September 30
Santa Ynez, USA: Light Welter: Ajose Olusegun (30-0) W PTS 12 Ali Chebah (35-2). Light: Darley Perez (23-0) W TKO 6 Oscar Meza (22-5).In a much delayed fight Olusegun wins WBC eliminator with wide unanimous win over Frenchman Chebah on scores of 119-107 twice and 120-106, but the scores don't reflect the closeness of some rounds.
The 31-year-old Nigerian southpaw, a former Commonwealth champion, was in control for most of the fight with his busy style and harder punching, but Chebah, 26, never stopped trying to come forward which made for a good fight. Olusegun had a big third round as he floored Chebah with right which seemed to land on the back of Chebah’s head. Chebah got up and took the mandatory eight count, only to be floored again with a straight left. Once again he got up and was actually fighting back hard at the end of the round.
A wild fourth saw both fighters hurt. Olusegun continued to score heavily in the following rounds with his unorthodox and powerful swings and hooks with Chebah frustrated in not being able to get his own fight plan working. Chebah finally had success in the eleventh as Olusegun tired from his efforts, and his showboating, and had the Nigerian hurt. Chebah also looked to have taken the last as Olusegun, knowing he was in front, took no chances. Both fighters claimed that hand injuries affected their performance.
Due to postponements Olusegun (in Nigeria his name is given as Olusegun Ajose) had had just one fight in the previous 17 months, but is now the mandatory challenger and it will be interesting to see which of the three possibilities occur: whether the WBC press his claim and strip Morales if he does not comply, Morales meets Olusegun, or Morales gives up the title. You can discount the first and the second seems to also be improbable. Chebah, who turned pro at 16, showed plenty of skill and power of his own and at 26 he can come again.
Colombian Perez, 28, had too much class and too hard a punch for experienced Mexican Meza. Perez, 28, was on top throughout. He inflicted a cut over Meza’s left eye in the fourth and a bad gash under the left eye in the fifth. He was teeing off on Meza throughout the sixth and the Mexican’s corned pulled Meza out at the end of the round. Now 18 wins by KO/TKO for “Studiante” Perez who was South American amateur champion, and represented Colombia in the 2005 and 2007 World championships and the 2008 Olympics. He is rated No 5 by the WBA. Meza, 24, had lost only two of his last 18, to Brandon Rios and Mercito Gesta, so was a real test for Perez.
Ghent, Belgium: Light: Jean Pierre Bauwens (21-0-1) W PTS 10 Andriy Kudriatsev (37-9). Welter: Sasha Yengoyan (16-0-1) W KO 3 Christian Bladt (38-12-2). Light Middle: Jackson Osei Bonsu (36-5) W PTS 6 George Ungiazde (17-10). Fighting in his home town, Bauwens, 23, was well prepared for the most important fight of his career and he brilliantly passed the test. At moments he had problems with the experience of his Ukrainian opponent, but in general he was quicker, and was the guy who just wanted it the most. It was a fast paced fight with fiery exchanged which had the full house on their feet at times. Bauwens convincingly won by scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 99-92. Bauwens was rated No 15 by the EBU, but with this win over No 2 Kudriatsev, he is right in line for a shot at Gavin Rees. The 35-year-old Ukrainian had a rocky start to his career, but recently only fighters such as Paulus Moses, Anthony Mezaache and John Murray have beaten him, the last two in EBU title shots.
Sasha Yengoyan made a big step in the direction of a European title knocking out Christian Bladt in three rounds. Also a big test for “The Beast from the East” Yengoyan, 26, who opened with a cracking right to the temple to show Bladt that he was in for a fight. Bladt took it well and had his own moments. Yengoyan, known for his limited boxing skills, but feared for his punching power, had Bladt under pressure in the second round but Bladt fought back and made this round a close one. Yengoyan came out more decisive for the third and after 23 seconds a left to the body dropped Bladt who did not beat the count. Yengoyan, who I believe is Armenian, but based in Belgium, now has nine wins by KO/TKO. Dane Bladt, a former European welterweight champion, had lost only one of his last nine fights.
Former European welter champ Sugar Jackson, in his second fight in his new division of 154lbs, and had much more troubles then expected against Georgian Ungiadze. Ungiadze had Jackson wobbling a few times, but Jackson fought back and won by scores of 59-54 twice and 59-55.
