The Past Week in Action 16 November 2015
November 13
Biloxi, MS, USA: Light Heavy: Edwin Rodriguez (28-1) W TKO 3 Mike Seales (19-1).
Light Heavy: Thomas Williams Jr (19-1) W TKO 2 Umberto Savigne (12-3,1 ND).
Welter: Bryant Perrella (12-0) W TKO 1 Chaquib Fadli (13-6).Super Welter: Alantez
Fox (18-0-1) W TKO 4 Todd Manuel (10-10-1). Cruiser: Radivoje Kalajdzic (21-0) W
KO 1 Fabio Garrido (28-5-1). Middle: Fernando Guerrero (28-3) W TKO 7 Daniel
Souza Santos (14-9).
Rodriguez vs. Seales
Rodriguez gets off the floor to stop Seales in an exciting fight of spills and thrills.
Rodriguez came out firing forcing Seales across the ring and letting go big swinging rights.
Seales tried to fire back but after just 26 seconds a right from Rodriguez sent Seales
stumbling along the ropes and down on his knees. It really looked as though he had stumbled
when trying to duck out of the corner and he was up immediately and took the standing eight
count (although the rules summary had said there was no standing eight count!) . Rodriguez
charged forward throwing wild right swings and walked onto a short right which put him
down-and the round was not yet one minute old. Rodriguez took his time getting up at eight.
Both used their jabs for a while but Rodriguez was again throwing rights from way back and
paid the price as with just 13 seconds left in the round he threw a wide right that landed but
Seales had launched a right a split second earlier and on a shorter trajectory which crashed on
to Rodriguez’s to the jaw. The punch spun Rodriguez right around and he ended face down
on the canvas. He started to get up but almost fell into the ropes and was obviously badly
shaken. He was up at six and after the eight count was completed the bell went. Rodriguez
seemed to have recovered at the start of the second and both were a bit more cautious but that
did not last long and soon Rodriguez was swinging the right again with Seales looking to
counter . Rodriguez drove Seales into a corner and bludgeoned him to the floor with an
overhand right. Seales went down by the ropes on his side and had trouble getting up and was
on wobbly legs. Rodriguez managed to trap Seales on the ropes and batter away but Seales
was throwing the occasional punch and lasted to the bell. Rodriguez drove Seales to the ropes
at the start of the third and then crashed home an overhand right and Seales pitched forward
into the ropes and down on his back on the canvas. Somehow he managed to pull himself up
but he was in a bad way and the fight was stopped. Not quite Hagler vs. Hearns but an
explosive three rounds. Now up at light heavy this is the fourth win for the Dominican-born
30-year-old “La Bomba” since losing a wide decision against Andre Ward for the WBA
super middle title in 2013. Seales, 33,had spent his career fighting in prelims in boxing
backwoods and this was his first ten round fight. For a while in that wild first round he was a
punch away from a major upset and perhaps now he might get some better level work.
Williams vs. Savigne
This one was only slightly less eventful as Williams gets off the floor to stop Savigne in two
rounds. Williams was the first to go down but he was up quickly and not badly hurt. Later in
the round he returned the compliment flooring the Cuban and being in charge as the round
ended. William’s continued that dominance in the second round flooring Savigne for a
second time. Savigne beat the count but was trapped on the ropes with incoming fire and no
defence and the fight was stopped. Twenty-eight-year-old Williams was flying high when he
stopped Cornelius White in one round in January 2014 but his stock nose-dived whet he
seemed to quit after five rounds against Gabriel Campillo in August. He had returned with a
low level win over Mike Gbenga but this was a much more impressive performance. Savigne,
36, suffers his second inside the distance loss in a row having been beaten by the undefeated
Craig Baker in February. The No Decision came when Savigne tested positive for a banned
substance in a fight in 2013.
Perrella vs. Fadli
Perrella waste no time as he disposes of Frenchman Fadli inside a round. Body punches
accounted for two knockdowns and it was over in 90 seconds. A body punch had Fadli
draped on the ropes in agony and since he was supported by the ropes the referee applied an
eight count. After the count Perrella jumped on Fadli again and unleashed a barrage of
punches that saw the referee stop the fight, The 26-year-old from Florida has won his last 9
fights by KO/TKO including 5 inside the first round. He just failed to get though the final US
Olympic Trials but has impressed as a pro. Fadli was coming off back-to-back losses to
Lenny Daws and Anthony Yigit but he can be an awkward customer if allowed to hang
around.
Fox vs. Manuel
Fox extended his winning run with stoppage of Manuel. With his huge reach advantage the
very tall “SlyAza” was able to score easily in every round flooring Manuel in the third and
forcing his corner to retire their man at the end of the fourth. At 6’5” (196cm) the 23-year-old
from Maryland is just too tall for 160lbs but seems to make the weight okay. He was US
Under-19 champion at 152lbs (69kg) so weight does not seem to be a problem for him.
Manuel was a very late substitute. He has lost 6 in a row but in there is a majority verdict loss
to Freddy Hernandez in August.
Kalajdzic vs. Garrido
“Hot Rod Kalajdzic was even quicker than Perrella as he disposed of Brazilian Garrido with
one right in 19 seconds-including the count. The 24-year-old has 14 wins by KO/TKO. He
was born in Bosnia and was a refugee from the Bosnian war before moving to the USA with
his family and settling in Florida. He has big Bosnian and Serb following. Former Brazilian
champion Garrido 36 beats his previous record for a quick finish. His corner threw in the
towel after only 45 seconds of his fight with Grigory Drozd.
