Behind The Results W/E 7 November 2011
November 3
'El Tiquito' overcomes a slow start to win a wide unanimous verdict over experienced Nicaraguan southpaw.
Benavides, 29, took the first round, and inflicted a cut on the right eyebrow of Vazquez in the third, but from then on the 24-year-old Costa Rican was in control. Most of the fight was at close quarters and some of the rounds were close, but Vazquez just wanted the win that much more and was always scoring the heavier punches and was the busier fighter. Scores 119-109 twice and 118-109. Vazquez wins the interim WBA title. Benavides had won nine in a row since losing to Roman Martinez in 2008, but admitted that he just was not on top form on the night, and had no complaints about the decision.
Former top amateur Oguni win s OPBF title with unanimous verdict over WBA No 11 Gasca. Gasca, 22, pressing the taller Oguni hard over the early rounds, and the bout is close at the end of the fourth. That all changes in the fifth as a powerful right from Oguni, 23, puts Filipino Gasca down heavily. Gasca beats the count, but is floored for a second time and only just survives the round. Oguni on top for a couple more rounds, but a recovering Gasca tries to claw his way back into the fight with a rally over the late rounds, but Oguni boxes his way to victory. Scores 119-109 (too wide), 116-111 and 115-111. Great display for a fighter with only six pro fights behind him. Gasca had won his last six, which included victories over Thai Tabtimdaeng and Jap Hiromasa Ohashi.
November 4
A farce of a title fight sees Russian Lebedev, 32, wins every round against 43-year-old Toney. After a quiet first round Lebedev began to score heavily with his jab. Toney was noticeably nursing his left leg in the round. He tried to turn things around with some hooks in the third, but it was a short-lived effort. Toney used his experience to stay in the fight, but was was often a static target and was tiring from the mid way point.
Lebedev made a big effort in the ninth and had Toney reeling around the ring, but could not find a finishing punch. Toney spoiled his way to the final bell. Scores 120-108 from all three judges. Lebedev wins the vacant WBA interim title. Having beaten Roy Jones and Toney, Lebedev is now talking about fighting Antonio Tarver. Seems like age discrimination to me. The Russian should be screaming for a return with WBO champion Marco Huck, who beat Lebedev on a spilt decision in December. First fight since 2009 for Toney. He weighed 257lbs then so he must have been a weakened fighter. “Lights Out” should turn the lights out on his time in boxing.
Bakhtin, 30, finds it hard to impress against negative Colombian southpaw Melendez, who is only interested in survival. The 30-year-old Bakhtin scored heavily in the second and floored Melendez with a body shot in the third. From then on Melendez went even deeper into his shell and lost every round. Bakhtin is trying to make up for lost time. He was on the verge of a title shot when campaigning in
Easy night for Ukrainian Sillakh. He has big height and reach advantages over stocky Azeri. The Ukrainian just can’t miss the brave Azeri with his jab, and when Ismailov does get close he is caught with hard right uppercuts. Ismailov continues to march into the fire in the third. He has some success when he takes Sillakh to the ropes, but the Azeri pays for it as Sillakh scores heavily with uppercuts and hooks to the body. Finally in the fourth a crunching right uppercut put Ismailov down. He climbs to his feet and leans against the ropes watching the referee count. At eight he just shakes his head and walks back to his corner, and the fight is over. Sillakh, 26, has 13 wins by KO/TKO and is rated No 3 light heavy by the WBC. Ismailov, 37, only lost on a split decision to Victor Ramirez for the WBO title in 2009, but has lost five in a row now. Ukrainian Glazkov, 27, floors big Peretyatko heavily in the first. Surprisingly the 38-year-old Norwegian-based Russian stands up well in the second and third with some good counter attacks. In the fourth Glazkov was completely on top and got through with heavy shots. At the end of the round the corner pulled Peretyatko out. Glazkov is a former World Universities champion and World Championship silver medal winner.
Suriyan retains WBC title with unanimous verdict over former WBA champion Nashiro. The 22-year-old Thai made a good start and was well ahead after the first four rounds showing improved skills in outboxing the more aggressive Nashiro. The challenger managed to get inside and seemed to pick up some of the middle rounds as Suriyan showed that his defence is still a work in progress. The last four rounds saw both fighters looking to wrap up what looked a close fight with Suriyan probably just doing enough to stay ahead. The scores 115-113, 116-113 and 119-110 from the Thai judge, which was a disgrace. The unheralded Suriyan has lost only one of his last 13 fights, and that was a close decision to Pongsaklek for the WBC fly title in October 2010. Nashiro, 30, won the WBA title in only his eighth fight. He lost the title to Alex Munoz, regained it and then lost it again to Hugo Cazares and also had an unsuccessful challenge to Tomas Rojas for the WBC title.
