March 25
Las Vegas, USA: Light Middle: Erislandy Lara (15-0-1) DREW 10 Carlos Molina (17-4-2). Middle: Yudel Jhonson (10-0) W TKO 7 Richard Gutierrez (26-6-1,1ND).Cruiser: Yunier Dorticos (12-0) W TKO 2 Jose Luis Herrera (16-11). Nasty shock for unbeaten Cuban Lara as he is lucky to get a draw with Molina.
Lara lethargic and looking for a one punch finish after four first round wins in a row. Molina boxes smartly, keeping out of the way of Lara’s few southpaw bombs, and scoring well with fast combinations and uppercuts. Lara not throwing his usual combinations and allowing Molina to outwork him. Molina cut under right eye in ninth as Lara comes awake, but Molina holds his own over last two rounds. The judges save Lara’s unbeaten record as two of them had it a draw 95-95 with the third seeing Molina a clear winner on score of 97-93. The crowd loudly booed the scoring, also seeing Molina as the winner. Lara, 27, ridiculously second rated light middle with the WBA, will have to improve. Molina, 27 has never lost inside the distance, and drew and lost in two fights with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
A good fight between Cuban Jhonson and Colombian Gutierrez was spoiled by a premature stoppage. Jhonson had the edge, and in the seventh he caught Gutierrez with a hard southpaw right hook. Gutierrez backed to the ropes where Jhonson threw some more punches, which Gutierrez seemed to block, and the referee stopped the fight. Jhonson, 29, and a former Olympic silver and Pan American gold medal winner, who defected in 2009, has seven wins by KO/TKO. Gutierrez, 32, lost to Zaurbek Baysangurov for the vacant IBF light middle title in December. Dorticos, 25, floored Herrera in the second and the referee stopped the fight. Dorticos was a member of the Cuban team at both the 2005 and 2006 World Cup. Seven losses in a row now for Colombian Herrera.
Mexicali, Mexico: Welter: Jorge Paez Jr (27-3-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Jose Luis Castillo (62-11-1). It was a case of the son gaining revenge for the father as Paez Jr won a unanimous decision over former WBC lightweight champion Castillo. Paez took over from the fourth against a Castillo, 37, who knew what to do, but has lost the ability to put it into practice. Paez had Castillo badly shaken in the eighth, but finally had to settle for a unanimous decision. Paez Senior, who had been the WBO and IBF featherweight champion in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, was kayoed in five rounds by Castillo in 1999.
Sydney, Australia: Light Middle: Ryan Waters (21-3-2) W PTS 12 Gairy St Clair (42-11-2). Light Heavy: Zac Awad (16-1-1) W PTS 6 Joel Burke (14-20-2). Waters, 33, sets fast pace from the beginning and takes first three rounds. Suffers cut in fourth put continues to pressurise. The 36-year-old Guayanan veteran scoring with good counters but boxing on the retreat most of the time. Waters has a good eighth when he has St Clair hurt, and sweeps the late rounds with St Clair tiring. Scores 119-109, 118-110 and 118-114. Waters wins vacant WBA Pan African title. He already holds the WBO Asian Pacific and WBO Oriental titles, and his only loss in his last 22 fights was a stoppage against Anthony Mundine in September. St Clair, a former IBF super feather champion, who lost to Amir Khan for the Commonwealth lightweight title in 2008, had been inactive since December 2009, and has now lost four of his last five fights. “Shaker” Awad, 29, given a rough night by brawler Bourke, 35, but does the cleaner work and just edges a majority verdict on scores of 59-55, 59-56 and 58-58.Bourke has won only two of his last twelve, but in the past has had three shots at Australian titles.
General Villegas, Argentina: Light Welter: Claudio Olmedo (21-3,1ND) W TKO 7 Guillermo de Jesus Paz (19-21-3,1ND). Middle: Jorge Heiland (17-2) W KO 2 Ruben Silva Diaz (37-19-4). “El Pumito” outclasses limited Paz in revenge fight and goes 2-1 ahead in their series, as he scores four knockdowns before the towel comes in from the corner of Paz. Olmedo regains WBC Latino and wins interim South America titles. Olmedo had beaten Paz last June and lost a split decision to him in August. Southpaw Heiland bounces back from two successive defeats with kayo of Uruguayan. “The Gaucho from Pigue”, 24, had lost to Sebastian Zbik for the WBC interim title and to Colombian Nelson Tapia in a WBA eliminator. Diaz, 33, lost on points to Zbik on points back in 2007.
