The Past Week in Action 28 October 2024: Catterall Oupoints Prograis; Thorslund Retains WBC, WBO Titles; Gassiev KOs Ljungquist
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 29 Oct 2024
Highlights:
-Jack Catterall outpoints Regis Prograis and closes in on world title shot
- Dina Thorslund retains the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles
-Murat Gassiev knocks out Kem Ljungquist
-Shurretta Metcalf outpoints Miyo Yoshida to win the IBF bantam title and there are victories for heavyweight Jerry Forrest, Edward Vazquez and unbeaten Mykquan Williams
-Spain’s Jordan Camacho wins the vacant European Silver super bantamweight title with stoppage of Italian Vincenzo La Femina
- Shervantaigh Koopman survives two knockdowns in the first round to stop Canadian Brandon Cook
Major Shows
OCTOBER 26
Manchester, England: Super Light: Jack Catterall (30-1) W PTS 12 Regis Prograis (29-3). Welter: Pat McCormack (6-0) W PTS 10 Williams Herrera (16-4). Super Light: James Flint (15-2-2) W PTS 10 Campbell Hatton (14-1).
Catterall vs. Prograis
Catterall floors Prograis twice on the way to a unanimous decision. A cagey start saw both fighters feeling their way into the fight. Neither really had any great success in the first round and if anything Prograis had a slight edge in a close round. Catterall worked well with his jab in the second and landed a good left but Prograis finished the round strongly scoring with a couple of lefts of his own. The fight had not really caught fire but Catterall connected with a left late in the round. The best punch in the fight so far. There was still an absence of any sustained attack from either fighter. Prograis was showing some bruising by his right eye in the fourth and again a late delivered left from Catterall was the highlight. The pace picked up in the fifth as Prograis landed some overarm lefts. As Prograis moved in again he fired a jab that landed on Catterall’s right shoulder knocking Catterall off balance. Catterall’s gloves lightly brushed the canvas and as Prograis darted forward to capitalise on that the referee jumped in and rightly gave Catterall a count. Catterall was not hurt. That success in the fifth fired up Prograis and the fight finally came alive as he forged forward landing lefts and rights and dominating the round until Catterall responded with lefts as the round closed. Both scored well in some exchanges in the seventh but a clash of heads saw Catterall cut up in his head line and blood was running down the side of his face. The fifth, six and seventh all looked to have been good rounds for Prograis and with the 10-8 he was in front. Catterall upped his output in the eighth to get back into the fight although they both got tangle and went down. The ninth was a huge round as a strong left to the head from Catterall put Prograis down heavily. He arose but a left sent him dropping back and he put a glove on the canvas to avoid going down-so a 10-7 round for Catterall. Prograis rebounded well in the tenth in the best action round of the fight but Catterall again found the target with lefts and did just enough to win the round. Prograis seemed to have damaged his ankle as flexed it as if testing for damage. Catterall also outscored Prograis in the eleventh and last to win the decision. Scores 116-109 twice and 117-118 which whilst finding the right winner were too wide. The main aim now is for Catterall to face the winner of the fight between IBF super lightweight champion Liam Paro and challenger Richard Hitchins but in this fight Catterall won the WBO International belt and WBO champion Teo Lopez is another possible route for Catterall. Prograis has held both the WBA and WBC titles in the past but with his wide unanimous points loss to Devin Haney for the lightweight title in December he has suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career ,and at 35, he may decide it is time to retire.
McCormack vs. Herrera
Olympic silver medallist McCormack outboxes limited Argentinian Herera. McCormack won every round from bell to bell. He rocked Herrera a few times and had him shaken in the fourth. He was cruising to victory when a clash of heads in the eighth saw him suffer a cut over his left eye and he dialled back and eased his way through the ninth and tenth. Scores 100-90 for McCormack on the cards. He was making the first defence of the WBA Inter-Continental title. He is a talented fighter but now needs to be more active. Herrera had been stopped in seven rounds by Paddy Donovan in Belfast in January.
