The best punch trackers on the market
9th December 2020
By: Eric Armit
The Past Week in Action 7 December 2020
Highlights:
-Errol Spence outpoints Danny Garcia to retain the IBF and WBC welterweight titles
-Eduardo Ramirez, Sebastian Fundora and Josesito Lopes score inside the distance wins on the undercard
-Billy Joe Saunders outclasses Martin Murray to retain the WBO super middleweight title
-James Tennyson blows away unbeaten Canadian Josh O’Reilly on the undercard
-James Dickens beats Ryan Walsh at featherweight and Richard Bolotniks stops Serge Michel at light heavyweight to win the MTK Global Golden Contract tournaments in their division
-Lyndon Arthur outpoints Anthony Yarde in Commonwealth title defence
-French fighters Kevin Lele Sadjo, Olivier Vautrain, Massi Tachour, Yvan Mendy and Mathieu Bauderlique win on a show in Levallois-Perret
World Title/Major Shows
4 December
London, England: Super Middle: Billy Joe Saunders (30-0) W PTS 12 Martin Murray (39-6-1).
Light: James Tennyson (28-3) W TKO 1 Josh O’Reilly (16-1).
Super Middle: Lerrone Richards (14-0) W PTS 8 Timo Laine (28-15).
Saunders vs. Murray
Saunders retains the WBO title with one-sided points victory over a very disappointing Murray
Round 1
Not much action here. Saunders was in center ring with Murray circling the perimeter. Saunders was throwing jabs but coming up short and Murray was not throwing any punches. There was brief flurry of action late in the round with Saunders landing a hook which was enough to give him the round.
Score: 10-9 Saunders
Round 2
They swapped places with Murray holding the center of the ring and Saunders circling. Murray showed more fire than in the first round but when they traded punches Saunders was more accurate and landed the better shots.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 20-18
Round 3
Saunders round. He was slotting jabs through Murray’s defense and cracked Murray with a left hook. Murray was holding off too long with his punches and Saunders jumped in with a couple of combinations and was out before Murray could counter.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 30-27
Round 4
Saunders took this one as well. He was scoring with his right jab and straight left using those punches to pierce Murray’s guard throughout the round. He was also scoring with long punches to the body. Saunders connected with two hard straight lefts and as Murray dipped forward Saunders went back and Murray tumbled to the floor but it was not a knockdown
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 40-36
Round 5
It was difficult to understand Murray’s tactics. If he stood off Saunders would pick him off all night so in theory he should have been putting plenty of pressure on Saunders to cut off the ring. Again Saunders did all of the work. Murray was occasionally coming forward behind a high guard allowing Saunders to pick his spot and Saunders was connecting with jabs and body punches and some crisp uppercuts with Murray too slow to counter.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 50-45
Round 6
An improvement from Murray as he came forward throughout the round and landed some hooks to the body inside. However Saunders was still stabbing his jab home and catching Murray with counters on the way in. It was close but Saunders took the round.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 60-54
Round 7
Dominant round from Saunders he shadowed a retreating Murray around the ring popping him with right jabs and then banging straight lefts through to head and body. When Murray tried to come forward Saunders was stopping him in his tracks with counters. He was sticking his jab in Murray’s face to blind Murray to the left following behind the jab and was away before Murray could respond.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 70-63
Round 8
Saunders fed Murray more of the right jab straight left sequence at the start of the round and rocked Murray’s head with an uppercut. A punch from Saunders went low and Murray was given time to recover and Saunders was given a warning. After that the round descended into a mess of holding and wrestling with the early work from Saunders enough to give him the round.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 80-72
Round 9
Too easy for Saunders. He was able to stand off and pierce Murray’s guard with jabs and straight lefts and then step back and connected with left uppercuts. Murray could not score at distance and Saunders was tying him up inside and Murray was looking tired and with no plan B is sight.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 90-81
Round 10
Saunders was boxing with great skill but Murray was making it easy for him by not exerting any pressure. Murray was tending to stand right in front of Saunders behind a high guard and let Saunders pick his spot for his punches with the action becoming one-sided.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 100-90
Round 11
The only question left in this fight is whether Saunders could win inside the distance. Saunders was able to tee-off on Murray but was himself tiring and was too cautious to really open up so no drama in yet another round for Saunders.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 110-99
Round 12
Saunders fired off early in this round but when he saw Murray was not going to crumble he settled for just dancing and launching the occasionally attack. Murray was just looking to survive and made no attempt to swing punches hoping to get lucky.
