The month of June started with a busy, busy, busy weekend of boxing. Showtime graced boxing fans yet again. This time the premiere boxing network televised a stellar four bout card featuring such SecondsOut ranked fighters as Antonio Tarver Austin Trout, and Peter Quillin. Not only did fans get to watch the quadruple header in its entirety without a PPV price tag, but fans were also treated to a fifth bout featuring Sakio Bika against Dyah Davis on Showtime Extreme. Highlights of Sharif Bogere?s quickie TKO of Manuel Leyva were also available. Whatever happened to the stacked boxing card? Even if promoters have to go the Pay-Per-View route, at least give the fans what they deserve for their almost sixty dollars: four or five bouts of world class action. They don?t all have to be super fights. Put your main event stars in there, but garnish it with some contenders, veterans, and prospects and most boxing fans will be satisfied. If Don King can squeeze the names Julio Cesar Chavez, Azumah Nelson, Michael Nunn, Terry Norris, Felix Trinidad, Gerald McClellan, Greg Haugen, Maurice Blocker, and Gabriel Ruelas onto a single card, boxing fans can at least expect half of that quality for their PPV dollars or premium cable fees.
On Thursday, May 31, at City Hall Ground in Chonburi, Thailand, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam won for the first time since his stunning defeat to Sonny Boy Jaro in March. Wonjongkam stopped a man identified only as “Tubis” in the third round. The time of the stoppage was :20 of the round. Wonjongkam extended his record to 84-4-2 (45). Tubis? reported record is now 0-1.
The win only served to get Wonjongkam back in the ring. His SecondsOut ranking remained at fifth among 112-pounders.
On Saturday, June 2, at Herning Kongrescenter, Herning, Denmark, Karo Murat stopped Sandro Siproshvili in seven rounds of a light heavyweight bout. The end came at 2:21 of the round. Murat improved his ledger to 25-1-1 (15). Siproshvili fell to 25-13 (12).
Murat held onto his number nine ranking among SecondsOut?s top light heavyweights.
Also on the same date, at Jai Alai Fronton, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Moises Fuentes put Julio Cesar Felix down for the count at 2:16 of the very first round of their WBO minimumweight title bout. Fuentes defended his title for the first time as he eyes Ivan Calderon in August. Fuentes improved to 15-1 (7). Felix fell to 17-4 (7).
Fuentes held onto his number four ranking among boxing?s lightest division.
Also on the same evening, at Resorts World Hotel and Casino, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Donnie Nietes won a unanimous decision over Felipe Salguero in a twelve round WBO light flyweight title bout. The judges scored the contest 115-113 and 116-112 twice. Nietes marked the first defense of his title. His resume was enhanced to 30-1 (16). Salguero fell to 16-3-1 (11).
Nietes will continue to be ranked fourth among the elite 108-pounders at SecondsOut.
Also on the card, Milan Melindo stopped Jesus Geles in one round of a flyweight bout. Geles hit the canvas three times. Melindo recorded his fourth straight stoppage as he improved his record to 27-0 (11). Geles dropped to 13-3-1 (5).
Melindo kept his number six flyweight ranking at SecondsOut.
At Home Depot Center, Carson, California, USA, Antonio Tarver drew with Lateef Kayode in a twelve round cruiserweight bout. Kayode was rocked several times throughout the bout, but Tarver started slowly. The judges scores were 115-113, 113-115, and 114-114. Tarver?s record now stands at 29-6-1 (20). Kayode?s ledger changed to 18-0-1 (14).
Tarver remained ranked number seven at cruiserweight at SecondsOut. Kayode returned to the top ten in the last spot. Mateusz Masternak exited for the time being.
Also on the card, Austin Trout defeated Delvin Rodriguez in a twelve round WBA junior middleweight title bout. The three judges favored the champion 120-108, 118-110, and 117-111. Trout was making his third defense of the title and improved to 25-0 (14). Rodriguez fell to 26-6-3 (14).
Trout?s ranking climbed from ninth to seventh. Rodriguez dropped from eighth to tenth. Vanes Martirosyan fell from seventh to eighth. Cornelius Bundrage was pushed from tenth to ninth.
Also on the card, Peter Quillin dropped come-backing Winky Wright to win a unanimous decision in a ten round middleweight bout. The judges? cards read 98-91 twice and 97-92. Quillin raised his numbers to 27-0 (20). Wright fell to 51-6-1 (25).
Quillin moved from eighth to seventh among SecondsOut?s top middleweights. Marco Antonio Rubio fell to eighth from seventh.
Also on the card, Sharif Bogere TKO?d Manuel Leyva in two rounds of a lightweight bout. Leyva was dropped in each round. The end came at :38 of the round. Bogere improved his dossier to 23-0 (15). Leyva fell to 21-7 (12).
Bogere held onto his number nine ranking at SecondsOut among the lightweight elite.
At Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, The Joint, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Beibut Shumenov dominated Enrique Ornelas in a twelve round WBA light heavyweight title bout. All three judges scored the contest 120-108. Shumenov defended his title for the fourth time. His record improved to 13-1 (8). Ornelas dropped to 33-8 (21).
Shumenov remained SecondsOut?s fourth ranked light heavyweight in the world.
Also on the move, Leo Santa Cruz crashed the bantamweight ranking at number seven. The previously seven through nine ranked fighters each lost one ranking. Hugo Ruiz bowed out to make room for the new champion. Also making some moves, Sakio Bika jumped back into the top ten at super middleweight at number eight. Edwin Rodriguez fell from ninth to tenth and Marco Antonio Periban exited for the time being.
SecondsOut ranked fighters in action through Sunday, June 10:
On Friday, June 8:
At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: Kelly Pavlik versus Scott Sigmon in a 10 round super middleweight bout
On Saturday, June 9:
At Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico: Marco Antonio Rubio versus Jorge Cota in a 12 round middleweight bout; Armando Torres versus Sammy Gutierrez III in a twelve round light flyweight bout
At MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: Manny Pacquiao versus Timothy Bradley in a 12 round WBO welterweight title bout; Mike Jones versus Randall Bailey in a 12 round vacant IBF welterweight title bout; Guillermo Rigondeaux versus Teon Kennedy in a 12 round WBA super bantamweight title bout; Jorge Arce versus Jesus M. Rojas in a ten round super bantamweight bout
To check out Derek?s SecondsOut rankings click on the link below www.digenie.net/sorankings/p_so_world.asp
