World Boxing Round-up.

News and Results from the Last Week’s Fight Game.

OK, it’s quiz time! What do a World Darts champion, an ex-British and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing champion and this writer have in common? Do you give up? We all went to Eaglesfield School in South London. Yes, it’s well known

as a breeder of the athletic types and Andy Fordham and Julius Francis are testament to that. Several years ago, Francis hit a mini streak and beat undefeated prospects Pele Reid and Danny Williams, and then out-hustled Scott Welch – best known as Horace “Good Night” Anderson who fought Brad Pitt’s character in “Snatch.” His reward was a bout against Michael Gerard Tyson – a fight in which Francis was so confident he sold advertising space on the soles of his shoes to a British tabloid (no, he really did!). Two hundred and forty three seconds into the fight, those shoes had been displayed FIVE times and Julius then embarked on his journeyman career, traveling the width of Europe as a gauge for up and comers. On Sunday night in England, he lost his twelfth in a row to Colin Kenna, a Dubliner residing in the port of Southampton, over four rounds. Kenna was rated the number one Irish heavyweight until three weeks ago when Kevin McBride beat some guy with the initials MGT. On the same bill, Karl Taylor lost for the eighty-first time, to Henry Castle, while “The Isle of Wight Assassin,” Jay Morris improved to 4-0-1.

Here it is once again fight fans, the best boxing round-up you are going to find anywhere, courtesy of SaddoBoxing.com’s Jonny Townsend.

In Nagoya, Japan (home of the famous Nagoya-jō castle) Martin Castillo returned from his trouncing of Eric Morel to defend his title against hometown boy, and previous stoppage victim, Hideyasu Ishihara. “El Gallo” defended his WBA super flyweight title for the third time with a comfortable decision to improve his record to 29-1. In their previous encounter, for the interim belt, the Mexican had to come from behind to stop Ishihara in the eleventh. Wethya Sakmuangklang, of Thailand, won his sixty-third fight (against four losses) when a huge right hook left Masakazu Sugawara on Queer Street in the third. In the last eight years, his only losses were to Guty Espadas and Manny Pacquiao and another title shot could be in the works soon, although a bout against twenty-year-old puncher Akio Konishi could also happen as the youngster stopped his thirteenth victim in fifteen fights on the under-card.

Khoren Gevor hates Lukas Konecny. I mean, really hates him! The Armenian lost to the Czech Olympian in September 2002 – a battle of German based fighters – in a bout in which he was coming on strong after losing the first six, only to succumb to a technical decision after receiving an accidental butt in the seventh round. Their rematch was held three months later and Konecny improved on his previous result by TKOing Gevor in eight rounds. Since then, Khoren has won eleven straight, including an eight round technical decision over Frenchman, Franck Mezaache last Tuesday, to improve to 22-2 and progress as part of the famed Klaus-Peter Kohl stable. Malik Dziarra avenged his previous loss to Welshman, Nathan King, with a win over eight while undefeated Ali Ahraoui was upset by Mounir Guebbas in the fifth round. On the same bill, Willy Blain, Denis Boystov, Enad Licina and Mustapha Karagol, all managed to keep the ‘0’ with conclusive wins.

Back in 1989, twenty-one-year-old Miami cruiserweight Robert Daniels won the WBA title with a split decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi, who had given Holyfield such a tough fight for the same crown three years earlier. I remember thinking that maybe he could be the one to carry on the fine form shown by Evander in that division but three fights later a loss to Bobby Czyz ended his reign. Today, the now thirty-six-year-old fights on and last Tuesday won for the first time – and in his hometown – in over two years to advance to 46-7-1 when he beat 28-27-4 Jason Waller early in the second round. Keep the dream alive, Preacherman.

