron wins the vacant temporary (interim) WBC title with a majority decision over Mekhaled. Cameron walked out in the first and knocked Mekhaled back on her heels with a left hook-the first punch thrown in the fight. Cameron kept forcing Mekhaled back and was almost overwhelming Mekhaled unloading more punches at the bell. Cameron was still throwing more and landing more in the second but Mekhaled had steadied herself and had so9me some success as they swapped punches. Cameron was bigger and stronger and did most of the scoring staggering Mekhaled with a right in the fourth but Mekhaled banged back and they engaged in a sustained bout of toe-to-toe action in a great round. Mekhaled competed well over the middle rounds often forcing Cameron onto the back foot but Cameron was in charge again in the eighth pumping out punches and driving Mekhaled back. The last two rounds saw two tired fighters dredging up the energy to just stand and punch to the final bell. Cameron won on scores of 99-92 and 98-92 and a puzzling 95-95. Cameron’s aim is a tie-breaker third match with Katie Taylor looking tom revenge the loss she suffered in November which cost her the five super lightweight belts. French fighter Mekhaled had lost the Alycia Baumgardner in February 2023 for the five titles at super featherweight and the jump to super lightweight was just too much for her.
Dacres vs. Webster
Dacres retains the English title with victory over Webster This return contest took a few rounds to warm-up. Dacres was getting the better of the exchanges but Webster was competitive. That altered in the fifth when Dacres landed a right to the head that had Webster shaken and another right saw Webster step back and go down on one knee. He was up at eight and ready to continue. Dacres bossed the action in the sixth and ended things in the seventh. He again had Webster hurt by a right to the head and then landed two more head shots with Webster going down to his knees in a corner. He made it to his feet but made no complaint when the referee waived the fight over. The 6’5” Dacres had won a majority decision over Webster in November. He was National Elite champion and a member of Team GB as an amateur but surprisingly this is only his third inside the distance win. The hope now is that Dacres may go up against unbeaten David Adeleye.
Essuman vs. Cooper 
Essukan wins the WBO European title with dramatic tenth round stoppage of champion Cooper. This fight started at a fast pace and stayed that way. Both were letting their hands go firing jabs and moving in to trade shots inside. Thereby were hectic exchanges in the second and third with first one fighter and then the other exploding with bursts of hooks and uppercuts with neither willing to back down. Essuman had Cooper pinned against the ropes at the start of the fourth and unloaded on him with a series of punches but by the end of the round it was Copper doing the scoring. Most of the fifth was fought with Cooper again on the ropes and Essuman working him over but with Cooperb getting in some hard shots of his own. Essuman had Cooper on the ropes in the sixth and late in the round landed a series of head punches that saw Cooper drop to his knees for a count. He beat the count and survived a torrid time in the seventh and eighth and then landed what should have been a fight ending booming right to the head in the ninth that sent Essuman crashing backwards to the floor. Somehow against all of the odds Essuman struggled to his feet beating the count and surviving the round. At the start of the tenth a left hook from Essuman sent Cooper stumbling across the ring to the ropes. Essuman followed him over landing a number of unanswered punches until Cooper fell to the floor on his side with the referee immediately waiving the fight over. A great contest. Essuman had lost his unbeaten tag and his British, Commonwealth and IBF European titles when he was outpointed by Harry Scarff in November but certainly returned him style here. Cooper played his part in a memorable fight and at 23 has time to absorb, recover and improve. 
Cain vs. Lane