Flint vs. Hatton
Flint outpoints Hatton for the second time this year. There was plenty of action in the opening round as both fighters let their punches go with Flint just doing enough to take the round. Hatton took over in the second landing some hurtful uppercuts and his all-put aggression also captured the third. Flint was letting himself be drawn into the sort of gung-ho fight that suited Hatton which cost him the fourth round. A clash of heads saw Hatton cut over his left eye and a swelling beginning to grow over Flint’s left eye. The pace dropped in the fifth as Flint was landing some useful body punches and uppercuts and he began to take control. As the fight progressed the accurate countering and body punching from Flint slowed Hatton and Flint was able to claw back the lead Hatton had built earlier and move ahead. With flint being hampered by the eye injury Hatton dredged up some energy and did enough in the last to almost close the points gap. Scores 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95 for Flint. When they met in March Flint won by wider margins
OCTOBER 23
New York, NY, USA. Bantam: Shurretta Metcalf (14-4-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Miyo Yoshida (17-5).Super Feather: Edward Vazquez (17-2) W TKO 4 Kenneth Taylor (14-4-02).Heavy: Jerry Forrest (28-6-2) W PTS 8 Earl Newman (10-4-1).Super Light: Mykquan Williams (22-0-2) W TKO 8 Lavisas Williams (10-2-1).
Metcalf vs. Yoshida
Texan Metcalf wins the IBF title with unanimous decision over champion Yoshida. Metcalf had huge advantages inn height and reach over Yoshida and in the first two rounds used her jab to force Yoshida back and fired home long rights. Yoshida’s sheer determination saw her do better in the third. She was a still being caught with jabs and counters but was ploughing forward and catching Metcalf with rights. Metcalf worked hard with her jab over the fourth and fifth not quite subduing Yoshida but outscoring her. Over the sixth and seventh Yoshida went onto the back foot looking to lure Metcalf onto counters with limited success. Both seemed to tire late with the pattern being of Metcalf starting the round well and Yoshida finishing it strongly and Metcalf wrapped things up with a good last round. Scores 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94 for Metcalf. She had outpointed Yoshida in a non-title fight in November and she wins the title in her first shot at one. Yoshida, a former WBO super fly champion, came back from that November loss to outpoint Australian Ebanie Bridges and win the IBF belt.
Vazquez vs. Taylor
Vazquez’s unremitting pressure proves too much for Taylor who retires after four rounds. In the first Vazquez quickly put Taylor on the back foot coming in behind his jab and scoring with hooks and overhand rights. He was also bobbing under Taylor’s jab forcing him to the ropes and unleashing shots inside. Taylor tried to create some space in the second by jabbing from distance and switching guards but Vazquez kept up the pressure varying his attacks to head to body and although Taylor had some success in trading in the third Vazquez’s body punches were draining him. Vazquez continued his relentless attacks in the fourth with Taylor constantly under pressure and after a one-sided round Taylor did not come out for the fifth. Vazquez lost on a majority decision against Joe Cordina in an IBF title challenge in November and despite two wins since then finds himself down at No 10 in the IBF rankings so a lot of work to do to get another title chance. Second loss in a row for Taylor.
Forrest vs. Newman
In his first fight for thirteen months after a slow start Forrest outboxes the bigger and heavier Newman. In the first two rounds Newman was scoring well with his jab and getting the better of the exchanges inside. From the third Forrest’s quicker hands and better mobility ( Newman wore a knee support) gave him the edge and he was doing the better work inside. Newman began to rely more and more on lead rights but was being caught by countering lefts from Forrest. Newman showed signs of slowing in the sixth and with Newman’s output dropping Forrest was able to outscore him over the last two rounds. Scores 78-74 twice and 79-73 for Forrest. After drawing with Zhilei Zhang and Mike Hunter Forrest suffered back-to-back losses against Kubrat Pulev and Jared Anderson and the took nine months out. This is his second win since returning. Fourth loss in a row for Newman.
Williams vs. Williams
In an all-Williams clash Mykquan Williams stops Lavisas Williams in the eighth. Lavisas was taller with the longer reach and quick hands but Mykquan moved inside in the first and dropped Lavisas with a right to the temple that sent him stumbling back and down. He was up at six and the bell went at the completion of the eight count. Lavisas boxed well in the second and third but Mykquan was scoring with hard rights to the head and banging home body punches. The referee had the doctor examine Lavisas at the start of the fourth but he was cleared to continue. Mykquan continued to land hard shots over the fifth and sixth but a gutsy Lavisas hung in there trying to box on the back foot but soaking up straight rights from Mykquan that had him bleeding heavily from the nose. Lavisas managed get through the seventh but Mykquan ended it in the eighth with a short right hook that sent Lavisas down on his back and the referee immediately stopped the fight, Mykquan had been disappointing in a draw against modest Brazilian Paulo Galdino in June last year but had then scored an impressive sixth round kayo of 17-0 Luis Feliciano. He is No 10 with the WBA and No 13 with the WBO. Lavisas had been stopped in seven rounds by O’Shaquie Foster in 2016 but had been mostly inactive with this only his third fight in five years.