Charleville-Mezieres, France: Feather: Alex Miskirtchian (20-2-1) W PTS 12 Sofiane Takoucht (21-2). Another excellent European title fight. Georgian-born but Belgium based, Miskirtchian took the fight to the southpaw champion from the start. It was the classic battle where Miskirtchian wanted to fight inside and the better technical boxer Takoucht, 25, wanted it at a distance. Miskirtchian was setting a fast pace and as early as the fourth round the Frenchman was showing signs of exhaustion. However, he stayed in the fight with some skillful boxing although Miskirtchian was winning the rounds. Takoucht found his second breath and took to eighth and ninth, but Miskirtchian battled back to take the last two. Scores 115-113, 115-114 and 113-115. Takoucht was the top rated fighter with the IBF at No 3 (Nos 1 & 2 are vacant), so this was a big win for Miskirtchian who boxed for Belgium as an amateur is a former undefeated European Union and Belgian champ.. His last defeat was on points to Paul Truscott in 2008 and he has won seven since then, but had been inactive since March. This was Takoucht’s first defence since winning the title from Oleh Yefimovych in October 2010.
Grugliasco, Italy: Cruiser: Vincenzo Rossitto (41-7-2) W TKO 5 Maurizio Lovaglio (9-8). Rossitto, 35, wins this fight for the vacant national title, as the brave Lovaglio takes a one-sided beating. Lovaglio gets the better start, but a right hook to the jaw shakes him mid way through the second, and from then on it is Rossitto’s fight. The fourth round was so one-sided that even without a knockdown it could have been scored 10-8, and the fight should have been stopped then. Instead Lovaglio suffered more punishment in the fifth, and his corner retired him at the end of the round. Now 24 wins by KO/TKO for the former Italian champion who had two unsuccessful shots at the European title and in 2008 lost a majority verdict to Jonathan Banks for the IBO title. Lovaglio, 29, had lost in a previous challenge for the Italian light heavyweight title.
Belgrade, Serbia: Heavy: Jovo Pudar (27-3) W KO 2 Hector Avila (17-11-1). Easy night for 40-year-old Pudar as he floors former Argentinian cruiserweight champion three times in the third round for kayo. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for 6’4” tall Pudar, who did most of his fighting in the USA. Two of his losses were to Samuel Peter and Taurus Sykes. Soft-chinned Avila, 36, has lost eight times by KO/TKO, and it is seven fights outside Argentina and seven losses.
Costa Mesa, USA: Light: Luis Ramos (20-0) W KO 5 David Rodela (15-5-3). Super Feather: Ronny Rios (16-0) W PTS 8 Roger Gonzalez (27-5). Not a noted puncher Ramos, 23, puts a sliding Rodela out with a body shot. This fight was competitive for the first couple of rounds and then Ramos started to dictate as Rodela, 29, seemed to lose the confidence to trade. Ramos well on top when one thudding left to the body puts Rodela down for the count. Ramos, who beat former WBC super feather “champion” Francisco Lorenzo in June, moves to ten wins by KO/TKO. Once considered a prospect, Rodela has lost his way completely, and now has only one win in his five fights.
Both Rios and Gonzalez took this fight to close quarters over the first few rounds, and whilst 21-year-old Rios was getting the better of it, he was fighting Gonzalez’s fight. The result was that Gonzalez began to make up ground as the infighting suited him better. Rios fought on the outside using his jab more to relieve the pressure and then set up another body attack to take the last two rounds. Although Gonzalez was just not busy enough this was a close, hard fought, contests despite the scores of 78-74 twice and a way out 80-72. Rios was National Golden Glove and US Amateur champion in 2007, but lost out in the US trails to Robert Marroquin and Gary Russell Jr. “Speedy” Gonzalez, 33, has lost four in a row, but the other three were to Cornelius Lock, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Eloy Perez and his only other loss was to Jhonny Gonzalez. All tough.
Philadelphia, USA: Light Middle: Ray Robinson (12-2) W TKO 7 Manuel Guzman (7-13-2). Robinson, who once boxed in the World University championships, returns with a win. The 25-year-old southpaw had lost two in a row, but to quality opposition in Brad Solomon majority verdict) and Shawn Porter. This was his first fight for almost 15 months. One win in his last ten for Guzman.
