World Weekend Boxing Roundup

ByRicky Jones

It wasn’t the busiest weekend of the new year in The Sport of Kings but there was a bit of action across the globe aside from the big fights that we’ve already covered on the site and this week, we’ll tackle the task alphabetically!

In Argentina on Saturday, the top super middle in the country was in action as Hector Javier Velazco, 36-7-1 (16), stayed busy with a ten round unanimous decision over Martin David Islas, 8-12 (2), in a rematch at the Polideportivo Municipal in both men’s hometown of Buenos Aires.

Velazco was coming off competitive losses in Germany to Mads Larsen and Juergen Braehmer last year and held the Interim WBO Middleweight crown in 2003 before dropping a split decision to Felix Sturm for the full title later that year.

Also on the bill, South American Featherweight titlist Fernando David Saucedo, 31-4-3 (1), decisioned Sergio Daniel Ledesma, 22-13-1 (9), over six rounds in the second bout between the two fighters.

At the Gymnase Frenois in Sedan, France on Saturday, ex-European Union and French Lightweight beltholder Abdel Jebahi, 22-3-1 (13), won his second bout in a row by outpointing winless Hungarian journeyman Sandor Fekete, 0-17-1 (0), over eight rounds.

There were two cards in Japan on Saturday and at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Yusuke Kobori, 22-2-1 (11), retained his Japanese Super Featherweight belt with a hard fought ten round win over Hiroyasu Matsuzaki, 17-2 (8), after ten rounds.

Kobori hasn’t lost a bout in his last 14 appearances, retaining the domestic title six times while winning the OPBF crown as well. Matsuzaki saw his own 17 bout win streak snapped after stepping up to top class for the first time.

On the undercard, former OPBF and Phillipine Flyweight Champ JoJo Bardon, 18-11-1 (9), KO’d Yuki Nasu, 14-3 (11), in the first round.

At the Prefectural Gym in Osaka, it was Thailand vs. Japan with 20 year old novice Suriya Klongpajol, 4-6 (0), winning for the first time in four bouts by stunning ex-OPBF Flyweight Champ and WBC world title challenger Noriyuki Komatsu, 22-5-6 (10), by ten round majority decision at super flyweight.

In another upset, Parinya Jockygym, 0-3-1 (0), forced a draw upon Daigoro Yamamoto, 12-4-4 (9), in a ten rounder at light welter while minimumweight Katsunari Takayama, 20-3 (8), stopped Ngaoprajan Sithsaithong, 5-6 (5).

We sew things up in the United States where on Friday at the Alameda Swap Meet in Los Angeles, Mexico’s Michel Rosales, 14-1 (12), stopped Dario Esalas, 30-11 (24), in the second and former WBC Light Fly Champ Brian Viloria, 20-2 (12), outpointed ex-IBO Light Fly titlist Jose Garcia Bernal, 28-10-1 (19), over eight frames at super flyweight.