OCTOBER 24
Indio, CA, USA: Bantam: Manuel Flores (19-1) W KO 1 Victor Olivo (21-5-1). Feather: Jose Sanchez (14-0) W KO 8 Edwin Palomares (18-6-3)
Flores vs. Olivo
Flores blast out Oliva in the first round. Flores had his jab working and was firing rights and left hooks. A left to the body had Olivo backing off. Flores followed him connecting with a series of combinations until Olivo dropped to one knee and stayed there for the full ten count. Fourth useful win in a row for Flores as he bounces back after losing his unbeaten record against Walter Santibanes in June last year. Olivo had won 7 of his last 8 bouts.
Sanchez vs. Palomares
Sanchez gets an eighth round kayo of Palomares. Palomares was busier at the start. There was plenty of two-way action but Palomares was letting his hands go firing shots from both hands with Sanchez more accurate but just being outworked. It was crowd-pleasing close-quarters work for much of the time with Palomares seemingly dominating and staying on top of Sanchez. There was a sign of a coming change at the end of the fourth when Sanchez banged punch after punch into the body Palomares which for the first time had Palomares backing off. The fifth and sixth saw Sanchez getting stronger and stronger and Palomares was starting to hold to smother Sanchez’s work. By the seventh Palomares was falling apart as Sanchez piled forward firing hooks to the body with Palomares looking exhausted. Despite that Palomares came out throwing punches in the eighth looking to finish strongly but Sanchez landed three clubbing rights to the head that had Palomares slumping to the canvas on his back under the bottom rope and he was counted out. Eighth victory by KO/TKO for “Tito” , 24, who is making good progress against a decent level of opposition for a boxer of his experience. Palomares is 0-2-2 in his last 4 bouts.
OCTOBER 25
Holstribo, Denmark: Bantam: Dina Thorslund (23-0) W PTS 10 Terumi Nuki (15-6). Super Middle: Oliver Zaren (14-0) W KO 2 Roberto Arriaza (19-13).
Thorslund vs. Terumi
Routine defence of her WBC and WBO titles for Thorslund as she outpoints overmatched Terumi. Thorslund dominated from the first scoring with jabs and hooks with Terumi showing little except persistence. Thorslund worked patiently with Nuki having a good fifth round as Thorslund slowed her pace but Thorslund tightened up and comfortably boxed her way to victory with all three judges scoring bit 99-91. Thorslund was making the seventh defence of the WBO title and the third of the WBC. Over 2021, 2022 and 2023 Thorslund scored wins over high quality opposition but her last three opponents have not been in that class and although she has talked retirement one more career defining fight might tempt her. Terumi has previously lost in shots at the WBC bantam and IBF super flyweight titles.
Zaren vs. Arriaza
Thorslund Danish southpaw Zaren drops Arriaza four knockdowns on the way to a second round win. Now five wins by KO/TKO for Zaren. Spanish-based Nicaraguan has lost his last ten fights.
Aguascalientes, Mexico: Jose Borrego (21-4) W PTS 10 Etoundi William (16-1).
Home town fighter Borrego ruins the unbeaten record of Brazilian Willian. Borrego overcame William’s physical advantages and as they stood and traded shots in the fifth he floored William with a fierce left hook and then bossed the second half of the fight to win on scores of 97-93 twice and 98-91.
Moscow, Russia: Heavy: Artem Suslenkov (11-0) W PTS 8 Christian Hammer (27-12).Super Welter: Ruslan Selimyan (10-0) W RTD 4 Muzaffer Rasulov (11-5). Super Middle: Evgeny Shvedenko (17-2-1) W RTD 3 Sergi Gorokhov (15-9-2).
Suslenko vs. Hammer
Suslenkov outpoints experienced Hammer. The fight followed the same pattern for all eight rounds. Suslenkov was taking the fight to Hammer stabbing out jabs and aiming hooks at Hammerer’s obese body with Hammer backing up blocking punches and trying an occasional counter. Suslenkov had most success when he could pin Hammer against the ropes but Hammer took the punches and never looked in trouble. Hammer had some success catching Suslenkov with counters in the fourth. Suslenkov was always in control and won every round so the real test was whether he could hand Hammer a third inside the distance loss in a row but Hammer stayed to the end. A former Russian Youth and Senior champion Suslenko had beaten Bilal Laggoune in February. Hammer had lost inside the distance to Joe Joyce and Dillian White in his last two fights.
