THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 AUGUST 2025: Itauma Stops Whyte in 1; Ball Outpoints Goodman; Hrgovic Decisions Adeleye; Yaqubov Defeats Foster
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Aug 2025
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma blows away Dillian Whyte in the first round.
-Nick Ball retains the WBA feather title with a unanimous decision over Sam Goodman.
Raymond Ford beats Abraham Nova on points
-Filip Hrgovic floors and decisions David Adeleye
-Muhammad Yaqubov outpoints William Foster and there are wins for Starling Castillo, Gary Antonio Russell, Marques Valle and Weljon Mindoro.
MAJOR SHOWS:
AUGUST 15
PLANT CITY, FL, USA: SUPER FEATHER:
MUHAMMADKHUJA YAQUBOV (23-1) W PTS 10 WILLIAM FOSTER III (19-3,1 ND). SUPER LIGHT: STARLING CASTILLO (20-1-1) W PTS 10 SHINARD BUNCH (21-3-1,1 ND). MIDDLE: MARQUES VALLE (11-1) W KO 1 LUIS GEORGES (12-1). MIDDLE: WELJON MINDORO (15-0-1) W RTD 3 DORMEDES POTES (14-8-1). SUPER BANTAM: GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL (21-1,1 ND) W PTS 8 DERVIN RODRIGUEZ (11-3-1).
Yaqubov vs. Foster
YAQUBOV wins the WBC USA title with a majority decision over FOSTER. Yaqubov was giving away six inches in height against Foster so needed to get inside but he never dived in but instead used clever pressure boxing behind his southpaw jab to create openings. Foster was not looking to just stand back and counter and he spent a lot of time on the front foot taking the fight to Yaqubov landing jabs and long rights down the middle. Yaqubov has a busy style constantly changing direction and focused on attacking Foster’s body looking to slow the taller man as the rounds progressed. Foster was finding it hard to anticipate Yaqubov‘s quick attacks and was slow to counter and Yaqubov was stepping inside and outside of Foster’s jabs. The clever attacks and higher work rate had Yaqubov building a lead and Foster’s corner urged their man to up his pace and Foster had a good seventh and the eight was close. In the ninth Yaqubov had Foster on the retreat and dug in some hurtful body shots. He looked unsettled by a right that clipped him on the chin but he had again outscored Foster. Both swung wildly in the tenth which was hard to score but Yaqubov already had the fight won. Scores 98-92 twice for Yakupov and 95-95. The 98-92 looked too wide and the 95-95 too close. Yakubov was floored and outpointed by O’Shaquie Foster in a fight for the WBC Silver title in 2022 but had run off four wins including a victory over Cuban Pablo Vicente. Foster had lost to Henry Lebron and Eridson Garcia but won his last two fights and was No 7 with the WBA.
Castillo vs. Bunch
CASTILLO proves much too good for a disappointing BUNCH and cruises to a win. Southpaw Castillo took control in the first. He had a longer reach and quicker hands. Bunch was on the back foot looking to counter but not letting his hands go. Bunch went on the attack in the second but when Castillo fired back Bunch again retreated. Castillo connected with a heavy body punch in the third and always looked dangerous when he advanced. Bunch started the fourth brightly but Castillo was throwing more and landing more and Bruch was struggling. The fifth saw Castillo continuing to walk forward behind his jab and fire rights and lefts with very little coming back from Bunch. There was no real change over the sixth and seventh. Castillo was in complete control. Brunch finally had a good round. In the eighth instead of just backing away from Castillo he stood and hooks and uppercuts. Castillo backed out of the exchanges and Bunch followed him scoring with long lefts and rights as Castillo looked to be tiring. Despite that Castillo marched forward again in the ninth and tenth with Bunch just allowing himself to be backed up and outpunched. Scores 98-92 twice an 99-91. Castillo was beaten on points by Otar Eranosyan in 2022 and had only one fight in 2023 and one in 2024 but he looked useful here. Bunch had lost ba split decision against Bryan Flores last year and underperformed here.
Valle vs. Georges
Power show from VALLE as he knocks out GEORGES in the first. Valle was jabbing strongly and firing rights at southpaw Georges who looked tentative and seemed to lack any power. Valle forced Georges to the ropes and kept crowding him. Georges tried a couple of counters but Valle was connecting with body punches and Georges went down under two left hooks and was counted out. First fight for Valle since losing a split decision to Damian Sosa in April last year. First fight outside of the Dominican Republic for Georges
Mindoro vs. Potes
Filipino MINDORO batters a reluctant POTES to defeat in three rounds. Potes was down in the first from a body punch and went down twice in the second but those were ruled slips. In the third Potes took a knee after another body punch and dd not come out for the fourth. All 15 of “Triggerman” Mindoro’s wins have come inside the distance and his draw was against Takeshi Inoue in 2023. Fourth win in a row for Colombian Potes.
