There were some interesting fights across the globe on Friday night and we start off in Tampa, Florida where Nate Campbell won his second consecutive IBF Lightweight eliminator bout by thrashing veteran southpaw Ricky Quiles over twelve rounds. 34 year old puncher Campbell, 30-5-1 (24), had too much offense for the 36 year old boxer Quiles, 39-8-3 (8), who’s long standing world title aspirations suffered a severe setback with the loss. Campbell forced the brave Quiles to take a knee in the twelfth and final round enroute to posting a 120-107, 119-106 and 119-109 decision.
In Philadelphia, ex-USBA titlist Mike Stewart suffered his own career setback when the popular Delaware veteran and Contender alumni lost a razor thin majority decision over ten rounds to unheralded Mexican visitor Enrique Colin at light welterweight. Stewart, 41-6-2 (23), and Colin, 22-3-3 (19), waged a give and take war at the New Alhambra but when the dust settled, Colin took the scorecards 96-94 (twice) and 95-95. Prospect Abner Mares, 11-0 (7), stopped Robert Allanic, 15-3 (7), when the ringside physician declined to allow Allanic to come out for the ninth round.
Belterra, Indiana saw featherweight Elio Rojas, 19-0 (13), remain pristine with a comprehensive ten round drubbing of fellow prospect Johnnie Edwards, 11-1 (7), and cruiserweight Mike Mollo, 18-1 (11), had a tougher time with his opponent, rugged journeyman Zack Page, 12-11-1 (4), but still won a eight round decision. Light welter Devon Alexander, 11-0 (6), turned out the lights of Scott Ball, 8-3 (6), in the seventh frame of a scheduled eight rounder.
The Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho saw cruiserweight BJ Flores,19-0-1 (12), retain both his unbeaten record and the IBA belt with a 12 round UD over Patrick Nwamu, 12-2 (4).
In his final bout before retiring, middleweight Cleveland Corder, 36-3 (20), won the IBC and NBA titles with a wide points decision over Zane Marks, 15-3 (9).
In Stateline, Nevada, another Contender alumni was in action as Joey Gilbert, 14-1 (10), promoted his own fight card and outpointed Michi Munoz, 17-1 (12), over 12 rounds in the process to retain the WBO NABO Middleweight crown.
Heading now to South America, in Cordoba, Argentina, Julio David Roque Ler, 24-2 (14), came off a loss to World Super Flyweight Champion Jorge Arce in January to drop opponent Jose Garcia Bernal, 26-7-1 (17), in the eighth round enroute to winning the vacant WBA Fedelatin Super Fly title by decision. WBC Female Super Bantam champ Alejandra Marina Oliveras, 9-0-2 (3), was held to a ten round draw by Jackie “Aztec Princess” Nava, 14-2-2 (9).
In Barranquilla, Colombia, Cesar Canchila, 20-0 (16), retained his WBO Latino Light Flyweight title with a thrilling twelfth round TKO over Miguel Tellez, 17-7 (6), while lightweight Ivan Hernandez, 26-3 (20), stayed busy with a 10 round points win over novice Edison Teheran, 5-5-1 (4).
Navojoa, Mexico saw Leonilo Miranda, 25-0 (24), remain spotless and win the Interim Mexican Featherweight title by stopping southpaw Ernesto Morales, 14-2 (9), in the fourth round. Not surprisingly, Raymundo Beltran, 19-3 (11), stopped utter novice Carlos Gamez, 1-2 (1), in the second frame.
In Mexicali, hometown hero Antonio Meza, 22-2 (15), outpointed seasoned Mexico City based tourist Luis Perez, 19-23 (6), in a closely fought super bantamweight ten round affair. Welterweight Adan Casillas, 19-6 (14), knocked out Francisco Valenzuela, 9-7 (6), in the second.
Going to the east now, we hit Newcastle, Australia where Daniel “The Doberman” Ammann, 9-1-1 (2), pulled it out of the fire against Nermin Sabanovic, 7-3-2 (5), to win a close split decision and retain the Australian Cruiserweight title.
Halfway across the world in Coventry, England, Rob Norton, 29-3-1 (13), stopped Tommy Eastwood, 13-3 (2), in the eighth round to annex the vacant English Cruiserweight title.
In Neath, Wales, Danny Williams, 37-6 (30), showed his best form in years in regaining the British Heavyweight title via a ninth round stoppage of Scott Gammer, 17-1-1 (9).
Jozsef “Shatter Machine” Matolcsi, 25-9 (17), stopped Koba Karkashadze, 13-1 (4), in the eighth to keep the WBF Super Middle strap.
Heading to Firenze, Italy, Leornard Bundu,11-0 (3), won the vacant IBF Mediterranean Welterweight crown with a dramatic eleventh round finishing of Frenchman Karim Netchaoui, 14-3-1 (11).
Legutiano, Spain was the site of a draw between Nacho Mendoza, 19-3-2 (12), and Peter Petrov, 16-1-2 (8), for the WBC Latino Super Feather belt.