Napapol, 34, retained the WBC Asian Boxing Council title for the second time with a unanimous points win over poor Indonesian Comaro. Napapol has had two title shots losing to Oscar Larios for the WBC super Bantam title in 2008 and to Toshiaki Nishioka for the interim version of the same title. Those are the only losses he has had in his last 57 fights. Comaro has won just two of his last twelve fights, including being blown away in 62 seconds by Filipino prospect Lorenzo Villanueva. That tells why Napapol has such impressive, but misleading, statistics.
Repeat of great drawn fight in June, which ended in a technical draw, sees veteran Bundu take a comfortable decision over Petrucci to win the vacant European title. Sierra
An upset sees four fight novice Marceddu, 36, win a clear verdict over Italian champion Bracco in a non-title fight. To add insult to injury the fight was in Bracco’s hometown. Marceddu only turned pro in October last year at the age of 35. Tall 27-year-old Fiordigiglio outboxed the aggressive Nicaraguan McField, and was always in front. A three punch combination floors McField in the seventh, and he is down again from a hook, but holds on to see out the round. Fiordigiglio is badly cut on the right eyebrow, but eases his way to the decision. Now ten losses in a row for McField but he has only been beaten once inside the distance.
Toa Baja,
Really just a workout for former WBA super middle champ Siaca in front of his hometown fans. In his second fight since moving down to middle (he lost to Danny Green for the IBO cruiser title in April 2010) the only problem Siaca, 35 had with Rivera was catching up with him. Siaca showed good conditioning at the lighter weight. No knockdowns but scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 tell the story. Siaca wins vacant WBA Fedcaribe title. “Chelo” Gonzalez, also from Toa Bajo, has his kayo streak broken by Mexican oldie “The Thief” Trejo. Gonzalez took the early rounds with some good combination punching. When Trejo did get into the fight he was scoring well and Gonzalez started switching southpaw to break up the Mexican’s attacks. Gonzalez took charge again over the closing rounds to retain his WBO Latino title on scores of 99-91 from the three judges. Gonzalez was on a run of eight successive wins by KO/TKO, but in his 55 fights former NABF super feather champ Trejo has lost only once by KO/TKO-to Bobby Pacquiao. Gonzalez was reported to have suffered from tendinitis in his shoulder prior to the fight which affected his performance.
Former WBC light middle champ Mora, 30, made a slow start which allowed the veteran Flores some success. However, “The Latin Snake” was rolling by the second and was always on top from there. His slick boxing, switch hitting and fast hands saw him scoring well to head and body. Southpaw
Only a majority decision, but a big win for Esquivas. To get there he had to overcome a bad cut suffered in a clash of heads in the fourth. The fight was in the balance until Esquivas, 28, floored Beltran in the eighth, which gave him the edge. Scores 97-92, 96-93 and 95-95. A big step up in class of opposition for Esquivas. The 30-year-old Mexican Beltran has had three title shots, losing to Joan Guzman for the WBO super bantam title in 2005, and to both Steve Molitor for the IBF version and Takalani Ndlovu for the IBO title version in 2008.
They packed the arena with a crowd of 8,000 for this clash of local fighters. Mamani tried to box, but Abregu was stalking, just looking for a chance to throw his bombs. He found the chance at the end of the round and put Mamani down heavily with a right. Mamani got up but was shaky, and he was lucky that the bell went before Abrgeu could finish it. The second started the same way, but this time Abregu struck earlier and floored Mamani twice, and it is all over. The 27-year-old Abregu has 25 wins by KO/TKO. His only loss was on points to Tim Bradley in a non-title fight in July 2010. This was his second fight since then. “La Cobra” Mamani is 2-5 in his last seven, but most of his losses have been to top rate opposition.
November 5
Electrifying display by 27-year-old
In his first fight since losing his IBF title to Takalani Ndlovu in March, southpaw Molitor, 31, given a tough night by his former sparing partner Gauthier. The former IBF and Commonwealth champion made a slow start and Gauthier, 29, built an early lead. Both suffered cuts with Molitor’s being the worst of the two. Molitor was shaken in the fifth, but he had paced the fight better than Gauthier and was clawing back the deficit. Even then Molitor needed a knockdown in the tenth to win the split decision. Scores 96-94 twice and 94-96. The other losses suffered by Gauthier had been on stoppages against modest Mexican opponents, but he revived his standing with this performance.
