MARTIN AIMING HIGH
Another victory for Sandor in Spain, writes Eric Armit in his latest international round-up
APRIL 1
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Local hero SANDOR MARTIN, 40-2 (13), kept his hopes of a shot at Josh Taylor for the super-lightweight alive as he outclassed Mexican JOSÉ FÉLIX, 39-6-1 (30). Martin outboxed Félix over the first five rounds and then went toe-totoe with him over the second half. The judges scored it 100-90 twice and 99-91 for Martin. Super-flyweight Spanish prospect SAMUEL CARMONA, 7-0 (4), was given a tough fight by Mexican JOEL CORDOVA 13-6-2 (3) and just scraped through with a ninth-round knockdown. Scores 97-93, 96-93 and 96-94 for Carmona, Light-heavyweight RICARDS BOLOTNIKS, 19-6-1 (8), won a unanimous decision over Croatian 2016 Olympian HRVOJE SEP, 11-1-0 (8), with scores of 78-75 twice and 77-75.
FRÉJUS, FRANCE
Frenchman GUSTAVO TAMBA, 17-1-0 (11), overwhelms Italian DRAGAN LEPEI, 20-5-2 (10), to win the vacant European Union super-middleweight belt. Tamba floored Lepei heavily in the first but Lepei beat the count and survived the round. A strong right in the second had Lepei in deep trouble and the referee stopped the fight. Fourteenth consecutive victory for the Senegal-born Tamba.
SANTA MARINELLA, ITALY
Age no barrier for veteran Italian southpaw EMILIANO MARSILI, 41-0-1 (15), as he climbs off the canvas to win the vacant European lightweight title with a split decision over Peruvian-born southpaw FRANK URQUIAGA, 16-3-1 (1). Marsili was down from a right in the third but 45-year-old Marsili just gave him the edge in a fight that saw both fighters bleeding from cuts. Marsili took the decision on scores of 115-112 and 115-113 to Marsili and 115-112 to Spaniard Urquiaga. Marsili is closing in on 19 years as a pro without a defeat. Lightweight DANIEL SPADA, 12-0 (4), took a unanimous decision over fellow Italian ANDREA SITO with scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75.
APRIL 2
ROSEMONT, USA
Irish light-heavyweight JOE WARD, 7-1 (4), stopped OSCAR RIOJAS, 28-15-1 (16), in five rounds. Seven wins in a row for the former amateur star [inset] who lost his first professional fight through a knee injury.
BERAZATEGUI, ARGENTINA Featherweight JOSE ROMERO, 25-2 (9), rebounds from losses against Isaac Cruz and Michael Rivera as he stops IGNACIO PERRÍN, 7-6-1 (1), after two knockdowns in the third round. In a middleweight encounter AMÍLCAR VIDAL, 15-0 (12), stopped OMAR DOMINGUEZ CHAMORRO, 7-5-1 (3), in the second. Dominguez took a standing count and was shipping more punishment when the referee halted the fight.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
German MARTEN ARSUMANJAN, 12-1-2 (6), retained the European Union middleweight title knocking out MARCOS NADER, 23-2-1 (5), with a right hook in the fifth round.
BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA
The super-flyweight bout between DEWAYNE BEAMON, 21-4-3 (15), and Colombian PABLO CARRILLO, 26-8-2 (17), ended in a fifth-round technical draw after Carrillo was unable to continue due to a cut from a clash of heads. The scores were 39-37 each and 38-38 at the stoppage. Flyweight ROBER BARRERA, 24-4,1NC (14), ends his fight with Venezuelan JIMSON GARCIA, 11-41 (6), with two knockdowns in the third round. Barrera lost a very close decision to Muhammad Waseem in November.
TOKYO, JAPAN
MAKOTO KAWASAKI 13-8-1 (2) won the vacant Japanese super-welterweight title with a unanimous decision over KOKI KOSHIKAWA 9-4 (6) with scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. With the Japanese Boxing Commission declaring itself bankrupt and going into liquidation it remains to be seen who will sanction and administer Japanese title fights in the future.
CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO YAMILETH MERCADO 19-3 (5) retains her alphabet super bantamweight title with unanimous decision over substitute ISIS VARGAS 9-4 (3). All three judges scored it 99-91 for Mercado.
PUEBLA, MEXICO
In a wild scrap YULIHAN LUNA 23-3-1 (4) holds on to her alphabet bantamweight title against MAYELL FLORES 8-0-1
(3). Luna was down in the second and both boxers were deducted a point for breaking the rules. Scores 99-89, 95-91 and 95-92 for Luna.
DEARBORN, USA
In his first fight for three years unbeaten welterweight hope ERICK De LEON 20-0-1 (12) put Colombian HEVINSON HERRERA 27-20-1 (21) down and out late in the opening round. A cruiserweight bout saw Russian ALI IZMAILOV 8-0 (6) beat Chilean ABRAHAM TEBES 7-1 (3) who retired after three one-sided rounds.