TRAILBLAZER
Eric Armit rounds up results from three different continents, including a historic win for Copeland
COPELAND DISPLAYED BOTH AGGRESSION AND FINE SKILLS
HYDE’S Stacey Copeland
(152 1/4lbs) won the vacant Commonwealth female superwelterweight title with a unanimous decision over South African Mapule Ngubane (153 1/4lbs) at the International Convention Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe on Friday July 13. A former England Under-18 international in football, Copeland displayed both aggression and fine skills in a fiercely competitive contest in which she was a clear winner over 10-twos. The fight was refereed by Patrick Mkondiwa and the judges scored it 98-91 (Kingston Jokonya), 98-93 (Prominance Makaza) and 97-92 (Francis Nhenderere). Copeland, 5-0 (2), becomes the first-ever British female Commonwealth champion. Ngubane falls to 7-6-3 (1).
In the co-main event, Congolese super-welterweight puncher Emmany Kalombo (151 1/2lbs) halted Stockwell’s Samuel Antwi (153 1/2lbs) in two rounds (set for 10). A big right staggered Antwi in the second, and Kalombo had him on the ropes and shipping heavy punishment when referee Darryl Ribbink stopped the bout at 1-35. South Africa-based Kalombo improves to 10-0 (10), while Antwi is now 7-1 (4).
In a scheduled sixrounder, Darwen supermiddleweight Mickey Ellison (170 1/4lbs) blasted out local Wesley Mcdade (168 3/4lbs) in just 80 seconds. Ellison put Mcdade down twice with chopping rights, with referee Jokonya calling the contest off after the second knockdown. Ellison moves to 6-1 (2) and Mcdade drops to 4-2 (4).
In a good eight-round superbantamweight bout officiated by Mr Nhenderere, Salford switch-hitter Marc Leach (119 3/4lbs) fought to a majority draw with Zimbabwean Tapiwa Tembo
(118lbs). The scores read 76-76 twice (Steven Chidziva and Mr Jokonya) and 77-76 for Tembo (Mr Makaza). Tembo is 10-5-1 (6), Leach 10-2 (2). This Africa vs UK event was put on by Kalakoda Promotions.
On Saturday July 14, fighting in his native city of New Orleans, Regis Prograis (139 3/4lbs) retained his Interim WBC super-lightweight strap by brushing aside outgunned Argentine Juan Jose Velasco
(140lbs) in eight rounds at the Lakefront Arena. Portsider Prograis, now living in Houston, rocked Velasco in the third and fourth, before decking him in the fifth with a left to the midsection. The bell saved Velasco, but he was down again late in the seventh from another body punch and only came out for the eighth very reluctantly. Body shots put him down
once more early in the session. He beat the count but was finished, falling to the canvas again before Prograis could land another punch. Referee Laurence Cole halted proceedings at 1-59. Prograis, 22-0 (19), will now enter the World Boxing Super Series 140lb tournament. Velasco, 20-1 (12), was out of his depth.
In a scheduled 10-rounder, Brooklynborn lightweight Teofimo Lopez (134 3/4lbs), fighting out of Las Vegas, halted Brazilian William Silva (134lbs) with a scintillating display of power and skill. Late in the first round, a left hook to the chin felled Silva. He survived and although he marched forward over the next three he was taking punishment. Lopez turned up the heat in the fifth and a series of head punches saw Silva slump to the mat with only the bell saving him. Lopez jumped on Silva at the start of the sixth and the South American went down under a shower of blows, with referee Bruce Mcdaniel immediately terminating the fight at 0-15. Lopez, who represented Honduras at the 2016 Olympics, moves to 10-0 (8) and looks an outstanding talent. Plant City, Florida’s Silva, 25-2 (14), had never previously been floored, but the power of Lopez was too much for him. Cleveland super-welter Charles
Conwell (153 1/2lbs) – another 2016 Olympian – put Baton Rouge’s Travis
Scott (155 1/4lbs) down and out with a left to the body at 1-38 of the second round (slated for six). Mr Mcdaniel refereed. Conwell is now 8-0 (6), while Scott falls to 19-4 (5).
Olympic gold medal winner from two years ago, Uzbekistan southpaw
Fazliddin Gaibnazarov (138lbs), had a tougher fight than expected against
Kevin Johnson (137 1/4lbs) – from Detroit but now based in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles-domiciled Gaibnazarov won on the basis of a higher work rate and more accurate punching. All three judges (Keith Thibadoux, Larry Berger and Kevin Babineuax) tallied 78-74. Mr Mcdaniel officiated. Gaibnazarov is 5-0 (2) as he adjusts to the professional ranks, while Johnson, who gave a good account of himself, is 5-1 (4). The card was a joint promotion by Top Rank, Sampson Boxing and Dibella Entertainment.
Filipino Vic Saludar (105lbs) scored an upset unanimous points victory over local champion Ryuya Yamanaka (104 3/4lbs) to win the WBO strawweight belt at the Central Gym in Kobe, Japan on Friday July 13. After four even early rounds that saw Yamanaka rock Saludar with a left hook in the second, Saludar took control over the middle sessions. The Cagayan de Oro City resident swept three of the next four as they battled at close quarters and dropped Yamanaka with a straight right in the seventh to build a substantial lead. Yamanaka made a big effort over the last four rounds but was cut over the left eye in the 11th and seemed to tire under the constant pressure from Saludar. Scores were 117110 (Pinit Prayadsab), 116-111 (Carlos Ortiz Jnr) and 115-112 (Daniel Sandoval). Raul Caiz Jnr refereed. Saludar is now 18-3 (10) and Yamanaka, who was making the second defence of the title, drops to 16-3 (5). Shinsei Promotions staged the show.
THE VERDICT Copeland makes history, Prograis warms up for the WBSS and Saludar pulls off an upset.