Both Green and Demers were badly in need of a win, and it was Green who came out on top. Green failed to make the contract weight and Demers was probably hoping that Green, 32, might fade later. It proved to be that way as Green went in front at the start. Green was using his height and reach advantages and landing the harder and cleaner punches. Although he did tire and seemed in trouble in the seventh, Demers best round, Green had already built a substantial gap and took the decision on scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93. Losses to Andre Ward and Glen Johnson had shunted Green to one side, but this win shows there is still a place for him in the super middle mix. Demers, 31, was even more in need of a win after back-to-back inside the distance losses to Brian Vera and Renan St Juste, and even in losing his showing will also give him a way back.
Bizier, 27, continues to look a real, name to watch in the welters. He had the experienced Dane on the back foot and looking to survive from the start. Former European champion Bladt, 36, saw out two punishing rounds, but a thunderous left hook put him down and out in the third, with the Medics in the ring to make sure he was ok. Bizier has 12 wins by KO/TKO, the last six in a row. Cuban Barthelemey, 25, nearly ended this in the first as he floored Mexican veteran Barrera twice. Barrera survived but probably wished he had not as Barthelemey put him down twice more for a stoppage victory. The lanky Cuban has eleven wins by KO/TKO and almost managed to make this his seventh one round finish. Barrera, 32, once looked on as a prospect after winning his first 18 fights, has lost his last six, five inside the distance.
In the second
Quillin wins but stoppage seems premature. For the first three rounds McEwan seemed able to match Quillin, but the greater strength and harder punching of Quillin saw the fight become more one-sided. Scottish southpaw McEwan was handicapped by a bad swelling around his right eye. Quillin made this a target and was on top, and on the way to a win, when the fight was stopped, although McEwan was in no trouble at the time. Quillin, 29, has moved his career forward much quicker now he has relocated from
Yet another piece of WBA rubbish sees Jones make one of his infrequent appearances and retain his WBA title with a stoppage of Marrone. The 39-year-old Panamanian used Marrone for target practice for much of the fight. Marrone, 26, did manage to get through with some left hooks but spent much of the time with his back to the ropes. A right had Marrone in trouble at the end of the fourth. Marrone was down again in the fifth and totally spent. He fell to the floor after missing with a punch in the sixth and was again floored with a combination at which point his corner climbed into the ring to have the fight stopped. Now 30 wins by KO/TKO for Jones as he makes only the second defence of his title since winning it in September 2008. Jones started out as a light middle where he drew and lost to Laurent Boudouani for the WBA title in 1998. He drew with Johnny Nelson for the WBO cruiser title in 2003 and lost a split decision to Steve Cunningham in a non-title fight in 2005. This was the first fight at cruiserweight for Marrone and he has now lost 3 of his last 4 fights.
Hernandez, 27,wins the vacant WBC USNBC title in a tough scrap with Garcia. A furious first couple of rounds saw Hernandez on the floor in the first and Garcia down in the second. It then settled into a good close fight with Hernandez using good movement, despite a foot injury suffered during the fight, and fine skills, and Garcia looking to land the big punches. Hernandez was the busier and that gave him the edge. Scores 114-112 from all three officials. Five wins in a row for Hernandez since losing to Ed Paredes in February 2010. Mexican Garcia, 40, had won his last six and had in the past been in with good opposition such as Vern Forrest and Raul Marquez. Cuban Santana may be one to watch. The 23-year-old retained his WBA Fedcaribe title in an all-southpaw battle with Antoine. That was where the similarity ended. Santana smashed home a two-punch salvo which sent Antoine down heavily. He made it to his feet, but was being punished on the ropes when the fight was stopped. Nine wins by KO/TKO for Santana, and the last five in a row have finished that way. He has five first round finishes. New Yorker Antoine has lost 4 of his last 5.
Venezuelan Perdomo, 35, another southpaw, was in charge all the way against Bunting. With his height advantage good use of his right jab kept him in charge and Bunting’s cause was lost long before he was deducted a point in the seventh for holding. Scores 79-72 twice and 80-71. Perdomo’s losses have come at super middle against Mario Veit, Dimitri Sartison and Mikkel Kessler, the last one being for the WBA title. This win was his first fight for almost 20 months. “Fabulous Fairway” Bunting, 31, took almost three years out after losing on points to Jean Pascal in 2007, but had beaten Canadians Junior Moar and Matt O’Brien on his comeback. “The Wizard” Palacios, 34, really just used game Godfrey for a bit of paid sparring. The
Former top amateur Cabrera won every round, but never came close to stopping late sub Scott. The Dominican southpaw just had too much of everything for the limited Scott and won 80-72 on all cards. At 32 and a pro for six years, Cabrera has spent a lot of time getting nowhere, and needs to be moved soon or never. WBO No 6 Oliveira took almost four rounds to hunt down Eppley, but a hard right had Eppley in trouble and the fight was stopped. Oliveira owes his ranking to a kayo of Otis Griffin, but the rest of his opposition would be flattered by the word modest.
