Behind The Results March 30 2010
Eric Armit temporarily puts aside his preoccupation with East Fife's relegation struggle to give us this week's global digest.March 25
Commerce, USA: Welter: Demetrius Hopkins (29-1-1) W PTS 10 Jesse Feliciano (15-9-3). “The Gladiator”, in his first fight since losing to Kendall Holt on a split decision for the WBO title, was a class above late substitute and had no trouble counter punching the desperate efforts of Feliciano, but could not produce a finish. Scores 100-90 twice and 100-91. This for interim WBC USNBC title.
Los Angeles, USA: Bantam: Abner Mares (20-0) W TKO 5 Felipe Almanza (17-16-4). Feather: Ronny Rios (10-0) W KO 5 Andres Ledesma (15-17-1).In his first fight for seventh months Mares had to overcome a variety of low blows from rough Almanza, but kept his cool, broke Almanza down flooring him in third and put him down for the count in the fifth. Right uppercuts did the trick. Next for Mares is IBF champion Yonnhy Perez in May. Rios, 20, was given a good argument by 34-year-old Colombian Ledesma, but finished it with a body shot in the fifth. Ledesma now 1-13 in last 14 fights.
Manila, Philippines: Feather: Vinvin Rufino (29-11-3) W PTS 12 Adonis Aguelo (12-2-1). Southpaw Rufino retains Philippines title with majority verdict over hard-punching challenger. Rufino’s speed and skill seems to have him well in front but scores strange as two officials see it 118-110 and one sees it 114-114. Rufino is GAB champion and Aguelo was PBF as there are two bodies in Philippines.
Tokyo, Japan: Light Middle: Charlie Ohta (13-1-1) W TKO 8 Akio Shibata (13-6-1). Former US Serviceman Charlie (Bellamy) Ohta, 28, gave up height and reach to favourite and defending champion, Shibata, but kept up the chase. Well behind on points, he caught up with Shibata and floored and stopped him in eighth to lift Japanese and OPBF titles.
Worley, USA: Welter: Favio Medina (22-2-3) W PTS 10 Jason Papillion (39-15-2,1ND). Heavy: Skyler Anderson (15-1-1) W TKO 3 Moises Droz (13-10).Heavy: George Foreman (6-0) W TKO 1 Robert Vasquez (0-1).The fight in October between Medina and Papillion ended in a technical draw, but this time Medina took over in the second round and controlled the fight the rest of the way to win the USNBC title. Heavy prospect Anderson, 23 and 6’7” tall, floored and halted Droz in second. With father George watching, Foreman III took 92 seconds to win a farce as it was Vasquez first fight and he was carrying enough extra weight around his middle to make a flyweight out of it. Things like this give the sport a bad name.
March 26
East London, South Africa:Strawweight: Nkosinathi Joyi (21-0) W PTS 12 Raul Garcia (27-1-1). Super Fly: Lesley Sekotswe (10-0-1) W TKO 2 Simo Mbande (3-4). Cut, out boxed and out-powered, that was the story for Garcia as the brilliant South African Joyi won a wide unanimous verdict in this battle of unbeaten 27-year-old southpaws. Taking control from the first bell, cutting Garcia above his right eye in the fourth, and often rocking the previously unbeaten IBF champion Joyi wins on scores of 119-109 twice and 118-110. It was the fifth defence for Garcia but also his first fight outside of Baja California. It cost Branco Milenkovic 1.2 million Rand to land the fight, but it was well worth it. Sekotswe, from Botswana, takes Mbande apart in two rounds.
Mexico City, Mexico: Light: Vicente Escobedo (22-2) W TKO 3 Carlos Urias (43-24). Super Feather: Dante Jardon (12-1) W TKO 3 David Rodela (14-3-2).Easy bounce-back win for Escobedo who floors 35-year-old Mexican twice for stoppage victory. First fight for Escobedo since loss to Mike Katsidis for interim WBO title in September. Upset as favoured Rodela floored in second only to be saved by the bell, but stopped in third by aggressive “Crazy” Jardon.
