The Past Week in Action 14 April 2025: Ennis Retires Stanionis in 6, Unifies IBF/WBA Welter Titles; Spencer Defeats Suarez; Pro Boxing Returns in Cuba; Astrolabio, Nietes Win in Manila
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 Apr 2025
Highlights:
-Jaron Ennis unifies the IBF and WBA welterweight titles as Eimantas Stanionis retires after six rounds. There are wins for Ray Ford and Shakhram Giyasov
-Mary Spencer retains her WBA super welter title with a victory in Montreal
- Professional boxing returns to Cuba for the first time since 1961 and there are wins for Cubans Juilo Cesar La Cruz, Arlen Lopez, Lazaro Alvarez, Erislandy Alvarez, and Cuba’s first female professional fighter Yakelin Estornell
- Vincent Astrolabio knocks out Kwanpichit in one round in Manila and Donnie Nietes returns with a victory.
Major Shows
APRIL 12
Atlantic City, NJ, USA: Welter: Jaron Ennis (34-0) W RTD 6 Eimantas Stanionis (15-1). Super Feather: Raymond Ford (17-1-1) W PTS 10 Thomas Mattice (22-5-1) Welter: Shakhram Giyasov (17-0) W KO 4 Franco Ocampo (17-3). Super Welter: Omari Jones (2-0) W KO 1 William Jackson (13-6-2). Super Bantam: Arturo Cardenas (16-0-1) W TKO 8 Edgar Cortes (9-8-1, 1 ND).
Ennis vs. Stanionis
Ennis unifies the IBF and WBA titles with a sixth round retirement win over a disappointing Stanionis.
Round 1
Ennis was circling Stanionis stabbing out jabs to head and body with Stanionis looking to cut off the ring. Stanionis managed to move inside and landed a left to the head. Ennis backed off connecting with a right to the body then went back to jabbing again. Both landed a right and Ennisn switched guards. Ennis threaded a left through Stanionis’s guard and connected with a right. Ennis landed a straight right
Score: 10-9
Round 2
Ennis was jabbing and side-stepping Stanionis’ punchers before landing two right hooks to the body. Stanionis was coming forward behind a high guard but constant jabbing from Ennis was stopping from making any progress. Ennis put together a little burst of hooks. Stanionis landed a right but Ennis banged home a body punch. Ennis switched back to orthodox and continued to pump out jabs
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 20-18
Round 3
Ennis kept switching guards still firing lots of jabs. He fired a short burst of punches but most were blocked. As they came out of a clinch Ennis was dragged to the floor but obviously no, count. Ennis connected with three hooks to the head, Stanionis was following Ennis around the ring unable to pin him down. Ennis dug in three hooks to the body and a right to the body had Stanionis backing to the ropes.
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 30-27
Round 4
Ennis was throwing right jabs and then landing left hooks to the body. He was using his longer reach and hand speed to pick Stanionis off at distance and clinched when Stanionis got inside.
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 40-36
Round 5
Stanionis tried to close Ennis down but was just following the elusive Ennis around the ring eating jabs. Stanionis got though with a couple of left hooks but Ennis cracked him with a right and a left to the head and then exploded with a stream of hooks and uppercuts. Ennis was landing hooks underneath the elbows of Stanionis and Stanionis was bleeding from the nose
Score: 10-9 EnnisEnnis 50-45
Round 6
Stanionis had soaked up a lot of punishment in the fifth but was still walking forward into more. Ennis was content to just let Stanionis come and rake him with jabs. Ennis came forward connecting with hooks from both hands driving Stanionis to the ropes and connected with three right hooks to the body and Stanionis sank to one knee. He got up and with less than 20 seconds remaining in the round he convinced the referee he was able to continue. Stanionis actually connected with a hard combination but when he went back to his corner his team retired him.
