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The Past Week in Action 13 December 2022: Terence Crawford KOs David Avanesyan in 6; Luis Lopez Outpoints Josh Warrington


PhilBoxing.com





Highlights:
-Terence Crawford knocks out David Avanesyan in WBO welterweight title defence
- Luis Lopez outpoints Josh Warrington to win the IBF featherweight title
-Teo Lopez wins split decision over Sandor Martin
-Ebanie Bridges stops Shannon O’Connell in eight rounds in defence of her IBF bantamweight title
-Michael Conlan stops Karim Guerfi in one round in Belfast
- There are wins for Jared Anderson, Keyshawn Davis, Xander Zayas, Delante Johnson, Joe Ward, Felix Cash, Kosei Tanaka, Magomed Kurbanov and Evgeny Tishchenko but losses for Jorge Linares and oldie Sam Soliman


World Title/Major Shows

December 10

Omaha, NE, USA: Welter: Terence Crawford (39-0) W KO 6 David Avanesyan (29-4-1). Feather: Arnold Khegai (19-1-1) W PTS 10 Eduardo Baez (21-4-2). Light Heavy: Steven Nelson (18-0) W KO 1 James Ballard (10-5). 
Crawford vs. Avanesyan
Another title fight and another inside the distance win for Crawford as he knocks out David Avanesyan in the sixth round
Round 1
Crawford jabbing smartly on the back foot as Avanesyan tries to come forward behind a high guard. Crawford getting through with jabs then fires a combination and finds the target with jabs to the body. Avanesyan just following Crawford around the ring with being able to cut off the ring. 
Score: 10-9 Crawford
Round 2
Crawford pinging Avanesyan with jabs not looking to score with them but just to deter Avanesyan from launching an attack. Crawford scores with a left hook to the body. Crawford starts to put a bit more bite in his jab. Avanesyan gets past the jab and scores with a couple of shots. Avanesyan keeps marching forward but being caught by jabs.
Score: 10-9 CrawfordCrawford 20-18
Round 3
Avanesyan has some success taking Crawford to the ropes and scoring with hooks. He keeps pressing and again scores with hooks. Crawford seems content to be on the back foot probing and scoring with jabs. Very little scoring inn the round but for me Avanesyan does the better work.
Score: 10-9 AvanesyanCrawford 29-28
Round 4
Finally, Crawford comes awake. After a fairly even start to the round Crawford starts to put together some flashing combinations bringing his left into play for the first time and he scores heavily with a blistering array of hooks and uppercuts.
Score: 10-9 CrawfordCrawford 39-37
Round 5
Avanesyan is stick ion then end of Crawford’s jab and now Crawford is adding straight lefts with power. Avanesyan keeps marching forward but is having to soak up punches as Crawford fires shots switching from to head and back again with Avanesyan static in front of him.
Score: 10-9 CrawfordCrawford 49-46
Round 6
The referee had a discussion with officials over some damage to both of Crawford’s gloves at the start of the round but the fight is allowed tom continue despite the damage. Crawford upped his pace digging in solid body shots and a succession of uppercuts. Avanesyan scored with a couple of useful hooks but then Crawford unloaded a series of punches on him and suddenly uncorked a left and a searing right hook that dropped Avanesyan flat on his back out cold.
Sixth defence of the WBO title for Crawford and he has ended all six defences inside the distance-in fact he won his last ten fights-all title fights- by KO/TKO and is 17-0 in title fights. In his first fight for thirteen months, he looked to be coasting aiming to get in some ring time but the finish was spectacular. Not sure if the Errol Spence fight is dead and buried but I hope not. Avanesyan had won his last six fights by KO/TKO against very good level European opposition but Crawford was in another class completely to that.
Khegai vs. Baez
Khegai wins ugly as he bullies the better boxer and much taller Baez to defeat on a split decision. Khegai roughed up Baez taking him out of his stride getting warned for punches to the back of the head and other fouls and he shoulder charged Baez to the canvas in the third. Aside from those tactics Khegai scored well to the body and did enough clean work to take the lead but continued to fight dirty getting more warnings before losing a point finally in the ninth. By then Baez had lost his way and although he finished strongly he had given away too many early rounds. Scores 96-93 and 95-94 for Khegai and 95-94 for Baez. Ukrainian Khegai lost a unanimous decision to Stephen Fulton back in January 2020 but has rebounded with three wins. In his last fight Baez lost on a sixth round kayo against Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO feather belt in August.
Nelson vs. Ballard
Nelson returns in style as he flattens Ballard in the first round. Nelson landed a heavy right to the head that sent Ballard into the ropes. He then blasted Ballard with a left to the body and another right to the head and Ballard went down heavily with the count being waived. First fight for Nelson for over two years and his fifteenth victory by KO/TKO. Only the fourth fight in four years for Ballard and his third inside the distance defeat.

