Behind the Results w/e 31st January 2011
Did you know there was an unbeaten heavyweight called Flo Simba? Crazy name, crazy guy no doubt. Here's Eric's weekly global digest - and it's a packed one.
January 27
Kempton Park, South Africa: Light Fly: Gideon Buthelezi (12-2) W PTS 12 Hekkie Budler (17-1). Heavy: Flo Simba (9-0) W TKO 5 Chamunorwa Gonorenda (6-9). Disappointing fight as styles do not gel. Southpaw Buthelezi, 24, elects to fight on retreat catching harder puncher Budler, 22, with counters.
“The Hexecutioner” Budler comes in to the fight more in middle rounds but very little clean work from either fighter. Buthelezi, the IBO strawweight champion takes Budler’s unbeaten record and his IBO title on a split decision. Scores 118-114, 115-113 and 113-117. Buthelezi lost his first pro fight, but has lost only one of his last 11, and that was to world rated Tshepo Lefele. Budler was making the second defence of his IBO title. He had won two split decisions in his previous three fights, but his luck ran out in this one. Flo, from the DRC, had a good fight with Zimbabwean cruiser champion Gonorenda before halting him in fifth. Simba now has eight wins by KO/TKO, but Gonorenda has won just two of his last eleven.
Houston, USA: Heavy: Steve Collins (24-1) W TKO 2 Shannon Caudle (9-2-1). Light Heavy: Cedric Agnew (12-0) W KO 1 David Robinson (26-63-4). Poor match hardly describes this as “Freight Train” Collins rolls over smaller and lighter Caudle and scores two knockdowns in second for stoppage win. Collins has 17 wins by KO/TKO but all against modest opposition. Caudle lasted just 64 seconds against Deontay Wilder. Agnew gets the job done even quicker as he kayos 43-year-old Robinson with a combination after just 81 seconds. Agnew, a Chicago Golden Gloves champion, who beat Jonathan Banks as an amateur, deserves better tests. Show was promoted by Lou Savarese.
January 28
Chicago, USA: Light Welter: David Diaz (36-3-1) W PTS 10 Robert Frankel (27-10-1). Light Heavy: Andrzej Fonfara (16-2,1ND) W TKO 5 Adam Jaco (9-4-1). Light Middle: Anton Novikov (19-0) W PTS 8 Dashon Johnson (11-4-3). Welter: Aslanbek Kozaev (14-0) W PTS 6 Hector Alatorre (16-14). Former WBC lightweight champion Diaz, 34, has a hard time with the clever and elusive Frankel, and has to settle for a majority verdict. In his first fight in ten months southpaw Diaz did the pressing and did his best work inside, but Frankel showed ring savvy and it was a close fight. Scores 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95. Frankel was also rusty as this was his first fight for almost two years after beating Bobby Pacquiao and Ric Dominguez.
Pole Fonfara, 23, too good for modest 33-year-old Jaco. The 6’2” Fonfara scores knockdown in third and after another knockdown in the fifth, the referee stops the fight. Russian southpaw Novikov, 23, wins a unanimous verdict over Californian Johnson. In untidy fight Novikov loses points in seventh and eighth for holding, but wins on scores of 78-73, 77-73 and 76-75. Trouble for unbeaten Russian Kozaev, 23, as he is cut in the third round of a routine six rounder against experienced Alatorre, but wins on scores of 60-53 twice and 59-55.
Temecula, USA: Heavy: Chris Arreola (30-2) W TKO 1 Joey Abell (27-5,2ND). Light Welter: Josesito Lopez (29-3,1ND) W TKO 7 Mike Dallas Jr (17-1-1). Super Middle: Shawn Estrada (11-0) W KO 1 Jon Schmidt (10-2). Almost farcical as a big right from 29-year-old Arreola unhinges southpaw Abell and referee stops it just past the two minute mark. Second win for Arreola since majority decision loss to Tomasz Adamek, but this one was a gift. “Minnesota Ice” Abell ok at the lower level but loses when he tries to step up. Clash of two promising fighters sees 26-year-old Lopez too strong for unbeaten Dallas in fight for vacant NABF title. A cut on his forehead worried Lopez but he took control and floored 24-year-old Dallas in the seventh and the fight is stopped. Seven wins in a row for lanky Lopez. Olympian Estrada, 25, in a bit of rubbish as he floors poor Schmidt three times in 108 seconds for pointless win. Estrada, who lost to James DeGale in Beijing, has won ten by KO/TKO, nine in the first round. Which shows just how he is being protected.
