The World This Week by Oliver Fennell Jul 17th 2007

Oliver Fennell sums up the international action of interest from the past seven days. Results with relevance to British boxing are in bold. July 8 Former world class Ugandan Justin Juuko picked up the second win of his comeback by whitewashing Tanzanian journeyman Chaurembo Palasa over 10 rounds in Kampala. Juuko was once a very highly-regarded international force and based himself in Britain for five years in the 1990s. Last time we saw him, though, he looked a spent force when folding in two rounds against Michael Gomez in 2004. July 11     Hot Colombian Joel Julio picked up a decent scalp by stopping Cornelius ‘K9' Bundrage in eight rounds in Los Angeles. Julio was once considered the hottest prospect in boxing by some, but was pegged back by Carlos Quintana last year. He has rebounded well, winning five contests since. Bundrage is a known quantity on both sides of the Atlantic, having appeared on both American and British versions of The Contender. He beat Colin McNeil here in March. July 13 Surprise package Christian Mijares made a successful third defence of his WBC super-flyweight championship by stopping outgunned Japanese Teppei Kikui in nine rounds in Gomez Palacio, Mexico. Mijares leapt to prominence last time out by dominating Jorge Arce. On the same card, veteran Lorenzo Trejo earned a tilt at the WBC minimumweight belt with a sixth-round knockout of Erik Ramirez, and Gamaliel Diaz did likewise at featherweight by split-decisioning Elio Rojas over 10. Former WBA super-bantamweight ruler Somsak Sithchatchawal picked up his sixth win since dropping the belt to Celestino Caballero in October, posting a routine points win over Rey Anton Olarte of the Philippines in Photharam, Thailand. It was a six-rounder. Middleweight Matt Vanda made a quick return following last month's surprise defeat to Kenny Kost and picked up a name scalp. Vanda outscored contender-turned-journeyman James Crayton over eight rounds in Hinckley, Minnesota. Crayton is a former lightweight, competing well above his natural division. Super middleweight fringe contender Allan Green rebounded from March's setback against Edison Miranda in spectacular style, annihilating capable trialhorse Darrell Woods in the opener of their Tulsa contest. July 14 In a fight of two halves, Paul ‘The Punisher' Williams' early work was favoured over Antonio Margarito's later rallies, leading to a unanimous decision win and a new WBO welterweight champion in Los Angeles. Williams may now move on to a superfight against Miguel Cotto, while self-styled “most avoided man in boxing” Margarito is left to complain about a verdict he maintains was unjust. A couple of America's better prospects won on the undercard. Olympian Andre Ward stopped Francisco Diaz at middleweight to go to 13-0, while heavyweight Chris Arreola whacked out Dennis Berry in a round and improves to 21-0. One of the most illustrious careers of modern times crashed to an ignominious end as Arturo Gatti was stopped by Alfonso Gomez. Fighting in front of his fawning adopted hometown fans in Atlantic City for the umpteenth time, the 35-year-old Canadian was never in the contest against a man who had previously operated some distance shy of world class. The years and the wars took their toll on Gatti and he joined the ranks of once-fierce champions who were beaten at the ends of their careers by opponents they would have toyed with in their primes. Gatti shipped a frightful amount of punishment in the fateful seventh round, topped by a big right hand which put him down for the count. In a world championship fight which was officially supporting Gatti's non-title affair, Kermit Cintron impressively knocked out Walter Matthysse in two rounds to retain his IBF welterweight laurels. Another ageing favourite fared better in Biloxi, Mississippi, as Roy Jones widely outscored previously unbeaten Anthony Hanshaw over 12 rounds. Jones, 38, was fighting for the first time in 11 months. The multi-weight champion, who stopped Britain's Clinton Woods in 2002, is looking for one last title shot and has been toying with names as far-ranging as heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko down to super middleweight Joe Calzaghe. Ex-featherweight champion Derrick Gainer was awarded an unpopular split decision over Carlos Navarro at lightweight on the undercard, while exciting cruiserweight Ezra Sellers resurfaced with a sixth-round stoppage of Troy Beets. Impressive IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor retained for the first time by stopping high class South African Takalani Ndlovu in nine rounds in Orillia, Canada. Molitor trounced Britain's Michael Hunter for the vacant title eight months ago and has also beaten Nicky Booth and John Mackay in British rings. Fernando Montiel retained his WBO super flyweight title against compatriot Cecilio Santos in Cuidad Obregon, Mexico. Montiel won by 10th round stoppage and was in control from the start. German heavyweight Luan Krasniqi was booed from the ring after his fifth round stoppage loss to American Tony Thompson in Hamburg. Krasniqi was hesitant throughout and seemingly had no desire to win. He was not hurt at the time of the stoppage, but it had been one-way traffic. With the win, Thompson has made the mandatory spot in the WBO rankings. Unbeaten Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko scored a decent win on the undercard, stopping Malcolm Tann of the USA in five rounds to retain the WBO Intercontinental heavyweight tile. Vassili Jirov resumed his stuttering post-championship career with a two-round stoppage of trialhorse Kenny Craven in New Town, North Dakota. Jirov is aiming for another cruiserweight title run after a wholly unsuccessful heavyweight sojourn between 2004 and 2005. July 15 Zolile Mbityi, a well-known face to British observers, retained his South African super flyweight title with a clear decision over Unathi Gqokoma in East London. Mbityi has fought James Drummond, Peter Culshaw, Damaen Kelly, Dale Robinson and Lee Haskins.

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