Russell vs. Rodriguez
RUSSELL outboxes RODRIGUEZ. The styles did not mix well in this disappointing fight. Russell was boxing mainly on the back foot picking Rodriguez off at distance and either sliding away from Rodriguez’s attacks or tying Rodriguez up. Rodriguez applied plenty of pressure but it was largely ineffective as Russell speared him with quick jabs and then drove home straight lefts. Rodriguez managed to land some hooks to the body when he could bring Russell to stand and trade but he just could not pin Russell down often enough. For much of the time Rodriguez was just following Russell around the ring getting tagged with plenty of light right jabs. Russell came forward more in the eighth firing a series of fast combinations but never really had Rodriguez troubled. All three cards read 80-72. This is only the second fight for Russell since his loss on a technical decision against Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2022. Venezuelan Rodriguez falls to 1-3 in his last 4 bouts.
AUGUST 16
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: HEAVY: MOSES ITAUMA (13-0) W TKO 1 DILLIAN WHITE (31-4). FEATHER NICK BALL (23-0-1 W PTS 12 SAM GOODMAN (20-1). HEAVY: FILIP HRGOVIC (19-1) W PTS 10 DAVID ADELEYE (14-2). SUPER FEATHER: RAYMOND FORD (18-1-1) W PTS 10 ABRAHAM NOVA (24-4-1). SUPER FEATHER: HAYATO TSUTSUMI 8-0) W TKO 3 QAIS ASHFAQ (13-4-1).
Itauma vs. Whyte
ITAUMA blasts out WHYTE in 119 seconds.
Both fired jabs with Itauma’s superior hand speed immediately apparent. He danced away from Whyte’s jab and landed a right jab to the body. Whyte ducked under a left from Itauma but was caught by a straight right and a left to the body. Another left from the body sent Whyte back to the ropes and as he ducked he was caught by a right hook and he retreated to a corner. Itauma moved in and unloaded on him with punches from both hands landing to head and body. With Whyte still pinned against the ropes Itauma landed a right hook to the head and Whyte dropped forward to the canvas. Whyte got up stumbled back into a corner and the referee waived the fight over. Still only 20 Itauma looked sensational. Yes Whyte is way past his best and looked all of his 37 years but Itauma’s speed and accuracy and the way he switched from head to body with his punches was impressive. He gets his ninth inside the distance win in a row and his eighth first round finish. He is No 1 with the WBO, despite never having faced a currently rated fighter, so there are much tougher tests out there for him. Whyte looked very slow and vulnerable so it remains to be seen whether he has a future as a boxer.
Ball vs. Goodman
BALL survives a late surge by GOODMAN to retain the WBA title on a unanimous decision.
Round 1
Goodman, 4” taller, used his longer reach to spear Ball with jabs with Ball looking to get inside. Ball was blocking many of Goodman’s punches and he landed a good right and a left hook. Goodman kept picking at Ball with jabs but Ball landed a double left hook and then a heavy combination. As they got mixed up inside Goodman was warned for a punch to the back of Ball’s head.
Score: 10-9 Ball
Round 2
Goodman showed some quick footwork to dance away from Ball’s lunging attacks and landed some quick counters. Ball could not get away from Goodman’s jab but ducked inside and landed two body punches. Goodman was again spearing Ball with jabs and scoring with straight rights.
Score: 10-9 GoodmanTIED 19-19
Round 3
Ball immediately came forward trying to get under Goodman’s jab but was short. Goodman turned outside Ball’s jab and connected with a pair of sharp punches. As Ball came inside Goodman landed a snappy counter and Ball connected with a right to the head that dislodged Goodman’s mouthguard. Ball made good use of a high guard to block Goodman’s punches but a series of jabs and straight rights from Goodman had Ball retreating.
Score: 10-9 GoodmanGoodman 29-28
Round 4
Ball managed to get inside and land with a couple of hooks. Goodman had outboxed him over the second and third rounds and Ball needed to up his game. Goodman managed to slip home a couple of punches then they traded shots with Ball landing a pair of hooks. He pressed forward more scoring with a couple of hooks and a long right to the head.