Score: 10-9 Saunders Saunders 120-108
Official Scores: Judge Steve Gray 120-108 Saunders. Judge Marcus McDonnell 118-110 Saunders. Judge Robert Williams 120-109 Saunders
Second defense of the WBO title for Saunders. His name comes up often enough when big fights at super middle are imminent but never gets the call. He is a very talented boxer but a difficult opponent and capable of indifferent almost boring performances at times so it could be that the big fights will always pass him by. Murray showed all of his 38 years in this fight. He is a former WBA interim champion His four shots at a real world title have resulted in a draw and three losses and with luck he could have won two of those fights so deserves a better legacy than boxing history might award him.
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Tennyson vs. O’Reilly
Tennyson overwhelms Canadian O’Reilly. In typical Tennyson style the Northern Ireland banger went straight after O’Reilly throwing left hooks to the body and over hand rights to the head. He hurt O’Reilly with three rights to the head and a big uppercut before sending O’Reilly sprawling on the canvas with another right to the head.
O’Reilly looked ready to continue after the eight count but Tennyson jumped on him and put him down with a series of punches. O’Reilly was up quickly but when a right to the head had him staggering the referee stopped the fight. That’s six consecutive inside the distance wins for the British champion as he rebuilds after a loss to Tevin Farmer for the IBF title in 2018. He is rated WBO 7/WBA 9/IBF 13 so still has a lot of work to do to get another title shot but always brings excitement.
O’Reilly never had a chance to get into the fight. Tennyson just hit too hard for O’Reilly who found the step up in level of opposition too much of a reach.
Richards vs. Laine
Richards grinds out points win over Laine. In his first contest for 13 months Richards seemed to treat the fight as a good opportunity to spend some useful time in the ring. Richards was dictating the action from the centre of the ring with his southpaw jab with Laine initially doing some showy work but without any substance.
He never found a way past the strong southpaw jabs of Richards and spent more and more time pressed against the ropes as the fight progressed. Laine switched guards and did plenty of bobbing and weaving but too little punching. With Laine in survival mode and happy to play a supporting role the fight was too one-sided to be entertaining and at times it was target practice for Richards.
He showcased his powerful jabs and he varied his work well but never sustained his attacks and virtually allowed Laine to last the distance. Referee’s score 80-72 for Richards. Despite impressive domestic wins over Tommy Langford and Lennox Clarke the British and Commonwealth champion has yet to make any impact on the ratings with his only rank being No 14 with the WBO but with Matchroom behind him that should change over 2021. Finn Laine did his bit in going the full eight rounds
5 December
Arlington. TX, USA: Welter: Errol Spence (27-0) W PTS 12 Danny Garcia (36-3).
Feather: Eduardo Ramirez (24-2-3) W KO 5 Miguel Flores (24-4).
Super Welter: Sebastian Fundora (16-0-1) W TKO 2 Habib Ahmed (27-2-1,1ND).
Welter: Josesito Lopez (38-8,1ND) W TKO 10 Francisco Santana (25-9-1).
Super Feather: Isaac Avelar (17-2) W PTS 10 Sakaria Lukas (23-1).
Spence vs. Garcia
In his first fight since recovering from serious injuries in a car smash Spence proves too strong for veteran Garcia and batters his way to the unanimous decision.
Round 1
After some early probing by both fighters Spence began to find the body regularly with lefts. He was a bit quicker with his jab and although Garcia landed two looping rights to the head it was those lefts to the body that gave Spence this round.