On Wednesday, in Thailand, Somsak Sithchatchawal won for the forty-third time in forty-six fights (one loss, one draw, one no contest) as he stopped South African, Vuyisile Bebe in five rounds to remain WBA super-bantie mandatory. This was Somsak’s nineteenth defense of the PABA belt and at twenty-seven, he is ready for a shot against Mahyar Monshipour although the French/Iranian is looking at unifications versus the other champions in this excellent division. Underneath, young Nethra Sasiprapa easily won the PABA light flyweight strap with a three bodyshot knockdown of Alwy Alhabsy in the second round and improve to 10-0 (3).

In 1869, Welsh businessman John Hughes built some coal mines and a metallurgical plant near the Cossack village of Alexandrovka. Many years and changes later the city of one million is now known as Donetsk and last week showcased some of the fine young men fighting out of the Ukraine. Decent light-heavyweight Alexej Trofimov scored his twentieth knockout in twenty-five wins as he battered Konstantin Ochrej into submission in four rounds while Vyacheslav Senchenko, Vladimir Kravets, Artyom Opolinsky, Stas Kashtanov, Artem Redko and Alexey Vasilev all stayed unbeaten with wins.

The Bali Boy Wins Again! Daudy Bahari, a twenty-one-year-old fighter with a 27-0-1 record, outpointed two fight novice Pongsak Rientuanthong to retain his PABA light welterweight title in Jakarta. Bali Boy has now made six defenses of the belt but needs to start stepping things up a little.

On a truly international bill in Charleston, South Carolina, French super-middleweight, Jean Paul Mendy scored his ninth knockout in his first bout away from home, when he stopped fall-guy Carlton Holland in two rounds and move up to 19-0. Vasyl “Danger” Tarabarov, of Russia, also won by KO when he defeated Richard Heath in five while Ukrainian Artur “The Scar” Atadzhanov injured his elbow in the first round of a no contest with Kevin Carter. Cisse Salif, from Mali, won in the first against Clarence “Going, Going” Goins as did Corey “Black Ice” Cummings who moved to 13-0 (10) as he stopped “Psycho” Bates in sixty-six seconds. Shock of the night was when Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes was forced to go the distance for only the second time when he out-pointed home fighter Raymond McLamore over six. Holmes is now 22-0-1 (21).

Argentinean lightweight, Víctor Hugo Paz aka “El Gaucho Salteño,” won his seventy-third fight in his 118th bout with an eight round win in his hometown of Salta. At one point Paz held a 57-1-1 record but then a challenge for the WBA super featherweight title ended in a TKO and started a second career with a 16-38-2 count. Still, you can’t fault him for trying, can you?

Jeff Fenech fighter Nedal Hussein continued his return from that comprehensive loss to Oscar Larios last November, when he scored a TKO5 at home in Sydney, Australia. “Skinny’s” only other loss was to Manny Pacquiao in a bout which saw him deck the Filipino superstar but lose on a controversial cut eye stoppage. On the same bill, Aussie prospects Chris Hamilton, Lance Gostellow and Ahmed Elomar all won while Canadian turned Aussie, Paul Wahlberg improved to 10-0. Across state in Penrith, another Aussie implant scored a first round win as “The Black Panther” Lovemore N’Dou won for the forty-first time. N’Dou endured three losses within twelve months but gained international respect in close, last minute, losses to Sharmba Mitchell and Miguel Cotto, even causing the young Puerto Rican some discomfort as he came on strong late. His last big bout saw another credible performance against British light welterweight Junior Witter. The South African born tough guy lacks the ingredients to win a title in today’s light welterweight division but can still earn some big fights against the top guys. Comebacking Shannan Taylor continued his good run when he won for the eleventh time in a row and move up to 43-3-2. His world title contesting days are behind him but he’s still too good for ‘C’ level opposition. Jeff Fenech’s new super middleweight Daniel Geale was forced to go the distance for the first time in seven bouts as he out-pointed Steve Douet. The twenty-four-year-old Commonwealth Gold Medalist looks a good bet to take over from thirty-something’s Anthony Mundine and Danny Green – who are finally slated to meet this year as many years of insults and derisions.

