The Past Week in Action 31 March 2025: Norman Stops Cuevas in 3; Mayer Outpoints Ryan; Zepeda Edges Farmer; Collazo Stops Cano; Yabuki KOs Ayala
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 Apr 2025
Norman clips Cuevas.
Highlights:
- Brian Norman stops Derrieck Cuevas in three rounds in WBO welterweight title defence and Mikaela Mayer outpoints Sandy Ryan to retain the WBO female welter title. There are inside the distance wins for wins for Bruce Carrington, Delante Johnson and Emiliano Vargas
-In Cancun William Zepeda retains the WBC interim lightweight title with a majority decision over Tevin Farmer. Oscar Collazo knocks out Edwin Cano in defence of the WBA and WBO minimumweight titles. Yokasta Valle wins a split decision over Marlen Esparza in non-title fight and there are wins for Joselito Velazquez and Robin Sirwan Safar.
-Masamichi Yabuki beats Angel Ayala on a seventh round stoppage to win the IBF flyweight title and Aoi Yokoyama outpoints Giemel Magramo for the OPBF super flyweight title.
Major Shows
MARCH 29
Cancun, Mexico: Light: Wiliam Zepeda (33-0) W PTS 12 Tevin Farmer (33-8-1). Minimum: Oscar Collazo (12-0) W KO Edwin Cano (13-3-1). FLY: Yokasta Valle (33-3) W PTS 10 Marlen Esparza (15-3). Cruiser: Robin Sirwan Safar (18-0) W TKO 5 Roberto Silva (13-4). Fly: Joselito Velasquez (21-1-1) W PTS 10 Adolfo Castillo (12-4-2).
Zepeda vs. Farmer
Zepeda retains the interim WBC title with a majority decision over Farmer as he builds a big early lead and then has to hold out as Farmer stages a strong finish.
Round 1
Zepeda was trying to put Farmer under pressure from the start with Farmer retreating then diving in and holding. Zepeda was dodging Farmer’s jab and landed a right. Zepeda was stalking Farmer but finding him an elusive targets until he pinned him against the ropes and landed lefts and rights to the body. Farmer landed a counter left but then clinched again. Both landed right jabs and Farmer dived in and clinched. Zepeda landed rights to the body.
Score: 10-9 Zepeda
Round 2
Zepeda was chasing down Farmer and landed a couple of shots. Relentless pressure from Zepeda saw Farmer not able to do much in the way of his own offence. Farmer landed a couple of jabs but Zepeda walked through them and drilled Farmer with hooks to the body. Zepeda landed a whole series of shots with Farmer stumbling under the pressure. Zepeda piled on more punches and the referee was having a close look as Famer was in disarray. All one-way traffic as Zepeda banged to Farmer’s body .
Score: 10-9 ZepedaZepeda 20-18
Round 3
Zepeda forced Farmer to the ropes to again punch to the body and Farmer was clinching. Farmer chose to stand and trade for a spell but as Zepeda again went to the body Farmer backed away. More pressure from Zepeda saw Farmer showing some clever defence work and clinching. Farmer landed a sharp uppercut but Zepeda was still pumping out punches. He pinned Farmer against the ropes and scored with a burst of body punches. Some nice work on the back foot from Farmer
Score: 10-9 ZepedaZepeda 30-27
Round 4
Zepeda forced Farmer to the ropes and scored with body punches. Amazing work rate from Zepeda as he forced Farmer around the ring firing a stream of punches. Not all landing cleanly and not all with full force but almost overwhelming Farmer who was trying desperately to grab Zepeda’s arms to slow the flow. Farmer was throwing counters but they were just bouncing off Zepeda. Two questions: Can Farmer last 12 rounds as he has been circling the full permitter of the ring under constant pressure or will Zepeda punch himself out if he keeps firing punch after punch without putting Farmer away?
Score: 10-9 ZepedaZepeda 40-36
Round 5
Zepeda on the hunt again this time landing some head shots. Farmer makes some room and scores with bursts of hooks. Zepeda digging to the body again with Farmer trying to clinch but is driven to a corner under a bombardment to head and body. Farmer is in trouble. His arms drop as Zepeda pounds away and again the referee is looking to see whether he should step in. Zepeda drives Farmer across the ring with Farmer unsteady but Farmer escapes from the ropes and lands a crisp right uppercut.
Score: 10-9 ZepedaZepeda 50-45
Round 6
Farmer makes a good start meeting the advancing Zepeda with lifts and rights. Zepeda is back working to the body with right hooks then Farmer marches forward firing jabs and straight rights. Still plenty of pressure but Farmer is picking Zepeda off with single, hard shots and Zepeda’s output has dropped. Zepeda then ups his pace and is back to hunting Farmer and landing body punches but the early work from Farmer gets him the round.
