The Pastime Boxing Association

[G-Force]

Not on the fights I planned to write up but this one is, in a different way than the big fights that happen, one of the things I love about the game.

I don't book matches outside my own broad parameters. So when a reasonable situation comes about and gets turned on its ear, it's a lot of fun.

Marcos Maidana (11-0, 10 KO) put himself in position as the No. 1 contender for Junior Witter's title, won in a 6th round knockout of then-champ Ricky Hatton last August.

Hatton is still due a rematch, but himself hasn't fought since dropping the strap, and Witter hasn't defended yet.

Hatton finally stepped in and picked up a first round KO of a weak opponent just to get back on the horse.

Maidana entered the ring for the first time since June when knocked out Miguel Cotto in the 8th. Wanting a solid opponent he could handle but look good against as he waited for his opportunity against either Witter or Hatton, Maidana picked the 19th ranked Kendall Holt.

Holt entered at 9-4-2 with 7 KOs. His four losses were consecutive...a knockout loss to Randall Bailey, decision losses to Diosbelys Hurtado and Andreas Kotelnik, and a TKO loss to Amir Khan...not weak competition by any stretch. Still, his record was what it was, and he seemed a good choice for Maidana.

Not exactly...

Holt dropped Maidana twice in the 5th and again in the 8th and weathered an onslaught from Maidana in the 10th to earn a unanimous decision that unofficially vaults Holt into the top 10 while dropping Maidana from #1 to #9.

Witter needs to face both Hatton and the #1 by the end of August. With the rankings out every 3 months, he could theoretically fight Maidana in March and call him the #1 defense before new rankings come out April 1. But Maidana is still dangerous, and Witter may elect to defend against Hatton first and deal with the #1 later in the year.

GH

[G-Force]

Top 10 Matchups - January 2010

Cruiserweight
#6 Kryzstof Wlodarczyk (14-3-1, 11 KO)

vs

#10 Victor Emilio Ramirez (9-4, 7 KO)

A seesaw battle that saw Wlodarczyk get dropped in the fourth but rally back for a pair of strong rounds, lose the 7th but clearly win the 8th and 9th before dropping Ramirez late in the 10th ends with the scorecards 96-92, 96-92, 95-93 and a unanimous decision victory for Wlodarczyk!

Middleweight
#1 Stanley Ketchel (11-0, 8 KO)

vs

#4 Frank Klaus (16-3, 15 KO)

Klaus' three defeats came to current champion Billy Papke early in their careers and a pair to former title finalist Nonpareil Jack Dempsey as he takes on the undefeated Stanley Ketchel. Ketchel is busted open over his right eye in the opening round, but it doesn't stop a terrific battle from breaking out until, after the cut was examined in the fifth and the fight allowed to continue, the bout is halted in the 7th, giving Klaus a much-needed TKO win and dealing Ketchel the first loss of his career.

Welterweight
#6 Joshua Clottey (8-1-1, 2 KO)

vs

#7 Mike Glover (8-4-1, 2 KO)

Glover tries roughhousing tactics with Clottey, getting reprimands for a pair of fouls and hurting Clottey with an accidental butt. But Clottey stays on plan and is able to do a bit more than Glover throughout the fight, never dominating but always in control, earning a 99-93, 97-93, 96-65 unanimous decision.

Featherweight
#3 Frank Erne (17-3, 12 KO)

vs

#4 Manuel Medina (15-4-1, 4 KO)

On the heels of a majority draw against Frankie Toledo, Medina tangles with the dangerous Frank Erne, who he defeated by majority decision when both were starting out. Erne however dominates Medina, beating him to the punch regularly and landing far more powerful shots. But less than a minute after being warned for a low blow in the 6th, Erne loses and point for leading with his head in the 7th, is warned for holding and hitting in the 8th and - when he headlocks Medina and hammers him twice in the back of the head, is disqualified to hand Medina the victory by disqualification and likely set Erne's title aspirations back by product of his own recklessness.

Jr. Featherweight
#7 Willie Jorrin (11-3, 6 KO)

vs

#8 Yober Ortega (16-4, 16 KO)

Ortega's power shines here as he drops Jorrin in the first, fourth and eighth rounds seemingly en route to a decisive victory. But midway through a 10th round Ortega was in control of, Jorrin levels him with a perfect cross. Ortega manages to rise and run out the clock on Jorrin on the way to a unanimous decision victory, 96-92, 96-91, 95-92.


GH

[G-Force]

Title Fights - January 2010


Heavyweight
Champion Vitali Klitschko (18-1-1, 14 KO)

vs

#6 Siarhei Lyakhovich (12-4, 6 KO)

Lyakhovich, getting the chance of a lifetime, enters the deep end of the pool here and realizes it quickly as Klitschko dominates the opening round. But Lyakhovich acquits himself well over the next two stanzas, arguably winning both, before Klitschko drops a hammer - and Lyakhovich - late in the fourth. He gamely rises but is wary from there and the champion bides his time before dropping him twice more in the eighth, the second time for good. A successful title defense ends by knockout at 2:49 of Round 8.

Jr. Middleweight
Champion Ronald "Winky" Wright (16-0, 11 KO)

vs

#5 Joachim Alcine (9-2, 9 KO)

Wright makes his third defense, this time against the dangerous Alcine, who has scored knockouts in each of his victories. But you can only knock out what you can hit, and Alcine can't do a thing against Wright, who seemingly cruises except for a pretty even fifth, wrapping it up with a pair of knockdowns in the 9th, the second of which keeps Alcine on the canvas. Wright led 78-73 on two cards at the time of the knockout but was inexplicably even on Alex Levin's card, 76-76, a card that should have been filled out by his eye dog. Regardless, Wright further stakes his claim as best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet in improving to 17-0.

Featherweight
Champion Young Corbett II (19-3, 11 KO)

vs

#1 Juan Manuel Marquez (17-2-1, 13 KO)

Marquez gets his rematch after dropping the title to Corbett in a majority decision last July, and comes in after an impressive stoppage of Frankie Toledo only a month ago. These guys fought twice coming up through the ranks, with Marquez winning both times. They then met in the PBA championship tournament semifinal and Marquez won again via unanimous decision. Corbett then took the strap, meaning this is the fifth bout - nearly a quarter of both men's careers - between the two. Marquez suffers a cut inside his mouth in the opening round that it is uncertain whether it came from a punch or a butt. But Marquez battles through it in a tough, even bout. Corbett is cited for four fouls, the last of is a low blow - the second - in the 14th, that leads to a point deduction from Corbett. When the decision comes down, the point proves key: 143-142 for Corbett, 143-142 for Marquez and 144-141 for the winner, and NEW champion, Juan Manuel Marquez. The deduction prevents a draw, and costs Corbett the strap.

Bantamweight
Champion Jimmy Barry (21-1, 12 KO)

vs

#1 Cruz Carbajal (17-4, 11 KO)

Barry makes his mandatory #1 defense and does so in stunning fashion. Carbajal is busted open in the first, again in the third and with Barry raining shots down on him and blood everywhere in the fifth, Jimmy Barry retains the PBA Bantamweight title via TKO at 1:13.