San Diego, USA: Super Feather: Gary Russell Jr. (14-0) W T DEC 7 Feider Viloria (23-8-1,1ND). Feather: Raul Hirales Jr (12-0-1) W PTS 8 Charles Huerta (16-2). Southpaw Russell, 23, marches on. Floors experienced Colombian in the fifth and looks on the way to a points win when Viloria cut in a clash of heads in the seventh and the fight goes to the scorecards. Former Olympian in front on scores of 70-62 twice and 69-63. Viloria lost in nine rounds to Roman Martinez in a challenge for the WBO title in 2009. Former top amateur Hirales outworks Huerta and despite losing two points for low blows, still comes away with a unanimous verdict on scores of 77-74 twice and 78-73. I believe that Hirales is a brother of Raul and Ramon Garcia Hirales. Huerta was a World Cadet Championships bronze medalist and US championships runner-up.
New York, USA: Super Middle: Lennox Allen (14-0-1) W TKO 2 Jesse Orta (7-15-2). One sided fight as Guyanan southpaw punches too hard for poor Orta and halts him in second. Now nine wins by KO/TKO for 25-year-old Allen but no wins in his last eight for Texan.
Papeete, French Polynesia: Cruiser: Soulan Pownceby (17-0-1) W PTS 8 Moses Sorovi (20-16-1). New Zealander Pownceby, 35, remains unbeaten with a points win over 40-year-old Fijian. Score 78-75. Pownceby competed in the 2003 World Championships, the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games, but has left it late to turn pro. Sorovi is a former Australian cruiserweight champion.
Barranquilla, Colombia: Super Middle: Alex Brand (12-0) W KO 4 Tomas Rodriguez (8-7-1). Cruiser: Angel Valencia (20-3,1ND) W KO 2 Leo Cassiani (0-2). Light Welter: Fidel Munoz (25-2) W PTS 8 Dunis Linan (12-18-2). Bantam: Ronald Barrera (28-8-2) W PTS 8 Ben Rivas (6-34-2). Former top amateur Brand blows away another opponent. At 33 he is another one who tarried too long in the amateurs. All of his wins have been by KO/TKO. Valencia returns to the ring after a break of almost eight years and has an easy time with novice Cassiani. Munoz, who lost to Humberto Soto in a challenge for the WBC lightweight title in September, eases past Linan. Barrera returns after his stoppage loss to Omar Nino Romero for the WBC fly title and wins unanimous decision as all three officials see it as 78-74.
January 29
Pontiac, USA: Light Welter: Tim Bradley (27-0,1ND) W T DEC 10 Devon Alexander (21-1). Heavy: Bermane Stiverne (20-1-1) W TKO 2 Kertson Manswell (20-1). Welter: Vernon Paris (24-0,3ND) W PTS 8 Emanuel Augustus (38-34-6). Welter Julio Diaz (38-6) W TKO 8 Pavel Miranda (16-6-1).Welter: Kendall Holt (26-4) W TKO 1 Lenin Arroyo (20-15-1). Super Middle: Darryl Cunningham (22-2) W PTS 6 Alberto Mercedes (14-17-1). Light Heavy: Marcus Oliveira (21-0-1) W PTS 6 Demetrius Jenkins (21-18-1). Light Middle: Allen Conyers (12-4) W PTS 8 James De La Rosa (20-1). Disappointing unification bout with an absence of any real highlights until fight stopped in the tenth after series of head clashes worsened a cut on Alexander’s right eye lid that was originally opened in the third round. Bradley was the aggressor most of the way and landed the cleaner punches. He was in front on all three cards with scores of 98-93, 97-93, and 96-95, so took the technical decision. “Desert Storm” Bradley, retains WBO title and wins WBC title that he relinquished in 2009. Southpaw Alexander, 23, making third defence of the WBC title had previously been stripped of the IBF title for taking this fight.
