THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 OCTOBER 2025: Cecilia Braekhaus Retires After Defeating Ema Kozin
By Eric Armit
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 Oct 2025
Cecilia Braekhaus celebrates after defeating Ema Kozin.
HIGHLIGHTS:
-The great Cecilia Braekhus end her career in style as she outpoints Ema Kozin to win the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles and announces her retirement
-Mateusz Masternak wins the vacant European cruiserweight title as he kayo’s Joel Tambwe Djeko in the seventh
-Cristobal Lorente successfully defends the European featherweight title with a split draw against Nathaniel Collins, Louie O’Doherty stops Regan Glackin in the tenth and wins the vacant British lightweight title and Willy Hutchinhson beats Mark Jeffers on a seventh round TKO
-Danish super middleweight Oliver Zaren decisions Ante Bilic to go to 18-0
- Francesco Acatullo retains the Italian lightweight title with a ninth round stoppage of Antonio Gualtieri
MAJOR SHOWS:
OCTOBER 4
LILLESTROM, NORWAY: SUPER WELTER: CECILIA BRAEKHUS (39-2-1) W PTS 10 EMA KOZIN (24-2-1). FEATHER: BERNARD TORRES (19-2) W PTS 8 YEISON JUAREZ (21-10).
Braekhus vs. Kozin
Boxing legend BRAEKHUS bows out with a win as she decisions Slovenian KOZIN to win the WBC and WBO titles. Kozin tried to set a fast pace hoping to tire the 18-year-older Norwegian but Braekhus has plenty of experience of pacing a fight and she boxed well within herself. She dictated the pace with her superior technical skills scoring with accurate jabbing at distance and using clever footwork to move away from Kozin’s attacks. Kozin was in her first fight since winning the titles from Hannah Rankin in November 2023 but showed no rust and kept pressing and tried to keep Braekhus under constant pressure but Braekhus found ways to get a breather and finished strongly. Scores 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 for Braekhus. The 44-year-old Colombian-born Norwegian is deservedly labelled a legend. She won her first title in 2009; She was the first female boxer to become an undisputed champion in the four-belt era and took part in 30 world title fights. Her two losses came in fights against Jessica McCaskill and the draw against Terri Harper. The first loss to McCaskill broke a 36-bout winning streak going back over 13 years. Boxing had been banned in Norway for 33-years and Braekhus helped get that ban lifted. A truly wonderful career. Kozin, 26, was defending the titles for the first time. Her only other loss came in 2022 against Claressa Shields in a challenge for the IBF/WBA/WBC middleweight titles.
Torres vs. Juarez
Philippines-born Norwegian TORRES returns with a win as he outpoints Venezuelan JUAREZ. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73. First fight for Torres since a crushing two round kayo loss against Bruce Carrington in February 2024. Third consecutive loss for Juarez all on points.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: FEATHER: CRISTOBAL LORENTE (20-0-3) DREW 12 NATHANIEL COLLINS 17-0-1). LIGHT HEAVY: WILLY HUTCHINSON (19-2) W TKO 7 MARK JEFFERS (20-2). LIGHT: LOUIE O’DOHERTY (11-0) W TKO 10 REGAN GLACKIN (16-1). MIDDLE: ASTON BROWN (9-0) W TKO 2 PAUL KEAN (19-5). SUPER BANTAM: MARCUS SUTHERLAND (9-0) W TKO 1 KERIM AGIUS (5-1-2). SUPER WELTER: JOHN JOE CARRIGAN (1-0) W TKO 1 DAWID PRZYBYISKI (2-4).
Lorente vs. Collins
LORENTE retains the European title with a split draw against COLLINS. It was the challenger who made the stronger start being quicker with his punches and finding Lorente an easy target as the Spaniard tried to come fortward. Collins landed a couple of eye-catching punches in the third and looked to be in front. Lorente upped his aggression in the fourth and Collins was being forced to stand and trade more and the fifth was close. The sixth was the best round of the fight as they raked each other with punches in exciting to-and-fro action. Lorente continued to force the fight but Collins was finding the target with counters and boxing cleverly on the back foot and still looked ahead. Lorente was relentless and he was beginning to outwork Collins and had the best of the exchanges in the ninth and tenth. Collin dredged up some last vestiges of energy and looked to have done enough to win the eleventh and Lorente put in a huge effort to take the last. It looked as though Collins had just done enough to hold onto his early lead but it was very close. The judges scored it 115-113 Lorent, 115-113 Collins and 114-114. A huge disappointment for Collins as there were plans for him to build on a win in this fight to get a world title shot. It remains to be seen whether this is still a viable way forward. The EBU have asked for purse offers for Lorente to defend against No 1 Liam Davies. A return with Collins would have been an attractive match but is now unlikely.
