The Past Week in Action 23rd October 2024
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Oct 2024
Highlights:
- Bakhram Murtazaliev stops Tim Tszyu in three rounds in IBF super welterweight title defence and there are wins for Yoenis Tellez and a returning Gary Antonio Russell and Cesar Tapia And Endry draw in a war
-Movladdin Biyarslanov and Steve Claggett win in Canada
- Muslim Gadzhimagomedov , Albert Batyrgaziev and Immanuel Josef win on IBA show in Russia
-William Scull wins the vacant IBF super middleweight title with a points victory over Vladimir Shishkin
-Adam Azim stops Ohara Davies in London and there are wins for Anthony Yarde, Tulani Mbenge and Lewis Edmondson
-Zaur Abdullaev beats Juan Carrasco in an IBF lightweight title eliminator
MAJOR SHOWS
OCTOBER 19
Orlando, FL, USA: Super Welter: Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0) W TKO 3 Tim Tszyu (24-2). Super Welter: Yoenis Tellez (9-0) W TKO 7 Johan Gonzalez (35-4). Middle: Cesar Tapia (17-0-1) DREW 10 Endry Saavedra (16-2). Heavy: Dainier Pero (9-0) W TKO 3 Willie Jake Jr (11-6-2). Super Bantam : Gary Antonio Russell (20-1) W KO 4 Jaden Burnias (6-3-2). Super Bantam: Ryan Allen (11-8-1) W TKO 4 Carlos Jackson (20-1).
Murtazaliev vs. Tszyu
Murtazaliev scores four knockdown s as he stops Tszyu in the third round in defence of his IBF title.
Round 1
Both were just probing with jabs with Murtazaliev circling and Tszyu in the centre of the ring. Murtazaliev launched a quick attack landing a couple of shots and Tszyu then did the same. The action was stopped after they bumped heads but no one was cut. Murtazaliev scored with a jab and a hook and Tszyu responded getting through with a jab and a straightish. Murtazaliev connected with a sneaky right then a smart combination. Tszyu landed a long right to the head then they traded hooks. Murtazaliev found the target with a couple of rights and then an uppercut and a right.
Score: 10-9 Murtazaliev
Round 2
They both scored vas they traded punches with a right from Murtazaliev the best of the bunch. As they came together Murtazaliev connected with a solid left hook that put Tszyu down. He was up quickly but it was a solid shot and after the eight count he clinched trying to smother shots from Murtazaliev but the Russian landed some hard hooks and then staggered Tszyu and dropped him with a left hook. Tszyu was up at six and then traded punches landing a couple of useful shots. Murtazaliev was throwing wild punches looking to get another knockdown but Tszyu rocked him with a right and an uppercut before being staggered by two left hooks. Tszyu was in deep trouble and was stumbling and desperately grabbed Murtazaliev who connected with a left and right that again had Tszyu staggering before falling to the canvas on his hands and knees. Tszyu again beat the count and the bell went as Murtazaliev rushed across the ring trying to finish the fight.
Score: 10-7 Murtazaliev20-16
Round 3
Before the start of the round The doctor gave Tszyu a thorough examination and the fight continued. Tszyu fired jabs until a right cross shook him but he stepped inside and again threw some punches. Tszyu continued to try to walk forward but a left hook floored him heavily. He made to his feet and referee decided he was OK to continue but a right sent him staggering along the ropes and as Murtazaliev landed a couple more punches the refereed jumped in and stopped the fight.
Murtazaliev wins the vacant WBC title and was making the first defence of the IBF title he won with an eleventh round kayo of Jack Culcay in April. Seventeen victory by KO/TKO for Murtazaliev and first inside the distance loss for Tszyu who had lost a split decision against Sebastian Fundora in March.
Tellez vs. Gonzalez
After a slow start Tellez takes control and floors Gonzalez three times to end the fight in the seventh. Gonzalez outworked Tellez over the first two rounds but Tellez worked his way into the fight in the third switching guard and landing the cleaner and heavier punches. Tellez began to take control from the fourth. He was catching the advancing Gonzalez with left hooks to the body and putting together some quick combinations. After an even start in the fifth Tellez took over and he was connecting with uppercuts and hooks. A right from Tellez floored Gonzalez in the sixth and he shook Gonzalez with an uppercut after the count. Tellez finished the job in the seventh. He connected with a left hook that sent Gonzalez down and almost out of the ring. Gonzalez struggled to his feet but was sent down again by a right hook and the referee stopped the fight. The talk, 24-year-old Cuban has put together a run of good wins having beaten Sergio Garcia, Livan Navarro and 19-0 Joseph Jackson. Venezuelan Gonzalez had lost in recent action to Magomed Kurbanov and Jesus Ramos Jr.
Tapia vs. Saavedra
Tapia and Saavedra stage a terrific fight which sees both on the canvas in a majority draw. Tapia had a slight edge as he boxed well over the first two rounds. Saavedra had looked dangerous and he exploded in the third. He drove Tapia across the ring under a torrent punches with Tapia dropping to the canvas and almost of the ring through the ropes. Tapia made it to his feet but was still badly shaken. With only seconds remaining in the round Saavedra again unleashed a series of punches that sent Tapia into the ropes where he sat balanced on the bottom rope. He again climbed up and luckily for him the bell went after the eight count. Tapia recovered enough to get through the fourth and floored Saavedra in the fifth. As the Mexican again drove forward Tapia landed a tremendous short right and Saavedra hit the canvas. Saavedra survived that and they traded punches inside in fiery exchanges over the middle rounds. It was very even at the end of the eighth with Tapia having a slender lead. That disappeared in the ninth as Saavedra connected with hooks inside that staggered Tapia. Saavedra followed Tapia across the ring to a corner and unleashed a bunch of hooks and uppercuts that had Tapia sliding down the ropes and resting on his knees. Tapia looked finished but he dragged himself up, saw out the round and then won the last to earn a draw. Scores 93-93 twice and 94-92 for Tapia so the IBF Inter-Continental title remains vacant after a memorable scrap.