Score: 10-9 Spence
Round 2
A closer round. It was a battle of jabs early with Spence just having the edge. He was also finding the target with lefts again. Garcia upped the pace at the end of the round and did some useful scoring but Spence was quicker and more accurate. Garcia launched a left hook which landed just after the bell
Score: 10-9 Spence Spence 20-18
Round 3
Spence was controlling the fight with Garcia on the back foot looking to counter. Again Spence was scoring well to the body with Garcia jabbing quickly and firing little bunches of punches but Spence did enough to win the round with his solid body punches
Score: 10-9 Spence Spence 30-27
Round 4
Spence did the scoring at the start of the round forcing Garcia back with a series of right jabs. Garcia then began to throw lead rights and was getting through Spence’s guard setting Spence back on heels a couple of times and he also dug in a good right hook to the body and took the round.
Score: 10-9 Garcia Spence 39-37
Round 5
A competitive fast-paced round. Spence was moving Garcia back with his jab and reaching in to score with long lefts to the body. Garcia was jabbing well and again was finding the gaps for his lead rights. They swapped punches regularly with some good defensive work helping Garcia have a slight edge,
Score: 10-9 Garcia Spence 48-47
Round 6
Spence ramped up the pressure from the start of this round. His persistence and strong jab had Garcia going back to the ropes where Spence was banging home punches with both hands. Garcia’s lead rights were no longer effective and straight lefts from Spence were the punches connecting.
Score: 10-9 Spence Spence 58-56
Round 7
Spence used his jab and his strength to have Garcia going backwards. Garcia was countering but under too much pressure to really let his hands go. Spence was rolling forward chopping away at Garcia’s body. Garcia threw lots of punches late in the round but not enough to swing it his way.
Score: 10-9 Spence Spence 68-65
Round 8
Spence made a slow start to the round allowing Garcia to come forward firing rapier-lie jabs and straight rights. Spence then switched back to his previous approach and from then Garcia spent most of the round pinned against the ropes as Spence pounded away to his body. Occasionally a right from Garcia would have Spence backing off but not for long and it was Spence’s round.
Score: 10-9 Spence Spence 78-74
Round 9
Total change of tactics from Spence. Now he was on the back foot not throwing much and not exerting any pressure. With the room to box Garcia was snapping home jabs and was again finding gaps for his straight rights. Both fighters scored with a hard cross each but it was a round to Garcia almost by default.
Score: 10-9 Garcia Spence 87-84
Round 10
Very strange tactics from Spence as he gifted this round to Garcia. He was on the retreat throwing very few punches. Garcia was able to come forward behind his jab and connected with right crosses and even hooks to the body. Spence came to life over the last twenty seconds but that was too late.
Score: 10-9 Garcia Spence 96-94
Round 11
Spence was back in control in the eleventh. He was coming forward behind his jab forcing Garcia back and connecting with body punches. Garcia was under too much pressure to do any useful work and although Spence went off the boil again late in the round he had done enough to win it.
Score: 10-9 Spence Spence 106-103
Round 12
Spence walked Garcia down in the last. He was rolling forward pushing out his jab then going to the body with hooks. Garcia kept popping Spence with his jab but Spence walked through it and kept connecting with body shots before they stood and exchanged a flurry of quick punches at the bell.
Score 10-9 Spence Spence 116-112
Official Scores: Judge Tim Cheatham 117-111 Spence, Judge Barry Lindenman 116-112 Spence, Judge Steve Weisfeld 116-112 Spence.
Spence would have won by a much bigger margin if he had not chosen to coast through the ninth and tenth and it always looked as though he was in command. He retains the IBF and WBC titles and hopefully that might lead to a unification match against Terrence Crawford which would be a great fight to look forward to for next year. A two-division world champion and a 7-2 record in world title fights at 32 Garcia still has more to offer and there are plenty of good fight in the division if he decides to carry on.
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Ramirez vs. Flores
Ramirez walks through Flores before stopping Flores late. There was a fast-paced opening round with both busy and both having some success with the quicker Flores just having the edge. In the second Ramirez tried to blow Flores away with a fierce attack and connected with some slashing hooks but Flores saw out the storm.
