Behind The Results w/e March 2

Eric Armit puts his mack hand down and schools us like a teacher with his weekly global boxing digest.

February 24

Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina: Bantam: Omar Narvaez (32-0-2) W PTS 10 Santiago Acosta (16-5-2). Fly: Nestor Narvaez (13-0-2) W TKO 6 Adrian Garzon (6-8). Giving away height and reach meant nothing to WBO fly champ Narvaez in this non-title fight. He just never stopped throwing punches. Acosta scored with some good rights to the southpaw world champion, but nothing stopped Narvaez marching forward. I was trying to count the punches he threw in the last round from the video, but the combinations were too quick and I gave up at 200.

Narvaez, now 34, remains unbeaten. Scores 100-91, 100-92, 100-91 1 ½ . Younger brother Nestor, an orthodox upright boxer, had too much class for little Garzon who retired with a bad cut over his right eye as the bell sounded for the start of the sixth.

February 25

Los Angeles, Light Welter: Victor Ortiz (26-2-1) W TKO 10 Hector Alatorre (16-9). Light: Karl Dargan (7-0) W TKO 4 Jose Alfredo Lugo (9-13-1). Feather: Charles Huerta (13-1) W PTS 6 Lupe De Leon ( 8-10). Carlos Molina (11-0) W PTS 4 Hensley Strachan (5-6-1). Southpaw Ortiz starts slowly but dominates outclassed Alatorre. Cuts Alatorre in seventh and floors him in tenth and, although he beat the count, Alatorre was in no condition to fight on. Former top amateur Dargan slowly, very slowly, making progress. Wins every round until referee saves Lugo in fourth. Huerta has to fight hard to get a majority verdict over Texan, but Molina wins every round over man from the Bahamas. Both Huerta, and Molina, a US amateur champion and 2008 Olympian, are also former amateur standouts.

San Diego, USA: Light Welter: Mercito Gesta (17-0-1) W PTS 8 Cris Favela (17-25-6). Bantam: Jose Luis Ariaza (27-1) W PTS 6 Benji Garcia (14-13-3). Great little scrap as Filipino southpaw Gesta throws too much leather for tough Mexican trial horse. Ariaza busier fighter. Garcia loses point for hitting Mexican when he slipped to the floor in the first. Unanimous verdict 60-53, 59-55 and 58-56 for Ariaza.

February 26

Johannesburg, South Africa: Fly: Zolani Tete (13-0) W PTS 12 Richard Garcia (20-10-1).In a poor, one-sided fight, Tete wins IBF eliminator by a wide margin of 118-108 and 118-110 twice. The 21-year-old Tete, a southpaw, settled for boxing on the outside and Filipino Garcia never really showed any aggression. Easy win but Tete showed his lack of experience at times. Not sure how a fight between No 6 and No 10 in the ratings can be a final eliminator, but that’s boxing.

El Paso, USA: Super Bantam: Antonio Escalante (23-2) W PTS 10 Miguel Roman (28-7).Welter: Danny Garcia (16-0) W PTS 10 Ashley Theophane (25-4-1). Light Welter: Sharif Bogere (14-0) W TKO 3 Jose Hernandez (10-2). Mexican Escalante, 24, WBA No 1, makes it nine wins in a row in a great, all-action fight. It was the foot speed of Escalante against the flat-footed aggression of Roman. Escalante puts Roman down in the eighth and finishes strongly to win on scores of 97-92, 96-93 twice. Strangely these two grew up on the same street in Juarez and used to fight each other on the streets as kids. “Swift” Garcia remains unbeaten as he takes split decision over Brit Theophane. Garcia over eager to find a kayo punch and the awkward Theophane starts well scoring with right over Garcia’s lazy left. Garcia gets going in the fourth scoring well. Londoner hurts Garcia in eighth and Garcia losses a point in ninth for low blow, but with effective counter punching just edges it to win on scores of 96-94, 95-94 and 94-95. Ugandan Commonwealth Games competitor Bogere, 21, halts Texan Hernandez to remain unbeaten.

