The World This Week by Oliver Fennell Jul 30th 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 23 Veteran former two-time IBF minimumweight champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin knocked out obscure Chinese Gui Yao Bo in three rounds in Maha Sarakham, Thailand. Perennial super flyweight contender Pramuansak Posuwan knocked out another Chinese competitor, Wei Zhi Feng, on the undercard, also in three rounds. July 26     Aussie trier Shannan Taylor scored his third victory in seven months, knocking out unknown Thai Terdkiat Siththeppitak in six rounds in Darwin. Taylor, 35, is a two-time world title challenger who was beaten by Richard Williams in London in 2001. He has also fought Shane Mosley (l ko 6). July 20 Double world title challenger Hugo Garay of Argentina enjoyed an easy night's work, knocking out compatriot Orlando Farias in the opener of their Santa Fe showdown. Garay has twice fought WBO light heavyweight ruler Zsolt Eredit, dropping a close points decision on each occasion. July 27 The elder statesman of the light heavyweight division, Glen Johnson, warmed up for a mandated fourth fight with Clinton Woods by knocking out trialhorse Fred Moore in five rounds in Miami. Thirty-eight-year-old Johnson is 1-1-1 in his trilogy with Woods and secured the decider by beating Montell Griffin in an IBF eliminator last time out. Johnson also holds victories over Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver. One-time hot prospect Francisco Bojado continued his “comeback” – he's still only 24 – with a stoppage in the 10th and final round over Mexican trialhorse Rogelio Castaneda in Tucson. Welterweight Bojado now goes on to an intriguing youth vs experience encounter against Steve Forbes in September. On the same bill, one-time interim lightweight titlist Jose Armando Santa Cruz stopped Dairo Jose Esalas in a couple of rounds. Finally, Scotland's Craig McEwan progressed to 6-0 with a TKO4 over middleweight Valentino Jalomo of Texas. Martin Castillo, relieved of his WBA super flyweight title a year ago in Japan, notched up his second victory since by outpointing journeyman Oscar Andrade over 10 sessions in Albuquerque. One of boxing's “next big things”, Floridian Olympian Andre Berto, took a significant step up in class for his 19th pro contest, when he met former world title challenger Cosme Rivera. Berto came through, although not unscathed. The Floridian welterweight suffered the first knockdown of his career when Rivera dumped him on the canvas in round six. Rivera also closed the Saratoga Springs fight strongly, but he couldn't overcome an early points deficit. It will have been a valuable learning experience for Berto, who had had things almost entirely his own way in previous matches. Rivera is a grizzled and dangerous fringe contender, as British fans will know from the mauling he gave James Hare in 2003. Another prospect picked up a career-best win on the same card, as heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon halted Talmadge Griffis in nine. Spanish prospect Jesus Garcia Escalona picked up the EU super featherweight title with an impressive unanimous decision over recent European contender Antonio Joao Bento in Vilamoure, Portugal. Escalona is now 14-0, no knockouts. July 28 Vernon Forrest returned to title form at 36 by comfortably outpointing Carlos Baldomir for the WBC light middleweight crown vacated by Floyd Mayweather. Forrest, who has been treading water somewhat since back-to-back losses against Ricardo Mayorga in 2003, stayed a step ahead of his durable co-challenger and picked up a wide, unanimous decision at the end of the Tacoma, Washington, tussle. Precocious young Japanese brothers Koki and Daiki Kameda notched a double success in Tokyo. Koki, 20, a former undefeated WBA flyweight champion, continued his climb up the super flyweight ranks by posting a near-shutout points decision over ex-NABA holder Cesar Lopez of Texas. Daiki, 18, and also a super flyweight, achieved a similar result against Thai import Fahpetchnoi Sor Chitpattana and is now 10-0 (7). Amazing female flyweight Regina Halmich is one fight away from hanging up her gloves after outscoring Californian Wendy Rodriguez in defence of her WIBF world championship in Dusseldorf. Halmich's record reads 53-1-1, including an amazing 45 world title fights across three weight divisions. Now 30-year-old Halmich says she is planning a farewell performance next time out, and then settling in to a well-earned retirement. Guty Espadas Jr repeated a victory over Moises Perez, stopping him on cuts in the 11th round of a vacant WBC Mundo Hispano featherweight title fight Cancun, Mexico. It was a close-run rematch until the unsatisfactory conclusion. Their first encounter, four months ago, ended in a controversial split decision win for ex-WBC world champion Espadas, who is on the comeback trail after being out of the ring through 2005 and 2006. Hector Camacho Jr blew any chance of a world shot in the near future by turning up well out of condition and getting outworked by Don Juan Futrell in Laughlin, Nevada. Camacho, once considered a top prospect at light welterweight, was a rotund 161lb here.

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