Score: 10-9 FarmerZepeda 59-55
Round 7
Zepeda was stalking forward looking to get close and let his hooks flow but Farmer is on the back foot spearing him with jabs. Zepeda is not closing Farmer down as quickly or firing as many punches and that was giving Farmer some space. Farmer is still moving a lot but also firing more counters than he was in the early rounds. Farmer gets a warning for holding but he is going punch-for-punch with Zepeda.
Score: 10-9 FarmerZepeda 68-65
Round 8
Zepeda seems back to his high pressure attacks again but Farmer is not backing up and they trade shots with both having some success. That little bit of extra energy for Zepeda is making the difference and he is getting through to the body with rights
Score: 10-9 ZepedaZepeda 78-74
Round 9
Plenty of jabbing on the move from Farmer but light jabs mostly blocked by Zepeda and Zepeda is hooking to the body with success. He is closing Farmer down better not giving Farmer room to counter. Farmer goes down on his knees but he had been dragged down by Zepeda so no count. Farmer connected with some quality counters but they did not even slow Zepeda
Score: 10-9 ZepedaZepeda 88-83
Round 10
Lovely boxing on the back foot from Farmer. He was firing jabs and constantly changing direction to find room. Zepeda was still pressing hard and banging to the body but he was moving slower and Farmer was using the extra space to put together some sharp combinations and was also clinching to stifle Zepeda’s work and won the round clearly.
Score: 10-9 FarmerZepeda 97-93
Round 11
More classy back foot work from Farmer. He was jabbing quicky and accurately, tying up Zepeda and scoring with little bunches of punches. They were not hard but they were landing. Zepeda looked arm weary having to dredge up the energy to pump out punches the way he did in the early rounds. He was just following Fermer around the ring and was no longer walking through Farmer’s punches but being stopped in his tracks.
Score: 10-9 FarmerZepeda 106-103
Round 12
Zepeda may have been the younger man but it was Farmer who produced the better finish. He was the one throwing bursts of punches and he had Zepeda backing off for the first time. A left to the head saw Zepeda go sideways and put his gloves in the canvas but the referee seemed to decide it was a slip. Farmer shook Zepeda with a combination and he was able to dance around Zepeda peppering him with punches. Two very tired fighters slugged away at the bell
Score: 10-9 FarmerZepeda 115-113
Official scores: 116-112 and 115-113 for Zepeda and 114-114.
A third fight is not out of the question but presumably Zepeda will want to move on to fight the real champion Shakur Stevenson. Farmer is No 3 with the WBC but not rated by any of the other organisations as his WBC rating is based on his performance in their first WBC title fight. At 34 time is running out but Farmer reportedly suffered injuries to his left arm early in the fight and did occasionally shake the arm at the end of some of the late rounds which makes this an even more noteworthy effort and it would be good to see him get one more title shot.
Collazo vs. Cano
Collazo successfully defends the WBA and WBO belts with a fifth round kayo of a vastly overmatched and undeserving challenger in Cano.
Round 1
Collazo immediately came forward tossing right jabs forcing Cano onto the defensive. Collazo’s superior hand speed saw him finding gaps and firing jabs through Cano’s guard but he missed with a couple of rights. Cano tried to counter but was off target. Collazo was jabbing accurately and fired a hard left then landed a smart combination.
Score: 10-9 Collazo
Round 2
Collazo continued to snap jabs through Cano’s guard and added a sharp right uppercut. Cano was coming forward trying to get inside away from Collazo’s jab but was being caught by hooks and uppercuts and Collazo was blocking Cano’s shots. Collazo connected with a series of hooks with Cano wild with his response.
Score: 10-9 Collazo Collazo 20-18
Round 3
Collazo was too quick on the offence and too clever in defence and Cano just could not find a way to get into contention. Cano had some success as he pumped out body punches but most were blocked and he walked onto swift counters. It was almost like exhibition stuff from Collazo as he banged home right jabs, lefts to the body and then stepped back and countered as frustrated Cano came forward. Collazo ended the round by connecting with another burst of hooks.
Score: 10-9 CollazoCollazo 30-27
Round 4
Cano started by throng a bunch of hooks butCollazo was landing rights and lefts and slowly breaking the challenger down. There was less and less coming back from Cano as Collazo bombarded him with punches putting together some spectacular combinations with Cano absorbing some savage lefts.
Score: 10-9 Collazo Collazo 40-36
Round 5
Cano again marched forward throwing punches withCollazo backing off across the ring then tying Cano up and the fire went out of Cano. Collazo battered him with an array of punches hurting him with two left hooks to the body and another body shot saw Cano turn away and walk to kneel against the ropes with his head bowed and then drop to the canvas on his back as the referee counted him out.
Fifth defence of the WBO belt and first of the WBO but this was really a fraud of a defence as certain “adjustments had to be made to the ratings to try to give it even a modicum of legitimacy. Collazo again put on a great show of class and power but there was no real credit in beating such a poor opponent (see Observations).