New York, NY, USA: Super Light: Teo Lopez (18-1) WPTS 10 Sandor Martin (40-3). Heavy: Jared Anderson (13-0) W TKO 2 Jerry Forrest (26-6-2). Light: Keyshawn Davis (7-0) W PTS 8 Juan Burgos (35-7-3). Super Welter: Xander Zayas (15-0) W PTS 8 Alexis Salazar (25-5). Welter: Delante Johnson (7-0) W TKO 5 Mike Ohan (16-2). Light Heavy: Joe Ward (8-1) W PTS 8 Fred Julan (12-2).



Lopez vs. Martin
Lopez takes a split decision over Martin in a low scoring low highlight contest. The fight started at a fast pace and stayed that way. Both fighters were probing with their jab. Lopez was coming forward with Martin retreating and looking to counter. There were not many punches thrown or landed but Lopez connected enough with his right to have taken the round. Early inn the second as Lopez lunged forward Martin threw a shot which glanced off the top of Lopez’s head and knocked off balance and he put his gloves on the canvas. That resulted inn a count and although Lopez did the better work after that it was a 10-8 round for Martin. Lopez pursued Martin through the third but this not a fight where there would be planet of toe-to-toe exchanges. Martin’s fight plan was to back track until her saw a change to dart in with a punch and get out before Lopez could counter. However, Lopez kept tracking Martin and in a series of close rounds from the third to the sixth Lopez consistently landed rights to the body which earned him the rounds. Martin changed tactics over the seventh and eighth. he took station in the centre of the ring and this time was getting his punches of first. That together with some athletic foot work gave Martin those rounds although again they were close low scoring rounds. Martin went back to his backtracking countering approach with Lopez frustrated by the Spaniards slick footwork but Martin was not stopping long enough to throw many punches and Lopez pressed hard and scored again with those rights to the body. Lopez chased Martin down again in the tenth and he did what scoring there was and looked tom have deserved the decision despite Martin’s wild celebrations even before the result was announced. Scores 97-92 and 96-93 for Lopez and 95-94 for Martin. The result was controversial but I saw it 96-93 for Lopez but with such low scoring and no sustained exchanges it was a difficult fight to score. Lopez is No 1 with the WBOL so is in line for a shot of the winner of Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall and as that has been postponed again and may not happen until March Lopez may take a different direction. Martin will feel he was robbed but he is unlikely to go from here to a title shot so will have to go through another high profile opponent to get there.



Anderson vs. Forrest
Anderson obliterates experienced and durable Forrest. Straight after the bell for the first round Forrest tested Andreson’s chin with a couple of rights but Anderson took them well and as Forrest lurched forward with a crude attack Anderson connected with stiff jabs and rights of his own and rocked Forrest with a right. Anderson’s powerful jab was taking the fight out of Forrest and the referee was poised jump in as Anderson pounded brutally on Forrest for the full last minute of the round. In the second Anderson again used his prodigious jab and straight rights to force Forrest across the ring rocking him continually until Forrest almost out on his feet was no longer punching back and the fight was stopped. There was something of Liston/Foremen in the power of his jab and rights and his thirteen wins have been achieved in less than twenty-eight rounds. Forrest was 0-2-2 in his last four fights all against rated opposition and none of those rated opponents came anywhere near destroying Forrest as Anderson did.



Davis vs. Burgos
Davis wins every round against experienced Burgos who shows his resilience by taking Davis the full eight rounds. Burgos could not hope to match the speed and accuracy of Davis over the early rounds so his best bet was to get through those rounds and hope to use his experience to pick up some late round. Unfortunately for Burgos Davis won every round. His movement, hand speed and slick skills were just too much for Burgos. In round after round Davis was connecting with combinations of power punches to head and body. Burgos tried to stand and trade with Davis over the fifth and sixth but that led to more punishment and Davis landed hard over the seventh and eighth trying to get Burgos out of there but Burgos survived. Scores 80-72 on the three cards. Davis, 23, wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental belt and should be ready for a title challenge by 2024. Burgos, 34, is not the force he was. He is 0-2-1 in three world title fights but has never been stopped taking both Mikey Garcia and Devin Haney the distance.
Zayas vs. Salazar
Another impressive display from Zayas as he outpoints a genuine test in Salazar to retain his WBO NABO title. Zayas made a sparkling start firing quick combinations and sending Salazar tumbling into the ropes with a left hook in the first round. It should have counted as a knockdown but the referee did not acknowledge it. From there Zayas had Salazar on the defensive applying relentless pressure in the second and hurting Salazar with a left hook to the body in the third. Salazar used his experience to steady the ship in the fourth but Zayas was still punching up a storm. Zayas continued to dictate the action with Salazar scoring with some useful counters. Zayas looked for a stoppage in the last but Salazar resisted to the end. Scores 79-73 twice and 80-72 for Zayas. Still only twenty the young Puerto Rican is a prodigious talent. Salazar had won 17 of his last 18 fights with the loss coming against big puncher Carlos Adames, the only man to beat him inside the distance.
Johnson vs. O’Han
Johnson outclasses Ohan on his way to a fifth round stoppage. After seeing what Ohan brought to the fight in the first Johnson went to work in the second with strong jabs and body shots from both hands. The speed of Johnson’s hands was just too much for Ohan as Johnson was following his jab with snappy straight rights and then with a bunch of shots switching his attacks from head to body. Ohan tried to fight back behind his own jab but was slowly broken down and Johnson finished in style in the fifth driving Ohan to the ropes and then bombarding him with a barrage of punches until with Ohan not punching back the fight was stopped. Fifth inside the distance win for Olympian Johnson. Ohan had won his last seven fights.
Ward vs. Julan
Ward registers another win as he decisions fellow-southpaw Frenchman Julan. Ward had a big edge in basic skill but Julan pressed the fight hard and made the talented southpaw work for his win. Ward was cut over his left eye in the fourth but built a good lead before Julan put in a big effort in the last trying to swing things his way. Ward won on scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74. His loss came from a knee injury in his first pro fight. He was one of the most decorated amateurs in the history of Irish boxing. Second consecutive loss for Julan.