Selimyan vs. Rasulov
Selimyan gets win over Uzbek southpaw Rasulov who pulls out at the end of the fourth round with an injury to his left arm. Rasulov used his longer reach to outbox Selimyan over the first three round but in the third he was a shaking his left hand and Selimyan put him under heavy pressure. Rasulov could not continue due to the injury and 21-year-old Selimyan continues unbeaten.
Shvedenko vs. Gorokhov
Shvedenko beats Gorokhov on a third round retirement. Shvedenko used his jab to control the action in the first with Gorokhov throwing desperate rights from out of distance. Gorokhov tried to put Shvedenko under pressure in the second and connected with a hard bright but Shvedenko was doing most of the scoring as Gorokhov lunged in. Shvedenko was forcing Gorokhov to the ropes and unloading punches with Gorokhov not really throwing much back and although there was no sign of injury he retried at the end of the round. Shvedenko lost on points to now IBF super middle champion William Scull and drew with unbeaten Pavel Silyagin but was stopped inside a round by Cuban Osleys Iglesias.
Revere, MA, USA: Super Welter: Rashidi Ellis (25-1) W RTD 2 Brian Chaves (14-6). Middle: Francis Hogan (18-0) W TKO 2 Elvin Ayala (29-14-1).
Ellis vs. Chaves
Ellis wins as Chaves retires after the second round with a hand injury. Ellis had southpaw Chaves on the retreat landing lead rights. Chaves circled the ring just prodding out jabs and Ellis shook him with a right. He forced Chaves to the ropes and unleashed a barrage of punches with Chaves dropping to a knee. Chaves was up quickly and there was no time for Ellis to land any more punches. In the second Chavez came out throwing punches and landed a couple of lefts but Ellis ducked under his punches and landed a couple of uppercuts inside. Ellis then landed a series of rights before Chavers connected with a pair of lefts. The doctor had talked to Chaves briefly before the start of the round with Chaves seemingly having injured his right hand and Chaves retired citing that injury. The only defeat suffered by Ellis was a majority decision against Roiman Villa in January 2023 and this is his first fight since then. Fifth loss in a row for Chaves
Hogan vs. Ayala
Hogan also gets an injury stoppage. There was a slow start to the fight with both probing with their jabs but not committing themselves. Hogan a 6’3” southpaw upped his pace a little scoring with a couple of lefts and Ayala stepped inside but was unable to connect. Early in the second a left from Hoagan had Ayala stumbling back awkwardly into the ropes and almost down. As the ropes were holding him up he was given a count. When he straightened up he was shaking his right leg as if it had been twisted. The referee called a time out so that Ayala’s knee injury could be assessed and it was decided Ayala could not continue . Sixteenth inside the distance win for Hogan. Ayala, 43, a pro since 2003, was having his first fight since February 2019 when he retired after five losses in a row,
OCTOBER 26
Kempton Park, South Africa: Super Welter: Shervantaigh Koopman (15-0) W TKO 5 Brandon Cook (26-3). Super Welter: Brandon Thysse (17-4-1) W TKO 8 Junior Makondo (9-7-1). Super Light: Ntethelelo Nkosi (7-2) W TKO 1 Sanelo Msimang (16-5).