Ennis will now look to get a unifying fight against WBO champion Brian Norman. This was an easy night for Ennis who never had to get out of second gear. Stanionis never put Ennis under any pressure and was outclassed. It was disappointing to see him surrender his title so meekly.
Ford vs. Mattice
Ford has too much skill and speed for Mattice and boxes his way to a unanimous decision. A series of punches to head and body in the first put southpaw Ford in control and set the pattern for the fight. Ford took the fight to Mattice in the second again piercing Mattice’s guard with quick two-handed flurries. Mattice was just too slows to be competitive. The pace dropped a little in the third with Ford boxing on the back foot and finding gaps for counters. Mattice was staggered by a right in the fourth and hurt by a combination in the fifth. The accurate shots from Ford had swelling showing around Mattice’s left eye in the sixth and Mattice just could not get a toe-hold in the fight as Ford outboxed him over the seventh and eighth. Ford seemed to coast through the ninth and then finished strongly to round off a dominant performance. All three cards read 100-90 for Ford. The former WBA feather champion has moved up to super feather and is already rated in the top 5 by the IBF, WBA and WBC. Mattice just can’t win the big fights.
Giyasov vs. Ocampo
Giyasov stops Ocampo in the fourth. It was apparent from the outset that this fight would not last long. Giyasov had his jab working early and as they traded late in the first a left hook sent Ocampo staggering back into the ropes. Giyasov, followed him and unloaded a fierce bunch of punches until Ocampo dropped to the canvas. He was up at nine and survived the few remaining seconds in the round. The doctor examined Ocampo but let him come out for the second round. A left to the body from Giyasov had Ocampo backing off at the start of the second and he kept Ocampo there firing strong jabs and right crosses throughout the round. Giyasov continued to dominate in the third. Ocampo tried to get his own jab working but Giyasov quickly had him retreating and a left hook to the body hurt Ocampo. It was all over in the fourth. Giyasov hunted Ocampo to a corner then drove home a right to the body and Ocampo dropped to his hands and knees and was counted out. The Uzbek was mandatory challenger to WBA champion Stanionis so will be in the queue for a shot at new champion Ennis. Argentinian Ocampo had won his last four fights but against very modest opposition and this is his first inside the distanced defeat.
Jones vs. Jackson
Olympian Jones gets his second win in a month as he finishes Jackson in 107 seconds. A right-left combination sent Jackson down and he made no effort to beat the count. Easy night for huge prospect Jones. Fourth loss in a row for Jackson.
Cardenas vs. Cortes
Cardenas scores three knockdowns on the way to stopping Cortes. A slow first round saw Cardenas on the front foot jabbing well and firing rights with southpaw Cortes not looking to engage but just retreat looking for the chance to counter. That was the pattern for the second and third rounds. Cortes took more chances in the fourth and made it a close round by connecting with left counters. Cardenas upped the pace in the fifth and Cortes went down under a combination. He argued that he had slipped but was given a count. Cardenas dominated the sixth and floored Cortes with a right in the seventh. Someone was down early in the eighth-the referee who tripped whilst going back to get out of the way of the boxers- Cardenas battered Cortes around the ring before flooring him with a pair of hooks and the referee waived the fight over. Cardenas was coming off a win over 22-1 Jesus Archiega and has nine inside them distance victories. Cortes came in as a substitute with only two days’ notice.
APRIL 10
Montreal. Canada: Light: Dzmitry Asanau (10-0) W PTS 10 Francesco Patera (30-4). Welter: Christopher Guerrero (14-0) W PTS 10 Oliver Quintana (22-4, 1ND). Super Welter: Mary Spencer (10-2) W PTS 10 Onglides Suarez (31-6-1). Super Light: Jhon Orobio (13-0) W PTS 8 Sebastian Aguirre (19-7).