Ramirez worked hard in the third and fourth taking the fight to Flores throughout the rounds firing punches from both hands and connecting with some thumping shots. The first punch Ramirez threw in the fifth was a left hook that sent the charging Flores crashing to the canvas. Ramirez was sure Flores was not going to get up and was already parading around the ring with his arms aloft. Flores did manage to get up but there was blood streaming from his mouth and he stumbled into the ropes and the referee halted the fight. Ramirez had lost to Lee Selby for the IBF feather title in 2017 when he came in as a late replacement.
He subsequently scored victories over 24-1-1 Bryan de Gracia and Leduan Barthelemy and is No 5 with the WBC and No 13 with the WBA. After starting out with a 22-bout winning streak things have turned tougher for Flores but somehow the WBA put him high enough to face Leo Santa Cruz for their super feather title in November and he lost on points.
Fundora vs. Ahmed
Fundora was 5” taller than Ahmed but it looked much more in the opening round as Fundora poked Ahmed with a couple of jabs and then a left uppercut that sent Ahmed staggering across the ring to the ropes. Ahmed took some punishment but managed to work his way off the ropes but was shaken by more left hooks.
The Ghanaian tried to come forward but he could not get past the long southpaw jabs of Fundora and looked unsteady every time Fundora landed a punch. In the second Fundora launched a fierce attack driving Ahmed back to and along the ropes to a corner. Fundora bombarded Ahmed with punches. The Ghanaian was bobbing and weaving but plenty were landing and the referee stopped the fight over protests from Ahmed.
At 6’5 ½” Fundora, 22, is ridiculously tall and reed-thin for a super welter but he gets some nasty whipping power into his punches and this is his eleventh victory by KO/TKO. The draw was with Jamontay Clark in August last year but he has since scored good wins over Australian hope Daniel Lewis and Nathan Gallimore and is No 7 in the WBA rankings. Ahmed was stopped in six round by Gilberto Ramirez in a challenge for the WBO super middleweight title in 2018 but was 14lbs lighter for this fight.
Lopez vs. Santana
Lopez leads all the way before flooring and stopping Santana in the last. After some early sparring Lopez cut loose with a series of shots to head and body dropping Santana to his knees. Santana arose and traded punches to the bell. Santana tried to take the fight to Lopez but he was too slow and just throwing one punch at a time. Lopez was constantly moving and jabbing and then stringing together some rapid combinations. Santana scored well with left hooks when he managed to get inside but was finding the quicker Lopez a difficult target and being out worked.
Santana was plodding forward in a straight line with very little upper body movement making it easy for Lopez to find the target with his jab. Lopez had Santana under pressure for much of the fifth and rocked him with a left hook in the sixth. Lopez continued to outscore Santana in the seventh and eighth and then shook the oncoming Santana with a right to the temple. Santana stumbled to the ropes and Lopez bombarded him with punches until he dropped to one knee.
Santana made it to his feet and the referee hard a long hard look before allowing him to continue. There were less than ten second remaining in the round but Lopez rocked Santana again with a pair of head punches. A left to the head floored Santana at the start of the tenth and although he got up when Lopez again landed heavily with head punches the referee stepped in to save Santana. At 36 Lopez must rue his lack of activity. After losing to Andre Berto for the interim WBA title he had just one fight each in years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
In January 2019 he gave Keith Thurman all the trouble he could handle when losing a majority decision to Thurman for the full WBA title and he battered John Molina to defeat in eight rounds in September. He is rated No 8 by the WBC but in a division dominated by Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence title chances will be hard to come by for fighters such as Lopez. For Santana it is now 5 losses in his last 6 fights and that has been a hard road and it showed on him in this fight.
Avelar vs. Lukas
The strength and aggression of Avelar prove too much for Namibian Lukas. Avelar was coming forward throwing punches with Lukas lacking the power to counter the Mexican effectively. Avelar had Lukas in trouble in the second with Lukas holding to survive. Lukas got into the fight in a small way in the third and fourth and had a big fifth as he rocked Avelar with a left and then piled on right hands that had Avelar staggering.
