From Vegas, where Rigondeaux wins a WBA title in his ninth fight, toEnsenada, where Ponce De Leon goes down in the second but wins inthe sixth against Estrella. Behind the results with Eric Armit.
January 20
Las Vegas, USA Super Bantam: Guillermo Rigondeaux (9-0) W KO 6 Rico Ramos (20-1) W. Super Fly: Matt Villanueva (7-0-1) W TKO 7 Mike Ruiz Jr (8-2-1). Super Feather: Joel Diaz (7-0) W TKO 7 Guy Robb (7-1). Welter: Javier Molina (10-1) W PTS 6 Albert Herrera (8-5-1)
Cuban southpaw Rigondeaux wins WBA title as he finishes champion Ramos with a body shot. The fight started badly for Ramos, 24, and gave an indication of things to come as he was floored in the first. He was badly hurt by a right that caught him on the forehead. Ramos was suddenly on shaky legs and staggered back to the ropes. Rigondeaux followed him to the ropes and threw a couple of punches which fell short, but Ramos fell forward off the ropes to the canvas without another punch landing. Ramos was up at five and got a reprieve as the referee stopped the count as Rigondeaux had not gone to a neutral corner. Ramos held and managed to survive. Rigondeaux then used his standard classic counter punching to outscore the champion over the next four rounds. By the sixth Rigondeaux looked to be well ahead and in command with Ramos finally going forward to try to change the pattern of the fight. Coming out of a short exchange Rigondeaux landed what looked like a cuff to the right side of the head of Ramos. In a confused situation Ramos walked to the ropes holding the top of his head and leant over the ropes. The referee sent Rigondeaux to a neutral corned and indicated a punch to the back of the head. The referee gave Ramos time to recover. When they were ordered to box on Rigondeaux saw his opportunity and attacked Ramos with head shots before switching to the body. A left put Ramos down and he took the count lying on his back.
The 31-year-old Rigondeaux had won the interim title with a split decision over Ricardo Cordoba, and defended it in his last fight in March 2011 with a first round victory over Willie Casey. Rigondeaux had been one of the most successful amateur boxers of all time with two Olympic gold medals, two World Championships gold medals and a gold at the Pan American Games. Amongst those he beat was current IBF bantam champion Abner Mares. Having said all of that, the Cuban does not have an exciting style. He is a great mechanic, but does not take chances. TV likes action not chess games. Ramos was making the first defence of the title he won by kayoing Akifumi Shimoda in July. He showed no fire in this fight, allowing Rigondeaux to put him off his game with pushed jabs and feints. Ramos has a rebuilding task ahead, but at 24 can come again.
Villaneuva looked to be on his way to an early night when he put Ruiz down in the second. However, Ruiz survived and got back into the fight, until Villaneuva nailed him again in the seventh to force the stoppage. All of 25-year-old Villaneuva s wins have come by KO/TKO, and the draw was a technical one. Southpaw Ruiz, 22, has now lost his last two. A total war saw Diaz halt Robb in seven. Diaz, 19, took the first as he scored well with rights. Robb came back at Diaz in the second and put Diaz down with a right. Diaz beat the count and then put Robb down twice in the third. Robb was far from finished and seemed to have taken the next three rounds as he used superior strength to force Diaz to fight off the ropes. The end came in the seventh when a punch from Diaz hurt Robb badly and the referee stepped in. Former amateur star Molina, 22, bounced back from an upset loss to Artemio Reyes in October with a unanimous verdict over Herrera. A left hook decked Herrera in the first and then Molina counter punched his way to a win. Scores 58-55 twice and 59-54. Molina was US amateur champion in 2007 beating Karl Dargan, Danny O Connor and Brad Solomon on the way to the title. He also won the US Olympic trials, again beating O Connor, and also Danny Garcia. The big prizes eluded him as he lost to Bradley Saunders in the 2007 World Championships and was eliminated in the first series of the 2008 Olympics. Only one win in his last seven now for Herrera.
Baradero, Argentina Super Bantam: Miguel Caceres (27-32-7) W PTS 10 Fabian Orozco (14-2-2).
Upset as unrated Cobra Caceres wins unanimous verdict over Argentinian No 2 Orozco. The fight was competitive in the early rounds, but then the speed and counter punching skills of the experienced southpaw Caceres, 25, dominated. In the end it was an easy victory. Scores 99 -93, 99 -91 and 99-93 . Demon Orozco had been unbeaten in his last 14.
