The Past Week in Action 2 September 2024: Pacheco KOs Sulecki; Nikita Tszyu Stops Mazoudier; Lara Returns with a Win; Canoy Beats Refugio
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 03 Sep 2024
Highlights:
-Diego Pacheco kayos Maciej Sulecki to stay on track for an eventual shot at the super middleweight title and there are wins for Eduardo Nunez, Cheavon Clarke and Virginia Fuchs
-Nikita moves to ten wins with a stoppage od fellow-Australian Koen Mazoudier and Michael Zerafa gets a first round retirement victory over experienced Tommy Browne
-Former WBA featherweight champion Mauricio Lara returns with a win after a battle against depression
-Cruiserweight Aleksei Papin floors and stops Felix Varela in five rounds
-Rated super bantam Elijah Pierce decisions Jose Sanmartin and Brandon Adams and Andreas Katzourakis win in the OTX super welterweight tournament and will meet in the final.
-Argentinian hope Jose Rosas goes to 27-0 with a stoppage of Mexican Jiovanny Straffon
- Filipino Joey Canoy beats Jonathan Refugio to win the WBA Asia minimum title and former WBO No 1 Reymart Gaballo returns with a win.
Major Shows
August 31
Carson, CA, USA: Super Middle: Diego Pacheco (22-0) W KO 6 Maciej Sulecki (32-3). Super Feather: Eduardo Nunez (27-1) W TKO 6 Miguel Marriaga (31-8). Super Bantam: Arturo Popoca (15-0-1) W PTRS 10 Jesus Arechiga (21-2). Cruiser: Cheavon Clarke (10-0) W PTS 10 Efetobor Apochi (12-3). Super Fly: Ginny Fuchs (4-0) W PTS 10. Adelaida Ruiz (16-1-1)
Pacheco vs. Sulecki
In the first Sulecki was coming forward trying to get past the longer reach of Pacheco who was content to circle Sulecki spearing him with jabs and trying to get the range with his rights. Sulecki kept lunging forward in the second trying to put Pacheco under pressure but Pacheco was quick to step back and counter until late in the round when he began to come in behind his jab and follow with rights. It had been one punch at a time but in the third Pacheco started to put together some combinations connecting with a strong right hook. His jab was still his main weapon but now Sulecki was the one under pressure. The Pole put in a big effort at the end of the round coming forward throwing punches but Pacheco was relaxed and in control. Pacheco was circling and jabbing again in the fourth. Sulecki was looking for opening to dive in but Pacheco’s jab had him backing off and Pacheco was standing in front of Sulecki landing jabs and straight rights with Sulecki forced to retreat. After using his jab to control the action for most of the fifth Pacheco really let his hands go mover the last minute connecting with jabs, hooks and uppercuts as an under fire Sulecki was forced to hold. After some early sparring in the sixth Pacheco missed with a right but came back with a left hook to the body, almost the first body punch he had thrown, and Sulecki turned away and went down in agony and was counted out. An impressive showing by Pacheco as he becomes the first to beat the experienced Sulecki inside the distance. He is No 1 with the WBO but I can’t see a fight with Saul Alvarez ever taking place but if Alvarez vacates the belt then fights with No 2 Erik Bazinyan or No 3 Christian Mbilli or No 5 Jaime Munguia would be interesting fights to make. At 35 Sulecki looked a bit shopworn but there are still fights there at super middle if he wants them.
Nunez vs. Marriaga
Nunez started out boxing on the back foot with Marriaga coming forward throwing wild rights. Nunez was still on the back foot as the second started but then began to use his own jab to force Marriaga to retreat. Nunez was now letting his hands go firing straight shots, hooks and uppercuts from both hands. Marriaga was firing plenty of jabs but with no snap and he was badly shaken by a right to the head at the bell. Marriaga threw a burst of shots at the start of the third trying to get some control but hooks from Nunez had him on the retreat again. It was about survival now for Marriaga as he was rocked by another right. The pressure was relentless as Nunez unleashed hurtful shots from both hands walking through Marriaga’s counters. Marriaga fired off a burst of punches in the fourth but Nunez just kept coming still landing hooks and uppercuts. A right to the head knocked Marriaga into the ropes and almost through them before he got a knee on the floor to steady himself. After the count Marriaga was on the retreat but firing some good counters which Nunez ignored and he rattled Marriaga again with rights to the head. Nunez pinned Marriaga against the ropes and was unloading with both hands with the referee looking poised to jump in but Marriaga punched back just enough to keep the referee from doing that. The referee checked on Marriaga in his corner. A too brave Marriaga threw lots of punches in the sixth desperately trying to turn the fight his way. Nunez continued to connect with clubbing rights until one had Marriaga finally turning away and going down on one knee. Although Marriaga got up he was clearly finished and the referee should have stopped the fight but instead he left that decision to Marriaga instead of doing his job and saving Marriaga from unnecessary punishment. Luckily the bell went before the action could resume and Marriaga was retired. The 27-year-old 5’6” Nunez showed plenty of aggression and power. He has lost just once and that in a six round fight way back in 2018. All of his 27 of his wins have come by KO/TKO including 17 in a row after this victory. He is being tipped as the next big Mexican sensation but he has yet to face a real test. His last two wins have come against Oscar Escandon, who was 2-5 going in against Nunez, and was knocked out in two rounds by Maliek Montgomery on Friday and 37-year-old Marriaga who had lost 3 of his last 4 fights. Marriaga managed three tile shots but lost against Nichols Walters, Oscar Valdez and Vasyl Lomachenko.