Avelar was back on top after that as the pace told on Lukas but the Namibian found enough in the last round to again rock Avelar. Scores 98-92 for Avelar on the cards of the three judges. The 23-year-old “Little Canelito” Avelar was coming off two straight losses so badly needed to win here. Lukas had been high in the WBO rating but a spell of inactivity from December 2017 to May 2019 cost him his place and at 36 he has a limited future.
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2 December
South Kirkby, England: Feather: James Dickens (30-3) W PTS 10 Ryan Walsh (26-3-2).
Light Heavy: Ricards Bolotniks (18-5-1) W TKO 10 Serge Michel (11-2).
Super Light: Harlem Eubank (11-0) W PTS 10 Daniel Egbunike (6-1).
Dickens vs. Walsh
In a clash of two of the UK’s world rated featherweights Dickens takes the unanimous decision and wins the MTK Global featherweight tournament. There was never much between these two over the early rounds. Both are quick and clever though not heavy punchers. If anything Walsh probably built a small lead early with his more eye-catching combinations but southpaw Dickens showed solid defense and accurate counters.
Dickens was eating into any lead Walsh had by the fifth and Walsh switched to southpaw in the sixth but without a great deal of success. Dickens was busier and more accurate over the seventh and eighth and withstood some strong pressure from Walsh in the ninth. Walsh put in a big effort in the last and did enough to shade it but it was not enough to swing the fight his way.
Scores 98-93, 97-94 and 96-94 all for Dickens who was defending his WBO European title. The 29-year-old from Liverpool is the IBF No 3 (2) but with Josh Warrington as champion, Kid Galahad as No 1 and No 2 vacant there has to be a good chance that Dickens could fight for the IBF title next year. However with Walsh No 1 with the WBO this win should open the door for Dickens to look for a shot at the WBO title instead so plenty of options for him.
His victory in the tournament guarantees him a two-year, five-fight contract with six figure purses. The loss is a huge blow for Walsh. After almost thirteen years as a pro to be poised to fight for a world title and then have his hopes crushed by this loss must hurt and at 34 time is running out for him to rebuild.
Bolotniks vs. Michel
Latvian Bolotniks wins the MTK Global Golden Contract light heavyweight tournament and retains the WBO European title with stoppage of German Michel. Over the first four rounds the more mobile Michel looked to have the edge but things change in the fifth. A body punch had Michel hurt and although he fought back a big right had him in deep trouble against the ropes which were all that held him up. As a result he was given a standing count and never really recovered.
Bolotniks keep pressing and Michel was spending more and more time trapped against the ropes. The German just did not have the power to keep Bolotniks out and was rocked again in the seventh and eighth and it seemed as though Bolotniks might end it in the ninth but Michel survived that crisis. It looked as if Michel might make it through the last round but he was floored with just ten seconds left in the fight and his corner threw in the towel.
The 30-year-old Bolotniks has been the surprise package of the tournament. At one stage in his career he was 11-5-1 but in subsequent fights and through the tournament he has put together a seven-fight winning run including victories over 18-0 Sergei Ekimov, unbeaten Steven Ward, Hosea Burton and now Michel .
He was No 9 with the WBO before this Michel fight and with the WBO title vacant it is a quite fluid situation so a title shot next year is a possibility. Like Dickens he is guaranteed a two-year, six-fight contract with purses of six figures. A life changer. Russian-born Michel was a top flight amateur representing Germany at the Rio Olympics but this inside the distance loss plus an earlier stoppage by Ryan Ford may be an accurate measure of his ceiling.
Eubank vs. Egbunike
Eubank wins this English title eliminator on points over Egbunike (Danny Darko). Egbunike had a good first round finding the target with some heavy rights. Eubank was rolling from the second. He was quicker than Egbunike and busier and moved into a good lead. Egbunike came back into the fight in the sixth but the rounds were very even.