Cain wins the British and Commonwealth titles with a fifth round victory over champion Lane. Lane made a fast start in the opener throwing plenty of jabs forcing Cain to the ropes and firing body punches from both hands. Cain worked his way off the ropes and was shooting jabs from hip level switching guards and landing hooks. In the second Lane continued to throw lots of punches with Cain not throwing as much but seeming the harder puncher landing a hurtful left hook to the body and another left hook late in the round. Lane worked Cain over to the body at the start of the third round then they stood and swapped punches in mid-ring with Lane again going for quantity and for Cain bigger single shots. The sheer volume of Lane’s punches forced Cain to a corner but he fought his way out and landed a hard left hook to the body then nailed Lane with a right counter. Lane weas still attacking in the fourth but he was being caught by counter hooks from Cain who really let his hands go and scored with a series of hooks and overhand rights. A left staggered Lane but he recovered and moved inside to deny Cain punching room. In the fifth Cain stopped Lane in his tacks with a right then exploded with a burst of punches driving Lane back and down. Lane made it to his feet but was dropped again and the referee stopped the fight. Cain showed his power here with his eleventh victory by KO/TKO. His only loss is a split decision over Ionut Baluta. Lain, 33, had resurrected his career with a stoppage win over Chris Bourke in March to win the British and Commonwealth belts.
Taylor vs. Lamela
Taylor wins the vacant WBC International title as he takes a unanimous decision over Lamela. The way Taylor started it looked as though this would be over very quickly. He was marching Lamela back scoring with lefts and rights with Lamela just backing up and not throwing much. Lamela was livelier in the second and third launching occasional attacks but lacking the power to disturb Taylor. The pattern did not change a great deal Talor had the better skills and was quicker more accurate with his punches and was winning the rounds but he never completely subdued a feisty Lamela and occasionally gave Lamela too much respect. A winning performance but not an impressive one. Scores 99-91 twice and 97-93 for Taylor. In fairness Spanish-based Cuban Lamela was coming off a twelfth round kayo win over 18-0 Mansur Elsaev in April in a fight for the Vacant EBU Silver title. 
Parker vs. Arnfield
Parker floors Arnfield twice and stops him in the fourth round. Parker was taking the fight to Arnfield in the first. Arnfield tried to use plenty of movement and sharp jabbing but Parker was also jabbing strongly and coming in behind his jab with straight rights. Parker moved in and scored with a good combination at the bell. Arnfield did some useful jabbing at the start of the second. Parker continued to match forward and landed some jabs of his own and a long right. Parker was jabbing strongly in the third and scored with straight rights. In the fourth heavy right from Parker rocked Arnfield and sent him staggering back to the ropes and a devastating right to the head sent him slumping to the canvas. He stood up quickly and as the referee was counting Arnfield was arguing with his corner who wanted the fight stopped, At the end of the eighth count after examining Arnfield the referee letn the fight continue. Two rights to the head put Arnfield down again and despite his protests the fight was stopped. Parker gets win No 18 by KO/TKO. He lost on a fourth round retirement with a broken right hand against John Ryder for the vacant WBO temporary (interim) title in November 2022 and was out for ten months but has now scored three wins including a points victory over 27-1-1 Tyron Zeuge in March. First inside the distance loss for Arnfield who was inactive for six year before returning with a win in May.
Masoud vs. Solano
A left to the head sent Solano down at the end of the first round but he was up at eight and the round was already over. Masoud worked solidly with his right jabs in the second and stayed cool under attacks from Solano in the third and fourth. Masoud consistently pierced Solano’s guard with right jabs and lefts to the head and rocked Solano with lefts in the fifth. Solano was not in survival mode he was always looking for a chance to attack but was often wild when going forward. He picked up the pace was looking to get an inside the distance win but Solano was an awkward opponent and was never in any teal trouble. The referee scored it 80-72 for Masoud who continues to make good progress. Spanish-based Nicaraguan Solano has lost his last twelve fights.