In Palermo, Sicily, Michèle Orlando returned to his place of birth, broke bread with his fathers and then broke his opponent, French welterweight Anthony Guillet in nine rounds to win the vacant European Community belt. The 29-4-2 Italian now owns more belts than the World Dieter of the Year and this is his fifth international strap in the last three years. They must all be very special to him. On a small bill, all four Italian fighters won, as expected, against foreign imports. Congratulazioni, fratello di sangue!

Edgar Ruiz doesn’t fight often. But when he does, you know he’s gonna lose. Turning professional aged nineteen in 1992 he accumulated a 15-1-1 record en route to winning the NABO welterweight belt and defending it against Willy Wise – who would go on to lambaste Julio Cesar Chavez in his next bout. A ninth round TKO loss against tough African David Kamau seemed to put a cap on his limitations and three wins in six months brought him up to 18-2-1. That was over five years ago and since then he has fought, on average, once a year, losing each time with the latest coming in his hometown of Los Mochis against nineteen times loser, Francisco Maldonado, who stopped him in the eighth. I think he was supposed to win, Francisco, you never read the script! Other winners in the Copper Canyon town on the banks of the Sea of Cortez included Juan Carlos Sanchez, now 26-18-4, Christian Solano, now 2-5-1, plus winning debutantes, Luis Bojorquez and Amador Pena. Now that’s my kind of boxing bill. No one pampered, just tough guys boxing for a living. Viva Mexico!

He’s back! Edwin Valero won his second “comeback” bout on July 1 since being suspended from the U.S. with a FOURTEENTH straight first round stoppage. “El Inca” can’t fight Stateside as a New York MRI scan showed abnormalities stemming from a motorcycle accident in his domicile of Venezuela back in 2001. After sixteen months out he returned in Argentina this May and already has another bout lined up in Panama next month. Valero is not knocking out transients. This last opponent, Esteban de Jesus Morales went the distance with WBU champion Colin Dunne, ex WBO champion Julio Pablo Chacon and lost by ninth round disqualification to Vicente Mosquera in his previous three bouts. On the same Panama City bill, Ricardo Molina recovered from a first round knockdown to stop Alberto Mitre in the eighth round and win both the WBA Fedecentro and Panamanian super flyweight titles. “Tito” Molina is now 9-1-1 with his only loss coming to fellow Panamanian prospect Anselmo Moreno (11-1-1) whose only was to……. you guessed it, Ricardo Molina. In an even more bizarre twist, both fighter’s draw was against one Javier Tello. Spooky.

Decent super-middleweight Andre Thysse returned home to defend his South Africa title with a split decision victory over Patrick Simelane. Thysse won for the seventeenth time against four defeats, with three of those losses coming in Europe during a twelve month period.

Thai flyweight Denkaosan Kaovichit moved to 31-1 as he vanquished hapless Jun Pader in ninety-eight seconds and defend his PABA flyweight strap. Kaovichit was stopped in an effort to pry the WBA title from Eric Morel three years ago and keeps busy against garbage opponents while awaiting his next crack at the big boys.

Five years ago, George Khalid Jones was an undefeated prospect up against good trial-horse, Beethaeven Scottland. Tragically, Scottland passed away after the tenth round loss and Jones would go on to lose his next bout by TKO against Eric Harding, only continuing his career after an emotional phone call from widow, Denise Scottland. Now, he is 23-2-1 after a fortunate technical decision over 30-2, “Fabulous” Fred Moore. George is now well placed in the light heavyweight rankings by all four of the alphabets and is looking at a possible title shot over the next year. I’m sure there’s a media story out there. Good luck to him and the Scottland family.

Surely the career of former heavyweight fringe prospect, Courage Tshabalala, is over now as the South African retired against Robert Wiggins after four. “No Limit” broke his hand in the first and landed several low blows but his suspect stamina once again caused a stoppage loss for the big punching Tshabalala. Other winners on the Massachusetts bill included 154-pound Bethuel Ushona (12-0), 147lb “Nasty” Nick Morganelli (5-0) as well as prospects Jeff Tavano, John Keane and Benjamin Lescarbeau.

