Boxing results and recaps, Sept. 27-30: Julio Diaz, Patrick Majewski, and Yesica Bopp win big

This is the first post I've made myself within SB Nation, so bare with me as I learn the nuances. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a boxing junkie. I watch more of it than any sensible human should, but until now haven't really bothered to share my feelings on what I've seen. Below I discuss a few fights I saw this past weekend which you may have missed. Don't feel bad if you didn't watch any of these, it just means you aren't a junkie like me. I just hope you find this useful. If the feedback is positive, you can expect this bi-weekly. Stay tuned for "Part 2" on Wednesday.

2012-09-27 Hotel San Juan, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

TyC broadcasted the two main events of this card, which turned out to be fairly one sided.

Yesica Yolanda Bopp TKO7 Marisol Miranda

In the female main event Yesica Yolanda Bopp stopped Marisol Miranda in the 7^th round due to a cut over Miranda’s left eye gradually worsened by straight and overhand rights from Bopp. Miranda took a beating in each round and cried after the punishment was finally over. With the win Bopp improved her undefeated record to 22-0 and made the 8^th defense of her WBO female light flyweight title. Bopp, also the WBA world champion, is now 15-0 in world title fights. Bopp’s opposition however has been questionable apart from 2009 meetings with Ibeth Zamora Silva and Jessica Chavez, although her more recent wins over Carina Moreno and Anabel Ortiz were certainly respectable. Today Jessica Chavez is the reigning IBF champion while Esmeralda Moreno, who also defeated Chavez, is the WBC champ. A meeting between Bopp and Esmeralda Moreno would crown the undisputed queen of the division.

McWilliams Arroyo TKO5 Ronald Ramos

In the male main event McWilliams Arroyo abruptly stopped Ronald Ramos in the 5^th round with a counter left hook after parrying Ronald’s right jab (southpaw). Ramos, despite crashing to the canvas, did get up in time to beat the 10 count but was in no condition to continue and referee Jose H. Rivera wisely waved it off. Using his negative, disengaging fighting style Ramos was able to avoid much punishment throughout the bout and from time to time would land decent counters of his own. But ultimately Arroyo was able to walk through Ramos and take him out. This was Arroyo’s 1^st defense of the WBO Latino flyweight title. Multiple sources have incorrectly reported this as a 7^th round stoppage win for McWilliams, but I never write about fights I haven’t watched myself.

2012-09-28 Foro Polanco, Polanco, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Telemundo broadcasted a thrilling main event followed by a scheduled 8 round super flyweight bout, which began and ended in exciting fashion.

Julian Rivera UD12 Edgar Jimenez (117-112 [x2], 117-111)

In the main event Julian Rivera squared off against Edgar Jimenez. Through 8 rounds it was anyone’s fight although I felt Rivera was ahead based on cleaner, straighter, more effective punches. In the 9^th round Jimenez was hurt at least 3 times and was only game for the remainder of the bout, losing rounds 9-12 clearly. The fight was never boring, but compared to the first 9 rounds the last 3 were tame. Telemundo’s unofficial scorecard had the bout 117-111 for Rivera, giving Jimenez the 3^rd, 4^th, and 7^th rounds. The official judges scored it similarly. Rivera successfully made the first defense of his WBC Latino flyweight title, topping the same man he previously defeated to get it. Their previous encounter remained thrilling to the very end, and consequently ended in split decision. Rivera left no doubt the second time around.

David Carmona TKO4 Ariel Gonzalez

In the other televised bout of the evening David Carmona stopped Ariel Gonzalez in 4 rounds. Gonzalez was put down in first and last rounds but did surprisingly well in the 2^nd and 3^rd. Carmona did not appear to be in the best shape, but Gonzalez’s defensive flaws ultimately did him in. Gonzalez left his chin out to dry and Camona made him pay for it with right hands. Gonzalez was on his way down for a second time in round 2 as the referee stepped in to wave it off. Gonzalez was in the process of sliding down the ropes when the ref rushed in to push Carmona out of the way. The ref was a tad too slow getting there and Gonzalez ate a couple extra punches as a result. He remained laid out on the canvas for a few minutes before finally getting up, but fortunately managed to walk away with his wits about him.

2012-09-29 Resorts Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

This was streamed live over the internet via GFL.TV.

Michal Chudecki TKO3 Moses Molina

Jabs and straight lefts from the southpaw "TNT" Chudecki were enough to win him every round and lead to the referee rendering a mercy stoppage in the 3^rd. Molina didn’t appear in any kind of serious trouble but he simply just wasn’t competitive.

Patryk Szymanski UD4 Adrian Wilson

Wilson struggled to find range and when he did get inside he often held. He simply did too much waiting and not enough punching. Szymanski noticeably tired by the end but Wilson never capitalized.

Emanuel Colon TKO4 Hasan Young

While Colon arguably won every round of this fight, Young still gave him hell in each one of them. Had it lasted much longer it was shaping up to be a fight of the year candidate. Young, from Philadelphia, was probably tougher than his own good and took massive amounts of punishment without ever wanting to quit. Eventually referee Benjy Esteves waved it off as he felt Young had finally taken enough clean combinations while lying against the ropes. It was a common trend in the bout, but Young previously had done well to fight off the ropes. He appeared to be taking a little too long to repeat history in the 4^th, so the stoppage seemed fair. Both prospects showed talent and it seemed odd that they would meet so early in their careers. I doubt Young believes the money was worth it now.

Decarlo Perez TKO3 Shamone Alvarez

After immediately stunning Perez after the opening bell, Shamone Alvarez slowly wore down and Perez took the fight over. Alvarez may have burned himself out in the 1^st round working at a tremendous pace. It was enough to win the round 1, but Alvarez’s conditioning couldn’t hold up afterward. Alvarez appears to be an old 35 and has lost multiple steps since his life and death war with Joshua Clottey in 2007.

