Boxing Challenge

Wrapping up the third boxing challenge from 2016.

I defeated Ramon Malpica 152-127 for the victory in the third edition.
I've won two in a row after Ramon won the first one in 2014.

Ramon and I are discussing expanding the challenge to people that call into Fight Heads,so we'll be talking about that before next Friday when Erislandy Lara defends his WBA junior middleweight title against Yuri Foreman on Spike TV in the kickoff for the 2017 Boxing Challenge...

Smith knocks Hopkins Out and Down-Boxing Challenge

Joe Smith ended the career of Bernard Hopkins with a defeat as Smith knocked Hopkins through the ropes and Hopkins could not beat the 20 count (it's 20 when a fighter is knocked out of the ring) in the eighth round of their light heavyweight fight in Los Angeles.

I had Smith ahead five rounds to two before several right hands drove Hopkins through and to the floor,where he was unable to return to the ring.
It was a sad ending to Hopkins career as he offered three excuses all at once as why the fight should not have ended via TKO (Pushed through the ropes not punched,hit his head on the fall and injured his ankle on the fall).
Hopkins has not always been the best loser when things didn't go his way,so I suppose that I should have seen that one coming,but it was still sad to see him go out in that manner.
The surprise to me (and considering boxing judging,I should never be surprised) was that judge Pat Russell had Hopkins ahead in the fight!
Ramon Malpica and I scored no points for the Smith victory.

The undercard saw Olesandr Usyk make his American debut as he retained his WBO cruiserweight title with a ninth round stoppage over Thabiso Mchunu.
The bout saw a slow start,but Usyk soon established a bigger physical presence,scoring a knockdown in the sixth before two knockdowns in the ninth finished off the challenger.
Usyk looks like the next great cruiserweight and I'd love to see a title unification bout with IBF champ Murat Gassiev.
Ramon and I each earned two point for the Usyk knockout.

The other bout saw featherweight Joseph Diaz easily decision Horatio Garcia as all three judges gave Diaz every round.
I scored it 98-92 for Diaz.
Diaz seems like a solid fighter that does nothing spectacular and might come up short at the elite level.
I'd rate him as a underdog against three of the four featherweight champions (Carl Frampton,Gary Russell and Oscar Valdez should he challenge them now.
I added two points for the Diaz decision with Ramon adding just one...

I lead the challenge 152-127 as this is the end of the televised year.
There will be one more card for the challenge as several titles are on the line for New Years Eve from Japan.
New Years Eve is the biggest television night of the year there,so there are some good bouts on that evening...

Barrera stops Shabranskyy-Boxing Challenge

HBO Latino put on a pretty good card last night that featured light heavyweights Sullivan Barrera and Vyachaslav Shabranskyy,both coming off interesting fights.
Shabranskyy won a surprising decision over Yuneski Gonzalez,while Barrera went the distance in a loss to Andre Ward.
Shabranskyy was thought of by many (Including me) as a potential contender at 175 and Barrera would be an interesting test.

Instead,the pair hooked up in a great action fight that saw Shabranskyy dropped in round one and Barrera in round two.
Slowly,Barrera began to take command with a knockdown in the fifth before knocking Shabranskyy down and out in the seventh.
The win likely will put Barrera in contention for one of the three titles that Andre Ward is expected to vacate with his "retirement/ducking Kovalev".
It was a rough night for Golden Boy promotions with Shabranskyy's loss (Barrera is promoted by Main Events) and a stunning first round knockout loss by their touted welterweight Eddie Gomez at the hands of Rashidi Ellis.
No boxing challenge points for these fights or the Alexander Povetkin-Bermane Stiverne heavyweight eliminator,which was canceled with Povetkin's positive test for PED's.
Ramon Malpica didn't get the email in time,so nothing for those bouts..

Bernard Hopkins and his farewell bout headlines a three fight HBO card.
Hopkins faces Joe Smith,who pulled a shocker with his first round blitz of Andrezj Fonfara on a PBC card.
Touted WBO cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk makes his American debut against Thabiso Mchunu and featherweight contender Joseph Diaz faces Horatio Garcia..