Cano has had five fights in the last three years losing to German Valenzuela in March 2022, beating 9-6-1 Carlos Vado on points over eight rounds in September 2022, fighting a technical draw with 5-10 Miguel Luns in August 2023, stopping 9-1 Gerardo Sanchez in March 2024 and knocking out 5-0 Michael Carmona in July 2024- his last fight before facing Collazo. So a loss, 9-6-1, technical draw, 5-10, 5-0. No wonder he was outclassed. Bad ratings and bad organisations make bad title fights.
Valle vs. Esparza
Valle takes a split decision over Esparza. The first round was close with Esparza setting quickly but Valle finishing the round strongly. Valle was quicker and busier in the second and third. setting a fast pace aiming to tire the heavier Esparza. Valle’s speed continued to pose problems for Esparza who looked dangerous with right hand counters and had a better fourth round. Valle again outboxed Esparta in the fifth. Esparza tried to stay inside bhut was being continually warned for holding as she attempted to use her extra size and weight to boss the action. The rounds were close but her speed was giving Valle the edge and she outscored Esparza in the sixth. Esparza connected with a good left hook in the seventh and banged away at Valle’s body. Esparza also scored well in the eighth-a round in which the bell sounded about 30 seconds early. Valle was back on top in the ninth scoring with quick jabs and firing shots with both hands. Valle looked to be in front going into the last and she took the round rocking Esparza with a left hook. Scores 97-93 twice for Valle and 96-94 for Esparza. Costa Rican Valle was jumping from minimumweight to flyweight for the first time but Esparza, a former holder of the WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight belts came in 1 ½ lbs over the limit.
Safar vs. Silva
Safar halts Silva in the fifth. No real problems for the 6’3” Swede. He was 5” taller with a longer reach and was much quicker than the flabby and slower Silva. Safar was popping Silva with jabs in the first and landing clubbing rights. Silva was mostly circling the perimeter of the ring and tended to lunge forward with his attacks walking onto counters. Safar dominated the second. He was finding the target with jabs and straight rights. Silva did some good work with his jab but Safar hurt him with a left hook to the body and then snapped his head back with a right at the bell. Safar continued to land jabs and straight rights over the third and fourth. Silva was fighting in spurts and had some success when he crowded Safar against the ropes but those occasions were very few. The fight had become a bit of an untidy maul as they end of the fourth. Safar ended it in the fifth. He landed a bundle of booming rights to the head that had Silva stumbling and when another right and a left hook connected the referee stopped the fight. Safar had only one fight in 2022 and one in 2023 before outpointing former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in May last year. Kovalev was 41 by then and had not fought for two years so Sarwan is largely untested and made hard work of a very inferior opponent but he will be sharper with more activity. Third loss by KO/TKO for Silva.
Velasquez vs. Castillo
Velasquez wins unanimous decision over Castillo. Velasquez was clearly better in the first round but emerged with a cut over his left eye. He outboxed Castillo over the second scoring with some tasty body punches but was cut again in the third arising from some careless headwork from Castillo. The referee deducted a point from Castillo at the start of the fourth in which Velasquez again invested in some hurtful body punching. The fifth was close as Velasquez was boxing with some caution due to the cuts and Castillo had improved as the fight developed. Velasquez was cut in head clashes again in the sixth and seventh but was able to continue and swept the closing rounds. Scores 100-89 twice and 97-92. Velasquez lost to Cristofer Rosales in a WBC eliminator in 2022 but has rebuilt with six wins. He is No 5 with the WBO and No 7 with the WBC so has work to do if he wants a title shot.
Las Vegas, NV, USA: Welter: Brian Norman (27-0) W TKO 3 Derrieck Cuevas (27-2-1). Welter: Mikaela Mayer (21-2) W PTS 10 Sandy Ryan (7-3-1). Feather: Bruce Carrington (15-0) W TKO 3 Enrique Vivas ( 23-4).Welter: Delante Johnson (15-0) W TKO 5 Kendo Castaneda (21-9). Super Light: Emiliano Vargas (13-0) W TKO 2 Giovannie Gonzalez (20-8-2).
Norman vs. Cuevas
Norman crushes Cuevas in three round in WBO title defence.
Round 1
Norman was quickly on to the front foot shooting jabs to put Cuevas on the defensive and fired a quick combination. Cuevas threw a pair of left hooks that Norman blocked. Both were short with their jabs. Plenty of posing from Cuevas but he did not translate that into action and Norman scored with a right and left.
Score: 10-9 Norman
Round 2
Norman gets down to work using his faster hands to score with jabs then backs off looking to counterpunch. Lots of fancy arm waving from Cuevas to confuse Norman but no end product. A right and a left send Cuevas stumbling back across the ring to the ropes and with Cuevas pinned against the ropes Norman unloads punches until they referee parts them.
Score: 10-9 NormanNorman 20-18
Round 3
Cuevas marched forward behind his jab but Norman was too
quick and met Cuevas with sharper and more accurate jabs. Cuevas was holding his left low and paid for that as Norman landed a right. Norman sent a right whistling past the chin of Cuevas and then landed a left hook that sent Cuevas staggering back. Norman followed up quickly and hammered home a lightning-quick left and a right that sent Cuevas flying back and crashing to the floor. He was up at four but just walked along the ropes towards a neutral corner not looking at the referee. The referee followed Cuevas until the count reached eight. He then indicated for Cuevas to lift his gloves but Cuevas was finished for the night and did not react leading to the referee waiving the fight over.
