Behind the Results, w/e 13th March 2011

March 11

Las Vegas, USA: Heavy: Mike Grant (47-4) W KO 3 Ty Fields (45-3). Cruiser: Aaron Williams (21-3-1) W TKO 1 Shane Steele (7-4). Welter: Joel Casamayor (38-5-1) W PTS 10 Manuel Leyva (18-2). Grant, 6’7”, won this battle of giant underachievers as he badly shakes southpaw Fields, 36, in the second, and is hurt in return. Grant brought the finish in the third with a big right hand which put the 6’8” Fields down, and despite his scrambling attempts to get up, he was counted out. Grant, 38, lost in two rounds to Lennox Lewis for the IBF and WBC titles in 2000, and was coming off a loss to Tomasz Adamek. Fields had been kayoed in 57 seconds by Monte Barrett in 2008.

“Awesome” Williams, 24, has yet to fulfill the promise he showed as an amateur, but in this mismatch floored poor Steele twice to force the stoppage. Williams was coming back from a shock loss to modest Garrett Wilson, and wins WBC USNBC title. Former WBA super feather and WBC light champ Casamayor, 39, struggles to a split verdict over Mexican Leyva, a late stand-in. An all-southpaw battle sees Casamayor’s superior skills just keeping him ahead of the aggressive Leyva, and a knockdown from a body punch scored by the Cuban veteran in the fifth made the difference. Scores 97-92, 96-93 and 94-95. First fight for Casamayor since losing to Robert Guerrero in July. First fight outside Baja California for Leyva.

Kemerovo, Russia: Light Heavy: Dmitry Sukhotsky (17-1) W TKO 5 Konstantin Piternov (12-1). Feather: Vyacheslav Gusev (18-2) W KO 3 Dario Azuaga (80-21-2, 2 ND). Light Heavy: Roman Simakov (16-1-1) W PTS 12 Douglas Otieno (22-6). Cruiser: Grigory Drozd (33-1) W PTS 8 Remigijus Ziausys (13-34-3). Former WBO title contender Sukhotsky retains WBO intercontinental title with stoppage of Russian champion Piternov. Third win for 29-year-old Russian since losing close decision to Juergen Braehmer for WBO title in December 2009. Gusev, 25, kayos 36-year-old Paraguayan veteran Azuaga, and wins vacant WBO European title! Only loss for Gusev in last 14 was to world rated Juan Carlos Burgos. Simakov, 26, wins vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council title by beating Kenyan southpaw Otieno! Ten wins in a row for Simakov. “Al Capone” Otieno was kayoed in four rounds by Nat Cleverly for Commonwealth title in 2008. First fight since July 2009 for 31-year-old Drozd, but Lithuanian Ziausys with only two wins in his last nine fights.

Olsztyn, Poland: Cruiser: Mateusz Masternak (22-0) W TKO 5 Ali Ismailov (18-5-1). Pole Masternak, 23, retains IBO Inter-Continental title as he boxes well against Azeri Ismailov. “The Master” Masternak in control until a punch early in the fifth slashes open a cut over Ismailov’s left eye. Ismailov, 36, lost a split decision Victor Ramirez for the WBO title in May 2009, but subsequent losses to Denis Lebedev and Yoan Pablo Hernandez have lowered his standing.

Mexico City, Mexico: Super Feather: Gamaliel Diaz (30-9-2) W TKO 3 Rafael Urias (22-19-2).Light: Daniel Estrada (25-2-1) W T DEC 6 Arturo Gomez (18-15-5).Diaz makes fourth successful defence of his WBC Cabofe title as he dominates Urias with his jab in the first two rounds and then floors and halts him in the third. Seven wins in a row and fourth defence of WBC Cabofe title for Diaz who lost to Jorge Linares in a challenge for the WBC feather title, and to Humberto Soto for the interim WBC super feather title, but has won and lost in fights with Robert Guerrero, and beat Elio Rojas. Lanky “Tremendo” Estrada,25, comfortably in front until a clash of heads saw Estrada badly cut over his left eye and it goes to the scorecards with Estrada winning on scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56. Estrada wins vacant WBC Continental Americas title.

Toulon, France: Super Bantam: Jeremy Parodi (30-1-1) W PTS 8 Emiliano Salvini (13-13-1). Parodi continues his rebuilding with a unanimous verdict over tough, experienced Italian. In front of his hometown fans Parodi, 23, takes it on scores of 78-75 twice 77-75. Second win for EBU No 5 Parodi since loss to Arsen Martirosyan in May. Salvini, 32, has now lost seven of his last eight. He has lost to Craig Lyon and Willie Casey but usually goes the distance.

