Behind The Results week ended 19 July 2010
Eric Armit with the best global boxing digest on the interweb, bar none.
July 14
Philadelphia, USA: Cruiser: Ran Nakash (25-0) W PTS 10 Vic Barragan (11-6). Heavy: Vyacheslav Glazkov (6-0) W TKO 3 Mark Brown (15-4). Welter: Felix Diaz (6-0) W TKO 8 Brod Antoine (10-11-1). Yet again some weird scoring. Israeli hope Nakash has to adjust from facing veteran southpaw Luis Del Valle to late sub modest Californian Barragan. Nakash mixes between aggression and counter-punching. Pulps Barragan’s nose in fifth and finishes strongly to take unanimous verdict. Scores 96-96, 97-94 and 99-91. One more round by Nakash on one card would have made it a shutout and one round for Barragan on one of the other cards would have made it a draw!
Ukrainian Glazkov, 25, a World University Games gold medalist, World Championships silver medalist and 2008 Olympics bronze winner where an injury forced him to pull out) was too much for 41-year-old “Oak Tree” Brown. Hurts him at end of second and has him in deep trouble in the third when the referee steps in. Olympic gold medalist Diaz finding 5’11” tall New Yorker Antoine a real handful until Antoine suffers a bad cut over his right eye. With both fighters tiring and 26-year-old Diaz targeting the cut, it is bleeding too much for Antoine to continue, and Dominican southpaw gets a fortunate stoppage win.
July 15
Houston, USA: Luis Ramon Campas (93-15-1) W PTS 6 Tarzone Washington (14-14,2ND). Now seemingly settling for backwoods circuit, Campas, 38, too strong and experienced for Texan journeyman Washington. Body shot hurts Washington, 30, in fifth, but “Yori Boy” unable to find finish so settles for verdict on scores of 59-55 twice and 60-53.
Mexico City, Mexico: Fly: Oscar Blanquet (22-3-1) W TKO 2 Valentin Leon (20-23-3). Blanquet, 25, retains his WBC Continental Americas title for the second time, and makes it ten wins in a row as he halts experience Leon, 31, in round two. With height and reach advantage Blanquet uses jab to take first round, despite unintentional butt from Leon. Clash of heads early in second then Blanquet floors Leon with big combination. Leon beats the count but in no condition to continue. Only one win in his last ten for veteran Leon.
July 16
Newark, USA: Light Welter: Zab Judah (39-6,2ND) W TKO 3 Jose Armando Santa Cruz (28-5). Light Middle: Sadam Ali (8-0) W TKO 3 Julias Edmonds (7-8). Giving away height and reach, former light welter and welter champ Judah, 32, only 4-4 with a no decision in his last nine fights, boxes cleverly on retreat and shows the gap in class. Trying to force the pace, Santa Cruz nailed with left uppercut and is floored. Beats the count but Judah jumps right on him and referee stops the fight. Classy talent Ali floors poor Edmonds in first and second and stops him in third. The 21-year-old kid from Brooklyn, with Yemini roots, competed in both the 2007 World championships and the 2008 Olympics.
Southaven, USA: Middle: Fernando Guerrero (19-0) W PTS 10 Ishe Smith (21-5). Light Middle: Shawn Porter (16-0) W PTS 10 Ray Robinson (11-2). Welter Mike Dallas (15-0-1) W PTS 8 Lanard Lane (12-1). After a couple of slow rounds, tremendous work rate of 23-year-old Dominican southpaw Guerrero keeps him on top of the counter-punching Smith. Older fighter Smith, 31, works the body, but after a couple of warnings is deducted a point for low blows in sixth. Smith gets the point back with flash knockdown in eighth and has the best of last two rounds, but rightly Guerrero’s fight on scores of 96-93, 95-93 and 97-91 to win vacant NABF title. Impressive performance by Olympic alternate Porter. After aggressive start by Robinson, Porter body attack sees him take control and swing the fight heavily his way with a knockdown in sixth. “Showtime” 22, takes wide unanimous verdict over Philly southpaw Robinson, 24, on scores of 99-89, 98-91 and 97-92. Dallas wins battle of unbeaten prospects. Hand speed and better boxing give Dallas, 23, the edge over aggressive but wild Lane and he takes decision by 78-74 on all three cards. Three excellent matches on paper from Showbox.
Toulon, France: Super Feather: Leva Kirakosyan (33-5) W KO 2 Francisco Nohales (19-12-5). Light Middle: Hamlet Petrosyan (29-6) W PTS 6 Semjons Moroseks (6-11-1).In his adopted hometown Russian Kiraksoyan, 36, has a too easy title 1st defence of his European title by kayoing modest 34-year-old Spaniard Nohales with a two-punch combination in second. Kirakosyan won title for second time by beating Scott Lawton in February. Nohales has had only one fight in 19 months, and he lost that inside the distance, so this was way below the normally high standard of European title fights. Armenian-born Swiss resident Petrosyan wins every round in repeating points win over Latvian.