Leeds, England: Feather: Luis Lopez (27-2) W PTS 12 Josh Warrington (31-2-1). Bantam Ebanie Bridges (9-1) W TKO 8 Shannon O’Connell (23-8-1). Middle: Felix Cash (16-0) W PTS 8 Celso Neves (9-3-2). Super Welter: James Metcalf (24-2) WRTD 6 Courtney Pennington (16-6-3). Super Bantam: Hopey Price (9-0) WPTS 8 Jonathan Santana (9-3-1).



Lopez vs. Warrington
Warrington loses the IBF title on a majority decision against Lopez.
Round 1
Warrington started well scoring with a strong jab in the first punch of the fight. Lopez then went onto the attack taking the fight to Warrington. Lopez was letting his hands go from various angles and although Warrington worked his jab again Lopez did enough to take a close opener
Score: 10-9 Lopez 
Round 2
Warrington scored with a bunch of hooks at the start of the round. Lopez then forced Warrington on to the back foot but Warrington again got through with hooks. There was a clash of heads late in the round as Warrington’s head banged into the face of Lopez with the referee stopping then fight and giving Warrington a warning with Lopez showing a cut by his left eye. Warrington’s early success gave him the round.
Score: 10-9 WarringtonTIED 19-19
Round 3
Lopez scored with some jabs then moved in and connected with hooks. Warrington came out from behind his high guard and landed a good left hook but then backed off and Lopez was able to dominate the remaining exchanges but it was a messy fight.
Score: 10-9 LopezLopez 29-28
Round 4
Warrington was on the back foot again behind a high guard allowing Lopez to dictate the action. Lopez was scoring well with his jab and hooking to the body. He then drove forward scoring with hooks and straight rights. Warrington was walking in behind his high guard but was not throwing enough punches and when he did get inside Lopez was holding and Warrington was largely ineffective. 
Score: 10-9 LopezLopez 39-37
Round 5
Lopez controlled the early action landing left jabs and body punches from both hands. Warrington then took the fight inside and got the better of the exchanges connecting with hooks and uppercuts and just did enough to overcome Lopez’s early work but Warrenton is dangerous with his head and Lopez is doing lots of holding
Score: 10-9 WarringtonLopez 48-47
Round 6
Warrington trapped Lopez against the ropes and landed well to the body but there was more holding than hitting. Lopez came off the ropes and landed with jabs and hooks as Warrington went back into his shell. Lopez landed a series of hooks and uppercuts at the end of the round.
Score: 10-9 LopezLopez 58-56
Round 7
Warrington scored with a right to the chin at the start of the round but then Lopez took over. He was walking forward slinging punches and catching Warrington with hooks and uppercuts. Warranting connected with a right to the head. They traded punches in the middle of the ring with Lopez landing the better shots and Warrington again spending too much time tucked up behind his high guard and throwing too few punches and letting the round slip away. 
Score: 10-9 Lopez Lopez 68-65
Round 8
Lopez was throwing punches from lots of different angles moving around Warrington holding his hands low and just letting fly. Warrington landed a good left hook but Lopez was outworking him as Warrington spent periods just circling without throwing punches. Lopez was hanging his left at hip level and was there to be hit but Warrington did not come to life until the last thirty seconds. 
Score: 10-9 Lopez Lopez 78-74
Round 9
A much better round for Warrington. He drove forward from the start getting inside and landing some choice hooks. He then again went into hiding behind his high guard letting Lopez back into the fight. Lopez then complained about a punch that landed on the back of his hip and started to limp. The referee gave him some recovery time. Warrington then attacked strongly catching Lopez with hooks. Lopez then complained about a punch to the back of the head and Warrington ended the round strongly.
Score: 10-9 Warrington Lopez 87-84
Round 10
Warrington needed to win this round but it was Lopez’s. He was firing home punches at distance, catching Warrington with counters as he came forward and then clinching inside to prevent Warrington from working. He should have been warned but was not and he continued those tactics with Warrington not being able to do any useful work and with Lopez doing lots of holding
Score: 10-9 Lopez Lopez 97-93
Round 11
Lopez started well jabbing and throwing body punches. Warrington rocked him with a hard left hook and then began to let his punches flow scoring with hooks and putting Lopez under pressure. Warrington again rattled Lopez with left hooks and did enough to take the round.
Score: 10-9 Warrington Lopez 106-103
Round 12
Warrington was again landing left hooks and Lopez under fire was finally given a strong warning about holding. Warrington drove Lopez around the ring scoring with hooks and Lopez was again clinging to stop the flow as Warrington continued to land hooks.
Score: 10-9 Warrington Lopez 115-113
Lopez wins the IBF title in a disappointing fight. He had scored wins over unbeaten Gabriel Flores and Isaac Lowe neither of whom were the toughest of opponents and with Warrington’s poor tactics here Lopez still has to prove himself. He was No 1 with the IBF and veteran Kiko Martinez No 2. Martinez was stopped in seven rounds by Warrington in March so that’s a fight Lopez might fancy. This was Warrington’s first fight since suffering a broken jaw against Martinez and only his second in almost two years. He had a very off night here but can come again and a fight with Leigh Wood who, with Leo Santa Cruz relinquishing the WBA title, may be elevated by the WBA to primary title holder and that could be an attractive domestic match.