Light Heavyweights.12 rds
Bernard Hopkins vs Joe Smith
Both:Hopkins Unanimous Decision

Featherweights 10 rds
Joseph Diaz vs Horatio Garcia
R.L: Diaz KO 8
TRS:Diaz Unanimous Decision

WBO Cruiserweight title 12 rds
Oleksandr Usyk vs Thabiso Mchunu
R.L:Usyk KO 5
TRS:Usyk KO 8

Charlo wastes Williams,Mares edges Cuellar and Heavyweight fight of the year

The boxing challenge continued with lots of fights,I haven't seen them all,so I'll stick to the ones that I have seen.
The total for the weekend (not including the two title fights that I wrote about earlier) was ten points for me and nine for Ramon Malpica.
The total is 149-125.

Of all the fights on the two American networks and the huge British card,the fight of the day was the co-feature in England as heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora hooked up for the heavyweight fight of the year.
I watched this on Youtube,since Showtime literally refused to show it and waited live on the air with talking heads and a ladies bout for the Anthony Joshua fight to start.
Showtime really dropped the ball as this fight was a winner from start to finish.
You want action-this one had it!
This fight was all that people say that they want from heavyweight boxing with Whyte earning a razor thin split decision in a WBC title eliminator that could see him challenge WBC champ Deontay Wilder.
I scored it 114-114 and would love to see a rematch.
Whyte knocked IBF champ Anthony Joshua down in their fight,which was Whyte's only loss,so a Wilder-Whyte fight might be lots of fun...
I added two points to Ramon's one for this win.

The HBO card saw Terence Crawford stop a outgunned John Molina in the eighth round in Omaha.
Molina came in well overweight,so this was not for Crawford's junior welterweight titles.
I give Molina credit-he never stopped coming,but he was just outclassed and lost every round...
Ramon and I each earned two points for the Crawford stoppage.
I'm not sure what's next for Crawford,who may have to move to welterweight to find a meaningful challenge.
The other HBO fight saw veteran lightweight contender Ray Beltran stop Mason Menard in the seventh round.
Ramon earned one point,while I selected Menard...

The Showtime card from Los Angeles was much better as veteran featherweights Abner Mares and Jesus Cuellar battled in a good action fight,that would have been the fight of the weekend if not for Whyte-Chisora.
Mares knocked Cuellar down in the eleventh round and that made the difference on my card,which was 114-113 in favor of the Mexican veteran.
Mares won a secondary title that will likely set up for the winner of the Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz rematch for the WBA featherweight title,although Mares promoter Richard Schafer was talking about a fight versus the perpetually inactive WBC champion Gary Russell as well.
Ramon and I each picked Cuellar,so no points on that one.

The fight I was looking forward to most saw a surprise to me as I thought Julian Williams would defeat Jermall Charlo for Charlo's IBF junior middleweight title.
Instead Charlo dropped Williams in the second and fifth and finished him in the fifth round.
Charlo dominated with his jab,which knocked Williams down in the second and a right uppercut in the fifth brought the end after Williams won the fourth round on my card and seemed to be working his way back into the fight.
I've been critical of the Charlo brothers (Jermell Charlo is the WBC champion),but there was nothing to quibble about in this one as Charlo notched the best win of his career and did it in spectacular fashion.
Credit due to Charlo for this one,although he loses some for his callout of Canelo Alvarez after the fight.
I really hate it when fighters (PBC fighters do this the most) call out guys from the opposite end of the promotional/network battle when they know there is no way that such a fight is going to be made.
It is such a waste of time with such bravado when the boxing politics indicate there is no way a fight with Canelo Alvarez,who can draw with the dog can be made with Jermall Charlo for the risk and hassle of the other promotions.
Look at the hassle of Gennady Golovkin's negotiations with Daniel Jacobs for a fight that is mandated and tell me an optional fight can be made.
Enjoy your win and keep it real....

Heavyweight Saturday

Two of the four heavyweight titles were on the line from overseas on Saturday and with more action on tap Saturday night,it was a big day in the boxing world..

Early Saturday morning,the WBO title (Vacated by Tyson Fury) was filled in Auckland,New Zealand as hometown fighter Joseph Parker won a narrow majority decision over Andy Ruiz to win that organization's championship.
I thought the scores were fair (114-114 and two cards for Parker 115-113) and could have went either way.
I scored the fight 114-114,but being honest,it felt like Ruiz won the fight.
Sometimes,you can score a fight even and still feel that one fighter "won" the fight-this was one of those nights for me.
I've been critical of Andy Ruiz,his reluctance to get into shape and his less than competitive opponents,but I liked some of what I saw in this fight from him in his first real test against Parker.
Ruiz showed pretty fast hands (although not fast feet) and if he can stay in the gym,he could still make some noise in this division and that is not something that I would have written yesterday before this fight.
As for,the new WBO champion,Joseph Parker showed some talent and patience,but Parker needs work a little more.
I really like the Parker jab,if he can build off that,he can be a interesting fighter to follow.
Parker will be forced to make his first defense in  four months by the WBO against England's Hughie Fury.
Assuming Parker gets by Fury and I think he should-I'm all for a Ruiz rematch,