Impressive win for Canadian Stiverne. He floors Trinidadian Manswell with a right and floors him again with a left hook to bring the referee’s intervention. Now 19 wins by KO/TKO, 14 of those in the first round, for 32-year-old Stiverne and he wins three different titles, which I won’t bother to list. A loss to Demetrice King and a draw with Charles Davis still leave question marks over Stiverne, but no question about his punching power. First fight in almost a year for Manswell, 34, who has spent seven years, and registered 20 wins as a pro, without every getting anywhere “Ice Man” Paris,23, remains unbeaten, but like many other prospects, he did not have an easy night against the erratic and experienced 36-year-old Augustus. In a rough battle both fighters suffered points deductions, Augustus in the sixth and seventh and Paris also in the seventh. Scores for Paris 77-72 twice and 76-73. Paris keeps winning without impressing. Five losses in a row for Augustus but still handful when he is in the mood.
Former IBF lightweight champion Diaz, 31, up at welterweight, and building on his win over Herman Ngoudjo in May, finally wore down fellow Mexican Miranda. Diaz scored two knockdowns in eighth and had Miranda ready to be taken when the referee stopped the fight. Miranda, after being unbeaten in his first 18 fights, has failed to win any of his last six.
Former WBO light welter champion Holt, 29, floors Costa Rican Arroyo with a left hook and wins in just 110 seconds. First fight for Holt since losing to Kaiser Mabuza in February. Holt, who lost his WBO title to Tim Bradley in 2009, now up at welterweight and trying to get his career going again after serious legal troubles. Eight losses in a row for Arroyo, seven to prospects, which is now his role. Cunningham, 36, handles Dominican with ease. Wins all the way, scores a knockdown in sixth and scores of 60-53 from all three officials show dominance. Southpaw has only fought outside Michigan twice and opposition has generally poor. Two old “names” on his record as he has beaten Antwun Echols and Rubin Williams in his last two fights. Mercedes, 33, has won only two of his last 13.
Kansas City’s Oliveira takes every round against veteran loser Jenkins. Scores 60-54 from all three officials for Oliveira who kayoed IBF No 8 Griffin in two rounds in 2009, but is not in their ratings. Conyers, 34, lives up to his “Dream Shatterer” nickname as he ruins the unbeaten record of Texas-based Mexican De La Rosa. The Bronx fighter scored knockdowns in the second, sixth and eighth round to win on scores of 95-92 on all three cards, which without the 10-8 rounds would have been a draw. First fight since August 2008 for Conyers who walked away after losses to world rated Said Ouali and James Kirkland. The 5’10” tall De La Rosa is only 23, so he could come again as he also had rust, not having fought since October 2009.
Culiacan, Mexico: Middle: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (42-0-1,1ND) W PTS 10 Billy Lyell (22-9). Middle: Saul Roman (34-8) W TKO 2 Michael Medina (24-3-2). Chavez too powerful for game Lyell Scores 99-92, 98-92 and a too close 96-94. Lyell makes better start but Chavez gets into the fight. BY then Lyell is cut and Chavez has swelling on cheek. Lyell keeps is close until end of sixth and then the body attack of Chavez puts him in control. Lyell cut again and hanging on in last round. Medina makes the mistake of punching with the puncher. He had momentary success as he floored Roman in the second round only for Roman to storm back and batter Medina with a vicious attack that saw the referee stop the fight. Now 29 wins by KO/TKO for 30-year-old Roman. “Murder Man” Medina had lost to John Duddy on a split verdict in March 2010.
