Steve Rolls gives Edgar Berlanga a hard night, Teraji is the new leader of the light-flies while McKinson has to make do with awkward late substitute, writes Eric Armit in his international round up
MARCH 18
DUBAI, UAE
Impressive performance from O’SHAQUIE FOSTER, 19-2 (11), as he takes wide unanimous verdict over previously unbeaten MUHAMMADKHUJA YAQUBOV, 18-1 (10), to win an alphabet body super-featherweight eliminator. After a slow start Foster built a lead rocking Yaqubov in the eighth and then flooring him with a chopping left in the 12th. Two judges scored it 117-110 for Foster and the other had it 118-109. In another super-featherweight contest JONO CARROLL, 21-2-1 (6), was too strong for late substitute PATRICK AYI ARYEE, 21-1-1 (13), and stopped him in the fourth round. Stoke super-bantamweight SHABAZ MASOUD, 10-0 (3), impressed as he handed out serious punishment to YOAN BOYEAUX, 43-7 (26), who did not come out for the third round. In other fights female lightweight ESTELLE MOSSELY, 10-0 (1), had to fight hard to outpoint YANINA Del CARMEN LESCANO, 10-2 (2), Uzbekistan’s BAKHODIR JALOLOV, 10-0 (9), a gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics and World championships scored two knockdowns on the way to a fifth round stoppage of durable Pole KAMIL SOKOLOWSK, 11-26-2 (4), and TOM HILL, 10-2 (2), came off the floor to decision ROHAN DATE 13-1-1 (9) on scores of 77-75 twice and 76-75.
MARCH 19
KYOTO, JAPAN
KENSHIRO TERAJI, 19-1 (11), scored a revenge win over former conqueror MASAMICHI YABUKI 13-4 (12) in an alphabet light-flyweight title match. After two close rounds in the third Teraji put Yabuki down with a powerful right hook and although Yabuki made it his feet he was unsteady and the fight was stopped. Teraji is now ranked number one in the division, while Yabuki, previously at the top, slips down to fifth.
NEW YORK, USA
EDGAR BERLANGA, 19-0 (16), struggles to outpoint Canadian veteran STEVE ROLLS, 21-2 (12), in a flat, dull super-middleweight bout. Berlanga did a poor job of cutting off the ring and Rolls took full advantage boxing on the retreat slotting home jabs and straight rights. Berlanga needed a strong finish to win on scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94 but Rolls looked worth a draw. The explosive power that had taken Berlanga to sixteen consecutive first round wins was missing. A slew of unbeaten prospects scored wins on the undercard. Super-welterweight XANDER ZAYAS, 13-0 (9), outpointed a gutsy QUINCY LaVALLAIS, 12-3-1 (7). Zayas battered LaVallais throughout the second round to such an extent that two judges scored the round 10-8 without a knockdown. The cards read 80-71 twice and 8-72 for Zayas. A super-lightweight contest saw JOHN BAUZA, 17-0 (7), outscore TONY LUIS, 29-5 (10), on scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74 and super-featherweight HENRY LEBRON, 15-0 (10), scored an inside the distance win stopping JOSEC RUIZ, 23-6-3 (16), in the seventh round.
LOS ANGELES, USA
Welterweight ALEXIS ROCHA, 19-1 (13), stops BLAIR COBBS, 15-1-1 (10), in the ninth round. In a fast-paced bout Rocha just had the edge in power over the speedy Cobbs. Rocha slowed Cobbs with body punches before putting Cobbs down in the eighth with Cobbs getting up and being saved by the bell. Rocha ended it in the ninth stunning Cobb with a right hook and pouring on the punches until the referee stopped the fight. MICHAEL McKINSON, 22-0 (2), was to have faced unbeaten Vergil Ortiz in a welterweight scrap but Ortiz had to drop out through illness and instead McKinson faced substitute ALEX MARTIN, 17-4 (6). Their styles did not mix and it was a fight lacking any highlights with McKinson getting the verdict on scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. In a light-heavyweight contest Uzbek southpaw, BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV 9-1 (7), put Peruvian DAVID ZEGARRA, 34-7 (21), down and out with a body punch in the second round.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
In what was shaping up to be a close fight JACOB NG, 15-1 (11), literally threw away his chance of victory in the sixth round when he lifted up BILLY DIB, 48-6,2NC (27), and body-slammed him to the floor. Dib was unable to continue and Ng was disqualified.
CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO
Super-lightweight danger man JOSE ZEPEDA, 36-2,2NC (28), brushed aside overmatched FRANCISCO PEREZ, 18-13-1 (13), scoring three knockdowns in the first round before the fight was stopped. In another super-lightweight fight PEDRO CAMPA, 34-1-1 (23), scored an unsatisfactory victory. He floored unbeaten CARLOS SANCHEZ, 22-1 (18), with a left hook late in the second round. Sanchez came out for the third but after the first exchange of punches turned away in same pain having injured his right arm in the knockdown.
BERLIN, GERMANY
Talented super-welterweight ABASS BARAOU, 12-1 (8), stopped Argentinian BRIAN CHAVES, 14-2 (5), in six rounds and unbeaten cruiserweight KAI ROBIN HAVNAA, 17-0 (14), halted ERVIN DZINIC, 10-5 (4), in two rounds.
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