Hutchinson vs. Jeffers
HUTCHINSON impresses with a seventh round stoppage of JEFFERS. This was a fast-paced, open fight. Over the first two rounds Jeffers was on the front foot taking the fight to Hutchinson with Hutchinson switching guards and firing counters. Hutchinson started the third on the attack but after they both landed hard body punches Jeffers was coming forward and Hutchinson was in counter punching mode again. Both were letting go with some strong shots and the fourth saw some fierce exchanges with both connecting. Jeffers looked to be tiring in the fifth and a confident Hutchinson was frustrating Jeffers dropping his hands and bobbing and weaving in front of Jeffers. He then did an exaggerated stumble as if shaken before firing a series of punches. Jeffers continued to come forward but he was being caught with counters and could not nail Hutchinson down. In the seven Hutchinson caught Jeffers with a counter and landed a series of long punches. They again traded punches before a right to the head staggered Jeffers and Hutchinson exploded with a burst of head punches that had a Jeffers helpless against the ropes and the referee came in to make a good stoppage. First fight for Hutchinson since losing a split decision against Joshua Buatsi for the WBO interim belt in September last year. He has previously held the WBC International and Silver titles
. He is No 8 with the WBC so will be looking to have some high profile fight in 2026. Second loss in a row for Jeffers after dropping a majority decision against Sam Hemphill in June. He had moved up a division for this fight.
O’Doherty vs. Glackin
O’DOHERTY breaks down and stops GLACKIN in the tenth to win the vacant British title. This was a battle of the jabs early with both stabbing out their lead hand and then looking to find a gap for rights. By the second round O’Doherty was taking over. He was forcing Glackin onto the retreat and he confirmed his dominance with a series of punches at the end of the round. Glackin just could not keep O’Doherty out and O’Doherty scored with hooks from both hand in the third and fourth. O’Doherty was punching holes in Glackins defence in the fifth, sixth seventh and the fight was becoming one-sided. Glackin put in a big effort at the start of the eighth coming forward throwing punches but by the end of the round he was soaking up more punishment. Glackin had a big swelling on his left eyelid and his corner checked he wanted to continue. O’Doherty continued to hand out serious punishment in the ninth and it was a relief when Glackin’s corner threw in the towel during the tenth. This was expected to be a close fight so it was impressive in the way O’Doherty took control from the start scored such a one-sided victory over unbeaten Glackin. Celtic champion Glackin just never got into the fight.
Brown vs. Kean
BROWN stops KEAN in the second round. Brown did enough to take the first and then ended it in the second. He floored Kean with a body punch. Kean made it to his feet but was down again from an uppercut and the fight was stopped. Scottish Area champion Brown wins the vacant BBB of C Celtic title with his fourth quick win in a row. Third inside the distance defeat for southpaw Kean.
Sutherland vs. Agius
SUTHERLAND stops substitute AGIUS in the first round. Sutherland was boxing on the back foot as Agius rumbled forward with jabs and hooks. Sutherland connected with a couple of body punches then landed a right to the head that sent Agius stumbling back across the ring to a corner and he bombarded Agius with punches until the referee stopped the fight. Scot Sutherland , 21, gets his sixth win by KO/TKO. Since all of the wins Agius had scored were on points it seemed a mistake that he chose to force Sutherland to stand and trade punches.
Carrigan vs. Przybyiski
In his first professional bout teenage prospect CARRIGAN, 18,scores a first round stoppage over Pole PRZYBYISKI. Southpaw Carrigan forced the finish by trapping Przybyiski against the ropes and pounding him with punches until the Pole dropped to, a knee and the referee stopped the fight. The fight was not without incident as a clash of heads saw Carrigan suffer a bad cut over his right eye. Carrigan won gold medals at the World Under-19 and European and English Youth championships and is reportedly unbeaten in his last 51 fights.
ZAKOPANE, POLAND: CRUISER: MATEUSZ MASTERNAK (50-6) W KO 7 JOEL TAMBWE DJEKO (19-4-1). SUPER MIDDLE: IHOSVANY GARCIA (15-0) W PTS 8 ANDRII VELIKOVSKYI (21-4-2). MIDDLE: KAMIL SZEREMETA (26-3-2) W TKO 4 BORIS NEDBAL (6-3). HEAVY: ADAM BALSKI (21-3) W PTS 6 ARTUR KUBIAK(2-6).
Masternak vs. Djeko
MASTERNAK becomes European cruiserweight champion for the second time as he scores a seventh round kayo over DJEKO to lift the vacant title.Masternak was much quicker than the tall Belgian and despite Djeko’s longer reach Masternak dominated the centre of the ring and continually found gaps for his jabs. Djeko was not using his jab as he should have been and instead was looking to lure Masternak forward onto right hand counters but Masternak did not fall into the trap. He continued to rely on his jab adding in body shots, left hooks and hard rights. The accuracy of Masternak’s jab brought swelling around both of Djeko’s eyes. The longer the fight went the more dominant Masternak became. Djeko tired and Masternak ended the fight in the seventh. He forced Djeko to the ropes with two strong jabs and then landed a right cross that sent Djeko down on his hands and knees. Djeko tried to rise but was counted out. Masternak, 38, is in his nineteenth year as a professional. He was European cruiser champion back in 2012/13 and is only the second Polish fighter to have won the same European title twice. He lost to Chris Billiam-Smith in a challenge for the WBO title in 2023. He is rated No 4 by the IBF with Huseyin Cinkara No 1, No 2 spot vacant and Billiam Smith No 3 so another title shot is a possibility. Djeko was 10-1 in his last 11 fights with the loss coming at heavyweight against Tony Yoka.
Garcia vs. Velikovskyi
Cuban GARCIA overcomes a bad start to win a unanimous decision over Ukrainian VELIKOVSKYI. It was the Ukrainian who took the opening round scoring with useful jabs and straight rights. In the second Velikovskyi landed a booming right that put Garcia down and broke his nose. Garcia got up and from the third took the fight to Velikovskyi. He forced Velikovskyi onto the back foot and found the target with hard punches from both hands. Velikovskyi fought back but was outworked by the Cuban who was also quicker and more accurate with his punches and deservedly won on scores of 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75. First real test for Garcia and a tough one but he came through it. Velikovskyi was 12-1-2 in his last 15 fights with the loss coming on points against Osleys Iglesias for the vacant IBO title in 2022.
Szeremeta vs. Nedbal
SZEREMETA returns from a short break and stops a badly overmatched NEDBAL in the fourth. Szeremeta was content to control the action over the first three rounds with some strong jabbing and left hooks to the body. He ended it in the fourth with a wicked right hook that put Nedbal face-down on the canvas. Nedbal manage to struggle to his feet but his corner had already thrown in the towel. Szeremeta’s three losses have all come in title fights and all inside the distance against Gennady Golovkin, Jaime Munguia and in October last year, Chris Eubank Jr for the IBO title. He is now aiming to get a major level fight in the USA and a fourth title fight. Slovakian Nedbal just a lamb to the slaughter.
Balski vs. Kubiak
BALSKI gets in six rounds of work as he outpoints fellow-Pole KUBIAK. Balski found Kubiak an easy target but stuck to jabbing and firing rights without ever getting out of third gear or looking for an early finish. Kubiak was already tired by the third round but lasted the distance. Scores 60-54 twice and 59-55. First fight for Balski since his loss to Krzys Wlodarczyk for the WBC bridgerweight title in May. Fifth loss in a row for overmatched Kubiak.
OCTOBER 3
OAKVILLE, CANADA: WELTER: BRADLEY WILCOX (14-0) W PTS 10 JORDAN McNAUGHTON (9-01.
WILCOX wins the vacant IBF North American title with a close unanimous decision over previously unbeaten McNAUGHTON. Wilcox fought in his usual relentlessly aggressive style but McNaughton fought fire with fire and it was close with Wilcox staging a strong finish to just edge out McNaughton. Scores 96-94 on all three cards. Wilcox, a civil engineering graduate, is one of five boxing brothers. Calgary’s McNaughton is the current Canadian champion.
MILAN, ITALY: SUPER BANTAM: ALESSIO LORUSSO (30-5-2) W PTS 10 MATTIAS OCCHINERO (13-3-1).
Southpaw LORUSSO makes it eight wins in a row as he outpoints fellow-Italian OCCHINERO to pick up the vacant IBO International title. Occhinero started well but from the third round Lorusso’s speed and higher work rate gave him the edge and he emerged a clear winner on scores of 98-92 twice and 98-93. totally tattooed Lorusso makes it nine wins since suffering a points loss against Thomas Essomba in 2023 in a European bantamweight title defence. Occhinero had won his last four contests including picking up the vacant WBC Mediterranean belt.
SANTA YNEZ, CA, USA: LIGHT HEAVY: UMAR DZAMBEKOV (13-0) W KO 2 ARTEM BRUSOV 13-2). SUPER LIGHT: CAIN SANDOVAL (17-0) W PTS 10 JINO RODRIGO (13-5-2).
Dzambekov vs. Brusov
Grozny-born Austrian DZAMBEKOV stops BRUSOV in the second. Both of these fighters are hard punchers and both were letting their hands go in the first. Dzambekov got the better of the exchanges as he shook Brusov a couple of times. Dzambekov ended it in the second. He stopped Bruso in his tracks with a jab and then drove Bruso back with more jabs before connected with a looping left hook that sent Bruso into the ropes and down. Bruso started to rise then collapsed to one side and the referee immediately waived the fight over. Southpaw Dzambekov was Austrian champion in 2016,2017 and 2019. Russian Bruso was having his first fight since May 2023.
Sandoval vs. Rodrigo
SANDOVAL marches on with a spectacular finish against Filipino RODRIGO. Sandoval worked his way inside in the first to land to the body. Rodrigo evened things up as he landed a couple of hard shots in the second that seemed to buzz Sandoval. From the third Sandoval upped his work rate constantly marching forward behind his jab banging home punches to Rodrigo’s ribs with Rodrigo on the back foot. The pressure and body punches were wearing Rodrigo down and his punch output dropped as Sandoval drove him around the ring. In the tenth Rodrigo rallied briefly but Sandoval forced him to the ropes and then exploded with a devastating left-right-left set of hooks to the head that sent Rodrigo down. He struggled to rise but the referee stopped the fight. Now 15 wins by KO/TKO for 23-year-old Sandoval. He comes from a boxing family as his grandfather, father and aunt all boxed and he looks a good prospect. Rodrigo is 1-3 in fights in the USA.
OCTOBER 4
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: LIGHT: MAXIMILIANO VERON (12-2) W PTS 10 ENZO DELGADO (12-0-1).MIDDLE: BALTAZAR NORIA (14-0) W PTS 12 LORENZO GEREZ (11-3).
Veron vs. Delgado
VERON takes the unanimous decision over previously unbeaten DELGADO to win the vacant WBA Fedelatin title. Veron fought under the handicap of a bad cut over his left eye suffered in the second round. From the third he used good defence, fast combinations and smart foot work to outbox southpaw Delgado. He was helped by Delgado looking to land one big punch making him careless and an easy target for Veron’s counters. Veron won on scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93. An important win as Veron was 1-2 going into this one. Delgado had a six-bout winning streak,
Noria vs. Gerez
NORIA won a close unanimous verdict over GEREZ for the vacant WBC Latino belt. This clash of southpaws saw each fighter have good spells in a largely tactical battle. There really was never any great difference between them which made it hard to score but Noria got the nod by 96-94 twice and 97-93 to extend his run of wins to 14. Gerez had lost only one of his last eight fights.
HERLEV, DENMARK: SUPER MIDDLE: OLIVER ZAREN (18-0) W PTS 10 ANTE BILIC (31-3).
ZAREN wins the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title as he outclasses Croat BILIC. The Danish southpaw used his fast, accurate southpaw jabbing to control the fight from the start. Bilic kept trying to exert some pressure but apart from getting through with an occasional right he was never a threat. Bilic lost a point for a low punch in the eighth and staged a storming finish but Zaren withstood Bilic’s last fling and won on scores of 100-89, 99-90 and 98-91. His opposition has been carefully chosen and has not been strong enough to get him a world rating and he is No 16 with the EBU but winning the IBF regional title might advance him. Bilic, 42, had won his last 15 fights but again his opposition has been moderate at best.
VOGHERA, ITALY: LIGHT: FRANCESCO ACATULLO (17-13-4) W TKO 9 ANTONIO GUALTIERI (16-2) .
ACATULLO successfully defends the national title with a ninth round stoppage of GUALTIERI. Acatullo came out firing punches from the first bell forging forward and winning the first three rounds. Gualtieri had some success in the fourth and there were fierce exchanges over the middle rounds. Gualtieri was driving forward over the eighth and at the start of the ninth. He was just throwing punches and ignoring defence and was dropped by a right. He beat the count and held trying to survive. He bent over under Acatullo’s attacks and his gloves touched the canvas. He was given a count but looked shaky and the referee stopped the fight. Acatullo had won the title at his fifth attempt and was making his first defence. Gualtieri, 41, was in his first ten round fight .
PARIS, FRANCE: LIGHT HEAVY: RAPHAEL MONNY (8-0) W PTS 10 CHRISTOPHER BRUGIROUX (7-3-1). SUPER WELTER: MILAN PRAT (28-1) W KO 8 ALEJANDRO MENESES ( 18-8). WELTER: BAKARI DIALLO (12-1) W PTS 8 PABLO PERAZA (16-3). MIDDLE: SALAHDINE PARNASSE (1-0) W TKO 2 FRANCK PETITJEAN (25-8-3)
Monny vs, BRUGIROUX
MONNY wins the vacant French heavyweight title with a second victory over BRUGIROUX. Former French amateur champion Monny, 24,used a focused body attack to control the action. He built a good lead with Brugiroux having his best round in the seventh. From there Monny boxed on the back foot fighting defensively and countering Brugiroux’s aggression. Scores 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. Monny, 24, had outscored Brugiroux over six rounds in November. Brugiroux’s main sport is savate and he is a four-time world champion at that sport.
Prat vs, Meneses
PRAT scores an eighth round kayo over Mexican MENESES. With a fight for the EBU Silver title next month Prat fitted-in the warm up bout. It looked as through Meneses was going last the distance but a left hook from Prat put him down early in the eighth and he was counted out. Now 22 wins inside the distance for Prat and his eighth win in a row. Meneses is a former IBO champion at super lightweight.
Diallo vs. Peraza
French prospect DIALLO outpoints useful Mexican PERAZA. This was a close, hard fight and a good learning experience for Diallo. He had to overcome fighting from early with a huge egg-shaped bump over his right eye but he won in the end on scores of 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75. The IBF Youth champion has won his last seven bouts. Peraza was 13-0 but is now 3-3 in his last 6.
Parnasse vs. Petitjean
The big attraction on the show was the first boxing match for French MMA star PARNASSE who bludgeoned PETITJEAN to defeat in two rounds. Southpaw Parnasse just walked through Petitjean’s punches before driving Petietjean to the ropes in the second and bombarding him with punches until he collapsed with the referee stopping the fight. Parnasse wants to continue in boxing. Former European super lightweight champion Petitjean, 37, announced his retirement.
TOKYO, JAPAN: SUPER WELTER: RYOTA TOYOSHIMA (22-3-1) W PTS 10 RIKUTO ADACHI (19-5-1). FLY: SHOKICHI IWATA (15-2) W KO 7 EDWIN CANO (13-4-1).
Toyoshima vs. Adachi
TOYOSHIMA retains the Japanese title and wins the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title as scores a points win over ADACHI. Toyoshima’s potent left hook was the major factor in the tactics as Adachi failed to use his longer reach but tried to stay in close to deny Toyoshima leverage. Totoshima still outscored Adachi inside and used his strength and better skills to win the rounds. Adachi had to soak up lots of punishment. He pressed hard late but Toyoshima emerged a good winner. Scores 98-92 twice and 100-90. Toyoshima, a former undefeated Japanese welterweight champion, was defending the super welter title for the first time.
Iwata vs. Cano
IWATA returns to the ring with a victory as he kayos Mexican CANO in the seventh round. Cano boxed on the back foot early looking to catch Iwata with counters. Iwata kept coming and increased the pressure from round to round. He landed some heavy shots in the fifth and sixth and then sent Cano down in agony with a body punch in the seventh. Cano writhed on the canvas unable to rise and was counted out. First outing for Iwata since losing his WBO light fly title to Rene Santiago in March. Cano was also coming of a defeat having been knocked bout in seven rounds by Oscar Collazo in a challenge for the WBA and WBO minimumweight titles also in March.
MALAGA, SPAIN: SUPER MIDDLE: CARLOS MENA (10-8-1) W TKO 2 RONNY LANDAETA (22-8). LIGHT HEAVY: YEHOR VELIKOVSKYI (12-0) W PTS 8 IAGO KIZIRIA (10-18). LIGHT HEAVY: CONSTANTINO NANGA (13-0) W TKO 1 SERHIY DEMCHENKO (25-20-1).
Mena vs. Landaeta
Cuban-born MENA wins the vacant Spanish title with a second round stoppage of seasoned veteran LANDAETA. Mena floored Landaeta in the first and then twice more in the second to end the fight. Mena had lost on a fourth round kayo against Landaeta back in 2015. He also went 1-7-1 in a run of contests but has turned that around with five wins. Don’t count 42-year-old Landaeta out he has been Spanish champion four times.
Velikovskyi vs. Kizira
Ukrainian VELIKOVSKYI floors and outpoints KIZIRA. All three cards read 80-71 for Velikovskyi who had won his last five fights by KO/TKO. Georgian Kizira’s losses have all come on points.
Nanga vs. Demchenko
Angolan-born Swede NANGA disposes of Ukrainian-born Italian DEMCHENKO in the first round. First fight for Nanga for 15 months and he makes it nine wins by KO/TKO. Demchenko, 46, suffers only his second inside the distance defeat
BADIA Del VALLES, SPAIN: SUPER WELTER: ISMAEL FLORES (17-1-1) W KO 9 OLIVER QUINTANA (23-5).
Spanish-based Argentinian FLORES extends his winning run to seven bouts with a ninth round kayo of Mexican QUINTANA. Flores has twelve wins by KO/TKO but has yet to meet any quality opposition. He is No 9 with the WBA due to winning their Ibero-American belt and he is No 72 with BoxRec. Quintana is 5-4 in his last 9 fights.
MADRID, SPAIN: LIGHT: ANTONIO COLLADO (20-2) W PTS 8 MIGUEL FLORES (26-12-1).
Former Spanish lightweight champion COLLADO gets back into the winners enclosure as he takes every round against experienced FLORES. Collado was just too quick for the former IBO and WBA interim super bantam champion. Although a long way down the slippery road to retirement Flores took the punishment and went the distance. Scores 80-72 from the three judges. In his last fight in June Collado had lost on a third round stoppage against Arthur Biyarslanov in Canada. Now he is looking to regain the national title. Flores, 38, is 1-12-1 in his last 14 fights.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: MUHAMMAD ALI ZAHID (16-0) W PTS 10 INDER BASSI (15-2).
ALI ZAHID wins the vacant WBC Asian belt with a unanimous decision over England’s BASSI. Scores 96-93 twice and 97-93. This is the first time an Asian title fight has taken place in the UK and Zahid’s first ten round fight. He is known as “The Diabetic Kid” as he fights despite suffering from Type 1 diabetes. Bassio is of Indian antecedents and he had won 12 of his last 13 fights with the loss coming against Sean Noakes.
KEMPTON PARK, SOUTH AFRICA: LIGHT HEAVY: BRYAN THYSSE (7-0-1) W TKO 9 MICHAEL HEAD (3-2-1). BANTAM: CHARLTON MALAJIKA (9-1) W TKO 4 FROILAN SALUDAR (37-9-1).
THYSSE wins the vacant South African light heavyweight title with a ninth round stoppage of HEAD. Thysse wore down Head with some hefty body punches. Thysse nearly ended it in the eighth as Head was given a standing count and a brave Head was saved by the referee in the ninth. This was the final of a light heavyweight tournament to find a new national champions. Thysse’s late father and his brother Brandon had also won South African titles.
Malajika vs. Saludar
MALAJIKA stops SALUDAR in the fourth and makes easy work of what looked like a big test on paper. Malajika showed some strong jabbing in the first and then shook Saludar with a burst of punches at the end of the second. Malajika controlled the action in the third landing some heavy shots and then finished the job in the fourth. He drove Saludar into a corner and battered Saludar with a succession of punches refusing to let Saludar escape until the referee belatedly came in to save Saludar. Big win for the IBF Youth champion. Now 36 Saludar, a former WBO flyweight title challenger, had won his last three fights.
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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