The World This Week by Oliver Fennell Feb 13th 2008

Oliver Fennell sums up the international action of interest. Results with relevance to British boxing are in bold. February 7, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Kendall Holt returned from his controversial world title defeat to Ricardo Torres seven months ago by outpointing hard-headed veteran Ben Tackie over 10 rounds. Light-welterweight Holt picked up a majority decision over Tackie, who doesn't win at this level anymore, but has never been stopped. He took Ricky Hatton 12 rounds in 2003. February 8, Dover, Delaware, USA Undefeated cruiserweight contender BJ Flores halted the hot run of knockout artist Darnell Wilson, posting a unanimous decision over 12 for the USBA belt. The fight also doubled as an IBF eliminator. Wilson had consecutively beaten rated fighters in his four previous contests, but came unstuck when a world title shot was on the line. February 8, Miami, Florida, USA Veteran welterweight Cosme Rivera returned to the winning column following a July defeat to highly-touted Andre Berto. This time, he stopped Raul Pinzon in eight rounds for the vacant WBA Fedecentro title. Rivera has been a dangerous nearlyman through the years, giving Berto and Joel Julio hard fights, and beating Felix Flores and our own James Hare. Former flyweight world champion Eric Morel launched his comeback on the same show, outpointing journeyman Felipe Almanza over eight. He had been inactive since an unsuccessful super-flyweight challenge to Martin Castillo in 2005. Finally, Contender star Ishe Smith marked time with a two-round stoppage of Carlos De La Cruz at middleweight. February 8, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Former two-time world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer headlined a rare show in the Middle East, but his bout lasted just 32 seconds. Opponent Rich Boruff was knocked down twice in this short time. Moorer, now 40, is fighting at club level these days, although in his younger days he mixed it up with the likes of Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, David Tua and Frans Botha. February 9, Temecula, California, USA The reign of Paul Williams is over not long after it started, after the flashy American was relieved of his WBO welterweight title in his first defence. Williams had looked sensational on the way up and beat a respected champion in Antonio Margarito to claim the belt, but was shocked on this night by Puerto Rican hardman Carlos Quintana. A close but unanimous verdict was rendered after 12 hard rounds, adding further spice to what is already boxing's hottest division. Chief support saw streaking welterweight Andre Berto impress against German veteran Michael Trabant, who bailed out after six rounds. Down the bill, heavyweight hope Chris Arreola bombed out the occasionally-dangerous Cliff Couser in the first. February 9, Leon, Mexico Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, the son of the legend of the same name, improved to 35-0-1 and scored the best win of his career to date, as he stopped compatriot Jose Celaya in eight rounds. Celaya had given Chavez all he could handle until the younger (21-year-old) man found the punches to end it. With the victory, Junior picked up the vacant WBC Continental Americas light-middleweight strap. Julio Cesar's younger brother, Omar, continued his own fledgling pro campaign by knocking out debutant Miguel Camacho in the opener. Light-welterweight Omar is now 6-0. In world title action, WBC light-flyweight holder Edgar Sosa breezed to an easy decision win over modest challenger Jesus Uribe, who brought a 13-4-3 record to this fight. Sosa won almost every round. A gimmick on the undercard saw an appearance by 90s heavyweight sensation Tommy Morrison, who whacked out novice Matt Weishaar in the third round. Morrison tested positive for HIV in 1996, apparently ending his career, but he launched a comeback last year, claiming he now tested negative and suggesting the original test results had been wrong. The truth of the matter is not yet known, and for now, 38-year-old Morrison has to fight in states and countries with less stringent licensing regulations. The final match of Morrison's “legit” career was a defeat to Lennox Lewis. Finally, middleweight puncher Marco Antonio Rubio stopped Jose Luis Zertuche in seven rounds to win the WBC Fecarbox title. February 9, Lublin, Poland Ex-IBF world cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk notched up the third win since losing his belt, stopping Gabor Halasz of Hungary in four rounds. Wlodarczyk's impressive 40-2 record includes a TKO victory over John Keeton. February 9, Aabyro, Denmark Once-British-based lightweight Sam Rukundo continued his Scandinavian campaign, stopping Alexander Slatykov of Russia in four rounds. Rukundo, originally from Uganda, turned pro in Britain in 2004 and had his last fight her 12 months ago. He is now unbeaten in 13 contests (one draw), and his ledger includes the respected names of Henry Janes, Chris Long, Billy Smith and Silence Saheed, among others. On the same bill, Lasse Johansen – who gave David Haye a decent fight for the European cruiserweight belt in 2006 – knocked out one Viktor Szalai in two rounds. It was Johansen's first outing since the Haye setback, which was his first loss.

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