The speed, accuracy and power of the finishing punches from Norman was impressive and showed what a threat he is in this division. He has 21 wins by KO/TKO including a tenth round stoppage of 32-0 Giovani Santillan. His mandatory challenger is Alexis Roach and on this showing he would be too good for Rocha. Cuevas had won four in a row against modest opposition and just simple quit against a much better fighter.
Mayer vs. Ryan
Mayer retains the WBO belt with a unanimous decision over Ryan. Mayer had beaten Ryan on a majority decision in September at Madison Square Garden. Ryan felt she had won that fight so there a distinct edge to this return. This time Mayer was a clear winner. Mayer used some good jabbing and rights to take the opening round but Ryan landed accurate counters as she had a much better second. Mayer picked up the pace in the third and was outworking Ryan but with Ryan getting inside in the fourth and scoring well to the body to even things up. Mayer really upped the pressure in the fifth. She was quicker, busier and more accurate and carried those advantages over into the sixth. Ryan tried switching to southpaw but that had no effect as Mayer outscored her in the seventh. Ryan put in a big effort in the eighth surging forward and landing good body shots but Mayer ended the round strongly despites suffering a bad cut on her left eyelid. With the fight slipping away from her Ryan connected with good rights outworking Mayer in the ninth but that was not enough. Mayer shook Ryan with a right early in the tenth and landed the heavier punches to take the round despite a late flurry from Ryan. Mayer won on scores of 97-93 twice and 98-92. Britain's Lauren Price holds he WBA, WBC and IBF version of the title so another big unification fight on the cards for female boxing.
Ryan may have been unsettled by an incident before the fight. As she was leaving her hotel to go to the venue a man threw a pot of red paint at her which splashed over her, No indication who did it or why but Ryan had to go back to her room to shower and change which can only have been unsettling as her scheduled had been planned around the normal routine leading up to a fight.
Carrington vs. Vivas
Carrington stops a gutsy but outclassed Vivas. The first exchange of jabs showed that Carrington had the faster hands as he stabbed jabs home up and down. Vivas was coming forward behind a high jab but Carrington found gaps. Vivas continued to plenty of pressure in the opener and landed some good shots when he got close but Carrington banged home a couple of hard uppercuts. Vivas kept advancing in the second but Carrington was scoring with some classy counters. Vivas kept piling on the pressure and the punches but ignored defence and was dropped by a short right. He was up quickly but Carrington unloaded a barrage of punches that has Vivas reeling but despite being rocked six or seven rounds Vivas stayed on his feet. Vivas tried to take the fight to Carrington in the third but when he was sent lurching across the ring by a combination the referee stopped the fight. Carrington is No 1 with both the WBC and WBO and inside the top 4 with the IBF and WBA and he was calling out all four champions but particularly Nick Ball. Vivas fought hard but was outclassed.
Johnson vs. Castaneda
Fighting at welterweight for the first time Johnson gives a classy if clinical performance in stopping Castaneda in the fifth. The first round saw Johnson circling Castaneda throwing jabs with Castaneda looking for an opportunity to get inside. When Castaneda came forward Johnson either fired a counter or danced away. Just before the bell Johnson landed a right that stunned Castaneda but there was not enough time left in the round for Johnson to capitalise on that. Johnson continued to fight on the back foot in the second jabbing and moving. A fierce exchange saw Johnson block Castaneda’s shots and land some tasty counters and Johnson was content to continue to play the counter puncher role. Johnson went onto the front foot in the third crowding Castaneda scoring with short hooks inside and using his jab to keep Castaneda on the back foot and stem his attacks. Johnson stepped up his pace again in the fourth moving in behind his jab and firing hooks inside. Castaneda went on the attack leading to some sharp exchanges with a left to the body from Johnson forcing Castaneda to back-off and clinch. He was in trouble as Johnson chased him around the ring but lasted to the bell. In the fourth a savage sequence of hooks sent Castaneda down to one knee. He was up at eight but when a left hook sent him down again the fight was stopped. It will be interesting to see how Johnson progresses at the higher weight. Third loss in a row for Castaneda-all against very good quality opposition.
Vargas vs. Gonzalez
Vargas wipes out Gonzalez in two rounds. Vargas started by jabbing carefully then banged home a couple of combinations. Gonzalez was reluctant to come forward so Varges picked him off with jabs and straight rights at distance and landed some body punches at the end of the round. Gonzalez was more adventurous in the second until he was visibly hurt by left hooks to the body. Gonzalez had another try at advancing but was met by a combination finished off by a right and a left hook and went down on his back. He struggled to his feet but was unsteady and the fight was over. Eleven inside the distance wins for Vargas, the son of Fernando Snr former IBF and WBA light middleweight champion. Fourth loss by KO/TKO for Gonzalez.