Brakpan, South Africa: Straw: Nkosinathi Joyi (21-0,1ND) ND 3 Katsunari Takayama (24-4,1ND). Super Feather: Argenis Mendez (18-1) W PTS 12 Cassius Baloyi (37-6-1). Welter: Chris van Heerden (15-1-1) W PTS 12 Botishepo Mandawe (8-2). Light Heavy: Daniel Bruwer (22-2-1) W TKO 8 Ruben Groenewald (23-9-3). Welter; Philip N’dou (34-4) W PTS 8 Welcome Ntshingila (16-13-3). Unlucky Joyi as he is dominating fight with Japanese challenger when a clash of heads in third resulted in a cut high on Takayama’s head. Cut did not look dangerous but the Doctor advised it be stopped. Since bout had not gone four rounds it is a no decision. Joyi, 28, retains IBF title in first defence, but looked on his way to an easy win. Takayama, a former WBC strawweight and interim WBA champion could not handle the power of Joyi, who also had height and reach advantages. Dominican southpaw Mendez, 24, looked on his way to an early win when he floored veteran Baloyi in the first. However, the 36-year-old South African has only been stopped once, and he survived and managed to fight his way back into the fight in the middle rounds. New York-based Mendez took control again in the later rounds and won the IBF eliminator on scores of 117-110 twice and117-111. “Mr. Shy Guy” Baloyi, who has had two spells as IBF champion has lost three of his last four now. Mendez will go on to challenge South African Mzonke Fana for the title. In a stirring battle van Heerden retained his national title with a split verdict over relative novice Mandawe. Scores 118-112, 116-112 and 114-115.
“Billy The Kid” Bruwer continued his comeback with a stoppage of Groenewald in the eighth round of a fight where a lot of effort and very little skill was on show. Both fighters had recently lost to Thabiso Mchunun for the national cruiserweight title. Groenewald, 33, a former WBU super middle champion, has lost three of his last four. “The Time Bomb” Ndou 33, won a unanimous verdict over good journeyman Ntshingila on scores of 79-73, 78-75 and 77-75. Ndou, a former WBU and South African super featherweight champion also lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr for the WBC lightweight title in 2003. Ndou holds a 2001 win over Baloyi and last year lost to Lovemore Ndou for the vacant IBO welterweight title.
Cebu City, Philippines: Feather: Rey Bautista (30-2) W KO 3 Alejandro Barrera (21-5). Fly Edrin Dapudong (21-3) W TKO 7 Sofyan Effendi (10-11-2). Light Welter: Jason Pagara (25-1) W KO 1 Billy Sumba (18-3-1). Super Bantam: Roli Gasco (15-1) W PTS 8 Joash Apericio (7-5). Short war as Bautista, 24, and Barrera, 31, threw bombs at each other in the first two rounds. In the third a body shot hurt the Mexican. He beat the count, but a two-fisted attack from Bautista forced Barrera to go down again, and he was counted out. No 23 by KO/TKO for “Boom Boom”, who was stopped in one round by Daniel Ponce De Leon for the WBO super bantam title in 2007. After winning his first 18 fights, Barrera has lost 5 of his last 8 including a stoppage loss to Bautista at the same venue in August. “The Sting” Dapudong, rebuilding after loss to Wilbert Unicab, in September has good workout against game Indonesian before stopping him early in the seventh. Pagara, just 18, flattens Indonesian with a left hook counter with just seven seconds left in the first round. Now 13 wins in a row for Pagara. Sumba being found out as the opposition gets better. Won his first 17, but has won only one of his last five. Gasco loses a point for a butt in the seventh, but is well in command and wins on scores of 78=73, 78-74 and 77-74. Nice prospect, but pity he can’t punch.
Guadalajara, Mexico: Super Bantam: Victor Terrazas (29-2-1) W PTS 12 Nehomar Cermeno (20-3). Fly: Jean Piero Perez (18-3-1) W PTS 12 Jesus Jimenez (31-6). A couple of surprises as local Terrazas won unexpectedly and Jimenez lost when he was a hot favourite. Terrazas aggression may have just given him the edge, but Cermeno has made a habit of losing close verdicts. Terrazas well beaten by Brit Rendall Munroe last year, but his win in this WBA eliminator puts him in line for a title shot. Scores 116-112, 115-113 and 113-115. Cermeno lost two split verdicts to Anselmo Moreno for the WBA bantamweight title last year. Perez gained revenge for Venezuela and collected the interim WBA title as he upset the odds by standing up to the punching power of Jimenez and despite being rocked in the early rounds boxed his way to a clear unanimous decision on scores of 117-111 twice and 118-110.