Cardenas vs. Arechiga
Cardenas come away with a split decision over Arechiga. This one was close over the first four rounds which could have gone either way. Cardenas higher work rate and greater accuracy saw him then picking up the close rounds to move into a good lead. Arechiga came back into the fight late but could not close the gap Cardenas looked a clearer winner than the cards suggest.. Scores 96-94 twice for Cardenas and an unexplainable 98-92 for Arechiga. Cardenas/Popoca was defending his WBC Continental Americas belt. After being 21-0 Arechiga has now lost two in a row.
Clarke vs. Apochi
Clarke keeps his 100% record alive and retains the WBA Inter-Continental title with a majority decision over a competitive Apochi in an entertaining fight. Apochi had the better of the exchanges in the first and seemed to daze Clarke in the early exchanges. Apochi used strong jabbing to put Clarke on the back foot in the second with Clarke getting through with some long shots to the body. Clarke took the fight inside in the third scoring well to head and body and landing a tasty uppercut and then switched to boxing behind his jab and moving in the fourth to take both rounds. Clarke continued those tactics in the fifth with both landing well in trading making it a close round. The sixth was also tight. Apochi was doing a better job of walking Clarke down but Clarke was much more mobile and accurate. Apochi was back in the fight in a big way in the seventh. He rocked Clarke with two rights and then landed a series of good punches at the end of the round. A right to the head and a right uppercut bad Apochi in some bother in the eighth and Clarke continued to land well throughout the round but looked a little tired from the effort. Apochi dominated the ninth as Clarke still seemed a little gassed and Apochi banged home a hard right late in the round to stun Clarke. Apochi seemed to have more left in the final round and took it to make the fight close. Clarke won on scores of 98-92, 97-93 and the other card read 95-95. A third good win in a row for British champion Clarke following victories over Tommy McCarthy and unbeaten Ellis Zorro. Apochi has no luck in close contests having dropped split decisions against Brandon Glanton and Adrian Taylor.
Fuchs vs. Ruiz
Fuchs has her fist ten round fight and takes a split decision over Ruiz to win the WBC interim/temporary title. Fuchs was coming forward behind her southpaw jab and scoring with hard lefts. Ruiz was countering with some strong lefts of her own and although Fuchs took and early lead Ruiz’s had Fuchs badly marked as she fired back over the middle rounds. Fuchs was picking up the points with her right jabs and straight lefts but was never able to subdued Ruiz who although always on the back foot switched guards and kept landing some powerful hooks. Fuchs was a deserving winner but she knew she had been in a battle. Scores were 97-93 and a way out 100-90 for Fuchs and 97-93 for Ruiz. Texan Fuchs was both Golden Gloves and US National champion and won a silver medal at the Pan-American Games and bronze at the 2018 World Championships so a useful addition to the ranks of female boxers. Ruiz stood up well here and can rebound from this first loss,
AUGUST 28
Sydney, Australia: Super Welter: Nikita Tszyu (10-0) W TKO 9 Koen Mazoudier (12-4-1). Middle: Michael Zerafa (31-6 ) W RTD 1 Tommy Browne (45-9-2). Light Heavy: Connor Wallace (14-1) W PTS 12 Jerome Pampellone (18-2).
Tszyu vs. Mazoudier
Tszyu comes through a testing fight stopping Mazoudier in the ninth round of a stirring scrap. Mazoudier seemed to make the better start edging a close first round but Tszyu banged back landing some heavy shots in the second. Tszyu dominated the action in the over the next three rounds but after being rocked in the sixth Mazoudier began to find gaps in Tszyu’s guard over the seventh and eighth as they exchange some heavy punches with Tszyu looking exhausted. Tszyu found his second wind and as they clashed in some fierce trading in the ninth a left from Tszyu shook Mazoudier and then Tszyu landed a series of head punches that had Mazoudier reeling and the referee came in to make a good stoppage. Tszyu was in front 77-75 on two cards and 78-764 on the third so it was close. Tszyu picks up the vacant IBF Australasian and WBO Inter-Continental titles. His every fight is a big event but he will have to improve his defence as he moves up. Mazoudier, who has two wins over Joel Camillieri, made it a hard night for Tszyu
Zerafa vs. Browne
Zerafa beats Browne on a retirement. Zerafa was looking to put in an impressive performance as he rebuilds after a second round kayo loss against Erislandy Lara in a challenge for the secondary WBA title in March Any chance of that disappeared as Browne retired with a bicep injury at the end of the first round. Zerafa was also hoping that a convincing win would land him a fight with Tszyu but there was no confirmation of that. It did not help Zerafa’s case that his brother climbed in the ring after the fight and landed a punch on Browne’s trainer. Not something to endear the Zerafa team to event promoter. Browne, 41, and a pro for 22 years, was 9-1 in his last 10 fights.