Guerrero vs. Santos
Guerrero continues the rebuilding of his career with a stoppage of game Brazilian Santos. It
took Guerrero a couple of rounds to get going but then he was just too good for the limited
South American. The break down was a gradual process until the seventh when Guerrero
floored Santos and was continuing to beat the Brazilian up when the referee stopped the fight.
After 21 wins in a row, and victories over Gabriel Rosado and Ishe Smith, Guerrero was in
line for a title shot until he was de-railed by dangerously unpredictable Grady Brewer in
2011. He fought his way back but was floored four times and stopped in seven rounds by
Peter Quillin in a WBO title fight in 2013. Even more devastating was his third round kayo
by David Lemieux in May last year. He took eleven months out before returning climbing off
the floor to win a split decision over Abie Ham , a useful result but he has a long way to go
yet. Santos, 39, has lost 4 of his last 5.
Quilmes, Argentina: Light: German Benitez (14-0,1ND) W TKO 2 Sergio O Priotti (2820-2). Benitez ends his first main event with stoppage of veteran Priotti. Despite some good
movement from Priotti Benitez took the first round with body punches. In the second Benitez
was again hunting down Priotti and when he trapped him on the ropes he landed an uppercut
to the chin that put Priotti down. He made it to his feet but Benitez was on top of him straight
away and a couple of hooks to the body and a right to the chin saw the referee step in to save
Priotti. The 24-year-old Benitez, the FAB No 8, makes it 7 wins by KO/TKO. Priotti, 35, was
a top class amateur winning a gold medal at both the World and PanAmerican
Championships but that was a long way back and although coming off a win is 3-10-1 in his
last 14 fights.
Moscow, Russia: Heavy: Sergey Kuzmin (5-0) W KO 3 Irineu Beato Junior (18-6).
Kuzmin gets easy win over Junior. In the first Kuzmin tracked Junior around the ring with the
Brazilian just hiding behind a high guard. Kuzmin threw a right that landed on Junior’s glove
and then poked a left through the Brazilian’s guard and Junior went down. He was up quickly
and actually managed to land a good right to the body before the round ended. Junior started
the second with a wild right but Kuzmin landed a stiff jab to Junior’s head and although a
following left and right combination did not land Junior tumbled over again. He got up and
tried some sneaky counters but was soon back behind his high guard again. It was over in the
third when two jabs and a right that glanced off Junior’s head saw the Brazilian go down and
make no attempt to get up. The 28-year-old Kuzmin is a former European gold medal winner
and was Russian champion in 2012 and 2011 but he looked slow and his defence was far
from solid and Junior went over too easily for any real assessment. Junior, 35, won his first
15 fights but is 3-6 in his last nine and was knocked out one round by Brit Dillian Whyte in
August.
Mexicali, Mexico: Super Light: Jesus Gurrola (21-7-3) W PTS 10 Humberto Mauro
Gutierrez (31-7-2). Minimum: Abraham Rodriguez (15-0) W TKO 6 Mauricio Fuentes
(18-5)
Gurrola vs. Gutierrez
Gurrola boxes his way to unanimous decision over southpaw Gutierrez. From the outset
Gurrola was intent on using his better skills to keep Gutierrez at a distance. Utilising a sharp
accurate jab and good lateral movement he succeed in his game plan over the first four
rounds. Gutierrez closed the distance in the fifth and from then it was a more even match but
Gurrola continued to box skilfully and Gutierrez was not able to claw back the points from
those first four rounds. Scores 96-94 twice and 98-92 all for Gurrola. The locally based
“Pantera” had lost 3 of his last 4 but they were all against top class opposition with the losses
to Silverio Ortiz, Antonio DeMarco and Fermin De los Santos and the win over Armando
Robles. Gutierrez, 27, is a former interim WBC champion but down at super feather and he is
no longer the force he was being 5-6-1 in his last 12 fights.
Rodriguez vs. Fuentes
Tijuana fighter “Choko” Rodriguez halts Colombian Flores to win the WBC Youth Silver
title. To begin with Rodriguez was boxing his way to a win however after he suffered a bad
cut on his right eyebrow from a punch he changed tactics. From then he opened up and
carried out a sustained assault on the body of Fuentes and in the end Fuentes did not come out
for the sixth round. Eight wins by KO/TKO for Rodriguez and his best win so far. Fuentes,
26, had an indifferent start as a pro but had lost only two of his last 18 fights going in. One of
those was against John Riel Casimero for the vacant IBF light fly title, with Casimero losing
the title on the scales but knocking out Fuentes inside a round, and to current IBF champion
Javier Mendoza.
Taguig City, Philippines: Super Fly: Aston Palicte (20-1) W PTS 12 Vergilio Silvano
(20-6-1) . Super Light: Al Rivera (14-2) W KO 1 Adones Cabalquinto (21-1). Light:
Jayar Inson (10-0) W TKO 10 Bryan Macamay (9-4-2). Super Fly: Ryan Lumacad (100-1) W PTS 10 Jetly Purisima (20-18-4). Super Fly: Jerwin Ancajas (24-1-1) W KO 1
Paul Apolinario (10-16-3).
Palicte vs. Silvano
Palicte, a prospect from the Manny Pacquiao gym, wins the vacant WBO Oriental title with
unanimous decision over Silvano. Palicte had huge edges in height and reach and also had the
power. He looked good for a win inside the distance as he floored Silvano in both the second
and fifth rounds. From the sixth he seemed to go off the boil and Silvano was able to get
inside and make it a more even fight. It transpired that Palicte had injured his right hand but
he was able to use his left to box his way to victory. Scores 118-108 twice and 116-110. The
24-year-old from Cebu who represented the Philippines at the World Youth Championships
suffered his only loss when he was beaten in four rounds by Romnick Magos. He has now
won 10 in a row since then, 9 by KO/TKO, and is GAB No 2. Southpaw Silvano lost to
Katsunari Takayama for the IBO minimum title in December 2013 but is now 3-3 in his last 6
but with all of the losses to very good domestic opposition.