Tokoname, Japan: Fly: Masamichi Yabuki (18-4) W TKO 12 Angel Ayala (18-1). Fly: Aoi Yokoyama (3-0) W PTS 12 Giemel Magramo (30-5).
Yabuki vs. Ayala
IBF light flyweight champion Yabuki challenges for and wins the IBF flyweight title. Yabuki fired an early warning as he landed a hard right cross in the first 30 seconds. Ayala ignored the warning and was shaken by another right late in the round and then dropped by a left hook. He was up immediately and the bell went as the eight count was completed. Apart from the knockdown Ayala had boxed well in the first and he was doing so in the second switching guards and jabbing with his longer reach but again late in the round he was caught by a right that sent him stumbling back and he touched the canvas with his glove resulting in another count. After the count Ayala paced forward throwing punches in a desperate attempt to score a knockdown of his own. After two rounds Ayala was already four points down and he never recovered from that. The third round saw a clash of heads with Yabuki cut under his right eye and Ayala on the forehead. Ayala was desperate to claw back some points but Yabuki was boxing cooly behind his jab and outscored Ayala in the fourth. Ayala finally had success in the fifth, jabbing well and landing long rights. It was a round he won on all three cards and the only round he won in the fight. Both bled heavily as the fight continued with Ayala’s cut leaking blood into his right eye. He kept taking the fight to Yabuki but Yabuki continued to fight mainly on the backfoot spearing Ayala with counters, sliding away from Ayala’s attacks and picking up the rounds. At the end of the eleventh all three cards read 109-88 for Yabuki. In the twelfth Ayala came forward throwing punches and walked onto a short right hand which sent him down to his hands and knees. He made it to his feet but looked shaky and as Yabuki drove forward firing punches the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Yabuki will now have to decided which title to vacate and he has indicated he will let the flyweight title go. Ayala was defending the IBF title for the second time.
Yokoyama vs. Magramo
Yokoyama boxes his way to victory as he wins a wide unanimous decision over OPBF champion Filipino Magramo. Yokoyama took charge from the start setting a fast pace and using his speed and skill to pick up rounds . As the fight progressed Yokoyama sacrificed some of that speed to sit down on his punches more. Magramo was having some success as he chased Yokoyama down. The open scoring showed Yokoyama had a big lead going into the ninth and that fired Magramo into some fierce attacking but Yokoyama regained the initiative and boxed his way through the closing round to emerge a clear winner. Scores 117-111 twice and 118-110. By winning the OPBF title in only his third fight Yokoyama sets a new Japanese record. He started boxing at junior high school and was All Japan Champion at bantamweight in 2022 finishing with a 44-12 record as an amateur. Former WBO flyweight title challenger Magramo was defending the title for the first time.
MARCH 28
Valmontone, Italy: Seper Feather: Michael Magnesi (25-2) W PTS 12 Khalil El Hadri (20-3).
Magnesi vs. El Hadri
Magnesi revives his career with a points victory over champion El Hadri to win the WBC Silver title. Magnesi made a fast start piling forward in the first and landing hooks catching El Hadri cold. El Hadri adjusted and was connecting with rights and uppercuts of his own. Magnesia’s weakness in the past had been his impetuosity but he curbed his instincts and benefited from more studied aggression, He pressed hard over the first three rounds but El Hadri had a good fourth. Magnesi again pushed the pace outworking EL Hadri and although Magnesi was adding to his lead the Frenchman landed enough counters to keep it close. Magnesi had his best round so far in the sixth as he rocked El Hadri but was leaving too many opening when attacking in the seventh and El Hadri took advantage of that. The WBC open scoring let El Hadri know he was four points behind after the eighth round and he attacked hard trying to close the gap putting Magnesi under severe pressure but just came up short. Scores 115-113 twice and 116-13 for Magnesi. Losses to Anthony Cacace in 2022, a fight that cost Magnesi his IBO belt, and Masanori Rikiishi in Italy in March last year which saw him lose the WBC Silver title had sidelined Magnesi but he will be looking to land a world title fight after this win. Since losing to Eric Donovan for the vacant European title in 2022 El Hadri had won eight in a row and was defending the WBC Silver title for the first time.
Altrincham, England: Light: Cameron Vuong (8-0) W TKO 7 Jordan Flynn (11-1-1). Cruiser: Pat Brown (1-0) W TKO 4 Federico Grandone (7-5-2). Super Middle: Mark Dickinson (8-1) W PTS 10 Reece Farnhill (11-1). Super Welter: William Crolla (8-0) W PTS 6 Emmanuel Zion (6-4). Welter: Liam Taylor (28-2-1) W PTS 6 Jamie Stewart (4-11-1). Super Middle: Taylor Bevan (3-0) W TKO 1 Ales Makovec (5-4-1).