Wallace vs. Pampellone
Huge win for Wallace as he takes a split decision over Pampellone. Pampellone was taking the fight to Wallace early to offset Wallace’s longer reach and forcing Wallace to the ropes to work on him but with Wallace countering. The pace was hot and there were some good exchanges. Wallace lost his mouthguard in an exchange in the fourth and Pampellone landed a huge right in the fifth. Wallace was scoring with accurate counters in the sixth and seventh and the pace dropped from the eighth as it had to. It was the more accurate, cleaner work from Wallace against the harder punches from Pampellone but the closing rounds saw too much clinching as the early pace took its toll and although Pampellone tried to end it before the bell Wallace took no chances and came out the winner. Scores 116-112 twice for Wallace and 115-113 for Pampalone. This fight was an eliminator for the No 2 spot in the IBF ratings so Newry-born Wallace will now jump over No 3 Anthony Yarde and be No 2 to Michael Eifert who is No 1. In April in Sydney Malik Zinad beat Pampellone in an eliminator for -the No 2 spot on the IBF ratings ! Back-to-bac losses for Pampellone leaves him with a repair job on his hands.
Grozny, Russia: Light: Vladimir Sarukhanyan (19-0) W KO 4 Akzhol Sulaimanbek UuLu (16-3). Super Light: Idris Adalaev (5-1) W Moses Paulus (40-10,1ND). Super Middle: Aslambek Idigov (25-1) W PTS 10 Orkhan Gadzhiev (16-3-2). Welter: Tarkhan Idigov (2-0) W KO 1 Mirzamukhammad Khikmatullaev (9-10).
Sarukhanyan vs. Sulaimanbek
Armenian Sarukhanyan gets a fourth round win over Kyrgyzstan’s Sulaimanbek. Sarukhanyan made a fast start against a rusty Sulaimanbek having him in trouble with body punch in the first and then having him under pressure until another body shot put Sulaimanbek down and out in the fourth. Sarukhanyan wins the vacant Eurasian Parliament title with his ninth win by KO/TKO. Southpaw Sulaimanbek was having his first fight since January 2022.
Adalaev vs. Paulus
Adalaev stops Paulus in the sixth. Paulus looked to be in survival mode over the first two rounds. He was a walking forward behind a high guard with Adalaev pushing out jabs and able to choose his target before firing short bursts of punching. That changed totally in the third. Paulus was marching forward driving Adalaev around the ring and landing heavily from both hands. At the end of the round Adalaev looked to have vomited in his corner and the doctor examined him before the start of the fourth. Adalaev came bursting out his corner throwing punches and Paulus went down. After the count Paulus was again driving Adalaev back around the ring with nothing coming back from Adalaev. In the fifth Adalaev was again going back and consistently looking at the referee and his corner as if expecting the fight to be stopped but he found a right to floor Paulus just before the bell. Adalaev again burst out of his corner in the sixth throwing punches. Paulus went down but it was ruled a slip then he was down twice more with the referee stopping the fight after the second knockdown without a count. Adalaev was having his first fight since June 2023. Former title challenger Paulus, 46, suffers his eighth loss in a row.
Idigov vs. Khikmatullaev
Idigov dips back into professional boxing with a first round kayo of Uzbek Khikmatullaev. A right hook put Khikmatullaev down and although he beat the count he was unable to continue. Idigov had his first professional fight in March 2023 but continued to box in amateur competitions being twice Russian champion and winning a gold medal at the European Championships in April this year.
Idigov vs. Gadzhiev
Idigov wins the vacant IBF International belt with a unanimous decision over Azeri-born Gadzhiev in a competitive bout on scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94. Idigov was 23-0 before losing to Vadim Lubsanov when, with two of the judges scoring the fight 76-75, a one point deduction for spitting out his mouthguard cost him a draw. Gadzhiev was 8-0-2 before this loss broke his short unbeaten run.
AUGUST 29
Bangkok, Thailand: Super Bantam: Toshihiko Era (23-3) W KO 1 Chonlathee Srirat (4-1). Heavy: Taryel Jafarov 31-7) W KO 1 Weerapat Kamlangwai (7-4)
Era vs. Srirat
Japanese oldie Era wins the Thai and Asian Boxing Federation belts with a first round kayo of Thai novice Srirat. A straight right from Era had Srirat stumbling back to the ropes and Era then pounded him to the canvas and Srirat was counted out after just 54 seconds. Erea, 49, had his first paid fight in 1994 but was inactive 1996 to 2016 due to severe problems with sciatica. Srirat has only been a pro for three months so way out of his depth.
