THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION MAY 26 2025: Willibaldo Garcia, Terri Harper, Pedro Taduran and Angelo Leo Register Wins in World Title Fights
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 May 2025
Taduran connects at Shigeoka.
HIGHLIGHTS:
-Willibaldo Garcia outpoints Rene Calixto to win the vacant IBF super flyweight title
-Terri Harper retains the WBO lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Natalie Zimmermann and there are wins for Maxi Hughes and Lewis Sylvester
-A double title bid in Osaka sees Pedro Taduran successfully defend the IBF minimumweight title by outpointing Ginjiro Shigeoka and Angelo Leo decision Tomoki Kaneda in an IBF featherweight title defence
-Ekow Essuman decisions Josh Taylor for the vacant WBO Global welterweight title
-Nathan Collin stops Lee McGregor for vacant WBC Silver title
-Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma destroys Mike Balogun in two rounds and Aloys Youmbi wins the vacant Commonwealth light heavyweight title with a third round stoppage of David Jamieson
- Pole Krzysztof Wlodarczyk stops Adam Balski in ten rounds and wins the vacant WBC Interim Bridgerweight title
-Belgian Geram Eloyan takes a split decision over Jordan Camacho for the European super bantamweight belt
MAJOR SHOWS:
MAY 23
ZACATECAS, MEXICO: SUPER FLY: WILLIBALDO GARCIA W PTS 12 RENE CALIXTO .
GARCIA (23-5-2) wins the vacant IBF title with a split decision over fellow-Mexican CALIXTO (23-1-1). These two had fought to a split draw for this same title in December so knew each other well and got straight down to business. Garcia was the one coming forward and pressing in the first initially jabbing and then firing some overhand rights at distance. Garcia was walking forward in the second and sometimes firing wild shots leaving himself open and Calixto took advantage of that to score with sharp counters. War broke out in the third as Garcia stepped up his attack firing hooks and rights from both hands trying to overwhelm Calixto. He was momentarily shaken by a counter as Calixto found plenty of openings. Garcia continued to forge forward over the fifth and sixth. He was landing the more eye-catching shots but Calixto was doing plenty of good work inside and sneaking home short counters. A right to the head in the seventh again shook Garcia and with his better accuracy Calixto also took the eight and looked to be in front. A clash of heads in the ninth saw Calixto cut under his right eye and he had to survive a doctor’s inspection at the start of the tenth. Garcia just had that little bit more left and he landed heavily over the last two rounds to just give him the edge. Scores 116-112 and 115-113 for Garcia and 116-112 for Calixto. Garcia had lost a spilt decision against Alexandro Santiago in 2021 and a split decision to Paul Butler back in 2021 but then scored ten straight victories before drawing with Calixto for this title in December. Calixto had been too negatively matched and stiffer opposition might have had him better prepared for the pressure Garcia brought.
DONCASTER, ENGLAND: LIGHT: TERRI HARPER W PTS 10 NATALIE ZIMMERMANN. LIGHT: MAXIE HUGHES W PTS 12 ARCHIE SHARP. LIGHT: LEWIS SYLVESTER W PTS 10 REECE MOULD. SUPER LIGHT: HAITHEM LAAMOUZ W PTS 10 JAMES FLINT. SUPER WELTER: JOE HAYDEN W PTS 8 LEWIS BOOTH.
HARPER (16-2-2) successfully defends her WBO title with a wide unanimous decision over Germany’s ZIMMERMANN (13-1). Harper found the target with hooks from both hands in the first but also ended the round with a bloody nose. She dominated the action in the second landing heavily and having Zimmermann in trouble and she rocked Zimmermann with a combination in the fourth but was already becoming frustrated at her failure to put the game Zimmermann away. It was mostly one-way traffic with Zimmermann lacking the experience or the skill to extend Harper and she was shaken by a left hook at the end of the eighth. A tired Zimmermann soaked up plenty of punishment in the ninth and then suffered a bad cut over her right eye in a clash of heads in the tenth but saw out the round. All three scorecards read 99-91 for Harper. She was making the first defence of her title and then issued a challenge to WBC champion Caroline Dubois. Zimmermann, 42, was in way over her head.