Russell vs. Burnias
Russell returns to action with a fourth round kayo victory over Burnias. First fight for Russell since his loss on a wide technical decision against Emmanuel Rodriguez a loss that derailed his journey to a title fight. All four versions are held by Japanese boxers and Russell will be aiming to build himself back to a challengers place. Burnias had won his last four fights but was just a sacrificial offering here.
Allen vs. Jackson
Score one for the wrong side of the fight schedule as Allen stops Jacson inn then fourth round. Allen had lost his last five fights against modest opposition. Jackson had won his last four including opponents with 24-1 and 18-2-1 records but Allen spoiled the party.
Falkensee, German: Super Middle: William Scull (23-0) W PTS 12 Vladimir Shishkin (16-1). Middle: Vincenzo Gualtieri (23-1-1) W KO 1 Job Herrera (12-3-1).Heavy: Dusan Veletic (9-1-1) W PTS 10 Tomas Salek (22-6). Super Welter: Paul Wall (8-0) W TKO 7 Nourdeen Toure (12-3)
Scull vs. Shishkin
Cuban Scull wins the vacant IBF title with a unanimous decision over Russian Shishkin. Scull made a good start scoring with sharp jabs in the first and getting through with a hard right to take the round. The second was closer but better defensive work from Scull allowed him to slip many of Shishkin’s punches and he made the round his own. Shishkin put in a big effort in the third to try and get into the fight but it wea a messy round with too many clinches and the only good work was done by Scull. Shishkin finally began to get into the fight in the fourth putting Scull under plenty of pressure and landing well to head and body. Shishkin still had a gap to make up as Scull was in front on two cards at 39-37 and 39-38 with the third card reading 38-38. In the fifth Shishkin built on his good work from the fourth getting his punches off first and going on to outwork Scull in the sixth. Scull woke up in the seventh raised his pace and took the round but pressure from Shishkin had Scull finding himself trapped against the ropes too often in the eighth as Shishkin clawed back another round. The Russian had closed the gap Scull had built over the first four round and at the end of the eighth it was a fight that could go either way with scores being 77-75 Scull, 77-76 Shishkin and 76-76. Scull pulled away from there. He used his superior hand speed to pierce Shishkin guard landing some hard head shots and clinching to smother Shishkin’s work inside. When Shishkin did manage to drive Scull to the ropes Scull defended cleverly leaving few gaps scoring with counters and he shook Shishkin with a right in the tenth. Scull showed signs of slowing in the eleventh but he hurt Shishkin with a left hook. Scull had a winning leads but there was a scare in the twelfth as Scull was badly shaken by a right. As Shishkin piled on the punches Scull “lost” his mouthguard which gave him a few vital seconds of recovery time and he was able to, see out the rest of the round. Sculls won on scores of 116-112, 116-113 and 115-113.
The 32 year-old Cuban has a couple of useful wins but has never faced a name of any significance and the same can be said of Shishkin.
Gualtieri vs. Herera
Former IBF middleweight champion Gualtieri brushes aside vastly overmatched Herrera in a round. Gualtieri was tracking the retreating Argentinian with Herrera circling the ring and stopping a couple of times to throw a few wild punches. Gualtieri trapped Herrera in a corner and landed a left hook to the body. It did not look that hard a punch but Herrera dropped to the canvas then climbed to his knees and made an unconvincing attempt to rise but was counted out. Second win for Gualtieri since losing his IBF title on a sixth round stoppage by Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in October. Predictable end to a disgraceful match. This was Herrera’s first fight for almost eight years and even eight years ago Herrer was basically just a second rate prelim fighter.
Veletic vs. Salek
Serb Veletic wins the vacant German International title as he proves to clever for Czech Salek. Veletic is quite sick for a heavyweight and that plus his longer reach allowed him to outbox Salek. Veletic was cut over his left eye in the third which gave Salek some encouragement and he pressed hard in the fourth. Over the second half of the fight Veletic did enough to win the close rounds and Salek was unable to find the way to put in the big effort he needed at the end. Veletic won on scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93. The 6’5” Veletic’s loss was on a retirement against Cuban Jose Larduet. Salek was floored twice and stopped in 81 seconds by Nathan Gorman in June 2022 but was 5-1 in 6 fights since then.
Wall vs. Toure
Wall gets some useful ring time against the rusty Toure. Wall boxed cautiously over the first three round staggering Toure in the second to build a good lead., Toure had a good fourth landing heavily forcing Wall to hold to see out the round.
Wall was on top again from the fifth with Toure slowing and Wall connected with hooks in the seventh to drop Toure. He made it to his feet but was unsteady and then fight was stopped. Fifth win for 27-year-old Wall who was German champion at Cadet, Junior, Youth and Elite level. Toure was having his first fight for three years.
London, England: Super Light: Adam Azim (12-0) W KO 8 Ohara Davies (25-4). Light Heavy: Lewis Edmondson (10-0) W PTS 12 Dan Azeez (20-2-1). Light Heavy: Anthony Yarde (26-3) W PTS 10 Ralfs Vilcans (17-2). Welter: Tulani Mbenge (21-2) W PTS 12 Michael McKinson (26-2).
Azim vs. Davies
Biggest and best win so far for super talented Azim as he knocks out Davies in the eighth round.