Koopman vs. Cook
In a wild battle featuring three knockdowns in the first round and five counts in total Koopman recovers to stop Cook in the fifth round. Hostilities broke out immediately in a dramatic opener which saw Cook put unbeaten Koopman to the canvas with a left hook. Koopman made it to his feet but Cook chased him down and under the pressure an already unsteady Koopman lost his balance and put his gloves on the canvas resulting in a second count. After the eight count Koopman held and as his head cleared he nailed Cook with a left hook and a straight right and then landed some more shots and Cook went down. The Canadian beat the count and survived the follow-up attack from Koopman in “Round of the Year” contender. Koopman had a big edge in reach and he settled down in the second to use that advantage to score on the outside. A right opened a bad cut over Cook’s left eye that began to bleed heavily. The referee stopped the fight for the doctor to inspect Cook’s cut but the fight continued with both boxers scoring with hard shots to the bell. There were more give-and-take exchanges in the third. Koopman landed more and heavier shots but a bleeding Cook continued to fire back until a right to the body sent him down for the second time in the fight. He made it to his feet as the bell rang. Koopman had Cook reeling under a torrent of punches in the fourth landing heavily to the body. Cook kept hitting back just enough to stave off any intervention from the referee. Koopman ended it in the fifth. He dropped Cook with a right to the body and although Cook beat the count but when a right sent the Canadian reeling into the ropes the referee stopped the fight. A great win in a great fight for Koopman with Cook playing his part in a memorable contest. Tenth inside the distance win for the South African champion. Cook’s only other inside the distance loss came against Jaime Munguia for the WBO super welter title and he had won his last six fights five inside the distance,
Thysse vs. Makondo
Thysse wins the South African title at his third attempt. This was another war. Thysse had the edge in the exchanges but Makonda fought back hard. A right floored Makondo in the third and he was reeling under heavy fire when the bell saved him. They continued to swop punches until the eighth when Thysse shook Makondo with a combination and after receiving some hurtful body punches Makondo turned away from the action as the towel came in from his corner. Thysse is rarely in a bad fight and his losses have come against the best domestic opposition including Kopman who beat him in September in a national title fight. Makondo, another former Koopman victim, was having his second shot at the title. With 7 wins by KO/TKO and 7 losses by KO/TKO he rarely does distance fights.
Nkosi vs. Msimang
South African champion Nkosi blitzes Msimang in the first round of a title defence. Nkosi bombarded Msimang driving him to the ropes and then down with the referee not bothering to count. First defence for Nkosi and fourth inside the distance finish. Second unsuccessful title challenge for Msimang.
Yerevan, Armenia: Heavy: Murat Gassiev (31-2) W KO 5 Kem Ljungquist (18-1).
Ljungquist wins the first four rounds but Gassiev takes him out in the fifth. Good first two rounds round from 6’6 ½” southpaw Ljungquist. He used his longer reach to pierce Gassiev’s guard with jabs and followed with straight lefts. Gassiev came forward in the third looking to take Ljungquist to the ropes but Ljungquist slid away from the traps and continued to work hard with his jab and straight lefts but Gassiev did connect with a left and a right to the head. Despite his success there was no real snap in Ljungquist’s punches so Gassiev was able to keep walking forward in the fourth and he landed a couple of left hooks to the body but had a cut opened on the bridge of his nose. Ljungquist then had a good spell landing with punches from both hands but he was also standing right in front of Gassiev which was a dangerous tactic against a puncher such as Gassiev. Ljungquist used his jab to take Gassiev to the ropes and he fired a volley of punches but they were feather-duster quality and Gassiev connected with a right uppercut and also had success in curving shots around Ljungquist’s guard. Gassiev went to work in the fifth. He was walking through Ljungquist’s punches and landing with hooks to the body and again curving around Ljungquist’s guard. He landed a hard left hook to the body then another and Ljungquist went down onto his hands and knees his back and then turned and lay on his on the canvas with his arms spread out not moving during the ten count. Russian-born Armenian Gassiev, a former IBF/WBA cruiser champion, lost his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2018 and after moving up to heavyweight had dropped a split decision against Otto Wallin in September last year so this was a must win contest for him. Ljungquist had boxed well and probably won at least three of the four rounds but he lacked to power to keep Gassiev out and Gassiev was a huge step up from his previous opposition.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Welter: Fabian Maidana (23-3) W KO 2 Francisco Mercado (8-5). Minimum: Sol Cudos (9-0-2) W TKO 5 Johan Zuniga (18-8-1). Super Light: Anahi Sanchez (25-6) W PTS 10 Erica Alvarez (6-9).
Maidana vs. Mercado
Maidana punches too hard for badly overmatched Mercado. Maidana scored heavily in the first with body punches and then hammered Mercado with a left uppercut to the body in the second which put Mercado down heavily and he was counted out whilst rising. First fight for Maidana since being floored and outpointed by Mario Barrios fight form the temporary/interim WBC welterweight title in May. The younger brother of Marcus, he has seventeen inside the distance wins and he collected WBA Fedelatin title. Mexican Mercado had lost in a challenge for the WBF super light title in Kiev in January.