Bridges vs. O’Connell
Bridges crushes O’Connell in eight rounds in this clash of two of Australia’s leading female boxers. No love lost between these two and it was scrappy from the start with Bridges just getting the better of the numerous fierce exchanges. Bridges broke through in a big way in the third sending O’Connell back on her hells with a right and then sending her down with another one. Bridges shook O’Connell with rights in the fourth and although O’Connell was competitive in the fifth Bridges continued to hand out punishment with O’Connell bleeding from the nose and with damage around her eyes. Those rights had O’Connell staggering in the sixth and the referee stopped the fight. Bridges was making the first defence of the IBF belt. O’Connell, a former Commonwealth champion, was having her fifth try at winning a title in an eleven year career. 
Cash vs. Neves
Cash tried to end this one early as he attacked hard trying to blow Neves away. Neves survived and Cash seemed to go off the boil with Neves scoring with some hard punches but Cash still did enough to edge the rounds. Cash was cut above the left eye and then seemed to decided that as this was his first fight for ten months, he needed some ring time and the fight was fairly even after that with Neves proving more durable then expected and Cash had to settle for a close 77-75 decision. Cash has seen lesser British middleweights getting title shots in 2022 so he must be hoping it is his turn in 2013. Swiss-based Portuguese Neves was stopped inn two rounds by Padraig McCrory in November last year.
Metcalf vs. Pennington
Metcalf batters Penning to defeat after six rounds. Metcalf was tracking Pennington down with Pennington showing plenty of flashy movement switching guards but not throwing many punches. Metcalf did a better job of cutting the ring down in the second connecting with rights with Pennington clearly lacking power and starting to hold more. Metcalf drove Pennington around the ring for much of the third round. He continued to punish Pennington throughout the fourth, fifth and sixth with big rights to the head and hooks and uppercuts and it was no surprise when Pennington retired at the end on the sixth. First defence of the WBA Continental title for Metcalf which he won with an important victory over Kerman Lejarraga in May. Pennington lots of flash but little substance.
Price vs. Santana
Price wins every round against Spaniard Santana. Price had lost of height and reach over Santana and too much skill. Hope kept sticking Santana with right jabs and straight lefts and covered up well or floated away on the rare occasions when Santana did get past the jab. Price sat down more on his punches as he looked to stop Santana but had to settle for winning on the referee’s card by 80-72. The Leeds southpaw has great skills but is not big a puncher as this stage. Santana no real threat.

December 9

Gliwice, Poland: Super Middle: Osleys Iglesias (8-0) W TKO10 Andrii Velikovskyi (21-3-2).
Cuban southpaw Iglesias wins the vacant IBO title with stoppage of Ukrainian Velikovskyi. Iglesias was coming forward from the start firing quick accurate punches from both hands putting Velikovskyi on the back foot. He was slotting home fast right jabs and launching quick bursts of punches with Velikovskyi unable to deal with the speed or accuracy of the Cuban’s punches. Velikovskyi was shaken by a left in the fourth and his face was showing the marks of battle as Iglesias continued to fire four and five punch combinations. Additionally, a lump was showing high over Velikovskyi’s left eye from a clash of heads. Velikovskyi tried to come forward but if he got past the jab he was running into hooks from both hands and by the seventh the lump was growing worryingly. Iglesias continued to boss the exchanges and the swelling was now monstrously large and the fight should have been stopped as it grotesque inflated the left side of Velikovskyi forehead. The fight was one-sided now with Iglesias handing out more and more punishment. Every time Velikovskyi threw a left jab he was then nailed by a shower of counters. In the tenth a volley of punches that had Velikovskyi against the ropes and defenceless belatedly brought the referee’s intervention. It was an impressive, classy power show from Iglesias who was in front 90-81 on all three cards. His only rating before this fight was No 13 with the WBA but he is a danger to anyone in the division on this showing. He beat future World amateur champion Glen Bakshi and David Morell but never won the Cuban title having to face Arlen Lopez and settling for four silver medals. Velikovskyi had not faced world level opposition but had beaten some useful opposition and was unbeaten in huis last 14 fights. 

