Hatton Promotions exciting new signing Zhanat Zhakiyanov knocked out Thai rival Noppadol Khongchana in the first round to claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian bantamweight title on Friday night.
A sell-out 1500 crowd packed into the city sports hall in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan for the fight despite outside temperatures of -27 degrees centigrade.
Khongchana remained unconscious for several minutes and attended by the paramedics in the ring, but was able then to walk back to the dressing room.
The event, co-promoted by Hatton Promotions and Kazak promoter Yerik Jailauov, was the first ever professional boxing promotion to take place in the Northern Kazakhstan city.
Zhakiyanov said that his next target is to bring back the European bantamweight title to his home city and hopes to challenge EBU champion Jamie McDonnell this year.
Hard Hittin’ Promotions Presents Feb. 18 Aquino-Evans Title Clash
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (January 28, 2012) – Love will be scarce when Meriden’s Danny Aquino and Coy Evans of Philadelphia get it on in a post-Valentine’s Day affair, topping Hard Hittin’ Promotions’ six-fight extravaganza February 18 at the Lion’s Den in Middletown, Conn.
The eight-round headliner, presented by promoter Jacqui Cartelli, is for the UNBC super bantamweight title, pitting Aquino (9-1, 4 KOs) against the swift-fisted Evans (10-0-1, 2 KOs), who looks to keep his unblemished resume intact against one of Connecticut’s fastest-rising prospects. The 22-year-old Aquino is riding a four-fight winning spree, last toppling Jason Rorie over four rounds on Dec. 16, while Evans last pitched a six-round shutout over Felipe Almanza last January.
Date night continues with the undefeated Edwin Soto (7-0-2, 3 KOs), the rangy New Haven welterweight, who squares off with power-punching William Correa (8-5, 8 KOs) of Yauco, Puerto Rico in a schedule 6-round co-feature.
Luis Rosa, the popular super bantamweight from New Haven, puts perfection on the line against the dangerous Jason Rorie (6-15-2, 3 KOs) of Winston-Salem, N.C. Rosa (9-0, 5 KOs) dominated Harvey Murray in October with a lopsided decision victory at Foxwoods Casino.
In a four-round battle, Stamford light heavyweight Ahmad Mickens (1-1-1, 0 KOs) looks to rebound from a September setback with a showdown with Worcester, Mass. slugger Scott Domenech (1-1, 0 KOs).
Meanwhile, New Haven lightweight Oscar Bonilla (1-0, 0 KOs) plans to punctuate on his debut triumph over Corey White last June in a four-round bout with Ivan Hernandez (0-1, 0 KOs) of Buffalo, N.Y.
The card will also showcase unbeaten Kevin Cobbs (2-0, 1 KOs), also known as “The Vermont Bully,” in a four-round cruiserweight test with an opponent TBA.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout schedule for a 7 p.m. start. Tickets for the event, which are priced at $75 (ringside) and $35 (general admission), can be obtained by contacting The Lion’s Den at (860) 613-2394 or Davbe DeSanto at (203) 530-5328.
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012
The Lion’s Den, Middletown, Conn.
Danny Aquino (9-1, 4 KOs) Meridian, Conn. vs. Coy Evans (10-0-1, 2 KOs) Philadelphia, PA for UNBC super bantamweight championship, 8 rounds
Edwin Soto (7-0-2, 3 KOs) New Haven, Conn. vs. William Correa (8-5, 8 KOs) Yauco, Puerto Rico, welterweights, 6 rounds
Luis Rosa (9-0, 5 KOs) New Haven, Conn. vs. Jason Rorie (6-15-2, 3 KOs) Winston-Salem, N.C., super bantamweights, 6 rounds
Ahmad Mickens (1-1-1, 0 KOs) Stamford, Conn. vs. Scott Domenech (1-1, 0 KOs), Worcester, Mass., light heavyweights, 4 rounds
Oscar Bonilla (1-0, 0 KOs) New Haven, Conn. vs. Ivan Hernandez (0-1, 0 KOs), Buffalo, NY, lightweights, 4 rounds
Kevin Cobbs (2-0, 1 KO) Burlington, VT vs. TBA, cruiserweights, 4 rounds
IABA UPDATE (2012 ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMI-FINALS -DAY 2 )
January 29th.
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
Ken Egan will meet Joe Ward in next Friday’s Irish Daily Star sponsored Irish Elite Championships light-heavyweight final.
Egan set up the “battle of the southpaws” after Eamon Walsh retired in round two of last night’s semi-final at the National Stadium in Dublin with a facial injury.