October 1
Neubrandenburg, Germany: Cruiser: Yoan Pablo Hernandez (25-1) W TEC DEC 6 Steve Cunningham (24-3). Middle: Grzegorz Proksa (26-0) W TKO 3 Sebastian Sylvester (34-5-1). Light Heavy: Karo Murat (24-1-1) DREW 12 Gabriel Campillo (21-3-1,1ND). Heavy: Edmund Gerber (17-0) W KO 7 Yohan Banks (4-6-3). Light Heavy: Dustin Dirks (22-0) W KO 8 Parfait Tindani (7-7-3). Super Middle: Henry Webber (15-0-1) W PTS 8 Stjepan Bozic (24-6). This one could, and perhaps should, have ended in the first round. Cunningham came out of an exchange with his right down at shoulder level and southpaw Hernandez nailed him with a short left which landed high on the side of Cunningham’s head and he went down heavily. He made an attempt to get up quickly but instead rolled on his side and it looked impossible for him to beat the count. However, he somehow slowly climbed up on shaky legs (I timed it at eleven seconds from him going down to getting up), but with only 25 seconds left Hernandez could not find that finishing punch. Remarkably Hernandez made no attempt to go after Cunningham in the second, but retreated and looked to counter Cunningham with his left. Hernandez probably just edged that round, but it was the last one I gave him.
Cunningham was walking Hernandez down and getting through with his right, with Hernandez only countering in flurries. However, in the third Cunningham was careless with his head, and what looked like a butt, left Hernandez with cut on the left side of his head. Another clash of heads in the sixth saw Hernandez cut again over the right eye. During, the fifth and particularly in the sixth, it was Cunningham scoring and hurting Hernandez. At the end of the sixth there was discussion in the corner of Hernandez and the referee decided to stop the fight.
After a great deal of confusion it went to the scorecards and Hernandez won a split verdict on scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 56-57 with the last card looking to be the most accurate reflection of the fight. The 26-year-old Cuban wins the IBF title. Cunningham, 35, was making the second defence in his second reign. His other two losses have been split decisions, and he deserves an immediate return.
Impressive display from British-based Pole Proksa. This was a big step up in quality of opposition, but it seemed that no one told Proksa, because he showed no respect for former IBF champion Sylvester’s reputation. Southpaw Proksa, 26, was in charge from the start and wins vacant European title. His two-fisted aggression was just too much for Sylvester to handle and the fight was completely one-sided with Sylvester, 31, hiding behind a high guard, failing to let his shots go, and rarely throwing more than a dozen punches in any round. Carrying his hands down at belt level and switching stances Proksa was throwing punches from both hands and driving Sylvester back for all of the first round. At the end of the round Sylvester was being treated for a small cut over his right eye. In the second round it was all one-way. Ignoring defence Proksa was getting through with heavy punches from both hand and Sylvester did not seem to know how to deal with the hands down, hooking style of the Pole. Proksa was so dominant that the round could easily have been scored 10-8. To make things worse Sylvester was also cut very badly having a vertical gash above his right eye. Sylvester had brief success at the start of the third as he actually drove Proksa back, but Proksa was not hurt and resumed his attack staggering Sylvester with a volley at the end of the round.
In the interval Sylvester’s corned pulled him out. Former European Union champion Proksa made Sylvester look second class as he made it ten wins by KO/TKO in a row. Sylvester never got into the fight. This the Germans first fight since losing his IBF title to Daniel Geale in May, and he was beaten so decisively that he will have a massive rebuilding job to do if he decides to continue fighting.
The main feature of the Murat vs. Campillo fight was the total absence of any clinches - not one. Spaniard Campillo, a former WBA champion was the taller, and had a big reach advantage, and Murat needed to get inside. After a quiet first three rounds, which Murat just edged, the Spaniard began to let his punches go, and had Murat retreating for most of the round scoring heavily both at a distance an up close. However, Murat was firing back with hooks and uppercuts through Campillo’s guard. The pattern stayed the same for the rest of the fight with both fighters happy to stand within punching range and let go with both hands.