Sao Paulo, Brazil: Super Middle: Mike Oliveira (14-0) W PTS 10 Abel Nicolas Adriel (10-0-2). In his homecoming bout 20-year-old Brazilian prospect Oliveira too strong for clever but light punching 21-year-old Argentinian. When he works “The Chairman of The Board” scores well with strong jab and right crosses, but at times does not take the fight seriously and does some showboating. Still good enough to get the unanimous verdict on scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93.
Georgetown, Guyana: Light Heavy: Kwesi Jones (6-1) W TKO 5 Leon Gilks (6-15-3). A body attack and sharp uppercuts saw Jones halt very late sub Gilks. Jones was to have fought veteran Howard Eastman in a return at super middleweight, but Eastman failed to make the weight of 168lbs on Friday, so Gilks stepped in, but the fight went on for the Guyanese light heavy title.
Tijuana, Mexico: Light: Misael Castillo (20-0) W TKO 1 Francisco Dianzo (21-8).No contest as prospect Castillo jumps on veteran Dianzo from the bell and has him pinned on the ropes and taking heavy punchisment when the referee stops the fight after just 95 seconds. Castillo now has 18 wins by KO/TKO, including a stoppage of fellow prospect Abraham Barrera and eight of those wins have come in the first round. Dianzo, 39, had been a top flight performer, but this was only his second fight after taking almost five years out.
Mexico City, Mexico: Straw: Ganigan Lopez (17-4) W KO 2 Miguel Tellez (20-15-1). A right uppercut from Lopez ends this one in the second. The 29-year-old southpaw retains WBC Silver Belt for second time with his tenth win by KO/TKO. Nicaraguan Tellez now only two wins in his last twelve.
Commerce, USA: Light Middle: Roberto Garcia (29-3) WPTS 8 Jose Alfredo Flores (45-11,1ND). Important win for 30-year-old Garcia after losing to Antonio Margarito last May. Veteran Flores made the better start, but the aggression and work rate of Garcia built a lead. He cemented it with a knockdown in the sixth and held off a strong finish from Flores. Scores 80-71, 78-73 and 77-74. La Amenaza’s record has been mainly built on the poor Texas circuit, but this was a more notable achievement. This was the third comeback fight for 38-year-old “Shibata” after a seven year break. Flores lost to Fernando Vargas for the WBA title in 2001.
Fairfield, USA: Super Feather: Alejandro Perez (15-2-1) W KO 1Antonio Escalante (24-4). Perez pulls off a shock win with one big right hand counter, which puts favoured Escalante down at the end of the first round. Referee starts count but after getting to four and looking at dazed Escalante waives it over with three seconds left in the round. First fight for 24-year-old Perez since losing to Rico Ramos in November 2009. Escalante, 25, had beaten Miguel Roman, Gary Stark, Mike Oliver and Cornelius Lock, but lost the big one in September when he was kayoed in three rounds by Daniel Ponce De Leon in a WBO eliminator at featherweight.
Ontario, USA: Super Bantam: Efrain Esquivias (13-0) W TKO 3 John Alberto Molina (28-16-3). Impressive win by Esquivias. After probably just edging the first two rounds against the aggressive Colombian veteran, a solid body shot from Esquivias puts Molina down. He gets up but is in no condition to continue. The 2006 National Golden Gloves champion wins the vacant WBA Fedlatin title and makes it nine by KO/TKO. Molina, 33, who started out as a strawweight, has won only two of his last eleven.
