Worldwide boxing round-up - Behind the results with Eric Armit
From Santo Domingo, where Guzman flattened Castellano in the first, to Johannesburg, where Grant stopped the White Buffalo in the twelfth - a look at the worldwide boxing results with Eric Armit.
NOVEMBER 18
Flemington, Australia Middle: Sam Soliman (40-11) W PTS 12 Ermosele Albert (24-6-1). Light: Czar Amonsot (22-3-2) DRAW 12 Solomon Egberime (21-3-1). Cruiser: Brad Pitt (12-0) W TKO 5 Victor Oganov (31-5). Light Heavy: Blake Caparello (10-0-1) W TKO 7 Mike Van Nimwegen (5-2).
Soliman moved a step closer to a world title fight with unanimous decision over Nigerian Albert. Albert made all of the running but Soliman counter-punched his way to victory. Spending most of the fight on then back-foot, Soliman’s awkward/unorthodox style gave Albert problems that he could never solve. The fight picked up some excitement in the later rounds as Albert had some success, but Soliman was a clear winner. Scores 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112. This was listed as an IBF eliminator, but with Soliman No 6 and Albert No 14 that is stretching things a bit. Soliman is a former Australian champion at middle, super middle and cruiser, and also a former Commonwealth champion at middle. He lost to Tony Mundine Jr for the WBA secondary title at super middle in 2008. This was his fifth win since then. Albert lost a wide points decision to Daniel Geale in a title challenge for the IBF title in August, and is 2-4 in his last six fights.
Filipino southpaw Amonsot, 26, and 33-year-old Nigerian Egberime, had a hard fought battle for the WBO Orient title with champion Egberime retaining his crown. It was as close a verdict as you could get with the scores being 114-113 for Egberime, 114-113 for Amonsot and 113-113. Amonsot had Egberime down in the seventh, but the draw looked a good decision. Amonsot, who lost to Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO title in 2007, is unbeaten in his last five fights, but had been inactive since September 2010. Egberime has lost only one of his last eleven fights. The 38-year-old Australian Brad “Hollywood” Pitt wins vacant IBO Asia Pacific title with stoppage of Russian-born Oganov. Pitt looking to be well in command when he is caught by hard-punching Oganov in the third and badly hurt. In the fourth a shot from Oganov lands on the back of Pitt’s head is given recovery time. In the fifth a Pitt left to the body floored Oganov and although Oganov got up he made it clear that he did not want to continue the fight. Pitt, 30, the Australian champion, won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He has ten wins by KO/TKO. Only three of Oganov’s fights have lasted the distance. Southpaw Caparello wins vacant Australian title with stoppage of Van Nimwegan. Southpaw Caparell, 25, in control all the way and had Van Nimwegan out on his feet in the seventh when the referee stopped the fight. Caparello already has good wins over Mike Bolling and Joseph Kwadjoe.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Welter: Joan Guzman (31-0-1,1ND) W KO 1 Florencio Castellano (17-5). Super Feather: Argenis Mendez (19-2) W TKO 2 Alex Perez (23-43-4).
Once Guzman made the weight the rest was easy. The former WBO super bantam and super feather the proceeded to flatten Colombian Castellano with a right uppercut in the first, putting him down for the count. The 35-year-old Guzman wins vacant IBF Caribbean title in his first fight since his no decision against Jason Davis in December 2010. Castellano, 31, was having his first fight since May 2010. The only other inside the distance loss the Colombian has suffered was a four round kayo against Lucas Matthysse in 2009. Mendez, 25, makes a quick return after losing to Juan Carlos Salgado for the vacant IBF title in September. Mendez takes a round to look at 39-year-old Cuban Perez then floors and halts him in second. Now 18 losses in a row for Perez.
Cuxhaven, Germany Heavy: Manuel Charr (20-0) W TKO 8 Marcelo Nascimento (15-2). Cruiser: Alex Alexeev (22-2) W TKO 8 Daniel Bruwer (22-3-1). Middle: Goekalp Oezekler (12-1) W TKO 8 Gogi Knezevic (21-4-1). Middle: Ante Bilic (26-2) W PTS 8 Geard Ajetovic (19-6-1).