City
Maderna retains national title with a one round stoppage of Balmeceda. The outcome of the fight was decided in the very first attack. A right to the body sent Balmeceda down. The challenger looked very apprehensive when he got up and Maderna sent him down again with a right hook to the chin. Again Balmeceda got up only to go down again immediately. It was discovered later that Balmeceda had suffered a fractured rib from that first punch and had been in agony from then on. Maderna, 25, who represented
Zarate gained revenge for a points loss in March as he took a split verdict over Basile. The heavily tattooed Basile made the better start scoring well with right crosses whilst Zarate was short with his punches. It changed in the fifth. Zarate scored with a right cross of his own. Basile was badly hurt and cut over his right eye. The referee gave Basile a standing count, and only the bell saved Basile. Zarate had another good round in the sixth as another right had Basile holding on. Zarate also took the seventh as they both tired, and Basile just edged the last. Scores 76 ½ -75, 78-75 ½ and 75 ½ -77 ½ .
“The African King” Arrami overcomes a cut to retain his French title. The first two rounds saw little action, but in the third a clash of heads left Arrami with a bad cut. Despite this handicap he boxed his way to a clear points victory holding off a big effort from Ouanna in the last round. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-94. Arrami lost to Finn Juho Haapoja for the European Union title in September, so will, be looking for another shot. Despite his indifferent record, Ouanna had won his last five including the National tournament. Parodi, 24, takes a wide unanimous decision over Venezuelan Graterol to win the vacant IBF International title. Four wins for Parodi since his loss to Arsen Martirosyan in May 2010. Scores 116-109, 116-110 and 115-110.
Rojas eases back with blow out of Paraguayan Azuaga. Rojas, 31, has both reach and height over Azuaga and lands heavily in the first with southpaw lefts and right hooks to the body. All over in the second as a left hook to the body sees Azuaga taking a count on his knees. He gets up but the fight is stopped. First fight for “Gusano- Worm” since losing his WBC super fly to Suriyan in August, and his 25th win by KO/TKO. Azuaga, “El Indio de Oro” is 37, and is no longer the Golden Boy. He has won 67 fights by KO/TKO and lost 17 that way.
Great little fight between Hirales and Bernache. Hirales wanted this fight to be a boxing match and Bernache wanted a brawl. Bernache had his way in the first two rounds, but from the third Hirales was keeping Bernache out and scoring well with combinations. The referee checked on the left cheekbone of Bernache in the corner at the end of the sixth and stopped the fight in the middle of the seventh to check Bernache’s right cheekbone, which was also noticeably swelling. Knowing he was behind Bernache stepped up the pace, Hirales was cut on the eyelid in the eighth, and wobbled in the ninth. Hirales gutted out the tenth to just edge Bernache out, Scores 96-94 twice and 95-95. Hirales, one of the fighting Hirales /Garcia clan, had beaten useful Charles Huerta in January, and is one to watch. Bernache, 23, has lost only one of his last 17 fights, and that was on a cut. He has recent wins over Ramon Maas (24-0 at the time) and former title contender Alejandro Valdez, so he is also a good prospect.
This fight was never going to go the distance, and was just a “keep busy” fight for Arreola. “The Nightmare” floored
“Baby Face” Garcia gets a needed win as he overwhelms experienced Zertuche in two rounds. Garcia, 24, just punched too hard for Zertuche and the referee stopped the fight after two heavy knockdowns. Garcia, who turned pro three days after his fifteenth birthday, at one time had a run of just one loss in 35 fights. However, after a couple of losses, he was inactive from September 2008 until April this year. He is 2-2 in four fights since then, but this win puts him back on track. Zertuche has lost his last three inside the distance, but all to tough opposition.
