May 5
New York, USA: Edgar Santana (25-3) W TKO 2 Roberto Jones (8-9-1). Light Heavy: Jason Escalera (11-0) W TKO 2 Mustafa Johnson( 8-12-1). Super Feather: Emanuel Gonzalez (8-0) W TKO 1 Jacob Thornton (2-4). In his first fight in three years, Puerto Rican Santana,32, got the job done early against modest Jones. After a quiet first round Santana floored Jones with a three punch combination topped off by a heavy right. Jones beat the count but was immediately in trouble again and the referee stopped the fight. Santana has lost only one of his last 21 fights, but needs to make for lost time, and face better opposition. Jones has lost four of his last five.
Former New Jersey Golden Gloves champ Escalera, 26, also had an early night. He almost put Johnson away in the first with only the bell saving Johnson when he was on shaky legs. Midway through the second a right to the body put Johnson down and the referee did not bother to complete the count before waiving it over. Ten of “Monstruo” Escalera’s wins have been by KO/TKO, but opposition has been poor. Sixth loss in a row for Johnson. Manny makes it nine wins as he halts Thornton in 110 seconds. Puerto Rican-based Gonzalez staggered Thornton early, and with Thornton curiously seeming to be suddenly limping, he is an easy target and taking heavy punishment when the ringside Doctor has the fight stopped due to assessing Thornton’s leg problem. Seven by KO/TKO for Gonzalez, but last time out he only squeaked through on a majority verdict against a fighter with a 3-3 record.
May 6
Indio, USA: Light Heavy: Aaron Pryor Jr(16-3) W PTS 10 Librado Andrade (29-3) . Light Heavy: Enrique Ornelas (30-7) W PTS 8 Hector Hernandez (10-4-2). Feather: Randy Caballero (10-0) W TKO 6 Francis Ruiz (9-5,1ND). Heavy: Deontay Wilder (16-0) W TKO 1 Reg Pena (6-7). Light Heavy: Sergey Kovalev (15-0) W TKO 3 Terry Woods (8-2). A frustrating, and career damaging night for Andrade. Pryor, 6’4”, used his height and reach to keep the experienced Mexican at bay and never attempted to mix it. Librado, 32, was doing all of the pressing and throwing more punches, but just could not get to grips with the movement and long jab of Pryor,32, and spent a frustrating night trying to corner the son of the great Aaron Snr. The crowd booed Pryor’s tactics but he stuck to his plan and despite a furious finish by Andrade won a razor thin majority verdict on scores of 96-94 twice and 95-95. Big win for Pryor after his loss to Edwin Rodriguez in January. Ring rust may have hurt Andrade as he had been inactive for almost a year. Andrade has been unsuccessful in three shots at the super middle title, once against Mikkel Kessler and twice against Lucien Bute, but now will have to regroup.
Looked like it could be a bad night for the Andrade clan when brother Enrique, 30, found himself on the canvas in the first round from an uppercut. Hernandez also had a good second round but Ornelas took over in the third. From then on he was scoring the more effective punches but Hernandez was always in the fight.. Scores 78-73 from all three judges. Librado boxes under his father’s name (Andrade), and brother Enrique under their mother’s family name(Ornelas). Enrique lost to Robert Steiglitz in a challenge for the WBO title in October. A good showing by 31-year-old Hernandez as this was his first fight since June 2008. Caballero keeps his unbeaten record with a sixth round kayo of Ruiz. Now six by KO/TKO for 20-year-old Californian. Another bit of rubbish as Olympic bronze medalist Wilder makes it twelve first round blow-outs of poor opposition. Pena has lost his last four by KO/TKO. Russian Kovalev, 28, continues to show promise in stoppage of modest Texan. Now twelve by KO/TKO for Kovalev.
Las Vegas, USA: Super Feather: Diego Magdaleno (19-0) W TKO 3 Gilberto Sanchez Leon (31-9-2). Feather: Juan Carlos Martinez (19-12-1) W PTS 8 Bernabe Concepcion (28-5-1). Super Fly: Marlon Tapales (17-1) W PTS 6 Alejandro Solorio (4-5). Magdaleno continues to impress and the 24-year-old southpaw is even showing some power punching . After a quite first round a left hook put Sanchez down. He lasted out the round, but was still shaky and Magdaleno jumped on him early in the second, and put the experienced 30-year-old Mexican down again with a right. Again Leon beat the count but was on his way to the canvas again from a volley of punches as the referee stopped the fight. First defence of his NABF title and, after only three wins by KO/TKO in his first 15 fights, Magdaleno has now won four in a row by KO/TKO. For the much taller Sanchez (5’11” vs. 5’6”) this was only his second loss by KO/TKO. Upsets have almost become fashionable, and this was another.