Jafarov vs. Kamlangwai
Azeri Jafarov, 37, was even quicker blowing away poor Weerawat in only 45 seconds for win No 29 inside the distance including seventeen in the first round. Unfortunately, five of his seven losses have also come in the first round. All four of Kamlangwai defeats have been on KO/TKO.
AUGUST 30
Mexico City, Mexico: Feather: Mauricio Lara (27-3-2) W TKO 7 Pedro Delgado (11-13-1). Light: Randy Leon (15-0-2) W PTS 10 Jose Napoles (17-3-2). Bantam: Jose Salas (16-0) W TKO 1 Lamberto Macias (17-13-1).
Lara vs. Delgado
Lara took a while to have an impact on this fight. Delgado actually built up a lead but had never fought at the Mexico City altitude and under that plus some body punches from Lara he tired. Lara floored him in the seventh and although Delgado beat the count he was dropped again and the referee stopped the fight. Lara admitted he had been suffering from depression after losing his WBA featherweight title when he failed to make the weight for a defence against Leigh Wood in Manchester in May 2023 and was then stopped in the seventh round of the fight. He had disappointed in a draw against Daniel Lugo in February and was happy to be back in the ring.
Leon vs. Napoles
Leon took a very close unanimous decision over Napoles to win the WBC Fecarbox Silver title. Napoles took an early lead but was hurt by an uppercut in the fourth and only the bell saved him. Leon kicked on from there and made the stronger finish to just get the verdict on scores of 96-94 twice and 96-95. After drawing his first fight Leon put together a run of 14 wins before being held to a draw by useful Misael Cabrera in May. Napoles had won 6 of his last 8 fights.
Salas vs. Macias
Salas ended this one in quick time. He had Macias in a bad way after connecting with a fierce left and the referee stopped the fight. Eleven wins by KO/TKO for the 22-year-old Salas.
Polomolok, Philippines: Minimumweight: Joey Canoy (22-5-2) W TKO 5 Jonathan Refugio (22-11-5).Bantam: Reymart Gaballo (28-2) W TKO 1 Jeny Boy Boca (14-16). Light Fly: ArAr Andales (15-2-3) W PTS 8 Ramel Antaran (6-26-3). Bantam: Froilan Saludar (35-8-1 ) W KO 2 Reymark Taday (11-23-1).
Canoy vs. Refugio
In a battle of experience Filipino southpaws Canoy floors Refugio in the third round and stops him in the fifth to extend his run of inside the distance finishes to five and wins the vacant WBA Asian title. Canoy used some fast, accurate jabbing to control the fight with Refugio under pressure but showing some nifty defensive work. A right hook sent Refugio down in the third but he held up well under pressure from Canoy in the fourth. Canoy chased Refugio down in the fifth without any great success but Refugio just retired at the d of the round without any apparent injury Canoy, who floored and outpointed current WBC minimumweight title holder Melvin Jerusalem back in 2017 is 0-2-1ND in shots at the IBO title. Now 5 losses in his last 6 fights for Refugio.
Gaballo vs. Boca
In a terrible mismatch former WBO No 1 Reymart Gaballo floored and stopped Boca after just 76 seconds of the first round. A left hook to the head stunned Boca and another sent him back and down. Boca made it to his feet at seven but when the referee asked him to take a couple of steps to the side he stumbled and then went down and the fight was stopped. Gaballo blew his rating when he was stopped by Kenbun Torres in the first round of what was supposed to be just a warm up fight before challenging Yoshiki Takei for the WBO title. Boca now has ten losses in a row eight by KO/TKO.
Andales vs. Antaran
Andales won a unanimous decision over Antaran to keep his hopes of a title shot alive. He used a solid jab and lots of pressure to outpoint the flashy, eccentric Antaran. Andales just kept coming but was slowed by a deliberate low shot in the fourth. Antaran has no power so could not keep Andales out and he lost a point in the seventh for another low punch as Ardales won on scores of 79-72, 78-73 and 76-75. Andales is 5-0-3 in a run of 8 fights without a loss. He challenged Knockout CP Freshmart for the WBA minimum title but lost on a technical decision after the fight was stopped due the champion suffering a cut on his left eyelid.
Saludar vs. Taday
Fighting in his home town Saludar dropped Taday in the first and again in the second to force a stoppage. Saludar was just walking Taday down throwing single big shots. Late in the round he drove Taday into a corner and Taday dropped to sit on the bottom rope and be given a count. Taday got up-reluctantly-and the bell went before Saludar could do any more damage. In the second Taday retreated to a corner and as Saludar fired a couple of punches Taday put a knee on the canvas and stayed there for the full count. The former WBO title challenger now has 25 wins inside the distance but overmatched Tady is 1-12 in his last 13 fights with eight of those losses by KO/TKO.