Hamilton Township, USA: Light Heavy: Omar Sheika (29-9) TKO 4 Garrett Wilson (7-4). Welter: Terrance Cauthen (34-6, 1ND) W PTS 8 Isam Khalil (15-2-2). Light Middle: Ahmad Kaddour (22-2-1) W PTS 8 Jerome Ellis (12-11-2). Sheika looking for a fifth world title shot (he has had four at super middle). Against nothing much, Sheika started slowly then finished it in the fourth. Southpaw Cauthen, an Olympic bronze medallist from 1996, now 33, used strong jab and right hook to take unanimous decision over 36-year-old US-based Swedish southpaw Khalil. Scores 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75.Lebanes-born Dane Kaddour too good for journeyman Ellis (now only one win in his last ten fights) and wins unanimous verdict.
Kansas City, USA: Heavy: Hasim Rahman (46-7-2, 1ND) W KO 1 Clinton Boldridge (9-16-1). Former heavy champ Rahman, now 37, in first fight since December 2008 loss to Wlad Klitschko, is fed an easy one and floors twice and kayos poor 43-year-old Boldridge at end of first round (do people really pay to see rubbish like this?). Now there is talk of a David Tua fight which would be a real test for both.
Nice, France: Middle: Christopher Canclaux (41-3) W KO 2 Janos Vargas (6-2). “Rocky” Canclaux, in his first fight since loss to Joachim Alcine in December, shakes Hungarian novice in first and finishes it with right to body.
Livorno, Italy: Lenny Bottai (11-0) W PTS 10 Adriano Nicchi. (12-3-2). Hometown fighter Bottai wins vacant Italian title with split decision over Nicchi in good, close battle. Scores 97-92, 95-94 and 94-95. Now 32, Bottai did not turn pro until he was 30.
Helsinki, Finland: Feather: Andreas Evensen (12-1) W TKO 7 Sot Sor Veerapol (20-9). Heavy: Robert Helenius (12-0) W PTS 8 Gbenga Oolukun (17-4). Colombian-born Norwegian Evensen scores knockdowns in second, sixth and seventh round and wins vacant WBO Intercontinental title. Swedish-born Finn Helenius, 26, uses strong jab to control fight and win unanimous decision on scores of 79-76, 78-75 and 77-75 over 26-year-old Nigerian who has now lost 4 of his last 5.
Chicago, USA: Heavy: Mike Mollo (20-3) W PTS 8 Billy Zumbrun (23-12-1,1ND). In his first fight since 2008, when he lost to Andy Golota and James McCline, Mollo, 30, had a hard time with 37-year-old trial horse Zumbrun. Mollo took the early rounds and his jab was dominating the fight, but as he tired Zumbrun’s aggression made it close. Scores 79-73 twice and 79-74 did not reflect how close it really was.
Ensenada, Mexico: Feather: Ivan Hernandez (26-4-1) W KO 5 Jaime Maldonado (6-11-1). Former WBO super fly weight champion “Choco” Hernandez finishes Maldonado with a wicked body punch. First fight for Hernandez since suffering a fractured jaw in a challenge to WBC champ Toshiaki Nishioka in October.
March 27
Detroit, USA: Super Middle: Andre Dirrell (19-1) W DIS 11 Arthur Abraham (31-1). Middle: Dominik Britsch (18-0) W TKO 2 Matt Berkshire (10-2-1). Cruiser: Lateef Kayode (11-0) W TKO 4 Chris Thomas (17-10-2). Light Middle: Ron Hearns (24-1) W PTS 6 Marteze Logan (26-43-2,1ND). Light Welter: Vern Parris (20-0,3 ND) W PTS 6 Oscar Leon (28-12). Controversial ending to the Super Six fight as Abrahams disqualified for hitting Dirrell when he was on the canvas. Southpaw Dirrell started fast and took early rounds. Abraham cut over right eye in seventh, then seems to score knockdown in round ten, only to have referee call it a slip. Dirrell was ahead by seven points on two cards and five on the other when in the eleventh he slipped on some water in Abraham’s corner and fell to the canvas, which is when Abraham landed another punch. Dirrell was taken to hospital for observation. Dirrell lost a split verdict to Carl Froch in his first bout in the tournament whilst former IBF middle king Abraham stopped Jermain Taylor. Yet another victory for the hometown fighter, which has been a feature of the tournament so far. Some strong query over just how hard the punch was that Abraham landed, but he only has himself to blame.