Unheralded Martinez, 29, started well spearing former WBO title challenger Concepcion, 23, with fast, accurate punches over the first three rounds. Under the urging of Freddie Roach, the Filipino upped the tempo and had Martinez hurt and wobbling in the fourth and fifth. Martinez stayed in the fight, and picked up points with his busier style. Concepcion had a good seventh and both fighters scrapped away to the final bell. The split decision went to Martinez on scores of 78-74, 77-75 and 75-77. Although Martinez had faced some good opposition such as Guty Espadas Jr and Juan Carlos Burgos, there was nothing in his record to suggest he would be this tough for Concepcion. The world rated Filipino had lost to Steve Luevano for the WBO title in 2009 and had Juan Manuel Lopez on the floor before losing to the Puerto Rican last October. Tapales, 18, evened things up for the Philippines as he took a majority verdict over Solorio. Both fighters were on the floor in the fifth, but the strength of Tapales gave him the edge and he rightly won the majority verdict on scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 57-57.
Schiavonia, Italy: Super Feather: Devis Boschiero (28-0-1) W TKO 8 Luigi Mantegna (1-24). Super Middle: Cristian Sanavia (44-5-1) W PTS 6 Pavels Lotahs (5-14-1). Light: Luca Giacon (16-0,1ND) WTKO 5 Laszlo Komjathi (38-35-2). Very predictable win for Boschiero, 29, who retains the Italian title with a stoppage of Mantegna. Boschiero superior in every department. Mantegna losses two points for butting and is then floored with a right in the eighth. He beats the count but the referee stops the fight, and Mantegna promptly walks out of the ring. Boschiero, who still has some serious criminal charges to answer, had beaten Mantegna on points a year ago. Former WBC and European champion Sanavia,36, returns after injury, but has to climb off the canvas in the second to beat modest Latvian on points. Apart from the knockdown southpaw Sanavia in control, although Lotahs probably shades last round as Sanavia tires. Spaniard Giacon, 23, hurts Komjathy early, but experienced Hungarian stays close to try to nullify the Italian’s punching power. Giacon breaks through with a right hook in third and floors Komjathy. Keeps up the pressure and forces stoppage in the fifth. .
Managua, Nicaragua: Super Fly: Evert Briceno (33-6-1) W PTS 10 Darwin Zamora (18-5-1,1ND). Light Welter: Jose Alfaro (25-7,1ND) W TKO 5 Eduardo Becerril (11-7-2). Straw: Carlos Buitrago (18-0) W TKO 2 Eddy Castro (12-6-2,4). The experience of Briceno, 33, proves decisive. Zamora had the edge in height and reach, but Briceno took the fight inside and Zamora’s work rate fell off with Briceno taking the unanimous decision on scores of 99-91, 99-92 and 97-93. Briceno lost to Omar Narvaez for the WBO title in May last year, and also lost to Fernando Montiel for the same title in 2005. Zamora, 23, can come again. Former WBA secondary champion Alfaro too good for modest Mexican Becerril who takes a beating and does not come out for the fifth. Star prospect Buitrago puts right the only minor blemish on his record as he finishes Castro with a body punch. These two met in October when a clash of heads led to a no decision. Win No 13 by KO/TKO for the 18-year-old Buitrago who is already rated No 3 by the WBO.
Montebello, USA: Light Middle: Roberto Garcia (30-3,1ND) W PTS 8 Calvin Odom (15-9). “La Amenza”, gains revenge for a 2003 defeat as he takes unanimous decision. Garcia, 31, lost to Antonio Margarito in Margarito’s comeback last May, and in his last fight in March beat Jose Alfredo Flores. First fight since 2006 for Odom.
