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Agbeko, Sturm and Cruz Retain Titles
July 13th, 2009
Joseph Agbeko, Felix Sturm and Cristobal Cruz successfully retained their respective titles but not without controversy. Here’s a chronicle of the busy weekend of title fights from Germany, Mexico and Florida.
July 11 (Saturday) - Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Germany’s Felix Sturm [33(14)-2(1)-1] vs. Armenia’s Khoren Gevor [30(16)-4(2)-0]
Sturm retains his WBA Middleweight (160 lbs.) title via unanimous decision
Sturm won what I thought was a very close and controversial unanimous decision over Gevor - 115-113, 115-113 and 117-111. Gevor was the busier fighter yet Sturm threw the heavier blows. The fight was in the eve of the German Formula 1 Grand Prix. Ringside crowd includes F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Sturm appeared to be the only lucrative option for WBC, WBO and Ring middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik until yesterday when various reports indicate that WBC junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Gabriel Martínez is now in the mix. With the way Sturm struggled against Gevor, it is better for him to continue fighting patsies in Germany than most likely loss Germany’s only title against Pavlik. Prediction Outcome: Right on target, Sturm indeed by decision.
July 11 (Saturday) - Sunrise, FL
Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko [27(22)-1(0)-0] vs. Armenia’s Vic Darchinyan [32(26)-2(1)-1]
Agbeko retains his IBF Bantamweight (118 lbs.) title via unanimous decision
Agbeko fought an excellent fight and was indeed King Kong after all. He was effectively scoring at will with his lead right. In spite of his forward hunching stance, Darchinyan does not have the short compact hooks to exploit it. The scores are 116-111 and 114-113 (twice). I have it at 116-113. It’s back to the drawing board for Armenia’s raging bull as far as his plans to move up to the 118-lb. class is concern. He, at least, still have his three super flyweight belts to hold on to. He is due to defend against the IBF mandatory challenger, Simphiwe Nongqayi of South Africa soon. I would love to see Agbeko take on his WBA counterpart, Anselmo Moreno of Panama who is fresh from a successful split decision win over Mahyar Monshipour last week. Prediction Outcome: I fell for Darchinyan’s pronouncements hook, line and sinker. I should’ve given Agbeko more credit.
July 11 (Saturday) - Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico
Mexico’s Cristobal Cruz [39(23)-11(2)-1] vs. Mexico’s Jorge Solis [37(27)-2(1)-2]
Cruz retains his IBF Featherweight (126 lbs.) title via unanimous decision
Cruz retained his title in what looked like a street brawl at times with scores of 113-111 and 113-110 (twice). I have it 113-111 also for Cruz. It was a rough and tumble fight right from the start as Cruz was unusually dirty in front of his hometown folks. He was deducted twice in the third round for a head butt and a takedown to the chagrin of the crowd as they pelted the ring with ice, water and garbage. From there on, I thought third man in the ring Joseph Cooper was refereeing scared. During the takedown, I almost thought it was an MMA match and was waiting for Cruz to start pounding Solis. If Solis stuck to his game plan by using his jabs and boxed, he could’ve won the fight. His retaliation in the fifth and seventh rounds probably cost him the title. He was deducted two points each on low blows. Cruz now has something in common with pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao. They are the only two fighters to defeat Solis, as if that matters. Solis won a unanimous decision on their first encounter more than five years ago. I don’t mind seeing a rubber match but this time on neutral grounds. Prediction Outcome: I guess my prediction was for the rubber match. Two strikes this week.
Two setbacks this weekend is obviously not the week I was looking for. I have three more to make up for it Tuesday with title fights in Japan. Current record is 2-2.
Title Updates
Armenian-born German Arthur Abraham relinquished his IBF Middleweight title as he prepares to move up to the 168-lb. class. He will join five other notable names in the ambitious and exciting super middleweight tournament spearheaded by Showtime. This competition includes WBA titlist Mikkel Kessler and WBC champ Carl Froch. A not so pleasant week for Armenia as they lose one titlist and Darchinyan failing to add one in his bantamweight bid.
Early last week, Nonito Donaire of the Philippines vacated his IBF Flyweight title. He is scheduled to fight Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the vacant WBA interim super flyweight title on August 15. He has been having problems making the 112-lb. limit and there’s no other choice but to move up. The IBF also mandated a rematch between Donaire and South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane by August 1 which gave Donaire more reasons to relinquish his belt. If Donaire defeats Concepcion, a rematch with Darchinyan is one step closer to reality. A rematch every boxing fan is looking forward to. The Philippines drops to 9th in the tally with one less title.
|
Rank |
Country |
No. of Titles |
Title Holders |
|
1st (2 are tied) |
Mexico |
9 |
|
|
1st (2 are tied) |
USA |
9 |
|
|
3rd |
Puerto Rico |
7 |
|
|
4th |
Ukraine |
6 |
-
Sergiy Dzinziruk - WBO154
-
Vitali Klitschko - WBC200+
-
Wladimir Klitschko - IBF200+;WBO200+;Ring200+
-
Andreas Kotelnik - WBA140 |
|
5th (2 are tied) |
Japan |
4 |
|
|
5th (2 are tied) |
Panama |
4 |
|
|
7th (2 are tied) |
Argentina |
3 |
-
Sergio Gabriel Martinez - WBC154
-
Omar Andres Narvaez - WBO112
-
Victor Emilio Ramirez - WBO200 |
|
7th (2 are tied) |
Armenia |
3 |
|
|
9th (5 are tied) |
Hungary |
2 |
-
Karoly Balzsay - WBO168
-
Zsolt Erdei - WBO175 |
|
9th (5 are tied) |
Philippines |
2 |
-
Donnie Nietes - WBO105
-
Manny Pacquiao - Ring140 |
|
9th (5 are tied) |
Poland |
2 |
|
|
9th (5 are tied) |
Thailand |
2 |
|
|
9th (5 are tied) |
Venezuela |
2 |
-
Jorge Linares - WBA130
-
Edwin Valero - WBC135 |
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Colombia |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Denmark |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Germany |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Ghana |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Haiti |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Indonesia |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Italy |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Nicaragua |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Romania |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Russia |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
South Africa |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
Spain |
1 |
|
|
14th (13 are tied) |
UK |
1 |
|
|
|
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MORE STUFF FROM AROUND THE WEB....
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