River Grove, USA: Middle: Osumanu Adama (19-2) W TKO 4 Marcus Upshaw (13-5-1,1ND). Light Middle: Joey Hernandez (18-1-1) W DIS 8 Angel Hernandez (30-10). Giving away height and reach to his 6’3” opponent, Ghanaian Adama, 30, works the body and gives Upshaw no opportunity to use his advantages. Finally going upstairs, Adama lands a big left hook which puts Upshaw on the floor. He beats the count but is in no condition to continue. Adama captures IBO Inter-Continental title and gets needed win after defeat by Dyah Davis and controversial loss to Don George. Upshaw had beaten Canadian Renan St Juste in May.
A rough fight ended with a minor riot. Mexican Angel H, 35, takes first round, but is dropped by right in second. Angel loses a point in third for hitting on the break. “Twinkle Fingers” Joey H, 26, takes fourth and fifth but a clash of heads sees both fighters cut. Angel gets on top, but gets a warning for low blows. Another low shot in the eighth sees southpaw Joey given time to recover, but after the bell Angel throws more punches at Joey and is disqualified. As Joey is celebrating Angel charges across the ring and lands another punch. That brings both sets of corner men into the ring and spectators start fighting and throwing objects until security regains control. Joey wins vacant USBA title.
March 26
Atlantic City, USA: Feather: Yuriorkis Gamboa (20-0) W TKO 4 Jorge Solis (40-3-2,1ND). Super Bantam: Teon Kennedy (17-0-1) W PTS 12 Jorge Diaz (15-1). Feather: Miguel Angel Garcia (25-0) W TKO 10 Matt Remillard (23-1). Fearsome display by brilliant Cuban. The experienced Solis just could not deal with the hand speed and punching power of Gamboa. “El Ciclon” took the first round with that speed, and then added the power in the second as he floored Solis twice. Gamboa added some body punches to the show in the third, and floored his Mexican challenger again at the end of the round with a great one-two. A right dropped 31-year-old Solis at the start of the fourth, and after another knockdown the referee stopped the fight. Gamboa, 29, has 16 by KO/TKO. He retains the WBA super/secondary titles, but lost his IBF title as, although making the weight at the formal weigh-in, he failed to take the second mandatory weigh-in. Solis, who was WBA interim champ, was having his second shot at the IBF title.
Kennedy first outboxes and then outpunches Diaz. The New Jersey fighter tries to make it a brawl from the start and shakes Kennedy with rights in the first. Kennedy gets his jab working and then changes the pattern of the fight as he drops Diaz, 23, with a left in the third. Kennedy, 24, scored another knockdown and almost ended the fight, but Diaz survived and fought back hard over the later rounds. Clear win for Kennedy on scores of 118-109, 117-109 and 115-111 as he retains his USBA title. Garcia wins this battle of unbeaten fighters in impressive style. His consistent pressure, high work rate, and body attack give 24-year-old Remillard no chance to get into the fight. Garcia well ahead when he floors Remillard twice in the ninth. Another knockdown in the tenth sees Remillard’s corner pull their man out at the end of the round. Now 21 wins by KO/TKO for “Mikey” who wins NABF and USBA titles and is rated No 1 challenger for the now IBF title.
Ekaterinburg, Russia: Middle: Dmitry Pirog (18-0) W PTS 12 Javier Fco. Maciel (18-2). Light: Alisher Rahimov (22-1) W PTS 12 Rustam Nugaev (21-6-1). Cruiser: Isa Akberbayev (7-0) W TKO 2 Pascal Ndomba (9-3-2). Welter: Felix Diaz (9-0) W TKO 3 Andrey Berdyshev (5-1-1). Heavy: Vyacheslav Glazkov (9-0) W PTS 8 Denis Bakhtov (33-5). Unimpressive WBO title defence by Pirog. Modest 26-year-old Argentinian gives Pirog more trouble than expected with his high, tight guard and makes a good start. Pirog, switching guard often, then sweeps the rest of the early rounds but was rocked in the eighth. Pirog dominates rounds nine to twelve, but loses a point in tenth for use of the shoulder. Never having really hurt Maciel, Pirog has to settle for unanimous verdict on scores of 117-110, 115-111 and 115-112. First defence for 30-year-old Russian of title he won with upset stoppage of Daniel Jacobs in July. “La Bestia” Maciel’s first fight outside Argentina.