In the boxing challenge,Ramon Malpica and I each added one point for the Parker victory,

In Manchester England,Anthony Joshua mowed down overmatched Eric Molina in three rounds to retain his IBF heavyweight title.
Molina gave WBC champ Deontay Wilder some anxious moments when he challenged Wilder,but he was no match for Joshua.
Joshua's next fight will be against former champion Wladimir Klitschko in a defense of his title and the winner will receive the other title (WBA) vacated by Tyson Fury..
Ramon added three points for the win,getting the bonus point for calling the round with me adding two...

The boxing challenge stands at 139-116 with more to come.....

Boxing Challenge

The Boxing Challenge for 2016 nears its end,but there is a huge boxing weekend on tap between England,Showtime and even HBO.


The biggest bouts are on Showtime with Anthony Joshua defending his IBF heavyweight title in England vs Eric Molina in his final prep for Wladimir Klitschko and a long awaited for junior middleweight title bout with IBF champ Jermall Charlo defending against Julian Williams paired with a pretty nice action fight at featherweight between Jesus Cuellar and Abner Mares.
HBO responds with a Terence Crawford bout against John Molina that looked questionable when signed,but even worse when Molina came in four POUNDS overweight.
Ray Beltran-Mason Menard might save the day and the vacant WBO heavyweight title is shown on tape delay from New Zealand with Joseph Parker battling Andy Ruiz.
Combine those with a loaded undercard in England that includes Luis Ortiz and the return of Scott Quigg with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr continuing his comeback in Mexico and you have a super boxing weekend.
The challenge is at 136-112.

Of all of these fights,I prefer the Showtime card with two good matchups (Especially Charlo-Williams),but getting a heavyweight title vacancy filled with a title defense isn't too shabby either for a boxing fan!
Get those digital devices ready!!

IBF Heavyweight title.12 rds
Anthony Joshua vs Eric Molina
R.L:Joshua KO 3
TRS:Joshua KO 5

Vacant WBO Heavyweight title.12 rds
Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz
R.L:Parker KO 9
TRS:Parker Unanimous Decision

Welterweights (No title on the line with Molina unable to make weight) 12 rds
Terence Crawford vs John Molina
R.L: Crawford KO 7
TRS:Crawford KO 5

Lightweights.10 rds
Ray Beltran vs Mason Menard
R.L:Beltran Unanimous Decision
TRS:Menard Split Decision

Featherweights. 12 rds
Jesus Cuellar vs Abner Mares
Both:Cuellar Unanimous Decision

IBF Junior Middleweight title.12 rds
Jermall Charlo vs Julian Williams
Both:Williams Unanimous Decision

Heavyweights.12 rds
Dillon Whyte vs Dereck Chisora
R.L:Whyte Unanimous Decision
TRS:Whyte Split Decision

Super Middleweights. 10 rds
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, vs Dominik Britsch
R.L:Chavez KO 7
TRS:Chavez KO 8

Heavyweights.10 rds
Luis Ortiz vs Dave Allen
R.L:Ortiz KO 6
TRS:Ortiz KO 3

Featherweights.10 rds
Scott Quigg vs Jose Cayetano
Both:Quigg Unanimous Decision

Jr.Welterweights.12 rds
Lenny Zappavigna vs Sergey Lipinets
R.L:Lipinets Unanimous Decision
TRS:Lipinets KO 8

Gassiev outpoints Lebedev,Saunders wins-Boxing Challenge

The Boxing Challenge rolled on through Europe as all four fights from the challenge were overseas.
Ramon Malpica and I each added three points for the weekend to bring the total to 136-112.

Murat Gassiev won the IBF cruiserweight title with a split decision win over WBA/IBF champ Denis Lebedev in Moscow.
No,that's not a typo,Lebedev applied for a waiver with the WBA to not put that belt on the line,which the WBA ridiculously granted despite Gassiev being ranked by the organization and the fight being at the division weight.
I'm a fan of titles,but this was just idiotic as Lebedev keeps his title despite the loss.
The fight was a good and close one that I scored 115-112 for Gassiev.
Gassiev dropped Lebedev with a body shot in the fifth round and was the harder puncher to offset the busier Lebedev.
Ramon and I each added one point for the Gassiev win.

However,the knockout of the weekend came on the same card in Moscow.
I sometimes criticize sanctioning bodies for rating fighters from countries where their true mettle is not tested until they hit the big time,but occasionally you can hit oil.
This strike came with Julius Indongo,who had never fought outside of Namibia (which will never be confused with even a middling boxing country) knocked Eduard Troyanovsky silly in less than a minute with a right hand that won Indongo the IBF junior welterweight title.
I'm not sure if Indongo is a star in the making (I had never even heard of Indongo before signing for the fight) or a one punch wonder like Bredis Prescott was when he starched Amir Khan,but what a shot!!!



I haven't watched Billy Joe Saunders and his unanimous decision win to retain his WBO middleweight title over Artur Akakov yet,but it's been reported to be a very close fight against an opponent with less than strong credentials.
Saunders defeated Andy Lee for the title a year ago and this was his first defense and wobbled past against a hand-picked opponent.
Saunders seems to have little interest in fighting top notch foes,although he is quite active in talking about fighting them,as he has turned down huge paydays to fight Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez.
The WBO needs to look into this and have Saunders fight someone soon.
Ramon and each added two points for the win.

Editor's Note: I have now watched the fight and scored Saunders a 115-112 winner.

In Moscow,I haven't seen this fight as of now either,but Denis Shafikov shaded Richard Commey via split decision to earn Shafikov a title fight at lightweight against IBF champion Robert Easter,who had won the vacant belt in his last fight via split decision over Commey.
Ramon and I each picked Commey for no points...

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge gets a weekend with nice matchups with none of them on American TV.
Three title fights or title eliminators from Russia is paced by a fight that I am very excited to see as WBA and IBF Cruiserweight champ Denis Lebedev defends against top contender Murat Gassiev.
This should be a great fight and I hope to see it on YouTube!!

WBO Middleweight champ Billy Jo Saunders returns to action for his first title defense since winning it from Andy Lee a year ago vs Artur Akavov in Scotland.
I've never seen Akakov,but it says a lot considering Saunders aversion to top competition,I'm not expecting much.

WBA/IBF Cruiserweight titles.12 rds
Denis Lebedev vs Murat Gassiev
R.L;Gassiev Unanimous Decision
TRS:Gassiev KO 10

IBF Jr.Welterweight title.12 rds
Eduardo Troyanovsky vs Julius Indongo
R.L;Troyanovsky Unanimous Decision
TRS:Troyanvsky KO 7

Lightweights.12 rds
Richard Commey vs Denis Shafikov
Both:Commey Unanimous Decision

WBO Middleweight title.12 rds
Billy Jo Saunders vs Artur Akavov
Both:Saunders Unanimous Decision

The challenge stands at 133-109

Lomachenko makes Walters quit-Boxing Challenge

The anticipated bout between Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters turned out to be boxing's version of a non-conference cupcake as Lomachenko won every round and made Walters quit at the end of the seventh round.

Lomachenko simply was too much for what was considered to be an elite level fighter and completely discouraged him to the point that Walters meekly surrendered in the corner without a fight.

Lomachenko is arguably the most talented fighter in the sport and appears to be head and shoulders above any fighter from 126-135 pounds.
As far as Walters goes,his timid performance came with a ridiculous excuse that blamed his evening on everyone from his promoter (Top Rank) to the network (HBO) to all of the above for "inactivity".even though most of that was his doing in negotiating for this bout.
I would suspect Walters has plenty of rehab work to do in many eyes and in the eyes of boxing fans,will always be damaged goods....

Ramon Malpica and I each added one point in the boxing challenge for the Lomachenko win,while I added two to Ramon's one for Terry Flanagan's stoppage in round eight of Orlando Cruz to retain Flanagan's WBO lightweight title.
Flanagan is rumored for perhaps an opponent for Lomachenko in the United Kingdom in 2017.
The challenge is currently 133-109.

Don't forget to listen to Fight Heads tomorrow night for more boxing talk on these fights and other issues..

Boxing Challenge

The Boxing Challenge continues with a super fight on HBO as the much anticipated bout between Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters finally takes place in Las Vegas.

Lomachenko and Walters looked to fight last year in what would have been a featherweight unification bout,but Walters dropped his belt after being unable to make weight and Lomachenko was mainly interested in Walters title more than just fighting him.
Fast forward and both are now at 130 pounds and Lomachenko will defend his WBO title at that weight.
It should be a good one as Lomachenko matches his technical brilliance against the lanky and big punching Walters.
If you have HBO-watch this one as it is combined with a replay of the Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward bout from last Saturday.

The boxing challenge with Ramon Malpica is currently at 130-107 in my favor.
I have also added a world title bout from the UK as Terry Flanagan defends his WBO lightweight tile against Orlando Cruz.
No American television for that fight..

Also check out the official Fight Heads website that Ramon has been working on-Great work!

WBO Junior Lightweight title,12 rds
Vasyl Lomachenko vs Nicholas Walters
Both:Lomachenko Unanimous Decision

WBO Lightweight title. 12 rds
Terry Flanagan vs Orlando Cruz
R.L:Flanagan Unanimous Decision
TRS:Flanagan KO 10

Boxing Challenge-Ward robs Kovalev

The pay per view card Saturday saw just three points between Ramon Malpica and myself awarded-two to me for a total of 130-107...

Neither of us added points for the controversial loss for Sergey Kovalev against Andre Ward.
Kovalev dominated the early rounds and scored a knockdown in the second.
I scored Kovalev a 116-111 (8-4 in rounds) winner and watched the fight twice to be fair.
Fairness is important to me and I wanted to make sure there was no bias with me being a Kovalev fan and not one of Ward,so I watched again and gave every close round to Ward.
All of that and I still had Kovalev a 114-113 winner (6-6 in rounds,but the knockdown making the difference).
I've seen worse decisions,but it's been a long time for one this bad in a fight of this importance.

I didn't see the undercard,but that's where the points were scored.
Junior welterweights Maurice Hooker and Darley Perez fought to a draw.
I picked up a point in Oleskander Gvozdyk's win over Issac Chilemba,when the veteran could not answer the bell for round nine in light heavyweight action.
Ramon and I added a point each for Curtis Stevens and his unanimous decision over James De La Rosa.

Tune into Fight Heads tonight for Ramon and I's thoughts on Kovalev-Ward!

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge continues with the most anticipated fight of the year as three belt light heavyweight champion Sergei Kovalev defends against former super middleweight champion Andre Ward.
The battle of two of the five pound for pound fighters in the world might not be as action packed as many hope for,but the skill set will be quite high.
If you like boxing and have the means-buy this card on pay per view tonight.
If you want to see the best fight the best-support it when it occurs...
I lead Ramon Malpica 128-106 in the challenge

WBA/IBF/WBO Lt Heavyweight titles. 12 rds
Sergei Kovalev vs Andre Ward
R.L:Kovalev KO 8
TRS:Kovalev Unanimous Decision.

Junior Welterweights.10 rds
Maurice Hooker vs Darleys Perez
Both:Hooker Unanimous Decision

Light Heavyweights.10 rds
Issac Chilemba vs Oleskander Gvozdyk
R.L;Chilemba Unanimous Decision
TRS:Gvozdyk Unanimous Decision

Middleweights.10 rds
Curtis Stevens vs James De La Rosa
R.L:Stevens KO 7
TRS: Stevens KO 4

Boxing Challenge-One bad weekend

The boxing challenge continued with Ramon Malpica and I adding points.
I added nine to Ramon's eight in a weekend that was filled with mismatches,bad fights and worse=bad decisions.
The standings are in my favor at 128-106.
The bad decision brought out the Hamburglar from my childhood and the 1970's McDonaldland toys.
I decided any time that there was a drop dead decision that should not have been close and yet the wrong guy got the duke (as Vince McMahon used to say),I'm bringing out the Hamburglar!

The dull?
Well,watching Luis Ortiz try to catch the non-combatant Malik Scott over twelve LOOOONNGGG rounds in Monte Carlo on HBO made me wish for anything more exciting-like say watching square dancing.
If someone ever wanted to make a case for why not to watch boxing-pop in this fight.
Ramon and I each added a point for the TRS top ranked heavyweight's unanimous decision.
I had Ortiz winning every round 120-108

Danny Garcia was expected to win against his overmatched opponent Samuel Vargas and he did stopping Vargas over seven one-sided rounds on his way to expected opponent Keith Thurman over the winter.
I'll believe that when I see it since Garcia hates fighting real opponents and Thurman gets injured in training a lot..
Ramon picked up three points with one being a bonus for calling the round,while I added two.

Jarrett Hurd pounded Jo Jo Dan around the ring before Dan's corner stopped the fight in the sixth.
Another talented fighter against an opponent not near up to the task.
I added two points for Hurd's win to Ramon's one..

The best fight of the weekend was the PBC opener was Javier Fortuna won a unanimous call over Omar Douglas in a good action fight.
Douglas dropped Fortuna in the first round and the bout was filled with strong exchanges..
I received one point for Fortuna's win,while Ramon picked Douglas.
I had Fortuna a 95-94 winner on my card.

In Monte Carlo, the worst decision of the weekend occurred and the resulting Hamburglar picture came Jamie McDonnell retained his secondary title with a unanimous decision over Librado Solis.
I had Solis winning nine of the twelve rounds and 117-111 on points.
It's garbage like this that poisons the game with one of the worst decisions of the year...
Ramon and I each scored two points for the McDonnell "win"

Jason Sosa retained his secondary title via unanimous decision over Stephen (No A) Smith.
Sosa scored a knockdown in the second round and won 117-110 on my card.
Sosa will next defend in a rematch against the aforementioned Javier Fortuna....
Ramon and I each scored two points for the Sosa victory...

Catch Ramon and I on Fight Heads Monday night at 8:00 EST for commentary on the weekend fights and a preview of Sergei Kovalev vs Andre Ward.
You can call the show at 646-787-1746!

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge rolls on this weekend with a PBC card on Spike and a nice card from Monte Carlo with three important fights.
I lead Ramon Malpica in the challenge 119-98.

Premier Boxing Champions offers a horrid mismatch as its main event with WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia in a non-title match against journeyman Samuel Vargas,but has two interesting fights underneath it.
Jarrett Hurd impressed me a lot in his last two wins against good opposition and he'll take on former welterweight title challenger Jo Jo Dan and the best fight of the night could be first with former junior lightweight champ Javier Fortuna moving up to lightweight to fight undefeated Omar Douglas.
The moral to this card-If you have to miss some of the show-miss the last part not the first..

Monte Carlo did have four interesting fights,but the flu knocked Dmitri Chudinov out of an interesting super middleweight bout vs Martin Murray.
HBO is showing our top rated heavyweight Luis Ortiz against Malik Scott and two WBA 'Secondary'
titles (We only recognize their "super" champion) are on the line as well.
Bantamweight Jamie McDonnell takes on Libojo Solis in a bout that should he win,could see McDonnell promoted to full champion as champion Rau'Shee Warren was ordered to face McDonnell,but as of yet has done agreed to that match,
McDonnell doesn't want to have a long layoff,so he took this fight to stay busy.

Jason Sosa upset Javier Fortuna in his last bout to win the WBA minor belt and defends against one of the many Smith brothers from England-Stephen.
Sosa was far behind on the cards vs Fortuna before a stunning 11th round knockout.
The winner of this bout will face the true WBA champion next in the winner of the New Years Eve rematch in Tokyo between Jezreel Corrales and Takashi Uchiyama..

Welterweights.10 rds
Danny Garcia vs Samuel Vargas
R.L:Garcia KO 7
TRS:Garcia KO 4

Junior Middleweights.10 rds
Jarrett Hurd vs Jo Jo Dan
R.L;Hurd Unanimous Decision
TRS: Hurd KO 8

Lightweights 10 rds
Javier Fortuna vs Omar Douglas
R.L:Douglas Unanimous Decision
TRS: Fortuna Majority Decision

Heavyweights.12 rds
Luis Ortiz vs Malik Scott
R.L:Ortiz KO 6
TRS:Ortiz KO 3

Bantamweights.12 rds
Jamie McDonnell vs Liborjo Solis
Both:McDonnell Unanimous Decision

Junior Lightweights,12 rds
Jason Sosa vs Stephen Smith
Both:Sosa Unanimous Decision

Pacquiao decisions Vargas-Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge continued in Las Vegas with a four bout card of WBO championships.
I added 8 points for the night to R.L.Malpica's 6 and extended my lead to 119-98...

In the main event,Manny Pacquiao decisioned Jessie Vargas to win the WBO welterweight title.
Pacquiao scored the bout's only knockdown in the second round and generally controlled a lopsided,but interesting fight.
I had Pacquiao a 117-110 winner..
Both Ramon and I scored two points for the win.