HUGHES (29-7-2) takes a unanimous decision over SHARP (25-2). Hughes boxed intelligently in a disappointing fight. He worked consistently with his southpaw jab and body punches but had to force the fight as Sharp seemed reluctant to engage and his output over the early rounds was very low practically ceding the rounds to Hughes. The low level of action produced a fight with no highlights. Sharp was letting Hughes lead but was not firing enough counters to pick up rounds over the first half of the fight. Things picked up a little in the second half of the fight. Sharp actually let his hands go briefly in the sixth but Hughes shook Sharp with a left in the seventh. Sharp just did enough work to make the eighth and ninth close but Hughes was the one forcing the action and he continued to outwork Sharp in the tenth. A left hook may have been enough to get Sharp a share off a slow action eleventh but Hughes took the twelfth and the decision. The scores were all over the place with one judge seeing Hughes winning 120-108, one 115-113 and one 116-112. Hughes wins the vacant WBC Silver title. The ormer IBO champion suffered back-to-back losses against George Kambosos and William Zepeda but beat 18-1 Gary Cully in December and this win over Sharp shows this Indian Summer part of his career is not yet over. Sharp had been manoeuvred into a No 1 position with the WBO without being tested and after his loss to Ryan Garner and now this defeat he will have to work hard to rebuild himself.
SYLVESTER (16-1) boxes his way to a split decision over MOULD (20-4). Sylvester had his jab working well from the start spearing Mould with lefts and using some clever footwork to avoid pressure from Mould. The third saw Mould find a way into the fight with some hard rights but Sylvester banged back with rights of his own. Sylvester’s jab looked to have given him the fourth but Mould once again clawed back whatever lead Sylvester had as he outfought Sylvester in the fifth. Sylvester upped his pace again over the second half of the fight. He landed heavily over the seventh and with Mould cut over his left eye he outboxed Mould over the closing rounds to be a deserving winner even though it was split decision. Scores 97-93 and 96-94 for Sylvester and 96-94 for Mould. Former English champion Sylvester wins the vacant IBO Continental title. His loss came on a fourth round stoppage against Sam Noakes last year. Mould’s losses have been in tough matches against Leigh Wood, Gary Cully and Ryan Walsh.
LAAMOUZ (21-2) has to fight hard to get the decision over a handicapped FLINT (15-3-2). The first two rounds were entertaining with some good action. At the end of the second round it was obvious that Flint had suffered an injury to his right shoulder and from then on had limited mobility with his right. Laamouz had been on the front foot over those two rounds and continued that way in the third. Despite the injury Flint improvised to remain competitive relying heavily on left hooks. Flint had a good fifth round which boosted his confidence and seemed to dampen Laamouz’s and Laamouz had to work hard to preserve his lead. Scorers 98-92, 98-93 and 96-94 for Laamouz. The Maltese boxer wins the vacant IBO Continental title and Flint, who has two wins over Campbell Hatton, deserves an award for fighting so strongly with just one usable arm
HAYDEN (18-0) outpoints LEWIS (16-2). Southpaw Hayden preserved his unbeaten by taking an early lead and then holding of a strong second half from Doncaster’s Booth. The referee scored it 78-75.
MAY 24
OSAKA, JAPAN: MINIMUM: PEDRO TADURAN W PTS 12 GINJIRO SHIGEOKA . FEATHER: ANGELO LEO W PTS 12 TOMOKI KAMEDA.
Filipino TADURAN (18-4-1) retains the IBF title with a split verdict over SHIGEOKA (11-2). The first four rounds in this all-southpaw match were close. It was Taduran’s aggression against the better boxing of Shigeoka and after four rounds one judge had them even and the other two were split having it 39-37 for each fighter. Taduran turned up the heat over the middle rounds and Shigeoka was forced to move and counter instead of standing and trading. That handed the initiative to Taduran and his relentless pressure saw him move ahead and after the eighth he was in front on two cards and equal on the third. Taduran’s output dropped a little in the ninth but he rebounded trapping Shigeoka on the ropes for much of the tenth. Shigeoka was not finished and he banged back to have a good eleventh. The last could have been scored either way but Shigeoka just could not claw back the lead Taduran had built over those middle rounds. One judge looked a bit off with his score of 118-110 for Taduran but another score of 115-113 for Taduran better reflected the fight and the third judge had it 115-113 Shigeoka. Taduran had won the title with a ninth round stoppage of Shigeoka in July last year with Shigeoka stretchered from the ring unconscious. He collapsed after this fight but was conscious this time but I have no update on his condition which was not described as serious.