Uzbek’s Rahimov wins vacant interim WBO Asia Pacific title with unanimous points victory over Californian-based Russian Nugaev in great little fight. Mostly fought at close quarters this was a real battle with Rahimov’s uppercut, his best punch, against an equally aggressive Nugaev. Rahimov deserving winner, but scores of 118-112, 118-113 and 116-112 looked harsh on Nugaev. “Bumblebee” Akberbayev too big, 6’3”, and strong, for limited Tanzanian. After waiting out initial flurry from Ndomba, Kazak-born Akberbayev, 27, goes to work in second and although no knockdown, Ndomba just gives up, and referee stops the fight. Akberbayev wins vacant WBA Asian Council title-against an African! Dominican Olympic gold medalist Diaz, 27 continues his winning ways as he floors Berdyshev with a southpaw left and halts previously unbeaten Kazak-born Russian. Stoppage looked a little early, but this Berdyshev’s first fight since April 2009.
Ukrainian Glazkov, 26, passes his toughest test as he boxes his way to a wide unanimous verdict over experienced Bakhtov. Glazkov used his advantages in height and reach to box at a distance against the cruder Russian. Apart from a rocky time in rounds five and six, when he seemed to tire, Glazkov won all the way, and finished strongly as Bakhtov tired. Glazkov lost to Odlanier Solis in the finals of the World Championships, and had to settle for a bronze medal in Beijing after having to retire with an injury. Scores 80-72 from all three officials. It was Bakhtov’s first fight for a year, but he had lost only one of his last 14.
Johannesburg, South Africa: Super Bantam: Takalani Ndlovu (32-6) W PTS 12 Steve Molitor (33-2). Fly: Moruti Mthalane (27-2) W TKO 5 Johnriel Casimero (14-2). Light: Thompson Mokwana (12-4) W TKO 7 Pat Malinga (27-7-2). Third time does it for South African Ndlovu. After losing to Canadian Molitor twice in title shots, once on a stoppage, “Panther” Ndlovu, 33, wins a clear unanimous decision to lift the IBF title. Making good use of his advantages in height and reach, Ndlovu was usually first to the punch and kept the champion on the back foot for most of the fight. He hurt Molitor in the second and sixth rounds and scored well throughout the fight with his jab. Southpaw Molitor, 30, was never really able to establish any real control in the fight, and by the end looked the loser with cuts over both eyes and a swelling and some lumps on other parts of his face. Ndlovu harshly lost a point in the sixth for a low blow. The scores for Ndlovu 118-110 twice and 116-112.
Mthalane wins a war as he proves too strong for former WBO interim champion Casimero, but Filipino seemed to quit without really being hurt. Both fighters were looking for an early win and exchanging bombs from the start. The strength and punching power of the IBF champion put him in front and he was scoring well with his right uppercut. Suddenly Casimero seemed to be tiring in the fifth and after a good combination from Mthalane Casimero just quit. He had complained of sore ribs at the end of the third round, but seemed okay in the fourth. Second defence for 28-year-old Mthalane, and his only loss in his last 13 fights was on a cut against Nonito Donaire. Casimero, 21, had massacred Cesar Canchilla for the interim title, and Canchilla had beaten Giovani Segura, and Casimero only lost his interim title to Ramon Garcia on a split verdict in his last fight. Upset as unsung Mokwana halts experienced national champion Malinga. “The Hammer” was making his fourth defence of the South African title, but at 34 perhaps time has caught up with Malinga.
Hamburg, Germany: Heavy: Alex Dimitrenko (31-1) W KO 12 Albert Sosnowski (46-4-1). Feather: Marcel Meyerdiercks (19-0) W PTS 8 Andrey Kostin (20-17). Cruiser: Rakhim Chakhkiev (9-0) W TKO 1 Alex Mogylewski (12-6). Sosnowski makes the better start taking the fight to the taller Ukrainian in the first two rounds. By the third the 6’7” tall Dimitrenko, 28, started to time the Poles lunges and made him pay with some hard counters. Sosnowski took punishment from the jabs and uppercuts of Dimitrenko in the fifth and was badly shaken at the end of the sixth. Sosnowski was hurt again in the seventh but fought back until the final round. In the twelfth an uppercut from Dimitrenko flattened Sosnowski and it was all over. First defence of his European title for Dimitrenko and win No 20 by KO/TKO. British-based Pole Sosnowski, 32, gave up the European title to challenge Vitali Klitschko for the WBC title in May, but was kayoed in ten rounds. These two were to have fought for the vacant European title last year, but Dimitrenko fainted in the dressing room and it was cancelled.
