Boxing News Boxing News
There was a great deal of action this past Friday, with a few former world champions back in the ring as well as many domestic and regional title fights taking place.
We start off at the Isleta Casino Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico where ex-WBA Super Flyweight Champion Martin Castillo ran his record to 37-2 (17) with a dominating 12 round unanimous decision win over durable former WBO Latino Bantamweight titlist Oscar Andrade, 36-28 (18). A rematch with former victim and current WBA titleholder Alexander Munoz could be in the works for Castillo should Munoz retain his crown against Kuniyuki Aizawa in Tokyo this September.
At City Center in Saratoga Springs, NY, hot welter prospect Andre Berto, 19-0 (16), was given a tough exam by rangy Mexican veteran Cosme Rivera, 30-11-2 (21). Rivera floored Berto in the sixth with a perfect uppercut but couldn’t finish the former Olympian off and had to then fight through a bad cut enroute to losing a unanimous decision to the high quality up and comer from Florida. Heavyweight hopeful Chazz Witherspoon, 19-0 (13), was also on the bill, impressively stopping journeyman Talmadge Griffis, 24-7 (16), in the ninth.
38 year old former IBF Light Heavy kingpin Glen Johnson, 46-11-2 (31), continued on the comeback trail, knocking Fred Moore, 30-7 (27), out in five rounds at the Sheraton Hotel in Miami, Florida. The ageless Johnson, who won an IBF eliminator against Montell Griffin in May, could be headed to a fourth fight with that organization’s champion, Clinton Woods.
At the Omega Products Center in Corona, CA, promising light welter Timothy Bradley, 21-0 (11), retained his WBC Youth title by turning back the hopes of another previously undefeated young man, Miguel Vasquez, 19-1 (9), via a commanding 12 round unanimous decision.
The Desert Diamond Casino in Tuscon, Arizona saw former wonder teen Francisco Bojado, 18-2 (12), win his second fight back from a three year layoff as the now 24 year old welter became the first man to stop Sacramento based light welter hardman Rogelio Castaneda Jr, 23-13 (8), over the last eight years in the tenth and final round of their bout. Also in action on the card, former WBC Interim Lightweight beltholder Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 25-2 (14), won his second in a row with a second round stoppage of Colombian power puncher Dario Jose Esalas, 29-9 (24).
At the Vive Cuervo Salon in Polanco, Mexico, a pair of novices contender for the vacant WBC Latino Minimumweight belt with Ganigan Lopez, 8-2 (4), securing the victory with a ninth round stoppage over Vincent Hernandez, 2-11 (6).
We next hit Sunchales, Sante Fe, Argentina where world rated light heavyweight contender Hugo Hernan Garay, 29-2 (16), made short work of Orlando Antoni Farias, 14-4 (4), via first round KO at Club Deportivo Libertad. Garay will next face former two time WBC title challenger Paul Briggs in Los Angeles this coming September. In addition, light welter Victor Hugo Castro, 27-3 (12), stayed busy with a six round decision over an inexperienced Nazareno Tripolli, 4-6 (0).
Crossing the Pacific, it’s the Knox Netball Center in Ferntree Gully, Australia where Fatai Onikeke, 22-2 (19), unsurprisingly gunned down overmatched beginner Jakkirt Suwunnalirt, 5-6 (0), in the third to retain the IBF Pan Pacific and WBF Intercontinental Light Welter titles.
Indonesia next where at the TVRI Studio, local man Roy Mukhlis, 9-2 (5), won his fourth in a row by decisioning Filipino veteran Jaime Barcelona, 30-33-1 (6), over 12 rounds to retain the PABA Super Feather crown.
In Mdantsane, South Africa, it was more high profile novice action as Ludmo Galada, 9-0 (3), stopped Thando Vukuza, 4-3-1 (0), in the pair’s third fight together, to retain the domestic featherweight title at the Indoor Centre.
At the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring, England, iron chinned light middle journeyman Peter Dunne, 11-79-4 (10), took part in his 94th contest by losng a four round decision to Muhsen Adaney Nasser, 12-0 (1). It is the third time the two have faced each other and ironically, Nasser produced the only stoppage of his career by becoming only the fourth (and most recent) man to stop Dunne in November, 2005. After the stoppage loss to Nasser, Dunne produced the only win he’s enjoyed over his last 48 bouts.
At the Casino in Vilamoura, Portugal, Spanish super feather Jesus Garcia Escalona, 14-0 (6), won the vacant European Union belt by posting a unanimous decision win over local man Antonio Joao Bento, 17-6-1 (9).
We finish up in Italy where at Stadio Comunale in Sao Paolo Civitate, Serbia’s Dejan Ribac, 16-0 (5), stopped Antonio Di Feto, 12-11-5 (2), in the tenth to annex the vacant WBC Mediterranean Super Middle title.