Vuong vs. Flynn
Vuong wins the vacant WBO European title with a stoppage of Flynn. The taller Vuong used some accurate jabbing over the first two rounds with Flynn forging forward throwing punches. He had some success but Vuong used clever footwork and accurate counters to do the scoring and connected with hard rights and left hooks to the body in each round. Flynn was having a better third hustling Vuong out of his stride but Vuong landed a chopping right to the side of the head that knocked Flynn off balance forcing him to touch down with his gloves resulting in a count. After the count there was a furious exchange with both landing heavily. Flynn continued to launch attacks in the fourth but was having difficulty landing anything and Vuong was jabbing, moving and countering. Vuong boxed cleverly in the fifth easily avoiding Flynn’s attacks and spearing Flynn with jabs and landing clubbing rights. Vuong dominated the sixth scoring with hooks inside on a tiring Flynn. Vuong forced Flynn to a corner and connected with a strong right uppercut and it looked as though Vuong might end it then but the bell went. A burst of rights had Flynn stumbling in the seventh and after two rights to the head had snapped back Flynn’s head the referee stopped the fight. Vuong was coming off a good win over Gavin Gwynn and continues to progress well.
Brown vs. Grandone
Olympian Brown wins inside the distance in his first professional fight. The 6’6” Paris Olympian was just too big for the very limited 6’1” Argentinian. Brown dictated the fight with his jabs and landed some impressive body punches. Grandone fought back hard in the third finding too many gaps in Brown’s guard for it to be perfect performance from Brown. Body punches hurt Grandone in the fourth and he was being held up by the ropes so was given a count. After the count a series of lefts and rights brought the referee’s intervention. Great things are expected from the 25-year-old Brown. Grandone, who lost for the fifth time in a row, did his job well giving Brown some useful rounds.
Dickinson vs. Farnhill
Dickinson wins the English title with unanimous decision over champion Farnhill. Dickinson started out boxing at distance and used some effective jabbing as he had the better of the exchanges over the first two rounds. Farnhill managed to get past the jab and work inside in the third. He had a good fourth but suffered a bad cut over his right eye in a clash of heads and the cut seeped blood for the rest of the fight. From the fifth it was mostly close-quarters work and Dickinson got the better of the exchanges and despite the best efforts of a blood spattered Farnhill Dickinson produced a strong finish to win on scores of 99-92, ,98-92 and 98-93. Dickenson’s loss came in a fight in Japan in July last year and this is his second win since then. Fernhill was defending the title for the first time.
Crolla vs. Zion
Crolla gets his first real test as he goes the distance against Zion. Criolla boxed well at the start and built a lead. Zion came into the fight from the fourth and pressed a tiring Crolla over the fifth and sixth. Crolla won 58-57 on the referee’s card. He is trained by his brother Anthony, the former WBA lightweight champion, and had scored five first round wins in previous seven fights. Third loss in a row for Zion all on points.
Taylor vs. Stewart
Experienced Taylor eases his way back in as he wins every round against Stewart. In his first fight for over a year Taylor had too much power and too much skill for Stewart. He had Stewart under heavy pressure in the third but Stewart has only suffered one inside the distance loss and he was there at the end of the sixth. Taylor, a former undefeated WBO European champion, won 60-54.
Bevan vs. Makovec
Bevan blasts out Makovec with a devastating uppercut. Bevan quickly had Makovec on the back foot with some stiff jabs and kept him there. He connected with some shots to head and body and then connected with a vicious left uppercut that put Makovec face down on the canvas and the referee immediately waived then fight over so that Makovec could get some help. A Commonwealth silver medal winner Bevan turned professional after failing to qualify for the 2024 Olympics and had taken less than five rounds for his three wins. Czech Makovec never even managed to visit the centre of the ring after they shook hands at the start of the fight.
Mazatlan, Mexico: Bantam: Pedro Guevara (43-5-1) W PTS 10 Jose Valdes (13-13-1). Fly: Joali Mosqueda ( 13-0) W KO 5 Ivan Garcia (12-4-1). Light: Rodolfo Bustamante (22-1-1) W PTS 8 Edgar Alor (15-8-1).
Guevara vs. Valdes
In his first fight since losing to Jesses Rodriguez in a challenge for the WBC super-fly title in November Guevara eases his way back into the winner’s ranks as he outclasses a willing but limited Valdes. Guevara bossed the fight inside and at distance. Valdes lacked the power and experience to mix it inside and did his best work at distance. Guevara was looking for a quick win to please his home fans but Valdes stuck to his task and when Guevara realised Valdes was not going to crumbled he settled for boxing his way to the win. Scores 100-92 twice and 98-88 for the former WBC light flyweight and interim WBC super-fly champion who will now competed at bantamweight. Valdes recent form is 1-5.