Rivera vs. Cabalquinto
A major upset here but some controversy. Just as the action was heating up a clash of heads
saw Rivera cut up on his forehead. Cabalquinto seemed momentary stunned by the head clash
and a huge punch from Rivera put him down and out cold. Cabalquinto was out for some
time and needed medical attention before recovering. After losing his first fight on a one
round stoppage “The Machine” Rivera has now lost only one of his last 15 fights and that
was to Leonardo Doronio who on the same night in Bangkok was knocking over Taiwo Ali in
three rounds. Rivera has 12 wins by KO/TKO. Cabalquinto, the GAB champion and WBO
12, was a big favourite here and will need time to recover from this shock. This was a nontitle fight.
Inson vs. Macamay
“Hitman” Inson gets late stoppage of Macamay. This was always going to be a tough fight
for Macamay against a 5’10” (178cm) southpaw( Macamay is 5’5” 165cm). Inson was able
to use his reach to control the fight but was also the boss when they got close. He had
Macamay down in the second but Macamay kept plugging away and it looked as though he
was going to go the distance. In the last a left from Inson put Macamay down heavily and the
fight was stopped with just one second to go. The 25-year-old Inson has 7 wins by KO/TKO.
He holds the interim WBO Oriental title and is No 1 in the GBA ratings. Macamay, 24 gets
his second loss in a row by KO/TKO.
Lumacad vs. Purisima
Lumacad stepped into the breach at short notice here and outpointed a tough but limited
Purisima. Lumacad had southpaw Purisima down in the second but Purisima got up and made
Lumacad fight hard for the next eight rounds to win the verdict. Scores 97-92 twice and 9891. Lumacad, 23, the GAB No 6 super fly went 10 rounds for the first time. Now four losses
in a row for Purisima. Lumacad was brought in to fight Purisima after Drian Francisco pulled
out due to his being offered a fight with Guillermo Rigondeaux on the undercard of Cotto vs.
Alvarez on 21 November.
Ancajas vs. Apolinario
Predictable early win for Ancajas. It took just 35 seconds and one thundering right from the
Filipino southpaw to put fellow-countryman Apolinario down and out. Now 16 wins by
KO/TKO for “Pretty Boy” . He is the IBF No 3 but as the first two slots are vacant he is their
top rated fighter. I normally show that as 3(1). This is his eleventh win on the bounce by
KO/TKO since losing a majority verdict to Mark Anthony Geraldo in 2012. Poor Apolinario
was to have fought Purisima but Francisco pulling out was shuffled over to face Ancajas
with. He is now 0-10-1 in his last 11 fights with 9 losses by KO/TKO.
Adeje, Canary Isles, Spain: Light: Artem Haroyan (9-0) W TKO 2 Karim El Ouazghari
(17-7-2). Haroyan wins the vacant WBA Continental title with stoppage of El Ouazghari.
Haroyan took the first round comfortably and after shaking El Ouazghari early in the second
floored the Spaniard with a series of punches to put him down. El Ouazghari made it to his
feet but the referee stopped the fight which led to strong protests from El Ouazghari’s team.
Armenian Haroyan, 22 is based in the Canary Islands. This was his first bout scheduled for
more than eight rounds. El Ouazghari 35 gets his fifth loss by KO/TKO. He had a big edge in
experience having been in with John Murray, Kevin Mitchell, Stephen Ormond and Felix
Verdejo.
Cleethorpes, England: Light: Kevin Hooper (18-3) W PTS 10 Andy Keates (11-3).
Hooper takes majority decision and wins English title in front of his home fans. This was a
close fight. The first two rounds could have gone either way and although Hooper had
slightly the better of the action in most of the remaining rounds a closing surge from Keates
put the outcome in doubt. Scores 97-94 and 96-94 for Hooper and 95-95. Hooper, 31, is
hoping this win will get him a shot at the British title. Two of his losses have come in fights
for the English title at super feather against good opposition in Gary Sykes and John Kays
and the other was to the now world rated Liam Walsh. Keates, the Midland Area champion
will naturally want a return and deserves one.
November 14
Bristol, England: Middle: Nick Blackwell (19-3-1) W PTS 12 Jack Arnfield (19-2). Fly:
Andrew Selby (2-0) W TKO 2 Jozsef Ajtai (10-0). Heavy: Hughie Fury (17-0) W KO 2
Emilio Zarate (18-15-3). Cruiser: Craig Kennedy (13-0) W TKO 6 Tamas Bajzath (1117-1).
Blackwell vs. Arnfield
Blackwell retains British title after great scrap with Arnfield. The first two rounds saw
Arnfield boxing on the outside using his longer reach to spear Blackwell with jabs and quick
combinations whilst Blackwell showed more power particularly with left hooks to the body
but was waiting too long to let his punches go. Blackwell had his jab working in the third and
both scored with some good shots in an equal round but one that saw Arnfield’s nose leaking
blood. Blackwell upped his pace in the fourth and again his left hooks doubled to head and
body were impressive. Arnfield was again using his jab and quick counters but it was
Blackwell’s round and Arnfield was cut over his left eye by a punch. Blackwell’s was getting
inside and taking Arnfield to the ropes in the fifth and a left hook followed by a right cross
saw Arnfield down on his knees. He was up and banging back by the bell but really from that
point it was an uphill struggle for Arnfield. The pattern for the rounds was Arnfield a starting
well and Blackwell pressurising and finishing the rounds with big attacks. A tiring Arnfield
looked to be in trouble in the eighth but he fought back hard finding gaps in Blackwell’s
guard but not having the power to exploit those openings. Blackwell was relentless walking
Arnfield down and cracking home those left hooks but Arnfield just kept working the jab and
was particularly successful with right uppercuts. Over the last two rounds the cut over
Arnfield’s left eye was worsening but he never stopped trying to turn the fight around.