Nice, France Bantam: Tony Settoul (11-2) W PTS 10 Yoan Boyeaux (10-4).
French No 4 rated Settoul beats local boxer Boyeaux to lift French title. The aggression and work rate of Settoul in the early rounds made the difference. Boyeaux spent too long under pressure and boxing on the back foot to ever look like winning. The champion had a good fourth round, and gave it his best shot in the last two rounds, but too little too late. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93. Settoul, 25, rebuilding after shock one round loss to Nicaraguan journeyman Rey Cajina. First defence of his title for Boyeaux, 24. He had himself won the title with an upset win over Jerome Arnould. His other losses have been to Jerome Thomas (a split decision), Josh Wale and Carl Frampton.
Rome, Italy Super Middle: Giovanni De Carolis (14-4) W TKO 3 Blas Miguel Martinez (16-4). Feather: Mario Pisanti (10-1) W TKO 2 Laszlo Provits (3-10).
With De Carolis having a big edge in height and reach Swiss-born Martinez takes the fight inside where he scores well with short hooks. De Carolis finds the range at the start of the second, but Martinez comes back strongly at the end of the round. All over in the third as, after a fairly even round, De Carolis nails Martinez with a left to the body, a right uppercut to the chin and another body shot, and as Martinez falls heavily the referee promptly stops the fight. De Carolis, 27, wins vacant WBC Mediterranean title, having previously been unsuccessful in two shots at the Italian title and one at the European Union title. Martinez, 30, had previously challenged unsuccessfully for the Spanish title.
Hungarian Provits suffers scary stoppage at hands of Pisanti. The 32-year-old Italian southpaw scored a knockdown in the first then two more in the second and when a right hook to the chin put Provits down again the fight was stopped. There was some concern over Provits who was taken to hospital as a precaution. Pisanti was Italian amateur champion five times and did not turn pro until he was 29. He has the dubious honour of having lost on a first round kayo to an opponent with a 0-16 record. This was his sixth win since that disaster. Provits, 21, has lost his last nine fights, eight by KO/TKO, and all inside three rounds. Someone needs to save him from himself.
Woodland Hills, USA Light Welter: Cleotis Pendarvis (14-3-2) W PTS 8 Jose Lugo (12-17-1).
A predictable win for Pendarvis. The 25-year-old southpaw was too fast and too skilful for poor Lugo. Pendarvis found the plodding Mexican an easy target although Lugo had some success when he could get close and score with hooks. Scores 79-73 from all three judges. Four wins in a row for Pendarvis. Lugo has won just two of his last 17 fights.
January 21
Ensenada, Mexico Feather: Daniel Ponce De Leon (42-4) W TKO 6 Omar Estrella (15-4-2,1ND) Bantam: Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1) W TKO 4 Alejandro Hernandez (24-9-2). Light Heavy: Marco Periban (16-0) W PTS 8 Jesus Nerio (10-1). Super Bantam: Khabir Suleymanov (13-1) W PTS 6 Roberto Lopez (30-23-1).
Former WBO bantam champion De Leon, 31, gets back in the win column as he floors and stops Estrella. The fight was one-sided apart from a few moments in the second. De Leon scored heavily in the first. That encouraged him to go looking for the finish in the second only to be floored by a right. De Leon got up and was not badly hurt. Estrella was allowed to take too much punishment in the following rounds. Finally in the sixth with Estrella trapped on the ropes, a flurry of punches put him down and the referee stopped the fight without bothering to complete the count. Southpaw De Leon had lost to Adrian Broner and Yuriorkis Gamboa in his last two fights. Despite having lost only one of his last ten fights, Estrella, 24, was in over his head.