We mourn the loss of another warrior as Martin Sanchez died after his ninth round loss to 140-pound Russian Rustam Nugaev. I won’t dwell on this fatality as it’s covered elsewhere on the site but would like you all to remember the Sanchez family next time you’re upset while stuck in traffic or waiting too long at Starbucks. An upset on the same bill in Vegas on Friday saw Jamar Nolan lose for the first time in his professional career when he was stopped by supposed sacrificial lamb Charden Ansoula. The Detroit fighter was meant to be the big hitter but he was starched early in the second by a six-punch combination that left him out cold! I smell a rematch.

Over in Texas, Jorge Solis remained unbeaten when retaining his Mexican featherweight belt against the brave ex prospect, Nicky Bentz. “Coloradito” is now 27-0-2 (20) and is in a good position now that Barrera, Morales and Pacquiao have moved up. Also on the Corpus Christi bill, Floyd Trumpet got blown out in one by Armando Velardez. Trumpet, blown out. Ha ha, haaaaaaa.

Saturday in Argentina saw Javier Alberto Mamani win in two to defend his WBA Fedelatin belt. The light middleweight lost to Felix Sturm a couple of years ago and looks too good for hometown guys but not quite enough for the top level prospects. Across the Pacific, we fly to Australia and prospect Pradeep Singh won the PABA middleweight title in the eleventh as he stopped Arama Tabuai and become the best boxing prospect from India (that’s over a billion people). Fellow hope Justin Nolan won his eighth bout but needs to develop more of a punch if he is to progress in the cruiserweight ranks. He could learn a thing or two from German cruiserweight Marco Huck who scored his tenth KO in ten fights as he blew away Leri Okhanashvili in the second. Three fights previously, he stopped Muhammed Ali in four. Yes, that’s right, he stopped Muhammed Ali in four. Also in Hattersheim, young heavyweight Rene Dettweiler won his twelfth straight with a knockout and guess what? Four fights before that he out-pointed Muhammed Ali over six rounds. That’s right, he outpointed Muhammed Ali over six. Willi Fischer returned with his first win in two years when he beat 0-12 Vlado Szabo (big risk there) while prospects Konni Konrad and Ibrahim Uzunkaya both kept their unbeaten career. Guess what! Mahamed Ali won his second professional bout with another first round knockout. I told you before, remember that name (although you can forget the name Muhammed Ali).

Forget the British; the Ukrainians are coming! Another BIG heavyweight from the second largest country in Europe is about to burst onto the scene as Alexander Dimitrenko scored his twelfth stoppage in nineteen wins when he downed Andreas Sidon in four minutes, total. While Sidon is forty-two-years-old he can still box a bit and this was his first loss in fifteen bouts over three years. The twenty-three-year-old is six-foot-seven and joins the Klitschko brothers – in addition to several other good prospects – in a wave of good big guys coming from Eastern Europe. He is also known as “Baby Face.” Aaahhhhh. Alexander Petkovic wants another shot at the cruiserweight belt and continued his rehabilitation with a eight round unanimous decision, while Karol Balzsay, Denis Boytsov and Sebastian Zbik all won as expected.

Saturday night in the States saw no really big fights (for the first time in a while) but saw a really big puncher as Samuel Peter sent another message to the lackluster heavies when he bludgeoned Taurus Sykes in two rounds. I love to watch Peter fight and the twenty-four-year-old banger brings a breath of fresh air to the stagnant pool of technical boxers. Also in Reno, Oscar Diaz won at his new weight of welter with an eight round unanimous decision over good gauge Arturo Urena. Diaz is rebuilding after his comprehensive loss to Christian Soldier Ebo Elder.

There’s no nickname of the week this time but I will raise a glass to all of the men and women brave enough to enter the ring to battle for our entertainment. They all deserve our utmost respect.

Jonny Townsend can be reached at taansend@yahoo.com