Tampa, FL, USA: Super Light: Amando Serrano (47-2-1) W TKO 2 Stevie Morgan (14-2). Light: Lucas Bahdi (16-0) W TKO 6 Ashton Sylve (11-). Cruiser: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (54-6-1,1ND) WTKO6 Uriah Hall (1-1). Cruiser: Jake Paul (10-1) W TKO 6 Michael Perry (0-2).



Serrano vs. Morgan
Serrano overwhelms inexperienced Morgan in two rounds. Morgan was taller with a longer reach but Serrano just weaved her way forward throwing punches with Morgan unable to keep Serrano out. Serrano forced Morgan to the ropes and showered her with shots to head and body. Morgan escaped but Serrano piled forward relentlessly landing straight punches from both hands and it was obvious Morgan was out of her depth. In the second Serrano drove Morgan around the ring with right jabs and left crosses. Morgan tried to punch with her but the speed, power and accuracy of Serrano’s punches were just too much and with Serrano pounding Morgan with punches and with nothing coming back from Morgan the referee stopped the uneven match. Serrano had relinquished the IBF feather title rather than be pressured to make a defence but has held onto her IBO, WBA and WBO belts whist she focuses on a return fight challenging Katie Taylor for the five versions of the super light belts in November. Floridian Morgan had scored six first round wins in a row but against far inferior opposition to Serrano.
Sylve vs. Bahdi
Sylve looked on his way to another win until the sixth round-then disaster. Sylve was a big favourite here and he showed why that was by outboxing and outscoring Bahdi in every round. He was finding gaps for his counters and when he chose to go toe-to-toe he was too quick and too accurate for Bahdi. By the third he had bloodied Bahdi’s nose and he landed some powerful combinations in the fourth. Bahdi kept pressing and Sylve looked to have dialled back his output in the fifth but was still in control. In the sixth as Sylve stepped forward to fire a punch Bahdi counted with a right that froze Sylve and another right that sent Sylve down face first on the canvas out cold. Canadian Bahdi had scored 13 wins by KO/TKO so he obviously had some power but this was still a surprise. Sylve has talent and will bounce back. 
Chavez vs. Hall
In his first “fight” since December 2021 Chavez outpoints retired mixed martial arts and kickboxer Hall. Scores 59-55 twice and 58-56. Chavez was 130lbs in his first fight in 2003 and since this fight was supposed to be at cruiserweight it means he was 21-years older (38) and around 60lbs heavier than then. The talk is for a fight with Jake Paul who had been weighting 199lbs before this week. Jamaican Hall had one registered fight in 2022 against former NFL player LeVeon Bell who was having his first pro fight. Some “boxing” is a “one ring circus” these days.



Paul vs. Perry
In another one rig circus Paul stopped Michael Perry in the sixth round. Paul, generously rated No 80 by Box Ring (and getting more money and publicity for his 9-1 prefight record than 45-2-1 four belt champion Serrano), showed some reasonable skills and power but Perry was slow and had novice level skills at best. Paul dropped Perry with a right to the head in the first and put him down again in the second. A series of punches floored Perry in the sixth and although he got up he was unsteady and the fight was stopped. Paul may now go on to fight 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November if Tyson has recovered from his ulcers. It will be the first fight for 19 years for Tyson again turning boxing into a one ring circus. Perry, who came in as a substitute for the ill Tyson, made his name in bareknuckle fighting where his given record is 6-0 with six inside the distance wins against fighters with a combined record of 7-5 between the six of them. In his only gloved fight back in 2015 he was knocked out in four rounds 

JULY 19

Fantasy Springs, CA, USA: Welter: Alex Rocha (25-2) W PTS 10 Santiago Dominguez (27-1). Feather: Gregory Morales (17-1) W PTS 10 Jayvon Garnett (10-2).



Rocha vs. Dominguez
Rocha sees out early fire from Dominguez then goes on to win the unanimous decision. Both fighters were cautious at the start but let their hands go late in the first. Dominguez had confidence in the power that had seen him score 20 wins by KO/TKO and he stalked Rocha in the second forcing the action and getting the better of the exchanges landing a hard right that forced Rocha to hold until his head cleared. Rocha altered his tactics in the third going away from his usual aggressive style and fighting on the back foot using his longer reach countering Dominguez. He began to exploit gaps in Dominguez’s defence scoring to head and body and Dominguez was struggling to stay in the fight. Rocha was winning the rounds and although Dominguez had some success with rights Rocha continued to dominate the exchanges and Dominguez faded out as a threat as Rocha boxed his way to a wide unanimous decision on scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92. A stoppage loss against Giovani Santillan in October had derailed Rocha but a win in March over Fredrick Lawson and this victory over unbeaten Dominguez has brought him back into the title picture. Mexican Dominguez had faced some decent but not outstanding opposition and Box Rec had him at No 61 in the ratings. 
Morales vs. Garnett
Morales wins unanimous decision over Garnett. Morales had height and reach over Garnett and from the start he used his jab to put Garnett on the back foot and that set the pattern for the fight. Morales was coming forward with his jab and landing left hooks and straight rights. Garnett was occasionally able to get through with jabs to the body and with bunches of hooks when he was able to get inside. Morales was working hard switching smoothly from head to body and outscoring Garnett in every round but there was more of an emphasis on quantity than power. He put in a big effort on the last trying for a stoppage but Garnett was never in any real trouble. Scores 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94 for Morales as he gets his fourth win in a row and goes ten rounds for the first time. Second loss in a row for Garnett

