Boxing News Boxing News
IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vaquez, 34-3 (13), retained his belt last night in Macao, China with a unanimous decision over challenger Denis Shafikov, 33-1-1 (18), at Cotai Arena.
Mexico’s Vazquez sucessfully defended his crown for the seventh occasion while former European light welter champ Shafikov of Russia suffers defeat for the first time in his career.
The very tall Vazquez outworked shorter southpaw Shafikov over the first half of the contest and was the more accurate puncher once the challenger began to open up with his own offense.
Both men were cut from headclashes during the bout, won by Vazquez by wide-ranging scores of 115-113, 116-112, 119-110.
Also on the bill in Macao, ex-WBO super flyweight titlist Marvin Sonsona, 18-1-1 (15), captured the vacant WBO International featherweight strap with a devastating one punch KO of former WBA super bantam boss Afumi Shimoda, 28-4-2 (12), in the third round.
Former Olympic medallists Zhou Shiming, Ryota Murata and Egor Mekhontsev were victorious on the undercard.
In England, there were two fight cards of note on Saturday.
At the Ice Arena in Hull, light welterweight Curtis Woodhouse, 22-6 (13), ended his career on a high note by unseating British champion Darren Hamilton, 14-3 (3), via a 116-115, 116-114 and 113-116 split decision.
Lightweights Tommy Coyle, 18-2 (8), and Daniel Eduardo Brizuela, 25-3-2 (8), were in an absolute war for Coyle’s IBF International belt.
Both men were on the canvas four times and while Coyle had two points deducted and Brizuela lost one point before Brizuela was stopped at 1:07 of the 12th round.
Super bantam Gavin McDonnell, 11-0-1 (4), halted Leigh Wood in the sixth to annex the vacant British title.
Former Olympic medallist Luke Campbell was victorious on the undercard.
At York Hall in London, Tony Conquest, 13-1 (5), won the vacant Cruiserweight title with a wide points decision over Daniel Ammann, 29-6-1 (6).
Heading over to Mexico, at Gimnasio Miguel Hidalgo in Puebla, former longtime WBC flyweight champ Mariana Juarez, 39-7-3 (13), posted a 96-94 victory on all three scorecards against WBO/WIBF flyweight champion Melissa McMorrow, 9-4-3 (1), in defense of the WBC International super flyweight crown.
