Barry Hugman's World Championship Boxing

31 December 2015. Ryoichi Taguchi w rtd 9 Luis De La Rosa.

Venue: Ota-City General Gym, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Derek Milham.

Fight Summary: In what was a tough fight for the champion, De La Rosa (106¾) gave it his all prior to retiring on his stool at the end of the ninth with nothing left in the tank. Swarming all over the champion in the first with wild swings, De La Rosa kept it going right through to the fourth before Taguchi (108) got himself into the contest. Back with good jabs and the occasional left hook in the fifth and sixth, Taguchi was forced to fight De La Rosa off in the seventh after taking a solid right and left hook to the head. Stepping it up in the eighth and ninth with jabs and combinations to head and body it was clear that Taguchi was in control as De La Rosa tired badly, but it was still a surprise when the latter retired at a time when he was ahead on two of the cards.

On 16 April 2016, Randy Petalcorin handed in his WBA 'interim' Championship Belt in order to move up to the flyweight division and contest the WBC 'silver' title.

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29 December 2015. Akira Yaegashi w pts 12 Javier Mendoza.

Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Kenny Chevalier.

Scorecards: 120-107, 119-109, 117-111.

Fight Summary: Challenging for a version of the title for the third time, the 32-year-old former WBA mini fly and WBC flyweight champion came good when widely outpointing the holder, Mendoza (107½). Starting quickly Yaegashi surprised his southpaw opponent with the measure of his boxing and speed, and in the fifth opened up a cut on Mendoza's left eye. The seventh and eighth saw a bit of a comeback for Mendoza as he landed well with solid combinations, but by the ninth through to the 11th Yaegashi was back at full throttle when swapping blows with the dangerous Mendoza. Although swollen around both eyes, Yaegashi went toe-to-toe with Mendoza in the final session, shaking him up and almost having him out before the final bell came to the latter's aid.

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28 November 2015. Yu Kimura w pts 12 Pedro Guevara.

Venue: Xebio Arena, Sendai, Japan. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Ian John-Lewis.

Scorecards: 115-113, 115-113, 111-117.

Fight Summary: Ahead after four rounds of boxing, double and triple jabs controlling the fight, the champion almost had Kimura (107½) over in the fifth, smashing in punch after punch in a bid to end the fight. Following that the contest was turned on its head when Kimura came back hard in the sixth with left hooks and right crosses that hurt Guevara (108) and put him on the back foot right through to the final bell. The aggressive Kimura caught Guevara with plenty of short combinations as he struck out for the finishing line, whilst Guevara surprisingly tried to outbox his man instead of using his heavy artillery, especially during the last four sessions. 

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17 October 2015. Donnie Nietes w pts 12 Juan Alejo.

Venue: StubHub Centre, Carson, California, USA. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Raul Caiz Jnr.

Scorecards: 120-108, 119-109, 119-109.

Fight Summary: With his two championship belts on the line yet again, Nietes (108) boxed his way to a wide points win over the tough Alejo (107½). Barely dropping a round, Nietes was in full flow by the fourth as he picked Alejo apart with a full range of blows. It was the straight right and right uppercuts that caused Alejo the most grief, but he stayed upright. Having been cut over the left eye in the sixth, Nietes took the fight to Alejo in the seventh with some big punches that snapped the latter's head back before getting back to his boxing and romping to victory.

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11 July 2015. Donnie Nietes w pts 12 Francisco Rodriguez Jnr.

Venue: Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Russell Mora.

Scorecards: 119-109, 115-113, 118-110.

Fight Summary: On the front foot from the start, the left hook his favoured punch, Rodriguez (108) made Nietes (108) work hard before the latter gained the upper hand. Boxing well, the holder of two championship belts was picking his punches better by the fourth as he avoided the blows from Rodriguez coming his way, and at the end of the sixth he had a good lead. Although he was hurt by solid lefts towards the end of the seventh, Nietes continued with the jab, keeping Rodriguez at bay with sharp punches prior to coming under attack in the latter stages. Two judges had Nietes the winner by a big margin, whilst the other had Rodriguez winning five rounds.

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4 July 2015. Pedro Guevara w pts 12 Ganigan Lopez.

Venue: Multipurpose Centre, Mazatlan, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Lupe Garcia.

Scorecards: 116-112, 116-112, 117-111.

Fight Summary: Making his second defence, Guevara (114¾) started slowly as both men weighed each other up in a contest that failed to take off until the second half. With Lopez (114¾), a southpaw, content to box on the back foot, Guevara picked it up in the sixth through to the eighth when banging in blows from both hands. It was clear that Lopez needed to force the issue in the ninth if he wanted to win, and in doing so he was forced to take plenty in return. Coming on strongly in the last three rounds, Lopez hurt Guevara in the tenth before putting him down with a right-left in the 11th, a punch that was correctly ruled to be a slip. Although unable to overhaul Guevera, the challenger was still fighting hard at the final bell.

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30 May 2015. Javier Mendoza w tdec 6 Milan Melindo.

Venue: New Arena, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Gerard White.

Scorecards: 59-53, 60-52, 60-52.

Fight Summary: Both men were happy to come forward in order to exchange punches, but when heads continually came together it was the southpaw champion who came off worse. An accidental head clash in the first round was followed by a low blow and an overarm right from Melindo (107¼) that had Mendoza (107¼) sliding along the ropes and the Filipino slipping down. Coming back hard in the second, scoring well with solid left crosses, Mendoza seized the initiative when landing some good body shots in the third before Melindo was docked two points for low blows in the fourth and fifth. With Mendoza badly cut over the left eye from one of many head clashes, the referee went to the cards at 2.39 of the sixth after being advised by the ringside doctor that he could not continue.

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6 May 2015. Ryoichi Taguchi w rsc 8 Kwanthai Sithmorseng.

Venue: Ota-City General Gym, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Ferlin Marsh.

Fight Summary: Boxing on the back foot the impressive champion won all the way as he breezed to an eighth-round stoppage win over Sithmorseng (107¾), who did not know the meaning of a backward step. Evading punches and jabbing well with the left before opening up, Taguchi (108) dropped Sithmorseng four times from assorted right-hand blows, in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh before looking to take his man out in the eighth. Setting up a sustained attack, Taguchi whipped in punches from both hands prior to dropping Sithmorseng with a cracking right to the head. Although Sithmorseng was able to get up the referee stopped the fight after just 36 seconds had elapsed on realising that the game Thai had little left to offer.

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11 April 2015. Pedro Guevara w rsc 1 Richard Claveras.