Score: 10-9 BallTIED 38-38
Official Scores: Judge Gabriel Maciel 38-38 tied, Judge Efrain Lebron 39-37 Ball, Judge Ignacio Robles 39-37 Ball.
Round 5
After a quiet start to the round Ball ducked inside and landed a couple of good hooks sending Goodman back. He then fired a burst of punches as Goodman came forward again getting through with hooks. Ball threw a combination of swinging hooks to head and body. Goodman was not using his jab much and that allowed Ball to get withing range for his long lefts and rights. Ball landed a double left hook to head and body.
Score: 10-9 BallBall 48-47
Round 6
Ball was really fired up. He was getting past Goodman’s jab and firing hooks and overhand rights. Goodman was making little use of his jab and that allowed Ball to get closer before launching his attacks and Goodman was spending a lot of time just dancing away and not countering. Goodman changed tactics and began to march forward behind his jab firing rights but then just circled the ring until Ball landed a left and a right and a burst off hooks and uppercuts.
Score: 10-9 BallBall 58-56
Round 7
Ball began with a fierce attack driving forward throwing jabs and hooks. Goodman brought his jab back into play but every time he threw a jab Ballk was coming back with two or three hooks. Goodman put together a nice series of jabs and rights but Ball came straight back with a burst of punches and then another combination.
Score: 10-9 BallBall 68-65
Round 8
Ball was hunting the retreating Goodman and connected with a right to the head. Goodman was allowing Ball to hustled him and Goodman was having difficulty in jabbing effectively. Goodman then chose to stand and trade in close with Ball. They both scored with shots inside and Goodman connected with a strong right to the head. Goodman kept walking forward jabbing and throwing rights but Ball was responding with burst of hooks but some of the bounce had gone out of Ball
Score: 10-9 BallBall 78-74
Official Scores: Judge Gabriel Maciel 78-74 Ball, Judge Efrain Lebron 79-73 Ball, Judge Ignacio Robles 79-73 Ball.
Round 9
Plenty of movement and plenty of jabbing from Goodman with Ball lunging wildly. He was chasing Goodman down but had slowed. Ball connected with a swift uppercut inside but Goodman was sliding under Ball’s long swinging shots and scoring to the body. Goodman was dominating the exchanges with his better accuracy and he was landing some crisp left hooks to the body.
Score: 10-9 GoodmanBall 87-84
Round 10
Once again there was plenty jabbing and moving from Goodman and he looked the livelier. Ball fired a burst of hooks and uppercuts but was out of range. Goodman was not throwing as many punches but throwing with much better accuracy. He used his jab to force Ball back and was landing lefts and straight rights and outworking Ball.
Score: 10-9 GoodallBall 96-94
Round 11
Ball quickly took the fight to Goodman looking to put him under some pressure. He did a good job of blocking Goodman’s jabs and was stepping in with hooks. They traded punches and Goodman got the better of the exchanges. Both landed left hooks then Ball connected with two uppercuts. Goodman was not effective enough with his jab and Ball found the target with a couple of sweeping hooks.
Score: 10-9 BallBall 106-103
Round 12
Goodman made a great start getting onto the front foot firing hooks and straight rights. Goodman was tying Ball up inside and Ball wrestled him to the floor. Goodman landed a hard right uppercut. They stood and traded punches with both landing and Goodman banged away with body punches. Ball was firing combinations but without power or accuracy and was showing a bad cut over his right eye.
Score: 10-9 GoodmanBall 115-113
Official Scores: Judge Enrico Licini 115-113 Ball, Judge Michel Maksiuta 118-110 Ball, Jose Roberto Torres 117-111 Ball.
Ball was making the third defence of the WBA title and it was a tough one and Goodman has a good case for a return match.