For me southpaw Campillo swept the middle rounds teeing off on Murat in in the seventh and eighth. Although Murat was already looking tired, and dropping his hands, he was scoring well and effectively countering and getting through with his hooks and wild swings. Either both boxers had great chins, or neither is really a puncher, as they were both landing with heavy punches in every round. Murat had a big eleventh hurting Campillo with a right, but was just too tired to follow-up, and was dropping his hands from exhaustion. The last round saw Murat, who must have been running on an empty tank, just swinging and hooking wildly and Campillo answering back with clubbing shots from both hands. Murat was almost too tired to stand at the end of the fight and draped himself over the top rope totally exhausted.
The scores were 117-111 for Campillo, 115-113 for Murat and 114-114. These two had fought before in 2008, and Murat won on a razor thin split verdict. For my money Campillo gained revenge, but it was also a magnificent effort by Murat. Campillo, 32, is a former WBA champion and is currently rated No 1 by them. Murat is the top rated challenger to IBF champion Tavoris Cloud.
Gerber, a dark horse in the heavyweight ranks, took his time in breaking down former US footballer Banks. He finally ended the fight in the seventh with a series of hard rights. The 6’3”, 23-year-old German has ten wins by KO/TKO. He has made a habit of beating British opponents, this time he picked on a Californian. The 36-year-old Banks showed a strong chin but little else. Dirks too good for Frenchman and although getting through with some hard punches in every round it is the eighth before he finds a left hook to put Tindani down and out. The 22-year-old Dirks has 16 wins by KO/TKO. Tindani, with only one win in his last seven fights, was not in this class. The light punching Weber given a tough test by experienced Slovenian-born Croat, and has to wok hard for his split decision. The 36-yeart-old Bozic had lost to Dmitri Sartison for the WBA secondary title in 2009.
Atlantic City, USA: Middle: Sergio Martinez (48-2-2) W KO 11 Darren Barker (23-1). Light Heavy: Isaac Chilemba (18-1-1) W TKO 2 Jameson Bostic (23-5). Middle: Andy Lee (27-1) W PTS 10 Brian Vera (19-6). Heavy: Magomed Abdusalamov (10-0) W TKO 1 Kevin Burnett (13-5-1).Heavy: Seanie Monaghan (9-0) W TKO 4 Kentrell Claiborne (2-4). The 36-year-old Argentinian southpaw retains WBC Diamond Belt and the Ring title, but gets a harder than expected time from Barker. The Englishmen used a high defence to catch or deflect the punches from Martinez, and was well in the fight after four rounds. From the fifth Martinez started to go to the body to bring Barker’s guard down, and was having more success. Barker, 29, inflicted a cut under the right of Martinez in the seventh, but he needed to let his punches go as Martinez was winning the rounds with his fast combination punching. Barker had a good eighth as he moved more and threw more leather, but that was his last good round.
Martinez was still working the body in the ninth and a big attack at the end of the tenth had Barker hurt. There were signs of tiredness creeping into the work of Martinez, but he staged a big attack in the eleventh, flooring Barker with a right to the side of the head which saw Barker almost going down in stages for the count. Martinez has lost only one fight since 2000, a majority decision to Paul Williams, and he certainly gained revenge for that in their return. Barker gained a great deal of credit from his performance as he stuck to his game plan, but found the speed and accuracy of Martinez too much for him.
Lee was on a revenge mission and he achieved his goal with a wide points victory over game but limited Vera. It was not an exciting scrap, as Lee used his skills to counter the pressure tactics of Vera, and the Texan was never really able to get into the fight until the late rounds. Southpaw Lee, 27, floored Vera at the end of the second, and although he still tasted a few rights from Vera, he was never hurt. Lee opened a cut over Vera’s right eye in the fifth and staggered him in the sixth. Vera finally managed to have some success in chasing Lee down eighth, but Lee took the last two rounds and the decision on scores of 99-90 twice and 98-91. Lee, rated No 2 by both the WBA and IBF had been stopped in seven rounds by Vera in 2007. This was his twelfth win since then. Vera has had less success being 3-4 in his last seven going in.
Chilamba is impressive again as he puts Bostic under pressure throughout the first round. He finally cornered Bostic in the second and a volley punches had Bostic taking the full count on his knees on the canvas. The 24-year-old “Golden Boy” from Malawi is a former undefeated IBO champion, and the combined total records for his previous five opponents is 84-1, so they are not scared to match him in tough fights. Having said that, the record of New Zealand based American Bostic was deceptively flattering.