Blackwell kept the pressure on scoring with short bursts of punches in close and looked to
have Arnfield in deep trouble over those last two rounds but Arnfield kept finding the
strength to fire back to the final bell of a great title fight. The 25-year-old Blackwell was
making the second defence of his British title and is 7-0-1 in his last 8 fights with the draw
being against the dangerous Sergey Khomitsky and one of the wins was a big one a stoppage
of John Ryder.. His losses have been to Martin Murray and Billy Joe Saunders in British and
Commonwealth title fights and a points loss to Max Bursak in a short notice fight in Bursak’s
backyard in 2013. He has improved a great deal since then and is ready for bigger fights.
Arnfield, 26, came in at only eight day’s notice and was in his first twelve round fight. He
fought his heart out here and has improved his profile with such a fighting performance.
Selby vs. Ajtai
Selby is a huge talent a world class amateur who will be a future star of the flyweight
division. He has to have some pro fights to get in ring time but it is difficult to find suitable
opponents for such an outstanding fighter. No matter how difficult this fight was a farce. A
mature 26-year-old Selby, 5’6” and a big flyweight was put in with an 18-year-old 5’2”
Hungarian who weighed as low as 101lbs for a fight in July. Selby floored Ajtai in the first
and showed what he thought of the fight by just resting his hands on his thighs and
showboating before a volley of punches saw the referee stop the fight. Selby, the brother of
IBF champion Lee, won two bronze medals and two gold medals at the European
Championships and a silver at the World Championships and could probably fight for the
European title tomorrow but they have to find more useful fights for him than this.
Fury vs. Zarate
Fury has no trouble beating poor Argentinian in two rounds. Zarate looked hesitant from the
start jerking his head back every time he threw a punch. Fury took his tome stalking Zarate
with his usual low guard. When he opened up at the end of the round he scored two rights, a
left hook and a right uppercut. In the second he took Zarate to the ropes and landed some
clubbing rights. The last landed on the side of the Argentinian’s head but as he slumped to the
canvas he was holding the back of his head to claim it was a foul. It wasn’t and he was
counted out remaining on the canvas and receiving attention for quite a while. The 21-yearold 6.6” (198cm) Fury, the cousin of Tyson Fury, has 9 wins by KO/TKO and is showing
steady progress . Zarate 6’5 ½” (197cm) is a former South American champion but last time
out he lost on points to Sergey Kuzmin who was having only his second pro fight.
Kennedy vs. Bajzath
Kennedy gets another win with stoppage of Hungarian. The 30-year-old Welsh boxer is in
line for a shot at the British title after beating Courtney Fry in an eliminator. He got some
useful ring time here and his 7th win by KO/TKO. He is rated No 15 by the EBU in a tough
division. Hungarian Bajzath, 31, is 3-11 in his last 14 fights.
Portland, ME, USA: Middle: Tom Falowo (14-3) W PTS 8 Russell Lamour (12-2).
Falowo gets unanimous decision over Lamour to win the seventh bout in their series. Local
fighter Lamour looked to have edged ahead over the first three rounds and was doing well in
the fourth until a right to the head from Falowo sent him spinning into the ropes and down.
Lamour took the standing count and was on the back foot for the rest of the round. From that
point Falowo was in charge and he went on to win the decision. Scores 79-73, 78-74 and 7774 all for Falowo. The 27-year-old from Rhode Island lost 3 out of 4 fights against Lamour as
an amateur but has now beaten him twice as a pro. He wins the New England title. A setback
for 32-year-old Lamour but he had no complaints about the decision.
Las Vegas, NV, USA: Heavy: Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1) W PTS 10 Derric Rossy (3011). Super Welter: Jarrett Hurd (17-0) W TKO 6 Frankie Galarza (17-1-2). Middle:
Sergiy Derevyanchenko (7-0) W TKO 3 Jesse Nicklow (25-8-3).Super Middle: David
Benavidez (11-0) W TKO 1 Felipe Romero (19-10-1).
Stiverne vs. Rossy
Stiverne gets off the floor after shock knockdown in first to outpoint Rossy. A counter right
from Rossy dropped Stiverne but Stiverne recovered and was trading with Rossy by the
second. The former WBC champion took the fight to Rossy with Rossy countering well and
keeping the fight close. Both were landing with good shots and although Stiverne was getting
the better of the exchanges by the seventh he was showing a swelling by his left eye. The
fight was in the balance but Stiverne had a good ninth hurting Rossy with a body punch and
he outlanded Rossy in the last to clinch a close decision. Scores 96-93 twice and 95-94 all for
Stiverne. The 37-year-old Haitian-born Canadian was having his first fight since losing his
WBC title to Deontay Wilder in January and is ready for some big fights to get back into
contention. Rossy,35, is now 2-6 in his last 8 fights but can be a problem on his night as he
showed when only losing on a hotly disputed decision to Vyacheslav Glazkov and beating
Joe Hanks
Hurd vs. Galarza
Minor upset as Hurd floors and halts Galarza in battle of unbeaten fighters. Hurd was much
quicker with his hands and found the less mobile Galarza an easy target from the first.