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Super Light: Alberto Machado (23-3) W TKO 8 Jose Angulo (14-4). Super Feather: Edwin Valentin (12-0) W KO 2 Yeison Vargas (21-12). Cruiser Richard Rivera (22-1) W TKO 2 Ariel Basconcel (13-4-1).
Machado vs. Angulo
In his first fight since March 2021 Machado was given plenty of trouble by Ecuadorian Angulo before stopping him in the eighth. Machado seemed to settle quickly scoring well with his jab and body shots. Over the next three rounds Angulo began to capitalise on mistakes by Machado who seemed to lose his way. Machado blasted back to floor Angulo twice in the seventh and with Angulo under fire and defenceless in the eight the fight was stopped. First fight at super light for the former holder of the secondary super featherweight title. Second loss by KO/TKO for Angulo.
Valentin vs. Vargas 
Valentin gets his eleventh win by KO/TKO as he puts Colombian Vargas down and out with a left hook in the second round. “Chin” Valente is promoted by Miguel Cotto. Ninth inside the distance defeat for Vargas. 
Rivera vs. Basconcel
Rivera gets win No 17 by KO/TKO as he beats Argentinian Basconcel in two rounds. First fight for Rivera since losing a split decision against Badou Jack in August. Rubbish match with Basconcel 48 not even six round class.

Liverpool, Australia: Super Feather: Francisco Fonseca (31-3-2) W TKO 2 Billel Dib (26-4). Middle: Alex Walters (16-1) W PTS 10 Adrian Rodriguez (13-6-2).
Fonseca vs. Dib
Fonseca blows away Dib. Dib started confidently but was dropped late in the first. He survived that but was battered around the ring and dropped twice in the second. Nicaraguan Fonseca has lost to Gervonta Davis and Tevin Farmer in shots at the IBF title and was knocked out in 80 seconds by Ryan Garcia in 2020 but this his sixth victory by KO/TKO since then. Dib suffers his first inside the distance defeat.
Walters vs. Rodriguez
New Zealand-born Walters beats Rodriguez on a majority decision in his first defence of the Australian title. Scores 98-94, 97-94 and 95-95. Walters went ahead early with his better skills. Rodriguez kept rolling forward and did a bit better in the middle rounds but Walters was feeding him jabs and wobbled him in the eighth with Rodriguez rallying to take the last round but Walters was a clear winner. 

Melbourne, Australia: Middle: Joel Camilleri (25-8-1) W TKO 1 Sam Soliman (49-17-1, 2ND). Super Middle: Mason Smith (7-1) W PTS 10 Lachian Higgins (8-7-2).
Camillieri vs. Soliman
Soliman is 49-how long can he keep fighting? Perhaps this fight answered that question as Camillieri landed a heavy overhand right to the head early, Soliman stumbled across the ring to the ropes and Camillieri followed scoring with more head punches and dropped the former IBF middleweight title holder who beat the count but was unable to continue. Camillieri wins the vacant ANBF Australasian belt. Former Australian super welter champion Camillieri has won 5 of his last 6 bouts all 5 wins by KO/TKO. Only the third loss by KO/TKO for Soliman in his 26 year career.
Smith vs. Higgins
Smith wins the vacant Australian title with unanimous decision over Higgins in a clash of local fighters. Higgins tried to force the fight but Smith was just too skilful and outboxed Higgins and all three judges voted it 100-90. Southpaw Smith’s only loss was a first round stoppage against Nikita Tszyu in May but this is his second win since then. Higgins lost on points to Alex Walters in a fight for the vacant Australian middle title in July

Molfetta, Italy: Cruiser: Claudio Squeo (13-0) WTKO 2 Gabriele Guainella (6-3-2).
Home town fighter Squeo wins the vacant Italian title with second round stoppage of Guainella. Squeo was piling forward in the first ducking and coming in throwing wild swinging lefts and rights. Guainella could not stop the raging attacks so resorted to holding but was shaken at the end of the round. Squeo drove Guainella into a corner in the second and then just bombarded him with clubbing punches until Guainella slumped to the floor. The referee started the count but quickly waived it off as Guainella was never going to beat the count. Seventh inside the distance victory in a row for Squeo who is dangerous but very crude. Second defeat by KO/TKO for Guainella

Johannesburg, South Africa: Super Welter: Emmany Kalombo (17-1) W TKO 4 Donerl Shiva Thakran (16-5-1). Super Fly: Dee Jay Kriel (17-2-1) W PTS 8 Thembelani Nxoshe (19-10-2). 
Kalombo vs. Shiva
Kalombo retains the IBF International title as challenger Thakran retires after three rounds. In slow first two rounds Kalombo doing what little clear scoring there was as he connected with left hooks to the body against the apprehensive looking Thakran. Kalombo closed the distance in the third shaking Thakran with a left hook and straight right and again with a fierce left uppercut. Although showing no damage Thakran quit and did not come out for the fourth. Kalombo. 39, a South African-based Congolese, has won all 17 of his victories inside the distance but reality intruded in April last year when he was floored and lost a wide unanimous decision against Israil Madrimov. 
Kriel vs. Nxoshe
Kriel was looking to get in some ring time in his first fight since losing on a tenth round stoppage against Felix Alvarado in a challenge for the IBF light fly title in January 2021. He got more than he was looking for from Nxoshe who was 0-3-1 in his last 4 fights. Nxoshe started well and competed hard all the way with Kriel’s stronger finish just getting him though on a majority decision on scores of 78-74 and 77-75 with one vote of 75-75. Kiel will again seek a title shot at light flyweight. Nxoshe did his job-perhaps a little too well.