GH

[G-Force]

February 2010

Top 10 Matchups


Welterweight
#3 Keddy Burke (17-2, 16 KO) vs #2 Antonio Margarito (12-2-1, 11 KO)

Jr. Lightweight
#1 Joel Casamayor (13-2-1, 10 KO) vs #5 Robbie Peden (9-1-1, 4 KO)


Bantamweight
#6 Harry Harris (10-1, 1 KO) vs #9 Paulie Ayala (15-1-1, 2 KO)

Jr. Flyweight
#9 Koki Kameda (12-1, 11 KO) vs #2 Beibis Mendoza (17-2, 15 KO)

TITLE FIGHTS

Middleweight
Champion Billy Papke (22-0-1, 16 KO) vs #3 Bob Fitzsimmons (14-3, 13 KO)

Jr. Featherweight
Champion Clarence "Bones" Adams (19-4, 12 KO) vs #1 Celestino Caballero (17-1, 16 KO)

Flyweight
Champion Omar Narvaez (14-2, 9 KO) vs #1 Malcolm Tunacao (11-0, 10 KO)

Jr. Flyweight
Champion Ulises Solis (24-1, 20 KO) vs #1 Masibulele Makepula (14-2, 12 KO)

GH

[G-Force]

February 2010 Top 10 Matchups - Recaps


Welterweight
#3 Keddy Burke (17-2, 16 KO) vs #2 Antonio Margarito (12-2-1, 11 KO)

Burke controls the opening round but is stunned early in the second and Margarito goes to work, hurting Burke with several shots before working him over in the corner. Without a knockdown, and shortly after Burke landed a decent hook of his own, referee Pinia Pravadsab stops the fight after a crushing cross to hand a TKO victory to Margarito in an unfathomably quick stoppage at 2:47 of the second round.

Jr. Lightweight
#1 Joel Casamayor (13-2-1, 10 KO) vs #5 Robbie Peden (9-1-1, 4 KO)

Fighting for the first time since dropping the strap to Edwin Valero in November, Casamayor is rudely greeted when Peden puts him on the canvas midway through the opening round. But Casamayor regroups and dominates from there, dropping Peden in the 5th and 7th en route to a unanimous decision victory 98-89, 97-90, 98-90.

Bantamweight
#6 Harry Harris (10-1, 1 KO) vs #9 Paulie Ayala (15-1-1, 2 KO)

Ayala hasn't fought since losing the tournament final to champ Jimmy Barry, so he picks a tough customer to get back in the ring with. But Ayala didn't believe Harris could hurt him, so he'd just have to outbox him. An even first half of the fight gives way to Ayala getting the better of things late before Harris' final charge in the 10th to take the round and hopefully the decision. But Ayala would hold on thanks to a clean sweep on all judges' cards of rounds 6-9, earning a 96-94, 96-94, 96-95 unanimous decision victory.

Jr. Flyweight
#9 Koki Kameda (12-1, 11 KO) vs #2 Beibis Mendoza (17-2, 15 KO)

Mendoza avenges a 4th round TKO loss to Kameda in the championship tournament semifinal with a dazzling effort here. Both men land hard and frequently in the opening stanza but it's Mendoza who keeps it up, dominating Kameda before a pair of knockdowns in the fifth prompt referee Pat Russell to call a halt at 2:05 of the 5th round.

[G-Force]

FEBRUARY 2010 TITLE FIGHTS

Middleweight
Champion Billy Papke (22-0-1, 16 KO) vs #3 Bob Fitzsimmons (14-3, 13 KO)

Papke has a mandatory #1 contender defense due by Stanley Ketchel is not cleared to compete after last month's defeat. Papke thus must defend the highest contender cleared to fight, which is Bob Fitzsimmons before facing Ketchel in March if he's cleared, or the new #1 contender when the April rankings are released. So it's a tough row to hoe for the dormant Papke, whose only defense was a majority draw against Kelly Pavlik last May. Fitzsimmons dominates the first two rounds before an even, exciting fight ensues. But Papke stays fresher longer, and takes control of the fight in rounds 8-12. The 13th starts win an invigorated Fitzsimmons battering Papke for the opening minute before Papke lands a perfect combination to drop Fitzsimmons. He survives the round but tastes canvas again in the 14th and lacks the gas to do much in a slow, coasting 15th that brings us to the cards and a unanimous decision 146-137, 146-137, 145-138 for the champion, Billy Papke!

Jr. Featherweight
Champion Clarence "Bones" Adams (19-4, 12 KO) vs #1 Celestino Caballero (17-1, 16 KO)

Adams gets to try and kill two birds with one stone here, getting his 12-month mandatory #1 contender defense and Caballero's mandatory rematch done in the same fight after Adams' shocking stoppage win against Cabellero to win the title last August. Caballero dominated the first six rounds of that fight before being dropped and battered in the 7th that resulted in the stoppage. Adams was dropped in the opening round of that fight, and tastes the canvas in the second round here and the fight is on the verge of being stopped when the bell sounds. But Adams responds in an exciting third that results in Caballero being cut over his right eye. A war ensues that Caballero's winning slightly, but when his left eye begins to swell Caballero begins to take more chances, sensing he may not have much time. A frenetic 7th continues into the 8th, and Caballero's getting the better of it until Adams - as he did last time - puts Caballero down to change the fight. The cut has been reopened and is posing real difficulty. Caballero tries to fight through it, the doctor examines it in the 9th and clears him to continue. He's narrowly winning the 10th it seems when the doctor is called to check the injury again, Caballero's face now a crimson mask. The left eye swelling probably factors in, but the cut is deemed to bad for the fight to continue and Bones Adams comes away with a successful defense against a very tough Celestino Caballero by TKO at 2:01 of the 10th. Adams was up 86-84, 86-83, 84-85 at the time of the stoppage.

Flyweight
Champion Omar Narvaez (14-2, 9 KO) vs #1 Malcolm Tunacao (11-0, 10 KO)

The undefeated Tunacao packs a wallop and it's clear early, when Narvaez hits the deck in the opening round and again in the third. Tunacao is dominating before Narvaez drops him late in the sixth. The bell arguably saves Tunacao there, and after Narvaez clearly wins the 7th, Tunacao puts him down for a third time in the 8th and again in the 10th. When the fights ends in the 12th, however, it's with Narvaez standing and Tunacao prone on the canvas, a knockout 46 seconds in as Narvaez overcomes being knocked down FOUR times to hold on to his title with a successful second defense.

Jr. Flyweight
Champion Ulises Solis (24-1, 20 KO) vs #1 Masibulele Makepula (14-2, 12 KO)

Solis stakes his claim as the best pound-for-pound in the world with a dominating performance here. Makepula hangs in like a warrior and makes it the distance despite being dropped twice in the 12th and twice more in the 14th. But Solis is the best in class right now and there's not much doubt after a unanimous decision 147-135, 147-135, 146-136 as Solis successfully defends for the third time.


