The Federal Boxing Alliance

[GForce]

July Title Fight Recaps Cont.

IBF Featherweight: Champion Vicente Saldivar (6-0, 5 KO) vs #7 Luisito Espinosa (2-3, 1 KO)

Espinosa had lost 3 straight before stopping Enrique Sanchez in May. That win made him someone the thus-far dominant Saldivar figured he could take some credit for beating.

And so he does...no reason for round-by-round here. No drama. Saldivar pummels Espinosa from the opening bell, until late in the 4th when hook follows up some outstanding body work to drop Espinosa to the mat. Overmatched, he decides it's much more comfortable to stay there.

By knockout at 2:44 of round 4, and STILL IBF FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION...VICENTE SALDIVAR!!!!

Vicente Saldivar KO 4 Luisito Espinosa

IBF Jr. Featherweight: Champion Jeff Fenech (4-0, 2 KO) vs unranked Jesse Benavides (1-2)

The tough Aussie Fenech finally decides to step in and defend, hand-picking Benavides for his first defense. Fenech throws twice as many punches, but Benavides hangs in there with him. Surprisingly, the bout goes the distance, and the gap in the score is primarily because of Fenech's domination in the last 5 rounds, which he swept on all cards, with a 10-8 in the 12th. Not his best effort, but against Benavides, he didn't need it.

The winner by unanimous decision, and STILL IBF JR. FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION....JEFF FENECH!!!

Jeff Fenech UD 15 Jesse Benavides (149-136, 147-138, 146-139)

That concludes the title fight recaps for July. 7 defenses, 1 changes hands...Rosario over O'Grady.

GH

[GForce]

WBA Fights in The Top 10 For July:

With the FBA now having rankings, I'm going to do the non-title recaps like this, just quick for each organization for anybody in the Top 10 who fought that month.

Flyweight: Charlie Magri (#10) vs Chan-Hee Park (UR) – Magri MD 10
Bantamweight: Rafael Marquez (#1) vs Cuahtemoc Gomez (UR) – Marquez KO 2
Bantamweight: Jesus Pimentel (#6) vs Kaokor Galaxy (UR) – Pimentel TKO 3
Jr. Featherweight: Napapol Kiatisakchokchai (#1) vs Agapito Sanchez (#5) – Kiatisakchokchai TKO 6
Featherweight: Marco Antonio Barrera (#5) vs Kevin Kelley (#6) – Kelley UD 10
Lightweight: Jimmy Paul (#1) vs Livingstone Bramble (#2) – Paul KO 5
Jr. Welterweight: Sang-Hyun Kim (#5) vs Miguel Montilla (UR) – Kim TKO 7
Welterweight: Michelle Picirillo (#2) vs Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis (UR) – Lewis TKO 6
Jr. Middleweight: Elisha Obed (#1) vs Carlos Bojorquez (UR) – Obed TKO 7
Cruiserweight: Orlin Norris (#6) vs Ossie Ocasio (UR) – Norris UD 10
Heavyweight: Larry Holmes (#3) vs Henry Akinwande (UR) – Holmes UD 10


All four #1 contenders survive in varying degrees...the stalwart is Jimmy Paul, who while in line for a mandatory title fight takes on the #2 contender...a guy who would obviously vault past him with a win, Livingstone Bramble. Paul responds by taking out Bramble, winning 3 of the first 4 rounds before putting him down in the 5th. Obed and Marquez cruise, but Kiatisakchokchai struggles...Sanchez drops him in the first and batters him. Napapol comes back in the second and swelling starts around Sanchez's right eye. A slugfest for the next few rounds before an exchange that is called too quickly...swelling was bad, but doc's call here jumped the gun. Sanchez was leading on one card, even on two, and the 6th was a close round to call at the time of stoppage. Holmes puts Akinwande down 5 times in his win. Barrera loses a lopsided and ugly fight to Kelley...dirty, dirty fight. 5 fouls, 4 cautions and an official warning. But Barrera basically doesn't show up until round 6. Kelley is bloodied, but drops Barrera, now 2-3, twice. This featherweight division is just crazy and thoroughly unpredictible.