Asanau vs. Patera
Belarusian Asanau successfully defends the WBC Continental Americas title with a hard-fought unanimous decision over Patera. This was the best fight of the night with Asanau winning on scores of 100-90 twice an 98-92 but despite the scores the experienced Belgian more than held his own in the fierce exchanges. Asanau’s offence worked well but he left enough gaps for Patera to always be in the fight. Asanau won a bronze medal at the World Championships and a silver at the European Games as well as competing at the 2016 Olympics. There is not much professional boxing in Belarus but as Asanau, along with other athletes signed letter criticising autocratic President Asanau is unlikely to fight there anyway. Patera, a former undefeated European champion, is now 2-3 in his last three contests.
Asanau Belarusian World bronze Euroopean Games silver competed 2016 Olympics 100-90 x 2 98-92 1st defence WBC Continentalk America
Guerrero vs. Quintana
Mexican-born Canadian Guerrero picks up the WBC Continental Americas title with a unanimous decision over Mexican Quintana. The visitor was competitive early but Guerrero scored knockdowns in the fifth, seventh and tenth rounds to win on scores of 99-89 twice and 99-88. First pro title for Guerrero who was twice Canadian amateur champion. Quintana came in with some good level experience behind him.
Spencer vs. Suarez
A brave Spencer retains her WBA title with a wide unanimous verdict over Venezuelan Suarez. Spencer injured her right hand two weeks before the fight but concealed the injury and effectively fought with one hand. She used her left hand mainly to control the fight with her jab and left hooks and using her right only rarely. It helped that she had a much longer reach but it was still a remarkable achievement. Her two losses came in back-to-back fights against Femke Hermans. Suarez a former WBA featherweight champion, had lost to Martie Dicaire for the IBF title in Canada in 2019.
Orobio vs. Aguirre
Montreal-based Colombian Obrero, 21, goes the distance for only the second time as he decisions Argentinian Aguirre. Orobio won on scores of 80-71 on the three cards. The former World Youth bronze medallist looks a good prospect.
Monterrey, Mexico: Light Fly: Daniel Valladares (31-4-1, 1 ND) W RTD 6 Rogelio Romero (14-12).
Valladares beats Romero. The former IBF minimumweight title holder floored Romero in the second and had him bleeding heavily from the nose. Valladares continued to pound Romero over the next four rounds and Romero’s corner retired their man before the start of the seventh. Now 18 wins by KO/TKO and three inside the distance wins and a No Decision in his last four fights for Valladares. Seven defeats in a row for Romero.
Manila, Philippines: Super Bantam: Vincent Astrolabio (20-5) W KO 1 Kwanpichit (41-6-2). Feather: Yukinori Oguni (22-3-3) W TKO 1 Jon Jon Estrada (18-15-1). Donnie Nietes (44-2-6) W PTS 6 Miller Alapormina (6-5-2).
Astrolabio vs. Kwanpichit
Astrolabio blows away Kwanpichit in one round. Astrolabio immediately drove Kwanpichit to the ropes and bombarded him with left hooks and rights to the head. Kwanpichit fired back briefly but was overwhelmed by a barrage of punches and dropped to the canvas and was counted out. Astrolabio bounces back from losses to Jason Maloney and and Junto Nakata
Kwanpichit / Prasitsak Phaprom, 43, former WBO flyweighjtflyweight title challenger, suffers his third consecutive loss by KO.
Oguni vs. Estrada
Oguni crushes Estrada. Oguni used his lengerlonger reach to force Estrada onrtoonto the back foot and connected with laftleft hooks to the body. EstradEstrada rertreatedretreated around the nringring under consdtantconstant fire with Oguni continujingcontinuing to land legftleft hooks to the bnodybody. Estrada tried to fight back but . finally the referee came in to save him. Oguni , 37, was rebounding from a first round stoppage loss against Namibian Fillipus Nghitumbwa in October.
Nietes vs. Alapormina
Nietes at 42 and in his first fight for almost three years, the great Nietes eases his way back with a points win over inexperienced Alapormina with all three judges scoring it 59-55. Not sure where Donnie goes from here.
APRIL 11
Varadero, Cuba: Heavy: Julio Cesar La Cruz (4-0) W TKO 3 Dilan Prasovic (18-6). Light Heavy: Arlen Lopez (4-0) W PTS 10 Martin Bulacio (14-9). Light Lazaro Alvarez (7-0) W RTD 7 Miguel Santos (10-1-1). Light: Erislandy Alvarez (4-0) W KO 1 Brainer Vasquez (22-6-1). Super Feather: Moussa Gholam (23-1) W TKO 3 Misael Vasquez (17-5-1). Welter: Yakelin Estornell (1-0) W TKO 2 Lina Tejada (13-6-1).
La Cruz vs. Prasovic
La Cruz gets off the canvas to stop Prasovic. A confident La Cruz controlled the action in the first but suffered a shock early in the second. A left hook from Prasovic dropped La Cruz but the Cuban beat the count and then floored Prasovic with a right hook later in the round with Prasovic just beating the count as the round ended. In the third La Cruz again landed a right hook putting Prasovic down. Prasovic made it to his feet but after the count La Cruz caught the advancing Prasovic with a counter left hook for another knockdown. Prasovic again beat the count but after La Cruz put him down with a left hook to the body the referee stopped the fight. The win apparently makes La Cruz the official mandatory challenger to WBA Bridgerweight Champion Muslim Gadzhimagomedov. Montenegrin Prasovic suffers his sixth inside the distance defeat.
Lopez vs. Bulacio
Lopez wins the vacant WBA Continental Americas title with a unanimous decision over Argentinian Bulacio. Lopez outboxed the strong but limited Bulacio in every round. Lopez confused Bulacio by constantly switching guards and easily found gaps in Bulacio’s guard. He had Bulacio bleeding from the nosed by the third and scored heavily in the fifth and sixth. Bulacio had some success when Lopez decided to stand and trade but although he fought hard it was Lopez winning the rounds. Bulacio stood up to the punishment and fought hard to the end but Lopez was in a different class. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91. Bulacio had beaten undefeated Serhat Guler in London in September but lost to Luka Plantic in November.
Alvarez vs. Vazquez
Alvarez wipes out Vazquez in 28 seconds. A series of head punches sent Vaquez nose-diving to the floor and the fight was over. The Cuban wins the vacant WBA Continental Americas belt. Vazquez was 6-0-1 in his previous 7 contests.
Alvarez vbs. Queliz
In the first round a left hook from Alvarez staggered Queliz who touched the canvas with his gloves to avoid going down and was given a count. Alvarez continued to boss the action slowly breaking the Dominican down. He floored Queliz in the seventh and pounded him for the rest of the round and Queliz did not come out for the eighth.
Gholam vs. Vasquez
Moroccan Gholam had no problems with Dominican prelim fighter Vasquez. Gholam quickly found the target and shook Vasquez a couple of times in the first round. Gholam stepped up his attacks over the second and third and Vasquez was under heavy fire in the third when the referee stopped the fight. Fourteenth win by KO/TKO for Gholam whose loss came against useful Russian Elnur Samedov in 2022. Gholam wins the Continental Americas title. Vasquez was unbeaten in his last 9 fights but against moderate level opponents.
Estornell vs. Tejada
Cuban Estornell sweeps aside Dominican Tejeda in two rounds. Estornell put Tejeda under strong pressure in the first. Tejeda tried to match Estornell but was hurt by a number of head punches . Estornell was landing heavily again in the second and Tejeda just turned away leaving the referee no choice but to stop the fight. A big night for Estornell. Since she opened the show she took part in the first professional boxing match in Cuba since October 1961 also the first professional fight between female boxer in Cuba and won the WBA Fedelatin belt in her first professional fight. Second loss by KO/TKO for Tejeda.
Estornell. 40, was twice Cuban champion and a bronze medallist in boxing at the Central American and Caribbean Games and a silver medallist in wrestling at the Pan American Games.
Hollywood, FL, USA: Armando Martinez (15-0) W TKO 3 Alberto Guevara (27-8). Ari Bonilla (4-0) W PTS 10 Josue Morales (32-18-4). Andrey Bonilla (4-0) W TKO 9 Ryan Shaw (8-2).
Martinez vs. Guevara
Martinez stops Guevera in three. This was more of a race than a fight. From the first bell Guevara was a on the retreat. He constantly visited all four corner with Martinez in pursuit. When he wasn’t retreating Guevara was throwing himself forward and holding. Martinez chased in vain for two rounds but finally caught up with Guevara in the third. Two left hooks to the body sent Guevara down. He was up at eight and as soon as the count was finished Martinez walked forward and landed a left hook to the head sending Guevara down again. Guevara got up but when the actinon resumed he backed to the ropes and went down almost before Martinez managed to land a punch. Eighth consecutive inside the distance win for Martinez including victories over fellow-Cubans Yosdiel Napoles and Yoandris Salinas. Fifth loss in a row for a badly shot Guevara.
Bonilla vs. Morales
The Terrible Twins strike again. Ari, 19 was given a good test by seasoned pro Josue Morales and won on a unanimous decision. No scores to hand. Ari is a former Mexican amateur champion and 2024 Pan American Youth champion and won the WBA Continental Americastitle in his first fight. Southpaw Morales has 17 loses but all on points.
Bonilla vs. Shaw
Twin Andrey stopped Shaw in the ninth round for his third inside the distance win. Like Ari, Andrey won the WBA Americas belt in his first pro fight.
Florencio Varela : Argentina: Welter: Marcelo Sanchez (11-5-3) W PTS 10 Geronimo Vazquez (21-3).
“Geronimo” Sanchez springs a big surprise as he outpoints heavy favourite Vazquez. Sanchez went on the attack from the first round. He piled forward getting inside and forcing Vazquez into a close-quarter’s brawl and he was able to make the more accomplished boxer fight his fight. Vazquez had success when he was able to box on the outside connecting with combinations but the pressure from Sanchez prevailed and he was a clear winner despite the majority decision. Scores 97-93 twice for Sanchez and 95-95. Now three wins in a row for Sanchez which makes his record look a bit more respectable. Vazquez was 6-1 in his last 7 fights with the defeat against 17-0 Canadian Josh Wagner in April last year.
Flemington, Australia: Middle: Desley Robinson (10-3) W PTS 10 Chloe Chaos (6-2-1). Middle: Joel Camilleri (30-8-1) W KO 1 Boniface Saguda (10-2).
Robinson vs. Chaos
Robinson retains the IBF belt and wins the vacant WBO as she outpoints fellow-Australian Chaos. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93. Robinson. 37, was defending the IBF belt for the first time. She had failed in a challenge for the IBF light heavyweight title in 2023. Chaos (real name Tarzcon) did well to last the distance.
Camilleri vs. Saguda
Camilleri continues with his winning run as he halts Tanzanian Saguda in then first round. Eight consecutive victories for Camilleri and 15 inside the distance wins in his career to date. Saguda way out of his depth.
Ferrara, Italy: Light: Pamela Noutcho Sawa (9-0) W TKO 1 Martina Righi (6-4-1 ). Welter: Antonio Licata (12-0) W TKO 7 Patrizio Moroni (8-10-1).
Noutcho vs. Righi
Cameroon-born Italian Noutcho, the boxing nurse, stops Righi in the first round. Noutcho attacked hard from the start before a devastating right sent Righi down late in the first. She struggled to her feet but the referee stopped the fight. There was controversy as there were only two seconds remaining in the round but the referee could have known that when he made his decision. Noutcho was defending the EBU title for the first time. Former Italian champion Righi was 5-1-1 in her last 7 fights.
Licata vs. Moroni
Licata wins the interim Italian title with a seventh round victory over Moroni. Licata outboxed Moroni with his superior skills never really letting Moroni get into the fight in any meaningful way. A right to the head from Licata in the first round opened a gash on the cheek of Moroni and started a swelling. The facial injuries worsened through the fight and the ringside doctor stopped the fight at the start of the seventh round. Local hope Licata, 25, continues to make good progress. Moroni came in as a substitute when champion Michele De Filippo was injured.
Guaymas, Mexico: Super Feather: Miguel Roman (71-14) W TKO 5 Oscar Escandon (27-10).
Roman destroys Escandon in five. He gave Escandon a torrid time but Escandon was soaking up strength sapping body punches but firing back. Escandon was bleeding heavily from his nose but when he wanted some relief he stamped down on Roman’s toes-it worked. Roman kept up the pressure with left hooks to the body and uppercuts and Escandon took some hellacious punishment in the fourth but just did enough to keep the referee from stepping in. A left hook to the body in the fifth sent Escandon to his hands and knees. He beat the count but was dropped twice more with his corner throwing in the towel. Now 39, Roman racks up win No 51 by KO/TKO. One of the great ring warriors of recent times. Colombian Escandon, 40, a former interim champion at both super bantam and featherweight, gets to fight someone his own age instead being fed to rising young boxers.
APRIL 12
Hanover, MD, USA: Super Feather: Jordan White (19-1) W PTS 10 Jose Romero (29-4). Heavy: Stephan Shaw (21-2) W KO 1 Raphael Akpejiori (18-2). Super Feather: William Foster III (19-2) W PTS 10 Brandon Benitez (21-4).
White vs. Romero
White makers a successful second defence of the NABF title as he floors and decisions Romero. Scores 99-90 twice and 100-89. Now 15 wins in a row for White who looks like he could develop into a real threat in the division. Romero has been thrown into some unwinnable matches against such as Isaac Cruz, Michel Rivera and Robeisy Ramirez .
Shaw vs. Akpejiori
Shaw scores a brutal first round kayo of Akpejiori. A right staggered Akpejiori and an overhand sent him down on his back half out under the ropes. Shaw suffered consecutive defeats against Efe Ajagba and Joseph Goodall but this is
his third first round blast out in a row with the fights ending in 49, 94 and 33 seconds. The 6’8” Nigerian Akpejiori was stopped in two rounds by Arslanbek Makhmudov in 2023 and had scored three quick wins since then.
Foster vs. Benitez
Foster wins all the way against Benitez. Scores 100-90 twice and 98-92, Fosters’ losses have been against 18-0 Henry Lebron and 18-1 Eridson Garcia. Mexican Garcia was coming off a loss to Robeisy Ramirez in June last year.
EL Palomar, Argentina : Super Welter: Alejandro Silva (25-0-1) W TKO 4 Jonatan Ruiz (10-9).
Silva just hits too hard for a fragile Ruiz. Silva advanced from the start with Ruiz firing counters and then trying to force Silva back but lacking the power to do so. Ruiz came forward throwing punches in the fourth but a left to the body from Silva saw him drop to one knee. He was up at eight but down again from a right to the head. He beat the count again and lunged forward throwing punches but after a clinch Silva forced him to a corner and was bombarding him with punches and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight just as Ruiz slid to the canvas. Silva makes it 23 wins in a row and with 20 by KO/TKO including 9 in his last 9 fights. He has scored victories in Mexico and the USA but at 31 he needs to look for higher profile fights. All nine of Ruiz’s losses have come inside the distance.
Santiago, Chile: Super Fly: Andres Campos (17-2-1) W TKO 3 Jimson Garcia (12-8-1),
Fighting in his home city Campos wins the vacant WBA Fedebol title with a third round stoppage of Venezuela Garcia. The losses suffered by Campos have come on points against Sunny Edwards for the IBF flyweight title in 2023 and a sixth round stoppage against Joselito Velazquez in October. Garcia, 38, now has six losses by KO/TKO.