Santa Cruz, 23, continues unbeaten as Hernandez retires with an injured arm at the end of the fourth. Santa Cruz uses height and reach to dominate the first two rounds and then steps up the pace in the third and fourth scoring freely with both hands. Hernandez bows out at the end of the round. Santa Cruz, with wins over Jose Lopez, Everth Briceno and a kayo of Belgian Stephane Jamoye, looks a very good prospect. Little Clown Hernandez, lost to Omar Narvaez for the WBO flyweight title in 2008. The lanky Periban, 27, just could not put Nerio away and had to go the full eight to take the unanimous verdict. Late substitute Nerio s record given as 15-2. Russian Suleymanov, 31, finds veteran Lopez a tricky customer and is frustrated by constant holding by 38-year-old Mexican. An untidy fight sees Sulyemanov do just enough to take the majority verdict
Guadalajara, Mexico Light: Miguel Vazquez (30-3) W PTS 12 Ameth Diaz (30-11,1ND). Welter: Daniel Sandoval (24-2) W KO 2 Juan Jesus Rivera (9-7).
Vazquez takes an early look at what Panamanian Diaz brings to the fight and then proceeds to outbox the limited, but dangerous Cloroformo . The IBF champion has just too much of everything and almost pitches a shut out after that opening study period. Scores of 120-107 twice and 119-108 tell the story. Third defence of IBF title for Vazquez. His three defeats have been (in his first pro fight) to Saul Alvarez, Tim Bradley and Alvarez again. He has won his last eight. Diaz had earned his title shot with an upset stoppage of Lenny Zappavigna in August. Galena Sandoval, 20, hits too hard for late substitute Rivera and puts him away in second. All of Sandoval s wins have come by KO/TKO, 22 of them in the first three rounds. The only fight to go the distance was a six round points loss to fellow prospect Armando Robles in 2010.
Hamilton Township, USA Light Heavy: Omar Sheika (31-11) W PTS 10 Charles Hayward (7-4). Super Middle: Derrick Webster (12-0) W TKO 1 Brian Bernard (10-11-2).
Returning after an indefinite suspension Omar Sheika 34, making another attempt at rejuvenating his boxing career wins a majority decision over novice Hayward. Back in April 2011 Sheika had lost a wide verdict to modest Garrett Wilson. He was then handed a suspension for his own good. Sheika decided on a comeback, and past all the required tests-except the one in the ring where he looked nothing like the fighter who had two shots at the WBC title and one each at the WBO and IBF titles. Scores 97-93, 95-94 and 95-95, Southpaw Webster, 29, took just 40 seconds to dispose of poor Bernard. Seven wins by KO/TKO for Take It To The Bank . Bernard, 36, is 2-7 in his last nine with all seven of those losses by KO/TKO
New York, USA Light Welter: DeMarcus Corley (38-19-1) W PTS 10) Gabriel Bracero (18-1). Cruiser: Ran Nakash (26-1) W PTS 8 Derek Bryant (20-7-1). Feather: Luis Orlando Del Valle (15-0) W PTS 8 Jose Beranza (34-22-2). Light Heavy: Shane Monaghan (12-0) W PTS 8 Billy Bailey (11-14). Welter: Alex Perez (15-0,1ND) W TKO 2 Josh Sosa (10-2).
The scene was set for this fight in the second round. After a quiet first round a punch from former WBO champion Corley opened a bad cut over Bracero s right eye. It then got worse for Bracero as a right dropped him near the end of the round, and he only just survived. Just when Bracero seemed to have steadied himself in the third he was floored again, this time by a left. Once again Bracero seemed to have got his act together as he had a good fourth. He was put down again briefly in the fifth from a left, but was not badly hurt. With southpaw Corley, 37, looking for another big punch Bracero kept his boxing together, won the sixth and seventh and floored Corley briefly with a right in the eighth. Bracero knew he was behind and tried to stage a big finish, but the last two rounds were close. Scores 94-92 twice and 96-90. Chop Chop Corley broke a streak of six losses in a row to a mixture of world class fighters such as Marcos Maidana and Lucas Matthysse and prospects such as Thomas Dulorme and Ruslan Provodnikov. Corley wins NABF title. First loss for 30-year-old Puerto Rican Bracero, who showed guts to get up from the knockdowns, but he does not have the punching power to turn the tide when he needs to.