Cudos vs. Zuniga
Cudos overpowers and halts Zuniga in the fifth round. Cudos had Zuniga under fire from the start. She landed some hefty body punches and was snapping Zuniga’s head back with powerful rights. Zuniga bravely kept shaking off the punishment and firing back but just could not hold Cudos off. In the fifth Cudos had Zuniga in a corner and she kept piling on the punches until the referee stopped the fight. Argentinian champion Cudos was defending the South American and WBA Fedelatin titles. Venezuelan Zuniga is 0-6-1 in title fights
Sanchez vs. Alvarez
Experienced Sanchez was too much for a durable but limited Alvarez. Sanchez made it more difficult than it needed to be by getting dragged into a messy fight. When she avoided untidy exchanges and used her skill and experience she dominated the action and came out a clear winner on scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 in retaining her South American title. Sanches, a former IBF super feather and WBA light champion
is 6-3 in her last 9 fights with the losses against Jessica McCaskill, Chantelle Cameron and Sandy Ryan. Alvarez is a former Argentinian and South American champion.
Junin, Argentina: Super Light: Maximiliano Segura (19-1-1) W KO 2 Franco Rodriguez (16-2).
Segura puts on a show for his home fans as he puts Rodriguez away in two rounds. Segura had the better of the exchanges inn the first. In the second as Rodriguez shaped to throw a punch Segura beat him to it with a left cross that sent Rodriguez down and out. Sixth defence of the South American title and fifteenth win by KO/TKO for Segura. As he also lifts the Argentinian title from champion Rodriguez who had won his last 12 fights.
Bourgoin Jallieu, France: Super Feather: Jordan Rodriguez (10-1) W TKO 6 Anthony Deloffre (8-2). Welter: Yanis Mehah (17-1) W PTS 6 Christophe Endanga (6-7-1).
Rodriguez vs. Deloffre
Rodriguez wins the vacant French title with a stoppage of Deloffre. It was ca close fight over five rounds with Rodriguez having the edge but Deloffre competitive. It ended in dramatic fashion in the sixth when a right hook to the body from Rodriguez sent Deloffre down in agony and the fight was stopped with Deloffre looking to have suffered a broken rib. Rodriguez was an Elite level amateur scoring wins over Samuel Carmona, Mirco Cuello and Chatchai Butdee but an ambitious match saw him lose to Samir Ziani for the WBC International Silver title in April. Deloffre was in his first scheduled ten round bout.
Mehah vs. Endanga
In his fifth bout since losing Pietro Rossio for the European Union title Meha was given six rounds of useful ring time by Endanga and won on scores of 58-56 twice and 590-55. Mehah used his superior speed and skills to outpoint super welterweight Endanga. Reportedly Mehah used this fight to prepare himself for a fight against WBC International champion Sandy Messaoud on 7 December. Endanga had lost a close decision to Reda Kham for the French title in October.
Udine, Italy: Super Middle: Luca Di Loreto (7-3-2) DREW 10 Simone Tralo (9-0-2).
Di Loreto retains the title in a split draw with Tralo. This none was as close as the scores indicate with the judges seeing it 95-94 to Di Loreto and 96-94 to Tralo with the third card reading 95-95. It was an entertaining fight and well worth a return. Di Loreto was making the first defence of his title. Southpaw Tralo had won his last nine fights.
Tolfa, Italy: Michael Magnesi (24-2) W PTS 8 Kevin Trana (15-21-3).
Magnesi returns with a win as he outpoints Trana. Magnesi was better than Trana in speed, skill, experience but Trana refused to crumble and went the full eight rounds. No scores available. First fight for former IBO champion Magnesi since losing on a twelfth round stoppage against Masanori Rikiishi in a WBC Silver title defence in March. Spanish-based Nicaraguan Trana was 15-2-2 but is now 0-19-1 in his last 20 but has never lost inside the distance.
Palermo, Italy: Super Bantam: Jordan Camacho (11-0) W TKO 12 Vincenzo La Femina (14-2). Super Light: Armando Casamonica (14-0) W PTS 10 Alessandro Fersula (10-7).
Camacho vs. La Femina
Spaniard Camacho wins the vacant EBU Silver title with late stoppage of La Femina. Fighting in the other guy’s country Camacho was looking to win inside the distance and take the judges out of the equation. He scored a knockdown in the tenth and although La Femina survived and fought back a sustained attack by Camacho in the twelfth saw the referee come in to save La Femina. Peruvian-born Spaniard Camacho was stopped in five round by Liam Davies in a challenge for the European title in November.