Too easy for 22-year-old German Britsch who floors Berkshire twice in first and stops him in second. Nigerian Kayode makes it nine by KO/TKO. Hearns eases himself back against trial horse Logan "Iceman” Paris, 22, scores second round knockdown on the way to unanimous verdict.
Hamburg, Germany: Feather: Yuriokis Gamboa (18-0) W PTS 12 Jonathan Barros (28-1-1) . Heavy: Juan Carlos Gomez (45-2,1ND) W KO 3 Alexey Mazikin (13-5-2). Heavy: Denis Bakhtov (33-5) W TKO 9 Steffen Kretschmann (14-2). Middle: Mahir Oral (28-2-2) W TKO 10 Juan Novoa (14-5-1). Light: Javier Castro (23-2) W KO 2 Augusto Pinilla (14-3-1,1 ND). Wide points win for Cuban “Cyclone” Gamboa as he retains WBA secondary title for second time with a decision over tough Argentinian Barros. After slow start Gamboa controls fight with his speed and movement. Floors previously undefeated Barros in eighth but can’t find a finish and settles for points win on scores of 118-109 twice and 116-111.
Cuban Gomez ,a former WBC cruiserweight champion, and a loser to Wlad Klitschko in a title challenge in March 2009, demolishes former top amateur Mazikin scoring four knockdowns, all with body punches. Southpaw Gomez is 36 and Mazikin 35. Kazak-born Russian Bakhtov beat German Kretschmann again. Back in June 2009 he did in one round. This time the 30-year-old put the 6’5” tall German southpaw down in the sixth and Kretschmann just quit early in the ninth. This was a PABA title defence for Bakhtov. Oral, a loser to Arthur Abraham for IBF title in June last year, wins vacant WBA International title with late stoppage of Colombian. Mexican Castro floors and kayos Panamanian to win WBA International title.
Las Vegas, USA: Light Welter: Marcos Maidana (28-1) W KO 6 Victor Cayo ( 24-1, 1ND). Light: Joan Guzman (30-0-1) W PTS 12 Ali Funeka (30-3-3). Super Middle: Daniel Jacobs (19-0) W TKO 1 Jose Miguel Rodriguez Berrio (20-5). Welter: Diego Chaves (14-0) W PTS 6 Evan Dos Santos Barros (10-9-1). Impressive performance by “El Chino” He floors the previously unbeaten Cayo with a left hook at the bell at the end of the second. Dominican fights back well, hurts Maidana in fifth, but Maidana systematically breaks him down before finishing the fight with a right to the body in the sixth. Now 26 by KO/TKO for Argentinian Maidana who retains his interim WBA title.
After disgracefully coming in 9lbs over the weight, Dominican Guzman puts on a good display. Figures out Funeka’s style, scores a knockdown in the fifth. Funeka gets back into the fight with his left hooks and closes the gap but loses on split verdict due to that knockdown. Scores 116-111, 114-113 and 113-114. Compubox figures showed that Funeka landed 60 more punches than Guzman, but the judges saw it differently. With Guzman so far overweight, he had to pay forfeit of 25% of his purse (should have been a lot more) and both fighters agree for fight to go on with the proviso that Guzman weigh no more than 150lbs and at fight time. Guzman makes 148.2lbs and Funeka, who received a bonus of $35,000 for going ahead with the fight, weighed 143.2lbs. Only Funeka could win the title if he had won the fight, so IBF title still vacant. These two fought a very controversial draw in November. Nate Campbell also failed to make the weight for his title defence against Funeka in February 2009. These things just make a mockery of weight divisions and both Guzman and his team should all have been suspended and fined much more heavily.
"The Golden Child” Jacobs, 23, has an early night as he floors Colombian twice and the referee consults with Doctor and calls it off at the end of the first round. Sixteen by KO/TKO for New Yorker, but fourth loss in a row for Colombian. “LaJoya” Chaves wins clear unanimous decision over Brazilian in US debut. Scores 60-54, 59-55, 58-56.