LEO (26-1) builds an early lead and holds off a late effort from KAMEDA (42-5) to retain the IBF belt. Leo made a confident start snapping out jabs and banging home rights to the body outscoring Kameda over the first two rounds. Kameda finally had some success with counters in the third but some tasty body punching from Leo in the fourth put him in a strong position being 40-36 in front on two cards with the third card seeing it 39-37 for Kameda. Over the middle rounds both fighters worked well with their jabs and scored with hurtful body shots. Kameda exerted plenty of pressure but Leo continued to move and score with accurate jabs and body shots. Despite the strong efforts from Kameda, he had not been able to overtake Leo’s lead and was still four points behind at 78-74 on the same two cards and even the third card now had them even at 76-76. Leo showed no immediate signs of slowing and actually had Kameda in trouble from a right in the ninth. Kameda was not ready to give in and rebounded to shake Leo in the tenth but Leo outboxed Kameda in the eleventh and just stayed out of trouble handing Kameda the last round. Scores 116-112 and 115-113 for Leo and 114-114. Leo was defending the title he won with an upset tenth round kayo victory over Luis Alberto Lopez in August. Kameda was No 1 with the WBC so Leo has fulfilled his mandatory obligation. It was being said that this would be former WBO bantamweight champion Kameda’s last fight but he was talking about continuing his career.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: WELTER: EKOW ESSUMAN W PTS 12 JOSH TAYLOR. FEATHER: NATHANIEL COLLINS W TKO 4 LEE McGREGOR. HEAVY: MOSES ITAUMA W TKO 2 MIKE BALOGUN. SUPER LIGHT: LUKE McCORMACK W TKO 2 SAMIR CUENTAS. CRUISER: ALOYS YOUMBI W TKO 3 DAVID JAMIESON . MIDDLE: ASTON BROWN W TKO 1 REECE PORTER .
ESSUMAN (22-1) breaks Scottish hearts as he recovers from a slow start to dominate the second half of the fight and beat TAYLOR (19-3) on a unanimous decision. Taylor made a good start putting Essuman on the back foot in the first landing a couple of good southpaw lefts and a body punch but Essuman got through with a combination late in the round. Taylor outlanded Essuman in the second and Essuman was struggling to get into the fight. Taylor also edged the third but it was a close round and Essuman connected with a pair of good rights. Taylor was looking sharp and confident and he continued to land the better punches in the fourth rocking Essuman with a hard left. Things were going so well for Taylor that a stoppage looked possible. Essuman was taking the fight to Taylor in the fifth and having a good round until some hefty lefts from Taylor swung the round his way. Essuman’s pressure began to pay off in the sixth as he was getting inside and working to Taylor’s body and he also took the seventh with a clash of heads opening a cut over Taylor’s left eye. Now it was Essuman who was the confident one and although Taylor was working hard to keep the rounds close Essuman was consistently finding the target with rights and wiped out Taylor’s early lead by taking the eighth and ninth. Taylor seemed to be tiring. Essuman’s pressure often took Taylor to the ropes and Taylor was just being outworked in the tenth. Essuman was now in total control with Taylor unable to find anything to get him back in the fight and Essuman outscored a tiring Taylor in the last. Essuman won on scores of 116-112, 116-113 and 115-113. Essuman wins the vacant WBO Global title. He had lost his British and Commonwealth titles to Harry Scarff in November 2023 but this win will put him in the mix for some big money fights. Huge set-back for Taylor who suffers his third loss in a row. He has had only one fight each in years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 so that low level can’t have been good for him and it remains to be seen whether he still has the desire to continue his career.