Patrick Majewski MD10 Latif Mundy (95-95, 98-92, 100-90)

In a quality fight, Patrick Majewski appeared to have clearly beaten Latif Mundy despite bleeding profusely above one of his eyes from the end of the 3^rd round onward. He was more fluent in his combinations, often got off first, and was busier. Mundy, despite not being particularly marked up, was clearly hurt far more often in the fight. Once the 1^st scorecard was announced however (the draw), Mundy was hoping he squeaked out a decision. Hometown fighters have been losing close ones in boxing recently, but getting robbed blind is another matter entirely. Although considered somewhat of a pointless rematch, this main event exceeded expectations and fans got their monies worth. Majewski improved his record to 20-1 and took another step closer to becoming a relevant player in the middleweight division.

2012-09-29 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States

Telefutura televised three bouts in another installment of their "Solo Boxeo Tecate" series, the most frequent, weekly, live…ish boxing show on American television.

Roger Gonzalez MD10 Andrew Cancio (95-95, 96-94 [x2])

Once beaten prospect Cancio continued his senior tour against the artist formerly known as "Speedy Gonzalez", but unlike his fight with Rocky Juarez was unable to receive generous scorecards. Nonetheless it was another fun fight well worth the watch. Cancio was usually the busier, stronger, and more aggressive fighter, but Gonzalez was certainly craftier and picked his shots much better.

Julio Diaz TKO5 Hector Sanchez

Diaz, who called out a who’s who of stars after his last defeat of unheralded Henry Aurad, dropped the slightly more regarded Hector Sanchez in round 2 but was unable to put him away until the 5^th. The knockdown in round 2 caught Sanchez mostly behind the head and didn’t appear all that powerful, mostly just a disorienting shot. Although Sanchez would go on to lose every round, he disagreed with the stoppage and was trying to fight back when it was waved off.

Daniel Franco TKO3 Jesus Sandoval

Franco controlled the bout with better technique. Time and time again his straighter punches would land inside of Sandoval’s wider shots. Then in round 3 a counter left hook put Sandoval down. While Sandoval was able to get up, he did not recover and did not properly defend himself as Franco followed up with further combinations. The referee stopped it while Sandoval was standing, but unlike the previous bout there was no complaint.

2012-09-29 Ce.De.M. N° 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires, Argentina

This card was televised by TyC Sports.

Carlos Ruben Dario Ruiz UD12 Carlos Ariel Farias (115-113 [x2], 116-112)

In the main event of the evening Ruiz began by controlling the center of the ring and forcing the action while Farias mostly danced around the ring edges and waited for openings that either never came or he was unable to capitalize on. If Farias moved his hands as much as he moved his feet, he might have actually won this fight. Farias had many moments of making Ruiz miss, but rarely made him pay, that is, until it was too late. Halfway into the fight Farias actually managed to become an effective counter puncher, but he’d given away too many early rounds to steal the decision. The unofficial TyC score actually shaded the fight to Farias by 1 point after giving the first 5 rounds to Ruiz and scoring the 8^th even. Farias felt he was robbed as the official scorecards were read, but fans in attendance didn’t appear particularly upset. With the victory Ruiz gained the interim WBO Latino flyweight title, which probably confuses you if you read my recap on the Puerto Rican card. McWilliams Arroyo indeed defended the standard version of the belt just 2 days prior.

Elias Leandro Vallejos KO6 Pablo Ernesto Oliveto

Despite both boxers fighting flat footed and upright, this was actually more of a boxing match than one would expect. Vallejos was the aggressor and the harder puncher, but was also very defensive oriented in his approach. Neither fighter particularly welcomed getting punched and constantly moved in and out of range. Both fighters worked behind their jabs, but only Vallejos was able to follow up with other effective punches. Vallejos’ pressure and combination punching was the difference in the fight. Oliveto’s left eye particularly took a lot of damage from Vallejos’ right hands. Eventually a straight right hand put Oliveto down in the 6^th round. Oliveto pounded the canvas in frustration but fell back down when he attempted to get up. The referee counted him out while he sat on the canvas.

Jorge Samuel Fredes TKO3 Juan Facundo Aspera

It didn’t take long for fists to fly in this fight. Both fighters flailed hooks in rapid succession, but it was Fredes who turned his body into the shots more. Fredes kept a lower center of gravity and kept his chin better protected. By the 3^rd round a cut opened up between Fredes’ left eye and nose, causing the referee to have the ringside doctor take a look. Fredes, apparently invigorated by the sight of his own blood, came out swinging once the doctor cleared him and the action resumed. A wide left hook followed by a wide overhand right hook caught Aspera flush and dropped him in highlight reel fashion. Although Aspera beat the count the referee felt he was unfit to continue, which seemed to be the right call.

Lucas German Priori UD4 Miguel Angel Bogado

Priori, who made his pro debut earlier this year, out boxed his opponent and won convincingly but has never been able to impress like he did his first time out. I’ve seen a lot of knockouts this year, but Priori’s 3^rd round stoppage of Pehuen Roberto Correa still rates as the best I’ve seen. Furthermore it was a fun fight where Priori actually had to get off the canvas to win. His fights have lacked much excitement since.

If a bout is not mentioned which took place on one of the above cards it’s most likely because I haven’t got around to watching it yet. In the event that I do watch such a bout at a later time it’s still unlikely I will update this recap. My recaps will be posted on Mondays and Wednesdays, devoted to cards that most casual American boxing fans haven’t seen or heard of. For available footage of the previously reported bouts follow @sweetboxing on twitter. You may also email the author of this piece at rgbivins@gmail.com