Marina de Grosseto, Italy: Feather: Davide Dieli (7-1) W PTS 10 Massimo Mora (21-5). Super Middle: Andrea Di Luisa (9-0) W KO 1 Janos Olah (5-5). Great little fight and mild upset as aging novice Dieli, 30, outboxes aggressive champion Mora, 36, and lifts national title on close decision on scores of 96-95, 96-94 and 96-92. It was the first time that Dieli had been in a fight scheduled for more than six rounds. One body shot from Di Luisa, 28, finishes Hungarian. Di Luisa keeps his 100% record of wins by KO/TKO, six in the first round, but opposition poor.
Catano, Puerto Rico: Super Feather: Carlos Ivan Velasquez (13-0) W TKO 5 Eduardo Arcos (15-2). Super Bantam: Jonathan Vidal (11-0) W PTS 6 Felix Perez (7-2). Puerto Rican prospect Velasquez, 25, fighting in front of his hometown fans, has height, reach and skill advantage and makes them tell. Rocks Mexican Arcos, 22, in second and keeps up pressure. Big attack in fifth has Arcos hurt and cut when referee stops the fight. One of fighting twins, Velasquez beat both Yuriorkis Gamboa and Nehomar Cermeno in the amateurs. He now has eleven wins by KO/TKO. Tough fight for 25-year-old Vidal, but scores knockdowns in second and sixth over fellow Puerto Rican Perez and wins unanimous verdict on scores of 60-52, 59-53 and 58-54.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Light Welter: Vicente Rodriguez (28-2-1) W TKO 2 Oscar Mutuverria (9-6-2). In non-title fight Rodriguez, 25, takes the first round to take a look at Mutuverria then forces two standing counts in second and corner pulls Mutuverria pulls out. Now 16 by KO/TKO for Argentinian champ “El Mono. First time Mutuverria beaten inside the distance.
Navojoa, Mexico: Super Bantam: Jesus Ruiz (23-2-2) W PTS 10 Gil Bolanos (11-15-1). Good test for Ruiz as he has to go the distance to take a points win over durable Bolanos. Ruiz, 20, turned pro at 16. Bolanos beat hard puncher Leonil Miranda in October.
July 17
Rancho Mirage, USA: Light Welter: Tim Bradley (26-0,1ND) W PTS 12 Luis Carlos Abregu (29-1). Light Middle: Alfredo Angulo (19-1) W TKO 1 Joachim Alcine (32-2). Light: Antonio De Marco (24-2-1) W TKO 2 Daniel Attah (24-6-1,1ND). Moving up to welterweight “Desert Storm” Bradley, the WBO light welter champ, was too fast, accurate and talented for the hard-punching Argentinian. Bradley, 26, suffered a small cut in the first round, and Abregu, 27, was cut on his right eyelid in the fourth, but neither cut was a factor. Bradley dominated most of the rounds with Abregu having some success from 7th to 9th, but no real problems for Bradley who wins on scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112.
Big win for Mexican Angulo, 27 as he halts former WBA champ Alcine, 34, with just one second left in first round. Both fighters looking for an early finish and late volley of punches from “Perro” has Haitian helpless on the ropes. This a WBC eliminator. Easy for Mexican southpaw De Marco, 24, he wins first round then floors Nigerian Attah, 33, in second and after Attah beats the count De Marco has him in trouble again on the ropes when fight stopped. First fight for De Marco since loss to Edwin Valero for WBC title in February. Attah, having only his third fight in four years, challenged Avellino Ferias for WBA/WBO titles in 2002.
Schwerin, Germany: Cruiser: Denis Lebedev (21-0) W KO 2 Alex Alexeev (19-2). Super Middle: Eduard Gutknecht (19-1) W TKO 2 Michal Bilak (19-14).Heavy: Mariusz Wach (22-0) W KO 6 Chris Hammer (7-2). Super Feather: Marcel Meyerdiercks (17-0) W PTS 8 Hermin Isava (9-6). Light Heavy: Vikapita Meroro (19-1) W PTS 6 Jevgenijs Andrejevs (9-32). When Juergen Braehmer pulled out of his WBO title defence the WBO cruiser eliminator between Russian southpaws Lebedev and Alexeev became the main event. After a fairly even first round, it was all over quickly as the aggressive Lebedev crushed former interim champion Alekeev, 29, with a big southpaw left over Alexeev’s lazy jab in round two. Lebedev was giving away height and reach, but the speed and power in his left was the deciding factor. Impressive punching power from Lebedev who finished Enzo Maccarinelli in three rounds in July 2009. Now he gets a shot at German Marco Huck.
Kazak-born German Gutknetch forces Czech to retire after two painful rounds. Bad cut over the right eye was the finisher. First fight for 28-year-old Gutknecht since losing to Robert Stieglitz for WBO title in April. Eight losses in a row for Bilak. Thirty-year-old Pole Wach, 6’71/2” tall ended a close battle as he kayoed Romanian Hammer, 22, with a right in the sixth. The referee did not even bother to count. Typical Meyerdiercks fight as his stylish boxing and sharp punching sees him floor and almost finish Isava in last but in the end win a wide unanimous decision over Venezuelan. Scores 80-71, 80-72 and 79-71 but still only five inside the distance for talented 23-year-old. Isava beat former IBF super fly champ Felix Machado in 2008. Easy points win for Namibian “Beast Master” Meroro as he extends his winning run to eleven and wins on scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 over Latvian southpaw.