Egan was 17-4 ahead and had forced Walsh into standing counts in round one and two before the three-rounder was stopped.
The February 3rd clash with Ward will be a repeat of the 2011 Elite final which Ward won, a victory which denied Egan his 11th straight Irish title.
Saturday’s semi-finals also saw Chris Phelan become the second Ryston BC boxer to make next weekend’s deciders following a commanding 26-13 victory over Ruairi Dalton.
Phelan edged the first round of this clash 6-5, but some slick counter-punching saw him run away with the second and open up a 17-8 advantage.
Michael Nevin will face John Joe Nevin in the bantamweight final following a 15-10 win over Glen Murray.
The first round of the Eric Donovan versus David Oliver Joyce all St Michael’s Athy clash finished tied at 3-3, Joyce doing the stalking, Donovan picking up points on the counter.
Joyce switched tactics to throwing clusters of body punches in the second and opened up an 11-7 lead at the bell before winning the third round 5-4 to secure a 16-11 decision.
He’ll now meet Michael McDonagh in a rematch of the 2011 lightweight final which McDonagh won.
“I am not looking past McDonagh. He beat me last year. Back to the club for the week and learn how to fight this lad. He is a different style of boxer but I’ll worry about that on Monday,” said Joyce after his win.
Martin Wall, meanwhile, took a count in the third against Stephen Coughlan, who booked his place into the 64Kg final with a 16-11 verdict.
Ceire Smith took the early route to victory in the first of Saturday’s women’s finals to claim her second Irish title.
The Cavan BC flyweight had her hand raised in victory after Emma Duffy retired in round one after taking a second standing count and suffering a shoulder injury.
Michelle Chambers took a standing count in the second frame of her all-Mayo bantamweight final with Michelle Lynch, who held a 9-3 advantage going into the fourth before securing a 12-3 win.
Claire Grace claimed the welterweight title with a 15-8 decision over Patricia Roddy.
Meanwhile, Christy Joyce ensured that the St Michael’s Athy club will have three boxers in next weekend’s finals with an 11-5 verdict over Patrick Corcoran.
Beijing Olympian John Joe Joyce beat Roy Sheahan in the second all-St Michael’s Athy duel of the evening, and Conor Coyle had three points to spare over Michael Reilly.
Dublin’s Sean Turner posted the final win of the evening, a 20-12 decision over David Joyce booking his place into the super-heavyweight final.
The 2012 Elite National Senior Championships finals will be held on Friday, February 3rd at the National Stadium.
2012 Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin
January 28th Women’s Finals/Men’s S/Finals
Finals
51Kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan) beat Emma Duffy (Crumlin) RET1
54Kg: Michelle Lynch (Golden Gloves) beat Michelle Chamber (Castlebar) 12-3
60Kg: Carla Wright (Gleann) W/O
64Kg: Sarah Close (Holy Family GG) W/O
69Kg: Claire Grace (Callan) beat Patricia Roddy (Bray) 14-8
75Kg: Sinead Kavanagh (Drimnagh) W/O
81Kg: Lauragh O’Neill (Paulstown) W/O
S/Finals
52Kg: Chris Phelan (Ryston) beat Ruairi Dalton (Holy Trinity) 26-13
56Kg: Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) beat Glenn Murray (Corinthians) 15-10
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Eric Donovan (St Michael’s Athy) 16-11
64Kg: Stephen Coughlan (Bray) beat Martin Wall (Crumlin) 16-11
69Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Roy Sheahan (St Michael’s Athy) 15-9
75Kg: Conor Coyle (St Jospehs) beat Michael Reilly (Holy Family) 12-9
81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) beat Eamon Walsh (St Annes) RSCI2
91Kg: Christy Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Patrick Corcoran (Crumlin) 11-5
91+Kg: Sean Turner (Drimnagh) beat David Joyce (Moate) 20-12
January 27th S/Finals
49Kg: Hugh Myres (Ryston) beat Evan Metcalfe (Crumlin) 23-15
52Kg: Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) beat Shane Roche (Corinthians) 28-12
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Sean McComb (Holy Trinity) 13-12
60Kg: Michael McDonagh (St Marys) beat Tyrone McCullagh (Holy Family GG) 11-5
64Kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon) beat Niall Murray (Gorey) 15-12
69Kg: Adam Nolan (Bray) beat Willie McLaughlin (Illies GG) 17-12
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Conrad Cummings (Holy Trinity) 13-10
81Kg: Joe Ward (Moate) beat David Joe Joyce (Ballinacargy) 17-4
91Kg: Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett) beat Stephen Ward (Monkstown) 16-11
91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) beat Ken Okungbowa (Moate) 17-8