GH

[G-Force]

March 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Middleweight
#5 NP Jack Dempsey (18-3, 14 KO) vs #7 Mike O'Dowd (11-3-1, 3 KO)

Jr. Welterweight
#3 Ricardo Torres (13-2, 12 KO) vs #1 Marcos Maidana (11-1, 10 KO)

Jr. Lightweight
#2 Vicente Mosquera (13-4-2, 4 KO) vs #9 Nicky Cook (8-2-1, 8 KO)

Jr. Lightweight
#3 Jorge Barrios (13-5-1, 12 KO) vs #7 Cassius Baloyi (17-2-1, 13 KO)

Bantamweight
#1 Cruz Carbajal (17-5, 11 KO) vs #8 Poonsawat Krtaingdeanggym (12-3, 10 KO)

Flyweight
#5 Vic Darchinyan (10-2, 9 KO) vs #7 Daisuke Naito (7-5-1, 7 KO)


TITLE FIGHTS

Welterweight
CHAMP Vernon Forrest (18-2-1, 12 KO) vs #1 Tommy Ryan (15-1-2, 13 KO)

Featherweight
CHAMP Juan Manuel Marquez (18-2-1, 13 KO) vs #2 Chris John (11-1-2, 7 KO)

Jr. Bantamweight
CHAMP Luis Alberto Perez (17-1, 17 KO) vs #8 Ivan Hernandez (15-4, 11 KO)

[G-Force]

March 2010 Recaps

Top 10 Matchups

Middleweight
#5 NP Jack Dempsey (18-3, 14 KO) vs #7 Mike O'Dowd (11-3-1, 3 KO)

Dempsey makes a big statement here, blasting O'Dowd out in less than 90 seconds with a first-round knockout.

Jr. Welterweight
#3 Ricardo Torres (13-2, 12 KO) vs #1 Marcos Maidana (11-1, 10 KO)

Maidana drops Torres in the first round, but Torres recovers and finishes strong, including an attack that opens a nasty cut inside Maidana's right eye. Torres takes the second and third and, with Maidana doing more pawing at the cut than defending in the fourth, the fight is stopped because of the cut in a huge win for Torres and a crushing loss following his loss to Kendall Holt that all but ends Maidana's immediate title-shot hopes.

Jr. Lightweight
#2 Vicente Mosquera (13-4-2, 4 KO) vs #9 Nicky Cook (8-2-1, 8 KO)

Mosquera recovers from a third-round knockdown and weathers a frenetic pace from Cook who throws a ton of punches throughout but doesn't land much. Cook throws more than twice as many punches but lands only 13%, while Mosquera lands more than half. It goes to the cards and is close, with a 96-94, 96-93, 95-94 unanimous decision going Mosquera's way.

Jr. Lightweight
#3 Jorge Barrios (13-5-1, 12 KO) vs #7 Cassius Baloyi (17-2-1, 13 KO)

Baloyi takes the opening round and the last two clearly. But Barrios owns the second through the fifth, leaving three rounds up for debate in an even matchup. Baloyi lands at a slightly better clip, but a cut he suffers early makes him look the worse for wear, which perhaps plays into the scorecards. Ultimately, it's a 96-95 for Baloyi but a pair of 96-94s for Barrios for a split decision victory and the third loss in four bouts for Baloyi who's been unable to get on track after losing the tournament final.

Bantamweight
#1 Cruz Carbajal (17-5, 11 KO) vs #8 Poonsawat Krataingdeanggym (12-3, 10 KO)

Carbajal dominates here and Krataingdeanggym is a bloody mess when the bout is stopped in the fourth.

Flyweight
#5 Vic Darchinyan (10-2, 9 KO) vs #7 Daisuke Naito (7-5-1, 7 KO)

Darchinyan puts on a clinic, dropping Naito in the fourth and ninth and maintaining complete control in pitching a virtual shutout. But he can't finish him and needs to settle for a unanimous decision, 100-88, 100-88, 99-89.

GH

[G-Force]

MARCH 2010 TITLE FIGHTS

Welterweight
CHAMP Vernon Forrest (18-2-1, 12 KO) vs #1 Tommy Ryan (15-1-2, 13 KO)

Eight months after a majority draw in their matchup in Forrest's first defense, Forrest prepares to do battle with Ryan again. An even first four rounds give way to a change when Ryan puts Forrest on his back in the fifth. Ryan controls the sixth and drops the champ again in the seventh and it seems we may be nearing the end. But Forrest survives and shows the heart of a champion in the eighth when he returns the favor and puts Ryan on the canvas with a stirring combination. But Ryan escapes the final 20 seconds of the round and regains control, winning the ninth and 10th before dropping Forrest again in the 11th and twice more in the twelfth before referee Raul Caiz Jr. calls a halt, crowning Tommy Ryan as the NEW PBA Welterweight champion by TKO at 2:53 of round 12.

Featherweight
CHAMP Juan Manuel Marquez (18-2-1, 13 KO) vs #2 Chris John (11-1-2, 7 KO)

Marquez takes no break from tough fights, defending only two months after regaining the title from Young Corbett II in a tough split decision victory. But he's put behind the 8 ball early here as he gets a point deducted for a low blow in the opening minute. That climb only gets tougher when a minute later John puts him on the canvas, creating a 10-7 round. John has the better of it over the next two rounds before Marquez starts to find his groove. It could be argued Marquez sweeps rounds 4-10, and he assuredly wins six of the seven. But late in the 11th John puts Marquez down in a shot Marquez's camp argues came after the bell of a round Marquez was winning. The knockdown stands, and the scorecards are likely quite interesting at this point. Marquez pummels John from pillar to post in the 12th, but John regains form and responds well the 13th. The 14th is even as is the 15th, the closing a round an unexpected clinchfest that sends us to the cards. With a 142-141 and 142-140 in his favor with the third card even at 141-141, the winner....and NEW PBA Featherweight champion...CHRIS JOHN!

Jr. Bantamweight
CHAMP Luis Alberto Perez (17-1, 17 KO) vs #8 Ivan Hernandez (15-4, 11 KO)

The fight is closer than the scorecards indicate when in the sixth the bout is stopped because of a cut Hernandez initially suffered in the opening round. Perez leads 49-46 on all cards at the time of the stoppage, but each round was competitive, the champion had just done a bit more. A disappointing end for Hernandez, who was given a title shot from a relatively low position and was acquitting himself well. Perez retains by TKO at 2:34 of the 6th.