Azim was quickly using his quick footwork to get him in range and fast hands to land jabs. He was doubling up on his jab with Davies unable to get in range to score. Azim landed a hard right then more jabs. Davies was on the back foot and not quick enough to land on the fleet Azim. In the second Azim fired home a right then Davies tried come forward to put Azim under pressure but Azim danced around him changing angles and stabbing out jabs. Davies did a better job of moving away from Azim’s jab but was not landing punches himself. They were both firing jabs in the third with both having some success. It turned into a good round for Davies as he was getting on target with his jabs and landed a couple of good rights with Azim not so dominant. Davies make a strong start in the fourth using his jab to force Azim back and putting him under pressure and disrupting Azim’s rhythm. Late in the round Azim went on the front foot and landed a cracking left hook and hurtful uppercut and Davies was now bleeding heavily from the nose. Davies started the fifth coming in low slinging punches. Azim quickly found his range and was walking forward scoring with hooks from both hands with Davies on the retreat. A left hook to the body saw Davies drop to one knee. After the count a right from Azim almost had Davies putting his gloves on the canvas but he stayed upright. A right to the head staggered Davies later in the round but be retreated and stuck out jabs and Azim was unable to, land anything more of note. They traded jabs over the first minute of the sixth and then let their hands go but with little accuracy until Azim started to land left hooks to the body and putting together a flashing combination. Davies moved inside in the seventh trying to nullify Azim’s speed but Azim was a getting the better of then trading with vicious hooks from both hands. Azim used hooks and uppercuts to force Davies back and Davies was lunging with his punches . There was a hint of desperation in his work as Azim landed his trademark left hooks to the body and a couple of clubbing rights. Azim finished the job in the eighth. After sending Davies back with jabs he fired a right which Davies blocked and a left hook that crashed into the side of Davies head. He went down to his hands and knees and was counted out. Already the European champion Azim adds his name to the list of top super lightweights in the UK with the WBC ratings having Jack Catterall No 2, Dalton Smith No 3 and Josh Taylor No 5 and on this form the 22-year-old Azim will soon be joining them. First time in his career that Davies has lost consecutive fight for Davies having been stopped Ismael Barroso in a fight for the temporary/interim WBA title in January.
Azeez vs. Edmondson
Edmonson wins the vacant British and Commonwealth titles with a majority decision over former champion Azeez
There was not a great deal, of action in the first two rounds. Edmondson was very upright looking to use his longer reach to keep Azeez at bay and switching guards with Azee circling Edmondson looking for a way inside but when he did get there Edmondson was holding preventing Azeem from working. Their styles did not make a good mix and whilst Edmondson had some success in the third and fourth with darting attacks and Azeez managed to connect with some hooks when he evaded Edmondson’s jab it was a disappointing fight. At the start of the fifth referee gave them a little lecture about getting on with the fight. They both stepped up their efforts with some exchanges with Edmondson stepping behind his jab tom throw right but he was still holding too much and Azeez managed to get in some tasty hooks when he was able to work inside but before the sixth the referee again urged them to get some action going. They finally started to deliver. Edmondson was using his jab and long rights but Azeez upped the pressure and was able to get inside and work with hooks. Edmondson had a better seventh making more use of his longer reach but he ruined that by losing a point in the eighth for forcing Azeez’s head down and landing a punch on the break. Azeez finished the ninth strongly but there was too much holding and it was an untidy fight with no highlights. There were some finally some fireworks in the tenth as that stood and traded punches and Edmondson showed signs of tiring in the eleventh but finished strong. Edmondson got the majority decision on scores of 115-112 and 114-113 with the third card reading 114-114. This was Edmondson’s first fight scheduled for more than eight rounds and he handled the added distance well. It was a pity their styles did not mesh and it was close enough to have gone either way with Azeez looking worth draw at least.
Yarde vs. Vilcans
Yarde drops Latvian Vilcans in the opening round but has to battle for ten rounds to get the win. Yarde made a great start dropping Vilcans with a thunderous right cross early in the first round. Vilcans did well to get up from that bomb and with Yarde not pressing too hard he lasted to the bell. Vilcans went on the offensive in the second most taking the fight to Yarde but Yarde but boxed intelligently sliding away from Volcans’ punches and finding the target with counters. Yarde took the fight to Vilcans in the fourth rocking the Latvian with a right and forcing Vilcans onto the back foot. Yade also scored heavily at the start of the fifth but Vilcans came back with an attack scoring with a bunch of punches. Yarde continued to land hard head shots throughout the sixth but Vilcans refused to buckle and they both had good spells in the seventh. Yarde had the better of the exchanges in the eighth landing body punches but again Vilcans took the punishment and fired back with spirit. Vilcans took Yarde to a corner and landed lefts and rights in the ninth and Yarde saw out the storm and then took over landed some brutal punches of his own. Both fighters slowed over the tenth and Vilcan’s deservedly made it to the final bell. The referee scored it 98-92 for Yarde. Third victory for Yarde since his eighth round stoppage loss to Artur Beterbiev in January 2023. After taking less than five rounds for two wins Yarde was given some very valuable ring time by Vilcans. In his only other loss Vilcans had been outclassed by unbeaten Danish hope Jacob Bank in June 2023 but had since won the Latvian title and knocked out Shefat Isufu in two rounds snapping an eleven bout winning run for the Serbian-born German.