Meyerdiercks remains unbeaten, but again shows lack of punching power in outpointing Russian Kostin, who has lost his last seven fights. “The Machine” Chakhkiev makes it seven by KO/TKO with early stoppage of Ukrainian. Southpaw Chakhkiev, 28, was World Military champion, won a silver medal in the World championships, and beat his conqueror Clemente Russo for the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics
Chaco, Argentina: Cesar Cuenca (40-0,2ND) W PTS 8 Juan Jose Dias (11-10-4). Light: Vicente Rodriguez (32-2-1) W TKO 3 Ramon Munoz (9-11-2).Southpaw Cuenca, 30, remains unbeaten in unimpressive win over Dias. “The Different” Cuenca’ s speed and movement too much for limited Dias, but plenty of clinching spoiled the fight as a spectacle. Cuello wins on scores of 80-77, 80-78 and 79-78. Interim Argentinian super featherweight champ Rodriguez extends current unbeaten run to twelve as he floors and halts Munoz in routine payday.
Sydney, Australia: Super Middle: Shannan Taylor (51-9-3) W PTS 12 Tim Kanofski (11-5). Easy win for “Bulli Blaster” Taylor, 38, who has height, reach and better skills than game Kanofski. Taylor dominates all the way and wins on scores of 119-110, 119-111 and 117-111 to retain his IBF Pan Pacific title. The experienced Aussie lost to Shane Mosley and Arthur Abraham in title shots and to Richard Williams for the Commonwealth and IBO titles in 2001. Kanofski has lost three of his last five now.
Xalapa, Mexico: Bantam: Leo Santa Cruz (15-0-1) W KO 6 Stephane Jamoye (20-3) . Super Middle: Marco Antonio Periban (12-0) W KO 1 Alfredo Mejia . Super Fly: Jose Salgado (24-1) W TKO 3 Everardo Morales (34-16-2,1ND). Californian-based Mexican Cruz wins tough battle with Belgian Jamoye. These two mixed it from the first bell, but Cruz was the stronger and harder puncher. Jamoye,21, never really got his boxing going and was well behind when a body punch in the sixth put him down, and he was counted out. Cruz, 22, wins vacant WBC Youth title and has won his last six by KO/TKO. All three of Jamoye’s losses have been on the road, having lost to Japanese Tomoki Kameda in Mexico and for the European title against Jamie McDonnell in England.
Poor mismatch sees heavy hitting prospect Periban 26, finish late sub Mejia with a body shot in just 105 seconds. Now four first round wins in a row for Mexican prospect and nine in all by KO/TKO. Salgado, 21, wins vacant NABF title with impressive stoppage of experienced Morales in bloody battle. Both fighters cut early, Salgado on the right eyelid and Morales by the right eye. Salgado the stronger fighter and badly shakes Morales and then is scoring heavily when the referee stops the fight. “Sugar” now has 21 wins by KO/TKO. “El Zihua” Morales lost to Hugo Cazares for the WBA title in seven rounds last fight in July, has also had three other title shots, the first way back in 1997.
Angono, Philippines: Straw: Denver Cuello (26-4-6) W TKO 9 Samartlek. No knockdowns, but southpaw “The Excitement” Cuello hands out a one-sided beating to limited Thai. After a slow start, from the fourth to the eighth it was all Cuello. In the ninth a furious attack was enough and the referee stopped the fight. The 24-year-old Cuello, WBC International champion, and rated No 7 by the WBO, has lost only once, on a disqualification, in his last 21 fights.
