World Weekend Boxing Roundup: Gonzalez, Barthelemy Retain Titles

ByWellington Amadulu

There were some good cards across the world over the weekend with two world title bouts as the main attraction.

WBC featherweight champ Jhonny Gonzalez, 57-8 (48), battered and toyed with faded former multi-weight world champ Jorge Arce, 64-8-2 (49), at Multiple Use Arena in Los Mochis, Mexico, dropping Arce twice before the one way traffic was stopped at 2:43 of the 11th round on Saturday night.

Arce announced his retirement afterward but will that pledge stick? Gonzalez will hopefully get an opportunity to unify the belts as the hammer-fisted left hook artist has paid his dues after a long and winding career.

On the undercard, 38 year old former two-weight world champ Celestino Caballero, 37-6 (24), had to use all his veteran wiles to survive 12 rounds with 22 year old heavy-handed contender Adrian Estrella, 19-0 (17), who pounded Caballero to the mat on four occasions to take a wide points verdict to retain the WBC Fecarbox super feather belt.

IBF super feather ruler Rances Barthelemy, 21-0 (12) kept hold of his crown with a competitive 12 round UD over challenger Fernando David Saucedo, 52-6 (3), who caused the champ a few problems via crafty boxing skills at Foxwoods Casino in Manshantucket, Connecticut in America.

Saucedo simply could not punch hard enough to trouble Barthelemy, who needs to up his activity rate if he is to be competitive among the division’s elite.

On the undercard at Foxwoods, light middle Vanes Martirosyan, 35-1-1 (21), outworked opponent Willie Nelson, 23-2-1 (13), over ten rounds in an important contest for the WBO Intercontinental strap.

Former light heavyweight champ Chad Dawson, 32-4 (18), saw his career keep falling as he was handed a split decision loss by veteran Tommy Karpency, 24-4-1 (14), over ten rounds.

Also on Saturday at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, featherweight Josh Warrington, 19-0 (3), captured the vacant European title with a fourth round TKO of Davide Diele, 15-4 (5), while light welter Dave Ryan, 16-8 (3), annexed the vacant Commonwealth crown with a majority decision over Tyrone Nurse, 29-2 (5).

Former two-weight world champion Ricky Burns, 37-4-1 (11), made a comeback after two consecutive losses as the Scot won an eight rounder on points against Alexandre Lepelly, 17-2-2 (3).