GH

[G-Force]

PBA RANKINGS AS OF APRIL 1, 2010

Heavyweight

Champion: Vitali Klitschko (19-1-1, 15 KO)

1. Jack Dempsey (17-2, 16 KO)
2. Jack Johnson (16-2-1, 15 KO) +2
   
3. John L Sullivan (21-5, 19 KO) -1
   
4. James Jefferies (8-2-1, 6 KO) +4
   
5. Shannon Briggs (9-3, 8 KO) +2
   
6. Samuel Peter (19-4, 17 KO) -3
   
7. Serguei Lyakhovich (13-5, 7 KO) -1
   
8. Chris Byrd (10-2-1, 2 KO) +1
   
9. James J Corbett (5-3-2, 1 KO) NEW
   
10. Sultan Ibragimov (11-4, 9 KO) NEW

Dropped out: Oleg Maskaev, Ruslev Chagaev

Cruiserweight

Champion: David Haye (16-2, 10 KO)

1. Wayne Braithwaite (14-1, 13 KO)
   
2. Kelvin Davis (17-4, 14 KO)
   
3. Guillermo Jones (11-3, 8 KO)
   
4. Juan Ramon Acevedo (13-5-1, 3 KO)
   
5. O’Neil Bell (9-3, 7 KO)
   
6. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (15-3-1, 11 KO)
   
7. Giacobbe Fragomeni (15-6, 7 KO)
   
8. Valery Brudov (10-5, 9 KO)
   
9. Steve Cunningham (17-2, 8 KO)
10. Victor Emilio Ramirez (9-5, 7 KO)

Dropped out: None
Light Heavyweight

Champion: Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (21-1, 10 KO)

1. Antonio Tarver (12-1, 11 KO)
   
2. Jack Dillon (11-3, 3 KO)
   
3. Zsolt Erdei (18-5, 11 KO)
   
4. Tomasz Adamek (16-4, 13 KO)
   
5. Georges Carpentier (13-3, 9 KO)
   
6. Chad Dawson (18-4, 11 KO)
   
7. Gabriel Campillo (14-2, 4 KO)
   
8. Hugo Garay (11-5-1, 5 KO)
   
9. Mehdi Sahnoune (13-6, 12 KO)
   
10. Jack Root (7-4-1, 4 KO)
    

Dropped out: None


Middleweight

Champion: Billy Papke (23-0-1, 16 KO)

1. Guillermo Carriles (18-5-1, 12 KO) +1
2. Frank Klaus (17-3, 6 KO) +2
3. Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (19-3, 15 KO) +2
4. Stanley Ketchel (11-1, 8 KO) -3
   
5. Jermain Taylor (10-1, 3 KO) -1
6. Bob Fitzsimmons (14-4, 13 KO) +3
   
7. Antonn Miklosko (14-3-1, 10 KO) +1
8. Kelly Pavlik (10-3-1, 8 KO) -2
9. Charles McCoy (11-4-1, 11 KO) NEW
   
10. Arthur Abraham (12-4, 10 KO) +1

Dropped out: Mike O'Dowd

Jr. Middleweight

Champion: Winky Wright (17-0, 12 KO)

1. Sergio Martinez (18-2, 9 KO)
2. Sergio Mora (9-1-1, 2 KO) +1
3. Joachim Alcine (9-3, 9 KO) +2
4. Verno Phillips (12-3-2, 6 KO) -2
   
5. Travis Simms (10-4, 10 KO) -1
6. Roman Karmazin (13-2, 12 KO) +3
7. Santiago Samaniego (14-6, 14 KO) -3
   
8. Alejandro Garcia (14-3, 13 KO) +1
9. Kassim Ouma (15-1-1, 13 KO) +1
10. Gilberto Baez (6-8) NEW

Dropped out: Brian East

Welterweight

Champion: Tommy Ryan (16-1-2, 14 KO) NEW CHAMP

1. Vernon Forrest (18-3-1, 12 KO) FORMER CHAMP
   
2. Antonio Margarito (12-2-1, 11 KO)
3. Joshua Clottey (8-1-1, 2 KO) +3
4. Andre Berto (12-2-1, 10 KO) +1
5. Cory Spinks (11-2, 1 KO) +3
6. Paul Williams (13-2-1, 8 KO) NEW
7. Keddy Burke (17-3, 16 KO) -4
8. Michele Piccirillo (12-2, 8 KO) +2
9. Dixie Kid (10-3-1, 3 KO) -5
   
10. Tom McCormick (11-2-1, 5 KO) -1
    

Dropped out: Mike Glover

Jr. Welterweight

Champion: Junior Witter (15-3-2, 11 KO)

1. Ricky Hatton (15-3, 13 KO) +1
2. Ricardo Torres (14-2, 13 KO) +1
3. Zab Judah (11-2, 9 KO) +1
4. DeMarcus Corley (12-2-1, 7 KO) +1
5. Juan Urango (18-4, 17 KO) +1
6. Miguel Cotto (12-4-1, 9 KO) +1
7. Randall Bailey (10-3-2, 10 KO) +1
8. Kendall Holt (11-4-2, 8 KO) NEW
   
9. Carlos Maussa (12-3, 10 KO)
10. Vivian Harris (11-5-1, 10 KO) NEW

Dropped out: Marcos Maidana, Souleymane Mbaye

Lightweight

Champion: Benny Leonard (17-1, 10 KO)

1. Battling Nelson (10-2-1, 6 KO)
2. Joe Gans (14-2, 6 KO) +1
3. Paulus Moses (18-4-2, 16 KO) -1
   
4. Jose Luis Castillo (16-2-1, 13 KO) +1
5. Raul Balbi (13-4, 10 KO) +3
6. Jack McAuliffe (20-2, 20 KO) +1
7. Jose Alfaro (13-6-2, 10 KO) +2
8. Pedro Lanusse (13-11, 7 KO) +2
9. Juan Diaz (14-4-1, 4 KO) -3
10. David Diaz (15-4-1, 10 KO) -6
    

Dropped out: None

Jr. Lightweight

Champion: Edwin Valero (13-2, 12 KO)

1. Vicente Mosquera (14-4-2, 4 KO) +1
2. Joel Casamayor (14-2-1, 10 KO) -1
   
3. Jorge Barrios (14-5-1, 12 KO)
4. Yodsanan Nanthachai (14-3, 12 KO)
5. Roman Martinez (12-1-1, 8 KO) +1
6. Alex Arthur (11-6, 8 KO) +2
7. Robbie Peden (9-2-1, 4 KO) -2
   
8. Cassius Baloyi (17-3-1, 13 KO) -1
   
9. Gairy St. Clair (7-2-1, 4 KO) +1
   
10. Steve Forbes (13-4-1, 1 KO) NEW
    

Dropped out: Nicky Cook

Featherweight

Champion: Chris John (11-1-2, 7 KO) NEW CHAMP

1. Juan Manuel Marquez (18-3-1, 13 KO) FORMER CHAMP
   
2. Manuel Medina (16-4-1, 4 KO) +2
3. Frankie Toledo (14-2-1, 4 KO) +2
4. Abe Attell (13-2, 4 KO) +2
5. Young Corbett II (19-5, 11 KO) FORMER CHAMP
6. Humberto Soto (13-3, 8 KO) +3
7. Young Griffo (10-1, 2 KO) +1
8. Frank Erne (17-4, 12 KO) -5
   
9. George Dixon (8-1-1) +1
10. Ike Weir (17-7-2, 15 KO) NEW

Dropped out: Marco Antonio Barrera

Note: Young Corbett II was champ on Jan. 1 when the last rankings came out. He dropped the title to Marquez, who then lost to Chris John, which is why both Corbett and Marquez are listed as former champions.



Jr. Featherweight

Champion: Bones Adams (20-4, 13 KO)

1. Celestino Caballero (17-2, 16 KO)
2. Oscar Larios (15-0, 14 KO)
3. Ricardo Cordoba (16-3, 11 KO) +1
4. Mahyar Monshipour (11-3, 8 KO) +2
5. Daniel Ponce-DeLeon (11-2, 11 KO) -2
   
6. Yober Ortega (18-4, 17 KO) +2
7. Israel Vazquez (13-2-1, 11 KO) -2
   
8. Somsak Sithchatchawal (15-1, 11 KO) +2
9. Bernard Dunne (13-2, 10 KO)
10. Joan Guzman (15-2, 15 KO) NEW
    

Dropped out: Willie Jorrin


Bantamweight

Champion: Jimmy Barry (22-1, 13 KO)

1. Cruz Carbajal (18-5, 12 KO)
2. Terry McGovern (13-3, 13 KO) +1
3. Pete Herman (11-2, 3 KO) +1
4. Hozumi Hasegawa (11-1, 3 KO) +1
5. Paulie Ayala (16-1-1, 2 KO) +4
6. Harry Harris (11-2, 1 KO)
7. Wladimir Sidorenko (16-4, 2 KO)
8. Harry Forbes (12-3-1, 4 KO) NEW
9. Monte Attell (14-4, 6 KO) +1
10. Kid Williams (10-3, 3 KO) NEW

Dropped out: Johnny Bredahl, Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym


Jr. Bantamweight

Champion: Luis Alberto Perez (18-1, 18 KO)

1. Jose Carita Lopez (14-1, 13 KO)
2. Martin Castillo (17-2, 14 KO)
3. Dimitri Kirilov (11-1, 1 KO) +1
4. Celes Kobaysashi (16-2, 13 KO) -1
   
5. Nobuo Nashiro (13-4, 12 KO)
   
6. Pedro Alcazar (15-5-1, 15 KO) +1
7. Masanori Tokuyama (10-1, 4 KO) -1
   
8. Ivan Hernandez (15-4, 11 KO)
9. Cristian Mijares (14-1, 5 KO)
10. Danpetch Chojaitrong (9-5-4, 2 KO)

Dropped out: None.

Flyweight

Champion: Omar Narvaez (15-2, 10 KO)

1. Malcolm Tunacao (11-0, 10 KO)
2. Eric Morel (14-3-1, 10 KO)
3. Vic Darchinyan (11-2, 9 KO) +2
4. Pongsaklek Wongjongkam (14-2, 8 KO) -1
   
5. Percy Jones (13-4, 8 KO) -1
   
6. Lorenzo Parra (13-3, 13 KO)
   
7. Nonito Donaire (9-2, 6 KO) +1
8. Daisuke Naito (7-6-1, 7 KO) -1
   
9. Justin Simon (7-3, 5 KO)
   
10. Jimmy Wilde (14-1-1, 13 KO) -1
    

Dropped out: Joe Symonds


Jr. Flyweight

Champion: Ulises Solis (25-1, 20 KO)

1. Beibis Mendoza (19-2, 17 KO) +1
2. Masibulele Makepula (14-3, 12 KO) -1
   
3. Nelson Dieppa (19-6, 14 KO)
4. Hugo Fidel Cazares (9-3, 8 KO) +1
5. Brian Viloria (9-2, 8 KO) +2
6. Edgar Sosa (14-5, 5 KO)
7. Ivan Calderon (11-4, 1 KO) -3
   
8. Koki Kameda (12-2, 11 KO) +1
9. Rosendo Alvarez (8-4, 7 KO) +1
10. Roberto Vasquez (10-2, 10 KO) NEW

Dropped out: Brahim Asloum


Strawweight

Champion: Oleydong Sithsamerchai (15-1, 11 KO)

1. Songkram Porpaoin (14-2, 3 KO)
2. Miguel Barrera (11-2, 9 KO)
3. Yutaka Niida (18-3, 8 KO)
4. Donnie Nietes (12-3-1, 4 KO) +1
5. Muhammad Rachman (12-3-1, 4 KO) +4
6. Jorge Mata (10-3, 3 KO)
7. Roman Gonzalez (15-4-1, 12 KO)
8. Isaac Bustos (14-4, 1 KO)
9. Eduardo Marquez (10-3, 6 KO) NEW
   
10. Ng Lok (12-17-1, 3 KO)

Dropped out: Noel Arambulet


GH

[G-Force]

PBA CHAMPIONS - MANDATORY DEFENSES

PBA guidelines require a champion to defend against a #1 contender once every 12 months. New champions must also grant a rematch to the former champion regardless of ranking within 12 months of winning the title. Defending against a former champion who is also the #1 contender WILL satisfy both requirements.

I was bad about monitoring this, but want to stick to it. So will go down the line here.

Below is the list of PBA champions as of April 1, 2010, and the timelines for their required mandatory defenses, if applicable.

Heavyweight
Champion: Vitali Klitschko
Date won: 12/19/09 from John L Sullivan
Mandatory defenses: Sullivan and #1 by 12/19/10

Cruiserweight
Champion: David Haye
Date won: 3/11/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 vs Wayne Braithwaite in April or forfeit title

Light-Heavyweight
Champion: Jack O'Brien
Date won: 3/21/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 12/19/20

Middleweight
Champion: Billy Papke
Date won: 2/25/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 vs Guillermo Carriles in April or forfeit title

Jr. Middleweight
Champion: Winky Wright
Date won: 5/6/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 10/26/10

Welterweight
Champion: Tommy Ryan
Date won: 3/15/10 from Vernon Forrest
Mandatory defenses: #1 and Vernon Forrest rematch by 3/15/11

Jr. Welterweight
Champion: Junior Witter
Date won: 8/5/09 from Ricky Hatton
Mandatory defenses: #1 and Ricky Hatton rematch by 8/5/10

Lightweight
Champion: Benny Leonard
Date won: 2/23/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 vs Battling Nelson in April or forfeit title

Jr. Lightweight
Champion: Edwin Valero
Date won: 11/20/09 from Joel Casamayor
Mandatory defenses: #1 and Casamayor rematch by 11/20/10

Featherweight
Champion: Chris John
Date won: 3/24/10 from Juan Manuel Marquez
Mandatory defenses: #1 and Marquez OR Young Corbett II by 4/24/11
Note: Marquez lost title to John before giving Corbett his mandatory rematch. So John can fight either and satisfy his requirement.

Jr. Featherweight
Champion: Clarence "Bones" Adams
Date won: 8/31/09 from Celestino Caballero
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 2/15/11
Note: Adams defeated Caballero, who was the #1 seed, in his title rematch on 2/15/10, thereby fulfilling both requirements.

Bantamweight
Champion: Jimmy Barry
Date won: 6/21/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 1/9/11

Jr. Bantamweight
Champion: Luis Alberto Perez
Date won: 6/21/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 6/21/10

Flyweight
Champion: Omar Narvaez
Date won: 5/23/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 2/15/11

Jr. Flyweight
Champion: Ulises Solis
Date won: 6/9/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 2/15/11

Strawweight
Champion: Oleydong Sithsameachai
Date won: 7/21/09 in tournament final
Mandatory defenses: #1 by 7/21/10

GH

[G-Force]

The most exciting month in the PBA since the initial tournaments concluded features SEVEN title defenses and a host of bouts between Top 10 contenders.