Venue: Multiple Uses Centre, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Jerry Cantu.

Fight Summary: Stalking Guevara (106¾) from the opening bell and getting off a few solid left-rights to the head, Claveras (106¾) looked to be a worthy challenger. However, when Guevara stepped in with a left hook to the body and realised that Claveras could be hurt with that punch he picked it up before dropping in another hard left to the ribs. Following it up with a right-left hook to the jaw, Guevara dropped Claveras for the full count on the 2.31 mark.

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28 March 2015. Donnie Nietes w rtd 9 Gilberto Parra.

Venue: Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Jack Reiss.

Fight Summary: Putting his two championship belts on the line against Parra (108), the skilful Nietes (108) was forced to mix it early on with the young slugger before getting on top in the fourth and fifth when going up and down with accurate, hurtful shots. Although Parra came back strongly in the sixth he was picked apart from there on as Nietes upped the pace, and in the eighth a cracking right cross downed the Mexican. Things did not get any better for Parra when another solid right opened up a bad cut on his left eye in the ninth, it coming as no surprise when he was retired at the end of the session.

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31 December 2014. Ryoichi Taguchi w pts 12 Alberto Rossel.

Venue: Ota-City General Gym, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Silvestre Abainza.

Scorecards: 116-110, 116-111, 117-109.

Fight Summary: Rossel (108), who had been appointed champion by the WBA after firstly Roman Gonzalez and then Kazuto Ioka handed back their belts, lost his title when handily outpointed by Taguchi (108). Despite being the shorter man Rossel soon had his left jab working well, but was forced on to the back foot after Taguchi found his distance. Picking off Rossel with long lefts and attacking more, Taguchi dropped the champion with a solid left hook to the body in the eighth before another shot to the same region, which appeared to be more of a slip than punch, had him down again in the ninth. Despite producing a storming finish in the 12th, Rossel was way down on the cards at the bell.

Randy Petalcorin held on to his WBA 'interim' title following a first-round stoppage win over Ma Yi Ming at the Capital Gym, Beijing, China on 24 April 2015.

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30 December 2014. Pedro Guevara w co 7 Akira Yaegashi.

Venue: Metropolitan Gym, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Vic Drakulich.

Fight Summary: Billed for the vacant title after Naoya Inoue moved on, Guevara (106¾) caused something of a shock when beating Yaegashi (107½) on the latter's home turf. In what had been a fairly even affair prior to the sixth, with Guevara trying to keep the body-punching Yaegashi at arm's length while standing up well on the inside, he began to pick up the pace. Having started strongly in the sixth, Guevara shocked the crowd when dropping Yaegashi with a tremendous left hook to the body, a punch that saw the local counted out at 2.45 of the seventh. 

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15 November 2014. Donnie Nietes w rtd 7 Carlos Velarde.

Venue: Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Philippines. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Robert Byrd.

Fight Summary: Not much of a spectacle to start with, it finally got going in the third when the WBO champion and Ring Championship Belt holder began to let loose solid counters as Velarde (107¾) came on to his punches. From thereon in it was all Nietes (107½), his better boxing having Velarde looking confused and tired. In the seventh, after complaining to no avail about a head butt that left him with a bad cut over the left eye and taking a beating, Velarde was retired by his corner at the end of the session.

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20 September 2014. Javier Mendoza w pts 12 Ramon Garcia Hirales.

Venue: Fausto Gutierrez Moreno Municipal Auditorium, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Roberto Ramirez Jnr.

Scorecards: 116-109, 115-110, 115-110.

Fight Summary: Contested for the title that was vacated when Johnriel Casimero failed to make the weight for a championship defence, Mendoza (108) became the new champion when outscoring Garcia Hirales (108). A battle of southpaws saw Garcia Hirales start well enough, hurting Mendoza with an overarm left in the third. Following several low blows by both men, Mendoza eventually got in a legal one when dropping his rival with a cracking left to the body in the fifth. The tide of the contest had turned. Docked a point in the eighth for going low, Garcia Hirales was hurt in the eighth and ninth before being floored by another body attack in the tenth. Both men gave it their all in the last two sessions, Mendoza almost dropping his fellow Mexican immediately prior to the final bell.

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5 September 2014. Naoya Inoue w rsc 11 Samartlek Kokietgym.

Venue: Yoyogi National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Gelasio Perez Huerta.

Fight Summary: In his first defence and just his seventh contest, Inoue (107¾) racked up the rounds before dropping the game Kokietgym (107¼) with a heavy left-right to the head in the fourth prior to putting him on the floor again in the sixth following a cracking left to the body. With most people thinking that was it, Kokietgym showed remarkable resistance and courage to last into the 11th despite carrying a badly damaged left eye that took away his ability to see properly. However, when Inoue put him under sustained pressure the referee called it off at 1.08 of the session.

Inoue relinquished the WBC title in November in order to challenge for the WBO junior bantamweight title.

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10 May 2014. Donnie Nietes w rsc 9 Moises Fuentes.

Venue: SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Robert Byrd.

Fight Summary: By his victory the WBO champion picked up The Ring Championship Belt which was vacant, while Fuentes (108) forfeited the WBO 'interim' crown on losing. This was a rematch following their earlier draw, and to all intents and purposes Nietes (108) looked a different fighter to the one that took on Fuentes in 2013. Although the fight was relatively close Nietes was the sharper of the pair, and after a slow start he began to make Fuentes appear one-dimensional even though the latter delivered some good body shots in round five. By round eight when Fuentes was beginning to take a beating it was apparent that Nietes, in the ascendancy, was looking for a finish. In the ninth, after dropping Fuentes with some nasty looking body blows, some of which could have strayed low, Nietes was deducted a point for hitting his opponent when he was down. Despite Fuentes being given some recovery time, when he was twice sent crashing the referee eventually called it off with four seconds of the session remaining.

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6 April 2014. Naoya Inoue w rsc 6 Adrian Hernandez.

Venue: Ota-City General Gym, Tokyo, Japan. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Michael Griffin.

Fight Summary: Taking part in only his sixth pro bout Inoue (108) lifted the title from Hernandez (108), having weathered all that the champion had on offer before battering him to defeat. Showing his aggression from the start, Inoue, superior to Hernandez in all but experience, quickly made his mark with fast combinations before a cracking right hook in the third left the latter with a cut left eye. From thereon in it was nearly all Inoue, and in the sixth a tremendous overarm right sent Hernandez to the floor. Although getting to his feet, when Hernandez turned his back in an act of surrender the referee called the fight off at 2.54 of the session.