St Etienne, France: Cruiser: Rachid El Hadak (22-8-1) W PTS 12 Levan Jomardashvili (21-3). Light Middle: Salim Larbi (14-1-1) W PTS 12 David Makaradze (16-5). Easy wins for the locals. In his hometown, El Hadak, using his height and reach advantages over young Georgian wins every round in first defence of his WBA European title. Scores 120-106 twice and 120-107. El Hadak, 37, beat JJ Ojuederie in December and has registered eight wins since losing to David Dolan in 2008. Jomardashvili has lost three of his last four with all of his wins coming in Georgia. Larbi, 23, again shows his lack of power but the tall, slim Frenchman uses his skill and easily boxes his way to a wide unanimous verdict over another Georgian. Scores 118-111 twice and 118-110. Larbi unbeaten in 13 now. Makaradze 2-5 in his last seven, and again his wins have all been on the poor Georgian circuit.

Parana, Argentina: Light Middle: Ulises David Lopez (27-3) W DIS 3 Carlos Vilches (55-10-2, 1 ND). Welter: Sebastian Lujan (36-5-2,1ND) W TKO 4 Juan Pablo Lucero (14-4). “Cloroformo”, 32, scores knockdowns in first and in the second. Vilches loses two points for low blows as he tries to stem the tide. Lopez is putting on the pressure in the sixth and with Vilches throwing more low blows the referee steps in and disqualifies him. Lopez retains South American title as he works his way back after shock kayo loss to Alejandro Falliga in September. Vilches, who had been largely inactive, is a former South American light welter champion and lost to Ricky Hatton for the WBU title in 2004. “Iron” Lujan, 31, too strong for Lucero. Pressure tells when Lujan scores a knockdown with a body punch at the end of the third. Lucero still suffering in the fourth and the referee stops it. Rated No 7 by both the WBA and WBC Lujan retains his WBC Latino title. Lujan lost in title shots to Antonio Margarito for the WBO welter title and to Sergei Dzinziruk for their WBO title. His last loss was to Jaime Moore in 2007, since when he has won nine in a row including a stoppage of Jose Luis Castillo.

March 12

Las Vegas, USA: Light Middle: Miguel Cotto (36-2) W TKO 12 Ricardo Mayorga (29-8-1,1ND ). Light: Miguel Vazquez (28-3) W PTS 12 Lenny Zappavigna(25-1). Light Middle: Pavel Wolak (29-1) W TKO 6 Yuri Foreman (28-2,1ND). Middle: Matt Korobov (14-0) W TKO 1 Mike Walker (19-7-2). Light: Juan Gonzalez (11-0) W TKO 1 Jeremy McLaurin (8-2). Heavy: Eric Molina (17-1) W TKO 6 Joe Rabotte (9-16-1). Super Bantam: Jesus M Rojas (17-1) W PTS 6 Isaac Hidalgo (8-7-2). Superior technique of Cotto has him in charge of the fight against the Nicaraguan “Wildman”. Mayorga has no answer to Cotto’s fast, strong jab and more accurate punching. Mayorga resorted to wild swings which were awkward for Cotto to deal with, but never dangerous. With a nasty swelling over his left eye, Mayorga’s problems became ever worse when in the twelfth round he fractured his left thumb and was knocked down by a classic left hook. He got up but indicated to the referee that he could not continue and the fight was stopped. First defence of his real (Super) WBA title by 30-year-old Puerto Rican, a former WBO welter, WBA welter and WBO light welter champ. Mayorga, 37, a former WBC light middle and WBA and WBC welter champ, had only one fight in 30 months leading up to this challenge, and announced his retirement after the fight.

Interesting but not exciting fight sees Mexican Vazquez retain his IBF title with a wide, unanimous verdict over previously unbeaten young Australian Zappavigna. Vazquez outboxes the aggressive Australian confusing him with his jab and movement, but Zappavigna never stops pressing making many of the rounds close. Vazquez, 24, retains on scores of 118-112 twice and 117-111. Second defence for man from Guadalajara, who lost his first pro fight-to Saul Alvarez.