Mosqueda vs. Garcia
Mosqueda preserves his 100% record with a fifth round kayo of Garcia. Mosquea had the better skills and outboxed Garcia over the first three rounds. Garcia upped his pace in the fourth getting inside and scoring to the body. Garca was the aggressor again in the fifth but Mosqueda fought him off and then landed a left hook to the body that saw Garsia drop to one knee in agony and he was counted out. Now ten wins by KO/TKO for Mosqueda who has a win over Cuban former amateur star Damian Arce. Garcia’s record looks very ordinary but in his last fight in July he only lot on a majority decision against 26-2-1 Venezuelan Carlos Canizales, the WBC No 1, for the WBC Silver title.
Bustamante vs. Alor
“ Elegante” Bustamante continues to rebuild as he takes a unanimous verdict over Alor. He lived-up to his nickname as he was too clever for Alor. He boxed well at distance landing jabs and varying his attacks from head to body. Alor had very little success even when Bustamante dropped his guard and used just his reflexes for defence. He won on scores of 80-72, 79-76 and 78-74 his sixth victory since losing on a shock sixth round stoppage against Eliot Chavez in 2021.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Super Middle: Ramon Lovera (21-2-1) W PTS 10 Rolando Mansilla (20-17-1).
Southpaw Lovera wins the vacant South American title as he beats Mansilla. Lovera used his height and longer reach to put pressure on Mansilla forcing him to the ropes and bombarding him with hooks. Mansilla had a few good moments but not enough and Lovera dominated him in close and at distance. Lovera won on scores of 99-91, 99-92 and 98-92. Lovera had beaten Mansilla on a disqualification due to a butt back in 2021
Accra, Ghana: Feather: Holy Dorgbetor (13-0-1) W KO 3 Patrick Aryee (23-3-3).
Dorgbetor knocks out Aryee in the third round in defence of his IBF African title. Aryee forced Dorgbetor to the ropes and was firing punches. Dorgbetor fought his way off the ropes and then floored Aryee with a barrage of punches and Aryee went down and was counted out. Now 8 wins for the 23-year-old Ghanaian. The draw on his record is a technical one. Second inside the distance loss for Aryee with the other coming against Jono Carroll in 2022.
MARCH 29
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Welter: Victor Rodriguez (16-0-1 W TKO 3) Alberto Mosquera (28-8-2). Bantam: Luciano Baldor (21-4) W PTS 10 Michell Banquez (23-5).
Rodriguez vs. Mosquera
Rodriguez blows away experienced Mosquera. The Uruguayan dropped Mosquera twice in the first round but Mosquera fought back in the second. Rodriguez just hit too hard and after a knockdown in the third the referee halted the fight. Rodriguez collects the vacant WBA Fedelatin title with his ninth inside the distance victory. Mosquera, 38, who drew with Brunet Zamora for the interim WBA super light title back in 2011, has lost 4 of his last 5 fights now.
Baldor vs. Banquez
Local boxer Baldor gets a majority decision over Venezuelan Banquez. It was a clash of tactics as Baldor was looking to work his way to victory based on boxing on the outside using his 6” height edge and longer reach and Banquez aiming to get inside to slow Baldor with body punches. Both had good spells but the physical advantages enjoyed by Baldor and his intelligent boxing saw him the clear winner. Score 97-93 twice and 95-95 as Baldor picks up the WBA Fedelatin title from champion Banquez. The Venezuelan was 20-1 including a victory over Prince Patel but it has been a rougher road since then.
Sint Truiden, Belgium: Super Light: Hovhannes Martirosyan (19-1) W TKO 3 Salimu Jengo (21-5-1).
Martirosyan drops Tanzanian Jengo twice and the fight is stopped in the third round. The win gives Martirosyan the IBO Inter-Continental title. His defeat came on a ninth round kayo against Pierce O’Leary in a fight for the WBC International title in March last year. After the bout Martirosyan proposed to his girlfriend and was accepted-poor guy. Jengo was 5-0-1 going in and his losses have generally come on the road.
Hamilton. Canada: Super Middle: John Bianco (9-1) W PTS 8 Brett Beaton (6-3). Light Heavy: Wilkens Mathieu (13-0) W TKO 2 Ricardo Luna (27-13-2).
Bianco vs. Beaton
Bianco wins the vacant Canadian title with unanimous decision over Brett Beaton. The fight was over eight rounds but no scores available.
Mathieu vs. Luna
Mathieu marches on with another win. The 20-year-old prospect stopped Mexican Luna in two rounds, First pro fight outside of Quebec for Mathieu and his sixth inside the distance victory in his last seven fights. Luna has lost inside the distance eight times.
Mexicali, Mexico: Super Feather: Luis Alberto Lopez (31-3) W KO 1 Eduardo Montoya (21-8-1).
Lopez returns with a win. The former IBF featherweight champion looked rusty, out of condition, was a bit wild with some of his punches and was caught with a couple of left hooks. After Montoya again landed a number of jabs and hooks Lopez signalled for him to try again and then landed a brutal left hook to the head that dropped Montoya. Montoya was up at nine but seconds later Lopez connected with a left to the body and Montoya went down again and the referee stopped the fight. Lopez was returning after reportedly suffering a brain haemorrhage in his tenth round kayo loss against Angelo Leo which cost Lopez his title. Not sure where he will be allowed to fight having suffered such an injury.