GH

[GForce]

WBC Fights in the Top 10 For July:

Flyweight: Saman Sorjaturong (#2) vs Susumu Hanagata (UR) – Sorjaturong TKO 10
Jr. Bantamweight: Gilberto Roman (#1) vs Sornpichai Ktratingdeanggyum (#5) – Roman TKO 10
Bantamweight: Johnny Carter (#3) vs Ricardo Vargas (UR) – Carter TKO 6
Bantamweight: Miguel Lora (#6) vs Chan-Yong Park (UR) – Park TKO 5
Jr. Featherweight: Juan Jose Estrada (#9) vs Yober Ortega (UR) – Ortega TKO 6
Featherweight: Eloy Rojas (#3) vs Bobby Chacon (#4) – DRAW 10 (1 each, 1 even)
Featherweight: Marcos Villasana (#1) vs Juan LaPorte (#9) – LaPorte UD 10
Featherweight: Angel Chacon (#6) vs Oscar Leon (#7) – Leon TKO 8
Jr. Lightweight: Rolando Navarette (#5) vs Leonel Hernandez (#7) – Navarette TKO 10
Jr. Lightweight: Joel Casamayor (#2) vs Jesus Chavez (#10) – Chavez UD 10
Lightweight: Vilomar Fernandez (#5) vs Rodolfo Gonzalez (UR) – Fernandez UD 10
Jr. Welterweight: Jake Rodriquez (#4) vs Diosbelys Hurtado (UR) – Hurtado UD 10
Welterweight: Charlie Shipes (#6) vs Ramon La Cruz (UR) – Shipes DQ 7
Jr. Middleweight: Carmelo Bossi (#6) vs Eckhard Dagge (UR) – Dagge SD 10
Jr. Middleweight: Koichi Wajima (#4) vs Ramon Campas (UR) – Wajima KO 8
Middleweight: Michael Nunn (#1) vs John David Jackson (UR) – Nunn UD 10
Cruiserweight: Robert Daniels (#3) vs Luis Andres Pineda (#10) – Daniels TKO 6
Heavyweight: Corrie Sanders (#5) vs Ron Lyle (UR) – Sanders UD 10
Heavyweight: Renaldo Snipes (#10) vs Leroy Jones (UR) – Snipes UD 10

Tons of fights, and many that will bring chaos with the rankings. Obviously the big one is Juan LaPorte defeating #1 contender Marcos Villasana, wrecking Villasana's hopeful bout with champ Ernesto Marcel. Of course, many felt Villasana didn't deserve the #1 seed anyway, which will now fall presumably to the man who most felt was the #1 before this, Eusebio Pedroza. Rojas and Chacon will stand their ground after drawing in a thriller. Chacon, dropped in the 6th, is behind after 8, but drops Rojas in the 9th and wins the 10th convincingly to pull himself to a draw. A rematch is certainly likely, and could very well be the fight for the next #1 contender after the Marcel/Pedroza fight. Casamayor suffers a devastating loss to Jesus Chavez, which combined with Navarette's victory makes it entirely possible that Navarette will be next in line after champ Azumah Nelson defends against Ben Villaflor. Eckhard Dagge debuts from the WBO and takes out Carmelo Bossi. And Diosbelys Hurtado shocks Jake Rodriquez, perhaps a sign Hurtado (now 2-3) is finally ready to get down to business. Rodriquez was up on one card and even on two after 8, before Hurtado dropped him in both the 9th and 10th.

GH

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by GForce

Lightweight: Jimmy Paul (#1) vs Livingstone Bramble (#2) – Paul KO 5

Wow, talk about earning a title shot! Well done Greg.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Wow, talk about earning a title shot! Well done Greg.

