A breeze for Duno
Filipino wins on the road and southpaw Luca Rigoldi extinguishes the challenge of Geram Eloyan to complete his first defence, writes Eric Armit in his exhaustive round-up of the worldwide action
AUGUST 5
CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA
LOCAL super-middleweight PABLO CORZO, 12-0 (12), outpointed FACUNDO GALOVAR, 14-8-2 (9). Corzo had Galovar cut and out on his feet in the last but Galovar made it to the final bell with Corzo winning on scores of 99-91 twice and 97-93. Older brother GABRIEL CORZO, 17-0 (3), made it a family double as he decisioned super-welterweight WALTER CASTILLO, 15-6 (3), with all three judges turning in cards of 100-89, Castillo having lost a point for holding
DUVILLE, ITALY
SOUTHPAW LUCA RIGOLDI, 27-2-2 (9), retained the European Union superbantamweight title with a points win over Belgian GERAM ELOYAN, 8-4 (7). This did not look a difficult task for southpaw Rigoldi against an Armenian-born Belgian champion with a very modest record and no real claim to be a suitable challenger. Rigoldi had some minor problems with the Belgian’s longer reach early but handed out serious punishment in the third. Eloyan rebounded to score well with rights in the fourth and fifth. Over the second half of the fight Rigoldi, with a cut over his left eye and a heavy nose bleed, boxed more and his superior technique saw him a clear winner. Scores 118-111, 117-111 and 115-112. First defence for former European champion Rigoldi who is 17-1-1 in his last 19 fights, with the loss coming against Gamal Yafai in 2020
PASIG CITY. PHILIPPINES
IN his first fight for almost three years EDWARD HENO, 15-1-5 (5), had to work hard to get his win over RENOEL PAEL, 23-12-1 (12), in a 12-round fight at bantamweight. Pael applied continuous pressure but Heno had the better skills walking Pael onto some stiff counters and outworking Heno inside. He took the verdict on scores of 117-110 twice and 115-112. First fight for Heno since losing to Elwin Soto in a challenge for a sanctioning body light-flyweight belt in October 2019
PLANT CITY, USA
ANTONIO MORA, 28-5-1 (19), and KENDO CASTANEDA, 19-5, 1 NC (9), emerged victorious in the semi-finals of a local super-lightweight tournament. Mora faced MICHAEL DUTCHOVER, 16-3 (10). Hostilities broke out early in this fight with both letting their hands go in the first. Moran began to use his longer reach to set Dutchover up for left hooks and rocked Dutchover in the fourth. Dutchover was cut over his right eye and although he tried hard Moran boxed well behind his jab shutting Dutchover out and ending with a strong 10th to take the verdict widely on all three cards. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91 for Mexican Moran.
Castaneda’s opponent was JORGE FERNANDEZ, 15-5-3 (5), and Castaneda took a close unanimous decision in a battle that was competitive in every round. It was back and forth at first Castaneda and then Fernandez would land heavily. It was a strong spell over the seventh, eighth and ninth that saw
Castaneda open a slight gap and a strong last from Fernandez was too late to swing the decision his way. Scores 96-94 for Castaneda on all cards. He will now face Moran for a $50,000 prize.
AUGUST 6
CORNWALL, CANADA
A CLASH of two of Canada’s top superlightweights saw STEVE CLAGGETT, 32-7-2 (22), beat hometown fighter TONY LUIS, 29-6 (10). It was a close battle until the sixth when Claggett connected with a series of hard punches and Luis only just survived to the bell. Claggett landed heavily at the start of the seventh and the towel came in to save Luis who may now retire. Luis lost a close points decision against Derry Mathews for a sanctioning body title in Liverpool in 2015
DEL VISO, ARGENTINA
GUIDO SCHRAMM, 15-1-1 (9), won the vacant Argentinian super-welterweight title with a points victory over JONATHAN SANCHEZ, 21-6-1(9). After an even start Schramm took control of the fight. He boxed cleverly countering the aggression of Sanchez with accurate jabs and hooks to the body. The longer the fight went the more in command Schramm became, dominating the fight on the outside. Scores were 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93 for Schramm. Third unsuccessful title shot for Sanchez.
In another contest for a vacant national title, this at super bantamweight, Dominican-born JOSE ARIAS, 9-1 (4), outpointed SERGIO SOSA, 12-3 (3). The Dominican had a big edge in skill but Sosa pushed him hard all the way before Arias emerged the winner with scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
THREE Filipino visitors scored ridiculously easy wins over inept locals. Lightweight ROMEO DUNO, 25-3 (20), was put in with 40-year-old Colombian YOGLI HERRERA, 29-35 (22). He scored with clubbing punches over the first two rounds before flooring Herrera with a body shot in the third and Herrera did not come out for the fourth. Herrera had lost his last fifteen.
Next Filipino up was lightweight JOHN MORALDE, 25-5 (14), and this was an even worse match. An inept ERNESTO BATIOJA, 5-19 (4), managed to get through the first round but a body punch from Moralde in the second sent him down in agony and he was counted out. Batioja, 47, had lost his last thirteen fights. Super-featherweight MARK BERNALDEZ, 24-6 (18), provided the quickest finish as he dropped poor JORGE BONILLA, 3-12-1 (11), twice in the first round, with Bonilla being counted out on the second knockdown to make it 11 consecutive losses for Bonilla.
In fights not featuring Filipinos, Cuban super-featherweight YOANDRIS SALINAS, 22-2-2 (15), kayoed a game but overmatched OMAR CUELLO, 5-4-1 (3), in the seventh and Panamanian featherweight BRYAN DE GRACIA, 28-2-1 (24), stopped Venezuelan JOSE ALFARO, 9-14-3 (7), in the third round. Salinas returned to the ring in June after being inactive for seven years.
TOKYO, JAPAN
Welterweight RYOTA TOYOSHIMA, 16-21 (10), stopped ADAM ABDULHAMID in five rounds. They traded punches inside over the first two rounds but Toyoshima took over in the third. Left hooks to the body softened Abdulhamid up but the stoppage came due to problems with the right ear of Abdulhamid. A left hook from Toyoshima in the fourth had the ear swelling alarmingly and another shot in the fifth had Abdulhamid retreating in pain. A doctor’s inspection also showed bleeding inside the ear and the fight was then stopped. Ninth win in a row for Toyoshima. Second loss by KO/TKO for Philippines champion Abdulhamid.