COLLINS (17-0) wins this all-Scottish clash with a fourth round stoppage of McGREGOR (15-2-1). McGregor had slight edges in height and reach but southpaw Collins had quicker hands. Both started cautiously with Collions connecting with a couple of hooks in the first exchange. The action became a bit scrappy with neither really able to score with any significant punches. McGregor landed a good right at the start of the second and then took the fight inside but again neither fighter was able to score cleanly. McGregor kept attacking trying to hustle Collins out of his stride and it was turning into a brawl. McGregor rocked Collins with a left hook and Collins connected with a couple of left hooks and McGregor had a bump under his right eye after a messy third. It ended dramatically in the fourth. As they moved together Collins landed a left and right and McGregor was hurt. He stumbled forward trying to clutch Collins but then slumped to his knees. He was up quickly but looked shaken. After the count Collins forced McGregor to the ropes and landed a left hook that sent McGregor sliding along the ropes and down to his hands and knees. He made it to his feet at six and after the count Collins jumped on McGregor and a left to the body sent McGregor to his knees with the referee waiving the fight over. Collins wins the vacant WBC Silver title with his eighth victory by KO/TKO. He was No 4 with the WBC but with Bruce Carrington, Carlos Castro and Brandon Figueroa above him he may be stuck on No 4 still. McGregor seemed to lose his way in 2022 and 2023 with a draw against Diego Ruiz and a loss to Erik Robles. He had scored a useful win mover Isaac Lowe in Riyadh in December but this was a devastating defeat.
Another towering performance from ITAUMA (12-0) as he crushes BALOGUN (21-2) inside two rounds. They traded southpaw jabs in early action then just past the minute mark a left from Itauma wobbled Balogun. Although shaken Balogun steadied himself only to be nailed with two more lefts that dropped him face down on the canvas, Balogun was a up at eight. After the count Balogun rushed forward throwing punches but Itauma scored a couple of jabs before the bell. A booming right hook put Balogun on his back in the second. Once again Balogun climbed to his feet at eight and again he drove forward firing punches. Itauma clinched and then as Balogun piled forward again Itauma met him with another right hook sending Balogun to the floor on his back and the referee waived the fight over without a count. Now ten wins by KO/TKO for 20-year-old Itauma. There is definitely a touch of Mike Tyson in the way Itauma gets the business done. His No 29 position in the Box Rec ratings may seem low but it takes into account the level of the opposition he has faced but his No 1 spot with the WBO is indefensible by the same measure. Balogun, 41, had been kayoed in two rounds by Murat Gassiev in 2023
McCORMACK(4-0) beats Panamanian CUENTAS (4-6) in two rounds. The huge gap in class was obvious from the start with McCormack tracking Cuentas around the ring scoring with jabs and rights with Cuestas off target when he tried to counter. Both landed some punches to the back of the head in the second but McCormack seemed angry to have been warned. He stepped up the pace chasing Cuentas down and with only a couple of seconds remaining in the round McCormack put Cuentas down on his back with a left hook. The referee started to count with Cuentas flat on his back showing no movement. When the count reached six the referee decided, as Cuestas was still spreadeagled on the canvas unmoving, he would waive the rest of the count. The minute the referee waived his arms Cuestas leapt up like a jack-in-the-box full of life and gesticulating angrily that her had been wrongly counted out but the speed of has miraculous recovery from spreadeagled to upright was farcical. McCormack is wasting his time fighting opponents such as Cuentas and he needs to step up as the four men he has beaten don’t make it into the top 500 in the division. Panamanian Cuentas was No 1,1251 after this loss.
Cruiserweight prospect YOUMBI (10-1) impresses with a third round victory over JAMIESON (13-4). Jamieson was much the bigger man and was jabbing strongly in the first and coming forward behind the jab with rights. Youmbi was on the back foot but also jabbing well and countering. Youmbi moved in and connected with a left hook to the body that had Jamieson backing off and landed two rights with Jamieson folding forwards to put his gloves on the canvas. Jamieson got up and the bell went. Jamieson got though with an overhand right and a left hook to the body in the second but a right to the body dropped him to his hands and knees. In the third Jamieson was staggered by a right to the head then Youmbi landed a series of jabs to the body and then felled Jamieson with a left hook. The referee started the count and then abandoned it to get medical help for Jamieson. Impressive showing from 22-year-old Youmbi. He lost his first pro fight but has now won 9 of his last 10 by KO/TKO. He wins the vacant Commonwealth title and was defending the WBA Continental title. He looks a real danger. Jamieson had lost to Mike Lawal and Cheavon Clarke.
BROWN (8-0) ends this clash of two unbeaten Scottish middleweights as he wipes out PORTER (5-1) in the first round. These two got straight down to business trading hooks. Porter connected with a left and a right. Brown then took a step forward and drove home a hard right cross to the head that floored Porter. He was up at eight. Another right dropped Porter and again he beat the count. He tried to take the fight to Brown but when he crashed to floor from two chopping rights the fight was stopped. Brown wins the vacant Scottish Area title with his third inside the distance victory. Porter was just too reckless and paid the price.