Newtown Town, PA, USA: Super Light: Shinard Bunch (20-1-1,1ND) W|PTS 10 Henry Lundy (31-12-1). 
Youth is served as Bunch outpoints veteran Lundy. A fifteen year difference in their ages and height and reach prove too much for Lundy to overcome and he loses a unanimous decision against 23-year-old Bunch on widely differing scores of scores of 98-90, 97-91 and 95-93. Bunch is now unbeaten inn his last twenty fights. Fourth consecutive loss for thirty-year-old Lundy.

Hidalgo, TX, USA: Super Welter: Austin Trout (36-5-1) W PTS 8 Jose Sanchez (20-3-1).
Comfortable win for Trout as he uses all of his extensive experience to outbox Sanchez. It was a low key fight and Sanchez never posed a threat. Trout controlled the fight with his right jabs even though he was only flicking it out with Sanchez showing too much respect to Trout and never really exerting enough pressure or cutting the ring off. Sanchez seemed to hurt Trout with a right to the body in the fifth but other than that Trout controlled the fight before trying for a late stoppage. Scores 80-72 on the three cards for Trout. Now 37 even with five consecutive wins another title shot is not going to happen but he can dream. Sanchez’s opposition far from impressive. 

December 10

Kempton Park, South Africa: Super Welter: Roarke Knapp (15-1-1) W PTS 10 Dante Jardon (35-9). Super Welter: Brandon Thysse (15-3-1) W PTS 10 Cristiano Ndombassy (13-7). Cruiser: Akani Phuzi 13-2) W PTS 10 Johnny Muller (23-9-2).
Knapp vs. Jardon
Knapp emerges as the star of the night as he floors and decisions grizzled warrior Jardon. Knapp seemed to have de4cided to beat Jardon at his own game as he went toe-to-toe with Jardon for the whole ten rounds. Knapp scored with some huge right hand bombs in the second and then dropped Jardon with a straight right in the third. Jardon fought back hard from there. Both had to soak up lots of punishment with Knapp getting the better of the exchanges but had tom take plenty himself from the experienced Mexican. Ac fight like this is what Jardon was raised on but he found his match in Knapp and the local fighter was a clear winner in a testing battle. Scores 97-92 twice and 96-93 for 24-year-old Knapp. He showed a growing maturity and growing confidence in this fight. He has won and lost in two fights with Brandon Thysse and when the third fight comes it should be a cracker. At 34 Jardon is far from finished and has scored wins over unbeaten fighters Anthony Tomlinson and Artem Oganesyan when he was supposed to lose.
Thysse vs. Ndombassy 
Thysse has a harder than expected time with Angolan Ndombassy. It was Ndombassy who set the scene for this great scrap by walking out of his corner at the first bell and nailing Thysse with a powerful right cross. From there these two parked defence and traded thudding blows in every round. Thysse had height and reach over Ndombassy but made no attempt to box his way to victory but instead exchanged booming punches in blistering exchanges. Thysse generally come out on top as they pounded each other but Ndombassy refused to cave in and they battled and battered each other for ten rounds with Thysse winning deservedly ion scores of 98-93,97-93 and 96-95. Thysse was rebuilding after losing a split de4cisin to Knapp in June. Ndombassy had lost two of his last three fights.
Phuzi vs. Muller
Revenge is sweet for Phuzi. Muller had outpointed Phuzi twice the first by a wide margin and the second a split decision. This one was again close but it went to Phuz on scores of 96-93, 96-94 and 98-97. Muller was fighting Phuzi for the third time straight so would probably like different dance partner for his next fight.

Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Welter: Joe Noynay (20-3-2) W PTS 12 Asdam Diu Abdulhamid (17-11).
Southpaw Noynay wins the Philippines title with a unanimous decision over champion Abdulhamid. Noynay outboxed the eccentric Abdulhamid sticking to his job whilst Abdulhamid tried to confuse Noynay with quick attacks. Neither boxer was hurt but the better skills of Noynay made him a clear winner on scores of 118-113 twice and 117-111. Noynay scored a big upset in July last year when he floored unbeaten Australian super featherweight Liam Wilson four times and stopped him in the sixth round. In the return fight Noynay came in eight pounds over the contract weight and was knocked out in the second round. As he is now fighting at 147lbs it shows what a struggle it must have been to make 130lbs. Third loss in a row for Abdulhamid who was defending the title for the first time.