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8 February 2014. Adrian Hernandez w rsc 3 Janiel Rivera.

Venue: The Stables, Huixquilucan, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Vic Drakulich.

Fight Summary: Having never travelled beyond eight rounds, Rivera (106¾) was not expected to trouble the champion unduly. The opener saw him landing a few shots on the stalking Hernandez (108), but when the latter found the range for the jab and solid rights in the second the writing was on the wall. Continuing to march his man down in the third Hernandez was soon setting Rivera up for the kill, and after hammering away continuously a big right to the head sent the Puerto Rican down on to the lower strand where he was rescued by the referee at 1.37 of the session.

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30 November 2013. Donnie Nietes w rsc 3 Sammy Gutierrez.

Venue: Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Recognition: WBO. Referee: Celestino Ruiz.

Fight Summary: Jumping on Gutierrez (108) from the bell the champion dropped the latter twice from flurries of blows in the opener, but was unable to finish him off there and then. In the second it was more of the same as Nietes (108) hurt Gutierrez with heavy rights to the head before the Mexican retaliated with left hooks that forced the Filipino on the back foot. Back on the front foot in the third, and exchanging punches with Gutierrez, Nietes finally found a smashing straight left to the jaw that sent the challenger down. Although a badly shaken Gutierrez tried to get to his feet the referee had seen enough, halting the bout with just two seconds of the session remaining.

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26 October 2013. Johnriel Casimero w rsc 11 Felipe Salguero.

Venue: The Coliseum, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Wayne Hedgpeth.

Fight Summary: Picking his punches early on in order to keep the aggressive Salguero (108) both off balance and at bay, the champion began logging up the points before unloading heavy rights as the contest progressed. In the fifth Salguero twice slipped over after left hooks and straight rights had pressured him, and in the eighth and ninth he was dropped by a left uppercut and a right uppercut respectively. Having been battered in the tenth, when Salguero was floored from a series of solid shots the referee halted the contest at 1.34 of the 11th to save the game Mexican from taking further punishment.

Casimero forfeited the IBF title on coming in overweight for a defence against Mauricio Fuentes at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines on 3 May 2014. Fuentes (108), who could have won the title had he beaten Casimero, was knocked out inside a round.

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31 August 2013. Adrian Hernandez w rsc 4 Atsushi Kakutani.

Venue: Juan De La Barrera Olympic Gym, Mexico City, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Rocky Burke.

Fight Summary: The challenger quickly showed that he had come to win when dropping Hernandez (108) following a three-punch combination and a solid right less than a minute into the contest. It took Hernandez the rest of the session to get himself going, but in the second he went toe-to-toe with Kakutani (106), hitting his man with everything he had despite the latter banging in good shots every now and again. With Hernandez clearly on top in the third, when the bell rang for the fourth he set about Kakutani before dropping him with a good right. Although getting to his feet Kakutani was hurt, and following two more knockdowns, firstly by another right hand and then a wide left hook, he was rescued by the referee at 1.12 of the session. 

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11 May 2013. Adrian Hernandez w pts 12 Yader Cardoza.

Venue:  Agustin Ramos Millan Sports Centre, Toluca, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Rocky Burke.

Scorecards: 116-112, 118-110, 116-112.

Fight Summary: Getting away well, the opening two rounds saw the challenger setting out his stall as he matched Hernandez (107¾) for punch rate, especially when a solid overarm right hurt the latter in the second. In the third, however, it was Cardoza (107¾) who was dazed by a cracking right to the jaw. With Hernandez just about ahead he picked up a swollen left eye in the sixth before battering Cardoza with lefts and rights throughout the seventh. From thereon in it was Hernandez who retained his lead despite Cardoza coming on strongly in the last two sessions as he looked to get his hands on the belt.

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16 March 2013. Johnriel Casimero w pts 12 Luis Alberto Rios.

Venue: Megapolis Convention Centre, Panama City, Panama. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Benjy Esteves Jnr.

Scorecards: 119-109, 119-109, 118-108.

Fight Summary: Starting as though he meant to finish early, the champion quickly had Rios (108) in defensive mode when loading up big shots from either hand. Casimero (106½) was always in front, but as the contest progressed there was too little action as Rios failed to take the fight to his opponent, being seemingly happy to throw one punch at a time instead of ramping it up. Whilst the cards showed Casimero to have won most of the rounds, he was probably given the benefit in those that were difficult to score due to him being on the front foot for much of the time.

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2 March 2013. Donnie Nietes drew 12 Moises Fuentes.

Venue: Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. Recognition: WBO. Referee: Jack Reiss.

Scorecards: 115-113, 114-114, 114-114.

Fight Summary: A tough contest saw the champion retain his title by a majority draw, Fuentes (108) pushing him all the way. As far as Nietes (108) was concerned he had won, but it was clear that the aggressive Fuentes had been a match for him when going for the body and putting him under pressure at times. In the fifth Fuentes was hurt by a right hook to the head, and although Nietes followed it up with some heavy blows he was unable to find a finisher. After Nietes was badly cut on both eyes when heads came together in the sixth he shut up his defences before coming back strongly in the tenth, rocking the WBO mini flyweight title holder with a right uppercut in the 11th and attacking hard in the 12th.

Fuentes stopped Luis De La Rosa inside a round at the MesoAmerican Fairground Arena, Tapachula, Mexico on 7 September to win the WBO ‘interim’ title.

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12 January 2013. Adrian Hernandez w pts 12 Dirceu Cabarca.

Venue: Agustin Ramos Millan Sports Centre, Toluca, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Gary Ritter.

Scorecards: 117-110, 118-108, 119-112.

Fight Summary: Despite being in control for most of the way against his southpaw challenger, Hernandez (108) was unable to drop his opponent and ultimately had to settle for a unanimous points win. The third session saw both fighters up the pace, but it was Hernandez who was accorded a 10-8 round even though he failed to drop Cabarca (108), such was the venom of his attack. Into the fourth it was much of the same as Hernandez threw solid shots from both hands before Cabarca came back to hurt his man in the sixth. Although heads came together at times it was only in the later stages that damage was done, Hernandez being cut on the left eye and Cabarca on the scalp.

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17 November 2012. Roman Gonzalez w pts 12 Juan Francisco Estrada.

Venue: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Jerry Cantu.

Scorecards: 118-110, 116-112, 116-112.

Fight Summary: This turned out to be a tough night's work for the champion despite him winning handily over Estrada (107½), who was always in the fight and always trying. It was soon clear that Gonzalez (107½) had the extra power, but Estrada took all that was on offer and kept coming forward, banging in solid combinations whenever he could. Although one judge had Estrada winning just two rounds, the other two officials gave him four which was a fairer reflection despite him taking more punches than he would have wished for.