Mashantucket, USA: Super Middle: Denis Grachev (10-0) W TKO 4 Vladine Biosse (11-1). Middle: Elvin Ayala (23-5-1) W TKO 4 George Armenta (13-7).Body attack by Californian-based Russian former kickboxing champ Grachev, 28, softened up Cape Verde Islander. A clash of heads in the fourth sees Biosse cut by his right eye and then floored. A second flooring sees the fight stopped. Ayala,30, continues his rebuilding. Floors Armenta with a right at the end of the second. A right puts Armenta down again in the fourth and, although he survives, he retires at the end of the round. Ayala lost to Arthur Abraham for the IBF title in 2008,but was blown away inside a round by David Lemieux in June last year.
May 7
Las Vegas, USA: Welter: Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2) W PTS 12 Shane Mosley (46-7-1,1ND). Super Bantam: Jorge Arce (57-6-2) W TKO 12 Wilfredo Vazquez Jr (20-0-1). Light Welter: Mike Alvarado (30-0) W TKO 3 Ray Narh (25-2). Super Middle: Kelly Pavlik (37-2) W PTS 10 Alfonso Lopez (21-1). Light: Pier Olivier Cote (16-0) W TKO 4 Aris Ambriz (15-2-1). Super Fly: Rodel Mayol (28-5-2) W PTS 10 Javier Gallo (17-4-1). Light: Karl Dargan (9-0) W PTS 6 Randy Arrellin (8-5). Light Welter: Jose Benavidez (11-0) W TKO 5 James Hope (6-8-1). Disappointing fight as Mosley comes to survive. After quiet first round, probably won by Mosley, Pacquiao takes control. Mosley on the back foot and throwing too few punches of his own to be in the fight. Pacquiao puts Mosley down with a short left in the third, but can’t find the finish. Crowd starts booing Mosley’s negative tactics by the seventh. Mosley scores a “knockdown” in the tenth when he shoves Pacquiao to the canvas. Pacquiao tries to finish the fight in the eleventh but Mosley survives. Scores 120-107, 120-108 and 199-118 as Pacquiao retains WBO title. Pacquiao claims cramps in left leg affected his mobility from fourth. The 10-1 odds were accurate as this proved as easy for Pacquiao as was forecast. Pacquiao has mentioned Juan Manuel Marquez as a possible opponent.
What an amazing fighter “Travieso” Arce is. Considered to be on the down slope at 31,and with a whole pile of wars behind him, the little Mexican outlasted his young opponent to win the WBO super bantam title. Arce went after the young Puerto Rican from the first bell and scored well in the first three rounds, but suffering a cut over his left eyelid at the end of the third. Making the third defence of his title, Vazquez, 26, showed a champion's spirit by coming back to floor Arce heavily with a left hook at the very end of the fourth. From then on it was a more equal contest with Vazquez scoring well with his jab and more accuracy, and Arce using all of his experience. Two of the judges had the fight even going into the last round (the other had Arce 5 points in front!) and Arce exploded all over Vazquez staging a ferocious attack that had the young champion helpless when his father, Wilfredo Senior, threw in the towel to save his boy. This was world title fight No 17 for Arce, who has been a full world champion at light fly, super fly and now super bantam (his reign at flyweight was an interim title, not a full title) and must go down as one of the greatest ring warriors of all time.
Former middleweight champ Kelly (The Ghost) Pavlik returned to the ring for the first time in a year and was unimpressive although he took a majority verdict over previously unbeaten Texan Lopez. It was the perfect fight to shed rust as it gave Pavlik ten rounds of solid work. Pavlik started slowly, but began to roll in the middle rounds scoring well with his left hook. As the rounds progressed Lopez, 28, tired and showed his inexperience. Lopez was rocked in the last round, but stayed the distance. The big surprise is that bit was only a majority verdict on scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 95-95. After all of his troubles and his well publicized visits to rehab Pavlik came through the fight well. As a good loser, Lopez will now find himself in demand, but his record is deceptive, as it has been built on the Texan circuit.
Disappointing end in the Alvarado-Narh fight. Alvarado, 30, seemed to be in control, but had not been scoring heavily so it was a surprise when the Ghanaian retired at the end of the third round. Narh, 32, claimed that he had been taken ill due to something he ate after the weigh-in, but did not want to pull out of the fight. Alvarado, who stopped Dean Harrison in February, wins vacant WBC Continental Americas title. Impressive display by young Canadian prospect Cote. He hurts Ambriz in the second, floors him in the third and was handing out more punishment in the fourth when the referee stopped the fight. Now 11 wins by KO/TKO for 26-year-old Cote. Ambriz was fresh from a good win over Hector Serrano.