Caracas, Venezuela, Light Fly: Carlos Canizales (27-2-1) W PTS 12 Ivan Garcia (12-3-1). Super Welter: Leonardo Sanchez (16-0-1) W PTS 10 Jeremy Alvarez (9-1). Super Middle: Jose Uzcategui (33-5) W KO1 Fernando Brito (12-4). Super Light: Gabriel Valenzuela (29-3-1) W PTS 10 Jesus Cuadro (20-10). Heavy: Wilmer Vasquez (13-3-2) W PTS 10 Ubaldo Ilagor (12-1).
Canizales vs. Garcia
Canizalez gets a controversial majority verdict over Mexican Garciam to win the vacant WBC Silver title. Canizales had the edge over the early rounds. Garcia had a longer reach and used his jab to keep Canizales on the back foot but Canizalez was darting inside and scoring with lots of body punches. Garcia was more than willing to stand and trade with Canizales but Canizales was busier working on Garcia’s body. The home boxer looked to have built a lead after seven rounds but a suffered a cut on his right eyelid in a clash of heads just seconds into the ninth round. The referee stopped the action but Canizales was cleared to continue. Garcia was on the front foot over the ninth, tenth and eleven and won those rounds to move in front and he outscored Canizalez in the last to look a good winner but two judges scored it 116-112 for Canizalez with the third seeing it 114-114. Former WBA light-flyweight title holder Canizalez had scored a win over unbeaten Cuban Daniel Matellon in a WBA title eliminator in June last year but in January lost a majority decision to Kenshiro Teraji in a challenge for the WBA and WBC titles. Garcia fought much better than expected and was unlucky not to get at least a draw.
Sanchez vs. Alvarez
Sanchez wins the Venezuelan title with split decision over Alvarez. Sanchez was getting his punches off first with Alvarez struggling to counter effectively. Alvarez came through strongly in the third rocking Sanchez and busting his nose. Sanchez rebounded to take control again in the fourth and landed a series of left hooks to take the fifth. The sixth and seventh were close with Sanchez continuing to bleed heavily from the nose. Sanchez turned up the pressure in the eighth and a desperate Alvarez lost a point in the ninth for holding. Sanchez had just that bit more left and looked to have taken the last. He won on scores of 96-93 twice against a 95-94 for Alvarez. Now 15 victories in a row for Sanchez, a former national welterweight champion. Alvarez, 20, can come again.
Uzcategui vs. Brito
Former IBF super middle champion Uzcategui gets this one over in the first round. He put fellow-Venezuelan Brito down with a right and although Brito beat the count he did not quite make it the end of the round as a left to the body sent him down again and he was counted out with just two seconds remaining in the round. Uzcategui was having his first fight since losing a unanimous decision to unbeaten Vladimir Shishkin in December 2022.All four of Brito’s losses have come by KO/TKO.
Valenzuela vs. Cuadro
Mexican Valenzuela scores two knockdowns and outpoints Venezuelan southpaw Cuadro. Valenzuela had an edge in reach and skills and looked to have taken three close rounds. Cuadro upped his pace over the fourth and fifth but was put down by a body punch in the sixth and Valenzuela scored well at the end of a close seventh to extend his lead. Cuadro closed the gap with strong attacks in the eighth and ninth but a knockdown in the tenth wrapped it up for Valenzuela. Scores 97-90,97-91 and 96-92 for Valenzuela. The Mexican is in good form. He is 26-1-1 in his last 28 fights with the loss coming against Montana Love in May 2022 and he has since scored wins over Yves Ulysse, Steve Spark and Yeis Solano. Cuadro, 38, is 2-5 in his last 7 fights.
Vasquez vs. Resendiz
Venezuelan Vasquez wins a ridiculous split decision over Mexican Resendiz. No weights given but both fighters have weighed up around 290lbs in fights this year. Resendiz was that bit more active with 42-year-old Vasquez only fighting in shorts bursts. Neither was hurt and the pace was less than pedestrian and Resendiz looked the clear winner but the scoring was as much a farce as the fight. One judge gave it to Vasquez 98-92, one to Resendiz 99-91 and the third to Vasquez 97-93. Vasquez competed at the 2004 Olympics and was inactive for almost nine years before returning in 2019. Recendiz, 24, had won his last eight fights by KO/TKO against very low level opposition.

