The World This Week by Oliver Fennell Oct 2nd 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 24 WBA super-flyweight champion Alexander Munoz returned to the scene of his title triumph and repelled another Japanese opponent. This time it was Kuniyuki Aizawa to fall to Munoz in Tokyo, as the Venezuelan retained his belt for the first time. He had outpointed Nobuo Nashiro for the championship in this same city four months ago. September 27 WBO number one heavyweight contender Tony Thompson kept busy while awaiting his title chance by stopping Cliff Couser in two rounds in Lemoore, California. Trialhorse Couser, who is supposedly Mike Tyson's half-brother, scored a huge upset last time out against Monte Barrett, but it was business as usual this time. Mindaugas Kulikauskas, once a thorn in the side of several British heavyweights, is on quite a run in his native Lithuania. Kulikauskas was only 3-6-3 when he picked up a fortunate cuts victory over Herbie Hide in 2004. He has also held Scott Gammer to a draw, floored Mark Krence and given John McDermott and Mark Krence difficult distance fights. Kulikauskas apparently no longer sees himself as a journeyman and has clawed back a winning record for himself. He now stands at 12-9-2 following a second-round knockout of Peter Simko in Kaunas, Lithuania, and has won his last seven contests – although it must be said against poor opposition. September 28 WBO super-bantamweight king Daniel Ponce De Leon tested the featherweight waters by knocking out Colombian Reynaldo Lopez in five rounds in Cabazon, California. It was a non-title fight. Ex-champ Amin Asikainen of Finland came back from his European middleweight title defeat to Sebastien Sylvester by posting a routine four-round decision over Sylvain Touzet of France in Stockholm. A name infamous to British fans appeared on the same bill, as Samuel Kebede of Ethiopia beat Romania's Mihaita Mutu on points, also over four. It was Kebede's first fight since folding meekly in a round against Scott Harrison in an unwarranted WBO featherweight title in 2004. September 29 There was a changing of the guard at middleweight as undefeated young contender Kelly Pavlik knocked out WBC and WBO champion Jermain Taylor in seven rounds in Atlantic City. Pavlik recovered from a second-round knockdown and came from behind on the scorecards to dethrone Taylor, who'd had an underwhelming run but ironically answered many questions in defeat. WBO super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe has expressed an interest in meeting Pavlik, should he get past Mikkel Kessler next month. Chief support saw rising star Andre Berto impressively dismantle former world title challenger David Estrada in 11 rounds. Estrada pushed Berto hard, but the Olympian passed the test with flying colours, landing not only the NABF welterweight title, but also the number one contender's spot with both the WBC and IBF. A familiar name to British fans won on the undercard, as Omar Sheika stopped Tiwon Taylor in four rounds. Sheika lost to Calzaghe seven years ago and is now up at light-heavyweight. The American has also boxed Toks Owoh and Tony Booth. A couple of next-generation prospects furthered their education, with Ronald Hearns – son of Tommy “The Hitman” – bombing out Robert Kamya in a round at middleweight and Chazz Witherspoon – nephew of “Terrible” Tim – forcing a fifth-round corner retirement at heavyweight over Robert Guerrero. Finally, last year's WBA welterweight title challenger Carlos Quintana stopped Barbadian trialhorse Chris Henry in four rounds. On the same night Clinton Woods was retaining his IBF light-heavyweight title, his WBC counterpart Chad Dawson was doing likewise across the Atlantic in Sacramento. Dawson stopped late substitute Epifanio Mendoza in four rounds to retain the belt for a second time. Mendoz stepped in for injured mandatory challenger Adrian Diaconu. There was a surprise title change on the same show, as Ghanaian bantamweight Joseph Agbeko outmuscled defending IBF holder Luis Perez for a doctor's stoppage in seven rounds. Agbeko had done little to deserve this opportunity, but delivered on the night. The Ghanaian had once disgraced himself in Britain by failing to show for the weigh-in for a Commonwealth title challenge to Martin Power. Man-mountain Nicolai Valuev returned to winning form following his defeat to Ruslan Chagaev in April by outpointing Canadian prospect Jean-Francois Bergeron in Oldenburg, Germany. Valuev is now eyeing a WBA eliminator against Sergei Lyakovich to secure an attempt to regain his old championship. On the undercard, Vitali Tsypko bossed David Gogiya over 12 in a final eliminator for the IBF super-middleweight title. It was a battle of former European champions, with Tsypko having beaten Brian Magee in 2005. Light-welterweight hope Christian Bejarano notched the best win of his unbeaten 15-fight career by outscoring veteran ex-champ Cesar Bazan in Chihuahua, Mexico. Bazan held the WBC lightweight title in 1998 but dropped a split decision here in an attempt on the WBC International strap. Former WBA strawweight holder Noel Arambulet returned to winning ways after a brace of recent losses, outscoring novice Elvis Garcia over 10 in Caracas, Venezuela. Arambulet is now trying his luck at flyweight. Pastor Maurin continued his up-and-down recent form as an opponent for South America's young hopes. This time, in Paysandu, Uruguay, he was disqualified in the fourth against Jonathon Victor Barros. Still, Maurin – who engaged in a tough one with Michael Brodie in London five years ago – cannot be written off even at 38. Last time out he shattered the unbeaten record of countryman Carlos Ricardo Rodriguez. Barros, meanwhile, goes to 19-0 at Maurin's expense. 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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