“The Rock” Ambunda, 31, wins and retains his WBO African title, but only just. The Namibian spent the whole fight trying to get inside the long reach of Mahlangu, who lived up to his “Dancing Shoes” nickname. Ambunda was a very frustrated fighter. Both fighters exchanged heavy punches in the second, and Ambunda seemed to have the South African in trouble in the sixth and seventh rounds. However, he was never able to nail it down, and Mahlangu was picking up points round after round with his jab. The busier work rate and aggression of Ambunda just saw him through to a split decision. Scores 115-113 twice and 113-115. Fifth defence for Ambunda. Mahlangu lost a split verdict to Tshifhiwa Munyai in 2008, but was coming off a loss to Cleutus Mabhele in February.
Disappointing end to the Ushona vs. Gakpetor fight. Ushona gets through with some heavy punches in the first, but in the second a clash of heads leaves Gakpetor with a bad cut, and the fight is a technical draw. “Black Mamba” Shihepo punches too hard for South African Pieterson who retires at the end of the sixth round. Shihepo, 28, has 13 wins by KO/TKO and has lost only once, on a disqualification, in his last eight fights. Pieterson without a win in his last nine fights.
Polish giant Wach is always in command against late sub Gavern. The 6’ 7 ½” Wach, 31, had Gavern on the floor in the first and down twice in the second. Gavern, 34, showed guts to take punishment over the next three rounds, but another knockdown in the sixth saw the fight stopped. “The Viking” Wach has 14 wins by KO/TKO the last five in a row, He retains the WBC International title, which he won by beating Kevin McBride in July. Gavern had a good spell of results when he beat Manuel Quezada and Darnell Wilson and drew with Jonathan Banks, but he has lost two of his last three now. In fairness he came in as a substitute with only three days notice.
Big upset as Colombian veteran Torres, 32, puts away unbeaten Pole Majewski. Using a high, tight guard the Polish fighter stayed in the centre of the ring and kept picking up points with his jab without every really putting the much shorter Colombian Torres, 32, under pressure. Majewski was winning the fight, but Torres looked dangerous with his hooking attack. Majewski changed his tactics in the fourth and fifth and was coming forward mixing in hooks with his jab and driving Torres back. Now he was fighting the fight Torres wanted and in the sixth Majewski walked into a thunderous left. Suddenly he was badly shaken and a left and a right deposited the Pole on the canvas. The referee stopped the count at six as he realised Majewski was not getting up. Torres wins vacant NABF and WBO NABO titles. This was a risky fight with Torres having 19 wins by KO/TKO, and not having lost inside the distance. Majewski, 31, will need to rebuild, but he is a good ticket seller, so will get another chance.
Farce of a fight saw Szpilka stop 292lbs Saulsberry. It was difficult to believe Saulsberry had ever had a fight before. He was totally inept without the first idea of defence and incapable of throwing anything resembling a punch. A left and a right “hit” Saulsberry and he went down on his knees and was counted out. A total disgrace. Now seven wins by KO/TKO for Szpilka, but no kudos in beating Saulsberry.
November 6
Yamanaka wins vacant WBC title with late stoppage of Mexican Esquivel. Southpaw Yamanaka, 29, seemed to take the first three rounds, but Esquivel took the fourth with some hard punching. Just when it seemed that Esquivel was getting into the fight he was floored at the end of the sixth. Yamanaka threw himself into the attack in the seventh looking for a finish, and paid for his carelessness and was floored by a counter. The face of the Mexican was marking up badly but he still mixed it with Yamanaka. There was a brief respite when the ring light failed. When action resumed it was all Yamanaka and in the eleventh he floored Esquivel with a left and a right hook. Esquivel got up and the fight could have been stopped at that point. However, Esquivel was allowed to continue only to be floored again, at which point the fight was stopped. Yamanaka has won his last nine fights by KO/TKO. “Italiano” Esquivel, 25, had 18 wins by KO/TKO, including eleven of his last 13 fights.
Igarashi rated No 3 by the WBC wins a unanimous verdict over No 2 Uicab in a WBC eliminator. The 27-year-old southpaw had huge height and reach advantages over the Mexican and that, combined with his speed, were just a bit too much for Uicab. They shared the first four rounds, but Uicab suffered a cut on the sides of his head from a clash of heads in the fourth. The Mexican battled back to take the fifth. Igarashi edged ahead on two cards after eight rounds and added to that lead with fine boxing in rounds nine and ten. Uicab took the eleventh, but when an accidental clash of heads in the round saw Igarashi suffer a cut on his eyebrow, under the stupid WBC rule Uicab lost a point. Igarashi took the last round and the decision, but he had been in a tough fight. Scores 116-111, 116-112 and 114-113. Igarashi represented
November 7