Heilbronn, Germany: Super Welter: Slawa Spomer (17-0) W PTS 10 Egzon Maliqaj (11-1-1). Minimum: Tina Rupprecht (11-0-1) W Rocio Gaspar (12-1-0). 
Spomer vs. Maliqaj
Spomer wins the vacant WBO Global title with a unanimous verdict over Switzerland’s Maliqaj. Spomer boxed on the back foot early with Maliqaj moving inn behind a high guard looking to put Spomer bunder pressure. Spomer quickly got into his stride scoring with a variety of punches and took control. As the pace of the fight increased Spomer so did Spomer’s dominance and Maliqaj did well to last the distance as Spomer won ion scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92. In this mad sanctioning body world although Spomer has never fought a rated opponent he will now get a high ranking for defeating someone with an 11-0-1 record Box Rec have Spomer rated No 106 and Maliqaj No 174.
Rupprecht vs. Gaspar 
German Rupprecht retains the WBC female title as she proves too quick and too clever for Peruvian Gaspar and comes away with the decision on scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. Fifth defence for Rupprecht. The lack of strength inn depth in female boxing is evident as this is Gaspar’s second shot at a title and her twelve victims have a title of just five wins between them

Dorsten, Germany: Light Heavy: Luca Cinqueoncie (16-0) W PTS 10 Leon Maric (8-4).
German hope Cinqueoncie gets a second win over Bosnian Maric in defence of the IBF and WBO Youth titles. The 6’2”, 21 year-old with his longer reach and five inch height advantage comfortably outboxed the young Bosnian winning on scores of 99-90 twice and a curious 96-95! Cinqueoncie had beaten Maric by similar margins in May and has fed on low grade opposition in his 16 fights. 

Vung Tau, Vietnam: Super Feather: Charly Suarez (14-0) W RTD 2 Defry Palulu (25-2-2).
Filipino Suarez wins the vacant IBF Asia title with two round victory over Indonesian Palulu. In the first round a punch from Suarez broke Palulu’s nose. At the end of the second round Palulu complained of trouble with his vision and did not come out for the third round. Eighth victory by KO/TKO for the” King’s Warrior a former Olympian. Palulu was unbeaten in his last ten fights 

Santa Marinella, Italy: Emiliano Marsili (42-0-1) W TKO 2 Fabrizio Ferreri (2-6). 
Time and tide wait for no one-except Emiliano Marsili it seems. now 46 Marsili remained unbeaten as he floored modest Ferreri twice and stopped him in the second round.

December 11

Nagoya, Japan: Super Fly: Kosei Tanaka (18-1) W PTS 10 Yanga Sigqibo (17-2-1). 
Tanaka rounds off his year with a points win over South African Sigqibo. Tanaka was aiming for an impressive performance and he attacked hard from the start looking for a quick victory. A punch from Sigqibo opened a cut on Tanaka’s left eyelid in the second round but Tanaka just dialled up the pressure. Sigqibo showed good skills and a solid defence picking up a couple of rounds. He refused to crumble under Tanaka’s focused body attack and was still there at the final bell. Tanaka took the decision on scores of 97-93 twice and 98-92. Tanaka has already won titles at minimumweight, light-flyweight and flyweight and is now aiming to become a four-division title holder with a challenge for a version of the super flyweight title in 2023. He is rated in the top five by the four major sanctioning bodies. Sigqibo had won his last 14 fights and was No 4 with the WBO.

Almaty, Kazakhstan: Super Light: Zhankosh Turarov (26-0) W TKO 7 Luis Romero (11-6-1).
In only his second fight in three years Turarov stops overmatched Venezuelan Romero in the seventh round. Turarov was pounding Romero with left hooks and overhand rights to then head with Romero constantly on the back foot. In the seventh a huge right to the head from Turarov floored Romero and the fight was stopped. Nineteenth win by KO/TKO for 32-year-old Turarov and he picks up the vacant IBO Inter-Continental title. Spanish-based Romero had beaten Jonathan Alonso 21-1 and Maxim Prodan 19-1-1 this year. 