Prague, Czech: Cruiser: Vasil Ducar (18-7-2) W PTS 10 Viktor Agateljan I(12-4-1). Heavy: Ivan Balaz (6-0) W TKO 2 Tomas Salek (22-7). Light Heavy: Lukas Konecny (53-5) W PTS 6 Tomas Bezvoda (17-25-2).
Ducar vs. Agateljan
Ducar decisions Agateljan to win the Czech title. The 6’3 ½” Ducar had a big advantages in height and reach over Agateljan but did not really need them. He was too mobile and too quick for a flabby Agateljan. It was a one-sided fight with Agateljan not able to mount much in the way of offence and spending most of the fight on defence. Ducar looked to have won every round but no scores available. Ducar had held the title previously but did not defend it. Agateljan, who was defending the title for the first time, was a former national, middleweight champion and had challenged for the light heavyweight title but was around 200 lbs for this fight .
Balaz vs. Salek
Slovakian Balaz won the Czech heavyweight title with a second round stoppage of champion Salek. Balaz handed out some serious punishment before finishing the fight in the second. A right to the head shook Salek and as he lunged forward another right sent him face down on the canvas. He staggered to his feet but stumbled around not knowing where he was and the referee stopped the fight. Fourth inside the distance victory for Balaz. Salek weas beaten in one round by Nathan Gorman in 2020 and is 1-3 in his most recent action.
Konecny vs. Bezvoda
Now 46 Konecny, the best Czech fighter the modern era (maybe any era) made an unexpected return to action with a points win over Bezvoda. It was Konecny’s first fight for over four years and he admitted he found getting through the first round a bit of and effort but then settled to outbox Bezvoda. The down side was a cut on his eyebrow but that will heal. No scores available. Konecny, a former interim WBO and European champion, worked on putting this show together. No surprise there as Konecny has been boxer, matchmaker, promoter, inspector and supervisor and is Mr Boxing in the Czech Republic. Former Czech middleweight champion Bezvoda is popular as a travelling loser as only four of his 25 losses have come inside the distance.
Bochum, Germany: Heavy: Nelson Hysa (22-0) W KO 3 Edwin Castillo (12-1).
Albanian Hysa gets another meaningless victory as he kayos Colombian Castillo in three rounds. Hysa ,40, has won 20 of those fight by KO/TKO. Being WBO European champion gets him a No 11 spot in their ratings but he has yet to face a real test. Castillo’s record is heavily padded with mediocre opposition.
Dublin, Ireland: Welter: Senan Kelly (10-0) W PTS 10 Declan Geraghty (27-6).
Kelly retains the Irish title with a paper-thin split decision over experienced campaigner Geraghty. The first two rounds were close and could have been scored for either boxer and Geraghty had a good third. Kelly upped the pressure and looked to have outscored Geraghty over the fourth and fifth. Clever boxing from Geraghty late in the fifth and sixth saw him find some space for counters to get into the fight. Body punch from Kelly slowed Geraghty and Kelly took control again in the seventh and eighth but Geraghty used his greater experience to pace the bout and he fought hard over the closing rounds to put the result in doubt. Kelly won on scores of 96-94 twice with one judge having it 96-94 for Geraghty. Kelly was defending the Irish title for the first time. Geraghty had an 8-bout winning run going but loses for the third time in a challenge for an Irish title.
Tijuana, Mexico: Super Welter: Damian Sosa (26-3) W TKO 2 Juan Guzman (18-6-1).
Sosa beats Guzman in two rounds. Sosa began to find the target late in the first. He built on that in the second. A right to the body early in the round had Guzman retreating and trying to stay out of trouble. Sosa caught up with him and a left hook to the head dropped him to his knees. Guzman managed to get up but the referee ruled he was unfit to continue and the fight was over. In September Sosa lost on points to Xander Zayas in Madison Square Garden but this win gives him 13 victories by KO/TKO. Guzman has brave management. In his previous two fights he had lost to opponents with combined records of 43-0.
