Behind The Results w/e 12th April, 2010

Eric Armit offers up his global boxing digest for the week past.

April 7

Lemoore, USA: Heavy: Jason Gavern (19-7-3) W PTS 10 Manuel Quezada (29-5). Welter: Mike Dallas (13-0-1) W KO 1 Genaro Trazcanos (22-11-1). Big upset as Gavern, seemingly having reached the “opponent” stage, tore up the script against world rated Quezada, who was unbeaten in 18 fights going in. Big factor was cut and swelling over right eye of Quezada suffered in second round. Gavern deducted a point for clash of heads (stupid WBC rule), but his busier boxing gives him close 95-94, 95-94 and 94-95 decision. This for WBC Caribbean title - between two Californians!

Too easy for prospect Dallas, 23, as he floors washed-up 35-year-old Mexican twice in first round. Not a noted puncher, Dallas has two first round wins in succession. Poor Trazcanos, now only two wins in his last ten outings.

San Diego, USA: Super Bantam: Chris Martin (17-0-2) W TKO 6 Ruben Lopez (15-8-1). Martin, 23, retains Californian title as Mexican’s corner pulls him out during sixth round. Lopez tried hard, but speed and accuracy of “San Diego Kid” too much for him.

Mexico City, Mexico: Bantam: Jesus Ruiz (21-2-2) W TKO 4 Pedro Dominguez (12-13-1). Light: Mauricio Pintor (8-0) W TKO 1 Miguel Camacho (0-3).”Estrella” Ruiz hits too hard for 37-year-old Dominguez and referee stops it after 2:04 of fourth. Still only 20-he turned pro at 16-Ruiz has 18 wins by KO/TKO. Pintor, nephew of Lupe, makes it eight wins.

April 8

Toronto, Canada: Super Bantam: Willie Casey (5-0) W TKO 8 Tyson Cave (10-1). Buzz Grant (9-3) W PTS 10 Mike Kelly (8-1-1). A night of Canada vs. Ireland ended 1-1. Upset as Irishman Willie Casey’s power too much for unbeaten Cave, a former top amateur and current Canadian champion. Casey scores knockdowns in third and seventh and twice in eighth to force finish. Grant outboxes previously unbeaten Kelly and wins wide unanimous verdict. Scores 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.

Lilyfield, Australia: Super Middle: Joseph Kwadjo (14-1) W TKO 7 Jamie Pittman

(19-2). Super Middle: Mike Bolling (12-0) W TKO 8 Victor Oganov (30-4). Cruiser: Anthony McCracken (12-4) W PTS 8 Dominic Vea (12-2). Super Feather: Billy Dib

(26-1,1ND)W TKO 6 Rey Belandres (13-2-2). Fiji-based Ghanaian Kwadjo, 24, comes from behind to floor favoured Pittman three times in round seven for automatic stoppage. Kwadjo now has 14 wins in a row, ten by KO/TKO. He wins vacant IBF Australasian title. Southpaw Pittman’s only other loss was to Felix Sturm for WBA middle title in 2008.

Impressive win for 25-year-old southpaw Bolling who outboxes and out punches dangerous Russian to retain Australian title for the second time. Oganov, 33, lost to Andre Dirrell in 2008. He won his first 26 fights by KO/TKO. Commonwealth cruiser challenger Vea takes risk as he goes into fight sporting cut and broken nose from sparring with Danny Green. McCracken fights clever fight, and with Vea handicapped by reopening of injuries, wins revenge for previous stoppage loss. Split decision for McCracken scores 78-75, 78-76 and 75-77. Good display by Dib who takes his time and handles Filipino easily before bringing finish in sixth. Only loss for “Billy The Kid” was for WBO title against Steve Luevano in 2008.

