Joshua obliterates Bakhtov; Selby defeats Brunker

Joshua obliterates Bakhtov; Selby defeats Brunker

2012 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Anthony Joshua (9-0, 9 KOs) took care of business on Saturday night in dismantling a shorter, older and far slower Denis Bakhtov (38-10, 25 KOs) in scoring a 2nd round stoppage to win the World Boxing Council International heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London, UK. The win sets the soon to be 25-year-old Joshua up with a fight against Michael Sprott on November 22nd on the Bellew-Cleverly 2 card in Liverpool, UK.

Joshua, 6’6”, hurt the 5’11” Bakhtov with a right hand in the 2nd round. Bakhtov was against the ropes at the time and pretty much helpless with nowhere to go. Joshua then opened up with a storm of shots to the head resulting in the referee Ian John-Lewis separating the two fighters for some reason.

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The Competitive Way Forward – Nurse V Ryan

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All British World Title fights are certainly in vogue at this moment in time, showing time and again that in terms of passion, drama and the ability to draw a crowd, there are few occasions that measure up. The success of both Froch v Groves promotions captured the imagination and paved the way for further grudge matches, with both major promotion outfits, to be made.

It would seem that finally, the landscape has changed for the better and the fans are to be treated to consistent, meaningful fights at not just World level, but European and domestic level also. With fights such as, Bellew v Cleverly 2, Fury v Chisora, Saunders v Eubank, alongside muted bouts featuring Kell Brook v Amir Khan and Carl Froch v James DeGale, the British public are salivating, with I’m sure the boxing world at large closely behind, reaching for their handkerchiefs.

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Taylor defeats Soliman; Dirrell destroys Brinson

Taylor defeats Soliman; Dirrell destroys Brinson

International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight champion Sam Soliman (44-12, 18 KOs) physically fell apart and he looked every bit of his 40 years in losing to 36-year-old Jermain Taylor (44-12, 18 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA.

Neither fighter looked good at all. Taylor may have won the fight, but he looked poor in comparison to the likes of Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto, two of the best middleweights in the division. Soliman slipped on the wet canvas in the 7th, causing him to injure his left leg while being knocked down.

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Foxwoods Boxing Recap – Barthelemy Retains his IBF Title over Saucedo

Foxwoods Boxing Recap - Barthelemy Retains his IBF Title over Saucedo

The number three Ring Magazine Junior Lightweight Pugilist, Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy dominated former world title challenger, Fernando David “El Vasco” Saucedo as he won every round en route to a twelve round unanimous decision by three scorecards, 120-108. He also made his first successful defense of the Junior Lightweight International Boxing Federation Title that he won in July over former defending champion, Argenis Mendez.

Barthelemy controlled the action throughout this bout as he outworked and out landed Saucedo. He landed more effective and accurate punches, especially power shots which he connected on half of them.

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Gonzalez defeats Arce

Gonzalez defeats Arce

We may have seen the end of 35-year-old Jorge Arce (64-8, 49 KOs) last Saturday night in his 11th round knockout loss to WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs) at the Centro de Usos Multiples, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. Arce was knocked down three times in the fight.

The referee stopped the fight in the 11th with Arce still on his feet but no longer even making an effort to fight back. Arce was moving in circles and looking like he was just wanted to survive until the final belt.

Gonzalez fought like he was taking it easy on Arce for most of the fight. Rarely did Gonzalez step it up, and each time he did, Arce wound up on the canvas.

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Vanes Martirosyan Dedicates Win To Dan Goossen

Vanes Martirosyan Dedicates Win To Dan Goossen

World ranked junior middleweight contender VANES “The Nightmare” MARTIROSYAN entered the top echelon of his division on Saturday night with an outstanding 10-round unanimous decision over fellow contender WILLIE NELSON from the Foxwoods Resort Casino and telecast live on SHOWTIME.

Scores for Martirosyan, now 35-1-1 (21KO’s) were 97-93, 97-93 and 96-94 over Nelson who moved to 23-2-1 (13KO’s).

Changing the momentum of the fight in the second round with a big right hand and surviving a bad cut above his right eye suffered in the fourth, Martirosyan fought brilliantly over the second half of the fight.

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Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia Tames Bondorovas in AC — Hart, Zewski, Reed, More!

Glen "Jersey Boy" Tapia Tames Bondorovas in AC — Hart, Zewski, Reed, More!

By Justin Jones & Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

Atlantic City, NJ – Junior Middleweight Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (22-1, 14 KOs) continued on the comeback trail with his second consecutive knockout victory stopping Donatas Bondorovas (18-6-1, 6 KOs) in the main event of a seven-fight Top Rank card at the Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.

Once again, Tapia showed that working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has been a worthwhile investment. Tapia, who won via 4th round TKO, looked more patient and calculated in the ring than he did in his previous fight. The Passaic native also worked behind a steady stiff jab from the outset, which enabled him to set up his power shots with precision. Tapia landed thudding right hands, hooks, and body shots on Bondorovas with regularity.

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Josh Warrington Incites a Riot

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Whatever it is about Josh Warrington, which inspires what I witnessed in Leeds tonight, if he possessed a pint of it, he would never have to enter the ring again, such is the sheer value it would command.

Backed by a support, more likely to be seen in a field Glastonbury, Warrington, 23, produced the performance of his career to date with a scintillating 4-round demolition of the brave Davide Dieli. Clearly carrying the sporting hopes of a City on his shoulders, you could forgive the young man for being apprehensive, nervous even.

Not a bit of it, he embraces the expectation and wears it as a badge of honour, refusing to wilt under the pressure, instead allowing it to fuel him, spurred on by the desire to please his fans. In his own word’s, “If they tell me they are going to make a day of it, it fires me up to train harder and put the graft in.”

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Barthelemy beats Saucedo; Martirosyan defeats Nelson; Karpency decisions Dawson

Barthelemy beats Saucedo; Martirosyan defeats Nelson; Karpency decisions Dawson

Rances Barthelemy defended his IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship against Fernando David Saucedo with a dominating unanimous decision, scored 120-108 by all three judges, Saturday on SHOWTIME from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

Barthelemy (21-0, 12 KOs) controlled the bout from the opening bell and was the more active and accurate fighter, throwing 819 punches to Saucedo’s 382. Saucedo (52-6-3, 8, KOs) tried to counter, but he wasn’t quick enough to land anything meaningful against the elusive Cuban. Barthelemy, who landed 50 percent of his power shots, employed a diverse attack of uppercuts, hooks and jabs and fought with his hands down and by his side for most of the fight.

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Warrington v Dieli the Undercard

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The Matchroom promoted Battle Lines, presented a stacked undercard, which contained Ricky Burns, Callum Smith and Brian Rose no less, not to mention an all British Commonwealth title fight at Light Welterweight.

Ricky Burns v Alexandre Lepelley

Ricky Burns began his campaign at Light Welterweight in good style, knocking down the Frenchman with a hard right hand, followed by a left hook to seal the deal. Unfortunately, that is as good as it got for the 2-time former World Champion.

Although Burns was winning the rounds, the distance between the fighters reduced as the fight went on, descending into a war of attrition, which was not the order of the day. The Scotsman continued to win the rounds, but he didn’t look great in doing so.

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