Israeli Nakash returns to action for the first time since a loss to Marco Huck for the WBO title in April last year, and wins every round against veteran Bryant. Once he had shaken off any rust former kick boxing and martial arts competitor Nakash took control with Bryant settling for going the distance. Scores 80-72. Southpaw Bryant, 40, was having his first fight for 18 months and only his second since 2008. Puerto Rican Del Valle, 24, a former National Golden Gloves champion, continued unbeaten run with a points win over grizzled Mexican veteran Beranza. Orlandito had the speed, the youth and the skills, but Beranza always comes to fight and he made the young Puerto Rican fight hard for his win. Scores 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74. Del Valle continues to look a good prospect. Beranza, 35, is 2-7 in his last nine, but wins over Chris Martin, Ivan Hernandez and Vernie Torres show he can t be taken lightly. It looked as though Bill Bailey would be going home early in this one. Monaghan floored the 33-year-old Californian with a right in the second, and only the bell saved Bailey. However, Bailey has only lost once inside the distance, to Brandon Gonzalez in 2008. Monaghan continued to score with hard shots, but Bailey pressed the action despite the punishment. From the fifth Monaghan stopped mixing it with Bailey and boxed on the outside to win the unanimous decision. Scores 80-71 twice and 79-72. Southpaw Perez destroyed Sosa in two rounds. A right dropped Sosa in the first and after a second knockdown in the third the fight was stopped. This was the first fight since June for Perez, 29, who has nine wins by KO/TKO. Texan Sosa had not fought in almost a year.
Philadelphia, USA Light Middle: Gabriel Rosado (19-5) W TKO 5 Jesus Soto Karass (24-7-3,1ND). Heavy: Bryant Jennings (12-0) W PTS 10 Maurice Byarm (13-1-1). Welter: Ray Robinson (12-2) Doel Carrasquillo (16-18-1).
Big win for Rosado as he halts experienced Karass in five. Rosado takes control from the first round and opens a cut over the left eye of Karass in the second as the 29-year-old Mexican suddenly looks an old fighter. Rosado too quick for Karass and finds the Mexican an easy target throughout. Karass tried to match the King and concentrated his attack on the body. The cut seemed to give Rosado all the impetus he needed and he was landing heavily at the end of the fourth. He rocked Karass with a right in the fifth, and with Karass backed into a corner, Rosado followed up with a range of hard shots that saw the referee step in and stop the fight. In the past Rosado has lost the important fights-Fernando Guerrero, Alfredo Angulo and Derek Ennis-but wins over James Moore, Kassim Ouma and Saul Roman show the 26-year-old Philadelphian has talent. Four losses (two to Mike Jones) and a no decision in his last five now for Karass.
A clash of local hopefuls sees Jennings take close unanimous decision over southpaw Byarm. Whilst never dominating the fight Jennings, 27, had the better technical skills and accuracy. Jennings took the early rounds and staged a strong finish with Byarm having his best spell in the middle rounds. Scores 96-94 twice and 97-93. Bye-Bye Jennings wins vacant Pennsylvanian title. Southpaw Robinson too good for experienced loser Carrasquillo. The speed and movement of Robinson stop Carrasquillo from bringing the fight inside and Robison boxes his way to unanimous verdict. Scores 79-73 twice and 78-74. Robinson, 25, lost to Frankie Gavin in a Junior Olympics bout at flyweight back in 2002 and came up short in the big amateur tournaments. His losses have been to Brad Solomon, a majority decision, and Shawn Porter, so no disgrace there, but after just one fight in each of 2009, 2010 and 2011, he needs to be more active. Puerto Rican Carrasquillo, 38, was fresh from a stoppage win over Shamone Alvarez in October.
Caseros, Argentina Welter: Juan Bonanni (17-2-2) W KO 3 Hector Santana (13-2).
Bonanni outclasses Santana. A right cross floors Santana in the first but he holds out until the bell. Santana has some success in the second scoring with counters but at the end of the round Bonanni hands out more punishment, scoring with a right to the chin and a left to the body, which shake Santana. All over in the third as two head shots put Santana down. He gets up, but the referee takes the count to ten as Santana s corner throw the towel into the ring. Rated No 4 in Argentina, this was the fourth win for Bonanni since back-to-back losses to Gumersindo Carrasco and Angel Aguirre.
Halifax, Canada Bantam: Tyson Cave (16-2) W PTS 8 Saturnino Nava (9-12-1).