April 9

Ljubljana, Slovenia: Welter: Jan Zaveck (29-1,1ND) W TKO 12 Rodolfo Martinez (36-4-1,1ND). Cruiser: Denis Simcic ( 22-1) W TKO 4 Marco Angermann (2-3 ).In his first defence of his IBF title 34-year-old Zaveck, with better skills and more power, floors tough but limited Argentinian in eighth and has Martinez hurt and under pressure at stoppage. First world title fight in Slovenia. Simcic fed an easy one in poor German.

Essonne, France: Super Fly: Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-0-1) DREW 12 Malik Bouziane (13-1-1). No fireworks here but a good fight as both boxers use skill and movement rather than bombs. A hard one to judge with the advantage swinging one way and then the other. Strong finish by Bouziane but in the end partisan crowd disappointed as South African “Golden Master” Nongqayi, 38, retains IBF title in his first defence against former undefeated European champion Bouziane, 32, on majority verdict. Two scores of 114-114 and one for Bouziane by 115-113. Nongqayi, who competed in the 1998 Commonwealth Games where he lost on a first round kayo to a fighter from Papa New Guinea, won title in September by beating Jorge Arce. Bouziane won the European title by beating Ian Napa in March 2009.

San Martin, Argentina: Super Bantam: Mauricio Munoz (18-2) W PTS 10 Miguel Caceres (20-20-2). “Chucky” Munoz, 24, has more trouble than expected with southpaw Caceres and has to settle for retaining his WBC Latino title on split verdict. Scores 98-95.5, 97.5-95.5 and 97-97.5.

Newcastle, Australia; Cruiser: Daniel Ammann (18-3-1) W PTS 10 Walter Pupu’a (11-5). No banana skin here for “The Doberman” as Australian champ, a southpaw, wins by 100-90 on two cards and 100-91 on the other against 35-year-old Tongan.

Malvern, Australia: Welter: Steve Maxwell (7-3) W KO 4 Heath Ellis (12-2-1). Upset as Maxwell comes from behind to hurt and then kayo 21-year-old prospect in fourth. Maxwell wins IBF Pan Pacific and WBC Asian Boxing Council titles. Ellis is nephew of former IBF super feather champ Lester Ellis.

Schwerin, Germany: Heavy: Juan Carlos Gomez (46-2,1ND ) W PTS 8 Alex Kahl (15-5-1 ). Heavy: Ondrej Pala (27-2 ) W TKO 5 Sergey Babich (10-3). Heavy: Konstantin Airich (14-2-2). W TKO 1 Alexey Varakin (28-18-3). Easy win for Cuban as he stalks Khal and scores four knockdowns on way to wide unanimous verdict. Scores 80-69 twice and 80-68. Kahl even managed to lose inside the distance to Tyson Fury victim Hans-Joerg Blasko. Second fight in 13 days for former WBC cruiser champ who is getting back into shape. Rubbish fight as Czech hope Pala, 25, pounds on rusty and vastly overweight Ukrainian. Hurts him at end of fourth and stops him in fifth. Pala beat Henry Akinwande back in 2008. Former Danny Williams victim Airich needs only 96 seconds to floor poor Varakin, a loser here to Matt Skelton and Keith Long, with right hook to head and referee mercifully waives it off. Three poor matches.

Viterbo, Italy: Super Middle: Andrea Di Luisa (8-0) W TKO 1 Roberto Cocco (10-5). Light Heavy: Francsco Versaci (16-1) W PTS 8 Gheorghe Danut(9-19-7).All over in 40 seconds as local favourite Di Luisa floors Cocco with right and stops him to win the vacant Italian title. All eight wins by KO/TKO for new champ. Versaci makes hard work of travelling loser Danut. Scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-74, but Versaci looks lucky.

Levallois-Perret, France: heavy: Johann Duhaupas (21-1) W DIS 3 Alek Selezens(4-8 ). Messy bout as Latvian usually leads with his head and is finally thrown out in third for various infractions.

Dzierzoniow, Poland: Super Middle: Piotr Wilczewski (26-1) W PTS 10 Aziz Daari (24-14-4). Wilczewski wins by a mile against Moroccan-born veteran and takes vacant TWBA title on scores of 100-90 twice and 100-91. Daari stopped in a couple of rounds by Richard Williams at York Hall in 2000.

East London, South Africa: Fly: Xola Sifama (8-2-1) W KO 6 Anele Makhwelb (10-1). Sifama wins vacant national title as he comes from behind to kayo slick-boxing Makhwelb. However Sifama gets away with an “Arthur Abraham moment” as his last punch landed with Makhwelb on one knee.

April 10

Sunrise, USA: Welter: Andre Berto (26-0) W TKO 8 Carlos Quintana (27-3). Feather; Celestino Caballero (34-2) W PTS 12 Daud Jordan (25-1, 1 ND). Welter: Antwone Smith (18-1-1) W KO Frank Gonzalez (13-5), Successful fourth defence of his WBC title for Berto. Not much action in first couple of rounds. Quintana deducted a point for a rabbit punch in third. Berto finds rhythm in that round and steps up pace with 33-year-old former WBO champ Quintana constantly under pressure but no clear leader at this stage. Berto goes for broke in eighth lands big right and Quintana not fighting back when referee saves him. Berto injured arm in early round.

Stroll in the park for Caballero. Outclasses Indonesian. Floors Jordan in second and uses him for target practice rest of the way. Caballero, 33, wins vacant WBA interim title. Scores tell the story 120-107, 119-108, 118-108. “The Truth” Smith, 23, finally given an easy one (the combined records of Smith’s last three victims was 62-2-2) and kayos Dominican in third. Part of the proceeds to go to Haitian relief fund. Berto’s parents are from Haiti, and he represented Haiti in the Olympics after failing to land a berth on the US team.

Las Vegas, USA: Heavy: Evander Holyfield (43-10-2) W TKO 8 Frans Botha (47-4-3, 1 ND). Botha, a mere 41, starts well but Holyfield takes over in sixth as Botha tires badly. Hurts Botha a couple of times in the seventh as Botha now spending most of his time on ropes. Holyfield lands big right to score knockdown in eighth. Botha gets up but after another volley from Holyfield referee steps in. Holyfield wins WBF title and now wants’ one of the Klitschko brothers. The queue starts behind David Haye.

Las Vegas, USA: Welter: Mark Melligan (18-2 ) W PTS 10 Norberto Gonzalez (18-2). Light Welter: Lamont Peterson (28-1 ) W TKO 7 Damian Fuller (30-7-1 ). Feather: Diego Maldonado (15-0) W PTS 10 Manuel Perez (14-6-1 ). Heavy: Vlad Tereshkin (13-0-1) W PTS 6 Joe Rabotte (7-12). Filipino southpaw, 24, the aggressor all the way after Shaking Mexican in first. Puts Gonzalez down in fourth and has him in trouble in eighth when a clash of heads cuts Mexican and gives him a respite. Melligan wins every round as 100-90 scores on all cards indicate. Peterson, in first fight since loss to Tim Bradley for WBO title in December, starts slowly then dominates rusty southpaw Fuller and has him in trouble in seventh when corner throws in the towel. Fuller having his first fight since October 2008.

Prospect Maldonado, 23, uses excellent southpaw skills to outbox game Perez. Too fast and skilful and scores 100-90, 99-91 and 97-93 for Maldonado. Switch-hitting Russian hope Tereshkin, 22 and 6’6” tall, gets a good workout in first US appearance taking every round against Rabotte and wins 60-54 on all cards.

Loncin, Belgium: Bantam: Stephane Jamoye (17-0) W TKO 8 Franck Gorjux (19-9 ). Unbeaten Jamoye 20, retains European Union title with stoppage over experience Frenchman. Jamoye, who turned pro at 17, looks a good prospect Gorjux, former French flyweight champ was stopped in a round by Cris Mijares for WBC super fly title in 2007.