Mbenge vs. McKinson
South African Mbenge outscores McKinson to win the vacant IBO title. Southpaw McKinson was sharp at the start scoring with jabs and he looked to have shaken Mbenge with a left. Mbenge get into the fight in the second using his strength, hard jabs and rights to offset McKinson’s speed. Mbenge had a good third. He was walking through McKinson’s jab landing rights to the head and banging to the body with both hands forcing McKinson to hold. Mbenge also dominated the action in the fourth and fifth staying on top of McKinson and connecting with hooks and uppercuts to the body and he also took the sixth with McKinson lacking the power to keep Mbenge out. McKinson finally engineered some breathing room in the seventh outscoring Mbenge and the eighth round was very even. The ninth was the best round of the fight. McKinson chose to stand and trade punches and there was plenty of back and forth action with Mbenge’s power giving him the edge. McKinson rebounded to take the tenth and eleventh as they again went toe-to-toe in both rounds but the earlier body work by Mbenge was catching up with McKinson. Despite tiring he somehow dredged up enough energy to again stand and trade with Mbenge for the full three minutes with Mbenge just doing enough to win a great round. Scores 116-112 twice and 117-111 for Mbenge. He is a former IBO champion at this weight . He lost the title to Sebastian Formella and dropped a majority decision against unbeaten Souleymane Cissokho so two losses but against world level opposition. McKinson’s only other defeat was a ninth round stoppage by Vergil Ortiz in 2022 and he had come back with four wins
OCTOBER 17
Gatineau, Canada: Super Light: Movladdin Biyarslanov (17-0) W PTS 10 Jonathan Eniz (35-21-1,1ND). Super Light: Steve Claggett (39-8-2) W TKO 4 Eduardo Estela (16-4). Light Heavy: Mehmet Unal (11-0) W TKO 3 Armenak Hovhannisyan (14-5-1). Middle: Shamil Khataev (13-0-1) W TKO 3 Cristian Coria (30-10-3). Light: Luis Santana (13-0) W PTS 8 Sebastian Aguirre (19-6). Middle: Alexandre Gaumont (12-0) W TKO 2 Andres Viera (12-9).
Biyarslanov vs. Eniz
Russian-born Canadian Biyarslanov picks up win No 17 as he outscores a willing Eniz. Biyarslanov was made to fight hard for all ten rounds. He had southpaw Eniz badly shaken in the sixth but Eniz came through the crisis and defied Biyarslanov’s attempts to end the fight early. Biyarslanov was looking to better Steve Claggett’s effort as Claggett stopped Eniz in four rounds. He was making the second defence of the NABF belt but he needs to face better quality opposition if he is to break into the ratings.
Claggett vs. Estela
Claggett drops Estela twice in the third round with body punches and stops him in the fourth. First fight for Claggett since losing a wide unanimous decision against Teo Lopez in a challenge for the WBO title in June. Uruguayan Estela came in on the back of two minor wins.
Unal vs. Hovhannisyan
Impressive win for Unal as he becomes the first to halt tough Armenian-born German Hovhannisyan inside the distance. Canadian-based Turk Unal ended the fight in the third for his ninth win by KO/TKO. Fourth defeat in his last five bouts for Hovhannisyan.
Khataev vs. Coria
In his second fight in Canada Khataev gets his first win as he stops Argentinian Coria in three rounds. Khataev, Russian champion at Junior, Youth and Senior level, had drawn with 18-1-1 Ramadan Hiseni in June. Coria 42, had sprung a major surprise when he stopped 24-1 Joel Diaz in 2019 but then lost three in a row against high level opposition and this is only his fifth fight in five years
Santana vs. Aguirre
Santana recovers from a near disaster in the first round to outpoint hard punching Argentinian southpaw Aguirre. Santana was on the floor twice in the first round but battled back and did not lose another round. Scores 78-73 twice and 78-72. Montreal’s Santana had won his last four fights inside the distance but it was nearly the biter bitten. Aguirre is 0-3 in fights in Canada
Gaumont vs. Viera
Home town fighter Gaumont finishes Viera in two rounds. After an even first round Gaumont first cut and then hammered Vera with a right counter sending him down on one knee with the fight being stopped. Eighth win by KO/TKO for Gaumont. Uruguayan Viera came in as a late substitute and he suffers his eighth inside the distance loss.
Tokyo, Japan: Super Feather: Masanori Rikiishi (16-1) W TKO 2 Arnel Baconaje (17). Feather: Keisuke Matsumoto (12-0) W KO 2 Kimihiro Nakagawa (10-7-2).
Rikiishi vs. Baconaje
Rikiishi makes it 14 wins in a row as he kayos Filipino Baconaje in the second round. Rikiishi found the target with right jabs in the first then finished the job in the second. A left to the body sent Baconaje down writhing in agony and he stayed there for the full count. Rikiishi, rated IBF 3, WBC 6, and WBO 8, scored an impressive win by stopping 23-1 Michael Magnesi in Italy in March to win the WBC Silver belt. He is the younger brother of Masamichi Yabuki who beat Sivenathi Nontshinga last week to regain the IBF light flyweight title. Rikiishi spent two years in juvenile detention for crime but after that became serious about his boxing and has prospered ever since. Baconaje is 3-3 in his last six fights..
Matsumoto vs. Nakagawa
Matsumoto knocks out Nakagawa in the second round. Nakagawa attacked hard in the first but Matsumoto used some strong jabbing to control the action. Early in the second Matsumoto landed a right hook that floored Nakagawa. He put Nakawa down again with a right and the third knockdown came from a series of punches with Nakagawa counted out. Matsumoto, 25, was defending the national title for the fifth time. Nakagawa, who was challenging for the title for the first time, was in his first fight scheduled for ten rounds.
Ufa, Russia: Bridgerweight: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (5-0) W PTS 12 Leon Harth (22-6-1,1ND). Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0) W RTD 4 Albert Pagara (35-2 ). Super Feather: Artur Subkhankulov (7-0) W PTS 12 Wensong Liu (11-4-1). Fly: Immanuel Josef( 16-4-1) W TEC DEC 8 Vasily Egorov (0-1).