Dover, USA: Welter: Michael Stewart (45-7-2,1ND) W KO 5 Brandon Baue (12-4). Now 32, former Ricky Hatton victim Stewart continues successful comeback as he floors and cuts Baue in first and knocks him out with left in fourth.

Toulon, France: Bantam : Jeremy Parodi (28-0-1) W PTS 10 Osman Aktas (33-20-5). Hometowner Parodi, 22, remains undefeated and retains French title with a hard-fought, unanimous points win over 33-year-old Aktas, a former French feather and super featherweight title holder and former European Union featherweight champion. Parody, hurt by clash of heads in third, has Aktas hurt in eighth, but veteran hits back in ninth then Parodi wins last to wrap up decision in a real scrap on scores of 96-94 twice and 97-93.

Auckland, New Zealand: Welter: (Oye)Wale Omotoso (16-0) W TKO 7 Ray Musson (7-4). Nigerian OPBF champion stops 21-year-old New Zealander in seven in non title fight. Omotoso, 24, a real danger man.

Madrid, Spain: Light Heavy: Alex Lakatos (31-5-2) W PTS 12 Abdel Derghal (12-10). Light Middle: Ruben Varon (34-5) W PTS 6 Juan Martinez Bas (7-13). Romanian-born Lakatos wins vacant WBO European title with wide unanimous verdict over French opponent. Lakatos down in second and deducted a point for low punches, but wins every round from second. Officials have him ahead by 9, 9 and 7 points on the three cards. Varon wins easily over 37-year-ols southpaw. Varon lost to Scott Dixon back in 2001.

Verona, USA: Super Middle: Isaac Rodrigues (17-0) W PTS 10 Brian Vera (16-4). Texan Vera, a participant in The Contender” series, who had beaten Andy Lee and lost to Craig McEwan, wins the early rounds, but Brazilian hurts him in fifth and sixth. Both show signs of damage in the latter rounds, Vera bleeding from mouth and Rodrigues cut over left eye, as they scrap hard with the decision in the balance. In the end it went to the 24-year-old New Jersey-based Brazilian on a majority decision with scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95.

February 27

Guadalajara, Mexico: Light Fly: Rodel Mayol ( 26-4-2) TEC DRAW 3 Omar Nino Romero ( 28-3-2). Light: Daniel Estrada (22-1) W TKO 10 Angel Rivero (21-8-1). Fly: Oscar Blanquet (20-3-1) W KO 2 Jesus Ceja (12-5-1). Light Fly: Adrain Hernandez W PTS 10 Ganigan Lopez (13-4-1). Controversial ending again for Mayol. Both Filipino and his Mexican challenger throw bombs from the start. Mayol scores heavily in second. In the third Romero hits Mayol with two quick, but not very hard low punches . The Filipino turns to one side and drops his hands. The referee steps forward and as he grabs Romero’s left arm Romero steps on Mayol's foot and knocks Mayol out cold with a left hook. At first Romero declared the winner by TKO, but then decision changed to a technical draw.

What a farce. Either Romero’s punch was illegal-and he should have been disqualified, or it was legal and he should have been the winner. In any case there is no way it could be a technical draw. For my money Mayol broke the cardinal rule of defend yourself at all times. Mayol retains WBC title that he won controversially in November when a butt fractured the cheek bone of champion Edgar Sosa. In thee past eight months Mayol has been in four world title fight, one was a loss, two were draws, and the other was the controversial wins over Sosa. Mayol had to be carried from the ring on a stretcher, as still champion. Romero is no stranger to controversy, he won this same title back November 2006, but was stripped when he tested positive for a banned substance.

Lanky Estrada, 24, has to climb off the floor in bloody war with Venezuelan. Both badly cut and bruised and stoppage controversial. Estrada, WBC No 10, retains WBC Youth title. Rivera started boxing in 2000 so either he started at 13, or he should be above the age to qualify for the Youth title. Blanquet wins WBC Con Am title as he floors Ceja in first and kayos him in second.

