CIEŚLAK REBOUNDS
Big win for cruiserweight contender while Jonathan González progresses in Kissimmee, writes Eric Armit in his international round-up
JUNE 23
MONTREAL, CANADA Armenia-born Canadian ERIK BAZINYAN, 28-0 (21), boxed his way to a comfortable decision over Argentinian supermiddleweight MARCELLO COCERES, 30-4-1 (16). Coceres performed credibly against Billy Joe Saunders and Edgar Berlanga but Bazinyan was too sharp. Scores 98-92 twice and 100-90 for Bazinyan. STEVEN BUTLER, 30-3-1 (25), handed out a beating to fellow-canadian BRANDON BREWER, 25-2-2 (11). Brewer’s defence was non-existent and he only just survived a brutal sixth with the final scores reading 100-89, 100-90 and 99-90 for Butler.
Mexican veteran DANTE JARDÓN, 35-8 (25), ruined the unbeaten record of Russian super-welterweight ARTEM OGANESYAN, 13-1 (11). Jardón dropped Oganesyan with a right hook in the first round and took the decision on scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 95-94. Superlightweight YVES ULYSSE, 21-2 (12), returned to action and put Argentinian REUQUEN ARCE, 14-7-2 (7), down and out with a body punch in the third. Canadian MARY SPENCER, 6-0 (4), wiped out experienced CHRIS NAMUS, 25-8 (8), with three knockdowns in the first round of their super-welterweight bout. Namus might want to consider retirement; in her previous bout she was hammered in two rounds by Natasha Jonas and she hasn’t won a fight since 2019.
JUNE 24
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA Huge shock for Argentinian fans as Venezuelan southpaw ALBERT RAMÍREZ, 14-0 (13), floored unbeaten local lightheavyweight BRAIAN SUAREZ, 17-1 (16), twice in the opening round for a kayo victory. In a super-featherweight contest Cuban PABLO VICENTE, 19-1 (16), outclassed and then dropped Colombian MANUEL GONZALEZ, 11-2 (11), with an uppercut in the sixth and the referee stopped the fight. Argentinian CLARA LESCURAT, 7-0 (3), won an alphabet body super-flyweight female belt win a split verdict over title holder MARIBEL RAMÍREZ, 13-10-3 (3), on scores of 99-91 and 98-92 for
Lescurat and 96-94 for Ramírez.
MASSY, FRANCE
ANDERSON PRESTOT, 25-2 (13), wins the European middleweight title with technical decision over champion MATTEO SIGNANI, 31-6-3 (11). Prestot boxed well on the back foot to move into a lead over the first three rounds. A clash of heads in the fourth saw Prestot cut over his left eye. He passed a doctor’s inspection and the fight continued. Although both left their corners for the sixth before a punch was landed the doctor again examined Prestot and decreed the cut too serious. The fight was stopped with Prestot, 50-46 in front on the three cards, being declared the new champion. MILAN PRATT, 16-0 (12), made it a good night for France as he stopped Belgian AMAURY MASSENAUX, 10-1-1 (3), in the seventh round to win the vacant European Union superwelterweight title.
KIELCE, POLAND
Polish cruiserweight MICHAŁ CIEŚLAK, 22-2 (16), rebounded from a lopsided points loss to Lawrence Okolie to score a sensational victory as he stopped German ENRICO KOELLING, 28-5 (9), in the first round. A right put Koelling down and although he made it to his feet he was in no state to continue.
KISSIMMEE, USA
JONATHAN GONZÁLEZ, 26-3-1(14), retains his alphabet body light-flyweight title as he outscores Filipino challenger MARK BARRIGA, 11-2 (2), in an all southpaw clash. It was close early with González forcing the fight and just having the edge. González had a swelling around his right eye and a cut on his left cheekbone but was cleared to continue by the doctor at the start of the sixth. The fight became a bit scrappy with little action and too much holding but the accuracy and strength of González began to tell and he staged a strong finish to put the decision beyond Barriga. Scores 117-111 twice and 115-113 for González.
JUNE 25
MEXICALI, MEXICO HEKKIE BUDLER, 33-4 (10), scores a late knockdown to take the unanimous decision over ELWIN SOTO, 19-2 (13) at light-flyweight. Soto stormed forward throughout the fight trying to overwhelm Budler with his power but as the fight progressed Budler used smart movement and a high work rate to outbox Soto and build a lead – or so it seemed. The judges were seeing a different fight and in the end it was a chopping right from Budler [pictured] in the 12th that knocked Soto off balance. He put a glove on the canvas to stop him going down. That resulted in a count and saw Budler overturn a one point deficit to take a deserved unanimous decision on scores of 114-113 on the three cards.