MAY 25
KALISZ, POLAND: BRIDGERWEIGHT: KRZYSZTOF WLODARCZYK W TKO 10 ADAM BALSKI.
WLODARCZYK (66-4-1) wins the vacant WBC interim Bridgerweight title with a tenth round stoppage of BALSKI (20-3). The first round looked to have gone Balski’s way but he was badly shaken by a Wlodarczyk right in the second. Balski recovered and boxed well over the third and fourth. Wlodarczyk began the fifth strongly but was floored by a left hook to the head. He was there for the taking but Balski let his chance slip away and Wlodarczyk was saved by the bell. Things changed in the eighth when a left hook put Balski on the floor and this time he was badly hurt and saved by the bell. Balski rebounded to outbox Wlodarczyk in the ninth but was down again from a left hook in the tenth and although he beat the count he was in no condition to continue and the fight was stopped. Now 43 Wlodarczyk turned pro back in 2000 and won his first major title, the WBC cruiserweight title, in 2006. He had a 12 bout winning run going into this fight. Fellow-Pole Balski, who was fighting in his home town, had previously only lost on points to Mateusz Masternak and in London 2022 against Alen Babic.
MAY 22
HOLLYWOOD, CA, USA: FEATHER: VIC PASILLAS W TKO 7 CARLOS JACKSON. WELTER: RICARDO RUVALCABA W PTS 8 LUIS VERON.
Southpaw PASILLAS (18-1) stops JACKSON (20-3) in the seventh round. The fight started badly for Jackson as he was cut over his right eye in the opening round. Pasillas’ quicker hands gave him a big edge and he won every round on the cards before the stoppage. Pasillas looked close to ending the fight in the fifth but Jackson survived. In the seventh Pasillas dropped Jackson with a right and although Jackson made it to his feet he was under fire on the ropes when the referee stopped the fight. Pasillas was halted in eleven rounds by Ra’eese Aleem in a fight for the vacant WBA interim super bantam belt in January 2021 and was then inactive for three years before returning with a win in March 2024. Consecutive defeats for Jackson who had lost on a fourth round stoppage against Ryan Lee Allen in October.
Tall Californian RUVALCABA (14-0-1) was too skilful for Argentinian VERON (20-11-2) and won a wide unanimous decision on scores of 80-72 on all three cards. Ninth win in a row for Ruvalcaba. Veron has lost his last five fights.
MAY 23
PITTSWORTH, AUSTRALIA: WELTER: JACKSON GRIFFITHS W PTS 8 JORGE BERMUDEZ .
Local prospect GRIFFITHS (17-0) marches on with a unanimous decision over Argentinian BERMUDEZ (15-6). Griffiths won on scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74. The 23-year-old Australian No 1 is progressing well. Bermudez had won his last three fights.
ZAGREB, CROATIA: SUPER MIDDLE: LUCA PLANTIC W PTS 10 BRUNO ACOSTA . SUPER WELTER: ERMAL HADRIBEAJ W TKO 8 ILHAMI AYDEMIR . SUPER MIDDLE: ANTE BILIC W TKO 4 GREGORIO MARCANO. LIGHT HEAVY: BRANIMIR MALENICA W RTD 3 KASIM GASHI . CRUISER: MARKO CALIC W TKO 3 ERMIN AVDIC .
PLANTIC (12-0) is given a good test by unbeaten Argentinian ACOSTA (11-1).This was a fast-paced competitive fight from the start. Plantic attacked hard and had Acosta on the back foot but Acosta boxed well and countered accurately. Plantic used his power and aggression to build a lead over the first four rounds although he had problems with the speed of Acosta he was winning the rounds. Acosta had some success with his countering over the middle rounds and even managed to put Plantic on the back foot for a period in the second half of the fight picking up a couple of rounds. Plantic finished strongly but had been given a genuine test, Scores 98-92, 98-93 and 97-93 for Plantic who was defending the WBC International title for the third time. He is rated No 5 with the WBC and was calling out Saul Alvarez but with the Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford fight scheduled for 12 September the super middleweight division could yet change dramatically. Acosta is No 1 in the Argentinian ratings and the national title is vacant so he has some domestic business to deal with.