Bayamon, Puerto Rico: Super Bantam: Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.(18-0-1) W KO 4 Marvin Sonsona (14-1-1).Super Bantam: Jonathan Oquendo (18-2) W PTS 12 Jose Beranza (32-17-2) .Cruiser: Carlos Negron (8-0) W KO 1 Roy Ashworth (5-8). Fly : McWilliams Arroyo (1-0) W KO 1 Eliecer Sanchez (0-1). Bantam McJoe Arroyo (1-0) W KO 2 Giovanni Rivera (0-3). Wilfredo, the son of former three division champion of the same name, makes history as he wins vacant WBA super bantam title and they become first father and son pair from Puerto Rico to win world titles. After Filipino wins first round the 25-year-old Vasquez takes over cuts Filipino southpaw under right eye and hurts him with body attack and is well on top when a combination finished off by a body shot puts Filipino down for the count in fourth.

Only 19, this was Sonsona’s first fight since he lost his WBO super fly title on the scales last November. Oquendo wins interim WBO Latino title with unanimous verdict over Mexican Beranza. Puerto Rican scores two knockdowns but weird scores of 118-108, 117-109 and 114-112.However it was that kind of fight with the veteran Mexican walking forward throwing punches for twelve rounds and the switch-hitting Oquendo pot-shotting and countering, quality or quantity.

Big hitting Negron, 21 and 6’6” tall, floors pitiful Ashworth three times for kayo win. Pro debuts for highly publicised twins McWilliams( a former World amateur champion) and McJoe. McWilliams flattens Sanchez in 106 seconds and McJoe floors Rivera in round one and floors him in second. Rivera went down like a sack of potatoes from a right and the referee promptly stopped it, at which Rivera jumped straight up to his feet to protest. Strangely for twins McWilliams is orthodox and McJoe a southpaw.

Atlantic City, USA: Light Welter: Kaizer Mabuza (23-6-3) W TKO 6 Kendall Holt (25-4). Welter: Mike Jones (20-0) W PTS 10 Henry Bruseles (28-4-1). Light Middle: Gabriel Rosado (14-4) W PTS 10 Saul Roman (32-6) . The power of the South African champion Mabuza proves too much for former WBO champion Holt. Mabuza , only rated No 13 by IBF, dominates from third and Holt retires on his stool at end of sixth. Welter prospect Jones, 26, rated No 8 by WBA, outboxes aggressive Bruseles, keeping fight at distance and wins wide unanimous verdict on scores of 98-92 twice and 97-92, bur Bruseles made him fight. Rosado just edges the brawling Roman in bruising battle and finishes strongest to win split verdict 96-94 twice and 93-97, which should have been unanimous.

Mexico City, Mexico: Straw: Juan Hernandez (16-1) W KO1 Armando Vazquez (15-4). Gilberto Gonzalez (13-1) . “Churritos” wipes out Vazquez in the first round to retain his NABF title and earns himself a WBC eliminator.

Sydney, Australia: Light Middle: King Davidson (12-0) W PTS 12 Zulfikar Joy Ali(29-10-6,1ND). Nigerian Davidson, 25, a southpaw, lifts vacant PABA title as he takes every round for unanimous win on three scores of 120-108 over experienced Fijian.

Managua, Nicaragua: Super Feather: Rene Gonzalez (27-1-1,1ND) W TKO 2 Freddy Oporta (6-15-1). A mis match as world rated Gonzalez floors and stops late sub Oporta.

St Petersburg, Russia: Middle: Gennady Martirosyan (20-2) W TKO 10 Aziz Daari (24-13-4). Cruiser: Alex Kotlobay (18-1-1) W TKO 2 Mauro Ordiales (23-7) . Cruiser: Ali Ismailov (17-3-1) W PTS 6 Jevgenjis Andrejevs (10-31,1 ND). Armenian Martirosyan unimpressive as he makes heavy work of retaining WBO European title against 37-year-old French veteran. Fights in spurts and seems to have stamina problem, but finds second wind. Cuts and floors Daari at end of tenth and Frenchman retires on his stool. Wild first round sees Argentinian Ordales down twice and then almost kayo Kotolbay at the end of the round. Ordales down again in second and in no condition to continue. Former WBO cruiser challenger Ismailov wins every round against durable but limited Latvian.