Rama, Canada: Super Bantam: Steve Molitor (32-1) W PTS 12 Takalani Ndlovu (30-6). Heavy: Neven Pajkic(12-0) W PTS 10 Grzegorz Kielsa (11-1,1ND). Hometown fighter Molitor regains the IBF title as he outscored South African Ndlovu to take a unanimous verdict and the vacant title. Neither fighter really dominated and there were many close rounds although southpaw Molitor, 29, seemed to have edged it over his 32-year-old opponent with his classier boxing. Scores 117-111, 116-112, 115-113. Molitor had halted Ndlovu in nine rounds in an IBF title defence in July 2007. A boxer born in Bosnia beat a boxer born in Poland for the Canadian heavyweight title as Neven Pajkic sprang a minor surprise by winning easily over reigning champion Kielsa. Scores 100-90 and 99-91 twice for 32-year-old new champion.
La Guaria, Venezuela : Bantam: Anselmo Moreno ( 29-1-1) W PTS 12 Nehomar Cermeno (19-1) . Super Feather: Jorge Linares (28-1) W PTS 10 Francisco Lorenzo (34-8) .Light Heavy: Gusmyr Perdomo (17-3) W TKO 3 Darmel Castillo (10-12-2). In a fight for the connoisseurs southpaw “Chemito” Moreno, 24, retains WBA title for sixth time, with hotly disputed split verdict win over 30-year-old interim champion Cermeno. Moreno seemed to do the cleaner work and Cermeno the pressing and busier fighter. Cermeno lost a point in the eleventh for a low blow, which costs him a draw. There is talk of the WBA ordering a return. Scores 115-112, 114-113 and 112-115. Former double world champion Linares has to struggle to beat Dominican Lorenzo on majority verdict. Scores 97-93, 97-94, 95-95. This Linares first fight since shock one round stoppage loss to Juan Salgado in October. Lorenzo, 38, has now lost 4 out of 5 since winning WBC interim title with controversial disqualification win over Humberto Soto in 2008. Perdomo also returning after loss in world title fight easily halts poor Colombian . Tall southpaw stopped by Mikkel Kessler in WBA super middle challenge in September 2009.
Tokyo, Japan: Fly: Pongsaklek Wonjonngkam (75-3-1) W PTS 12 Koki Kameda (22-1). Strawweight: Oleydong Sithsamerchai (34-0) W PTS 12 Yasutaka Kuroki (23-4-1). Experience won out in this all-southpaw battle as 32 year-old Thai Pongsaklek out boxed and out manoeuvred WBC champion Kameda to win a majority verdict which should have been unanimous. Kameda was cut by a clash of heads in the fifth then both fighters suffered a cut due to a second clash in the same round. In effect Pongsaklek, the interim champion, regained his old title by giving the 23-year-ol Kameda, a former WBA light fly champ, a boxing lesson. Due to his flamboyance and his mouth Kameda is the most unpopular boxer in Japan, so this was a much cheered result. Kameda’s father will also be censured for wild rantings at officials after the fight.
In the WBC strawweight title fight it was again the Thai that came out on top as Olyedong retained his title. However, it was a close run thing. Olyedong, a 24-year-old southpaw, boxed a clever but frustrating defensive fight against the aggressive fellow southpaw Kuroki. As he faded badly in the late rounds, he lost a point for holding in the tenth, was floored in the eleventh and badly hurt in the last and taking a close unanimous verdict on scores of 114-113, 114-112 and 113-112 in his fifth title defence.
Monterrey, Mexico: Erik Morales (49-6) W PTS 12 Jose Alfaro (23-6, 1ND). Light Heavy: Chris Henry (25-2) W KO 1 Hugo Heran Garay (32-5). Heavy: David Rodriguez (33-0) W TKO 2 Daniel Bispo(22-13) .Super Feather: Alejandro Sanabria (24-0-1) W KO 2 Adrian Olvera. In his first fight since August 2007 Erik Morales was given a tough night by Nicaraguan Alfaro, a former WBA secondary title holder. Now 33, Erik is campaigning at welterweight and won the vacant WBC International title in a wide open slugfest on scores of 117-111 and 116-112 twice. Alfaro cut over the right eye by a punch in the fifth, but not really a factor in the fight, but Morales hurt both hands, the right he damaged in the third round. Ten thousand turned out for Erik’s return, including his six kids.