Syrian-born Charr, 27, has some early difficulties against the 6’5” tall Brazilian, but once he had figured out how to get inside it was one-way traffic. Nascimento was under pressure over the middle rounds and retired in his corner at the end of the eighth. Charr wins the vacant WBC International silver title. Now eleven wins by KO/TKO, including a controversial stoppage of Danny Williams in June. Nascimento, 31, was kayoed in five rounds by Tyson Fury in February. Former WBO title challenger Alexeev changes his technique to box a bit more and is successful. South African Bruwer looking to change the fight with his big right thrown from behind a high guard never gets the opportunity, and his work rate is very low. By the eighth Bruwer is bleeding from a cut by his left eye and from a cut on his lower lip. Two right uppercuts shake Bruwer and in a delayed action he walks away from Alexeev and goes down on one knee. The referee stops the fight as it is clear that Bruwer has had enough. Uzbek-born southpaw Alexeev, 30, has 20 wins by KO/TKO. He has now won his last three, but has previously lost big fights to Victor Ramirez for the vacant WBO title and to Denis Lebedev. Alexeev wins vacant WBC International title. “Billy The Kid” Bruwer is a former South African light heavy champion, who lost to Thabiso Mchunu for the South Africa cruiser title in November 2010, and had been inactive since a win in January.
German Oezekler, 29, found Austrian-based Serb Knezevic a tough nut to crack. However, Oezekler, despite a cut by his right eye, was always on top and as Knezevic tired Oezekler began to hand out a steady diet of punishment. The Serb retired at the end of the eighth. Croatian Bilic, 28, looked very lucky to win a majority verdict over British-based Serb Ajetovic. Scores 78-74, 78-77 and 77-77 but Ajetovic, 30, looked worth at least a draw. Eleven wins in a row for Bilic. Ajetovic, a former European Junior champion, is 3-5 in his last eight, but in the eight losses were fights against Daniel Geale, Dmitry Pirog and Matthew Macklin.
Salle Hracha, Algeria Light Middle: Salim Larbi (17-1-1)W PTS 12 Isaac Selom (14-5-1).Light Heavy: Nadjib Mohammedi (25-3) W KO 8 Ayitey Powers (16-17-1).
Larbi, 24, wins vacant WBO Inter-Continental title with a hard fought points victory over the tall Ghanaian Selom. In the early rounds Selom, 25, was coming forward and doing the pressing, but Larbi, not a noted puncher, was getting inside the long reach of Selom, boxing coolly and picking his punches. Selom was in the fight until the last two rounds when Larbi staged a strong finish to clinch the verdict. Scores 118-112, 116-114 and 115-113. Mohammedi, 26, has no trouble with veteran Powers. The Frenchman won every round and found the Ghanaian an easy target. Powers stuck around for seven rounds but was counted on his knees in the eighth. Now 14 wins by KO/TKO for Mohammedi who lost on points to Nat Cleverly for the interim WBO title in December, and was stopped in two rounds by Dmitry Sukhotsky in October. Powers, 31, is 3-10 in his last 13 fights. Powers lost to Richard Williams for the Commonwealth light middle title in 2004 and to James Toney for the Commonwealth middleweight title in the same year.
Bleriot-Plage, France Super Feather: Romain Jacob (14-0) W PTS 10 Sylvain Chapelle (8-13-2).
Despite injuring his right hand in the second round, Jacob retains French title in his first defence. Having the advantage in both size and speed, once Jacob had injured his right he had to keep Chapelle out with his jab, only using the right sparingly. Chapelle started well, but was never able to sustain his attacks, although some of the early rounds were close. Scores 99-91, 97-93 and 97-95 with the second score looking the most accurate. First defence of his national title for 23-year-old Jacob. Fourth loss in a row for 25-year-old Chapelle.
Sant’Angelo in Vado, Italy Light Middle: Emanuele Della Rosa (28-1) W PTS 12 Jozsef Matolcis (30-17-1). Cruiser: Mirko Larghetti (15-0) W TKO 6 Laszlo Hubert (30-10).
Good display of skill from Della Rosa. In the past he would have gladly stood tot-to-toe with Matolcsi, but he has matured, and controlled the fight with his jab and showed improved technical ability. Hungarian Matolcis, 36, tried to force the fight, but Della Rosa had all the answers and boxed his way to a wide unanimous verdict. Scores 119-110 twice and 119-109. Second defence of his WBC International title for “Ruspa”. Della Rosa beat Matolcis over six rounds in June 2010. His only defeat is to Sebastian Zbik for the WBC interim title in December 2009. Only one win in his last six for Matolcis. Local hero Larghetti, 28, is too strong for journeyman Hubert. The Hungarian southpaw gives his usual gutsy show, but Larghetti walks him down. Hubert tires and is floored twice in the fifth. Larghetti continues the bombardment in the sixth and floors Hubert with a right hook. The Hungarian gets up, but is down on his knees again almost immediately, and the fight is stopped. In his first bout scheduled for more than six rounds, Larghetti wins WBC International Silver title and makes it eight wins by KO/TKO. Hubert, 36, is 4-4 in his last eight fights, with all of them ending inside the distance.