In the evening's biggest upset,Jessie Magdaleno won the WBO junior featherweight belt away from Nonito Donaire via a unanimous decision in a fight that was exciting and I thought could have went either way.
The downer on this fight was the two judges scoring Magdaleno a 118-100 (10-2) winner in a fight that I scored 115-113 for the winner,but I could have seen a 115-113 score for the former champion.
No one would have complained about the winner had the scores been closer to reality.
I picked Magdaleno and picked up two points for the win to Ramon's zero for picking Donaire..

In the evening's biggest mismatch,Oscar Valdez retained his WBO featherweight title with a seventh round knockout over overmatched mandatory contender Hiroshige Ogawa of Japan.
I had Valdez winning every round in a fight that did nothing other than fulfill the mandatory of the sanctioning body for Valdez.
Ramon and I each earned two points for the stoppage..

We each would add two points for Zou Shiming's unanimous decision over Prasitpak Papoem to win the vacant WBO flyweight title in a bout that I have yet to watch...

Listen to FightHeads Monday at 8 EST for Ramon and I's thoughts on the card from Las Vegas.

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge returns after a slow few months to start fall,but the final two months of 2016 looks strong,so the challenge will finish with lots of great fights.

A very good fight card with four WBO titles on the line this Saturday features the return of Manny Pacquiao in an attempt to regain the WBO title that he lost to the now-retired Floyd Mayweather.
The champion now is Jessie Vargas,who knocked Sadam Ali in an impressive effort to win the title that had been vacated by Timothy Bradley in order to fight Pacquiao.
The travels that these titles take can often leave your head spinning.....

The undercard is a very good one as well with the co-feature a top notch tilt between Nonito Donaire and Jessie Magdaleno for the junior featherweight title.
It's a bit overpriced with Top Rank running it themselves rather than usual partner HBO and might be unintentionally funny with non-boxing people Stephen A.Smith and Charissa Thompson on the broadcast,but it has some interesting bouts for sure.

The challenge is currently led by me over Ramon Malpica by 111-92

WBO Welterweight title.12 rds
Jessie Vargas vs Manny Pacquiao
Both:Pacquiao unanimous decision

WBO Junior Featherweight title.12 rds
Nonito Donaire vs Jessie Magdaleno
R.L: Donaire unanimous decision
TRS:Magdaleno unanimous decision

WBO Featherweight title.12 rds
Oscar Valdez vs Hiroshige Ogawa
R.L:Valdez KO 4
TRS: Valdez KO 3

Vacant WBO Flyweight title.12 rds
Zou Shiming vs Prasitsak Papoem
Both:Shiming unanimous winner

Boxing Challenge-Canelo stops Smith

The boxing challenge saw both Ramon Malpica and I add five points over the weekend to our totals on a big fight weekend.
The total is currently 111-92.

The featured bout saw Canelo Alvarez lift the WBO junior middleweight title from Liam Smith with a body shot in round nine.
Alvarez dropped Smith in rounds seven and eight before the thunderous left hook that finished the bout.
Alvarez broke his right thumb in the win and will miss the remainder of 2016.
Ramon and I each gained two point for the Alvarez KO.

The co-feature saw each of us add two more points as Willie Monroe.Jr outboxed Gabriel Rosado and earned a dull unanimous decision.
The less said about this one,the better...

In Japan,Shinsuke Yamanaka knocked our Anselmo Moreno to retain his WBC Bantamweight belt in round seven.
Yamanaka floored Moreno in round one,but Moreno returned the favor in round four
Yamanaka dropped Moreno late in round six before the clinching two knockdowns in round seven to end the fight.
Ramon earned one point for picking Yamanaka,while I picked Moreno..

In Poland, Oleksandr Usyk won the WBO Cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision over Kryzstof Glowacki.
The former Olympic gold medalist went the distance for the first time in his career,but was a clear winner.
Usyk might be one to keep an eye as another breakout star from the former Soviet republics in the near future.
I picked Usyk for one point,while Ramon picked Glowacki.

Boxing Challenge

The Boxing Challenge continues with a pay per view card that is weak all around and two world title fights from overseas that might be exciting,but lack American television.
The challenge is currently 106-87.