Albanian southpaw HADRIBEAJ (21-0-1,1ND) stopped Germany’s AYDEMIR (22-3) in a WBC International title defence. They looked well-matched on paperbut Hadribeaj dominated from the start before the fight was stopped in the eighth. Hadribeaj was making the sixth defence of the title and is No 6 in the WBC ratings. Former WBC Mediterranean title holder Aydemir had lost only one of his last 12 fights.
BILIC (30-2) halted Venezuelan MARCANO(16-10-1) in four rounds. Bilic, 41, just punched too hard for Marcano. Bilic returned to action with a win in February after spending twelve years in prison. Eighth inside the distance defeat for Marcano.
Heavyweight BRANIMIR MALENICA (11-1) beats KASIM GASHI (21-7) on a third round retirement. Tenth win by KO/TKOfor Malencia. Gashi came in as a late choice.
Croatian MARKO CALIC (16-2) stops substitute ERMIN AVDIC (14-15-1) in three rounds. The 6’3” Calic gats his tenth win by KO/TKO. His losses have come against Joshua Buatsi and unbeaten WBA No 3 Alberto Ramirez. Bosnian Avdic is 2-10-1 in his last 13 bouts including 9 losses by KO/TKO.
MADRID, SPAIN: SUPER BANTAM: GERAM ELOYAN W PTS 12 JORDAN CAMACHO.
ELOYAN (13-5) wins the EBU Silver title with a split decision over champion CAMACHO (11-1). Disappointment for the locals as Belgian Eloyan’s skill came out on top here. Camacho made a fast start taking the fight to Eloyan but the visitor boxed cooly with skill blunting Camacho’s rushes and landing quick, accurate counters. Eloyan also showed his power rocking Camacho in the third but Camacho never let up on his aggression. He was hampered by a cut over his left eye caused by a clash of heads in the seventh but despite that Camacho pressure seemed to be succeeding in turning the fight his way. The result looked in the balance as Camacho looked to be on his way to capturing the vital eleventh round when a right counter from Eloyan put him down. That was the decider and despite Camacho’s best efforts he came up short with two judges scoring it 117-110 and 114-113 for Eloyan and 114-113 for Camacho. Armenian-born Eloyan, a former European Union title holder, had lost that title to Italian Vincenzo La Femina. Camacho had won the this EBU Silver title on a twelfth round stoppage in of La Femina in October which made him a favourite here but it did not work out that way
MAY 24
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: LIGHT: JOSUE AGUERO W PTS 10 BRIAN FARIAS. LIGHT HEAVY: DAVID BENITEZ W TKO 5 GABRIEL DIAZ.
AGUERO(13-0) collects the vacant South American title as he wins every round against FARIAS (8-4). The unbeaten Aguero outboxed Farias from the start and had Farias in trouble a couple of times but although he had scored two first round wins in his last three fights just could not find the finishing punch. All three judges saw it 100-90.
In another South American title bout BENITEZ (12-10) stopped DIAZ (15-8) in the fifth round. Benitez was floored by a left in the second round but later opened a cut over the right eye of Diaz with a punch and as the cut worsened and with a swelling affecting Diaz’s vision the fight was halted in the fifth round. Both fighters were coming off a loss with Benitez was No 5 in the national ratings and Diaz 6.
OPOCZNO, POLAND: WELTER: LUKAS DEKYS W KO 9 PRZEMYSLAW RUNOWSKI .
Czech DEKYS (16-0) continues to be the scourge of Polish fighters as he scores a ninth round kayo of RUNOWSKI (22-4-1). After just doing enough to take the first three roundsDekys floored Runowski with a left hook in the fourth. Runowski made a good recovery and the fifth was a close round. Dekys was back in charge in the sixth and sent Runowski down again in the eighth with a left. He ended the fight in the ninth flooring Runowski with a right uppercut. Runowski beat the count but was put down again by a left to the body and counted out. Dekys is 9-0 in fights against Polish opposition with victories over 23-5 Michal Syrowatka, 16-1-1 Michal Lesniak and now Runowski. He wins the vacant WBC Baltic and Polish International titles. Runowski announced his retirement
MADRID, SPAIN: SUPER MIDDLE: JOSE LUIS NAVARRO W PTS 12 MATTEO GUBINELLI.