Now up at flyweight, the former WBC light fly champ Mayol, 29, wins on another curiously scored majority verdict. “Kid Rapido” lived up to his name as he was just that much quicker with his punches. Gallo had the better start, but from the third Mayol’s faster punching gave him the edge. Gallo rallied late but Mayol’s cleaner punching saw him taking most of the late rounds and battering Gallo in the last. Scores 98-92 twice and 95-95. Prospect Dargan made another of his too rare appearances and was in control all the way against an aggressive Arrellin. First fight for a year for the former double US and Pan American gold medalist who wins on scores of 59-55 twice and 60-54. Benavidez just too good for game Hope. Finally hunts Hope down in the fifth and has him badly shaken when the referee stops the fight. Now ten by KO/TKO for 18-year-old prospect.
Neubrandenburg, Germany: Middle: Daniel Geale (25-1) W PTS 12 Sebastian Sylvester (34-4-1). Light Heavy: Karo Murat (24-1) W TKO 11 Otis Griffin (23-8-2). Light Heavy: Eduard Gutknecht (21-1) W TKO 8 Danny McIntosh (13-2). Cruiser: Enad Licina (20-3) W KO 1 Michele De Meo (13-5). Middle: Marcos Nader (10-0) W PTS 8 Salvatore Annunziata (14-4-3). Heavy: Edmund Gerber (15-0) W TKO 1 Carl Baker (9-6). 118-110, 118-112 and 110-118. Tasmanian Geale wins IBF title with split decision over champion Sylvester. Sylvester, 30, making his fourth title defence was first into his stride as he took the early rounds with his jab. Geale, also 30, was working inside and came into the fight as Sylvester seemed to lose his way and slowed right down. The switch hitting Geale was busier, seemed to take the middle rounds and shook Sylvester in the eleventh and again in the twelfth to clinch the verdict. Bizarre scoring at 118-110, 118-112 and 110-118. Geale’s only loss was on a split decision to Anthony Mundine Jr. in 2009 and a return would be a huge fight for Australia.
Iraqi-born Murat, 27, outworks veteran Griffin and scores well with hooks to the body. Griffin has a big seventh round as he has Murat hurt. The next three rounds are fairly even, but two hooks from Murat in the eleven unhinge Griffin and bring the stoppage right at the end of the round. Murat wins vacant IBF Inter-Continental title. His only loss was a tenth round stoppage against Nat Cleverly in September. Griffin is 4-4 in his last eight, but he only lost on a split decision to Yusaf Mack in an IBF eliminator in March.
Former WBO super middle title challenger Gutknecht wins European title with convincing stoppage of champion McIntosh. The upright, orthodox German uses a strong jab and good right to put the pressure on McIntosh and scored heavily at the end of the first. McIntosh seemed content to let Gutknecht come forward and counter his attacks, but it was not working. McIntosh emerged from the fourth round with a cut on his right cheek, but managed to shake Gutknetch in the fifth. However, a left hook at the start of the sixth had McIntosh sagging and under pressure, but he fought back well at the end of the round. His hopes were hit in the seventh when he was deducted a point for a low punch. To make matters worse Gutknecht’s punches had the right eye of McIntosh badly swollen. Knowing he was near defeat “Big Mac” threw desperation punches at the start of the eighth, but Gutknecht scored heavily and with McIntosh hurt and shaken the referee stopped the fight.
Serbian Licina takes just 124 seconds to put away overmatched Italian “Crazy Bull”. Licina lost to Steve Cunningham in a challenge for the IBF title in February. Austrian-based Spaniard Nader takes unanimous verdict over Italian southpaw, but does not impress.
One big right hand from Gerber puts Brit Baker down. Baker beats the count but is in no condition to continue. Gerber has beaten Lee Swaby, Colin Kenna and Paul Butlin, so is enjoying a feast of British heavyweights.