Russian heavyweight Abdusalamov just walked through the punches of Burnett and scored two knockdowns to finish his nights work in 78 seconds. The 30-year-old southpaw Abdusalamov competed in the World Military Championships, and was Russian amateur champion in 2005 and 2006. He lost to David Price in the European Olympic qualifying tournament. US-based Irishman Monaghan easily handled poor Claiborne, and was on top until Claiborne’s corner threw in the towel early in the fourth. Six wins by KO/TKO for Monaghan.
Las Vegas, USA: Light Fly: Roman Gonzalez (30-0) W KO 2 Omar Soto (22-8-2). Super Bantam: Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3) W PTS 12 Rafael Marquez (40-7). Welter: Yoshihiro Kamegai (19-0) W TKO 6 Hector Munoz (19-7-1). Super Bantam: Jose Angel Beranza (34-21-2) W PTS 10 Chris Martin (23-1-2). Super Bantam: Jesse Magdaleno (6-0) W TKO 1 Isaac Hidalgo (8-8-2). Mexican Soto came out determined to match Gonzalez punch-for –punch, which made for a hectic first round. These were the wrong tactics to use against a puncher such as Gonzalez. In the second Gonzalez landed a devastating combination topped off by an uppercut, and Soto sat out the count. This was a non title fight as Soto failed to make the weight. Nicaraguan “El Chocolatito, 24, a former WBA straw champion, moves to 25 wins by KO/TKO. “Little Wolf” Soto, 31, has had shots at the IBF straw and WBO and IBO flyweight titles. All of his losses have been to fighters who have held world title.
To some extent the Nishioka vs. Marquez fight was one of two halves. Over the first half of the contest Marquez, 36, used his jab and was clever at cutting down the space for the southpaw champion. Nishioka, 35, had the better of the second half of the fight, with the exception of the eighth, in which he was cut on the top of his head in a clash of heads and hurt late in the round by a right. Nishioka probably felt he was behind and also that the fight might be stopped due to the cut, and he staged a strong finish over the last three rounds to retain his WBC title for the seventh time. Scores 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113, with the first one looking out of line. Marquez had looked a bit shop worn when losing to Juan Manuel Lopez but was sharper in this one. The former IBF and WBC bantam champion was taking part in his twelfth world title fight.
Former undefeated Japanese champion Kamegai extends his run of KO/TKO wins by stopping late substitute Munoz in six. Kamegai, 28, has now won his last seven that way and has a total of 17 wins by KO/TKO, but the opposition has been poor. Munoz has lost six of his last seven. Big upset as veteran Beranza outscores previously unbeaten Martin. The Mexican just barreled forward in every round, crowding the light punching Martin, and never giving him the chance to use his skills. Scores 98-92, 96-94 and an out of step 93-97! The 35-year-old Beranza had lost six of his last seven fights, but all to quality opposition. This was Martin’s first fight for Top Rank and a huge setback for him, as he was rated No 5 by both the IBF and WBO.
Prospect Magdaleno outclassed Hidalgo scoring at will throughout the three minutes. With his left eye closed Hidalgo’s corner pulled him out at the end of the round. The 19-year-old Magdalena, the younger brother of unbeaten Diego, is a former US and National Golden Gloves champion, and one to watch.
Bayamon, Puerto Rico: Super Bantam: Jonathan Oquendo (22-2) W KO 2 Jose Luis Araiza (29-4). Feather: Juan Manuel Lopez (31-1) W TKO 2 Mike Oliver (25-3,1ND). Super Feather: Roman Martinez (25-1-1) W TKO 6 Daniel Attah (26-8-1,1ND). Another hard-punching display from “Polvo” Oquendo. He floored Araiza in the first and then put him away with a left hook early in the second. The 28-year-old is rated No 2 by the WBO and has won his last eight, six by KO/TKO, since losing to Juan Manuel Lopez in 2008. After losing his first fight to future champion Roberto Leyva, Araiza won his next 29, but has now lost his last four. Predictable early win for Lopez over talented but fragile fellow southpaw Oliver. A left to the chin from Lopez put Oliver down in the first round, and he was down again, taking a nine count at the end of the round. It was obvious he did not fancy the job and, after another knockdown in the second, the fight was stopped. Now 27 wins by KO/TKO for Lopez who lost his WBO title to Orlando Salido in April. He lifts WBO Latino title. Oliver had lost inside the distance to Antonio Escalante and Rey Lopez, but had won his last four.