Cherepovets, Russia: Cruiser: Aleksei Papin (17-1,1ND) W TKO 5 Felix Varela (23-6). Middle: Gleb Bakshi (5-0) W TKO 4 Gian Garrido (11-2).
Papin vs. Varela
Papin batters Valera to defeat in five rounds. Varela had the better of the exchanges in the first and landed some good body punches in the second but then Papin hurt Varela with an uppercut and connected with a right. Varela looked about to go down but to grabbed Papin to stay up. It was punch-for-punch as they let the punches fly at the start of the third. Papin connected with some good hooks to the body but Valera went low with a counter and was warned. Papin got through with some clubbing head shots and Valera fired back with hooks before Papin landed a left hook to the head that dropped Valera. There were only 30 seconds left in the round and Valera survived. The pace dropped in the fourth with Valera just managing to stay out of trouble. After a cagey start to the fifth Papin stepped forward and hit Valera with a three-punch combination that sent Valera staggering back then down to his hands and knees before rolling over to lie on the canvas. He made it to his feet but a couple of head punches sent him collapsing to the canvas on his side. One of his cornermen climbed into the ring so the referee waived the fight over. Seventeenth inside the distance victory for Papin. His loss came on a majority decision against future WBC champion Ilunga Makabu in 2019. Since then, he is 7-0,1ND with the ND a changed verdict from a stoppage defeat that was changed when his opponent Soslan Asbarov tested positive for a banned substance. His only placing going into this fight was No 15 with the WBA. Dominican Valera had won his last four inside the schedule but this is his first KO/TKO defeat.
Bakshi vs. Garrido
Olympic bronze and World Championship gold medallist Bakshi stops Garrido in four. Bakshi dominated every round jabbing hard and connecting with clubbing rights. In the fourth a series of rights to the head sent Garrido down heavily and the referee immediately stopped the fight waived the fight over. Third inside the distance win for Bakshi . Both of New Yorker Garrido’s losses have come early.
Kazan, Russia: Welter: Sergey Lubkovich (18-0-1) W KO 4 Hamis Msondo (8-1). Super Middle: Sergey Sergeev (1-0) W TKO 4 Meshak Mwankemwa
Lubkovich vs. Msondo
Former top amateur Lubkovich gets his second win of the year as he halts Tanzanian Msondo in the fourth round. Lubkovich had his 100% record ruined by a draw with unbeaten Maxim Chemichuk in February. Msondo’s record misleading as 7 of the opponents he has beaten had combined records of 8-11-2.
Sergeev vs. Mwankemwa
Former outstanding amateur Sergeev floors and stops Tanzanian Mwankemwa in the fourth. Hed will now combine professional boxing and amateur boxing looking to repeat his success as Russian champion and compete at bathe World Championships. Mwankemwa is 0-6 in fights in Russia,
Bangkok, Thailand: Super Bantam: Phongsaphon Panyakum (24-2) W Laldingliana (5-1,1ND). Bantam: Srisaket (57-6-1) W Wuttichai Yurachai (1-2).
Panyakum vs. Laldingliana
Panyakum wins on points over India’s Laldingliana. This was close early as Laldingliana was able to box at a distance but Panyakum bossed the fight inside. His body punches weakened Laldingliana and the visitor’s lack of experience-he had never gone past the fourth round before-saw him tiring badly at the end as Panyakum won the decision-no scores available) and retained the WBC Asian title. After losing his first pro fight Panyakum has just one loss in his least 25 fights and has won his last b13 but six of his victims had never won a fight. Second fight in Thailand for Laldingliana . In his first fight in Thailand, he lost 96-94 on the three cards against 23-0-1 Thachtana so he is being match very tough.
Srisaket vs. Yurachai
Srisaket (Wisaksil Wangek) dropped novice Yurachai twice on his way to a points. Now 37, the former WBC super flyweight champion is just keeping busy so Yurachai gave him some useful ring time and although down twice in the second round he was willing to stand inside and trade punches with the former champion despite only having been a pro for two months. Scores 59-54. Srisaket has kept busy and is No 5 with the WBC so hope of another title shot are not quiet dead yet.
Atlanta, GA, USA: Super Bantam: Elijah Pierce (20-2) W PTS 10 Jose Sanmartin (35-9-1). Super Welter: Brandon Adams (25-3) W PTS 10 Francisco Veron (14-1-1). Super Welter: Andreas Katzourakis (14-0) W PTS 8 Robert Terry (12-1-1). Super Feather: Maliek Montgomery (19-0) W KO 2 Oscar Escandon (27-8).