Relentless pressure from Pole Wolak, 29, proves too much for Foreman who just can’t stem the tide. Wolak in the face of the Israeli former WBA champion in every round. Foreman landing some good shots, but not enough to turn the fight around. “Raging Bull” Wolak ups the pace in a brutal sixth and a dispirited Foreman retires in his corner. Eight wins in a row for Wolak who lifts vacant NABF title. First fight for Foreman since losing his WBA title to Cotto in June. Russian former world amateur champion Korobov, 28, puts Walker down with a great southpaw left hook and although Walker beat the count he was in no condition to continue. All over in 91 seconds as Korobov makes it nine wins by KO/TKO. Walker just one win in his last nine fights.

Puerto Rican prospect “El Puma” Gonzalez takes only 25 seconds longer to finish McLaurin with a right. The 21-year-old has only had to go the distance once in his eleven wins. The 6’5” tall Texan “Drummer Boy” Molina floors Rabotte in second, fifth and sixth rounds on the way to a sixth round stoppage. An exhausted Rabotte had been on the floor, then spit out his gum shield and was under heavy pressure when the referee stopped the fight. Now 17 wins in a row for Texas University graduate Molina who makes a triumphant return to Las Vegas, where he lost his first pro fight on a first round kayo. Rabotte had scored a good win over Taurus Sykes in October. Rojas, another Puerto Rican hope, was too strong for game Hidalgo and finished in style handing out some stiff punishment as Hidalgo tired. Scores 59-55 twice and 58-56.

Mashantucket, USA: Middleweight: Sergio Martinez (47-2-2) W TKO 8 Sergei Dzinziruk (37-1). Super Middle: Andy Lee (25-1) W TKO 10 Craig McEwan (19-1) .Martinez again shows his class as he handles the previously unbeaten Ukrainian with relative ease and scores five knockdowns in this catch weight non-title contest.. With his hands down and sharper, faster punching he nullified Dzinziruk’s jab and built an early lead. A shot to the head in the fourth saw Dzinziruk, 35, down on one knee and a fast combination in the fifth put Dzinziruk down again. The WBO light middle champion fought back in the sixth and had a good seventh, even opening a small cut by the left eye of Martinez. It was to be his final fling. In the eighth a big southpaw left put Dzinziruk down . Two more knockdowns followed and the referee stopped the fight. The 36-year-old Argentinian had been stripped of his WBC title but won the expensive, but meaningless Diamond Belt. Dzinziruk, who was having only his second fight in over two years, lost for the first time in twelve years as a pro, but still holds his WBO title.

Irishman Lee comes from behind to kayo southpaw Scot McEwan. Lee, 26, looks sluggish in the early rounds as the better boxing of southpaw McEwan, 28, sees him build a lead. Lee looking for the big punch is in danger of losing the decision when he floors a tiring McEwan in ninth. Determined not to let the Scot off the hook, a left from Lee puts McEwan down in the tenth and the referee stops it. Now 19 by KO/TKO for Lee. McEwan must now rebuild from scratch after his first pro defeat.

Junin, Argentina: Feather: Jonathan Barros (32-1-1) W PTS 12 Miguel Roman (33-8). Super Fly: Oscar Ibarra (26-4) W TKO 4 Ariel Alassia (12-6-1,1ND). The champion Barros dominates the fight with his left jab, lateral movement and hand speed. Roman hurts Barros with a left hook in the second, and again in the third, but Barros back in charge from the fourth. He keeps the Mexican on the end of the jab until the tenth when Roman again hurts a tiring Barros with a right cross and has him under pressure. Barros then boxes on the outside over the closing rounds to retain his WBC secondary title on scores of 118-109, 118-110 and 117-111. First defence for 27-year-old “Yoni” since beating Panamanian Irving Berry for the vacant title in December. “Mickey” Roman , 25, always seems to come up short in the big ones. Ibarra evens the score for Mexico as he eventually rolls over Alassia. Ibarra, 25, has trouble early with the elusive Argentinian, but two left hooks to the body put Alassai,26, down in the fourth and after he beats the count a right to the chin puts him down again and his corner throws in the towel. Now twelve wins in a row for WBC No 3 Ibarra, ten of those by KO/TKO.