Eubank rebounded to edge the seventh doing some clever defensive work and countering well. With the fight close they fought hard over the closing rounds. Egbunike surged strong at the end but it was just not enough to overcome Eubank’s work in the first half of the fight.
Referee’s score 97-94 for Eubank. Harlem is the nephew of Chris Eubank Snr and won 22 of his 33 amateur fights. Southern Area champion Egbunike can rebound from this loss.
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5 December
London, England: Light Heavy: Lyndon Arthur (18-0) W PTS 12 Anthony Yarde (20-2).
Super Bantam: Chris Bourke (9-0) W TKO 2 Michael Ramabeletsa (18-18 ).
Arthur vs. Yarde
Arthur gets a split decision over Yarde in a close technical battle. Arthur was looking to use his height and longer reach to keep Yarde on the end of his jab and that worked for him in a low action first round. Arthur continued the same approach in the second and third also dropping a right cross over Yarde’s guard. Yarde kept prowling after Arthur but was having trouble getting past Arthur’s jab. Yarde did better in the fourth being able to get in close and landed a right his best punch so far.
There were no fiery exchanges to liven the pace which suited Arthur and not Yarde. Arthur had used his right very little and there were time when it was the natural punch to throw but Arthur kept it stuck against his chin. There was a suggestion he had injured the hand but that was not confirmed. Instead it was Yarde scoring with good rights in the fifth and sixth but he was simply not throwing enough punches. Arthur edged a low action seventh but Yarde upped his pace in the eighth coming forward with more purpose but never really shaking Arthur.
In the ninth Arthur finally threw a hard right and then managed to outbox Yarde at distance. Art that point Arthur seemed to have built a good lead but Yarde showed urgency in the tenth and in the eleventh with Arthur holding to contains Yarde’s attacks. They stood and exchanged punches briefly in the last for the first time in the fight with Yarde getting the better of the trading but it was a question as to whether he had done enough to cancel out Arthur’s early lead.
Scores 115-114 twice for Arthur and 117-111 for Yarde. Artur was defending the Commonwealth title and he also wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title. The 29-year-old Arthur was rated IBF 6(5)/WBO 6 and will be hoping for promotion. Yarde was aiming to build towards another shot at a title after being stopped in eleven rounds by Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title in August last year but he has the backing to work his back into contention.
Bourke vs. Ramabeletsa
Bourke scores second round stoppage victory over Ramabeletsa . Ramabeletsa began by throwing long rights to the body of southpaw Bourke but Bourke showed quick hands and was scoring with straight lefts and countering with left hooks. In the second Bourke scored with two lefts to the head and then connected with a lightning quick left hook that sent Ramabeletsa tumbling along the ropes and down.
When Ramabeletsa got up Bourke blazed away with punches rocking Ramabeletsa a couple of times and Ramabeletsa dropped to a knee. He managed to get up but the referee completed the eight count and stopped the fight. Bourke, 26, the BBB of C Southern Area champion, showed impressive hand speed as he registered his sixth victory by KO/TKO and wins the vacant WBC International title.
English champion Ramabeletsa had won 6 of his last 8 fights and this is only his second loss by KO/TKO.
THE YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION OF ALL TIME!
Levallois-Perret, France: Super Middle: Kevin Lele Sadjo (15-0) W PTS 10 Ronny Landaeta (17-3).
Cruiser: Olivier Vautrain (18-3-1) W TKO 7 Aboulaye Diane (14-2-1).
Super Light: Massi Tachour (15-4) W PTS 12 Giuseppe Carafa (12-4-2).
Light: Yvan Mendy (46-5-1,1ND) W PTS 8 Miguel Antin (19-6).
Light Heavy: Mathieu Bauderlique (20-1) W TKO 2 Beibi Berrocal (17-7,1ND).
Sadjo vs. Landaeta
Sadjo makes a successful second defense of the WBA Inter-Continental title but has to go the distance for the first time. Sadjo tried to blow away Landaeta in the first round and Landaeta was struggling. In the second under more pressure Landaeta lost a point for holding. Sadjo continued to take the fight to Landaeta but the Venezuelan-born Spaniard used his experience to stay in the fight.