Osaka, Japan: Bantam: Koki Kameda (25-1) W TKO 11 Daniel Diaz (18-3). Super Feather: Ron Pontillas (12-3-3) W TKO 1 Masao Nakamura (12-1). Bantam: Tomoki Kameda (19-0) W PTS 10 Nate Bolcio (10-3-1). Predictably easy defence of WBA secondary title for 24-year-old Kameda The height and reach advantages of challenger Diaz are no hindrance for southpaw Kameda who is just too quick and strong for overrated 27-year-old Nicaraguan. Diaz is under pressure all the way. Nicaraguan cut in fourth, and floored in eighth. Takes heavy punishment in the eleventh and retires at the end of the round. First defence of WBA secondary title for Kameda who is a former WBA light fly and WBC fly champion, and win No 16 by KO/TKO. This was the first fight in over a year for Diaz.
Yet another upset as Filipino southpaw Pontillas explodes all over WBA No 6 Nakamura and scores two knockdowns as fight is all over in 61 seconds. Pontillas, 21, the Philippines champion, is now unbeaten in his last six and wins the OPBF title with this victory. “El Mexicanito” Kameda, 19, just too good for inexperienced Filipino. Has Bolcio hurt on numerous occasions and wins every round, but can’t force the finish against the game 21-year-old Filipino. Scores 100-90 twice and 100-91.
Copenhagen, Denmark: Heavy: Evander Holyfield (44-10-2,1ND) W TKO 10 Brian Nielsen (64-3). Light Heavy: Dustin Dirks (20-0) W KO 2 Patrick J Maxwell (16-5-1). Heavy: Kubrat Pulev (12-0) W TKO 5 Derric Rossy (25-4). Welter: Chris Bladt (37-11-2) W PTS 8 Mike Joensuu (12-4). Holyfield, 48, outlasts 46-year-old Dane Nielsen for a late stoppage. Holyfield leads early as Nielsen shows plenty of rust in his first fight for nine years. Holyfield scores a knockdown in the third with a left hook and has Nielsen cut.Nielsen survives but is under pressure and looks ready to go in the seventh. However, Holyfield was also tiring, and the pace dropped. Holyfield breaks through again in tenth and a volley of punches brings the stoppage. Strangely Nielsen had been in worse trouble earlier, but was never going to win. Holyfield retains his WBFederation title. Nielsen lost to Mike Tyson in 2001 and beat a 37-year-old Larry Holmes in 1997. Dirks, 22 , makes it 14 wins by KO/TKO as he kayos Maxwell at the end of the second round. Bulgarian “Cobra” Pulev, 30, marches on with stoppage of useful Derric Rossy. Pulev has six wins by TKO/TKO. Rossy’s only loss in his last eight was to Eddie Chambers in February in an IBF eliminator. Bladt continued his run of good form with a unanimous points win over Finn. Scores 79-73, 78-73 and 78-74.
Caseros, Argentina: Welter: Diego Chaves (18-0) W TKO 2 Hector Santana (9-1). Chaves outclasses Santana in this battle of unbeaten fighters. From the first bell Chaves is scoring heavily with both hands. In the second he continues the punishment and a straight left-right cross puts Santana down. Santana beats the count, but is receiving more heavy punishment when his corner throws in the towel. Chaves retains WBO Latino title for third time.
Torreon, Mexico: Super Fly: Victor Zaleta (17-2) W PTS 10 Daniel Noriega (20-6). Super Bantam: Edgar Monarrez (12-0) W TKO 5 Rafael Cerrillo. Tough fight for favoured Zaleta. The hurricane style of Noriega means that it takes a while before Zaleta gets into his stride. Zaleta takes the third and fourth, but is floored by a right in the fifth. Next two rounds are close, but Zaleta sweeps the closing rounds as Noriega tires, but close at the finish. Scores 95-94 twice and 94-95. Zaleta lost to Omar Narvaez for the WBO title in February. Noriega had won his last eleven. Puncher Monarrez has a war with Cerrillo as both throw bombs. Monarrez loses two points for low blows, but floors Cerrillo in the fourth and his corner pull him out at the end of the fifth. All twelve of Monarrez’s win have come by KO/TKO.
Mexico City, Mexico: Super Feather: Abraham Rodriguez (23-10-3) W TKO 3 Angel Salinas (14-9-1). Rodriguez retains national title and wins vacant WBC Mundo Hispano title as he floors Salinas twice in the third to force the finish. Rodriguez had beaten Salinas on a split decision in April last year.