After Gonzalez was elevated to 'super' champion status on 30 November, Kazuto Ioka, who had earlier handed in the WBA mini flyweight Championship Belt, was signed up to meet Jose Alfredo Rodriguez for the vacant WBA ‘second tier’ title at the Bodymaker Coliseum, Osaka, Japan on 31 December. Having won by a sixth-round stoppage, Ioka would have to meet Gonzalez within 90 days as per the WBA edict.

On 16 March 2013, at the Miguel Grau Coliseum, Callao, Peru, Alberto Rossel outpointed Walter Tello over 12 rounds in defence of his WBA ‘interim’ title. Rossel made another successful defence when outpointing Jose Alfredo Zuniga over 12 rounds at the North Lima Megaplaza, Lima Peru on 28 September 2013.

Deciding not to take up the offer to meet Gonzalez, Ioka successfully defended the WBA ‘second tier’ title when knocking out Wisanu Kokietgym in the ninth round of their contest at the Bodymaker Coliseum, Osaka on 8 May 2013. Further defences of the WBA ‘second tier’ title at the same venue saw Ioka knock out Kwanthai Sithmorseng in seven rounds on 11 September 2013 and outpoint Felix Alvarado over 12 rounds on 31 December 2013.

Gonzalez relinquished the WBA title on 14 January 2014 after being told that he had to make a match against Kazuto Ioka, the second-tier champion, who was then recognised as the main man. Having previously been an undefeated WBA/WBC mini flyweight title holder, Ioka then handed in his new belt on 28 February 2014 in order to move up to the flyweight division.

This was followed by Rossel successfully defending the WBA 'interim' title when outpointing Gabriel Mendoza over 12 rounds at the Dibos Dammert Coliseum, Lima, Peru on 8 March 2014, prior to being given full title status by the WBA on 8 July 2014.

Following that, Randy Petalcorin beat Tello (w rsc 7 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai, China on 26 August 2014) to land the vacant WBA 'interim' title.

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6 October 2012. Adrian Hernandez w rsc 6 Kompayak Porpramook.

Venue: Convention Centre, Toluca, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Hector Afu.

Fight Summary: Hernandez (107½) regained the title that he had earlier lost to Porpramook (107) by means of a sixth-round stoppage. Both men started strongly before Hernandez showed his intent in the third when dropping Porpramook following a cluster of hard shots. Although Porpramook beat the count, he was trapped in a corner taking plenty of punishment when the bell came to his rescue. From thereon in it was give and take with Hernandez dictating, and in the sixth after smashing Porpramook to the deck with a blasting right to the head the referee called it off with just 23 seconds of the session gone.

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4 August 2012. Johnriel Casimero w pts 12 Pedro Guevara.

Venue: Convention Centre, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Ray Corona.

Scorecards: 116-111, 114-113, 113-114.

Fight Summary: In what was Casimero’s first defence of the title that was handed to him after Ulises Solis was stripped, he just about held on to his belt by a split decision as Guevara (108) took the fight to him. Casimero (108) started well enough when dropping Guevara in the opening session with a cracker of a right uppercut, but the latter was soon back into the fray when using his boxing skills to good effect. It was always close, Casimero landing combinations that bothered Guevara throughout, and at the final bell it was the champion's harder, cleaner punches that decided the fight.

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2 June 2012. Donnie Nietes w pts 12 Felipe Salguero.

Venue: Newport Performing Arts Theatre, Pasay City, Manila, Philippines. Recognition: WBO. Referee: Raul Caiz.

Scorecards: 115-113, 116-112, 116-112.

Fight Summary: Up against a tough challenger in Salguero (108), who forced the issue as best he could, Nietes (108) punished his man throughout with uppercuts and overarm shots to head and body. Salguero was always in front of Nietes, but was always second best. Eventually Nietes decided that the jab was his best weapon when boxing Salguero off, and as much as the latter tried, although still dangerous, he was too slow to put the champion under enough pressure to take the title.

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3 May 2012. Kompayak Porpramook w tdec 5 Jonathan Taconing.

Venue: Provincial Hall, Buriram, Thailand. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Jae-Bong Kim.

Scorecards: 48-46, 50-45, 47-47.

Fight Summary: Making his first defence Porpramook (108) took on Taconing (107), a tough Filipino southpaw who did not know the meaning of taking a backwards step when forcing the fight throughout. Giving Porpramook no time to rest, Taconing was relentless in his efforts to win the title. Having been deducted a point in the fourth for an accidental head butt that left Porpramook with a cut near the left eye, the challenger opened up before the latter fought back with heavy rights to the head getting through. At the end of the fifth the referee, who felt that the damage to Porpramook's eye was worsening, went to the cards much to the consternation of Taconing's corner. Complaining bitterly that he had been robbed, Taconing was later told by the WBC to go away and earn another title shot.

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28 April 2012. Roman Gonzalez w rsc 4 Ramon Garcia Hirales.

Venue: Fairplex, Pomona, California, USA. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Raul Caiz Jnr.

Fight Summary: Exuding confidence from the opening bell the champion took the fight to Garcia Hirales (107¾), cutting the ring down and getting off solid shots as his southpaw opponent tried to find a way through. In the second and third sessions it was much of the same as Gonzalez (107½) upped the tempo, and in the fourth a short right dropped Garcia Hirales heavily. Although getting up the former WBO champion was quickly hunted down before being sent crashing again from a cracking left uppercut to the jaw, a punch that saw the referee call the action off at 2.09 of the session.

Alberto Rossel made a successful defence of the WBA ‘interim’ title when outpointing Karluis Diaz over 12 rounds at the Miguel Grau Coliseum, Callao, Peru on 18 August.

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23 December 2011. Kompayak Porpramook w co 10 Adrian Hernandez.

Venue: 11th Infantry Regiment Arena, Bangkok, Thailand. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Jon Schorle.

Fight Summary: In what became a war of attrition, Porpramook (108) was quickly off his stool at the opening bell when raining in blows from both hands as the champion stood his ground. Both men took it in turns to land heavy punches, and at first it looked as though the taller Hernandez (108) would prevail when scoring with solid uppercuts and hooks. Always in front of Hernandez, hardly taking a backward step, Porpramook was forced to take a battering in the eighth and ninth as the Mexican went for the stoppage. However it all changed in the tenth as Hernandez tired. Porpramook, marginally ahead on all three cards at that stage, pushed Hernandez back for the first time in the contest before sending him down to be counted out on the 2.31 mark following a cracking right-left to the head.