Galarza had to press the fight and paid for the by eating hard counters from Hurd. A right
uppercut from Hurd in the fourth put Galarza down for the first time in his career. Galarza
made to his feet and survived the round but was badly shake, Galarza continued to try to
force the fight but as he walked forward in the sixth he was nailed by a vicious right uppercut
that virtually finished the fight. Hurd did score with a couple of rights to the head but Galarza
was already turning away from the effects of the uppercut and the referee stepped in to stop
the fight. Big win for 25-year-old Hurd which will raise his profile as he has been mainly
boxing in small shows. He almost gave up boxing when in the amateurs and took a job at
Safeway but now with this eleventh win by KO/TKO he has a future in boxing. Galarza had a
good team behind him and they had made sure that even though there was an absence of any
big names on his record the Brooklyn boxer’s profile was high. He can rebound but at 30 his
time to do so is limited.
Derevyanchenko vs. Nicklow
Brooklyn-based Russian hits too hard for late sub Nicklow. In the first Nicklow was coming
forward taking the fight to Derevyanchenko who was content to box and did not open up until
the end of the round. Nicklow was also trying to come forward in the second but
Derevyanchenko was letting his hands go and forcing Nicklow back with a stiff jab and
hooks to the body. The Russian landed a hard right to the head which staggered Nicklow and
then worked him over on the ropes before Nicklow broke away and was coming forward
again at the bell. In the third Derevyanchenko trapped Nicklow on the ropes and scored with
some hard punches but again Nicklow broke free. They got into a tangle and
Derevyanchenko pushed Nicklow down to the floor. When the action resumed
Derevyanchenko drove Nicklow across the ring and trapped him on the ropes. The Russian
was unloading some heavy stuff and the referee stepped in to save Nicklow. The 30-year-old
Derevyanchenko moves to 5 wins by KO/TKO. He was a top amateur and a real star of the
WBS where he was 22-1 in four series in their tournaments. Nicklow was just outgunned and
he has now lost 5 of his last 6 fights.
Benavidez vs. Romero
Benavidez impresses as he crushes Romero inside a round. Romero was trying to pin
Benavidez on the ropes and left himself open and Benavidez nailed him with a left hook to
the chin which sent the Mexican staggering across the ring to the ropes. Benavidez followed
in and a left hook to the body and two rights to the head dumped Roman on his rear. He
reluctantly got up at nine only to be put down by a vicious right to the body. Again it looked
as though he might be reluctant to continue but he made it to his feet at nine again. Benavidez
drove him across the ring with string of hurtful left hooks to the body and as Romero went
down for the third time the fight was stopped. Still only 18, he is the youngest fighter to have
appeared on these Shobox shows, he is nicknamed “Red Flag” to warn his opponents of the
danger they face in him. The younger brother of interim WBA champion Jose now has 10
wins by KO/TKO, 9 in the first round so sounds impressive but to give it some context 6 of
his victims had never won a fight and two other had only won one fight. Stiffer tests needed
as although Romero was a lot more experienced he has now lost 8 fights by KO/TKO.
Dessau, Germany: Heavy: Tom Schwarz (15-0) W KO 7 Ilja Mezencev (10-1).
German heavyweight hope Schwarz gets off the floor to win the vacant WBO Youth title in
an interesting battle. Mezencev started out showing plenty of movement circling Schwarz,
constantly switching guard and firing quick punches. Swart was just coming forward behind a
high guard and not letting his hands go. When the German did throw a punch it was a lazy
left jab and Mezencev threw a right over the top which put Schwarz down. He was up at six
and took the mandatory count with the bell going on completion of the count. It was a
different story in the second as Schwarz came out much quicker cutting off the ring and
throwing hard rights. One of those rights landed late in the round and Mezencev was badly
shaken and held on desperately to last out the round. Schwarz was letting the right go again in
the third. Mezencev was able to land hard counters but Schwarz just marched through them
He hurt Mezencev again with clubbing rights sending the Kazak fighter into the ropes with
the referee giving Mezencev a standing count. Another right at the end of the round snapped
Mezencev's head back and again he clung on to get out of trouble. There was less action in
the fourth and for most of the fifth Mezencev was finding gaps in Schwarz's defence and
actually forcing the German back until a straight right from Schwarz put Mezencev down.
Schwarz was celebrating in mid ring but behind his back Mezencev was up at 4 and ready
continue only for the bell to go as the eight count was completed. As in the fifth Mezencev
did the scoring early and had Schwarz shaken and holding only for a right to again unhinge
Mezencev's legs and he was holding on to survive to the bell. Early in the seventh Schwarz
nailed Mezencev with a series of clubbing rights that had Mezencev falling backwards into
ropes and slumping down to the canvas with the referee waiving the fight over. The 21-yearold 6’5 ½” (197cm) Schwarz has 10 wins by KO/TKO. His plus point is the power in that
right hand but he was one-paced and Mezencev found plenty of gaps in his defence but he is
worth keeping an eye on. No height available for 20-year-old Hamburg-based Mezencev but
he looked slight taller than Schwarz. He showed good movement and fast hands but in the
end the power of Schwarz undid him.
Tlalnepantla, Mexico: Welter: Daniel Echevarria (19-1) TKO 8 Abner Lopez (23-5).
Bantam: Daniel Rosas (20-2-1) W PTS 10 Roberto Pucheta (9-7-1). Super Welter:
Ramses Agaton (16-2-1) W Jhonny Navarrete (29-7-1).
Echevarria vs. Lopez
Both fighters were on the floor in this one with Echevarria finally coming out on top.
Echevarria had a good start flooring Lopez with a southpaw left to the chin in the first round.