Casamonica vs. Fersula
Inan all-Rome clash Casamonica retained the national title in his first defence with a points win over Fersula. No scores available but Casamonica, a former Italian Youth sand Seniors champion again showed great skills but little power. Fersula has lost 4 of his last 5 fights with the four losses all against unbeaten fighters.
Zakopane, Poland: Middle: Fiodor Czerkaszyn (25-1) W PTS 10 Sebastian Papeschi (22-5). Cruiser: Michal Cieslak (27-2, 1 ND) W TKO 3 Felix Valera (23-7). Super Middle: Ihosvany Garcia (14-0) W PTS 8 Gabriel Diaz (15-7).
Czerkaszyn vs. Papeschi
Ukrainian-born Pole Czerkaszyn boxes his way to a comfortable win over Argentinian Papeschi. Czerkaszyn had the better skills and was busier. Southpaw Papeschi launched attacks trying to turn the fight his way but Czerkaszyn boxed well and defended well and had no trouble controlling the action and winning 100-90 from all of the judges. He wins the vacant WBC International title. Papeschi had lost to good quality opposition including new IBF champion William Scull and had defeated 29-1-1 Marcelo Coceres and won his last four fights.
Cieslak vs. Valera
Cieslak gets an injury victory over Valera. Cieslak had the better of the exchanges in the first. Valera began to show signs of an injury to left arm in the second but completed the round. At the bell to start the third Valera advised the referee he was not able to continue. Cieslak has lost in title fights against Ilunga Makabu for the WBC belt and Lawrence Okolie for the WBO. Dominican Valera had been stopped in five rounds by Aleksei Papin in August.
Garcia vs. Diaz
Cuban Garcia won a comfortable keep busy fight with a points victory over Argentinian Diaz. Diaz competitive over the first half of the fight but then faded and Garcia eased his way to a unanimous decision on scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73. Garcia’s last three wins took less than eight minutes so Diaz did better than them
Glasgow, Scotland: Super Middle: Darren Johnstone (9-1) W PTS 10 Paul Kean (18-4).
A rousing battle sees Johnston return to the winner’s ranks as he outpoints Kean. Scores 99-92 twice and 98-92 for Johnstone who wins the vacant BBB of Celtic title to go with his Scottish a disappointment for him.sh Area title. After losing to Louis Greene for the Commonwealth title in May last year Kean had scored a couple of victories
Commerce, CA, USA: Feather: Omar Conde Trinidad (17-0-1) W PTS 12 Hector Sosa (17-3). Welter: Gor Yeritsyan (19-1) W KO 6 Jonathan Romero (35-6). Cruiser: Umkaar Dzambekov (10-0) W TKO 1 Eric Robles (10-5).
Trinidad vs. Sosa
Trinidad floors and outpoints Sosa. After a feeling-out opening round Tas Sosa tried tom put Trinidad under pressure in the second he was caught by a left hook that sent him down. Sosa continued his pressure tactics in the third but was cut in a clash of heads. Trinidad was a boxing cooly working hard with his jab and using clever footwork to offset Sosa’s attacks. Sosa putting a great deal of effort and applying lots of pressure but largely ineffective. Sosa’s original cut reopened in the eighth and he also now had two smaller cuts above each eye. Sensing he was behind Sosa attacked hard over the closing rounds often forcing Trinidad to stand and swap punches but Sosa tired from the efforts be had put in and Trinidad resisted the pressure saw out the last two rounds for a convincing win on scores of 119-108, 119-108, and 118-109. Second defence of the WBC Continental Americas title for Californian Trinidad. After drawing his first fight be now has a 17-bout winning streak. Argentinian Sosa, a former unbeaten IBO champion, had scored good wins mover James Dickens and Keenan Carbajal and was a good test for Trinidad.
Yeritsyan vs. Romero
Californian-based Armenian Yeritsyan gets his fifteenth win by KO/TKO with a fifth round stoppage of Colombian Romero who came in at short notice. Yeritsyan used his longer reach to control the action in the opening round and then floored Romero in the second. Romero made it out of the round but took more punishment over the third and fourth. In the fifth Yeritsyan battered with a series of punches and the referee had seen enough and stopped then fight. Yeritsyan had his unbeaten record broken when he lost a split decision against Aram Amirkhanyan, an Armenian-born Russian, in this same arena in July. Fifth consecutive loss for Romero with four of those losses coming inside the distance.
Dzambekov vs. Robles
Dzambekov blows away Robles in the first round.