Hrgovic vs. Adeleye
HRGOVIC proves too strong for ADELEYE. In the first Hrgovic was quickly using strong jabbing to force Adeleye back and connecting with hard straight shots. Adeleye weas trying to counter without success but had a better second. He was jabbing well and firing hooks and one of those jabs opened a bad cut over the right eye of Hrgovic. Hrgovic once again used strong jabbing and long rights to put Adeleye on the back foot. Hrgovic continued to march forward in the third adding some heavy body punches and hooks as Adeleye continued on the back foot. A left hook from Adeleye staggered Hrgovic just before the bell but Adeleye was unable to follow that up. Hrgovic had a big fourth. He was dominating with his jab and kept Adeleye under fire for the full three minutes with little coming back from Adeleye. Hrgovic continued to control the fight in the fifth. He was getting through with heavy jab and clubbing punches to head and body. Adeleye landed the occasional single hard counter but was being outworked. Adeleye landed some useful jabs at the start of the sixth but was soon on the back foot as Hrgovic came forward with powerful jabs and hard rights taking yet another round. Adeleye showed more fire in the opening moments of the seventh but again Hrgovic was throwing more and landing more and harder punches. There was drama in the eighth. Less than a minute into the round Hrgovic landed three rights to the head with Adeleye going down from the third one. He was up quickly and after the count as Hrgovic came forward Adeleye connected with two left hooks. Hrgovic was badly shaken and Adeleke scored with burst of punches. Hrgovic looked to have overcome his crisis but Adeleye landed another left hook and Hrgovic was in deeper trouble. Adeleye blasted Hrgovic with punch after punch and Hrgovic was reeling and looked about to go down but the big Croatian fought back to the bell. Hrgovic was back in charge in the ninth using his jab and clubbing
rights to keep Adeleye on the retreat and there was very little coming back from Adeleye and neither has much left for the tenth which Hrgovic took. Scores 99-90 twice and 98-91 all for Hrgovic. He had rebounded from the loss to Daniel Dubois with points win over Joe Joyce and is No 2 with the WBO behind Moses Itauma so a title shot is not out of the question. Adeleye was hoping to get back into the title picture after his loss to Fabio Wardley in 2023 so this is another set-back.
Ford vs. Nova
In his third fight at super featherweight FORD takes a unanimous decision over NOVA. The first round saw Nova taking the fight to southpaw Ford with Ford scoring well on the back foot and Nova landing two heavy shots late in the round. Ford showed impressive hand speed in the second throwing combinations and targeting the body as Nova continued to come forward putting Ford under pressure. Nova connected with some quick jabs and straight rights in the third . Whilst still on the back foot in the fourth Ford defended well and consistently found the target with body punches from both hands. A fierce attack from Ford at the start of the fifth had Nova trapped on nthe ropes under heavy fire and he was shaken by a left in the sixth. Pressure and a high work rate were helping Nova keep the fight close and he had success in the seventh and eighth wrestling Ford to the ropes and just pumping out punches and staying on top of Fiord. The ninth saw Ford refusing to be bullied firing lots of jabs and straight lefts and staying off the ropes. A right to the shoulder sent Ford spinning along the ropes in the tenth but Nova was just winding up and throwing wide rights and a cooler Ford produced the better work. Scores 97-93 twice and 96-94 for former featherweight champion Ford. The talk is of a shot at IBF champion Eduardo Nunez.Nova came in at one month’s notice when Anthony Cacace had to pull out.
Tsutsumi vs. Ashfaq
TSUTSUMI brushes aside ASHFAQ in three rounds. Ashfaq boxed well in the early exchanges but Tsutsumi turned up the pressure in the second flooring Ashfaq late in the round. A fierce combination from Tsutsumi dropped Ashfaq in the third. Ashfaq made it to his feet but was forced to the ropes and downed with a right. Again he beat the count but as Tsutsumi bombarded Ashfaq with punches the referee stopped the fight. Fifth inside the distance win in a row for the former World Youth Championships gold medallist Tsutsumi. A Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and 2016 Olympian Ashfaq has struggled as a professional.
AUGUST 15
BEIJING, CHINA: SUPER FEATHER: CAN XU (21-4) W PTS 12 JAOUAD BELMEHDI (23-2-3).
XU retains the IBO International title with a wide unanimous decision over Frenchman BELMAHEDI. Despite the scores this was not an easy night for Xu. Belmehdi scored with some useful body punches over the early rounds and was very much in the fight. It was the constant pressure from Xu that won him the fight as Belmehdi tired over the closing rounds but Xu had to work hard for the win. Scores 120-108, 118-110 117-111. The former holder of the WBA secondary title was defending the IBO belt for the second time. Belhamedi’s only other loss was a first round stoppage by Gary Cully and he had won his last 7 fights.
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA: SUPER FEATHER: RICARDO BLANDON (19-6,1 ND) W PTS 10 MARCIO SOZA (22-10-3).
BLANDON outscores SOZA. In a domestic match with no title at steak Blandon overcame the physical edges of height and reach enjoyed by Soza and won the unanimous decision. The scores could have been wider but Blandon eased off in the ninth and tenth and won on scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. Blando is 4-1 in his last 5 bouts with the loss coming against Rene Alvarado in August last year. Soza is 0-3-1 in his last 4.