Pierce vs. Sanmartin
Pierce wins the WBA Continental title with points victory over a combative Sanmartin. Sanmartin’s tactics were to march forward behind a high guard looking to get inside and work to the body. Pierce was hammering Sanmartin on the way in but was under plenty of pressure. The persistent Sanmartin was walking Pierce down and getting through with strength-sapping body punches but Pierce was making him pay with right hooks to the body then switching to bang to the head. Sanmartin just kept pumping out punches focusing on the body. The pace slowed over the middle rounds as both tired but Pierce produced a strong finish over the ninth and tenth to take the decision after a gruelling contest. Scores 97-93 twice and 99-91. He has wins over Tramaine Williams, Mike Plania and Arthur Villanueva (fighters with combined records of (83-7-1) and is WBA No 3. Colombian Sanmartin had a 1-3 spell where he lost to Mauricio Lara, 25-0-1 Kevin Gonzalez and a split decision against unbeaten Shabaz Masoud.
Adams vs. Veron
Adams gets the decision over Veron. Adams was marching forward trying to get past the longer reach of Veron by ducking under the jab. Veron was clinching and then pushing Adams out but was already bleeding from the nose in the first. Adams needed to press hard as Veron was looking to fire long punches and then get away or more often dive inside and hold. Veron was getting away with too much holding which was making it a messy fight and a frustrating one for Adams. He rocked Veron with a right in the fourth and outscored the Argentinian over the fifth and sixth but the Argentinian was doing some good work with his jab and straight rights-when not holding. Adams continued his relentless pursuit but Veron landed some fierce head punches in the eighth and Adams was finding it hard to work inside with Veron holding so much but he took the ninth. Veron used long sweeping punches to get the better of the action in the last but Adams had been much more effective over the rounds and won on scores of 98-91, 96-93 and 95-94. He collects the WBA Continental Americas title. Former WBC middleweight title challenger Adams was having his first fight for over three years and will now fight Katzourakis in the final of the Arena’s OTX tournament. Veron, the Argentinian No 1 was coming off a win over 18-2-1 Angel Ruiz in this same venue in April.
Katzourakis vs. Terry
Katzourakis hounds Terry for ten round to take a split decision that should have been unanimous.. The Greek boxer was relentless with his pressure putting Terry permanently on the back foot and banging away to the body with both hands. Terry boxed well on the retreat showing a good jab and some smart footwork but he is not a power puncher and Katzourakis was walking through Terry’s jab to get close and pound away at Terry’s body. Terry tired and looked gassed in the ninth but dredged up some energy and might even have done enough to edge the tenth. Scores;98-92 twice for Katzourakis and a very strange 98-93 for Terry. Katzourakis had scored a split decision over 20-2 Kudratillo Abdukakhorov and moves on to fight Adams in the final of the OXT tournament. Terry had good skills but was overpowered here.
Montgomery vs. Escandon
Montgomery dismantles Escandon in two rounds. Escandon spent much of the first round pinned against the ropes as Montgomery bombarded him with jabs, left hooks to the body and clubbing shots from both hands. Escandon tried to fire back but was too slow and lacked power. Montgomery sent Escandon into a corner at the start of the second and showered him with punches. Escandon eventually slid out of the corner but Mongomery trapped him again and just kept firing punches until Escandon slumped to the canvas and was counted out. Local prospect Montgomery, twice a National Golden Gloves champion, now has 17 wins inside the distance and showed real class. Former WBC featherweight title challenger Escandon, 40, has been largely inactive and his best days have long since disappeared in the rear view mirror.
AUGUST 31
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Super Light: Jose Rosa (27-0) W TKO 5 Jiovanni Straffon (26-7-1). Light Fly: Aldana Lopez (11-0) W PTS 10 Veronica Ruiz (5-2) . Welter: Eddy Colmenares (9-1-1) W TKO 6 Jonathan Hernandez (14-1).
Rosa vs. Straffon
Rosa forces an injured Straffon out of the fight in the fifth. Over the first two rounds a confident Rosa was piercing Straffon’s guard with right jabs and jarring lefts. Again, in the third Straffon was being stopped in his tracks by the speed of Rosas jabs and being caught by dangerous lefts. Straffon was firing right jabs but Rosa was swaying back and then connecting with lefts and already Straffon’s face was swelling from the punishment. Rosa was strictly head hunting in the fourth crashing shots onto the right side of Straffon’s face. Straffon tried to come forward behind his jab but he was twice rocked by left counters. Rosa poured on the punishment in the fifth and after some more lefts crashed onto his head Straffon turned away indicating he was finished. Straffon had suffered a broken jaw and lost some teeth. Now twenty inside the distance wins for 24-year-old Rosa who was defending the WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino belts. He is No 12 with the WBA and 14 with the WBC which is a reflection of the standard of his opposition so far and he will have to either face some rated opponents at home or try to land some significant fights in the USA. Straffon had shown power in stopping James Tennyson in the first round but in a tough schedule had lost to Maxi Hughes, Zaur Abdullaev and Andy Cruz.
Lopez vs. Ruiz
Argentinian champion Lopez wins the vacant South American title with a unanimous verdict over fellow-Argentinian Ruiz. Lopez used her better skills and her longer reach to control the fight and she won on scores of 99-91 twice and 100-90. She is still seeking her first inside the distance win. Ruiz was moving up from minimumweight and suffers her second consecutive defeat.