One minute into the fight a straight left to the head sent Robles down on one knee. He was up at eight and came forward swinging but a series a series of head punches sent him tumbling down. He was up again at eight but when a left put him on the canvas on his back on his back the referee immediately stopped the fight. Seventh win by KO/TKO for Russian-born Austrian Dzambekov. Third inside the distance defeat in his last four fights for Mexican Robles.
Miami, FL, USA: Bantam: Jordan Orozco (11-0) W TKO 2 Charlie Andino-Clemente (12-3).Super Middle: Yoanki Urrutia (16-1) W PTS 8 Adam Diu Abdulhamid (18-16). Heavy: Carlos Frometa (15-2) W KO 3 DeShon Webster (12-9-3). Feather: Mike Plania (31-4) W KO 3 Deivi Julio (28-17).
Orozco vs. Clemente
Nicaraguan prospect Orozco kept his 100% record as he floored Puerto Rican Clemente twice in the second round to force a stoppage. After switching guards and scoring with ease in the first he closed the show impressively. A strong jab and a right uppercut sent Clemente down heavily and he only just beat the count. When the action resumed Orozco blasted him with punches until he dropped again and the referee just waived his arms to end the fight. Orozco, 20, has won all of his fights inside the distance. Third inside the distance defeat in a row for Clemente.
Urrutia vs. Abdulhamid
Cuban Urrutia outpoints Filipino Abdulhamid. Urrutia at 6’2” had a six inch edge in height and a longer reach and used those advantages in every round. Abdulhamid soaked up plenty of punishment as Urrutia hammered him with straight lefts but was occasionally dangerous as he lunged forward with two-fisted attacks. Urrutia boxed cooly behind his jab and landed consistently with straight lefts and in the end Abdulhamid settled for posing and clowning. No scores available but Urrutia looked to have won every round. Third win in a row for Urrutia but Abdulhamid falls to 1-7 in his last 8 fights.
Frometa vs. Webster
Frometa scores third round kayo of Webster. Formeta was content to let Webster come to him and he was scoring with jabs and landing shots to the heads and body of Webster. At the end of the second round a punch from Frometa swung around the back of Websters head. Webster went down indicating he had been hit on the back of his head, The referee ignored the claim and counted over Webster who just made it before the ten count as the bell went. In the third Webster, incensed at the punch to the back of the head, attacked fiercely but Formeta drove home a left the body that seemed to land on Webster’s thigh. Webster went down clutching a much more important part of his anatomy but again the referee ignored him and counted him out. Cuban Formeta lost his first fight but then won his next twelve before losing to Brandon Clanton in October last year. This his third inside the distance win since then. Webster is 0-7-3 in his last 10 fights.
Plania vs. Julio
Plania continued his rebuilding programme as he knocked out Colombian Julio in the third round. in a very scrappy scrap Plania dropped Julio with a right in the first. Julio had some success with southpaw lefts in the second but had trouble handling Pania’s aggression. Late in the third a right to the body from Pania made Julio back across the ring into a corner and he went down on a knee and took the full count there. All of the Filipino’s losses have come against top level opposition including a third round kayo loss against Angelo Leo in January.
Fayetteville, NC, USA: Welter: Michael Williams Jr (23-1) W PTS 10 DeMarcus Corley(52-36-1).
Local prospect Williams outpoints Corley. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. Fourth win for Williams since being floored six time and stopped in the fourth round by unbeaten John Bauza in 2021. Fourth fight in five years for former WBO light welter champion Corley.
Fight of the week: (Significance): Jack Catterall’s win over Regis Prograis could see Catterall finally land a title shot
Fight of the week: (Entertainment): Shervantaigh Koopman vs. Brandon Cook only lasted five rounds but they were packed with action and drama
Fighter of the week: Jack Catterall for his win over Prograis
Punch of the week: The left from Catterall that dropped Prograis for the first time in the ninth round was perfectly delivered.
Upset of the week: None this week
Prospect watch: Welterweight Pat McCormack has talent and an Olympic silver medal to his name and is 6-0. He can be a threat with more activity.
Observations
No rosettes or red cards this week.
Never too old:
DeMarus Corley fought this week-he is 50. He fought 25-year-old Michael Williams and lost a unanimous decision but one judge had it a close 96-94. Corley turned professional in 1996, three years before Williams was born and won the WBO light welterweight title when Williams was just two years old- and is still fighting.
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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