Mexico City, Mexico Welter: Cosme Rivera (34-14-3,1ND) W PTS 12 Antonio Pitalua (52-6-1).
Rivera finally gets a win over Pitalua at the third time of asking. The “younger” Rivera (35 to Pitalua’s 41) Rivera decided to box his way to victory. He fought a clever defensive fight never letting Pitalua get into his stride. Rivera’s accurate counter-punching nullified the big punch of the Mexican-based Colombian. The scores of 119-109 twice and 117-111 tell the story. Rivera lost to Zab Judah for the IBF/WBA/WBC welter titles in 2005. Pitalua lost to Artur Grigorian for the WBO light in 2000 and to Edwin Valero for the vacant WBC title in 2009. Rivera and Pitalua first met in 1999 when Pitalua won the decision. Their second meeting was in September this year, more than twelve years later, and it ended in a draw.
Mexico City, Mexico Super Feather: Gamaliel Diaz (34-9-2) W TKO 2 Adriel Juzaino (18-10-2). Super Feather: Edgar Riovalle (33-12-1) W TKO 5 Enrique Mercado (7-6).
Diaz just overpowers poor Juzaino. Despite a big advantage in height southpaw Juzaino absorbs heavy punishment throughout the first spending most of his time on the ropes trying to block the punches. Same in the second and with Juzaino getting rocked repeatedly with punches from both hands the referee stops the fight with three seconds of the round remaining. WBC NO 7 Diaz makes it eleven wins in a row and the seventh defence of his WBC Cabofe title. Juzaino is 22-6 in his last eight. Mexican champion Riovalle stops game Enrique Mercado in five rounds. Riovalle was always on top in this one, but Mercado soaked up the punishment. Finally at the start of the fifth round the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Riovalle, 24, has 22 wins by KO/TKO and has won his last six fights.
Auckland, New Zealand Light Heavy: Soulan Pownceby (18-0-1) W TKO 4 Peter Tovi’o (2-11-1). Cruiser: Vaitele Soi (19-0) W TKO 1 Filipo Masoe (2-3).
Samoan late sub Tovi’o no match for Pownceby, and takes a beating before fight stopped at the end of the fourth. The 36-year-old Pownceby retains his WBO Asia Pacific title. The 35-year-old Tovi’o has lost his last 8 fights, 6 by KO/TKO. Another very poor match sees Samoan Soi padding his record with a stoppage of New Zealander Masoe. Now 14 wins by KO/TKO for 24-year-old Soi, but his last two victims have had combined records of 2-3 going in.
Tokyo, Japan Bantam: Ryosuke Iwasa (10-1) W PTS 10 Zerofit Jerope Zuiyama (24-3-3). Straw: Takuya Mitamura (11-0) W PTS 10 Takashi Kunishige (22-7-2).
Twenty-one-year-old southpaw Iwasa wins the Japanese title at the second attempt. The tall classy southpaw took the early rounds with his skilful work and scored a flash knockdown in the fifth. Filipino Jerope tried to turn the tide in the sixth and seventh, but Iwasa took the last two rounds to win on scores of 98-92 twice and 97-92. Iwasa, an outstanding amateur, could have been fight for the WBC title. In March he was well in front of defending national champion Shinsuke Yamanaka, only to fade and be stopped in the final round. Last month Yamanaka beat Christian Esquivel for the vacant WBC title. Iwasa was a top amateur and will almost certainly get a world title shot some time down the road. The least said about the Mitamura vs. Kunishige fight the better. It was boring, lackluster fight. There were too many clinches and not enough fighting. Mitamura won the vacant Japanese title on scores of 98-93, 97-94 and 96-94.
Miami, USA Light Middle: Charles Whittaker (38-12-2) W PTS 12 Giorbis Barthelemy (25-9-2). Cruiser: Yunier Dorticos (13-0) W TKO 3 Livin Castillo (16-10). Light Middle: Antwone Smith (21-3-1) W PTS 8 Yoryi Estrella (10-7-2). Light: Yuandale Evans (16-0) W TKO 3 Andres Ledesma (16-19-1).