Yeah, it's one of things that just kind of became a perfect storm. I REALLY try to stay away from doing matchmaking on my own in the universe, so it's the way the numbers come up on my scheduling spreadsheet pretty much. In real life, would Paul, assured of a title fight should he keep the #1 spot, risk that against a fighter the quality of Bramble? Not likely. But this comes off as Paul wanting to prove he's the best and being willing to eliminate any doubt as to who the #1 is.

He was winning the fight, but he wasn't wiping the canvas with Bramble by any means. But he got rolling in the 5th, Bramble had some eye trouble and Paul landed the right flurry. Bramble tried to get up but couldn't get past one knee.

The other weird scheduling item, and one that makes me think I need to intervene a bit more in the scheduling sometimes, is the Villasana/LaPorte fight. Villasana risks his #1 as Paul did. LaPorte has struggled, but he's obviously a VERY good fighter. But Villasana had already beaten him twice. No reason for a third fight, really. Shouldn't have happened, but it did so we move on. But I need to be better about imparting logic on my scheduling than I've been.

Simple matter of I love the fights, love the game, love the reports...hate the, for lack of a better term, bookkeeping

GH

[meade95]

Originally Posted by GForce

WBA Fights in The Top 10 For July:

With the FBA now having rankings, I'm going to do the non-title recaps like this, just quick for each organization for anybody in the Top 10 who fought that month.

Flyweight: Charlie Magri (#10) vs Chan-Hee Park (UR) – Magri MD 10
Bantamweight: Rafael Marquez (#1) vs Cuahtemoc Gomez (UR) – Marquez KO 2
Bantamweight: Jesus Pimentel (#6) vs Kaokor Galaxy (UR) – Pimentel TKO 3
Jr. Featherweight: Napapol Kiatisakchokchai (#1) vs Agapito Sanchez (#5) – Kiatisakchokchai TKO 6
Featherweight: Marco Antonio Barrera (#5) vs Kevin Kelley (#6) – Kelley UD 10
Lightweight: Jimmy Paul (#1) vs Livingstone Bramble (#2) – Paul KO 5
Jr. Welterweight: Sang-Hyun Kim (#5) vs Miguel Montilla (UR) – Kim TKO 7
Welterweight: Michelle Picirillo (#2) vs Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis (UR) – Lewis TKO 6
Jr. Middleweight: Elisha Obed (#1) vs Carlos Bojorquez (UR) – Obed TKO 7
Cruiserweight: Orlin Norris (#6) vs Ossie Ocasio (UR) – Norris UD 10
Heavyweight: Larry Holmes (#3) vs Henry Akinwande (UR) – Holmes UD 10

GH

Very good wins for 'Six Heads", Kevin Kelley (surprise, surprise!), and Pimentel.

Nice win for Magri as well...over Chan-Hee Park ....Intersting enough, I was just looking for another old Fly Wt's tape (to view) and ran across two fights of Chan-Hee's I have......He was a hell of a fighter....very fast hands (and like many Korean's used his head...literally, as a good weapon too!).

He was just like HOF'er J. Koo Chang (Jr. Fly Champ)...not quite to his level....but just like Chang if it wasn't for all the drinking, partying and women he likely would have had a much more steller career.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by meade95

Very good wins for 'Six Heads", Kevin Kelley (surprise, surprise!), and Pimentel.

Nice win for Magri as well...over Chan-Hee Park ....Intersting enough, I was just looking for another old Fly Wt's tape (to view) and ran across two fights of Chan-Hee's I have......He was a hell of a fighter....very fast hands (and like many Korean's used his head...literally, as a good weapon too!).

He was just like HOF'er J. Koo Chang (Jr. Fly Champ)...not quite to his level....but just like Chang if it wasn't for all the drinking, partying and women he likely would have had a much more steller career.

Though a Magri decision, the Park fight wasn't really as close as the scores indicated, I don't think. Park threw a ton of punches (130 a round to 50 for Magri) but couldn't land (16% for the fight). Still, Park was up a point on all cards after 6. It seems Park won any remotely close round, but he never had a round that should have been clearly his.