“Rocky” Martinez, another former WBO champion, also had an early night as he punched too hard for veteran Attah. Martinez floored Attah in the third and then caught him again in the sixth, scoring two more knockdowns, and the fight was stopped. It was the first fight for the 28-year-old Puerto Rican since losing his title to Ricky Burns in September 2010. He wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title and you be sure that he will a big climb in the WBO from his current No 15 spot. Nigerian Attah, 34, fought Acelino Freitas for the WBA and WBO super feather titles way back in 2002.
Gomez Palacio, Mexico: Light Welter: Roberto Ortiz (21-0-1) W PTS 12 Dunis Linan (16-19-2). “Massa” Ortiz, 25, retains WBC silver belt title with wide points victory over Colombian. Linan was coming forward from the first bell, but Ortiz used his height and reach advantage to score at distance, and found the Colombian an easy target for his counters. Linan lost a point in the third for a butt and another in the seventh for hitting on the break. Ortiz was piling up the points and mixing it more. Knowing he was behind Linan made a huge effort in the last rounds, but the tiring Ortiz was still getting through with the quality punches. Scores 119-108, 118-109 and 116-110. That breaks a streak of twelve straight wins by KO/TKO for “Massa” who is one to watch, as he beat Antonio Lozada Jr (23-0) in four rounds in his last fight. The 30-year-old Colombian again proved his durability; he has only failed to last the distance twice
Puebla, Mexico: Light Fly: Sammy Gutierrez (30-6-2) W TKO 5 Rolio Golez (12-7). Feather: Alejandro Sanabria (29-1-1) W PTS 10 Pedro Navarrete (26-14-3). Super Bantam: Cruz Carbajal (32-18-2) W PTS 10 Pedro Torres (6-4-2). The bout started badly for both boxers. Gutierrez, 25, the former WBA interim strawweight champion, was badly cut over his left eye by a butt which bled throughout the bout, and Filipino Golez, 24, was deducted two points for administering the butt. It got better for Mexican “Guty” as he punished Golez with both hands from then on. The bell saved a battered Golez at the end of the third. He took more punishment in the fourth, and in the fifth, and despite the blood from the cut hampering his vision, Gutierrez landed a volley which brought the referees interception. Gutierrez wins the vacant WBC Silver Belt title. Golez is WBC Asian Boxing Council champ. Mark-time bout for world rated Sanabria. After a feel-out first round he dominates the experienced “Cowboy” Navarette and wins on scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 98-93. Sanabria beat Rocky Juarez in February. Navarette, 30, has lost six of his last seven, but has only been stopped twice.
Nearly a big upset as the former WBO bantam champion “Spoons” Carbajal, 37, had a lot of problems with the aggression of the inexperienced Torres and needed a strong finish to ensure the decision went his way. Scores 97-92 twice and 96-95. Carbajal bouncing back with his third win after a spell of 5 losses in 6 fights.
Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines: Feather: Eden Sonsona (28-6) W TKO 7 Godwin Tubigon (7-4-1). Feather: Mike Farenas (33-3-3,1ND) W PTS 12 Edgar Gabejan (22-26-4). Super Bantam: Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr. (7-0) W TKO 3 Doniel Marcos (10-14). Easy win for “Manila Golden Boy” 22-year-old Sonsona. For the first few rounds he was content to outbox the limited Tubigon, scoring freely with his southpaw jabs. He stepped up the pressure in the fifth scoring with good body shots. A short left hook floored Tubigon early in the seventh. After another knockdown the referee stopped the fight, but there was some controversy over the lateness of the stoppage. Twice Tubigon’s corner threw in the towel, and the referee threw it out both times. Sonsona is a former Philippines super fly and bantam champion, with four of his losses coming on the road against top class opposition.