A poor fight saw Cayman Islander Whittaker, 37, win a comfortable victory over 39-year-old Cuban southpaw Barthelemy. The styles just did not mix well, and there were long periods when neither fighter was working hard. “Killa” Whittaker has lost only one of his last 24 fights, but this was only his second fight in 18 months. It was advertised as an eliminator for the No 2 spot in the IBF ratings, but Whittaker is rated No 15 and Barthelemy No 10! Dorticos, 25, wins his 13th fight, but flirts with disqualification. Dorticos scoring with heavy rights in the first, but is lucky to only lose one point for a punch to the back of Ecuadorian Castillo’s head. Dorticos again the one getting through with heavy shots in the second, but lands a punch after the bell. In round three the unbeaten Cuban is again handing out punishment and with nothing coming back from Castillo the fight is stopped. After the stoppage the referee then claims that Dorticos punched him on the back of the head whilst his head was turned to the Commission’s table. Stupid, but Dorticos gets his 13th win by KO/TKO. He needs four more consecutive wins by KO/TKO to pass the record for a Cuban boxer. The record is currently jointly held by Florentino Fernandez and Jose Luis Gonzalez. Castillo, 35, has lost 5 of his last 6 fights. Smith bounces back from controversial loss to Kermit Cintron in August with unanimous decision over Dominican Estrella. Prospect “Money Shot” Evans beats veteran trial horse Ledesma at the end of the third. Evans, 22, looks a good prospect. He has 12 wins by KO/TKO including 7 in his last eight fights. Colombian Ledesma has lost 8 of his last nine.
NOVEMBER 19
Houston, USA Middle: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (44-0-1-1ND) W TKO 5 Peter Manfredo Jr (37-7). Light Middle: Joshua Clottey (36-4) W TKO 2 Calvin Green (21-7-1). Light Middle: Jose Pinzon (20-2-1) W PTS 8 Larry Smith (10-8). Mickey Bey Jr (18-0) W PTS 8 Hector Velasquez (51-17-3,1ND). Welter: Wale Omotoso (20-0) W PTS 8 Lanardo Tyner (25-5-2). Light Heavy: Marcus Johnson (21-1) W PTS 6 Bill Bailey (11-13).
JCC Jr. may just be on his way to emerging from the shadow of his father. In the first defence of his WBC title Chavez Jr. showed a dominant jab, good lateral movement and strong right hand punching. Manfredo was behind from the start, but never stopped pressing. However, when he did get Chavez to trade, he was caught with hard rights inside. Manfredo got through with some rights of his own in the third and fourth, but Chavez showed a good chin. In the fifth Manfredo was caught with a hard right and was visibly staggered. Chavez jumped on him, and although not finding the one big punch to put Manfredo away, Chavez was getting through with some heavy shots. With Manfredo not throwing anything back the fight was stopped. Now 31 wins by KO/TKO for 25-year-old Chavez, who showed some of his defensive faults, but some improving skills. Manfredo, one week exactly short of his 31st birthday, just can’t win a big fight. Joe Calzaghe stopped him in three rounds for the WBO super middle title in 2007 and he has also lost to Sakio Bika, Jeff Lacy and Sergio Mora. He had won his last six fights, but had been inactive since January.
Clottey returns with a win. In his first fight since putting up a poor performance against Manny Pacquiao in March 2010, the 34-year-old Ghanaian had a look at Green in the first and then forced the finish in the second with a left hook and right to the chin. The former undefeated IBF welter champion, with his win over Zab Judah and a split decision loss to Miguel Cotto, will make an interesting addition to the light middle scene. Green, 33, has lost four of his last five fights. All by KO/TKO. A poor fight sees Mexican Pinzon, 24, get a needed win and “Slow Motion” Smith live up to his nickname. Pinzon has Smith down in the third but has to go the distance. Scores 79-72 from all three judges. Second win for Pinzon since losing to Pawel Wolak in December. Smith has lost six of his last seven. Bey, 28, continues to win, but again makes hard work of it. Bey’s better skills and hand speed seem him picking up points in all rounds except the second. In the second Bey went down on his knees after a hard shot from veteran Velasquez. Bey got up, but was badly shaken, and only just survived the round. After that Bey went back to his boxing and took the unanimous verdict on score of 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75. Only 17 fights in six years is a poor return for someone who was an outstanding amateur. Velazquez, 36, is no pushover. Although he has won only one of his last eight fights, two of those were world title fights.