Galaxy came in over-trained for the Pimentel fight, and just never had a chance to get into a rhythm. Pimental blasts him through 2 and is pummeling him in the third as well when he suffers a major cut. Pimentel keeps banging and the cut just makes bad times worse for Galaxy, who suffers his first defeat after rolling through the WBO.

GH

[GForce]

IBF Top 10 fights for July

Flyweight: David Griman (#10) vs Chartchai Chionoi (UR) – Griman UD 10
Bantamweight: Satoshi Shingaki (#1) vs Takuya Mugurama (UR) – Shingaki TKO 7
Bantamweight: Alberto Davila (#2) vs Heriberto Ruiz (UR) – Ruiz UD 10
Jr. Featherweight: Emmanuel Lucero (#2) vs Jose Luis Cervantes (UR) – Lucero TKO 9
Jr. Featherweight: Yoddamrong Sithyogthong (#9) vs Ruben Valdez (UR) – Sithyodthong UD 10
Featherweight: Derrick Gainer (#4) vs Cecilio Lastra (UR) – Gainer UD 10
Featherweight: Johnny Famechon (#3) vs In-Jin Chi (#5) – Chi SD 8
Featherweight: Wilfredo Vazquez (#2) vs Jose Legra (UR) – Vazquez UD 10
Lightweight: Ismael Laguna (#4) vs Aldo Rios (UR) – Laguna UD 10
Jr. Welterweight: Ubaldo Sacco (#3) vs Rene Arredondo (#6) – Arredondo UD 10
Jr. Middleweight: Rocky Mattioli (#4) vs Tadashi Mihara (UR) – Mihara TKO 9
Middleweight: Ronnie Harris (#2) vs Sumbu Kalambay (#3) – Kalambay UD 10
Middleweight: Iran Barkley (#4) vs Hassine Cherifi (UR) – Barkley UD 10
Cruiserweight: Marcelo Figueroa (#2) vs Pietro Aurino (#7) – Aurino UD 10

The only IBF #1 seed to fight, Satoshi Shingaki, almost blows it all against a winless Takuya Mugurama, who leads on all cards through 6, having dropped Shingaki in the 5th. That wakes up Shingaki, who batters Mugurama in the 6th before dropping him, then finishing him, in the 7th. A rough month for #2 seeds here, as Alberto Davila, Ronnie Harris, and Marcelo Victor Figueroa all drop convincing unanimous decisions. In beating Harris, Kalambay may have set himself up to overtake Gerald McClellan as the #1 seed and get a rematch with Hopkins. Sacco is destroyed by Arredondo, who drops him twice in winning 99-89, 98-90 (x2).

GH

[Romdawg88]

Nice wins for Chi and Kalambay, those might put them a good place for a shot at the title.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Nice wins for Chi and Kalambay, those might put them a good place for a shot at the title.

With Gainer (#4) and Vazquez (#2) winning, Chi probably only gains a spot. Still a nice win for him. Kalambay I have to check...he may very well have overtaken McClellan.

GH

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by GForce

With Gainer (#4) and Vazquez (#2) winning, Chi probably only gains a spot. Still a nice win for him. Kalambay I have to check...he may very well have overtaken McClellan.

GH

Ha, I just noticed that you were doing the fight recaps by org. I wasn't sure if Gainer or Vazquez where in the same org as Chi of course now I realize that they are. That wasn't my brightest moment.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Ha, I just noticed that you were doing the fight recaps by org. I wasn't sure if Gainer or Vazquez where in the same org as Chi of course now I realize that they are. That wasn't my brightest moment.

LOL!! Won't hold it against you

GH

[meade95]

Originally Posted by GForce

IBF Top 10 fights for July

Flyweight: David Griman (#10) vs Chartchai Chionoi (UR) – Griman UD 10


GH

Real big win / upset here for Griman over Chionoi......Though Griman's height /style just may have given Chionoi fits...