Gadzhimagomedov vs. Harth
Gadzhimagomedov makes a successful first defence of the WBA Bridgerweight title with unanimous verdict over Armenian-born German Harth. Gadzhimagomedov started off with a very traditional approach staying in front of the smaller Harth firing jabs with Harth not quick enough or strong enough to get to grips with Gadzhimagomedov. As the fight developed Gadzhimagomedov was comfortable to box on the back foot scoring with counters. Harth occasionally looked dangerous with right crosses but mostly he just could not get past Gadzhimagomedov’s jab. Gadzhimagomedov scored heavily over the eleven and twelfth but Harth made it to the end. Scores 120-108 on all three cards. Gadzhimagomedov is a former two-time world champion and Olympic Silver medallist. The No Decision on Harth’s record was originally a sixth round TKO loss against Evgeny Tishchenko in December but Tishchenko tested positive for a banned substance.
Batyrgaziev vs. Pagara
Batyrgaziev beats Filipino Pagara on a fourth round retirement. The first round saw Batyrgaziev firing jabs putting Pagara on the back foot. Pagan was mainly just retreating along the ropes with some flashy but ineffective work. Pagara then went on the attack for a brief spell until Batyrgaziev again took control with his jab and straight rights. Plenty of jabs from Batyrgaziev in the second with Pagara just backing up looking to counter but off target. Pagara then came forward behind a high guard but was not closing Batyrgaziev down and Batyrgaziev kept feeding Pagara right jabs and lefts able to pick his spot. It was target practice in the third as Pagara stood against the ropes behind a high guard. When Pagara did come forward throwing punches Batyrgaziev landed counter after counter and just kept pushing out punches to head and body as Pagara retreated behind his high defence or dropped his hands and bobbed and weaved but threw little. It was relentless pressure from Batyrgaziev in fourth as he battered away at Pagara with punches from both hands switching his attack from head to body. Pagara did not come out the fifth round indicating an injury to his left shoulder. Batyrgaziev retains his IBA belt. Batyrgaziev claimed his team had made an offer to Gervonta Davis for a fight but got no response. He holds the WBA interim/temporary title at super featherweight and his team claim that if WBA champion Roach losses to Davis in his challenge for the WBA lightweight title in December Roach must defended the super featherweight title against Batyrgaziev within 120 days. Pagara was 26-0 and in line for a shot at a super bantamweight title before he was knocked out by Cesar Juarez in July 2016. He faded out of the title running and this is only his second fight in almost two years
Subkhankulov vs. Liu
Southpaw Subkhankulov wins the vacant WBA Asian title with points victory over China’s Liu. Subkhankulov found Liu an easy target at distance but it was a fierce attack with hooks and uppercuts that had Liu reeling undern pressure in the second. Liu came through that and then took the fight to Subkhankulov but he was overreaching with his punches making him an easy target for counters and Subkhankulov fed him a diet of hooks and uppercuts. Liu absorb the punishment and kept trying to attack and Subkhankulov admitted he tired over the last three rounds. Scores 99-91 from the judges. Subkhankulov also holds the IBA European title.
Josef vs. Egorov
Namibian Josef gets a surprise technical decision over Egorov. The Russian is a two-time European champion and World Championships silver medal winner. They made a mistake in picking Josef as an opponent. He was the bigger man with a longer reach and good power. Egorov was buzzing around Josef on the outside having difficulty getting past Josef’s jab and was being caught with straight rights. Egorov’s speed kept him in the fight but there was a clash of heads in the seventh. Egorov immediately stepped back and blood was streaming from a deep, vertical cut over his left eye. Josef had a swiftly growing swelling under his left eye but the cut suffered by Egorov was much too serious for the fight to continue and Josef won a deserved unanimous technical decision. Josef is 6-0-1 in his last 7 fights and wins the vacant WBA Asia East title. Is Namibia in East Asia? Big disappointment for Egorov but he can still be a factor in the division.
OCTOBER 18
Dublin, Ireland: Light Heavy: Joseph Ward (12-1) W RTD 6 Dmytro Fedas (8-672).
Irish southpaw Ward gets his second win of the year as he forces retirement on overmatched Fedas. A confident and relaxed Ward scored heavily on Fedas shaking him a couple of times and banging home lefts to the body but Fedas just kept coming. After absorbing a hard left counter, he would take a step back but would then just walk forward again. Ward was winning every round but by the sixth both were tiring. Ward continued to pound on Fedas in the sixth although both looked to be tiring and there was too much clinching. Ward ended the round with a burst of left hand punches and Fedas was pulled out by his corner before the start of the seventh. It is now seventh inside the distance win for Ward who lost his first professional fight due to a knee injury. As an amateur Ward was World Junior and World Youth champion as well as a European championships gold medallist but he was out for two years after the knee injury. Ukrainian Fedas has lost his last 6 fights but his opposition has been very good quality.
Rome, Italy: Welter: Mirko Geografo (18-1-2) W Pietro Rossetti (18-3).
This looked a very even match on paper and so it proved to be as Geografo won this Rome derby on a very narrow unanimous decision over Rossetti. In his usual style Rossetti was taking the fight to Geografo who was using his edges in height and reach to counter Rossetti’s attacks. The rounds were close with Geografo suffering a cut on his cheek and Rossetti later warned for careless use of his head when the cut on Geografo’ s cheek opened again. Rossetti’s aggression and Geografo down briefly in the ninth gave him a narrow lead going into the last three rounds but Geografo staged the better finish to just take the decision on scores 115-114 twice and 115-113. Greatly entertaining title fight. Geografo wins the vacant WBC Silver title at the second attempt having drawn with Luigi Alfieri for the title in June. Third defeat in a row for Rossetti including an unsuccessful shot at the national title also in June.