Merida, Mexico: Light: Jose Angel Napoles (18-3-2) W TKO 3 Pablo Peraza (15-2).
Mixed feeling for the Merida fans as Napoles stops Peraza in three rounds. Peraza was the local hope but Napoles is the grandson of the late great Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles who was idolised by Mexicans after moving there when Fidel Castro banned professional boxing. Napoles took a closed first round and then was landing heavily in the second. Peraza tried to punch with him but that did not work and it was all over in the third. A right uppercut floored Peraza heavily and he banged his head on the canvas and the fight was stopped. Bounce-back win for Napoles after he dropped a very close decision to Randy Leon in August. Now two inside the distance losses for Peraza in his last four fights.
Trivia warning:
So the grandson of one of Cuba’s greatest boxers wins a fight in America on the same weekend that professional boxing returned to Cuba for the first time in 64 years. The last show before professional boxing was banned was held in Havana on 27 October 1961 between Cubans Paul Diaz and Julio Carreras and neither boxer fought again as a professional. Diaz had fought in Madison Square Garden as both an amateur and a professional. That last show was No 39 held in Cuba between January and October that year (there were 73 shows in 1960) which illustrates what a blow the ban was for so many boxers and for boxing.
Sopot, Poland: Heavy: Nikodem Jezewski (25-2-1, 1 ND) W PTS 8 Vaclav Pejsar (24-20). Heavy: Kacper Meyna (14-1) W PTS 10 Mariusz Wach (38-12). Light: Jackson Furtado (12-2) W TKO 4 Dominik Harwankowski (14-1).
Jezewski vs. Pejsar
Jezewski floors and outpoints Czech Pejsar. Jezewski began well using his height and longer reach outboxing Pejsar in the first but was rattled by a hard shot in the second. He recovered and sent Pejsar down with a right hook in the fourth. Pejsar is an experienced loser with only five of his losses coming inside the distance and he survived that. Jezewski tried to end it in the sixth but PeJsar did not crumble and Jezewski settled for going the distance winning on scorers of 80-71, 79-72 and 78-73. Jezewski was stopped in two rounds by Lawrence Okolie in 2020 but is now 6-1 in his fights since then. Fourth loss in his last five nights for Pejsar.
Meyna vs. Wach
Meyna overcomes the problems in dealing with the six inch height advantage of Wach and wins the unanimous decision. After a close first round Meyna was able to get past Wach’s jab and score inside. A stormy fifth round was the best of the fight and Wach looked to have edged the sixth and had Meyna hurt in the seventh. Meyna rebounded to outscore Wach in the eighth and ninth and it was bombs away in a heated tenth that could have been scored either way. Meyna won on scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and collects the Polish and WBC Baltic belts. First fight for Wach since losing on a second round stoppage against Moses Itauma in July.
Harwankowski vs. Furtado
Brazilian Furtado shocks the locals with a fourth round stoppage of previously unbeaten Harwankowski to win the Polish International title. The danger signs were there with Furtado having won 11 of his 12 victories by KO/TKO.
Castellbisbal, Spain: Super Bantam: Tania Alvarez (13-1) W PTS 10 Katie Healey (9-2).
Alvarez makes a successful second defence of the EBU title with a unanimous decision over England’s Healey. It was the challenger who had the better of the exchanges in the opening round but Alvarez settled into her rhythm from the second and never looked back. Harley was completive up until the half way mark but then Alvarez’s work rate and hand speed kept her on top as she boxed her way to her sixth consecutive win. Scores 100-90, 98-92 and 98-93. Alvarez’s only loss came against Skye Nicolson in New York in 2023. Healey had lost to Nina Hughes for the WBA bantamweight title in 2023.
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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