Once he had paid a forfeit for coming in 3lbs over the stipulated weight, the rest was easy for Cave. The Prince of Hali wins every round against Mexican in all-southpaw fight. Has a big fifth round, but Nava there just to survive-and does. Scores 80-72 from each Judge. No surprise as Cave had won every round against Nava when they fought in June. Cave needed a win after technical decision loss to Filipino AJ Banal in July. Only one win in his last six fights for Nava
Seinajoki, Finland Cruiser: Juho Haapoja (17-2-1,1ND) W PTS 12 Ian Tims (9-1). Welter: Jussi Koivula (11-0) W PTS 8 Jarkko Jussila (4-1). Heavy: Jarno Rosberg (13-0,1ND) W PTS 6 Pavel Dolgovs (8-17-2).
Haapoja, 31, retains European Union title in first defence, but is pressed all the way by the strong Tims. Haapoja takes the first couple of rounds with cool boxing and pressure. Tims punches with the Finn and looks to have evened things out by taking the third and fourth. Haapoja counters Tims aggression with good counters in the middle rounds and hurts Tims with a shot in the eighth. It was fairly even in the ninth, but Tims had a better tenth as Haapoja seemed to tire. . Haapoja swing the fight his way with a strong eleventh but there was never much in the fight. This one could have gone either way. Scores 115-113 twice and 116-112. Koivula, 28, remains unbeaten. Jussila, 32, hampered by a cut, but makes former amateur star fight all the way. Scores 78-75 twice and 78-74. Koivula was Finnish amateur champion 2002/3/4/5, lost to Frankie Gavin in the European championships, and represented Finland at the 2005 and 2007 World championships. Southpaw Rosberg makes heavy weather of edging out Latvian Dolgovs. Despite big edge in height and reach, Rosberg just scrapes by on scores of 60-55, 58-56 and 58-57. Rosberg was also a top amateur, but is not really progressing. The no decision was when he beat Haapoja but tested positive for a banned substance. Dolgovs, 32, has just one win in his last nine fights.
Jilotepec da Molina Enriquez, Mexico Bantam: Julio Ceja (18-0) W TKO 4 Ronald Barrera (30-9-2). Light Fly: Luis Ceja (21-1-3) W PTS 12 Carlos Ruiz (11-1).
Good night for the Ceja brothers. Julio, 19, looks a real threat in this division as he destroyed the experienced Colombian in two rounds. Julio scores with hard punches to the body in the first. He continues to punish Barrera in the second and third, and opens a cut on the left eyebrow of Barrera in the third. A right uppercut drove Barrera to the ropes in the fourth and two left hooks dump the Colombian on the canvas. The referee does not bother with the count. Little Chicken who was moving up from super flyweight, wins the vacant WBC Fecarbox title. He now has 17 wins by KO/TKO, the last 16 in a row. El Indio Barrera, 27, has had four shots at world titles from strawweight to light flyweight, and had beaten Mexican prospect Arturo Badilla in December. Elder brother Luis, 21, retains WBC Fecarbox title in a good fight with unbeaten 26-year-old Argentinian Bad Boy Ruiz. Both looking to dominate early with Ceja edging ahead with a strong attacks in the third and fourth. Ceja took the fifth with lefts to the body, but Ruiz came back to win the sixth with his more accurate punches. Ceja just edged an exciting seventh and had the Argentina bleeding heavily from the nose in the eighth. At the end of that round Ceja was ahead 78-74 on two cards and by 77-76 on the third. The ninth and tenth were painful for Ruiz as his face began to show the effects of Ceja s shots, but Ruiz went for broke in the last two rounds, only to lose the unanimous verdict by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113. Luis is now unbeaten in his last 16. Ruiz put up a game showing and made the local favourite fight hard all the way.
San Juan, Puerto Rico Super Fly: David Quijano (14-2-1) W PTS 10 Javier Gallo (18-5-1).
A good all-action fight saw Puerto Rican Quijano, 25, wear down game Gallo to earn a unanimous verdict. Gallo had a good start being the aggressor and scoring with good shots to the head and body. The fight slowly changed as Quijano began to use his better boxing to pile up points on the outside. He cut Gallo in the fifth, and also got through with heavy body punches. Gallo tired and slowed under the body shots and Quijano left no doubt over the outcome as he forced an exhausted Gallo to take a knee in the last. Scores 98-91 twice and 96-93. Quijano getting back in the win column after loss to Juan Mercedes in April 2011. Gallo, 28, had beaten Jose Luis Araiza and took former WBC light fly champion Rodel Mayol to a majority decision in May last year.
1/29/2012
Source: