APRIL 2010 TITLE FIGHTS
Heavyweight
CHAMP Vitali Klitschko (19-1-1, 15 KO) vs #10 James J Corbett (5-3-2, 1 KO)
Corbett's Top 10 ranking after only 10 bouts, only 5 of them wins, was questioned by many. But he showed his worth here, giving the champ all he could handle. Klitschko dropped Corbett in the first and again in the 13th, but Corbett swept rounds 2-4 and 9-11 to keep it interesting. It appeared he'd force a decision when Klitschko drops the hammer on him late in the 15th and Corbett couldn't rise in time. He was behind 134-132, 135-131, 133-132 on the cards, but despite a mediocre record, Corbett has shown he'll need to be contended with going forward.
Cruiserweight
CHAMP David Haye (16-2, 10 KO) vs #1 Wayne Braithwaite (14-1, 13 KO)
Haye's 10th round knockout of Jean-Marc Mormeck back in November was an impressive first defense, but his only one in 12 months. Forced to defend against the #1 here or forfeit the belt, Haye goes down in the opening round, then fells Braithwaite in the second. But after an even third, Braithwaite pummels Haye for nearly three minutes in the fourth before the bout is stopped with the ropes the only thing keeping Haye on his feet. Wayne Braithwaite is the NEW PBA Cruiserweight champion!
Middleweight
CHAMP Billy Papke (23-0-1, 16 KO) vs #1 Guillermo Carriles (18-5-1, 12 KO)
The undefeated Papke has been an evasive champion to say the least. He was forced to fight Bob Fitzsimmons in February when mandatory #1 Stanley Ketchel couldn't go. He won a unanimous decision then but now was forced into facing new #1 contender Gullermo Carriles. Papke responds by eviscerating Carriles, dropping him three times in the second round before the fight is stopped. Papke now has a year before he must face a #1 again, and it will be interesting to see what his dance card looks like in the near future.
Lightweight
CHAMP Benny Leonard (17-1, 10 KO) vs #1 Battling Nelson (10-2-1, 6 KO)
Nelson takes the champ the distance and has some good moments particularly in the middle of the fight. But Leonard matches his pace and does so with much more accuracy, landing more than half of his punches. Nelson acquits himself well all things considered, but Leonard is just too much, earning a unanimous decision 148-138, 148-138, 147-139 for this third successful defense.
Jr. Lightweight
CHAMP Edwin Valero (13-2, 12 KO) vs #12 Jesus Chavez (10-4, 9 KO)
Valero looks thoroughly dominant, pitching a near shutout on all cards when in the 10th Chavez hammers him with a stirring sequence that puts Valero on his back. Chavez pressures but Valero survives, then puts Chavez down in the 11th and again in the 12th. Chavez rises both times but Valero batters him after the second before the referee jumps in to stop it to give Valero a TKO win at 2:52 of the 12th.
Flyweight
CHAMP Omar Narvaez (15-2, 10 KO) vs #6 Lorenzo Parra (13-3, 13 KO)
Narvaez continues his impressive run, picking up his 13th straight win in dominant fashion, obliterating a tough customer in Lorenzo Parra with a second round TKO that, had the ref not stopped the fight Parra's corner was about to. A brilliant performance from the champ!
Strawweight
CHAMP Oleydong Sithsarnerchai (15-1, 11 KO) vs #1 Songkram Porpaoin (14-2, 3 KO)
After five cautions and an official warning through the first 11 rounds of a very even, back-and-forth battle, referee Chalem Prayadsab decides he's seen enough when Sithsarnerchai commits his seventh infraction of the bout, an intentional headbutt to Porpaoin. The champion's corner is livid, questioning how he could be disqualified when he'd never even had a point taken away. But the error here seemed to be that the point hadn't been taken away rather than the disqualification, as the champion had been fighting dirty all night long. As such, by disqualification, Songrak Porpaoion is the NEW Strawweight champion. He was up 105-104, 105-104, 106-106 when the bout was stopped.
GH