Spain’s NAVARRO (15-2) wins the vacant IBO International title with a unanimous decision over Italian GUBINELLI (10-2). Navarro came out all-aggression from the start pressing hard and working on Gubinelli’s body. Gubinelli stayed cool looking for openings to counter but was being outscored by Navarro. As heads bumped together in the fifth a cut opened on Navarro’s right eyebrow but it never became a problem. Navarro built a good lead and although Gubinelli staged a strong finish Navarro was a clear winner on scores of 117-111, 117-112 and 116-112. Navarro is EBU Silver champion and is hoping to get a shot at the winner of Ivan Zucco vs. Callum Simpson who will contests the vacant European title on 7 June.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: WELTER: EKOW ESSUMAN W PTS 12 JOSH TAYLOR. FEATHER: NATHANIEL COLLINS W TKO 4 LEE McGREGOR. HEAVY: MOSES ITAUMA W TKO 2 MIKE BALOGUN. SUPER LIGHT: LUKE McCORMACK W TKO 2 SAMIR CUENTAS. CRUISER: ALOYS YOUMBI W TKO 3 DAVID JAMIESON . MIDDLE: ASTON BROWN W TKO 1 REECE PORTER .
ESSUMAN (22-1) breaks Scottish hearts as he recovers from a slow start to dominate the second half of the fight and beat TAYLOR (19-3) on a unanimous decision. Taylor made a good start putting Essuman on the back foot in the first landing a couple of good southpaw lefts and a body punch but Essuman got through with a combination late in the round. Taylor outlanded Essuman in the second and Essuman was struggling to get into the fight. Taylor also edged the third but it was a close round and Essuman connected with a pair of good rights. Taylor was looking sharp and confident and he continued to land the better punches in the fourth rocking Essuman with a hard left. Things were going so well for Taylor that a stoppage looked possible. Essuman was taking the fight to Taylor in the fifth and having a good round until some hefty lefts from Taylor swung the round his way. Essuman’s pressure began to pay off in the sixth as he was getting inside and working to Taylor’s body and he also took the seventh with a clash of heads opening a cut over Taylor’s left eye. Now it was Essuman who was the confident one and although Taylor was working hard to keep the rounds close Essuman was consistently finding the target with rights and wiped out Taylor’s early lead by taking the eighth and ninth. Taylor seemed to be tiring. Essuman’s pressure often took Taylor to the ropes and Taylor was just being outworked in the tenth. Essuman was now in total control with Taylor unable to find anything to get him back in the fight and Essuman outscored a tiring Taylor in the last. Essuman won on scores of 116-112, 116-113 and 115-113. Essuman wins the vacant WBO Global title. He had lost his British and Commonwealth titles to Harry Scarff in November 2023 but this win will put him in the mix for some big money fights. Huge set-back for Taylor who suffers his third loss in a row. He has had only one fight each in years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 so that low level can’t have been good for him and it remains to be seen whether he still has the desire to continue his career.
COLLINS (17-0) wins this all-Scottish clash with a fourth round stoppage of McGREGOR (15-2-1). McGregor had slight edges in height and reach but southpaw Collins had quicker hands. Both started cautiously with Collions connecting with a couple of hooks in the first exchange. The action became a bit scrappy with neither really able to score with any significant punches. McGregor landed a good right at the start of the second and then took the fight inside but again neither fighter was able to score cleanly. McGregor kept attacking trying to hustle Collins out of his stride and it was turning into a brawl. McGregor rocked Collins with a left hook and Collins connected with a couple of left hooks and McGregor had a bump under his right eye after a messy third. It ended dramatically in the fourth. As they moved together Collins landed a left and right and McGregor was hurt. He stumbled forward trying to clutch Collins but then slumped to his knees. He was up quickly but looked shaken. After the count Collins forced McGregor to the ropes and landed a left hook that sent McGregor sliding along the ropes and down to his hands and knees. He made it to his feet at six and after the count Collins jumped on McGregor and a left to the body sent McGregor to his knees with the referee waiving the fight over. Collins wins the vacant WBC Silver title with his eighth victory by KO/TKO. He was No 4 with the WBC but with Bruce Carrington, Carlos Castro and Brandon Figueroa above him he may be stuck on No 4 still. McGregor seemed to lose his way in 2022 and 2023 with a draw against Diego Ruiz and a loss to Erik Robles. He had scored a useful win mover Isaac Lowe in Riyadh in December but this was a devastating defeat.