[GForce]

Originally Posted by meade95

Real big win / upset here for Griman over Chionoi......Though Griman's height /style just may have given Chionoi fits...

A very questionable decision. Griman won 96-94, 96-94, 96-95. Choinoi led 68-66 on all cards through 7. Griman drops him in the 8th and takes the 9th. Round 10 could've gone either way...but all judges give it to Griman. Choinoi joins the list of guys who blew through the WBO who lose their first foray into one of the big 3.

GH

[GForce]

With the vast majority of champions due to make mandatory defenses in the next 4 months, August will be very, VERY busy. Nineteen of the reigning champions will defend their gold come August. It could prove to be the most interesting month in the FBA yet.

Regarding the loss by #1 contender Marcos Villasana for the WBC Featherweight title, FBA General Manager Gregg Henglein has declared that Marcel - on the slate of August defenders - will take on Eusebio Pedroza. With the FBA releasing official rankings every 3 months, Henglein has said that, in the event a #1 contender fights and loses before the mandatory shot, all fights since the previous rankings release will be taken into account. Though Pedroza was the #2 contender, he did not fight in July. #3 contender Eloy Rojas did, so speculation was whether Rojas would leapfrog Pedroza, and whether the FBA would just go down the line to #2 or recalculate entirely. In this case it didn't matter, as Rojas drew with Bobby Chacon.

"Had Rojas won that fight," Henglein said, "he likely would have snuck past Pedroza for the title shot." Knowing this had to add sting to Rojas, who was leading Chacon after 8 rounds but was dropped late to bring the fight even.

GH

[GForce]

Mandatory Defenses Signed For August

Here's the rundown...19 titles on the line in August.

In all fights, Champs listed first, challengers (all #1 contenders) listed second

WBA

Middleweight: Rodrigo Valdez vs Marvin Hagler
Jr. Middleweight: Mike McCallum vs Elisha Obed
Jr. Lightweight: Alexis Arguello vs Roberto Garcia
Featherweight: Salvador Sanchez vs Manny Pacquiao

WBC

Jr. Middleweight: Shane Mosley vs Julian Jackson
Jr. Welterweight: Kostya Tszyu vs Bruno Arcari
Lightweight: Pernell Whitaker vs Hilmer Kenty
Jr. Lightweight: Azumah Nelson vs Ben Villaflor
Featherweight: Ernesto Marcel vs Eusebio Pedroza
Jr. Featherweight: Sergio Palma vs Mike Ayala
Flyweight: Miguel Canto vs Yoko Gushiken

IBF

Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs Riddick Bowe
Cruiserweight: Imamu Mayfield vs Taoufik Belbouli
Jr. Middleweight: Maurice Hope vs Carlos Herrera
Welterweight: Wilfred Benitez vs Thomas Hearns
Jr. Welterweight: Meldrick Taylor vs Lonnie Smith
Jr. Lightweight: Julio Cesar Chavez vs Tyrone Everett *
Bantamweight: Masahiko Harada vs Satoshi Shingaki *
Jr. Bantamweight: Masamori Tokuyama vs Alexander Munoz

* Champions become eligible to unify if victorious

Some bookkeeping to do before we get to these bouts, but should be within the week.

GH

[meade95]

Originally Posted by GForce

Mandatory Defenses Signed For August

Here's the rundown...19 titles on the line in August.

In all fights, Champs listed first, challengers (all #1 contenders) listed second

WBA

Middleweight: Rodrigo Valdez vs Marvin Hagler
Jr. Middleweight: Mike McCallum vs Elisha Obed
Jr. Lightweight: Alexis Arguello vs Roberto Garcia
Featherweight: Salvador Sanchez vs Manny Pacquiao

WBC

Jr. Middleweight: Shane Mosley vs Julian Jackson
Jr. Welterweight: Kostya Tszyu vs Bruno Arcari
Lightweight: Pernell Whitaker vs Hilmer Kenty
Jr. Lightweight: Azumah Nelson vs Ben Villaflor
Featherweight: Ernesto Marcel vs Eusebio Pedroza
Jr. Featherweight: Sergio Palma vs Mike Ayala
Flyweight: Miguel Canto vs Yoko Gushiken