A foul-filled, unruly fight, sees southpaw Farenas, 27, win a wide verdict over Gabejan to lift the Philippines title. The movement and fast punching of Farenas frustrated Gabejan who resorted to some very dubious tactics. He lost two points for throwing Farenas down and for pushing him over. Strangely he was not warned for the use of his head, with which he was always dangerous. Farenas was cut on the left eyebrow in the seventh, but the clean and accurate punching was coming from him. Farenas wins on scores of 119-115 twice and 118-116. He has lost only one of his last 28 fights, and has bounced back from the upset loss to Marlon Aguilar with wins over Daniel Attah and Fernando Beltran Jr.
Young prospect Penalosa came through a real test of fire against the more experienced Marcos. In the first round a careless Penalosa was caught with wild right which had on his back. He beat the count, but only just survived to the bell. Penalosa went to the body of Marcos in the second, but was leaving himself open again. The under pressure Marcos lost a point for a low blow. The body punches were getting to Marcos, and he was in deep trouble in the third when his seconds climbed into the ring to bring a stoppage. The son of the former IBF flyweight of the same name has won all seven by KO/TKO, but this was a wake up call for the youngster.
Elgin, USA: Cruiser: Willie Herring (13-9-3) W KO 6 Ravea Springs (28-4,1ND). Just having turned 40, former WBC challenger Springs gets an unwanted birthday shock. Herring jumps on him min the first round and scores a knockdown. Southpaw Springs never really recovers, and Herring finally scores kayo at the end of the sixth. Fighting mostly at heavyweight, Floridian Herring, 32, had lost six of his last seven going in. Springs lost to Wayne Braithwaite for the WBC title 2003.
Tunica, USA: Light Welter: Karim Mayfield (15-0-1) W PTS 10 Patrick Lopez (20-5). Light Middle: Joe Greene (23-1) W TKO 6 Bill Johnson (9-26-1,1ND). “Hard Hitta” Mayfield, 30, floors a sliding Lopez three times on the way to a wide unanimous verdict. Scores 99-88, 97-90 and 98-90. This was for the interim NABO title. Mayfield had beaten Steve Forbes in his last fight. Venezuelan Lopez, 33, was a top amateur and something in the way of a prospect, but this was his third loss in a row. Queens hope Greene returned to action for the first time since his loss to Vanes Martirosyan in June 2010, and wears down Johnson for a stoppage win. The 25-year-old southpaw set a blistering pace and finished an exhausted Johnson late in the sixth. Now 13 losses in a row for Johnson.
Kiev, Ukraine: Middle: Avtandil Khurtsidze (26-2-2) W TKO 2 Jason LeHoullier (21-7-1). Light Welter: Viktor Postol (15-0) W PTS 10 Felix Lora (14-8-5).Georgian “Tornado” Khurtsidze overwhelms LeHoullier flooring him twice in the first round. When LeHoullier is floored again in the second his corner throws in the towel. Just 5’4” tall, Khurtsidze lived up to his nickname. The IBO champion has a 19-1 record in his last 20 fights, losing only to Frenchman Hassan N’Dam N’jikam. This was scheduled for twelve rounds but, as both fighters were over the limit, I assume the IBO title was not at stake. LeHoullier, 33, has lost his last seven, but to good opposition.
Postol wins a wide decision over Spanish-based Dominican Lora in a foul filled bout. Lora losses two points in the seventh, one for a butt and the other for a low blow. He was deducted another point in the ninth and also on the floor in the same round. There was plenty of clinching and wrestling, but also some good action. With the deductions and the knockdown Postol wins on scores of 100-85 twice and 100-87.
Montreal, Canada: Light: Tony Luis (13-0) W KO 1 Alejandro Barrera (21-9). Super Middle: Ali Nestor Charles (12-5-2) W PTS 8 Bladimir Hernandez (18-7). “The Lightning” Luis, 23, wins vacant WBC Continental Americas title as he floors Barrera twice with body shots for a quick win. Mexican Barrera, once a prospect (he won his first 18 fights) is 2-7 in his last nine fights, six of those losses inside the distance. Canadian southpaw Charles outboxed heavy puncher Hernandez (16 wins by KO/TKO) to take a comfortable decision on scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74. Charles, who only seems to fight twice a year, is unbeaten in his last eight. Hernandez has lost his last six, five by KO/TKO.