Good test for 26-year-old Omotoso as Tyner takes him the distance. The tough Nigerian started slowly but then picked-up the pace and began wearing down Tyner. Omotoso wanted to keep the fight on the outside and generally succeeded. Tyner showed he had a sound chin, and hurt Omotoso with rights in the sixth, but never looked like winning. Scores 79-73 twice and 78-74. Omotoso, a former undefeated Australian champion, was inactive for almost ten months whilst relocating from Australia, and this was his second win in the US. Texan Tyler, 36, kept his record of never losing inside the distance despite having faced Lamont Peterson, Mika Arnaoutis and Saul Alvarez. He holds a stoppage win over Antwone Smith. “Too Much” Johnson, 26, returns for the first time in seven months with a win. Johnson much too good for Bailey and takes every round. First fight for former US amateur champion since being floored and outpointed by Dyah Davis in April. Johnson beat Anthony Dirrell twice in the US Olympic trials, but lost out to Andre Ward. Bailey, 33, has lost 8 of his last 9.
Los Mochis, Mexico Super Bantam: Victor Terrazas (32-2-1) W PTS 12 Fernando Montiel (46-4-2). Middle: Jorge Cota (19-0-1) W TKO 8 Luis Ramon Campos (99-16-1). Light: Jose Felix Jr (19-0-1) W PTS 8 Tadeo Cerecer.
Terrazas gets upset victory. A painful night for Montiel. He starts well but slowly gets broken down. Terrazas scores a knockdown in the fifth with a right to the jaw. Montiel has to soak up punishment in a painful eighth. By this time Montiel is showing signs of wear. Cut over both eyes and with swellings also hampering his vision. Like a real champion, despite the handicaps, Montiel fights hard over the closing rounds to try to close the points gap, but just fails. Scores 115-112, 115-113 and 114-113. Despite all of the facial injuries and the big rounds for Terrazas it was the knockdown that separated the fighters on the scorecards, but there were periods when the referee would have been justified in stopping the fight due to those injuries. Big win for 23-year-old Ceja. “The Demon” is just too young and too quick for the 40-year-old former IBF light middle champion. “Yori Boy” is almost a stationary target for the fast hands and sharp jab of Ceja. With Campas never in the fight, and taking a steady beating, the referee stops the fight. All of Ceja’s wins have come by KO/TKO (local reports credit him with 13 wins by KO/TKO). Campas, who had won his last seven fights, was trying to make it 100 wins, but maybe next time. Felix, 19, has an easy night against modest Cerecer. Has Cerecer down in the seventh, but has to settle for the unanimous decision.
Sydney, Australia Feather: Billy Dib (33-1,1ND) W KO 1 Alberto Servidie (31-1-2). Cruiser: Danny Price (9-3-2) W PTS 8 James Chan (5-10-2). Super Feather: Paul Fleming (12-0) W TKO 2 Sonny Manakane (14-11-3).
Dib gets the job done in quick time. After 30 seconds of studying Servidie he starts throwing hard shots to the body. The Italian makes the mistake of backing to the ropes. Two rights see Servidie slump down against the ropes and touch the canvas with his gloves. The referee does not rule it a knockdown but Servidie is obviously hurt. Dib, 26, moves in. A hard right to the head opens up Servidie, a left to the body puts him down again, and the Italian makes no real effort to get up. For Dib it is the first defence of the IBF title he won by beating Jorge Lacierva in July. Southpaw Servidie, 36, is a former undefeated Italian and European champion. In a non-title fight Price, 31, the WBU champion, wins a clear unanimous verdict over Chan. The bigger man in both height and weight, and with a better work rate, Price is in control all the way. Chan has some success with body punches, but never really in the fight. Scores 80-72 from all three judges. “Showtime” Fleming has no trouble with poor Indonesian. Two knockdowns see the fight stopped in the second. The 23-year-old southpaw is one of the best prospects in Australia. Now nine wins by KO/TKO for Fleming who represented Australia at the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics. One win in his seven for Manakane.