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Tokyo, Japan: Super Feather: Reiya Abe (25-4-1) W Hibiki Kawamoto (7-1-1).
Former IBF title challenger Abe scores a unanimous decision over inexperienced Kawamoto. Abe struggled to read Kawamoto over the early rounds but finally began to time his attacks and by the fourth had Kawamoto bleeding heavily from the nose and a stoppage looked possible. Abe just could not find the punch to end the fight and Kawamoto remained competitive with his speed and body punching. Abe tended to work inside over the closing rounds and although this was the first time Kawamoto had gone past the sixth round he did not fade. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 for Abe who lost on an eighth round stoppage against Luis Lopez for the IBF featherweight title in March. Kawamoto, 21, had won his last four fights
Puebla, Mexico: Bantam: Cristopher Lopez (17-0-2) W KO 5 Edwin Barrios (12-1). Fly: Gabriela Sanchez (11-6) W PTS 10 Tomoko Okuda (8-7-2). Super Welter: Heriberto Flores (14-0) W PTS 8 Dante Jardon (36-11).
Lopez vs. Barrios
Lopez gets a fifth round kayo of Barrios and wins the WBC International title. After a cautious first round Lopez took over. He was comfortable on the front foot or using his longer reach whilst boxing on the back and he was too quick Barrios as he mixed his punches well to head and body. He upped his attacks over the second and third and punished Barrios in the fourth before flooring Barrios with left hooks in the fifth. Barrios made it to his feet but Lopez trapped him in a corner and showered him with punches until Barrios again went down on one knee and was counted out. Twelfth win by KO/TKO for Lopez. Fourth inside the distance loss for Colombian Varrios
Sanchez vs. Okuda
Homer town fighter Sanchez wins unanimous verdict over Okuda to collect the vacant WBC Silver belt Sanchez was more mobile and more accurate with her attacks than the taller very upright Okuda. Sancher drove forward throwing punches in the second but was a bit astray with her targeting but Okuda was not throwing enough punches to be a threat. She landed a good right in the third but Sanchez just walked through it. Sanchez continued to get the better of the exchanges in the fourth and fifth. Sanchez continued to dominate in the sixth and seventh firing home a series of punches that had Okuda staggering and exhausted and the fight could have been stopped. Okuda continued tom soak up punishment and was cut over her left eye but bravely made it to the final bell. Scores: Sanchez is a former WBA light fly and WBC flyweight title challenger. Former WBO super flyweight champion Okuda, 41, has won only one of her last six bouts.
Flores vs. Jardon
Flores makes it fourteen victories as he outpoints grizzled veteran Jardon. Useful learning fight against “Crazy” Jordan who is not the unpredictable force he was when fighting at super featherweight.
San Juan, Puerto Rico: Light Heavy: Juan Carrillo (13-0) W PTS 10 Gilbert Castillo (25-5-1). Light: Joshua Pagan (11-0) W PTS 10 Haskell Rhodes (31-6-1).
Carrillo vs. Castillo
Colombian southpaw Carrillo overcame the height edge of Dominican “Lenin” Castillo to take the points verdict by a good margin on all three cards. Scores; 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. Carrillo was an elite level amateur competing at the World Championships and the Olympic Games and getting a bronze medal at the PanAmerican Games. Castillo lost on points against Dmitrii Bivol in a challenge for the WBO light heavyweight title in October 2019 and was stopped in two rounds by Callum Smith in 2021.
Pagan vs. Rhodes
Pagan gets win over substitute Rhodes. Pagan had a 5” height advantage and longer reach but the smaller Rhodes used his greater experience to pose some early problems for Pagan. Once Pagan settled he was the one doing the scoring. He had Rhodes badly shaken in the sixth and outscored him the rest the way before holding off a big last round effort from Rhodes in an exciting last round to win on scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice. Michigan’s Pagan, 23, is a former US National champion. Rhodes, 27, had scored two wins early in the year against low level opposition but he was due something easy as he has been matched tough for much of his career.
London, England: Sam Gilley (18-1) W TKO 4 Jack McGann (10-2-1). Heavy: Nick Webb (18-3) W TKO 8 Courtney Bennett (5-1). Heavy: Milans Volkovs (11-3-2) W PTS 8 Tommy Fletcher (8-1). Super Feather: Royston Barney-Smith (12-0) W KO 2 Carlos Rayo (13-2).
Gilley vs. McGann
“ Magic Man “ Gilley retains the Commonwealth title with a fourth round stoppage of McGann. The start saw McGann coming forward jabbing well but quick, accurate counters from Gilley forced him to back off and Gilley was finding the target with overhand rights. McGinn made an aggressive start to the second but Gilley’s superior hand speed had him spearing McCann with jabs and again connecting with overhand rights before putting him down with a right cross. McGann beat the count and then took Gilley to the ropes and landed a couple of good uppercuts. McGann fought hard in the third occasionally forcing Gilley to the ropes and standing up well to Gilley’s counters and left hooks to the body. McGann forced Gilley to the ropes in the fourth only to be nailed by a right counter which sent him stumbling back. Gilley then exploded with punches driving McGann across the ring until the referee came in to save McGinn. Sixth win in a row for Gilley and first defence of the title he won in impressive style when outpointing Louis Greener in October. McGinn came in as a substitute but was outgunned.