Colmenares vs. Hernandez
In an all-Venezuelan clash Colmenares beat Argentina-based Hernandez in six rounds. Colmenares dropped unbeaten Hernandez in the second and fifth rounds and forced a standing count in the sixth which saw the doctor intervene to have the fight stopped. All nine of Colmenares wins have come inside the distance but his eight previously beaten opponents only had eleven wins between the eight of them. He wins the vacant WBC Latino title and the WBA Fedelatin title from Hernandez who by boxing in Argentina had faced better opposition including 18-0-1 Kelvinyer Salazar.
Accra, Ghana: Super Light: Faisal Abubakari (17-0) W TKO 5 Samuel Opaogun (12-3-1). Super Light: Samuel Takyi (3-0) W ?? Emmanuel Noi Mensah (6-14).
Abubakari floors and stops Nigerian Opaogun in the fifth. Abubakari towered over Opaogun and used his much longer reach to scores at distance. Opaogun was force to dive forward and was an easy target for counters with Abubakari able just take a couple of steps back to leave Opaogun without a target. As Opaogun dived forward flailing with wild punches in the second he left himself open and was met with a right and he fell into the ropes which held him up and resulted in a count. In the third Opaogun was cut over his left eye in a clash of heads which with his head down kamikaze tactics was almost inevitable. Abubakari was just jabbing and scoring with rights in the fourth and tying Opaogun up inside. Abubakari side stepped an Opaogun rush and supplied a helping push as Opaogun went flying through the ropes onto the ring apron. He climbed back into the ring and the fight continued. A right to the head had Opaogun staggering and putting both gloves on the canvas to steady himself. He was up quickly and walked to a corner as the referee gave him a count. He jogged up and down during the count then hesitated before coming forward as the referee asked but the referee waived the fight off with Opaogun’ second climbing in the ring and remonstrating with the referee but the fight was over. Abubakari retained the WBO African title with his fourteenth win by KO/TKO. Opaogun was 11-1-1 in his last 13 fights with the loss coming against Kane Gardner.
Guadalajara, Mexico: Light Fly: Francisco Rodriguez (39-6-1) W KO 1 Jorge Villalobos (14-4-3).
Rodriguez disposes of Villalobos in the first. Rodriguez was landing some hurtful body punches until Villalobos went down from one and did not want to fight anymore. Now 27 inside the distance wins for the former undefeated WBO and IBF minimumweight title holder. First loss by KO/TKO for Villalobos.
Naucalpan, Mexico: Welter: Julio Luna (23-1-2) W TKO 5 Oliver Quintana (21-3). Super Welter: Leonardo Ruiz (15-0) W PTS 10 Alejandro Davila (23-6-2) W .
Luna vs. Quintana
Luna adds another impressive victory as he halts Quintana in the fifth round. It was expected this would be a tough test for Luna but he had the better of the exchanges over the first four rounds. He ended it in the fifth with an uppercut that sent Quintana down heavily and although he beat the count he was still badly shaken and the fight was stopped. Luna’s sole loss came on points to then 29-0 Giovani Santillan. He is back on track with wins over 20-3-2 Hassam Valenzuela and 25-1 Omar Aguilar. Quintana had won 6 of his last 7 bouts
Ruiz vs. Davila
The taller and younger Ruiz won a unanimous decision over more experienced Davila but no scores available.
Nicaragua, Nicaragua: Super Feather: Rene Alvarado (34-14) W PTS 10 Ricardo Blandon (17-6,1ND).
Alvarado gets the win but is cut and the fight is close. Blandon has done most of his boxing at bantamweight and below so Alvarado had big physical advantages. He put those to good use over the first four rounds but was cut on his right eyebrow in the fifth. That seemed to bother Alvarado and Blandon scored heavily in the sixth staggering Alvarado a number of times. Alvarado had the strength and experience to come though the crisis and went on to win but was not impressive. Scopres 97-93 twice and 98-92 for Alvarado. At 35 the former WBA super feather title holder is showing his age and he had lost 6 of his last 7 fights before this fight. Blandon had won his last two fights against domestic opposition.
Mexico City, Mexico: Atomic Weight: Anabel Ortiz (34-6) W PTS 10 Montserrat Alarcon (19-6-2).
Ortiz gets herself back into the running for a title shot with a clear unanimous victory over Alarcon. It was Alarcon with her quicker hands and movement who went ahead early but Ortiz used her longer reach to stay in the fight and then as she applied more and more pressure Alarcon began to fade out of the fight. A clash of heads in the seventh saw Alarcon suffer a bad cut on her left eyebrow and Ortiz was deducted a point for the careless head work. Alarcon fought hard trying to turn the fight her way but in her desperation was leaving herself open to counters and Ortiz emerged a big winner on scores of 98-91, 98-92 and 98-93. This was an eliminator for a shot at the WBA Atom title which Yuko Kuroki had won from Alarcon in August last year.