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico: Bantam: Fernando Montiel (43-2-2) W KO 3 Rafael Concepcion (14-5-1). Light Middle: Mike Medina (24-2-2) W TKO 4 Gilberto Flores (14-5). Fly: Juan Kantun (15-1-2) W TKO 7 Paulino Villalobos (27-43-2). Super Bantam: Ramon Maas (21-0) W PTS 4 Carlos Penalosa (5-11-1 ). One-sided fight as WBC/WBO champ Montiel destroys former interim WBA super fly champ Concepcion. Panamanian floored twice in second and down for full count in third. First defence of each title (WBO refused to recognise his WBC title winning effort over Hozumi Hasegawa) and 32 wins by KO/TKO. “Murder Man” Medina and Flores go toe-to-toe but the greater power of 24-year-old Medina tells as he stops southpaw Flores in fourth. Now 20 by KO/TKO for Medina who lost a split verdict to John Duddy in March. Prospect Kantun just too young and fast for 39-year-old Villalobos as he makes it 13 by KO/TKO. In bout cut to four rounds southpaw hope Maas looks lucky to win split verdict over Penalosa.
Las Heras, Argentina: Light Fly: Juan Carlos Reveco (25-1) W TKO 5 Armando Torres (13-7). “Coton” , 26, retains WBA interim title by crushing outclassed Mexican. Reveco too fast and hits too hard. Scores knockdown in third and again in fifth. Torres gamely beats count on both occasions but under more pressure when his corner throws in the towel. Six wins by KO/TKO in his last seven fights for Reveco, but Torres out of his depth and had no right challenging for title.
Atlantic City, USA: Heavy: David Tua (51-3-2) DREW 12 Monte Barrett (34-9-1). Light: Carlos Vinan (10-8-4) W TKO 8 Anthony Mezzache (18-6-3). Feather: Khadafi Djelkhir (7-0) W TKO 1 Jorge Cordero (4-4).Welter: Ray Serrano (13-0) W PTS 8 Ayi Bruce. Most of the excitement in this WBO Asian Pacific/WBO Oriental title fight between veterans came in the last round. Tua tried to make the fight, and won the early rounds, but Barrett’s solid defence off the ropes limited the damage. Barrett out boxed Tua from sixth to ninth but Tua came back to take ten and eleven. An exhausted Tua lost a point in the last round for throwing Barrett to the canvas, and then Barrett, 39, floored Tua heavily with a left hook just before the final bell. The first time the Samoan-born 37-year-old had been down in his career. Scores 115-111 to Tua and two scores of 113-113, so that point deduction and the knockdown cost Tua the win. Tua lost to Lennox Lewis for the IBF and WBC titles in 2000. Former WBA title challenger Barrett is 3-6-1 in his last ten and claimed that this was his last fight.
Big upset as former undefeated European champion Mezzache, 30, looks on his way to routine points win when Ecuadorian Vinan, explodes in last round and floors and halts Frenchman. Bombs away between Olympic and European silver medalist Djelkhir and Puerto Rican Cordero. Both fighter on the canvas before Djelkhir flattens Cordero for stoppage. Philadelphian Serrano,21, retains his unbeaten tag, but only just, as tough Ghanaian Bruce, a former Commonwealth Games competitor, pushes him all the way before losing a majority verdict. Scores 78-74, 77-76 and 76-76.
Tagbilaran City, Philippines: Bantam: A J Banal (22-1-1) W KO 5 Big Yoo (16-3). Jason Pagara (23-1) W TKO 2 Young-Bin Kim (10-2). Tough WBO Asia Pacific title defence for Banal,21, as Yoo (a Korean-based Japanese fighter Hayato Kimura) starts fast and has Banal cut after clash of heads in second. Banal takes third and fourth, but badly shaken in fifth only to find great left uppercut to put Yoo down and out. First time the 21-year-old Yoo had failed to last the distance. Fighting on his 18th birthday, Philippines light champ Pagara just getting into his stride when a straight right cuts lanky Kim on right eyelid which causes stoppage.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa: Light Fly: Sizwe Sinyabe (19-8-2) W PTS 12 Mfundo Gwayana (11-4-1). Former national champ Sinyabe regains title with points victory over champion Gwayana. These two fought a draw for the title in June 2009, but Sinyabi had been relatively inactive since then. A knockdown in the eleventh took away any doubt as Sinyabe won without dispute. Fifth defence for Gwayana who was the favourite going in. St Paul, USA: Heavy: Joey Abell (27-4) W TKO 4 Arron Lyons (11-9). Abell warm-up for his fight with someone in Kampala with win No 26 by KO/TKO, but this was one of the TKO variety as southpaw Lyons stopped on a cut.