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8 October 2011. Donnie Nietes w pts 12 Ramon Garcia Hirales.

Venue: St La Salle University Gym, Bacolod City, Philippines. Recognition: WBO. Referee: Robert Byrd.

Scorecards: 117-111, 118-110, 115-113.

Fight Summary: After outpointing the southpaw champion, Garcia Hirales (108), by a unanimous decision, Nietes (108) stated that he was quite happy for a return match. On the front foot from the opening bell, the former undefeated WBO mini flyweight title holder proved good value for the win, catching Garcia Hirales with solid rights and cracking left uppercuts in the fifth and sixth. Although Garcia Hirales picked it up in the seventh with some good punches getting through, Nietes always seemed to be one step ahead despite being cut on the left eye from a clash of heads in the tenth. After another head clash in the 11th worsened the damage, the cleaner-hitting Nietes went toe-to-toe with Garcia Hirales through to the final bell.

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24 September 2011. Adrian Hernandez w rsc 2 Gideon Buthelezi.

Venue: Polanco Forum, Mexico City, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Kenny Bayless.

Fight Summary: Having made a fast start in an effort to overwhelm Buthelezi (106), the champion was at full throttle in the second. Without let-up, Hernandez (108) went for the South African southpaw, throwing punches from both hands before dropping his man with a solid right uppercut. Back on his feet Buthelezi was unable to resist the blows coming his way, and at 2.20 of the session the referee called it off when he was up against the ropes under a severe two-fisted attack and not responding.

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27 August 2011. Ulises Solis w pts 12 Jether Oliva.

Venue: Benito Juarez Auditorium, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Ken Chevalier.

Scorecards: 118-110, 119-109, 120-108.

Fight Summary: Stepping up to meet the champion at four weeks’ notice was a big call for the unbeaten Oliva (108), and he was ultimately made to pay for his lack of experience at the top level. Despite that, Oliva occasionally hurt Solis (108) with solid left hooks, but was generally kept at bay by accurate jabs as he looked to get inside. When Solis opened up with hurtful combinations Oliva's limitations were obvious, and he did well to last the distance.

At the Eleven States Stadium, Mar Del Plata, Argentina on 10 February 2012, Johnriel Casimero stopped Luis Alberto Lazarte in the tenth round to win the vacant IBF ‘interim’ title.

When Solis was stripped of the IBF title on 19 July 2012 after not being in a position to make a defence following a street fight, Casimero was elevated to full championship status.

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16 July 2011. Roman Gonzalez w rsc 7 Omar Salado.

Venue: The Bullring, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Julio Cesar Alvarado.

Fight Summary: In what was a one-sided match the champion started quickly, twice sending Salado (108) to the canvas in the opener from long lefts that unbalanced him in his determination to get away, before handing out a severe beating for the next five rounds. Battered and cut, Salado was eventually dropped again following a series of left hooks in the seventh as Gonzalez (108) went for the finish, only for the third man to let it continue. However, when the towel was thrown in moments later the referee stopped the contest with 48 seconds of the session completed.

Gonzalez met Omar Soto (w co 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on 1 October) in what was billed as a championship fight, but when the latter came in over the weight at 111lbs it became a non-title affair.

On 19 November, at the German Nevers Gym, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Jose Alfredo Rodriguez won the vacant WBA ‘interim’ title when outpointing Nethra Sasiprapa on points over 12 rounds. Rodriguez lost the 'interim' title in his first defence when outpointed over 12 rounds by Alberto Rossel on 14 April 2012 at the Dibos Dammert Coliseum, Lima, Peru.

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30 April 2011. Ulises Solis w pts 12 Luis Alberto Lazarte.

Venue: Eleven States Stadium, Mar Del Plata, Argentina. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Benjy Esteves Jnr.

Scorecards: 115-111, 114-112, 112-114.

Fight Summary: Keeping Lazarte (108) on the end of lefts and rights for much of the time, the challenger regained his old title on a split decision, having drawn with the Argentine in their previous fight. Lazarte was always dangerous with his body blows, hurting Solis (108) on occasion before the latter got back to his boxing. All in all it was Solis' better, cleaner work that earned him the win, but it was close. Both men were docked points for infringements, Lazarte in the ninth and Solis in the tenth as the contest got nasty.

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30 April 2011. Ramon Garcia Hirales w co 4 Jesus Geles.

Venue: Polanco Forum, Mexico City, Mexico. Recognition: WBO. Referee: Jose Rivera.

Fight Summary: Defending the title that was handed to him after it was relinquished by Giovani Segura, Geles (108) lost it at the first time of asking when Garcia Hirales (108) gained revenge for a recent defeat when losing his WBO 'interim' Championship Belt. After flooring Geles with a solid southpaw body shot in the opener, Garcia Hirales worked his man over before repeating the dose in the fourth, this time for a count out at 1.15 of the session.

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30 April 2011. Adrian Hernandez w rtd 10 Gilberto Keb Baas.

Venue: Don King Coliseum, Texcoco, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Jerry Cantu.

Fight Summary: Despite boxing well at times the tired champion, swollen around both eyes, was forced to retire at the end of the tenth after taking much punishment and having nothing left in the tank. He had also been deducted a point for going low during the tenth. The relentless Hernandez (108) had attacked incessantly from the start, hurting Keb Baas (108) more and more as the fight went on, and in the eighth the latter was almost stopped when under a heavy attack. While there were those who thought that Keb Baas could have continued, his inability to damage Hernandez with his best blows made it the right decision.

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2 April 2011. Giovani Segura w co 3 Ivan Calderon.

Venue: State Auditorium, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Samuel Viruet.

Fight Summary: With his two championship belts up for grabs in a return battle of southpaws, Segura (108) punched too hard for Calderon (107¾), who despite showing many of his former skills was unable to keep his rival at bay. Deciding to go for the body Segura set up a sustained attack, and although Calderon was able to duck and dive in the opening two sessions he was eventually caught in the third. Two heavy rights to the head forced Calderon to the ropes before a tremendous right to the body sent him down to be counted out on one knee at 1.39 of the session.

A few days later, on 5 April, Segura relinquished the WBO title to fight among the flyweights and Jesus Geles, the ‘interim’ champion, was upgraded to fill the vacancy. However, Segura held The Ring Championship Belt until 19 September.

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19 March 2011. Roman Gonzalez w pts 12 Manuel Vargas.

Venue: Plaza San Diego Arena, San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Gustavo Padilla.