IBF

Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs Riddick Bowe
Cruiserweight: Imamu Mayfield vs Taoufik Belbouli
Jr. Middleweight: Maurice Hope vs Carlos Herrera
Welterweight: Wilfred Benitez vs Thomas Hearns
Jr. Welterweight: Meldrick Taylor vs Lonnie Smith
Jr. Lightweight: Julio Cesar Chavez vs Tyrone Everett *
Bantamweight: Masahiko Harada vs Satoshi Shingaki *
Jr. Bantamweight: Masamori Tokuyama vs Alexander Munoz

* Champions become eligible to unify if victorious

Some bookkeeping to do before we get to these bouts, but should be within the week.

GH

Where to start!!...So many excellent match-up here.

Okay...A few of my picks...

Say hello to World Champion Hagler at MW....

Featherweight: Salvador Sanchez vs Manny Pacquiao....Hell of a match-up....If Sanchez trades...he'll have trouble...if he boxes....he likely wins a clear cut UD.

Jr. Middleweight: Shane Mosley vs Julian Jackson.......Mosely chin is very solid....he can box circles around J.J.......and will be doing so until the 6th....Bang...KO for J. Jackson

Lightweight: Whitaker over Kenty is a very good fight. Kenty was a tough and talented kid (I seen him fight live a great many times in Detriot).

Flyweight: Miguel Canto vs Yoko Gushiken!! - An absolutle dream match-up!....Though Gushiken never fought at Fly Wt (and thus is moving up here from Jr. Fly)....That has to give Canto a slight edge...in a great fight...

Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs Riddick Bowe - I'll ko with Tyson via KO...in a brutal fight...forever how long it lasts...

Welterweight: Wilfred Benitez vs Thomas Hearns - Another great match-up style wise.....Hearns via late TKO.

Jr. Bantamweight: Masamori Tokuyama vs Alexander Munoz - Love this style match-up.....Tokuyama is very underrated....he wins via UD....

[GForce]

Originally Posted by meade95

...

Say hello to World Champion Hagler at MW....

Agreed. Valdez fought a perfect fight the first time. I've read up on him since and have a lot more respect now that I know more, but I still think Hagler extracts his revenge here.

Featherweight: Salvador Sanchez vs Manny Pacquiao....Hell of a match-up....If Sanchez trades...he'll have trouble...if he boxes....he likely wins a clear cut UD.

Can Sanchez keep from getting goaded into a battle, though? I think Sanchez survives with a not so clear UD. Pacquiao will have him in trouble a few times, but he'll hang on.

Jr. Middleweight: Shane Mosley vs Julian Jackson.......Mosely chin is very solid....he can box circles around J.J.......and will be doing so until the 6th....Bang...KO for J. Jackson

Mosley already beat Jackson for the strap in the tournament. I remember though that that one shocked you. Mosley will try to take this one 15. If he does, Jackson won't make it. Late stoppage for Mosley.

Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs Riddick Bowe - I'll ko with Tyson via KO...in a brutal fight...forever how long it lasts...

Agreed.

Welterweight: Wilfred Benitez vs Thomas Hearns - Another great match-up style wise.....Hearns via late TKO.

Agreed, though I bet Benitez is winning at the time.

GH

[Romdawg88]

I agree with Meade that is a amazing lineup of fights. Mosley will take out Jackson again. Sanchez/Pac-Man and Tyson/Bowe should be amazing as well.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

I agree with Meade that is a amazing lineup of fights. Mosley will take out Jackson again. Sanchez/Pac-Man and Tyson/Bowe should be amazing as well.

Yes, though I want to see Meldrick Taylor and Azumah Nelson finally get out there and defend. And if Chavez and Arguello both win, we'll be only an Arguello defense against a Top 10 opponent away from a potential unification bout.

GH