Johannesburg, South Africa Heavy: Mike Grant (48-4) W KO 12: Frans Botha (48-6-3,1ND). Light Welter: Ali Funeka (31-3-3) W PTS 12 Zolani Marali (21-5). Super Feather: Malcolm Klassen (25-5-2) W PTS 12 Daniel Lomeli (21-3). Bantam: Lubabalo Msuthu (13-2-1) W PTS 12 Dennis Tubieron (12-1-1). Cruiser: Ilunga Makabu (10-1) W TKO 11 Pedro Otas (23-2). Welter: Mthobisi Buthelezi (11-1) W TKO 7 Gerald Nekhubvi (5-1-1).
Grant pulls the fight out of the fire with a last round kayo of Botha. Not a great deal of skill on show and too much clinching and wrestling. ”The White Buffalo” Botha gets the better start, and Grant looks pedestrian and tentative and making no use of his 6’7” height to outbox Botha. The South African, 43, builds big lead through the middle rounds and seems to have nailed down the win with a strong eleventh round. Perhaps overconfident after shaking Grant in the eleventh, Botha goes looking for Grant. With less than a minute to go in the fight Grant lands a string of punches. Botha staggers back across the ring and goes down heavily with his head half way through the bottom rope. His corner try to push his head back inside the ropes in an attempt to help him get up, but Botha is still slumped prone as the ten is counted. Grant, 39, makes it 36 wins by KO/TKO and wins the WBFederation title. Grant has made a habit of losing the big fights, being kayoed in two rounds by Lennox Lewis in 2000 for the WBC and IBF titles and losing to Jameel McCline (43 seconds), Dominick Guinn and Tomasz Adamek. Botha has had a controversial career. At one time he won the IBF title by beating Axel Schulze only to test positive for steroids. It was also alleged that he again tested positive when he defended his WBFederation title against Pedro Carrion in Germany. The “win” over Schulz was as close as Botha has come to a real world title, as he lost to Michael Moorer, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko in world title fights. He had lost his WBF title to Evander Holyfield in April 2010, but came back in June this year with a stoppage of Flo Simba.
Former IBF lightweight title champion Ali Funeka returns to action and wins vacant WBFederation title, but it was not a popular decision. Marali always seemed to be a step ahead of the rusty Funeka despite losing a point for holding in the sixth. When he floored Funeka in the eleventh it seemed that southpaw Marali had wrapped up the verdict. The judges gave it to Funeka on scores of 116-112, 115-111 and 112-115. First fight for Funeka since losing to Joan Guzman for the IBF light title in March 2010, after which he was given a ban for testing positive for a diuretic. Marali, 34, has won a string of titles with South African, IBO and the WBFederation. After losing three out of four IBO title fights he was inactive for six months until beating prospect Kgotla Baeti in April 2010. This was his first fight since then.
Former IBF champion Klassen, in his first fight for over two years, showed touches of his old skill as he out boxed Mexican Lomeli. Lomeli tried hard, but could never match the class of Klassen, and the unanimous decision gave Klassen the vacant WBFederation title. The 29-year-old Klassen gave Roberto Guerrero a good fight when losing his IBF title to him in August 2008, and can once more get himself in the mix. Lomeli, 26, has a good chin. His previous defeats were to former WBC feather champ Cesar Soto and world rated Eduardo Escobedo. Southpaw Msuthu also looked very lucky to get split decision over young Filipino Tubieron. The 21-year-old “Scorpion” looked to have won the fight easily and the decision was loudly booed. Msuthu, 28, making the second defence of his WBFederation title.
Makuba from the DCR had an easy time with yet another Brazilian with a heavily padded record. Makabu just wore down the limited Brazilian and almost toyed with him before the fight was stopped in the eleventh. After losing his first fight on a one round stoppage, the Congolese fighter has won ten by KO/TKO, but like Otas, very poor opposition. Otas, 31, a former Brazilian cruiser champion, had lost in eight rounds to Jackson Junior for the Brazilian light heavy title in his last fight in August. Nekhubvi had sprung a surprise when he kayoed former Commonwealth champion Ali Nuumbembe in two rounds in April 2010 for the WBO African title. However, that was his last fight, so he had quite a bit of rust to shake off. Buthelezi was in the same position not having had a fight since losing a close decision to Stefan Stefanovic in Serbia in October 2009. It was “The Terminator” Buthelezi who came out on top as he stopped Nekhubvi in the seventh. Seven wins by KO/TKO for Buthelezi who will hope to be more active.
Villa Del Tortoral, Argentina Super Fly: Roberto Sosa (22-0) W TKO 2 Tadeu Pantoja (11-2).