They continued to trade hard punches in the second and in the third it was Echevarria’s turn
to hit the floor. When some fighters get up from a knockdown the spit out their gumshield to
get respite. Not Echevarria, he hit Lopes as low as he could reach and got his recovery time
during Lopez’s recovery time. By the end of the fifth Echevarria was firmly in control with
Lopez cut on his left eyebrow and with a bad swelling on his right cheek. Echevarria handed
more punishment in the sixth and seventh before flooring Lopez in the eighth. Lopez made it
to the vertical but was under fire again when the referee stopped the fight. The 23-year-old
Echevarria now has 17 wins by KO/TKO as he rebounds from losing his unbeaten tag on a
majority decision against Jorge Paez Jr in August. “Jaeger”, 25, had lost only one of his last
12 fights but now has his first loss by KO/TKO.
Rosas vs. Pucheta
Rosas has to fight hard to get the split decision over late replacement Pucheta. This one was a
war of attrition with both landing and absorbing heavy punches all the way. Rosas seemed to
get the better start just edging into the lead over the first three rounds. Rosas also had a good
fourth bringing blood from the nose of Pucheta but there was very little between them.
Pucheta ate into Rosas’s lead over the next three rounds and by the end of the eighth a right
from Pucheta had opened a cut on the left eyebrow of Rosas. The ninth was Rosas’s and they
fought on even terms over the last. Scores 96-94 and 96-95 for Rosas and 96-94 for Pucheta.
As close as it gets. A loss would have been a big set-back for the 26-year-old Mexico City
“Bad Boy”. After being unbeaten over his first 18 fights, including a draw with Jose Cabrera
for the interim WBO super fly title and good wins over Roberto Castaneda and Juan Alberto
Rosas, he lost in seven rounds to Rodrigo Guerrero and in June last year lost on points against
Alejandro Hernandez for the interim WBO bantam title. He had scored two wins since then
but a loss to the very modest Pucheta would have been big backward step. “Scorpion”
Pucheta, 25 was 2-3 in his last five fights so this was a career best performance.
Agaton vs. Navarrete
Local southpaw Agaton gets a quick win over the normally durable Navarrete. Agaton
handed out steady punishment to take the first round and had Navarrete defenceless in the
second when the referee halted the fight. The 25-year-old Agaton is now 9-1-3 in his last 13
fights including a draw with Luis Fernando Uribe (28-1-1) and wins over Alejandro Barrera
(25-1) and Ronald Montes (16-0). The loss was in his previous fight in August on a technical
decision against Ivan Montero (18-0) when a flash knockdown cost him the decision. “
Cowboy” Navarrete, 27, had won 12 of his last 13 fights and this is his first loss by KO/TKO.
San Luis Potosi, Mexico: Light: Adrian Estrella (24-1) W TKO 6 Orlen Padilla (21-6-1).
Fly: Juan Hernandez (29-3) W TKO 5 Raymond Tabugon (17-4-1).
Estrella vs. Padilla
Estrella has little trouble in halting Colombian Padilla. Estrella fought his usual aggressive
fight coming forward landing with hooks from both hands. Padilla had no choice but to stand
and trade. Estrella had Padilla badly shaken in the second but Padilla survived only to soak
up more punishment. In the sixth with Estralle unloding with both hands the referee had seen
enough and stepped in to save the Colombian. The 23-year-old Moterrey “Diamond” gets his
second win since suffering a crushing loss to Eden Sonsona in May and his 21st win by
KO/TKO. He is WBC No 11 but it remains to be seen whether he has taken on board the
lessons from that loss to Sonsona. Padilla, 29, suffered inside the distance loses in tough
fights against Dante Jordan, Israel Perez and Eduard Troyanovsky but then returned home to
Colombia where he scored 5 wins by KO/TKO but against very poor opposition,
Hernandez vs. Tabugon
Hernandez comes in way over the contract weight and then adds injury to insuklt by stopping
Filipino Tabugon. The Filipino tried to live up to his “Tornado” nicknamne but Hernandez
fought a quick clever counter punching fight. Constantly switching his guard Hernandez was
able to slot home stinging punches through the gaps in the Filipino’s defence. The breaking
down process came to and end in the fifth as Hernandez floored Tabugon and the referee
stepped in to save Tabugon from any more pain. The 28-year-old “Juanito” makes it 20 wins
by KO/TKO. He lost to Kazuto Ioka for the WBC minimum title in 2011 but has now won 11
of his last 12 fights and reversed the lone loss in that streak. He is WBC No 4 at light fly.
Tabugon, 24, the WBO No 15, was a very live opponent with just one loss in his last 16
fights and 6 wins in a row but the experience of Hernandez was just too much for him.
Maasim, Philippines: Super Fly: Richie Mepranum (31-4-1) W PTS 12 Marjhun
Tabamo (8-9-4). Super Feather: Hermonito Dela Torre (17-0) W TKO 3 Richard Betos
(20-13-1).
Mepranum vs. Tabamo
Mepranum win the vacant WBU fly title with points victory over fellow-Filipino Tabamo.
Only Mepranum could win the title as Tabamo came in a massive 9lbs over the weight limit.
He was sluggish as a result but Mepranum was a class above him and even a top trim Tabamo
would not have stood a chance as Mepranum boxed his way to the unanimous decision. All
of the 28-year-old southpaw’s losses have come against fighter who have held world titles.
He lost to Julio Cesar Miranda for the WBO fly title and to Juan Francisco Estrada for the
WBA/WBO titles and also to Denkaosan and Herman Marquez. He has won his last 4 fights
and is GAB No 2. “Tubby” Tabamo (OK that’s just my nickname for him) also a southpaw
is 0-9-4 in his last 13 fights which is enough to qualify him to fight for the WBU world title!!