Broadbeach, Australia: Heavy: Alex Leapai (22-3-3) W KO 1 Jason Barnett (12-13). Super Middle: Jamie Pittman (21-2) W PTS Tim Kanofski (11-4). Leapai, 31, extends his unbeaten run to 14 as he floors poor Barnett, 36, three times for a first round stoppage. That makes it 17 by KO/TKO, but a drop min opposition from previous foes Travis Walker, Owen Beck and Darnell Wilson. Barnett just two wins in his last nine fight. All the way form America for less than three minutes. Former WBA middleweight title challenger Pittman slowly working his way back as he wins every round against Kanofski. Pittman, 29, was stopped by Felix Sturm for the WBA middleweight title in 2008 and kayoed in seven rounds by Joseph Kwadjo last April. Scores 60-54 from the three officials.
Monte Hermoso, Argentina: Super Fly: Roberto Domingo Sosa (20-0) W TKO 7 Devis Perez (13-2-2). “Incho” Sosa easily retains his WBA Fed Latin title for the second time as he batters Colombian to defeat. After a slow start Argentinian champion Sosa, 26, took over and forced Perez, 25, to take standing counts in round 3, 4 and 6. Sosa looked for the finish in the seventh and was landing with so many unanswered punches that he invited the referee to stop the fight. The official declined, but stepped in a few seconds later. Since the No 1 spot is vacant, Sosa is effectively WBA’s top rated fighter. Perez had lost only one of his last 16.
Halifax, Canada: Super Bantam: Tyson Cave (13-1) W PTS 12 Nestor Bolum (8-1). The “Prince of Hali” wins vacant WBC Continental Americas title with a near shut out over South African Bolum. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91. Second win for southpaw Cave since his loss to Will Casey last April. Nigerian-born Bolum was having his first fight since 2007. In his pro debut back in 2006 he beat new IBO champion Gideon Buthelezi. Gaillard, France: Super Feather: Samir Kasmi (12-8-1) W TKO 2 Joel Durand (16-3). Mild upset as Kasmi, 28, wins vacant French title. His aggression rolls over the better technique of Durand, 31, and he scores knockdowns in the first and second, after which Durand’s corner throw the towel in. Kasmi, who lost to Paul Truscott in 2008, was having his third shot at winning a French title, the other two down at featherweight.
Allnay-sous-Bois: Middle: Julien Marie Sainte (29-2) W PTS 10 Affif Belghecham (19-6-1). Middle: Mehdi Bouadla (22-3) W PTS 8 Pavels Lotahs (5-11). Great little fight and a great atmosphere as Sainte retrains French title in his third defence after epic battle with Belghecham. First four rounds even as challenger holds off strong attacks from Sainte with good defence and clever counters. Sainte, 27, hurt in sixth and southpaw Belghecham in seventh. Sainte seems to take eighth and ninth as Belghecham, 36, cut on bridge of nose, and tenth even. Scores 97-93 twice and 96-94 as “Brigadier” gets decision. Eleven wins in a row for Sainte since losing to Tyan Booth in Canada in 2009. In his previous fights Belghecham had lost to Andy Lee and to Darren Baker for the vacant European title. Bouadla overcomes the disappointment of his fight for the IBF title falling through, and the tragedy of the death of his grandfather, and floors Latvian in the sixth on the way to a wide unanimous verdict on scores of 80-71 twice and 80-72. Also eleven wins in a row for Bouadla since losing to Belghecham in 2008.
Verona, USA: Heavy: Frank Lawrence (14-2-2) W TKO 10 Jason Estrada (16-4). Middle: Jose Medina (13-9) W KO 4 Isaac Rodrigues (17-2). Minor upset as 35-year-old Lawrence halts former amateur star Estrada. Lawrence made the better start and had Estrada in serious trouble in the third. Estrada boxed his way back into the fight, but began to tire. Lawrence again hurt Estrada and cut him by his right eye. At the start of the last round “Yah Yah” Lawrence launched a big attack, momentarily halted as Estrada was deducted a point for low blows. A spent Estrada was defenceless when the referee stopped the fight. Lawrence wins vacant WBC CABOFE title and with his win over Lance Whitaker in September is in line for some good paydays. His losses have been on a shoulder injury against Bermaine Stiverne and a points defeat against Oliver McCall in 2009. “Big Six” Estrada had lost important matches against Alex Povetkin and Tomasz Adamek, but this loss was a huge blow to his hopes. Big upset as lightly regarded Mexican Medina, 27, flattens Brazilian Rodrigues with a great combination in the second round. Medina had lost on a split verdict to Matthew Hatton in 2006. Second KO/TKO loss in row for Brazilian after 17 wins.