Gwangju City, South Korea: Feather: Jong Seon Kang (20-1-2) W KO 4 Luis Millan (27-8). Super Feather: Bo Mi Shin (17-2-3) W TKO 7Ana Maria Lozano (24-14-1).
Kang vs. Millan
Kang, 22, scores a fourth round kayo over Venezuelan Millan to win the WBO Global title . His only loss came on points against unbeaten Filipino southpaw Lienard Sarcon. He has run up five wins since then including a victory over former IBF light flyweight champion Milan Melindo. In typical Venezuelan style 22 of the guys Millan has beaten have never won a fight.
Shin vs. Lozano
Former undefeated WBC International champion Shin makes it 8 wins in her last nine fights with a seventh round stoppage of Venezuelan Lozano. Shin’s loss in those last nine fights came in a split decision against Delfine Persoon for the WBC Silver belt in Belgium. Lozano has lost each time in six shots at a variety of world titles
Santa Ynez, CA, USA: Super Light: Cain Sandoval (14-0) W KO 6 Romero Duno (26-5).
Sandoval gets another inside the distance win as he kayos Duro in the sixth round. It looked as though it might be a tough night for Sandoval as experienced Filipino Duro , who has 20 inside the distance wins, connected with some rights in the first. Sandoval took over in the second coming forward scoring with rights of his own and he continued to dominate the action in the third. Rights from Duro had raised an ugly bump under the left eye of Sandoval but body punches from Sandoval were slowing Duro. Sandoval landed some impressive combinations over the fourth and fifth and ended it in the sixth. A left to the body had Duro backing to the ropes and a right to the body sent him down to his hands and knees and he was counted out. Twelfth win by KO/TKO for the 22-year-old Californian. No names yet but he is making progress. Duro has lost inside the distance to Ryan Garcia and Frank Martin and was coming off a kayo loss against Antonio Moran.
Fight of the week: (Significance): Diego Pacheco’s impressive win over Maciej Sulecki keeps his name in the frame at super welter
Fight of the week: (Entertainment): The Nikita Tszyu vs. Koen Mazoudier was a thriller and matched by the Wallace vs. Pampalone fight on the same show so good value in Sydney.
Fighter of the week: Diego Pacheco
Punch of the week: The left hook to the body from Pacheco that made him the first gut to kayo Sulecki was fierce
Upset of the week: Everything went as expected although Wallace was a bit of an outsider against Pampalone
Prospect watch: Super Feather Maliek Montgomery 19-0 and twice a National Golden Gloves Champion loos good.
Observations
Rosette: Eddie Hearn for the Carson show the only big show on show
Red Card: To some of those not competing on the show in Sydney with Jason Zerafa climbing in the ring and taking a cheap shot at Tommy Browne’s trainer and the Connor Wallace fans who were evicted for rowdy behaviour
-With the Russian athletes being banned from fighting under their national flags due to past institutional doping (at least I hope they are passed) it was ironic to read that Soslan Asbarov was banned for six years for testing positive after stopping Aleksi Papin. It’s a sort of left hand right hand. Over here you have institutional cheating and yet another body is handing out the most stringent penalties for cheating by using banned substances.
- I don’t get too hot under the collar over scoring. As long as you have it done by humans you are going to get differences but it went a bit far at the Carson show:
For Fuchs vs. Ruiz, it was 97-93, 93-97 and then 100-90!
For Clarke vs. Apochi we had a 98-92 and a 95-95
For Cardenas vs. Valdez 96-94 twice an 92-98
Vive la difference !
-Quite a story for Japanese super bantamweight Toshihiko Era who won on a first round kayo in Thailand on Thursday. He turned professional in 1994 and won 2 of his 3 fights. Just three days before his fourth fight scheduled for 7 January 1996 he became paralysed on his right side. He stuffed down pain killers went through with the fight and won. he suffered severe sciatica after the match so bad he had to retire due to difficulty walking without painkillers and requiring to wear a corset. It took ten years but he finally recovered enough to fight again in 2016. Then came problem No 2. Japanese boxer must retire at 38 but in 2016 he was 41 so he had to get a licence to fight in Thailand. He is 21-2 in his 23 fights since 2016. He has reversed one of those losses and has won a box full of titles including the Thai flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight, Asian Boxing Federation title in five different divisions and the WBA East Asian flyweight title and at 49 is one of the oldest current title holders in any country.
-His success At 49 makes me wonder if 40 is the new 30. At the weekend we had in action: Moses Paulus 46, Roberto Garcia 44, Jude Ilo 44, Olan Durodola 43, Tommy Browne 41, Oscar Escandon 40, Jovanny Soto 40, Jose Espinoza 39, Srisaket 37 and Taryel Jafarov 37. Almost enough for a Senior’s tournament. Keep punching guys.
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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