Sadjo’s pace dropped over the seventh and eighth which gave Landaeta a toe-hold but Sadjo came on strong again over the last two rounds and Landaeta did a good job in lasting the distance.
Scores 97-92, 99-90 and 98-91 for Sadjo. The 30-year-old “Phenomen” did not start boxing until he was 24 when an ankle injury killed his football hopes . Landaeta, a former EU champion, lost to Robin Krasniqi for the EBU title in 2018.
Vautrain vs. Diane
Tall southpaw Vautrain wins the vacant French title with stoppage of Diane. The 6’3” Vautrain used his longer reach to score at distance and Diane just never really managed to overcome that edge of Vautrain’s. When he did try to work his way inside he was caught with solid counters and was badly rocked by an uppercut in the third.
The accuracy of Vautrain’s jab worsened the cut and had Diane bleeding heavily from the nose. When a left hook staggered Diane in the seventh the referee made a well-timed stoppage. Vautrain, a former French amateur champion, had lost on points to Dylan Bergeron for this same title in January but had been 10-1 before that. Diale was 9-0-1 going in
Tachour vs. Carafa
Tachour wins the vacant EU title with unanimous verdict over Italian Carafa. Over the early rounds Carafa was competitive willing to stand close and try to outfight Tachour with the Frenchman’s strength giving him the edge. Over the seventh and eighth Tachour had Carafa under heavy pressure with right hooks causing bruising around the left eye of Carafa.
In the eighth and ninth Carafa used clever boxing to frustrate Tachour but over the closing rounds Tachour’s aggression was slowing Carafa and although the rounds were close Tachour had done enough to win clearly. Scores 16-112 twice and 117-112 for Tachour.
The Algerian-born former undefeated French champion has turned his career around with eight consecutive victories. Carafa, the former Italian super feather and WBC Mediterranean lightweight champion, might be better going down a weight.
Mendy vs. Antin
Mendy has a much tougher night than expected against Argentinian Antin. Mendy started well enough but then seemed to go off the boil with Antin often outscoring and outworking Mendy over the second half of the fight. Mendy had to fight hard to stay ahead against a not very threatening opponent but it was reported later that Mendy had injured his right hand which handicapped him over the late rounds.
Scores 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 for Mendy. The 35-year-old “Lion” has won and lost in fights against Luke Campbell and the defeat against Campbell is the only loss he has suffered in his last 16 fights. Antin is 2-6 in his last 8 fights.
Bauderlique vs. Berrocal
Easy night for Bauderlique as he floors Berrocal twice with the Colombian’s corner throwing in the towel. The 31-year-old former Olympic bronze medalist is rated WBA10/IBF 13(12)/WBC 14 and will be looking to make his move next year. Four consecutive defeats for Berrocal.
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Fight of the week (Significance): Errol Spence’s win over Danny Garcia keeps the hopes of a unification fight with Terrence Crawford a possibility. Honorable mention to Billy Joe Saunders who has spent too long outside with his nose pressed against the shop window of big fights.
Fight of the week (Entertainment):Plenty of action and quality boxing in Spence vs. Garcia
Fighter of the week: Errol Spence as he rebounds from serious injury to retain his title.
Punch of the week: The left hook from Eduard Ramirez that sent Miguel Flores flat on the canvas was special.
Upset of the week: Lyndon Arthur was an outsider against Anthony Yarde but came out a winner
Prospect watch: Kazakh middleweight Meiirim Nursultanov 14-0 is coming along nicely
Observations
Billy Joe Saunders sees his name come up often in the context of big fights but he never draws the winning ticket. Unbeaten for eleven years but still finds himself running down the blind alley labelled WBO title.
Finding opposition that doesn’t look bizarre for the 6’5” Super welterweight Sebastian Fundora must be difficult but if Miguel Cotto can put 5’0” tall Rodolfo Puente in with 5’9” Danielito Zorrilla then as the song says “Anything Goes”