SANTRA YNEZ, CA, USA: FEATHER: OMAR CANDE (19-0-2) DREW 10 LORENZO PARRA (23-1,1). SUPER FLY: MIZUKI HIRUTA (9-0) W PTS 10 NAOMY CARDENAS (9-1). SUPER FEATHER: ABEL MEJIA (9-0) W TKO 2 ASTON PALICTE (28-9-1).
Trinidad vs. Parra
TRINIDAD retains the WBC Continental Americas belt with a majority draw against PARRA.
Venezuelan Parra made the livelier start coming forward and taking the fight to Trinidad. Some clever defensive work from Trinidad kept the first two rounds close but Parra seemed to have done enough to take them. Trinidad upped his output in the third and fourth and was landing well in some fierce exchanges. Parra was quicker but Trinidad kept coming forward and thanks to a strong chin was able to walk through Parra’s punches. His strength and aggression saw Trinidad take the middle rounds to go in front. The rounds were all close with the speed and movement of Parra offsetting the stronger Trinidad and keeping him in the fight and he had a good eighth. Trinidad kept pressing in the ninth and despite accurate counters from Parra he took the round and both connected with heavy rights in the last with the fight too close to call. The scores were 95-95 twice and 96-94 for Trinidad who was defending the title for the fifth time. Parra had won his last 9 fights but his 17 wins by KO/TKO were misleading as 15 of his victims had never won a fight.,
Hiruta vs. Cardenas
Japanese southpaw HIRUTA successfully defends the WBO title as she easily outpoints Mexican challenger CARDENAS. Hiruta had height reach and superior skills and to add to Cardenas’s problems she also failed to make the weight so could not win the title. Cardenas tried to hustle Hiruta out of her stride by charging in with her head down firing wild punches. Hiruta made Cardena pay on the way in and proved more than capable of dealing with the challenger’s attacks. She either slipped away from the punches or tied Cardenas up and then used her strength to force Cardenas back. Not a big puncher Hiruta was constantly finding the target with stiff jabs and hard counters putting together some sharp combinations. Cardenas had no plan B and just kept charging into punishment and never posed a threat to Hiruta. Scores 100-90 twice and 98-92. Hiruta was defending the WBO title for the fifth time. This is her third fight in California and with her pink hair, huge smile and growing skills she is building a following there. Cardenas was in her first ten round fight and lacked the skill and strength to threaten Hiruta.
MEJIA pushed Filipino PALICTE a bit further down the slippery slope as he climbed off the floor to halt Palicte in the second. Palicte sent Mejia down in the first with counter straight right. Mejia made it to the bell and then drove Palicte to the ropes in the second. A volley of punches stiffened Palicte’s legs and as Mejia continued to land hard punches the referee came in and stopped the fight. Sixth win by KO/TKO for 22-year-old Mejia. Palicte was 25-2-1 with a draw against Donnie Nietes for the WBO super fly title. He lost on a tenth round stoppage against Kazuto Ioka in another shot at the WBO title but now this is his fifth inside the distance loss in a row.
AUGUST 16
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: MINIMUM: JUNIOR ZARATE (26-5) W PTS 10 JUAN CORONEL (11-3). SUPER LIGHT: SILIO VILTE (13-0) W TKO 2 ANDRES PANGUILEF (13-3-2).
Zarate vs. Coronel
ZARATE wins the vacant WBO Latino title with a unanimous decision over Colombian CORONEL. Zatare laid the groundwork for this win over the first half of the contest as he relentlessly attacked Coronel’s body. With Coronel considerably slowed Zarate used his skill and footwork to find gaps in Coronel’s leaky defence and outscored Coronel over the second half of the fight. Scores 99-91 twice and 100-90. Now 35, Zarate scored a win over Charlie Edwards at the World Championships in 2011. Coronel had won his last 9 fights.
Vilte vs. Panguilef
VILTE wins the vacant Argentinian title with a second round stoppage of PANGUILEF. He put Panguilef down at the end of the first. Another knockdown in the second saw the referee halt the contest. Vilte was in his first ten round fight and has 9 inside the distance finishes. After going 0-2-2 in his first 4 fights Panguilef had won 13 in a row.
IQUIQUE, CHILE: SUPER LIGHT: PATRICIO CARRION (21-1) W TKO 6 DILAN MENESES (8-2).
Home city fighter CARRION wins the vacant UBO Continental title with a fifth round stoppage of Bolivian MENESES. Now 15 wins in a row stretching back to 2018 for Carrion. Much too big a step up for Meneses.