Argentinian champion Sosa hits too hard for modest Brazilian flyweight champion Pantoja. “Incho” Sosa looking to finish the outclassed Brazilian in the first, but just fails to nail Pantoja. Two minutes into the second a right to the jaw has Pantoja staggering and the towel comes in before Sosa can apply the finish. Now 13 wins by KO/TKO for the Argentinian champion. Seven of Pantoja’s opponents had never previously had a fight and three more had never won one.
Acapulco, Mexico Light Welter: Roberto Ortiz (22-0) W TKO 6 Carlos Urias (45-22-1). Bantam: Hugo Cazares (36-7-2) W TKO 7 Adan Garcia (17-6-1). Ortiz gradually breaks down veteran Urias. The first four rounds are fairly even. The constant aggression and hard punching of Ortiz pays off in the sixth when a body shot puts Urias down. Urias beats the count, but is stopped when caught with another barrage. “Massa” Ortiz, 25, retains his WBC Silver title and has 19 wins by KO/TKO, including a four round pounding of previously unbeaten Antonio Lozada Jr. Certainly one to watch. Only 2 wins in his last 7 fights for 36-year-old Urias. Brave Garcia gives. “El Incredible” Cazares a tough night. Garcia gave Cazares all he could handle and on a couple of occasions Cazares had to use all of his southpaw skills and experience to stay out of trouble. Cazares took over in the fourth flooring Garcia and kept the pressure on. When Garcia went down from a left in the seventh the referee stopped the fight. Former WBO light fly and WBA super fly champion Cazares, 33, has taken part in 15 world title fights and has 27 wins by KO/TKO. Garcia, 21, had lost only one of his last 12, to Salvador Sanchez, and won nine of those twelve fights by KO/TKO.
Mazatlan, Mexico Light Fly: Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (28-0) W PTS 12 Nethra (27-2). Super Bantam: Mikayl Arreola (19-0) W DIS 4 German Meraz (34-22-1,1ND). Super Feather: Oscar Cortes (18-0) W TKO 7 Charly Valdez (14-12-1). Super Bantam: Horacio Garcia (17-0-0) W TKO 5 Edgar Martinez (7-3).
“Torito” wins vacant WBA interim title with split verdict over Thai Nethra. Nethra lost a point as early as the first round for a low blow. Local fighter Rodriguez tested the chin of the Thai over the first half of the fight. He was scoring with heavy rights and left hooks and despite being cut in a clash of heads in the fourth, looked to be on his way to a comfortable victory. A big right from Nethra in the seventh had Rodriguez badly shaken. Nethra again lost a point in the seventh for a low blow and Rodriguez was now on the back foot and trying to keep the fight at a distance. Nethra staged a strong finish, but Rodriguez got the split decision. Scores 114-112, 113-111, 111-114. This fight was a big step-up for the 22-year-old local. Nethra, 29, had won his last ten since losing to Juan Reveco for the vacant WBA secondary title in 2007. Arreola remained unbeaten after Meraz was disqualified for holding in the fourth. Cortes, 18, continues to look a hot prospect as he stopped late sub Valdez to win the WBC Youth title. Cortes, who turned pro at 16, has eleven wins by KO/TKO. “Violento” Garcia, 21, makes it 13 wins by KO/TKO as he batters Martinez, another late sub, in the fourth, and forces the stoppage early in the fifth.
Kharkov, Ukraine Light Welter: Serhiy Fedchenko (29-1) W PTS 12 Willy Blain (24-2). Light: Valentyn Holovko (15-0) W TKO 3 Kakhaber Avetisian (20-16-1). Light Heavy: Viacheslav Uzelkov (25-1) W TKO 4 Dzmitri Adamovich (7-27). Welter: Viktor Plotnykov (26-1) W PTS 8 George Ungiadze (17-11). Welter: Valeriy Brazhnyk (27-0-1) W PTS 8 David Makaradze (17-8).