Dzierzoniow, Poland: Welter: Michal Lesniak (19-3-1) W PTS 10 Mashkhurbek Kambarov (9-1).
Pole Lesniak scores a points win over Uzbek Kambarov. Lesniak boxed his way to victory behind some powerful jabbing and useful body shots. Kambarov was competitive but after ten good rounds Lesniak won on scores of 99-91 twice and 96-94. Second win for Lesniak since losing a unanimous decision against Jordy Weiss for the European title in March last year. Kambarov does most of his fighting in Turkey and was in his first fight scheduled for more than six rounds.
Flensburg, Germany: Super Welter: Freddy Kiwitt (27-3) W TKO 9 Evander Castillo (17-3). Super Feather: Lara Ochmann (15-2) W PTS 10 Akane Fujiwara (7-5-1). Super Welter: Volkan Gokcek (16-0) W PTS 8 Darian Yasar (12-0-1).
Kiwitt vs. Castillo
Kiwitt halts Venezuela Castillo. The Liberian-born Kiwitt
was by far the better technician with superior skills and he outboxed Catillo over the first three rounds. Castillo was livelier in the fourth and shook Kiwitt with a right in the fifth. Kiwitt
was back in control in the sixth and floored Castillo twice with body punches in the seventh. Castillo survived the eighth but when he was put down again by a body punch in the ninth the referee stopped the fight. All three of Kiwitt’s losses have come in fights in Britain where he is based. This is his tenth win in a row and his first defence of the WBF title. Castillo has lost inside the distance against Johan Gonzalez and Milan Prat but has won his last two contests.
Ochmann vs. Fujiwara
German Ochmann outpoints Japan’s Fujiwara. The tall local won on scores of 99-91 twice and 100-90 and picks up the WBF belt with her sixth consecutive victory. Fujiwara, 37, the WBO Asia Pacific title holder, was having her first fight outside of Japan.
Gokcek vs. Yasar
After a close opening round pressure from Gokcek had Yasar fighting defensively and he was slowing Yasar with body punches. Despite his domination Gokcek never really had Yasar in any trouble and Yasar was more competitive over the seventh and eighth as Gokcek flagged. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-73 for Turk Gokcek.
Cadereyta, Mexico: Fly: Cecilia Rodriguez (15-1-1) W PTS 10 Maria Salinas (27-10-6).
Rodriguez gets a career best win as she takes a unanimous decision over experienced Salinas. The first round saw southpaw Salinas storming forward in her typically aggressive style and win the round. Rodriguez made adjustments switching between moving and countering and standing and trading and that paid over the second half of the fight and she held off a strong finish from Salinas to emerge the winner on scores of 96-94 twice and 97-93. Rodriguez lost on a first round stoppage against 20-1 Tania Enriquez in 2023 but has now scored four wins in a row. Former NABF champion Salinas was having her first fight for 13 months having lost to Kenia Enriquez for the WBC interim fly title in February 2024.
Namibia: Super Feather: Flame Nangolo (13-0) W KO 4 Felix Ajoma (17-3-1). Middle: Walter Kautondoka (19-2) W KO 1 Liberty Muwani (4-9). Charles Shinima (19-2) W TKO 4 Dickson Saidi (6-9-1). Harry Simon Junior (23-0-1) W TKO 2 Tranos Zihove(4-6).
Nangolo vs. Ajoma
Local fighter Nangolo wins the vacant WBO African title with a fourth round kayo of Ghanaian Ajoma. After taking the first three rounds Nangolo finished Ajoma with a body punch in the fourth round. First inside the distance defeat for Ajoma who had won his last 9 fights.
Kautondoka vs. Muwani
Former WBO middleweight title challenger Kautondoka “The Executioner” returned after over five years out of the ring and wiped out Zimbabwean Muwani in the first round. Kautondoka took only 909 seconds to show he is back. Kautondoka’s losses have been against Demetrius Andrade for the vacant WBO middle title in 2018 and on points against Kanat Islam in his last fight in October 2019. Eighth inside the distance loss for Muwani.
Shinima vs. Saidi
Shinima got a needed win as he stopped overmatched Malawian Saidi in the fourth round. Shinima floored Saidi in the first, twice in the second and again in the third with nthe referee calling off the massacre in the fourth. Shinami was being highly touted when he went 17-0 but losses in Albania and South Africa have been serious setbacks. Saidi is 1-6 in his last 7 fights.
Simon vs. Zihove
Simon continues to avoid anything resembling a test as he halts Zimbabwean Zihove in the second round. After 23 fights it is ridiculous that he is still being protected by being put in with opponents such as Zihove. Perhaps after only drawing in his last fight in December against 10-0 fellow-Namibian Abed Shikongo his team feels they still can’t risk him against a real opponent. Five of Zihove’s six losses have been by KO/TKO.
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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