Bennett vs. Webb
Webb upsets unbeaten Bennett with a stoppage in the eighth. Bennett had his jab working in the first with Webb looking nervous and slow but dangerous with some right swipes. The action settled over the second and third with Bennett using his jab to put Webb on the back foot and Webb looking to counter. Webb began to land some heavy rights in the fourth with Bennett forced to hold. Webb had success with a series of punches in the fifth with Bennett again having to hold. Bennett was coming apart and stumbling and looking fatigued as he walked onto counters from Webb who landed a bunch of heavy punches that had Bennett clinching to make it to the end of the round seventh. Bennett took more punishment in the eighth and when his mouthguard came out his corner asked the referee to stop the fight. Webb wins the vacant BBB of C Southern Area title. He was returning to the ring for the first time since being stopped in one round by Fabio Wardley in August 2021. At 37 Webb is going nowhere but he is back with a win over a younger, unbeaten fighter, and will get fights again after this win. Bennett was disappointing as he came apart under pressure and showed a lack of stamina.
Fletcher vs. Volkovs
Volkovs was not supposed to win but no one gave him a copy of the script. The 6’7” Fletcher is a southpaw and had big physical edges over the 6’3” Latvian. Fletcher looked comfortable at the start getting through with a couple of left then moving away from Volkovs attacks. Volkans was darting inside to score in the second and third and Fletcher was finding himself trapped against the ropes and warned for holding. It was obvious that Fletcher could not keep Volkans out with his jab and as the rounds passed Volkans had more and more success with his driving attacks. Fletcher’s punch output dropped off and he was moving less. Volkovs continued to boss the action to the end and was a clear winner. The referee scored it 79-73 for Volkovs. The Latvian had lost a close points decision against Oronzo Birardi in this sane venue in May and is nothing special so this defeat was a bitter one for highly touted Fletcher.
Barney-Smith vs. Rayo
Southpaw Barney-Smith is given a gift in the shape of a pathetic Colombian Rayo. Barney-Smith landed a left in the first few seconds of the opening round that already had Rayo going on the defensive. Rayo lunged forward with a pair of wild rights which Barney-Smith easily avoided and he kept finding the target with straight lefts. Rayo was crude with very little in the way of skill and kept scrambling around the ring trying to stay out of trouble. Barney-Smith connected with a series of lefts at the start of the second round and eventually a right hook to the ribs saw Rayo drop to one knee. He spat out his mouthguard and made no attempt to beat the count. Fifth win by KO/TKO for WBO Youth Champion Barney-Smith but Rayo was a pathetic.
OCTOBER 19
Mendoza, Argentina: Light: Zaur Abdullaev (20-1) W TKO 12 Juan Carrasco (20-2) . Super Middle: Pablo Corzo (20-0) W Luciano Araujo (13-7-3). Cruiser: Augustin Marini (9-0) W Carmelito De Jesus (20-8).
Carrasco vs. Abdullaev
In an IBF title eliminator Abdullaev stops a bloodied Carrasco in the last round. Carrasco was jabbing strongly and taking the fight to Abdullaev over the first four rounds. Abdullaev boxed on the back foot looking to counter and Carrasco looked to have built a lead. From the fifth Abdullaev went on the offensive and was finding then target with jabs and long accurate rights. By the sixth those accurate shots from Abdullaev already had swellings growing under both eyes of Carrasco. Abdullaev continually found gaps for his head shots. In the eleventh he landed straight shots hooks and uppercuts on a brave Carrasco who was reeling under a barrage of punches in the twelfth when his corner threw in the towel. “Titan” Abdullaev gets his sixteenth consecutive win and will now be hoping for a shot at Vasyl Lomachenko. This eliminator match was scheduled to take place last Friday, September 6 in Russia, but had to be suspended because the immigration authorities of the Republic of Argentina prevented Carrasco and his team from boarding the plane due to a court order at the Mendoza airport. The crowd did not appreciate the wild celebrations by Abdullaev and the ring was pelted with objects.
Corzo vs. Araujo
Corzo stops Mexican Araujo in the third round. Araujo tried to march forward with his head down but Corzo fed him hooks and uppercuts over the first two rounds. Araujo attempted to clinch in the third by Corzo forced him back into a corner and just kept unloading punches until Araujo slumped forward using his hands to keep him upright and the referee stepped in to save him from more punishment. Corzo was making the tenth defence of the WBA Fedelatin title and gets win No 17 by KO/TKO. Araujo was a respectable 6-1 in his last 7 fights.
Marini vs. De Jesus
Southpaw Marini wipes out Brazilian De Jesus in the second round. After taking a first round to find out if De Jesus would be a threat Marini ended it in the second. He forced De Jesus to a corner then banged home a left to the body. De Jersus dropped to one knee and stayed there for the full count. Marini was defending the WBA Fedelatin belt. De Jesus, 40, suffers his fifth inside the distance loss.
Toronto, Canada: Super Light: Mark Smither (13-1) W PTS 10 Helmand Alekozai (14-1). Heavy: Ricardo Brown (12-0) W PTS 8 Adam Kolarik (7-8).
Smither vs. Alekozai
Smither retains the Canadian title as he outpoints Alekozai in an all-Ontario clash. The tall Smither won on points 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. In retaining the title he becomes the longest reigning Canadian super lightweight champion at 966 days. This was Alekozai’s first ten round fight.
Brown vs. Kolarik
Jamaican Brown finally gets some rounds under his belt as beats Czech Kolarik on scores od 80-72 on all three cards. The 6’ 7 ½” Olympian had taken less than 17 rounds to win his first 11 fights including 5 first round finishes. Kolarik was just too small to really test Brown.
Laval, France: Welter: Samuel Molina (30-3,1ND) W PTS 12 Jordy Weiss (32-1-1). Welter: Kristie Bavington (9-5-2) W PTS 10 Marine Beauchamp (6-2-1).