Perth, Australia: Middle: Robbie Bryant (14-1-1) W PTS 12 Togasilimai Letoa (11-7). Super Feather: Billy Dib (31-1,1ND) W TKO 8 Ricky Sismundo (18-6). Light Middle: Danny Dawson (36-3) W PTS 8 Arnel Tinampay (12-13-1). Local fighter Bryant wins vacant PABA title but has a hard time with elusive, tough-chinned, Samoan southpaw, and has to settle for unanimous verdict. Scores 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. Now seven wins for Bryant since loss to Frank LoPorto in April 2009. Leota has now lost his last five. World rated Billy ”The Kid” Dib, 25, takes another mark-time fight and dominates Filipino Sismundo all the way, forcing a stoppage in the last round. Dib lost to Steve Luevano for the WBO feather title in 2008, but has won eleven since then. Dawson has to climb off the floor in the first to claim a majority verdict over modest Filipino Tinampay. Scores 78-74, 77-75 and 76-76. Dawson, 33, had lost to Sergei Dzinziruk for the WBO light middle title in May and to Frank LoPorto in October. Filipino champion Tinampay has lost four of his last five.

Richmond, Canada: Light Heavy: Junior Moar (8-3) W PTS 10 Mike Walchuk (9-2). In front of his home crowd Canadian champion Moar, 32, retains his title with a hard fopught, close but unanimous decision over Walchuk. The first five rounds were fairly even with Moar doing the pressing and Walchuk boxing on the outside. Moar managed to close the distance in the later rounds and just seemed to have done enough for the win. Scores 97-93, 96-94 and 96-95. This was Moar’s first fight since being halted in six rounds by Lafarrell Bunting in November. Walchuk, also 32, lost to Adam Trupish for the vacant Canadian middle title in March last year.

Saint-Quentin, France: Bantam: Jerome Thomas (11-0-1) W PTS 10 Yoan Boyeaux (6-3). Former amateur star Thomas, 32, wins vacant French title with highly disputed split decision over Boyeaux. Scores 96-94 twice and 94-97. With his physical handicap Thomas lacks power and still has to adjust to the pro style of fighting. Boyeaux lost to Josh Wale and Carl Frampton here.

Nanterre, France: Super Middle: Rachid Jkitou (18-0) W PTS 10 Chris Rebrasse (15-2-1) . Light Middle: Hussein Bayram (34-3) W KO 2 Juan Martinez Bas (8-17-1).Great little French title fight as Jkitou, the smaller man, goes forward throwing punches from the first bell and champion Rebrasse tries to box behind his left jab. The sheer aggression of 25-year-old Jkitou sweeps the first three rounds then Rebrasse, 23, making his second title defence, has success with good counters to even things up. Rebrasse tires in the eighth and Jkitou establishes a lead, and holds it despite an all-out effort by Rebrasse in the last to snap the champion’s unbeaten streak at 14. Former French champion Bayram, 35 wastes no time chasing down the Spaniard from first. Wraps it up in the second with a left hook to the body. EBU No 4 Bayram has won his last ten. Martinez Bas, 38, had fought a draw with Pole Krzys Bienias on March 5.

Talisay City, Philippines: Light: Jimrex Jaca (33-6-3) W TKO 3 Arnel Donal (10-3-1). “The Executioner” gets a somewhat fortunate victory. After two quiet rounds southpaw Jaca, 27, floors Donal with a borderline punch. There was a brief discussion during which the referee said that the shot was low, but Donal indicated he did not want to continue, so Jaca was declared the winner. Jaca has been Philippines champ at bantam, super bantam and super feather but lost in nine rounds to Juan Manuel Marquez for the interim WBO featherweight title in 2006. Donal has lost his last three.

Lafayette, USA: Light: Mason Menard (15-1) W PTS 10 Anthony Napunyi (14-10). “Rock Hard Mighty” Menard wins wide unanimous verdict over Kenyan for UBO All-American title. The 22-year-old former Olympic trialist has won his last 13. Napunyi, 28 has lost his last six, the other five all by KO/TKO.

Fairfax, USA: Light Heavy: William Joppy (40-7-2) W PTS 10 Cory Cummings (17-5-1) Light Middle: Jimmy Lange (35-4-2) W PTS 10 Jimmy Holmes (19-2-2,1ND). Former WBA champion Joppy reaches the end of the road. Using his edge in height and reach Joppy wins unanimous decision over Cummings and announces his retirement. These two had fought a draw in November and then Joppy went on to lose to Beibut Shumenov in a challenge for the WBA light heavy title. Joppy had three reigns as WBA middleweight champion. Local hero Lange, 35, too good for Holmes and all three judges score it 97-92. Lange has never really tried to climb the ladder to top class opposition and Holmes record has been built totally on the Indiana club fighting circuit.