April 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Cruiserweight
#7 Giacobbe Frogomeni (15-6, 7 KO) vs #9 Steve Cunningham (17-2, 8 KO)

Light-Heavyweight
#1 Antonio Tarver (12-1, 11 KO) vs #8 Hugo Garay (11-5-1, 5 KO)

Middleweight
#2 Frank Klaus (17-3, 6 KO) vs #6 Bob Fitzsimmons (14-4, 13 KO)

Jr. Middlweight
#3 Joachim Alcine (9-3, 9 KO) vs #10 Gilberto Baez (6-8)

Jr. Welterweight
#3 Zab Judah (11-2, 9 KO) vs #10 Vivian Harris (11-5-1, 10 KO)

Jr. Bantamweight
#3 Dimitri Kirilov (11-1, 1 KO) vs #5 Nobuo Nashiro (13-4, 12 KO)

Jr. Flyweight
#3 Nelson Dieppa (19-6, 14 KO) vs #10 Roberto Vasquez (10-2, 10 KO)

TITLE FIGHTS

Heavyweight
CHAMP Vitali Klitschko (19-1-1, 15 KO) vs #10 James J Corbett (5-3-2, 1 KO)

Cruiserweight
CHAMP David Haye (16-2, 10 KO) vs #1 Wayne Braithwaite (14-1, 13 KO)

Middleweight
CHAMP Billy Papke (23-0-1, 16 KO) vs #1 Guillermo Carriles (18-5-1, 12 KO)

Lightweight
CHAMP Benny Leonard (17-1, 10 KO) vs #1 Battling Nelson (10-2-1, 6 KO)

Jr. Lightweight
CHAMP Edwin Valero (13-2, 12 KO) vs #12 Jesus Chavez (10-4, 9 KO)

Flyweight
CHAMP Omar Narvaez (15-2, 10 KO) vs #6 Lorenzo Parra (13-3, 13 KO)

Strawweight
CHAMP Oleydong Sithsarnerchai (15-1, 11 KO) vs #1 Songkram Porpaoin (14-2, 3 KO)

[G-Force]

April 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Cruiserweight
#7 Giacobbe Frogomeni (15-6, 7 KO) vs #9 Steve Cunningham (17-2, 8 KO)

Fragomeni overcomes a point deduction for low blows in the fifth and survives a cut in the sixth thanks to great work by his corner, knocking down Cunningham in the 8th on his way to a unanimous decision victory, 96-93, 96-92, 97-92.

Light-Heavyweight
#1 Antonio Tarver (12-1, 11 KO) vs #8 Hugo Garay (11-5-1, 5 KO)

Tarver enters not having lost since the second fight of his career, and after pretty even bout through six rounds, Tarver clearly sweeps rounds 7 through 9. But the presumption of victory is derailed when, with less than 40 seconds remaining in the fight, Garay sends Tarver to the canvas. Tarver rises, but the knockdown turns the cards interesting, and all three end up in synchronicity in every round, resulting in a unanimous, 95-94 sweep for, in a major upset, Hugo Garay!

Middleweight
#2 Frank Klaus (17-3, 6 KO) vs #6 Bob Fitzsimmons (14-4, 13 KO)

While Klaus throws more than twice as many punches, he lands only 18%, and an efficient Fitzsimmons, landing just shy of 50% also lands the biggest shot of the fight, dropping Klaus with a cross late in the fifth. The fight goes the distance, and when it's time for the cards, one has it even...the other two score the bout 97-93 for Fitzsimmons, who bounces back after falling short in his attempt to dethrone champion Billy Papke. Klaus, once 13-1, has now dropped 3 of his last 7 fights.

Jr. Middleweight
#3 Joachim Alcine (9-3, 9 KO) vs #10 Gilberto Baez (6-8)

Baez's entry into the top 10 says more about the lackluster Jr. Middleweight division than it does about Baez. And his stay in the top 10 will be short-lived, as Alcine blasts him into unconsciousness a little more than two minutes into the fight in a nice bounceback after losing his title shot against champion Ronald "Winky" Wright.

Jr. Welterweight
#3 Zab Judah (11-2, 9 KO) vs #10 Vivian Harris (11-5-1, 10 KO)

Harris acquits himself exceptionally well in a great opportunity against Judah. The fight takes a turn when Harris suffered a serious gash from an unintentional butt during a clinch in the fourth, and less than a minute later he put Judah on the canvas. Judah recovered to win the next two rounds, but himself was cut in the 7th as Harris regained control. The blood from Harris' cut was pouring the wound growing and, after a third check with the doctors the bout was called, going to the cards in the middle of an eight round that had gone Judah's way. But the scorecards done, giving a unanimous decision to Harris, 67-65, 67-65, 68-64, dealing a major blow to Judah's title hopes.

Jr. Bantamweight
#3 Dimitri Kirilov (11-1, 1 KO) vs #5 Nobuo Nashiro (13-4, 12 KO)

Nashiro puts forth a convincing performance here, dropping Kirilov in the 4th and battering and bloodying him until the referee decides Kirilov has taken too much punishment and calls a stop to the bout 39 seconds into round 6.

Jr. Flyweight
#3 Nelson Dieppa (19-6, 14 KO) vs #10 Roberto Vasquez (10-2, 10 KO)

Dieppa thrusts himself into the title picture with a stellar performance, dropping Vasquez in the third and winning 6 of 7 rounds from the 3rd through the 9th (except the 6th) en route to a unanimous decision victory, 97-92, 97-92, 96-93.

GH

[G-Force]

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

[Hanson Bros]

good stuff

[G-Force]

May 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Heavyweight
#6 Samuel Peter (19-4, 17 KO) vs #4 James Jeffries (8-2-1, 6 KO)

Cruiserweight
#5 O'Neil Bell (9-3, 7 KO) vs #10 Victor Emilio Ramirez (9-5, 7 KO)

Jr. Middleweight
#6 Roman Karmazin (13-2, 12 KO) vs #7 Santiago Samaniego (14-6, 14 KO)

Lightweight
#2 Joe Gans (14-2, 6 KO) vs #6 Jack McAuliffe (20-2, 20 KO)

Jr. Lightweight
#6 Alex Arthur (11-6, 8 KO) vs #8 Cassius Baloyi (17-3-1, 13 KO)

Jr. Lightweight
#4 Yodsanan Nanthachai (14-3, 12 KO) vs #1 Vicente Mosquera (14-4-2, 4KO)

Jr. Lightweight
#2 Joel Casamayor (14-2-1, 10 KO) vs #3 Jorge Barrios (14-5-1, 12 KO)

Featherweight
#1 Juan Manuel Marquez (18-3-1, 13 KO) vs #4 Abe Attell (13-2, 4 KO)

Jr. Bantamweight
#2 Martin Castillo (17-2, 14 KO) vs #6 Pedro Alcazar (15-5-1, 15 KO)

Jr. Flyweight
#2 Masibulele Makepule (14-3, 12 KO) vs #7 Ivan Calderon (11-4, 1 KO)

Strawweight
#5 Muhammad Rachman (12-3-1, 4 KO) vs #7 Roman Gonzalez (15-4-1, 12 KO)

TITLE FIGHTS

Jr. Flyweight
CHAMP Ulises Solis (25-1, 20 KO) vs #8 Koki Kameda (12-2, 11 KO)

Jr. Middleweight
CHAMP Winky Wright (17-0, 12 KO) vs #1 Sergio Martinez (18-2, 9 KO)

[G-Force]

May 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Heavyweight
#6 Samuel Peter (19-4, 17 KO) vs #4 James Jeffries (8-2-1, 6 KO)

After three rounds seemingly having taken control of this fight, Peter loses it in a flash, when Jeffries sends him to the canvas not once, not twice, but three times in the sixth round, to end Peter's night and surely get Jeffries closer to a title shot.