Bad luck again for Frenchman Blain. His only pro loss had been to Lamont Peterson when an arm injury forced him out of the fight after seven rounds. In the fight with Fedchenko he was in a slight lead until he injured his arm in the tenth and Fedchenko was able to sweep the last two rounds. Even then Blain looked worth at least a draw. “The Professor” Fedchenko, 20, makes a successful first defence of his WBO European title and has six wins since his loss to Kaizer Mabuza in 2009. Blain, 33, “The Little Leonard” was an outstanding amateur and has great skills, but may have left it too late to turn pro. Ukrainian Holovko 24 gets another win as late sub Georgian Avetisian is pulled out in the sixth with a cut. Former WBA challenger Uzelkov looks to be on the way to an early night as he floors Adamovich in the first. The Belarus fighter survives, but only until the fourth when he is taking too much punishment and the fight is stopped. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for 32-year-old “Steel Power” and his third win since losing to Beibut Shumenov for the WBA title in July 2010. Plotnykov, 34, returns in his first fight since November 2010 and gets a unanimous verdict over Georgian Ungiadze. Plotnykov a clear winner, but one judge sees it 77-75 with the others more accurate at 80-72 and 80-73. Southpaw Brazhnyk, 32, given a good work out by Georgian Makaradze and takes unanimous decision on scores of 79-74 twice and 78-74.
Atlantic City, USA Cruiser: Garrett Wilson (11-5-1) W KO 12 Chuck Mussachio (17-2-2). Welter: Ronald Cruz (15-0) W TKO 5 Anges Adjaho (25-7).
Dramatic ending to this one as Wilson, far behind on the cards, and needing a knockout, came up with just that in the last round. Mussachio was moving up a division to try to lift the USABA title from Wilson. The fight started well for Mussachio as he found Wilson easily with his sharp jab and straight rights. Wilson, 29, was looking for the big punch as he could not match the speed of Mussachio. Wilson had a good fifth when he got through with heavy left hooks and rights. “The Professor” Mussachio, 32, was back in command in the sixth. As the fight moved into the later stages Mussachio was still picking up the points with his busier work rate. However Wilson kept digging. After looking to be tiring in the eighth, Wilson came out firing in the eleventh and had Mussachio hurt. In the last a big right put Mussachio in trouble and another right put him down and out. Wilson won the USBA title by decisioning Omar Sheika in April and is unbeaten in his last five. Mussachio had scored four wins since losing to Tommy Karpency in August 2009, but the additional poundage did him no favours. Puerto Rican prospect Cruz, 25, gets another impressive win. He attacks the body of the Benin fighter and takes the first two rounds, then switches guards and does even better in the third. The fourth was a closer round, but again Cruz was hurting Adjaho to the body. A right put Adjaho down early in the fifth. Cruz scored another knockdown with a left hook. A sustained attack by Cruz saw the referee stop the fight. Has twelve wins by KO/TKO including the last eight in a row. Adjaho has six losses in a row, but it has been against opposition such as Brad Solomon, Antonio DeMarco and Shawn Porter.
New York, USA Light Welter: Chris Algieri (12-0) W PTS 10 Bayan Jargal (15-3-3). Algieri gets clear unanimous verdict over Mongolian Jargal. The better boxing skills give Algieri the edge over the aggressive Jargal. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-92. First fight in eight months for 27-year-old Algieri. Jargal, 29, had lost his last two, but to Steve Chambers on a split decision and Breidis Prescott.
Elzach, Germany Light Welter: Gabor Veto (27-0) W TKO 5 Thomas Hengstberger (20-37-3). Easy first defence of GBO “world” title for Hungarian. Veto has no problem. Walks Austrian Hengstberger down and floors him three times in the fifth for 21st win by KO/TKO. The 22-year-old Hungarian is still to face a real test. Hengstberger, 38, is not in this class and has lost his last three inside the distance.
St Charles, USA Light: Dannie Williams (20-1) W TKO 2 John Willoughby (3-11). No test for the talented 20-year-old Williams. He belabors Willoughby, 36, around the chin in the first with Willoughby employing a high guard. In the second Williams goes to the body to bring the guard down, and a three-punch combination finishes the fight. Now 16 wins by KO/TKO for Williams and eight wins in a row since loss to Eloy Perez in 2009.
NOVEMBER 20
Hamilton Hill, Australia Heavy: Mark de Mori (17-1-2) W TKO 4 Dom Alexander (20-13-1).
De Mori marks comeback with a quick win. He takes the first round, then floors Alexander with a body punch in the second. Alexander beats the count only to be floored again. The American just survives the round. Alexander tried to avoid de Mori’s bombs in the third, but again was floored by a body punch. Alexander was under pressure in the fourth and near the end of the round he was floored again and the fight was stopped. First fight since July 2009 for De Mori, 29, who has signed a promotional contract with Don King. Fourth loss in a row by KO/TKO for Alexander.