WBC Bantamweight title.12 rds
Shinsuke Yamanaka vs Anselmo Moreno
R.L:Yamanaka Unanimous Decision
TRS:Moreno Split Decision

WBO Cruiserweight title.12 rds
Kryzstof Glowacki vs Oleksandr Usyk
R.L;Glowacki KO 6
TRS:Usyk KO 9

Middleweights.12 rds
Gabriel Rosado vs Willie Monroe Jr.
Both:Monroe Unanimous Decision

WBO Junior Middleweight title.12 rds
Liam "Beefy" Smith vs Canelo Alvarez
R.L:Alvarez KO 4
TRS:Alvarez KO 8

Boxing Challenge-GGG dries up Brook

The boxing challenge moved on with a big boxing weekend.
I earned ten points to Ramon Malpica's seven to boost the overall lead to 106-87..

We each earned two points for Gennady Golovkin's fifth round stoppage of Kell Brook.
Give Brook lots of credit for taking the fight and for coming to fight,but he was overmatched and undersized and Golovkin clearly was breaking him down physically (broken eye socket) and his corner did the right thing in saving their fighter,who could still be a terrific fighter in 147 and 154 pound action.
As for Golovkin,who retained his WBA,WBC and IBF belts,the WBA is asking for Daniel Jacobs next and hopefully the political powers (HBO and PBC) can come to an agreement to get that fight in the fall.

Roman Gonzalez won the WBC Jr.Bantamweight title from Carlos Cuadras with a unanimous decision nod.
Cuadras fought well and had he set down a little more of his punches,might have prevailed.
I scored Gonzalez a narrow 115-113 winner,but we might have seen the weight where Gonzalez transitions from great to very good.
It happens to all fighters as they move up,their power lessens and their greatness dims just a bit.
I added two points for the Gonzalez victory with Ramon adding one.
The undercard fight on HBO saw Jesus Soto-Karass surrender in his corner after round eight against Yoshihiro Kamegai.
The bout was entertaining enough,but Kamegai was clearly ahead on the cards.
Might be time for Soto-Karass to consider hanging the gloves up.
Ramon picked Kamegai and added one point,while I picked Soto-Karass to win.

The best fighter that you may not have heard kept his IBF Jr.Welterweight title as Eduard Troyanovsky blew away Keita Obara in two in Moscow.
Troyanovsky might be the next star in the making from Russia,if he gets some U.S. exposure.
I earned two points for the win and knockout with Ramon getting one for the win

On the Golovkin-Brook undercard,we each earned two points for Lee Haskins unanimous decision win over Stuart Hal for Haskins IBF Bantamweight crown,but I added one to Ramon's zero for Johnriel Casimero's 10th round stoppage of Charlie Edwards to retain his IBF Flyweight title.

End of the season-Jacobs disposes of Mora

The Boxing Challenge returned last night in Reading,Pennsylvania with a PBC card that saw another "callout" of Gennady Golovkin that will be unlikely to happen and a lightweight title fight that filled a vacancy.

However,a slight detour.
I was unable to watch the card until this morning as I was live and in person at the Hagerstown Suns playoff game that saw them eliminated by the Lakewood Blue Claws.
That game also saw the end to the autograph season and following the game,I was stuck in a huge rainstorm,so wet clothes and all,I made a quick retreat to work.
Before I get to Boxing,just a quick nod to all my autograph buddies that make the year so great.
At this time of year,I am just as ready as the players to be finished for a while,but it's always the best time of the year.
Thanks to (no particular order) Derreck Chupak,Doug Hopkins,Bill Cover,Kendall Morris and Tim Jarman at home,Fred and Michael Landucci at Harrisburg and Brett Shaw at Altoona as well as my traders Jason Christensen,Corey White,Tom O'Brien and Craig Lindgren for all your help and fun in this crazy hobby that I so adore....

The main event saw Daniel Jacobs take on Sergio Mora for the second time in a rematch that few wanted to see the first time.
Jacobs dropped Mora in the fourth and fifth before scoring three knockdowns in the seventh to finish the fight.
Jacobs is supposed to be the mandatory for Gennady Golovkin,if Golovkin beats Kell Brook later today,but after the Sergei Kovalev/Adonis Stevenson HBO?PBC mess,I'm dubious of that bout getting made.
Ramon Malpica and I each added two points for the Jacobs win...

The vacancy for the IBF in the 135 pound division was filled with Robert Easter's split decision win over Richard Commey.
The fight was pretty entertaining and close for two fighters that had never went the 12 round distance entering the bout.
Commey scored the fights only knockdown when he knocked Easter off balance and Easter's glove touched the floor,but Easter almost stopped Commey in a huge 12th round for the Ohio native.
I scored Commey a 114-113 winner.
Ramon and I each earned 1 point for the Easter win and the total standings is now 99-83