Tijuana, Mexico: Bantam: David de la Mora (20-0 ) W TKO 7 Jovanny Soto (27-11-1) Light Welter: Antonio Lozada Jr (22-0) W TKO 4 Henry Aurad (12-3-1 ). Fly: Ronald Barrera (27-7-2 ) W TKO 9 Arturo Badillo (17-1).Good fight with de la Mora well on top when ended by cut in seventh as referee refuses to let former Mexican super fly champ Soto continue. Another blast out for 5’10” tall, 20-year-old Lozada. Punishes modest Colombian from the first bell and floors him twice and halts him in fourth. Eighteen by KO/TKO for Lozada, but poor opposition. Colombian Barrera gives classy display before flooring and halting local Mexican. Barrera, with three world title shots on his record, too experienced. All three bouts for WBC FECARBOX titles.

Durango, Mexico: Super Fly: Cris Mijares (39-6-2 ) W PTS 12 Francisco Arce (30-6-2). Fly: Julio Cesar Miranda ( 31-5-1) W TKO 3 Faustino Cupul (22-3, 2 ND). No barn-burner this with both fighters committing breaches of the rules. Former WBC and WBA super fly champion Mijares wins WBC eliminator. Mijares southpaw jab against aggression of Arce, brother of Jorge. Arce ahead on two cards after eight rounds on open scoring with Mijares deducted a point in fourth. Mijares finishes stronger and Arce deducted a point for low blow in last. Mijares takes controversial decision on scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 114-117. Former IBF title challenger Miranda punches too hard for Yucatano Cupul and halts him in three for IBF Latino title.

Ciudad Neza, Mexico: Light: Reyes Sanchez (19-3-1) W PTS 12 Jesus Gonzalez (14-2-1). Bantam: Chris Esquivel (17-2) W TKO 5 Gabriel Rangel (7-7-4). Fly: Oscar Blanquet (21-3-1) W TKO 8 Jesus Limones (9-1-1 ). Lackluster performance by Sanchez who just can’t seem to get interested against easy opponent but wins unanimous verdict. Esquivel, 23, hurt in third, involved in clash of heads and on the floor in fifth, “Italiano” batters Rangel for stoppage win. Esquivel just punches too hard for game Rangel. Blanquet, bloody from first, dominates with left hand hitting and finishes with uppercut and hook to the body in eighth. Limones reputedly unbeaten in 18 going in. All three fights WBC Continental Americas title defence for winners.

Bucharest, Romania: Light Welter: Ionut Dan Ion (26-0) W KO 10 Andre Nascimento (15-5). Feather: Viorel Simion (12-0 ) W KO 6 Victor Cardozo (11-5-1). Tall southpaw Ion (also known as Jo Jo Dan) uses body attack to bring down 33-year-old Brazilian. From seventh on Nascimento under pressure and again body punches bring end in tenth. Dan, 28, retains WBC Continental Americas title (he is Canadian-based). Simion has no trouble stopping modest Paraguayan. Former amateur star, Simion was European Cadet and Junior champion, and won bronze medals at European and World championships.

Chur, Switzerland: Light Heavy: Francesco Passanante( 20-2-1) W TKO 2 Tom Hengstberger (14-25-3 ). Mis-match as 42 year-old Passanante halts 37-year-old Austrian Hengstberger. Only second fight in ten years for Passanante.

Rancho Mirage, USA: Welter: David Estrada (24-6 ) W TKO 8 Orlando Lora (26-1-1 ). Super Bantam: Leonilo Miranda (31-2 ) W TKO 6 Andre Wilson (11-4-1 ). Veteran Estrada also tears-up the script. His speed, accuracy and experience put him in a league above prospect Lora. Clash of heads in third sees Lora cut but not a factor as Estrada just takes him apart, to force Doctor to advise the referee to stop it in eighth. Miranda, coming in at two days notice punches too hard for southpaw Wilson who quits after being floored in sixth. Miranda once ran off 26 wins by KO/TKO in a row, but lacks the technique when he moves up.