Ekaterinburg, Russia: Super Welter: Magomed Kurbanov (24-0) W PTS 10 Johan Gonzalez (31-2). Cruiser: Evgeny Tishchenko (11-1) W PTS 10 Artur Mann (19-3). Light: Zhora Hamazaryan (13-3-2) W PTS 10 Jorge Linares (47-8). 
Kurbanov wins a unanimous decision over Gonzalez in a gruelling battle where it was give-and-take all the way. A lively first round saw both score heavily. Kurbanov boxed with more caution after that dominating the action with his left jab and scoring with overhand rights. Gonzalez scored with a heavy right in the third but Kurbanov banged back with a right and a series of left hooks. A jab from Gonzelez brought blood from Kurbanov’s mouth inn the fourth but Kurbanov shook Gonzalez with a right. Gonzalez marched forward throughout the fight and scored with some solid rights in the sixth. Both scored well in the seventh with Kurbanov getting the better of the exchanges in the eighth and ninth but Gonzalez tested his chin in both rounds before Kurbanov outscored Gonzalez in the last to take the decision on scores of 97-93 from all three judges. Kurbanov had beaten former title holders Liam Smith and Petrick Teixeira in his last two fights. Gonzalez was always dangerous. He has only gone the distance twice in his 33 fights and has lost each time. 
Tishchenko vs. Mann
Tishchenko had big edges in height and reach and he used them well. Mann rumbled forward trying to get inside but Tishchenko boxing on the back foot was able to land heavy shots at distance. Tishchenko gradually upped his work rate and then floored Mannn twice in the sixth both times from an accumulation of punches. Mann survived the round but from there Tishchenko was on the front foot with Mann on the defensive and Tishchenko looking to end the fight early Mannn flared briefly over the closing rounds but never threatened Tishchenko’s dominance. Scores 99-889 twice and 100-88 for Tishchenko. He lost a wide unanimous decision against Thabiso Mchunu for the WBC Silver title in March 2021. Heis not currently rated by any of the sanctioning bodies so has work to do tom get a title shot. Kazakh-born German Mann has lost inside the distance in fights for the IBO cruiser titles against Kevin Lerena and Mairis Breidis.
Hamazaryan vs. Linares
Linares suffers his second loss in a row against a relatively modest boxer in Russia. Linares was on the back foot from them outset with the smaller Hamazaryan bobbing and weaving his way forward. Linares was jabbing well but there was not much snap in his punches and Hamazaryan’s jab had Linares face bright red by the end of the second round. Linares scored well with body shots inn the third and he continued to find the target with his jab and some classy left hooks. From the fifth Hamazaryan was able to score with solid right uppercuts and a slowing Linares was under more pressure. He continued to show some of his past quality with flashing combinations but the less talented but younger and stronger Hamazaryan dominated the action over the second half of the fight with Linares no longer having the speed or power to keep Hamazaryan out. Scores 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94 for Armenian Hamazaryan. Now 37 it is sad to see Linares fighting and losing to such limited boxers as Hamazaryan

Kempton Park, Heavy: Keaton Gomes (9-2) W TKO 6 Chris Thompson (12-3-1). 
In an exciting slug fest Gomez dropped Thompson twice in the first round but failed to finish him. Gomes took the second and third but Thompson was back in the fight but suffered the loss of a point for holding. Gomes was cut by a punch but any impetus that might have given Thompson was wasted as he lost another point for a low punch. Gomers ended it in the sixth with Thomson dropping to one knee under a series of punches and although he lurched up the fight was stopped. Gomes gets his seven victory by KO/TKO and wins the South African and ABU titles from Thompson who was 7-0-1 going in. 

Fight of the week (Significance): Terence Crawford’s win over David Avanesyan keeps alive the possibility of a fight with Errol Spence.
Fight of the week (Entertainment); A choice of two South African fights here between the warfare of Brandon Thysse and vs. Cristiano Ndombassy and the wild scrap between Keaton Gomes and Chris Thompson
Fighter of the week: Terence Crawford for his crushing kayo of David Avanesyan
Punch of the week: Crawford again for the final right hook that closed the fight with Avanesyan
Upset of the week: None
Prospect watch: Super Welterweight Roarke Knapp 15-1-1 came through a tough test against Dante Jardon

Observation
Rosette: To boxing for putting on so many good quality shows at the weekend
Red Card: To the matchmaker and Agent who put together the fight betweenRichard Rivera 21-1 (16 wins by KO/TKO) and 48-year-old Argentinian 13-3-1 and having his first fight for over six years-disgraceful!!!
-If you are going to have a ringside doctor at least he should know something about boxing. A case in point was that when a fighter was cut in the show in Vietnam the referee took him to the corner and the ringside doctor PUT A STICKING PLASTER ON THE CUT!
- What a strange career Emilio Marsili has had. The 46-year-old Italian is unbeaten in 43 fights (42-0-1) stretching over 20 years as a pro. He has won eight different titles including the IBO lightweight title but somehow despite being in the ratings for many of those twenty years has never had a shot at one of the four major sanctioning titles?

About the Author



Born in Scotland, Eric Armit started working with Boxing News magazine in the UK in the late 1960’s initially doing records for their Boxing News Annual and compiling World, European and Commonwealth ratings for the magazine. He wrote his first feature article for Boxing News in 1973 and wrote a “World Scene” weekly column for the magazine from the late 1970’s until 2004. Armit wrote a monthly column for Boxing Digest in the USA and contributed pieces to magazines in Mexico, Italy, Australia, Spain, Argentina and other countries. Armit now writes a Weekly Report covering every major fight around the world and a bi-weekly Snips & Snipes column plus occasional general interest articles with these being taken up by boxing sites around the world. He was a member of the inaugural WBC Ratings Committee and a technical advisor to the EBU Ratings Committee and was consulted by John McCain’s research team when they were drafting the Ali Act. He is a Director and former Chairman of the Commonwealth Boxing Council. Armit has been nominated to the International Boxing Hall of Fame the past two years (2019 and 2020) to which he said, “Being on the list is an unbelievably huge honour.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.


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