Scorecards: 116-112, 119-109, 116-112.

Fight Summary: Gonzalez was defending the title that was handed to him after it was relinquished firstly by Giovani Segura and then by Juan Carlos Reveco, who failed to make a defence. Dominating from the start, Gonzalez (108) put eight rounds in the bag before taking a well-earned breather and allowing Vargas (108) to come on to his effective counters. As an attacking fighter, Vargas, his right eye badly swollen at the finish, had spent much time on the ropes trying to fend his man off, but even with more freedom as Gonzalez coasted through the remaining four rounds he was unable to put a dent in the clever champion, whose left eye was cut in the tenth.

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26 February 2011. Gilberto Keb Baas w rtd 8 Jose Antonio Aguirre.

Venue: Zamna Poliforum, Merida, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Roberto Ramirez Jnr.

Fight Summary: Attacking Aguirre (107¾) from the start, Keb Baas (107¾) pressured the challenger with heavy hooks to head and body, especially in the fourth and fifth when he had his man going several times. With Keb Baas continually pounding Aguirre's body over the next three sessions it was clear that the latter could not take much more, and at the end of the eighth he was wisely retired by his corner. 

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18 December 2010. Luis Alberto Lazarte drew 12 Ulises Solis.

Venue: Eleven States Stadium, Mar Del Plata, Argentina. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Max Parker Jnr.

Scorecards: 113-113, 113-113, 109-117.

Fight Summary: Although retaining his title by a majority draw Lazarte (108) would have won by a unanimous decision had he not had two points deducted, once in the fourth and again in the tenth, for hitting behind the head. Unable to put Lazarte under real pressure despite marching him down, Solis (107¼) did not take advantage of his good start when winning three of the opening four rounds. While Lazarte boxed reasonably well, his shifting tactics confusing Solis at times, he was never able to dominate, and even when he hurt the latter with a solid right to the head in the 11th he failed to follow it up.

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6 November 2010. Gilberto Keb Baas w pts 12 Omar Nino.

Venue: Zamna Poliforum, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Jesus Manuel Erosa.

Scorecards: 116-110, 115-111, 113-113.

Fight Summary: Having failed in two world title attempts in a 15-year career, Keb Baas (107½) was not expected to trouble the champion unduly. However, seemingly unable to avoid Keb Baas' right hand, Nino (107½) was dropped in the opening session and again in the eighth as the Mexican continued to go forward, winning the majority of the exchanges. Although making it a grandstand finish when taking the last round, Nino failed to find a stopping punch and that was that. Despite one of the judges making it a draw the truer reflection came from the other two officials who both saw the challenger winning handily.

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4 September 2010. Omar Nino w rtd 6 Ronald Barrera.

Venue: Olympic Coliseum, Guadalajara, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Len Koivisto.

Fight Summary: Up against Barrera (108), a switch-hitting southpaw, Nino (108) was always on the front foot as he looked for an inside-the-distance win. Although Barrera got through with some good punches in the third, it was Nino who picked it up when firing back with harder shots, a tactic that persisted during the fight. In the fifth, following a hook to the head, Nino went down only for the referee to call it a slip and from thereon in Barrera was consistently on the end of the champion's punches before being retired by his corner before the seventh got underway.

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4 September 2010. Luis Alberto Lazarte w pts 12 Nerys Espinoza.

Venue: Eleven States Stadium, Mar Del Plata, Argentina. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Samuel Viruet.

Scorecards: 116-111, 116-111, 116-111.

Fight Summary: The 39-year-old champion started quickly in an effort to stamp his authority on Espinoza (107½) before round three saw a series of head clashes, low blows and few punches. From the fourth onwards Lazarte (108) began to move in and out while scoring well with the jab and solid rights, and although Espinoza landed heavily at times his punch-rate was too infrequent to win more than four rounds at most. The tenth was Espinoza's best round, hurting Lazarte with a big right hand, but it was undone in the 11th when being bullied around the ring by hurtful rights to the head and being deducted a point in the 12th for hitting on the break.

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28 August 2010. Giovani Segura w co 8 Ivan Calderon.

Venue: Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Recognition: WBA/WBO/The Ring. Referee: Jose Rivera.

Fight Summary: In a battle of southpaws between the WBA's Segura (108) and the WBO champion, Calderon (108), with the latter's Ring Championship Belt also on the line, it was Segura who picked up the win when knocking his rival out at 1.34 of the eighth. Clearly the heavier hitter of the pair, Segura was forced to take the jab while pressing on with punches of his own, and in the fifth he had Calderon down from body punches that the referee ruled as a slip. After battling back in the sixth and seventh to force Segura to hold on at times, the tiring Calderon was right up against it in the eighth. Having taken some solid belts along the ropes, when Calderon was dropped following two heavy body shots he remained on one knee as the count was completed.

At the Ryogoku Sumo Arena, Tokyo, Japan, on 24 October, Roman Gonzalez, the former undefeated WBA mini flyweight champion, won the vacant WBA ‘interim’ title when knocking out Francisco Rosas in the second session.

A month or so later, on 26 November, Segura relinquished the WBA title and Juan Carlos Reveco, the WBA ‘second tier’ champion, was elevated to the top spot before he too handed back his belt to fight at flyweight on 4 February 2011. On that same date, Gonzalez was announced as being the WBA champion.

On the WBO front, Jesus Geles won the vacant ‘interim’ crown when outpointing Omar Soto over 12 rounds at the Convention Centre, Cartagena, Colombia on 30 October. This fight came about after the champion, Ramon Garcia Hirales, had pulled out of a last-minute defence against Geles due to injury. With an edict in place for the winner to meet Garcia Hirales at the earliest opportunity it was strange to read that the latter had retained his ‘interim’ title when outpointing Soto over 12 rounds at the 20 November Stadium, Campeche, Mexico on 18 December, with no mention of Geles. That situation was rectified on 5 February 2011 when Geles won the undisputed ‘interim’ title when outpointing Garcia Hirales over 12 rounds at the Bernardo Caraballo Coliseum, Cartagena, Colombia.

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19 June 2010. Omar Nino w pts 12 Rodel Mayol.

Venue: Precinct Expo Bullring, San Juan Del Rio, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Hector Afu.

Scorecards: 115-112, 115-111, 117-109.

Fight Summary: Forced into a rematch after an unsatisfactory ending in their previous go, once again the champion was in a contest where he was deducted points, in the first and fifth, for head butts that left Nino (108) with cuts over both eyes. This was due to the WBC's head butt rule which stated that a point should be deducted from the uncut fighter when a gash was caused by a clash of heads. In the fight up to the sixth, when Mayol (108) tired Nino took advantage, winning the last five rounds, his extra energy proving a match winner. Scoring well with both hands from distance in order to protect his injuries, Nino fully deserved the unanimous points verdict that went his way.