Tokyo, Japan: Light: Shu Utsuki (14-1) W TKO 5
Masahiro Suzuki (10-2-1). 
Utsuki wins the OPBF title as he stops champion Suzuki in the fifth round. They went toe-to-toe over the first two rounds with both landing big shots. Utsuki’s superior skills saw him getting the better of the action in the third and fourth and at that point Utsuki was 39-37 in front on all three cards. Utsuki shook Suzuki with a left hook in the fifth and then connected with a series of punches that saw the referee come in to save Suzuki. Twelfth victory by KO/TKO for Utsuki who had stopped Suzuki inn nine rounds in a fight for the vacant Japanese title in 2022

Dubai, UAE: Cruiser: Juergen Uldedaj (18-1) W TKO 5 Steven Ward (14-3). 
Albanian Uldedaj wins the vacant IBF International title with stoppage of Ward. Uldedaj had the better skills and made a good start outboxing Ward and rocking him with a left hook in the opening round. Ward did better in the second but was cut over his left eye. Uldedaj bossed the third and fourth and a bad cut was opened over Wartd’s right eye in the fifth. Ward drove forward firing hooks with Uldedaj backing up but piercing Ward’s guard with jabs. Despite bleeding copiously from the cut over his right eye Ward continued to walk through Uldedaj’s punches but Uldedaj then exploded with a series of head punches driving Ward to the ropes. He continued to bombard Ward with punches and the referee came in and stopped the fight. Uldedaj’s loss was on points against 8-3 Benoit Huber in London and he has rebounded with three wins this year. Ward was inactive in 2022 and 2023 but had won a six round bout in March.

JULY 20

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Light: Alan Chaves (17-0) W PTS 10 Xolisani Ndongeni (32-6). Super Middle: Pablo Corzo (20-0) W TKO 2 Luis Vidales (24-11). Welter: Marco Garcia (14-1) W DISQ 4 Juan Segovia (6-4-2).
Chaves vs. Ndongeni
Chaves faces his first real test and comes through with a win. South African Ndongeni proved a tough competitor. Chavez had success with his right jabs and they had some good spells with each landing hooks inside. A pair of right hooks from Chaves sent Ndongeni stumbling and almost down in the third. Ndongeni stayed up but was badly rocked and had to hold to survive. Ndongeni recovered in the fourth but a right hook to the head knocked him off balance in the fifth and he touched the canvas with his glove to stay up and was given a count. Both had some success over the second half of the fight and it was close but the dominant third round and the count in the fifth just gave Chaves the edge as he won on scores of 96-93 twice and 99-91. That snapped a run of nine inside the distance wins in a row for Chaves who is now demanding some rated opposition. In an eight month spell Ndongeni had lost to Ernesto Mercado, Arnold Barboza and Ray Muratalla who had combined records of 57-0 and he tested Chaves here.
Corzo vs. Vidales
Corzo marches on as he stops Mexican Vidales in the second round. Corzo was scoring heavily in the first and then banged home a body shot in the second. Vidales turned away and then dropped to his knees against the ropes and from there face down on the canvas and the referee waived the fight off without completing the count. fight was stopped. Seventeenth victory by KO/TKO for Corzo who was defending the WBA Fedelatin title for the ninth time. Vidales had scored eight wins in a row but then lost consecutive tough fights at the end of last year in Canada.
Garcia vs. Segovia 
Segovia was giving the favourite Garcia plenty of problems then in the fourth as heads banged together Garcia was cut and unable to continue. The referee decided is had been a butt from Segovia and disqualified him. The referee was informed that the TV replay clearly showed that Garcia had in fact deliberately butted Segovia and not the other way around. The referee refused to view the replay and stuck to his decision. 
Words were exchanged across the ring between Segovia and Garcia then Garcia crossed the ring and punched Segovia. That started fights in the crowd and it was some time before order was restored.