Molina vs. Weiss
Molina goes into the other guy’s backyard and comes away with the European title. Not only was Molina facing a fighter with a 32-1 record he was doing so in champion Jordy Weiss’s home town. A great victory for Molina and a boost for boxing in Sapin nashi won the majority decision on scores of 116-112, 116-113 and 114-114. Molina had lost a majority decision against Franck Petitjean for the European super light title in June last year. Weiss was hoping a win might help him crack the world ratings but he has blown any chance of that.
Bavington vs. Beauchamp
England’s Bavington puts the stamp on a bad night for French boxing as she wins a split decision over Beauchamp and collects the vacant European welterweight title on scores of 98-92, and 97-93 for Bavington and 96-94 for Beauchamp. Bavington had won this European title in 2022 but only made once defence. This welterweight title has changed hands a few times and Beauchamp had lost to Dee Allen in a fight for the vacant title in November.
Douai, France: Super Bantam: Segolene Lefebvre (19-1) W TEC DEC 5 Juliana Basualdo (12-6).
Lefebvre wins the WBA Gold title with a technical decision over Argentinian southpaw Basualdo. Lefebvre immediately took control of the centre of the ring using her Jab putting Basualdo on the back foot. Basualdo then became more aggressive but the faster hands and some good defensive work gave Lefebvre the edge. When their heads banged together in the sixth Lefebvre was cut on her right eyebrow and Basualdo had a large swelling on her forehead with neither was able to continue. It went to the scorecards and a split decision of 48-46 twice for Lefebvre and 49-46 for Basualdo. Lefebvre was WBO champion but lost that title in a points defeat by IBF champion Ellie Scotney in a unification match in April. Basualdo had won the Argentinian title in May.
Verbania, Italy: Super Middle: Ivan Zucco (20-0) W KO 5 Carlos Gallego (14-8).
Zucco pleases his hometown fans as he batters Mexican Gallego to defeat in five rounds. From the start Zucco was driving forward throwing punches with Gallego under constant pressure. Gallego fought back but Zucco was just too strong and gradually beat the resistance out of the visitor. In the fifth Zucco landed a string of head shots that dropped Gallego who just failed to beat the count. Now 17 wins by KO/TKO for Zucco who is the mandatory challenger to EBU champion Kevin Lee Sadjo in what should be a great fight. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for Gallego.
Riga, Latvia: Middle: Lucas Bastida (22-3-1) W KO 8 Bohdan Sobol (18-0).
Something of an upset as Argentinian Bastida kayos unbeaten Sobol. The Argentinian dropped Sobol in the second and put him down and out in the eighth. Bastidas had twelve inside the distance wins and two of Bastidas’s losses had come against quality opposition in Josh Kelly and Bakary Samake. Latvian-base Ukrainian Sobol had not faced opposition of that quality so perhaps it was not as big an upset as it seemed but even the Argentinian papers were surprised by the result.
Panama City, Panama: Light: Ricardo Nunez (25-6) W PTS 8 Jezzrel Corrales (26-8).
Nunez wins this clash of two of Panama’s former stars with both teetering on the abyss of the end of their career. The fight was for a title but only scheduled for eight rounds. Nunez outboxed Corrales and won on scores of 77-73 twice and 76-74 which looks a convincing win but Nunez got a 10-8 round by flooring Corrales in the third and Corrales was docked a point for holding in the sixth so closer than it looked. Nunez lost to Gervonta Davis in a challenge for the WBA super feather title in 2019. He then dropped out of the picture through losses to Albert Batyrgaziev, Zaur Abdullaev and Masanori Rikiishi before putting himself back in the picture with a ninth round stoppage of 23-2 Pablo Vicente in April. Former WBA super feather champion Corrales was coming off three consecutive losses and at 33 this was aa fight he could not afford to lose
Sheffield, England: Fly: Nicola Hopewell (6-1) W PTS 10 Mary Abbey (12-2).
Hopewell retains the Commonwealth title as she wins a wide unanimous decision over Nigerian Abbey. Hopewell, made a good start narrowly taking the first town rounds. Abbey came back to take third but from there it was all Hopewell. As the fight progressed Hopewell became more and more dominant. The Nigerian’s rudimentary technique unravelled under the pressure and she resorted more and more to clinching and finally lost a point for holding in the eighth and was floored in the tenth. Hopewell won on scores of 99-89 on all three cards. She was making the first defence of her title that she had won in April. The lack of any appreciable depth in some areas female boxing has its drawbacks. Abbey had never gone past eight rounds in a fight and only once gone past six. Nine of the fighters she had beaten had never won a single fight between them. That means having a different standard when looking at female boxers and with her limited experience Abbey did well to go the full men rounds.
Fight of the week: (Significance): IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev’s win over Tim Tszyu had an impact for the WBO ratings as Tszyu was their No 1 and that could lead to England’s Josh Kelly (WBO No 2) getting a title shot.
Fight of the week: (Entertainment) Cesar Tapia vs. Endry Saavedra saw five knockdowns with plenty of drama
Fighter of the week: Bakhram Murtazaliev for his destruction of unbeaten Tim Tszyu
Punch of the week: The left hook from Bakhram Murtazaliev that scored the first knockdown in the Tszyu fight was perfectly delivered with honourable mention to the right from Carlos Tapia that floored Endry Saavedra.
Upset of the week: Ryan Lee Allen 10-8-1 and 0-5 in his last 5 fights was not supposed to beat 20-1 Carlos Jackson
Prospect watch: Cuban super welterweight Yoenis Tellez 9-0 impressed in stopping Johan Gonzalez at the weekend.
Observations
Rosette: Good Boxxer show in Londonwhich featured three good fights between Azim and Davies, Mbenge and McKinson and Edmondson and Azeez
Red Card: Not in this week’s action but a red card certainly goes to the IBF for ordering Artur Beterbiev to defend against Michael Eifert. A ridiculous unsellable match.
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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