Cruiserweight
#5 O'Neil Bell (9-3, 7 KO) vs #10 Victor Emilio Ramirez (9-5, 7 KO)

A very angry post-fight situation when, after an even first six rounds, Ramirez drops Bell not once but twice in the 8th. Bell survives but spends much of the 9th holding Ramirez. Yet in the 10th, Bell comes out firing and midway through the round the bout is stopped despite the fact Bell was in much more trouble in the 8th than Ramirez was in the 10th. Ramirez, on the strength of that 7th, was up on all cards 85-84, 85-84, 86-83 at the time of the stoppage.

Jr. Middleweight
#6 Roman Karmazin (13-2, 12 KO) vs #7 Santiago Samaniego (14-6, 14 KO)

An exciting fight goes the distance. After a furious start in an even first, Samaniego controls the second and third and is in control of the fourth when Karmazin puts him down to turn the tide. But that tide turns back in the eighth when Samaniego floors Karmazin, and when it goes to the scorecards the judges lean unanimously, 96-94, 96-94, 97-93 for Samaniego.

Lightweight
#2 Joe Gans (14-2, 6 KO) vs #6 Jack McAuliffe (20-2, 20 KO)

McAuliffe's power never really gets a chance here as Gans puts forth a fabulous effort, landing an unfathomable 77% of his punches and never letting McAullife put him in any real trouble. Gans dropped McAuliffe in the third and sweeps rounds 5-9 on all cards before the fight in stopped in the 10th for a most impressive TKO victory.

Jr. Lightweight
#6 Alex Arthur (11-6, 8 KO) vs #8 Cassius Baloyi (17-3-1, 13 KO)

After starting his career 16-0-1, Baloyi has lost 3 of his last 4 fights. So this proves a much-needed win as he blows Arthur out of the water, knocking him down in the first and then twice in the fourth, the second time for good, to try and start a new climb up the rankings.

Jr. Lightweight
#4 Yodsanan Nanthachai (14-3, 12 KO) vs #1 Vicente Mosquera (14-4-2, 4KO)

Three bouts matching top 10 fighters in the Jr. Lightweight division are sure to alter the next set of rankings due out July 1, none moreso than this matchup, which sees top contender Mosquera handled rather easily over 10 rounds for a huge unanimous decision victory for Nanthachai, 97-94, 97-93, 98-92.

Jr. Lightweight
#2 Joel Casamayor (14-2-1, 10 KO) vs #3 Jorge Barrios (14-5-1, 12 KO)

Former champ Casamayor is still awaiting his mandatory rematch with champion Edwin Valero, and after this one Valero may be able to kill the mandatory rematch and mandatory #1 defense in one shot, as Casamayor will likely be #1 contender when the next rankings emerge. He dominates the first five rounds here then coasts, perhaps dangerously so, the rest of the way, but does enough to keep the decision out of doubt, 97-93, 97-93, 96-94.

Featherweight
#1 Juan Manuel Marquez (18-3-1, 13 KO) vs #4 Abe Attell (13-2, 4 KO)

Attell has flown under the radar a bit here, but he and the #1 contender and recently dethroned former champ lock up in a good matchup that's nip and tuck. But Marquez is gashed open in the 6th, and while each round his corner closes it, it gets opened wider in the next. So it goes for the next three rounds and, while Marquez is acquitting himself fine, the bout is called in the ninth because of the cut despite strenuous objection from Marquez, who is winning the 9th at the time of the stoppage. Attell was up 78-74, 77-76, 75-77 when the bout was stopped, but if Marquez had continued to win the 9th the bout would have been even entering the 10th. This one calls for a rematch, though Marquez is still caught up in the title shakedown with new champ Chris John and the man Marquez defeated for the strap, Young Corbett II.

Jr. Bantamweight
#2 Martin Castillo (17-2, 14 KO) vs #6 Pedro Alcazar (15-5-1, 15 KO)

In a fight that surprisingly goes the distance, Castillo dominates the odd rounds while Alcazar fares better it seems in the even ones - the exception being a sixth round that sees Castillo put Alcazar down. In the end, the decision is unanimous, 97-93, 97-93, 96-94 for Castillo.

Jr. Flyweight
#2 Masibulele Makepule (14-3, 12 KO) vs #7 Ivan Calderon (11-4, 1 KO)

Three months after falling short in his title shot, Makepule goes back to the man he fought in the bout before, Ivan Calderon, to grand him a rematch after topping him by unanimous decision. This time, he takes Calderon out with a fifth round knockout.

Strawweight
#5 Muhammad Rachman (12-3-1, 4 KO) vs #7 Roman Gonzalez (15-4-1, 12 KO)

It's turn back the clock night here as these two fought in the first bout of each's PBA career, with Gonzalez earning a sixth round TKO win. Rachman fares better here in a good, tight bout that ends up decided by a 10-7 10th round that sees Gonzalez drop Rachman twice. The scorecards are unanimous, 95-93 on two and a somewhat ridiculous 98-90 on the third for Roman Gonzalez.

GH

[G-Force]

MAY 2010 TITLE FIGHTS


Jr. Middleweight
CHAMP Winky Wright (17-0, 12 KO) vs #1 Sergio Martinez (18-2, 9 KO)

Wright topped Martinez last year via dominant unanimous decision and Martinez hadn't fought since, yet attained the #1 ranking. So Wright had no problem stepping in with Martinez again, only this time he didn't want to go the distance. Wright stakes further game as the PBA's best pound for pound fighter here when, after a feeling out in the first round, he controls the second and wipes Martinez out with a third-round knockout for his fourth successful title defense.

Jr. Flyweight
CHAMP Ulises Solis (25-1, 20 KO) vs #8 Koki Kameda (12-2, 11 KO)

Solis has earned a place in that top pound-for-pound debate, and here steps in against the man he defeated for the belt in the tournament final last June. Kameda had fought only once since, a loss to Beibis Mendoza in which he was wiped out in the second round via TKO. So it sounds like an easy one for Solis until you look under the hood. The tournament victory was a majority decision in the fifth round because of a sickening cut to Solis' head caused by an accidental butt that sent the fight to the cards. And it was Kameda who had dealt Solis the only loss of his career, a sixth-round knockout, as they were coming through the ranks. And so, while no one is shocked when Solis appears in complete control in the first round, perhaps nobody should have been quite as shocked as they were when Kameda sent Solis to dreamland a minute into round 2, to become via knockout the NEW PBA Jr. Flyweight champion!

