Stieglitz upsets Balzsay, Guerrero unseats Klassen & Garcia retains title

Hungary’s Karoly Balzsay [21(15)-1(1)-0] vs. Russia’s Robert Stieglitz [36(22)-2(2)-0]

August 22 (Saturday) - Budapest, Hungary

Russia-born German Stieglitz scored an upset as he battered Balzsay to submission by not coming out of the eleventh round. This was supposed to be a showcase of sorts for Balzsay in front of his home crowd but turned out to be a disaster. Balzsay started strong and was ahead in the scorecards up to the eighth. The ninth was the turning point for Stieglitz as they went toe to toe cutting Balzsay’s forehead early in the round. The Hungarian was at the wrong end of most of the exchanges in the ninth and went down with around 20 seconds to go. It was ruled a slip by referee Joe Cortez, but, it looks more like he was down because of the beating he took. The tenth was again a Stieglitz dominated round as Balzsay is running out of gas with the left side of his face swollen from Stieglitz’s right straights. He tried answering the start of the eleventh but was unsteady and glassy-eyed prompting trainer Fritz Sdunek to wisely make the call. Balzsay was taken out of the ring on a stretcher.

There was practically no defense from both fighters. It became a contest of whoever succumbs to the beating first, loses. It was definitely exciting from a fan’s perspective. Stieglitz does not look like the titleholder that will keep the belt for long. He will probably make his voluntary defenses at home against the usual journeymen. An eventual tough mandatory challenger will likely end his reign. With most of the elite super middleweights participating in the Showtime tournament, the possible mandatories that can oust Stieglitz are former champ Denis Inkin or Allan Green.

Guerrero wins Klassen’s IBF Junior Lightweight (130 lbs.) title via UD

South Africa’s Malcolm Klassen [24(15)-5(0)-2] vs. USA’s Robert Guerrero [25(17)-1(0)-1]

August 22 (Saturday) - Houston, TX

Guerrero executed his game plan to perfection as he used his length and kept Klassen at bay. The scores were 117-111, 116-113 and 116-112. I scored it 117-111. This fight was suppose to be Klassen’s stage to make himself marketable in the US aside from a successful career in South Africa but that’s probably the worst selling job you can possibly get from a highly touted fighter. He was far from the boxer who stopped Cassius Baloyi four months ago. Klassen came in with a mission to knock Guerrero out. That mindset never works unless you’re a young Mike Tyson. Klassen was economical with his punches because he was waiting to throw the knockout blow. He tried and managed to get a few in but Guerrero’s constant motion and immediate counters were more effective. By the time Klassen realized he cannot win by stoppage, he was already way behind in points and Guerrero was already in a groove. Guerrero’s performance will help fans forget the Daud Yordan debacle and has in fact more than made up for it by fighting practically half of the bout with a cut over his left eye. The Ghost frustrated Klassen as he consistently moved to the side while turning him around after connecting combinations at will. This is Guerrero’s second title in different divisions having won the IBF featherweight belt twice before.

It will be interesting to see Guerrero against other titleholders, Jorge Linares or Roman Martinez. But for now, he can seat on his laurels and let Golden Boy find him a winnable yet worthwhile challenger for his voluntary defense.

Garcia retains his IBF Mini Flyweight (105 lbs.) title via MD

Mexico’s Raul Garcia [27(16)-0(0)-1] vs. Mexico’s Sammy Gutierrez [21(12)-5(1)-2]

August 22 (Saturday) - Los Cabos, BCS, Mexico

In what was originally announced as a draw, Garcia actually won by majority decision – 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114. Regardless of the result, Garcia keeps his IBF mini flyweight title and successfully defended for the fourth time since he dethroned Florante Condes last year.

A unification fight against Roman Gonzales or Donnie Nietes will be an interesting match-up in the least noticed division. Gonzales is fresh from a successful trip in Japan last month by disposing Katsunari Takayama while Nietes has a tough challenge next month against his mandatory challenger, Manuel Vargas.

Tally Updates

With Stieglitz and Guerrero unseating Balzsay and Klassen, respectively, there are significant movements in the tally for Hungary, Russia, South Africa and the US.

List Rules: (1) Only Ring, WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO; (2) Excluded interim champs, WBA's regular champs (when there are unified/super champs), champs-in-recess, emeritus status champ, WBC's diamond title and whatever extra sanctioning fee driven title; (3) Tally titles not titleholders; (4) Considered boxer's country of birth NOT ancestry, naturalized citizenship nor adopted home country.

Dennis Carreon can be reached at denniscmc@gmail.com