Gauteng, South Africa: Light Fly :Hekkie Budler (14-0) W PTS 12 Juanito Rubillar (48-14-7). Super Middle: Thomas Oosthuizen (10-0) W PTS 12 Thomas Awinbono. Bantam: Tshifhiwa Munyai (19-1-1) W PTS 12 Daniel Ferreras (8-5-1). Light: Jason Bedeman (11-0-2) W TKO 2 Bilal Muhammad (14-4,1ND). Light: Kgotla Baeti (19-1) W TKO 4 Danile Botman (13-16-1). Budler wins vacant IBO title with controversial majority verdict over experienced, 33-year-old, Filipino southpaw. Budler start well but Rubillar takes the fight inside and scores well with body shots ( and a few good shots with his head as well). Filipino seems to dominate the late rounds and to be a clear winner, but scores go for Budler at 117-113, 115-113 and 114-114.. Once again no breaks for Rubillar who had had five world title shots. Appointed Australian judge fails to make it to the fight, so three South African judges, which may mean Rubillar gets a return Budler fought with six stitches in a hand injury suffered prior to the fight.

Southpaw Oosthuizen wins easily and retains WBA Pan African title in poor fight as Awinbono, a loser to Bradley Pryce for the Commonwealth title in 2007, just goes through the motions and Oosthuzien clowns too much. Scores 120-108, 120-109 119-107, Former undefeated Commonwealth champion Munyai, seemingly down and out in tenth, but Filipino goes to wrong corner, which stops count and Munyai on his feet at count of eight but helpless as bell rings.. However wins most of the other rounds to retain WBA Intercontinental title against another Filipino. Scores 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111. Bedeman, 20, given scare as he is floored twice in the first before flooring and stopping dangerous Ghanaian in second to retain WBA Pan African title.

Augusta USA: Super Feather: Fly: Rayonta Whitfield (24-1) W TKO 9 Sergio Espinoza (16-7-1). Light Welter: Edner Cherry (26-6-2) W KO 2 Delvin Placencia (15-3). In his first fight since an unsuccessful challenge to Omar Narvaez for the WBO title lanky Whitfield outclassed Espinoza scoring knockdowns in the second and seven rounds. Espinoza was floored again in the ninth and did not want to fight on. Whitfield retains NABO title. Bahamian Cherry makes it three inside the distance wins in two months as he lands three right hands in a row for kayo over poor Colombian.

Caguas, Puerto Rico: Feather: Luis Cruz (13-0) W TKO 10 Leon Bobo (18-5-1). Prospect Cruz, who is in the Miguel Cotto stable, takes his time in softening-up American southpaw Bobo, and then puts him away in tenth.

Miami, USA: Light Heavy: Richard Hall (29-7) W KO 1 Jaffa Ballogou (46-9,1ND). Now 38, Jamaican Hall make a sensational comeback as he flattens former world title challenger Ballogou with a right and a left hook in just 28 seconds. Hall has had three shots at world titles and had been inactive since 2007. Ballogou, a southpaw from Togo who was the first man to beat Dean Francis, is even older than Hall at 41.

Monroe, USA: Middle: Bronco Mckart (52-9-1) W PTS 10 Jose Miguel Rodriguez Berrio (20-4). Now 38, former WBO light middle champ McKart returns after 14 months and wins every round on all three cards and lifts WBF Intercontinental title against Colombian bulldozer. Bronco shakes Colombian in eighth but has to go the full ten.

Cranbourne, Australia: Fly: Omari Kimweri (6-2) W KO 1 Matt Meredith (3-7-1) .Light Heavy: Shane McConville (4-0-4) W PTS 10 Daniel Lovett (18-5). Welter: Tanzanian wins vacant Australian title over poor Meredith. Upset as, relatively inexperienced McConville, takes majority decision over “Porky” Lovett in bloody battle to win vacant Australian title.