Nogionsk, Russia: Light Welter: Aslanbek Kozaev (16-0) W PTS 12 James Onyango (6-3-1). Welter: Anton Novikov (21-0) W TKO 4 Somchai Nakbalee (12-11-1). Kozaev,23, wins vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council with unanimous verdict over Kenyan. Southpaw Novikov, also 23, gets easy stoppage of limited Thai
Kempton Park, South Africa: Super Middle: Thomas Oosthuizen (12-0-1) W TKO 9 Evert Bravo (15-2-1). Super Bantam: Tshifhiwa Munyai (21-2-1) W PTS 12 Danilo Pena (22-9-2). Light Heavy: Isaac Chilemba (17-1-1) W PTS 12 Vikapita Meroro (20-2). Super Feather: Sipho Taliwe (13-2-1) W PTS 12 Vivino Rufino (29-13-3 ). Heavy: Flo Simba (10-0) W KO 1 Fernando Simoes de Almeida (8-1). The 6’4” tall southpaw Oosthuizen just too big ,too strong and too fast for Colombian Bravo and even finds time to do some showboating on his way to stoppage. Colombian lives up to his name as he keeps coming forward, but suffers heavy punishment all the way. Almost put away in the fourth, he lasts out until the ninth when the referee stops the one-sided match. “Tommy Gun” wins the vacant IBO title at the second attempt (he drew with Isaac Chilemba for the same title in November) and has nine wins by KO/TKO. Bravo not as good as his record might indicate as his wins were all at home in Colombia.
The “Atomic Spider” Munyai, 25, easily outboxes crude and awkward Filipino southpaw Pena, scores heavily throughout and wins vacant IBO title. Scores 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110. The former Commonwealth champion bounces back from very controversial loss to Mexican Christian Esquival. In Britain Munyai beat Martin Power twice and Lee Haskins, all inside the distance. Chilamba, 23, wins vacant WBC International title with win over useful Namibian Meroro. After slow start Chilamba has Meroro in trouble in third and sixth rounds and, with the Namibian cut, comes close to finishing it in each of the last two rounds. Meroro shows durability to be there at the end. Scores 119-110, 118-112 and 117-111. The 23-year-old from Malawi has been in some tough matches with his previous four opponents all having been unbeaten, including Oosthuizen and Russian prospect Max Vlasov. Chilamba makes the No 4 rating of Meroro by the WBO look ridiculous.
Explosive start to the fight sees Filipino Rufino down twice in the first round and Taliwe down in the third. From then on Taliwe was boxing and southpaw Rufino hunting a kayo, and ignoring defence. The fight turned into a brawl in the late stages, but "Tsunami” Taliwe,30, took the split decision and retained his WBC International title, but the judges all see a different fight as the scores of 116-110, 113-112 in favour of Taliwe and 115-111 for Rufino. Now nine wins in a row for Taliwe who had beaten Rufino on a majority verdict in November. Bit of rubbish as Congolese prospect Simba floors obscure Brazilian twice and halts him in 55 seconds. Now nine by KO/TKO for “Demolition Man”, but deserves better opposition than this farce.
March 27
Mashinostroitel, Russia: Bantam: Alex Bakhtin (26-0) W PTS 10 Mbwana Matumla(19-6,1ND). IBF No 4 Sasha Bakhtin, 29, in his first fight for 13 months, takes unanimous verdict over Tanzanian Matumla. Bakhtin has never really got his career back on track after being stripped off his Japanese title for being involved in a street fight in 2006. Matumla, 35, has only ever lost on the road and to world class opposition.
La Londe-les-Maures, France: Cruiser: Faisal Ibnel Arrami (13-2) W KO 9 Zakaria Azzouzi (12-2-2). Arrami, 26, has Azzouzi in trouble in round one and then remains in control. Scores another knockdown in fifth and puts Azzouzi face down in ninth with the loser taking a few minutes to recover. Arrami “The African King” makes it nine by KO/TKO and wins vacant French title.
Aichi, Japan: Super Bantam: Hiromasa Ohashi (24-9-3) W PTS 12 (9-3-1). Tough fight between two guys who both liked to brawl and fight on the inside. Both tiring at the end and a good last round by Ohashi just swung the split decision his way. Scores 117-111, 115-113 and 114-115. Ohashi regains OPBF title that he lost to now WBA champion Akifumi Shimoda last March, his only loss in his last 13 fights.