Dela Torre vs. Betos
There are quite a few good young fighters emerging in the Philippines right now and Dela
Torre is up there with the best. He gave Betos a torrid time for two rounds bombarding him
with combinations with choice right uppercuts featuring as the best punch of the bunch.
Those uppercuts caused a big swelling by the right eye of Betos and he retired at the end of
the second round. The 21-year-old General Santos City “Hammer” has 12 wins by KO/TKO
and his last seven fights in a row have ended that way. He has featured in a couple of Top
Rank shows in Macao and impressed. Betos no real threat as he gets his seventh loss in a row.
Las Palmas CI, Spain: Welter: Ceferino Rodriguez (20-1) W TKO 5 Davide Doria (121-1). Super Bantam: Kiko Martinez (34-6) W PTS 8 Everth Briceno (35-13-2).
Rodriguez vs. Doria
Rodriguez too good for German-based Italian Doria and wins in five rounds in front of his
home crowd. Rodriguez was getting through with heavy punches from the start. Doria was
competitive over the first two rounds but then went into survival mode and the fight became
one-sided. Rodriguez brought it to an end in the fifth with a sustained barrage that saw the
referee stop the fight. “Ferino V” the 27-year-old former undefeated EU champion was going
great until he suffered a shock loss on points to Frenchman Mohamed Mimoune in April.
This is his second win as he tries to put that result behind him. This was Doria’s first fight
for nearly eleven months and Rodriguez was a class or two above him.
Martinez vs. Briceno
Former IBF champion Martinez gets in eight rounds of work against Nicaraguan veteran
Briceno. The feisty little Spaniard won every round comfortably and has not yet given up on
the chance of another world title fight-as long as it is not against a british fighter. Kiko has
lost twice to Rendall Munroe, twice to Carl Frampton and also to Scott Quigg. Briceno 37
had two shots at the WBO super fly title but is on the down slope as this is his fifth loss in a
row,
Bovari, Ukraine: Light Heavy: Umar Salamov (14-0) W PTS 12 Doudou Ngumbu (347). Super Welter: Khassan Baysangurov (10-0) W KO 2 Marcelo Molina (17-12).
Welter: Khusein Baysangurov (5-0) W TKO 1 Bryan Boussis (7-4-1). Super Light:
Mishiko Beselia (12-0) W TKO 3 Deniss Kornilovs (1-4). Super Light: Denys Berinchyk
(2-0) W TKO 8 Innocent Anyanwu (22-13-3).
Salamov vs. Ngumbu
Salamov retains his WBO Europe title with unanimous decision over French-based Ngumbu.
Salamov had height and reach over Ngumbu and used them well. He was able to keep the
experienced Ngumbu out and spear him with long jabs, right crosses and uppercuts and
Ngumbu never really found a way to consistently get past that jab. Salamov was using good
footwork and his reach advantage with Ngumbu having to jump in with his attacks but rarely
having success. Ngumbu was fired up in the fourth when Salamov landed a punch after the
call to break but his efforts were frustrated by the holding tactics of Salamov. The DRC-born
fighter kept marching after Salamov but was rarely able to get Salamov to stand and trade.
As Salamov tired over the late rounds he did a lot more holding and got away with it but
Ngumbu was just too slow and as he got more frustrated by Salamov’s tactics he became
wilder and less accurate with his attacks leaving himself open to counters and switching
empty air more often than not.. Ngumbu had a good eleventh but Salamov was stronger and
fresher in the last and a clear winner. Scores 117-111 twice and 118-110. The tall Kiev-based
Russian was making the second defence of his WBO Europe title. Ngumbu, 33, has good
wins over Vyacheslav Uzelkov and Johnny Muller, but lost on a split decision to Igor
Mikhalkin and was beaten on points by Andrzej Fonfara in November.
Baysangurov vs. Molina
Baysangurov wins vacant WBO Youth title with kayo of Argentinian Molina. The was an
unequal contest with Baysangurov much taller than the visitor. Baysangurov just kept
walking Molina down whilst the Argentinian moved backwards at speed stopping
occasionally to throw a couple of quick punches. As Baysangurov warmed to the task he
landed a couple of left hooks to the body and a straight right just before the bell. In the
second a couple of not too hard looking punches from Baysangurov saw Molina go face
down on the canvas. He jumped up immediately but a right uppercut followed by a left hook
to the body put Molina on the canvas rolling in agony and he was counted out. Baysangurov,
just 18 is Russian-born but based in Kiev. He has won 4 of his last 5 fights by KO/TKO. This
result no real surprise as this is Molina’s ninth loss by KO/TKO
Baysangurov vs. Boussis
Elder brother Khusein makes it a family double as he also wins the vacant WBO Youth title
but not a very satisfactory ending. The first meaningful punch Baysangurov landed was a
downward chopping left which seemed to land on the right side of the face of Boussis and
Baysangurov followed that with a left hook as Boussis was slumping back on his haunches.
The Frenchman was pawing at his right eye and the referee interrupted the count to ask the
doctor to have a look at the eye. There did not seem to be any serious injury but Boussis did
not want to continue. Three wins by KO/TKO for the 21-year-old Baysangurov. First fight
outside France and first loss inside the distance for Boussis.
Beselia vs. Kornilovs
Beselia was a full head shorter than the stick-thin Kornilovs but since Kornilovs had no
power and very limited technique Beselia was able to walk past Kornilovs jab and score with
hooks and straight shots. A right fromm Beselia shook Kornilovs at the end of the round but
the bell went before he could finish the job. In the second a right from Beselia sent Kornilovs
into the ropes and he was sitting on the bottom rope before getting up and continuing after the
eight count. It was over in the third when a series of left hooks from Beselia put Kornilovs
again and the fight was stopped, Now 9 wins by KO/TKO for Georgian-born 23-year-old
Beselia. Kornilovs was tall and after that there is nothing to say about him as a fighter. The
fact that he lost on points to Brit Robin Deakin (1-51) is all you need to know.
