The World This Week by Oliver Fennell Sep 24th 2007

Oliver Fennell sums up the international action of interest. Results with relevance to British boxing are in bold. We will not reveal The Contender results out of respect for those who wish to watch the series without knowing what happened. September 16 A spanner was thrown in the works of former world featherweight champion Freddie Norwood's comeback as he was disqualified against prospect Johnnie Edwards in Airway Heights, Washington. Norwood, 37, was thrown out in the sixth round for low blows. It was only his second defeat in 45 contests. Edwards is now 13-1-1. September 18 There's life in the old dog yet. One-time IBF lightweight champion Javier Jauregui proved he's not yet ready to settle into journeyman character by knocking out undefeated American Adrian Mora in eight rounds in Friant, California. Jauregui won his world title in 2003 but lost it in his first defence against the ill-fated Leavander Johnson. He had lost his last two fights before this and was supposed to give Mora's record same name recognition. He didn't read the script and took the IBA light-welterweight belt, for what it's worth. It was Jauregui's 52nd win from 68 contests. Mora dips to 19-1-1. September 20 Thailand's elder statesman continued on his quest for one more title shot by outpointing Reman Salim of the Philippines in a bantamweight eight in Suphan Buri. Sahaprom famously won the WBA bantamweight title in only his third fight and is a two-time world champion. His second reign was ended by the excellent Hozumi Hasegawa, but Sahaprom remains a major player in the division at 28. September 20 Herbie Hide continued his Germany-based cruiserweight campaign by demolishing Romanian journeyman Mircea Telecan in one round in Luebeck. It was another easy win in what has been mainly a comfortable comeback for Hide, now 5-0 at the weight. But he has been nominated to meet Giacobbe Fragomeni for the EU belt, which will be an interesting encounter, should Hide accept. Hide's one-time WBO heavyweight title challenger Willi Fischer, who folded in a couple of rounds in their 1998 encounter, won another bout on his own comeback, outscoring Latvian trialhorse Aleksejs Kosobokovs over eight. Finally, much-touted heavyweight hope Odlanier Solis – who stopped David Haye in the amateur world championships – moved to 4-0 by knocking out late sub Marcus McGee in a couple of rounds. Solis was originally supposed to fight durable veteran Sedrick Fields in a sterner test. Giuseppe Lauri, a loser on British shores to Ricky Hatton, Junior Witter and Ted Bami (twice), bounced back from the latter Bami defeat to win the EU and WBC International light-welterweight titles by stopping previously unbeaten compatriot Michele Di Rocco in Livorno, Italy. Chris Arreola, considered by some to be America's best heavyweight hope, knocked out fellow prospect Thomas Hayes in the third round of their WBC Continental Americas title bout in Ontario, California. Arreola is now 22-0 (20). On the same bill, rising middleweight Ricardo Cortes picked up the best win of his career so far, after veteran Fernando Zuniga got himself disqualified for a low blow in the third. Women's world champion Holly Holm retained her IBA welterweight belt with a wide decision over Angelica Martinez in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Holm defeated Jane Couch last year for the IBA belt a division down. September 21 Nearlyman Ricardo Cordoba stopped previously unbeaten Danys Diaz in five rounds of a tussle for the Panamanian and vacant WBA Fedelation super-bantamweight belts. Cordoba has twice fought Wladimir Sidorenko for the WBA bantam world title but has agonisingly gone to a draw on both occasions.

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