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12 June 2010. Ivan Calderon w pts 12 Jesus Iribe.

Venue: MSG Theatre, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Benjy Esteves Jnr.

Scorecards: 116-111, 118-109, 118-109.

Fight Summary: As game as a pebble, Iribe (106) was an ideal opponent for the two-belt champion, Calderon (106), to showcase his skills against, but in the second round a right hand to the jaw had the southpaw champion over. Up quickly, Calderon was soon popping out the jab while moving in and out of Iribe's attacks, and in the eighth through to the tenth he put on a master class for the purist. Although Iribe, his face swollen from the constant stream of jabs, was on the floor in the 11th it was ruled a slip, and from thereon in he continually tried to land a finisher without success.

Defending the WBO ‘interim’ title for the first time on 24 July, Johnriel Casimero was outpointed by Ramon Garcia Hirales over 12 rounds at the Centennial Sports Centre, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. Garcia Hirales successfully defended his title when outpointing Manuel Vargas over 12 rounds at The Forum, Tijuana, Mexico on 25 September.

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29 May 2010. Luis Alberto Lazarte w pts 12 Carlos Tamara.

Venue: United Eleven Club, Mar Del Plata, Argentina. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Michael Ortega.

Scorecards: 116-112, 115-113, 113-115.

Fight Summary: Making his first defence the unfortunate Tamara (108) suffered a deep cut on his head in the second round following an accidental head butt as Lazarte (107) moved to close quarters. Using a good jab and solid rights to keep the 39-year-old Lazarte at bay worked well for Tamara for some of the time, but despite being wary of the injury he was often forced to defend himself on the inside when the challenger landed uppercuts and hooks to the body. Having been beaten in four previous world title attempts, Lazarte wasted little energy, biding his time and picking his punches well. With little in it at the final bell two of the judges decided that it was Lazarte's better work that should be rewarded.

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27 February 2010. Rodel Mayol tdraw 3 Omar Nino.

Venue: University Coliseum, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Vic Drakulich.

Fight Summary: This was the fourth time in his last five fights that the champion had taken part in contests that went to the cards summarily, the finish yet again leaving a bad taste in the mouth. Although Nino (108) started well, his body shots earning him the first round, Mayol (108) took over in the second with solid left-rights and uppercuts putting him in the driving seat. When a right uppercut smashed into Mayol's groin in the third, with the latter waiting for the referee to give him 'time out' he was caught heavily by a left hook that sent him down. Strangely, the referee, having tried to stop the Nino blow from landing, actually counted Mayol out at 2.27 of the session before realising that the challenger could not win that way. After some debate it was decided that the decision should be seen as a technical draw as less than three rounds had been completed.

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20 February 2010. Giovani Segura w rsc 3 Walter Tello.

Venue: Elebrije Discotheque, Acapulco, Mexico. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Luis Pabon.

Fight Summary: The hard-hitting southpaw champion tore into Tello (108) from the bell, the latter reciprocating as they went toe-to-toe with both men being forced to take heavy blows. It was very much the same in the second, there being no let up. In the third, however, Tello found himself under real pressure as Segura (108) went for him, wobbling him several times. At one point Tello appeared to have been floored although no count was taken up, but when he was forced against the ropes with Segura landing lefts and rights without response the referee brought the bout to a close at 1.56 of the round.

On 17 July, the WBA ‘interim’ champion, Juan Carlos Reveco, stopped Armando Torres in the fifth round of their title contest at the Vicente Polimeni Sports Arena, Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina. When Segura was elevated to ‘super’ champion status on 28 August, Reveco took over the WBA ‘second tier’ title.

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23 January 2010. Carlos Tamara w rsc 12 Brian Viloria.

Venue: Cuneta Astrodome, Manila, Philippines. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Bruce McTavish.

Fight Summary: In control for much of the contest, the champion lost his title at the second time of asking when he was stopped by Tamara (108) in the final round. It had seemed that Viloria (108) was approaching his best when jabbing well and following up with combinations and having hurt Tamara in the fourth he repeated the exercise in the eighth when the latter almost did not make it to hear the bell. Unfortunately for Viloria he had taken a lot out of himself, and Tamara sensing that he was fading piled on the pressure in the ninth. Badly hurt by a heavy right, Viloria somehow made it into the 12th where he was being battered prior to the referee rescuing him at 1.45 of the session.

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21 November 2009. Rodel Mayol w rsc 2 Edgar Sosa.

Venue: Fairground Rooster Stockade Arena, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Roberto Ramirez Jnr.

Fight Summary: Following two unsuccessful cracks at Ivan Calderon, when Mayol (108) was given a shot at the WBC champion, Sosa (108), he took advantage of the opportunity with both hands. Following a good opener when both men landed solidly with left hooks and Mayol scored with a cracking right to the jaw the fight took off in the second round. Within moments of the session being underway, Sosa was floored after Mayol's head smashed into his left cheek and caused damage to his left eye. Classifying the head butt as unintentional and having deducted a point from Mayol a dazed Sosa was sent back into the fray by the referee after a doctor's inspection, only for heads to come together again. This time a stunned Sosa was sent crashing from a right-left to the chin, and after taking the 'eight' count he was set upon with many punches going unanswered before the third man called the contest off on the 1.52 mark.

Due to the controversial nature of his defeat, Sosa being hospitalised and having surgery to repair a triple fracture to the left cheekbone, the former champion was given ‘emeritus’ status and told that he would be allowed a crack at the title once his injuries had healed if he so wished.

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21 November 2009. Giovani Segura w co 1 Sonny Boy Jaro.

Venue: Xmatkuil Fairground Arena, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Fredy Rios.

Fight Summary: Straight on to the attack, the hard-hitting champion larruped into Jaro (108) with both fists churning, almost fighting as a southpaw to get more power into left-hand blows. Although concentrating on the head Segura (108) was soon smashing in left hooks to the body, and it was one such shot that saw Jaro counted out at 1.05 of the opening round.

On 18 December, Juan Carlos Reveco retained the WBA ‘interim’ title when knocking out Colombia’s Ronald Barrera in the third round at the Colony Stadium, Junin, Mendoza, Argentina.

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15 September 2009. Edgar Sosa w rsc 6 Omar Soto.

Venue: Siglo XXI Auditorium, Puebla, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Vic Drakulich.