Accra, Ghana: Light Heavy: Braimah Kamoko (21-0) W TKO 4 Jorge Rodriguez Olivera (22-3). Feather: Ishmael Aryeetey W PTS 12 Nanabeyin Benya Bee. Light: Martin Haikali (7-4) W PTS 12 Sam Amoako. Welter: Joshua Okine (21-4-1) W Adonicio Francisco Reges (16-4,1ND). Super Bantam: Ray Commey W KO 5 Herbert Quartey. Light Heavy: Michael Gbenga W KO 9 Ayitey Powers. Kamoko wins vacant interim WBO African title-by beating a Uruguayan! Easy for Kamoko who floors Olivera in first and third, and the Brazilian's corner throws in the towel in the fourth. Fifteen by KO/TKO for 30-year-old Kamoko. Aryeetey wins vacant Ghanaian title with win over Benya Bee. Namibian Haikali too strong for former Commonwealth title challenger Amoako and retains WBO African title for fourth time with split verdict. Scores 117-115,116-114 and 113-117. Amaoko lost to Lee McAlister and Gavin Rees here. Former Commonwealth champion Okine, 30, floors and halts Brazilian Reges in four. Quartey keeps up his record of losing in title fights as he is kayoed in five by Commey. Former Commonwealth title challenger Gbenga scores numerous knockdowns on the way to kayoing Powers. Nigerian-born Gbenga wins vacant Ghana title.
Cuernavaca, Mexico: Fly: Omar Soto (20-7-2) W TKO 2 Edgar Jimenez (11-5-1) Jimenez wins first two rounds, but then is caught with a left hook from experienced Soto, and it is all over. Sot has had shots at the IBF strawweight and IBO and WBC flyweight titles, and all of his losses have been either to world champions or top rated fighters. Soto wins WBC Fecarbox title.
Lusaka, Zambia: Super Fly: Kennedy Kanyanta (9-0) W KO 4 Zolile Mbityi (34-14-3). Welter: Hasting Bwalya (7-0) W PTS 6 Silas Mandeya (0-4). Kanyanta wins vacant IBO Inter-continental title with fourth round kayo of 40-year-old South African Mbityi. US based Bwalya returns for his first fight at home and outpoints Zimbabwean Mandeya.
Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania: Super Fly: Francis Miyeyusho (29-8-2) W PTS 10 Juma Fundi (14-5). Super Fly: Anthony Mathias (28-17-2) W TKO 6 Baina Mazola (4-1-1). In a much anticipated bout southpaw Miyeyusho, 30, goes all out for the first round kayo he had forecast but Fundi survived and came back to hurt Miyeyusho in the third. In a close fight the aggression of experienced Miyeyusho gave him the edge and he won a close unanimous decision on scores of 99-97, 99-98 and 98-97, which either goes to show the rounds were very even, or the officials sat on the fence. Miyeyusho is too good for the local opposition, but first round losses to Nick Otieno and Zolani Tete and a second round loss to Isaac Ward for the Commonwealth title put him into context. Mathias halts novice. Again Mathias, 32, does well locally but was also a first round victim against Tete and lasted less than two rounds in a Commonwealth challenge to Lee Haskins. He does have one shock on his record, back in 2005 he kayoed world rated Thai Tabtimdaeng in eleven rounds.
January 31
Tokyo, Japan: Super Feather: Takashi Uchiyama (17-0) W TKO 8 Takashi Miura (20-2-2). Super Bantam: Akifumi Shimoda (23-2-1) W PTS 12 Retsuri Lee (17-2-1). Two all-Japanese WBA title fights on the show with one champion retaining his title, and the other losing his. Uchiyama retains his title, but has to come off the floor in the third round before battering challenger Miura to defeat in the eighth round. Third defence of his title for 31-year-old Uchiyama, who did not turn pro until he was almost 26. Southpaw Shimoda wins WBA title in stirring battle with champion Ryol-Li Lee (real name Retsuri Lee). In an exciting battle challenger Shimoda was on the floor once and champion Lee three times, both being on the floor in a wild third round. Shimoda sweeps later rounds and wins unanimous decision on scores of 118-109 twice and 115-111.