Big win for Texan Henry in WBA eliminator as he kayos former champion Garay with a right after just 140 seconds. Rubbish fight sees very protected Rodriguez, 32, floor china-chinned 35-year-old Brazilian southpaw in each round for second round stoppage. Body shots finish Olvera as Sanabria bounces back from draw in his last fight. Now 19 by KO/TKO for Sanabria.
Ensenada, Mexico: Ulises Solis (30-2-2) W TKO 6 Bert Batawang (45-15-3) Fly: Giovanni Segura (24-1-1) W TKO 5 Ronald Ramos (28-8-3).The fourth round proved decisive in both of these fights. Former IBF champ Solis floored 38-year-old Filipino southpaw Batawang in that round and continued the punishment in the fifth with Batawang not coming out for sixth. In a non-title bout WBA light fly champ Segura put Ramos down in the fourth and the Colombian stayed in his corner when the bell went for the fifth.
Mdantse, South Africa: Super Fly: Themba Joyi (9-1-1 ) W PTS 12 Zolile Mbityi (34-14-3). Easy for Joyi as veteran Mbityi at the end of the road. Joyi in command from the first bell cuts Mbityi in fifth but just can’t finish cagey old timer. Southpaw Joyi retains South African title for second time and wins on scores of 118-111, 118-112 and 117-112. Mbityi, now 39, is a former IBO and double South African champion, when he won his second South African title at 37 he was the oldest man to win a national title down there.
Temba, South Africa: Heavy: Anton Nel (16-11-3) W TKO 1 Pieter Cronje (9-4-1). Cruiser: Alex Madras Mbaya W RSF 8 Soon Botes ( 27-14). I can’t see champion Osborne Machimana losing sleep over this eliminator. Nel, 41, and almost 19st. stopped Cronje with body shots inside three minutes. It said more about Cronje than it did about Nel, who had been inactive since November 2008. Age caught up with 36-year-old Botes, a former double South African champion, as he was halted in eight by Mbaya from the DCR.
Mandaue City, Philippines: Light: Anthony Marcial (16-1)W TKO 2 Darryl Pucdol (6-7-1). “Rocky” Marcial much too good for Pudcol whose corner pulled him out after 44 seconds of round two. Now 15 by KO/TKO for Marcial.
Victorville, USA: Light Heavy: Gayrat Ahmedov (14-0-1) W PTS 8 Demetrius Davis (19-21-5). With his awkward switch-hitting style, late sub Davis provides a real test for Uzbek Ahmedov and pushes the favourite all the way although losing a majority decision 77-75 twice and 76-76. Eight round fight-but for interim PABA title!
Guaymas, Mexico: Eduardo Lazcano ( 19-1) W PTS 12 Antonio Meza (24-8-1). Fly: Odilion Zaleta ( 5-0) W TKO 2 Luis Velenzuela(16-29) . Good win for Lazcano . Meza saved by the bell in seventh. Lazcano injures right hand in eighth but boxes his way to unanimous verdict to retain WBC Fecombox title. Another impressive performance from “Olympio “ who flattens Valenzuela with a right uppercut5. Valenzuela goes to hospital for observation, but ok.
March 28
Nagoya, Japan: Super Bantam: Akifumi Shimoda (21-2-1) W PTS 12 Hiromasa Ohashi (21-9-3) Southpaw Shimoda, a former Japanese super bantam champ wins OPBF title on unanimous decision. Outboxes and then enters toe-to-toe war with puncher Ohashi. Scores 116-113 twice and 116-112. Defending champion Ohashi had won his previous nine by KO/TKO.
March 30
Kempton Park, South Africa: Light Heavy: Rupert van Aswegan (15-6-2) W PTS 12 Balimo Weliya. First fight in 19 months for 33-year-old van Aswegan as he wins vacant South African title with split decision over Congolese Weliya. Scores 117-113, 116-113 and 113-115.
Submitted by Eric Armit on 31 March, 2010 - 09:34