GH

[G-Force]

June 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Light Heavyweight
#6 Chad Dawson (18-4, 11 KO) vs #5 Georges Carpentier (13-3, 9 KO)

Middleweight
#3 Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (19-3, 15 KO) vs #8 Kelly Pavlik (10-3-1, 8 KO)

Welterweight
#7 Keddy Burke (17-3, 16 KO) vs #8 Michele Piccirillo (12-3, 8 KO)

Jr. Welterweight
#9 Carlos Maussa (12-3, 10 KO) vs #8 Kendall Holt (11-4-2, 8 KO)

Jr. Welterweight
#1 Ricky Hatton (16-3, 14 KO) vs #5 Juan Urango (18-4, 17 KO)

Featherweight
#5 Young Corbett II (19-5, 11 KO) vs #9 George Dixon (8-1-1)

Jr. Featherweight
#6 Yober Ortega (18-4, 17 KO) vs #9 Bernard Dunne (13-3, 10 KO)

Bantamweight
#3 Pete Herman (11-2, 3 KO) vs #1 Cruz Carbajal (18-5, 12 KO)

Bantamweight
#2 Terry McGovern (13-3, 13 KO) vs #7 Wladimir Sidorenko (16-4, 2 KO)

Jr. Bantamweight
#7 Masanori Tokuyama (10-1, 4 KO) vs #9 Cristian Mijares (14-2, 5 KO)

Strawweight
FORMER CHAMP Oleydong Sithsarnerchai (15-2, 11 KO) vs #3Yutaka Niida (19-3, 8 KO)


TITLE FIGHTS

Heavyweight (Mandatory rematch)
CHAMP Vitali Klitschko (20-1-1, 16 KO) vs #3 John L Sullivan (21-5, 19 KO)

Cruiserweight
CHAMP Wayne Braithwaite (15-1, 14 KO) vs #3 Guillermo Jones (11-3, 8 KO)

Light Heavyweight
CHAMP Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (21-1, 10 KO) vs #2 Jack Dillon (12-3, 4 KO)

Jr. Bantamweight
CHAMP Luis Alberto Perez (18-1, 18 KO) vs #1 Jose Carita Lopez (14-2, 13 KO)

Flyweight
CHAMP Omar Narvaez (16-2, 11 KO) vs #12 Habible Straichaipani (8-6, 2 KO)

[G-Force]

June 2010

Top 10 Matchups

Light Heavyweight
#6 Chad Dawson (18-4, 11 KO) vs #5 Georges Carpentier (13-3, 9 KO)

Dawson comes out firing and batters Carpentier over the first three rounds. But late in the fourth, Carpentier catches him with an uppercut to put him down. Dawson survives and regains control in the fifth, knocking Carpentier down twice, the second time for good, earning a 5th-round knockout at 2:46 of the 5th.

Middleweight
#3 Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (19-3, 15 KO) vs #8 Kelly Pavlik (10-3-1, 8 KO)

Pretty much the only blemish here for Dempsey is a point deduction for a low blow in the 7th. Other than that it's a dominating performance yielding a unanimous decision (98-90, 99-89, 98-91).

Welterweight
#7 Keddy Burke (17-3, 16 KO) vs #8 Michele Piccirillo (12-3, 8 KO)

These two let it all hang out here, including a 4th round that could be a round of the year contender. But in the 6th, Burke takes control, battering Piccirillo from pillar to post before ref Anibal Andrade jumps in to save Piccirillo from further punishment, giving Burke a big, impressive win!

Jr. Welterweight
#9 Carlos Maussa (12-3, 10 KO) vs #8 Kendall Holt (11-4-2, 8 KO)

In a back and forth affair, Maussa drops Holt twice in the fifth round. But Holt survives and seems to find his was, dominating the 6th and 7th before putting Maussa down in the 8th. Maussa recovers to win the close 9th and the 10th is shockingly uneventful, sending us to the cards. The result: 3 cards at 94-93, two of them for the winner, Carlos Maussa!

Jr. Welterweight
#1 Ricky Hatton (16-3, 14 KO) vs #5 Juan Urango (18-4, 17 KO)

Hatton is due a mandatory championship rematch with Junior Witter in August, and perhaps was looking toward that bout with the slow start he had here against the dangerous Urango. Hatton tastes the canvas in the first 30 seconds and doesn't really show up until the 5th. From there it's quite the war, lots of heavy leather from both men but with Hatton doing more damage, sweeping rounds 5-7 and battling evenly with Urango from there - with a very even 8th, Urango dominating the 9th and Hatton by all appearances taking the 10th. The fight goes to the cards and it's unanimous: 96-93, 96-94, 95-94 in favor of Juan Urango, who may have positioned himself to face the winner of the Hatton/Witter rematch with his performance here.

Featherweight
#5 Young Corbett II (19-5, 11 KO) vs #9 George Dixon (8-1-1)

A good, tough, even fight throughout. No knockdowns, no cuts, neither fighter even seemingly in real trouble. So it shocks no one when the cards return a draw, each winning a 96-94 on one card with a 95-95 sandwiched in.

Jr. Featherweight
#6 Yober Ortega (18-4, 17 KO) vs #9 Bernard Dunne (13-3, 10 KO)

A very impressive effort from Dunne, who floors Ortega in the 5th and 7th. Both men had their moments until Ortega surged in the final three rounds. But he never got Dunne off his feet and the other rounds were close enough that making it all the way on the cards from two knockdowns would be difficult...too difficult, apparently, as with each card reading 95-93, Dunne takes two of the three for the split decision victory.

Bantamweight
#3 Pete Herman (11-2, 3 KO) vs #1 Cruz Carbajal (18-5, 12 KO)

Herman has been under the radar thanks to inactivity, stepping back in the ring here for the first time since February 2009. Carbajal was seeking to battle back from a title shot TKO loss to champion Jimmy Barry. But Herman may be next in line after this one, when Carbajal essentially gave away the first half of the bout. Herman does enough to hold on as Carbajal tries to get back into the fight, but the cards lean for Herman, 97-93, 97-93, 96-94.

Bantamweight
#2 Terry McGovern (13-3, 13 KO) vs #7 Wladimir Sidorenko (16-4, 2 KO)

Sidorenko doesn't do anything wrong per se, but McGovern simply does more and better throughout the fight. The scorecards make the gap seem bigger than the action did, but the cards get it right: McGovern is very good, and earns a unanimous decision 99-91 ,99-91, 98-92.

Jr. Bantamweight
#7 Masanori Tokuyama (10-1, 4 KO) vs #9 Cristian Mijares (14-2, 5 KO)

Mijares is busier but doesn't land at a great clip. Tokuyama is stead throughout and, in the end, Tokuyama sweeps the final two rounds on all judges' cards to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision, 96-94, 96-95, 97-95.

Strawweight
FORMER CHAMP Oleydong Sithsamerchai (15-2, 11 KO) vs #3 Yutaka Niida (19-3, 8 KO)

Sithsamerchai looks to take out some anger after losing his title via disqualification a little more than a month ago. But Niida is having none of that as he pursues his own shot at the title down the line. In a close battle, Niida has the upper hand on the strength of early rounds until Sithsamerchai locks him in a corner and lowers the book for an 8th round knockout! Niida was up on all cards through 7.