Another towering performance from ITAUMA (12-0) as he crushes BALOGUN (21-2) inside two rounds. They traded southpaw jabs in early action then just past the minute mark a left from Itauma wobbled Balogun. Although shaken Balogun steadied himself only to be nailed with two more lefts that dropped him face down on the canvas, Balogun was a up at eight. After the count Balogun rushed forward throwing punches but Itauma scored a couple of jabs before the bell. A booming right hook put Balogun on his back in the second. Once again Balogun climbed to his feet at eight and again he drove forward firing punches. Itauma clinched and then as Balogun piled forward again Itauma met him with another right hook sending Balogun to the floor on his back and the referee waived the fight over without a count. Now ten wins by KO/TKO for 20-year-old Itauma. There is definitely a touch of Mike Tyson in the way Itauma gets the business done. His No 29 position in the Box Rec ratings may seem low but it takes into account the level of the opposition he has faced but his No 1 spot with the WBO is indefensible by the same measure. Balogun, 41, had been kayoed in two rounds by Murat Gassiev in 2023
McCORMACK(4-0) beats Panamanian CUENTAS (4-6) in two rounds. The huge gap in class was obvious from the start with McCormack tracking Cuentas around the ring scoring with jabs and rights with Cuestas off target when he tried to counter. Both landed some punches to the back of the head in the second but McCormack seemed angry to have been warned. He stepped up the pace chasing Cuentas down and with only a couple of seconds remaining in the round McCormack put Cuentas down on his back with a left hook. The referee started to count with Cuentas flat on his back showing no movement. When the count reached six the referee decided, as Cuestas was still spreadeagled on the canvas unmoving, he would waive the rest of the count. The minute the referee waived his arms Cuestas leapt up like a jack-in-the-box full of life and gesticulating angrily that her had been wrongly counted out but the speed of has miraculous recovery from spreadeagled to upright was farcical. McCormack is wasting his time fighting opponents such as Cuentas and he needs to step up as the four men he has beaten don’t make it into the top 500 in the division. Panamanian Cuentas was No 1,1251 after this loss.
Cruiserweight prospect YOUMBI (10-1) impresses with a third round victory over JAMIESON (13-4). Jamieson was much the bigger man and was jabbing strongly in the first and coming forward behind the jab with rights. Youmbi was on the back foot but also jabbing well and countering. Youmbi moved in and connected with a left hook to the body that had Jamieson backing off and landed two rights with Jamieson folding forwards to put his gloves on the canvas. Jamieson got up and the bell went. Jamieson got though with an overhand right and a left hook to the body in the second but a right to the body dropped him to his hands and knees. In the third Jamieson was staggered by a right to the head then Youmbi landed a series of jabs to the body and then felled Jamieson with a left hook. The referee started the count and then abandoned it to get medical help for Jamieson. Impressive showing from 22-year-old Youmbi. He lost his first pro fight but has now won 9 of his last 10 by KO/TKO. He wins the vacant Commonwealth title and was defending the WBA Continental title. He looks a real danger. Jamieson had lost to Mike Lawal and Cheavon Clarke.
BROWN (8-0) ends this clash of two unbeaten Scottish middleweights as he wipes out PORTER (5-1) in the first round. These two got straight down to business trading hooks. Porter connected with a left and a right. Brown then took a step forward and drove home a hard right cross to the head that floored Porter. He was up at eight. Another right dropped Porter and again he beat the count. He tried to take the fight to Brown but when he crashed to floor from two chopping rights the fight was stopped. Brown wins the vacant Scottish Area title with his third inside the distance victory. Porter was just too reckless and paid the price.
DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN: LIGHT: BAKHODUR USMONOV 10-0) W TKO 3 ALBERT PAGARA (35-2).
Tajik USMONOV 10-0) wins the vacant WBA Gold title with a third round stoppage of Filipino PAGARA (35-2). Usmonov built up a head of steam over the first two rounds before closing the show in the third. He pinned Pagara against the ropes and unloaded on him until the fight was stopped. Fifth inside the distance win for Usmonov. He represented Tajikistan at the 2020 Olympics. He beat Cuban Erislandy Alvarezin an early round but failed to win a medal. Pagara looked on his way to a world title shot when he went 26-0 at the start of his career but suffered a shock kayo loss against Mexican Cesar Juarez and this only his fourth fight in the past five years.
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