Berinchyk vs. Anyanwu
Typical Berinchyk performance. The red-hot Ukrainian is a modern Henry Armstrong. His
corner wind him up at the start of each round and he runs at full speed for three minutes. He
was all over Anyanwu like a rash throwing jabs, hooks uppercuts crosses making it hard for
Anyanwu to find space to counter. To make things worse he switches guard effortlessly and
is a hard puncher. Anyanwu fought back with counters when he could and showed enough
skill to think he could have been a very good boxer with a bit more discipline. In the fifth the
Ukrainian managed a ten-punch combination from both hands. They did not all connect and
when Anyanwu banged back and landed four rights to the body Berinchyk just shrugged
them off and went back to the attack. In the sixth it looked as though Anyanwu was going to
last the distance but thudding rights a left uppercut and more rights drove Anyanwu to the
ropes. The Amsterdam-based Nigerian was covering up from the barrage when the referee
stopped the fight. Anyanwu protested and it did look as though he could have ridden out the
storm. The 27-year-old Berinchyk won silver medals at both the 2011 World Championships
and the 2012 Olympics beating Cuban star Roniel Iglesias, Tom Stalker, Anthony Yigit and
Jeff Horn in those competitions so who knows how far he can go as a pro. Anyanwu, 37,
looked to be going places when he was 20-0-2 in his first 22 fights but is 2-13-1 in his last 16
fights which tells its own story.
Tallinn, Estonia: Feather: James Tennyson (15-1) W KO 1 Sergejs Logins (10-8-1).
Light: James Fryers (11-0) W TKO 2 Ruslans Berdimuradovs (5-5).
Tennyson vs. Logins
Too easy for Tennyson. After a minute the Kronk trained Belfast fighter landed a left to the
chin which sent Logins backwards across the ring. Tennyson caught Logins in a corner and
put him down with a left hook to the body. Logins got up –reluctantly- and was again driven
to the ropes and a right uppercut and a left to the body put him down on his knees and he was
counted out. Now 12 wins by KO/TKO for the 22-year-old “Assassin” . Latvian Logins
rarely goes past the first round. Eleven of his fights have ended in the first three minutes,
unfortunately 5 of those were losses.
Fryers vs. Berdimuradovs
Fryers has no trouble disposing of Berdimuradovs. The tall Belfast fighter was tracking
Berdimuradovs down with the Latvian trying to switch guards to confuse Fryers but what he
needed to do to stand a chance was switch opponents. After Fryers floored Berdimuradovs in
the first with a punch that did not seem to be hard enough to cause the knockdown it was over
early in the second when a short right to the head saw Berdimuradovs go down and make no
real effort to get up. No sort of test at all for Fryers. The 23-year-old “The Future” gets his
fourth win by KO/TKO. A too easy night but the 5’11” (180cm) Belfast man did his job.
Berdimuradovs is 3-5 in his last 8 fights.
Comerio, Puerto Rico: Light: Kevin Nieves (9-1-1) W TKO 3 Miguel Soto (12-7). Super
Light: Luis Orlando del Valle (20-2,1ND) W TKO 2 Juan Jose Beltran (29-25-3).
Nieves vs. Soto
Nieves stops a sliding Soto in three. Fighting in his hometown Nieves dominated the fight
before a punch had blood pouring from the nose of Soto. It was not broken but the injury was
too serious for the fight to continue. Now 5 wins by KO/TKO for the 23-year-old Puerto
Rican. Fellow-islander Soto has lost 6 in a row with the last 5 losses all being by KO/TKO.
Del Valle vs. Beltran
Del Valle beat Beltran for the second time. The Puerto Rican was too quick and accurate for
the Mexican veteran and after flooring Beltran in the first he handed out enough punishment
in the second for Beltran’s corner to retire their man at the interval. “Orlandito” made a good
start as a pro with 15 wins including victories over Dat Nguyen and Chris Martin but then
suffered setbacks in the form of losses to Vic Darchinyan and Luis Rosa. He returned to the
winning column with a victory over Roberto Castaneda in March,. He had beaten Beltran in
four rounds when they met in 2013. Beltran 37 is 3-7 in his last 10 fights.
November 15
Barcelona, Spain: Super Light: Sandor Martin (25-1) W TKO 4Gyorgy Mizsei (22-15).
Martin retains the EU title with stoppage of Hungarian Mizsei. The challenger was much
taller than the Spaniard so over the first three rounds southpaw Martin was coming forward
trying to trap Mizsei in a corner or on the ropes. Mizsei kept moving but throwing very few
punches and with Martin only letting go occasionally there was little action. That changed in
the fourth as Martin came out fast and Mizsei was being trapped and forced to trade. With
Mizsei in a corner Martin landed a right left combination that put Mizsei down. He took the
mandatory count and tried to take the fight to Martin only to be floored again by a series of
punches. When he got up Martin was there again and landed a hard combination that saw
Mizsei go down for the third time and the referee promptly waived the fight over. The 22year-old from Barcelona gets his ninth win by KO/TKO and also lifts the vacant WBC Youth
title. Mizsei, also 22, is 3-7 in his last ten fights but no one does him any favours as he has
been in with Anthony Crolla, twice with Emiliano Marsili and with Derry Mathews in those
10 fights. Something not right with the heights here. BoxRec has Mizsei at 5’5” (165cm) but
he was much taller than the 5’8” ½” (174cm) Martin?