NAGOYA, JAPAN: SUPER FLY: KENTO HATANAKA (17-1) W PTS 10 DIOMEL DIOCOS (18-10-3).
Local fighter HATANAKA outpoints Filipino DIOCOS in a lacklustre affair. Hatanaka worked well with his jabs from the start but he was too often off target with his straight rights. He had more success from the fourth when he went to the body. He rattled Diocos with a right in the fifth but could not build on that Diocos did get through with a heavy right in the eighth but other than that posed no threat and Hatanaka was a comfortable winner on scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91. Second win for Hatanaka as he rebuilds after losing to the 24-1 Thai Thananchai Charunphak in August last year. Diocos is 0-4 in fights in Japan.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO: SUPER FLY: ARGI CORTES (28-4-2) W PTS 10 BAIRON RODRIGUEZ (11-4).
CORTES wins on points taking a unanimous decision over late substitute RODRIGUEZ. Cortes is a native of Mexico City so the high altitude did not affect him Colombian Rodriguez just found the more experienced Cortes and the altitude too much and although competitive in the first four rounds he then faded badly. Cortes won on scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92. Cortes was to have faced Andrew Moloney in an IBF eliminator but due to the altitude Moloney’s team wanted it moved to Durango but after Moloney fell out the show was moved back to Mexico City. Cortes is No 3 with the IBF and Moloney No 4 so the eliminator may still take place. Rodriguez, 20 fought hard but never really had a chance.
HERCEG NOVI, MONTENEGRO: CRUISER: ZVJEZDAN VIDAKOVIC (16-0) W TKO 3 DENIZ ALTZ (21-20).
A big night for Montenegro as local fighter VIDAKOVIC wins the IBA International title with a third round stoppage of Germany’s ALTZ. Seventh inside the distance win in a row for Vidakovic but his opposition has been pathetic. Sixteenth loss by KO/TKO for Altz.
BOSTON, MA, USA: MIDDLE CHORDALE BOOKER (24-2) W KO 3 PATRICK ALLOTEY (45-9).
Southpaw BOOKER beats Ghanaian ALLOTEY in three rounds. Booker was just too strong for Allotey. He forced the action with Allotey lacking the power to compete. After taking the first two rounds Booker finished the job in the third. Three rights to the head sent Allotey down to his knees. He complained about a punch to the back of the heads and just sat out the count. First fight for Booker since losing on a fourth round stoppage against Sebastian Fundora for the WBC and WBO super welter titles in March. Allotey was knocked out in four rounds by Jaime Munguia in a fight for the WBO super welter title in 2019. He is 1-3 in his last 4 bouts.
HARLINGEN, TX, USA: SUPER LIGHT: OMAR JUAREZ (19-2) W TKO 4 JUAN CASTILLO (13-2).
Texan JUAREZ finishes Mexican CASTILLO with a body punch in the fourth. After an early career defeat Juarez is 15-1 in his last 16 fights with the loss coming on a majority decision against Rances Barthelemy in 2023. Castillo had won his last 11 fights.
AUGUST 17
MANILA, PHILIPPINES: BANTAM: KENNETH LLOVER (15-0) W TKO 8 LUIS CONCEPCION (40-12).
Filipino prospect LLOVER batters an aging CONCEPCION to defeat in eight rounds. It was obvious from the start that the 17-years younger Llover was much quicker and after outboxing a rusty Concepcion in the first he floored him in both the second and third. Concepcion was rocked again in the fourth as Lover seemed to ease up and the Panamanian veteran managed to bob and weave around Llover’s punches in the fifth. This was Concepcion’s first fight for 22 months but he finally seemed to have shed the rust as he boxed well in the sixth and seventh as Llover seemed to slow. A body punch hurt Concepcion in the eighth and the he fell apart. Llover was able to land punch after punch on a reeling and helpless Concepcion who was allowed to take too much punishment before the fight was stopped. Llover, 22, the OPBF champion, makes it 10 inside the distance wins. Former WBA fly and super fly champion Concepcion should really retire.
OBSERVATIONS :
The situation with interim/temporary tiles is becoming a ridiculous farce. There are now 18 interim champions-3 in the heavyweight division alone. With Bivol and Gilberto Ramirez injured there will soon be 20 and counting. In almost all of these so called interim situations the real champion is not injured or unavailable so there is nothing interim about an interim title. The sanctioning bodies are making a laughing stock of our sport.
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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