Fight Summary: Boxing well, using speed and fast, hurtful blows, Soto (106½) showed himself to be a worthy challenger for Sosa (107½), two of the judges having him ahead at the end of the fifth round. Towards the end of the fifth Sosa gave warning of things to come when slamming in blows to head and body and in the sixth Soto was in retreat as the champion cut the ring down. Having trapped Soto in a corner, when Sosa unloaded a cracking three-punch combination to the head the former was rescued by the referee at 2.30 of the session after he had been left defenceless on the ropes.

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12 September 2009. Ivan Calderon w tdec 7 Rodel Mayol.

Venue: Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Luis Pabon.

Scorecards: 68-65, 68-65, 65-68.

Fight Summary: Further to their inconclusive match three months earlier, Calderon (107½) again put his two championship belts on the line against Mayol (107½), and again the result went the same way when the fight was stopped with 26 seconds remaining in the seventh prior to going to the cards. With Calderon cut on the scalp in almost the same place, this time round one judge saw Mayol as the winner while the other two had it for the southpaw champion. It had been a messy affair with the pair bumping heads several times, but the better work came from the diminutive Calderon, who although pushed back at times by Mayol's long jab landed the sharper punches.

Johnriel Casimero won the vacant WBO ‘interim’ title when stopping Cesar Canchila inside 11 rounds at the Dennis Martinez National Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua on 19 December.

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29 August 2009. Brian Viloria w pts 12 Jesus Iribe.

Venue: Blaisdell Centre Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Allan Huggins.

Scorecards: 118-110, 117-111, 117-112.

Fight Summary: A superior boxer to the tough Iribe (108), the champion won every round, bar the eighth and 12th, in front of his home fans in what was the first world title fight in Hawaii for over 30 years. With sharp lefts and rights allied to good movement Viloria (107½) got away well before Iribe, who reportedly broke his right hand in the second, began the fight back in the seventh as his opponent tired. Despite the injury Iribe continued to use his right, especially to the body, and forced Viloria to trade in a final session that saw some heavy blows going in from both men.

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25 July 2009. Giovani Segura w rsc 6 Juanito Rubillar.

Venue: Tepic Fair Stockade, Nueno Vallarta, Mexico. Recognition: WBA. Referee: Luis Pabon.

Fight Summary: With Brahim Asloum a 'champion in recess', Segura (108), the former 'interim' title holder, was making a first defence of the title he inherited on 5 June 2009. In a battle of southpaws Segura won all five completed rounds before stopping Rubillar (108), a late substitute for Sonny Boy Jaro, at 2.04 of the sixth. A powerful puncher with both hands, although lacking in technique Segura effectively had Rubillar over from a right to the body in the third, only for the referee to rule it a slip. From the fourth onwards it was all Segura as Rubillar went on the back foot, the end coming when the latter's corner called on the referee to stop the fight after their man was defenceless on the ropes.

On 15 August, Juan Carlos Reveco became the new WBA ‘interim’ champion when he outpointed Francisco Rosas over 12 rounds at the Miguel Canto Municipal Arena, Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

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20 June 2009. Edgar Sosa w rsc 5 Carlos Melo.

Venue: The Arena, Mexico City, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Frank Garza.

Fight Summary: Winning all four completed rounds, the champion set about Melo (107¾) in the fifth before dropping him with a left hook to the body. Although Melo just about beat the count the referee stopped the contest at 2.57 of the session when it was clear that the challenger was in no fit state to continue after he came under a terrific follow-up attack. Sosa (108), who was cut on the right eye in the fourth, had earlier shaken Melo up with a left hook to the body in the second, and in the third a similar blow had downed the latter.

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13 June 2009. Ivan Calderon tdraw 6 Rodel Mayol.

Venue: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC, New York, USA. Recognition: WBO/The Ring. Referee: Benjy Esteves Jnr.

Scorecards: 58-56, 57-57, 56-58.

Fight Summary: Putting both of his championship belts on the line, Calderon (106¼), much the smaller man, came under fire from long rights to the head early on before coming back well with the southpaw jab. In the fifth two accidental head butts had Calderon bleeding badly from a gashed forehead as the ungainly Mayol (106) came forward, and sensing he had to do something fast the champion tore into his man to take the round. Although Calderon was allowed out for the sixth, at 1.50 of the session the fight was stopped after the ringside doctor had inspected the wound. Having gone to the cards and being announced as a technical draw, had the judge who made it 57-57 agreed with the other two men who both saw Mayol taking the sixth Calderon would have lost.

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19 April 2009. Brian Viloria w co 11 Ulises Solis.

Venue: Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines. Recognition: IBF. Referee: Bruce McTavish.

Fight Summary: Having won his last five contests to warrant a crack at the champion, Viloria (108) was on the attack from the moment the opening bell rang, landing solid lefts and rights prior to Solis (107) picking it up in the third. Although forcing the fight, when Solis was deducted two points in the third and fifth, for going low, it undid all his good work. On top of that he was cut over the right eye in the fifth. Coming on strongly in the sixth, Solis began to open up with solid shots before being cut on the left eye in the seventh and being hurt by a left to the body in the eighth. From thereon in Viloria took over, and in the 11th a terrific right cross to Solis' jaw saw the latter counted out at 2.56 of the session.

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4 April 2009. Edgar Sosa w rsc 4 Pornsawan Porpramook.

Venue: Entertainment Centre, Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Hector Afu.

Fight Summary: Getting off to a fast start, the champion was soon releasing lefts and rights to the head and body of Porpramook (107¾) who appeared happy to meet fire with fire. Boxing at distance from the second round Sosa (108) continued his assaults into the fourth to punish Porpramook at will, and at 2.32 of the session the referee stepped in to rescue the latter following a flurry of unanswered blows. 

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29 November 2008. Edgar Sosa w rsc 7 Juanito Rubillar.

Venue: The Arena, Mexico City. Recognition: WBC. Referee: Harold Laurens.

Fight Summary: Putting in one of his best performances the champion overcame horrendous cuts over each eye to force a stoppage at 2.54 of the seventh round when the referee came to the aid of Rubillar (106), who was dazed and groggy following a terrific blow to the body and heavy combinations. A tremendous contest saw both men giving it their all, Sosa (108) having to fight his southpaw challenger off at times with heads coming together frequently. It was the head butts that caused the damage to Sosa, who later required 22 stitches, while Rubillar was deducted a point in the third for one such transgression. In the aftermath, Sosa refused to blame Rubillar for his cuts, saying that it was more a clash of styles that was the problem.

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