Southport, Australia: Light: Ibrahim Balla (17-2) W PTS 10 Jalen Tait (15-1). Light Heavy: Che Kenneally (5-0) W RTD 3 Angie Rocha (14-5-3).
Balla vs. Tait
Second good win in a row for Balla as he takes a majority decision over Japen Tait in defence of his IBF Australasian title. The scores were 97-93 and 96-94 for Balla and 95-95. Balla had won the title with a majority verdict over 20-0 Youssef Dib in December. Southpaw Tait made it a very close fight and raised his profile in doing so. He was coming off an impressive victory over 18-1-1 Ecuadorian Alexander Espinoza in March
Kenneally vs. Rocha
Former catwalk model Kenneally wins the vacant WBA light heavyweight title as Colombian Rocha does not come out for the fourth round. Kenneally wore down the seriously overweight Rocha who was holding to survive by the end of the third. Kenneally is a former undefeated Australian heavyweight champion although the heaviest she has weighed is 171 ¾ lbs. Rocha,38, was having her first fight since being stopped in one round by unbeaten American Raquel Miller in March 2023. Rocha had weighed as low as 136 ½ lbs at one time but was 174 ½ lbs for this fight.

Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria: Welter: Yosif Panov (26-3) W RTD 3 Miguel Vazquez (44-13).
Panov floors and beats Vazquez. Panov was a taking the fight to Vaquez over the first two rounds with Vazquez under constant pressure but willing to trade punchers and firing back hard. In the third Vazquez connected with some good rights to let Panov know he was in a fight but Panov was landing heavy rights also. Panov landed a right to the body and Vazquez retreated to the ropes. Panov then landed a right to the head that sent Vazquez into the ropes but he held the lower rope and put his glove on the canvas to avoid going all of the way down and was given a count with the bell going on completion of the eight count. Vazquez did not come out for the fourth. Wonderful what fighting at home can do for you. Panov was 2-3 in his first 5 fights including first round stoppage losses against Michael McGurk and Marcus Morrison. He has now scored 24 consecutive wins all in Bulgaria. Now 37 former IBF lightweight champion Vasquez is 10-10 in his last 20 fights.

San Juan de Tibas, Costa Rico: Light: Francisco Fonseca (34-4-2) W TKO 4 Jezzrel Corrales (26-7). Minimum :Yokasta Valle ( 31-3) W TKO 2 Ramandeep Kaur (15-4).
Fonseca vs. Corrales
Fonseca stops Corrales in the fourth. Their styles did not mix well and the first three rounds featured too much holding-not unusual for a Corrales fight. Fonseca ended it in the fourth putting Corrales down with a left hook. Corrales made it to his feet but the referee halted the fight. Nicaraguan Fonseca makes it 28 wins by KO/TKO. He has lost in two IBF super featherweight title shots and drew with Alex Dilmaghani in London in 2019 in a fight for the vacant IBO title. Former WBA super feather champion Corrales has now lost his last three fights.
Valle vs. Kaur
Valle stops a seriously overmatched Kaur. As usual Valle made a fast start and Kaur lacked the power or experience to match Valle and did well to see out the first round. Valle pinned Kaur against the ropes in the second and battered her with punches until the referee came in to save Kaur. Valle lost her IBF and WBO minimumweight titles to IBF and WBA champion Seniesa Estrada in a unification match in March and is looking for a return. Indian Kaur was out of her depth and suffered her first inside the distance loss.

Mbeya, Tanzania: Bantam: Fadhili Majiha (33-14-4) W PTS 10 Sabelo Ngebinyana (15-9-2). Light: Albert Kimario (11-1-1)W TKO 3 Abeid Zugo (15-1).
Majiha vs. Ngebinyana
Now nine wins in a row for Majiha as he outpoints South African Ngebinyana. No scores available.
Kimario vs. Zugo Kenyan Kimario drops unbeaten Tanzanian Zugo in the first and twice more in the second for a stoppage win. A measure of revenge for Kimario who had lost on a fifth round against local fighter Ibrahim Mafia in his only other visit to Tanzania. Zugo was heavy favourite having beaten former WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka and former IBF and IBO minimumweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi.

Stockton, USA: Light: Gabriel Flores Jr (24-2) W PTS 8 Ronan Ron (14-7). Light: Julian Rodarte (19-1-2) W Andrew Rodgers (8-12-3).
Flores vs. Ron
Local hero Flores outscores Venezuelan Ron. Flores had this one pretty much under control all the way. Ron had a good seventh but other than that Flores outboxed him and took the verdict on scores of 78-74 twice and 79-73. Flores, 24, who had Nonito Donaire in his corner for this one, suffered wide decision losses against Luis Alberto Lopez and Giovani Cabrera but Lopez is now the IBF feather title holder and Cabrera was 20-0 so no disgrace in those defeats He has now won three in a row including a split decision over Julian Rodarte. Ron has lost his last four fights but all were against tough opposition.
Rodgers vs. Rodarte
Indiana’s Rodgers was 0-3-1 in previous fights in California but despite giving away height and reach against local Rodarte he sprang an upset with a close unanimous decision. Scores 77-75 for Rodgers on all three cards. Second loss in a row for Rodarte who had lost to Gabriel Flores in March.

Hanover, MD, USA: Super Middle: Immanuwel Aleem (21-3-2) W PTS 10 Vitali Gubkin (10-5-1). Welter: Mykal Fox (23-4) W PTS 8 Donald Ward (18-13-2).
Aleem vs. Gubkin
Aleem proves too quick and too slick for Russian Gubkin. Aleem was constantly switching angles and slotting jabs through Gubkin’s defence. Aleem had Gubkin in trouble a couple of times but Gubkin held and survived. The pace proved too fast for Gubkin and he lost a point for losing his mouthguard numerous times as he tired late. Scores 98-91 twice and 97-93 for Aleem. Consecutive majority decision losses against Ronald Ellis and Amilcar Vidal saw Aleem out of the ring for two years and this is his third win since returning in October last year. He was defending the UBO Continental title. Gubkin,36, was coming off four wins over non-threatening opposition.
Fox vs. Ward
Fox returns to action for the first time since losing to Egidijus Kavaliauskas in October 2022 and wins the vacant UBO Inter-Continental title with a points victory over Ward. Fox used his better skills, height and longer reach to breeze through this one. Ward tried hard but was never really able to match Fox who won on scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73. Fox had only one fight in each of years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was inactive in 23. Ward had a run of 7 wins over mediocre opposition but is now 0-2-1 in his last 3 fights.

Philadelphia, PA, USA: Super Light: Helmand Alekozai (14-0) W TKO 6 Patrick Okine (21-8-2). 
Canadian boxing “gypsy” Alekozai gets his sixth inside the distance win as he stops Ghanaian Okine in the sixth round. The Afghani-Canadian has fought in seven different countries so far. He was out more than three years due to injuries suffered in a car accident in 2019. Okine has lost 4 of his last 5 fights with all four losses by KO/TKO.

Fight of the week: (Significance): The wins for Amando Serrano and Chantelle Cameron offer two chances for a huge fight between either and Katie Taylor
Fight of the week: (Entertainment): Ekow Essuman vs. Cooper was all-action with plenty of late drama. Honorary mention to Brad Pauls vs. Nathan Heaney which also provided action and late drama 

Fighter of the week: Junto Nakatani for his one round destruction of Vincent Astrolabio
Punch of the week: The devastating body punch from Nakatani that finished Astrolabio was fearsome. Must mention honorary contenders in the left hook to the head from Olascuaga that flattened Riku Kano, the right to the head from Lucas Bahdi that put unbeaten Ashton Sylve face down on the canvas out cold and finally the booming right from Owen Cooper that knocked down Ekow Essuman. How Essuman got up from that escapes me. 
Upset of the week: Sylve weas the favourite but Lucas came from behind to get the win.
Prospect watch: Japanese former kickboxing champion Tenshin Nasukawa who reportedly had a 42-0 record certainly showed power in crushing Jonathan Rodriguez in only his fourth pro fight.

Observations

Rosette: To promoters Jorge Fernandez and Williams Perez for their big show in Caracas. The biggest in many years in Venezuela. Even an honorary mention here which goes to the Frank Warren show in Birmingham that had so many good matches on it

Red Card: To Jonathan Rodriguez a real party pooper. The three title fight show in Tokyo was a huge event but Rodriguez came in 6.4lbs overweight for his challenge for the WBO superb fly title against Kosei Tanaka so there were only two title fights and to compound Rodriguez’s sin he was crushed by three fight newcomer Nasukawa .


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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