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HITS and MISSES from Another Weekend on the Boxing Beat

Fans of professional boxing had plenty of fights to watch over the weekend, and the sport’s busy weekly schedule these days is a good reason to rejoice for living in the year 2020. But not all of the things that happened were equally important or impressive, so here were the biggest HITS and MISSES left standing after all the action was complete.
HIT – A Rare Gary Russell Jr. Sighting Inside a Boxing Ring
WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. defeated Tugstsogt Nyambayar by unanimous decision in the main event of PBC card televised by Showtime at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., on Saturday night. The 31-year-old is truly one of the most talented fighters in the sport but only seems interested in competing enough times every year to pay his bills in support of his family. It might be frustrating from one perspective to see such a great fighter not fully committed to seeing just how much he might accomplish in the sport. But from a different point of view, it’s kind of refreshing to see someone so focused on his family that he chooses to spend his life ordered to it rather than what he does to make money. Regardless, it’s always nice to see as talented and skilled fighter as Russell compete inside a boxing ring. He looked solid against a tough contender and still seems to be on his way to doing bigger and better things in the sport, even if he only fights once a year or so.
MISS – PBC’s Apparent Disinterest or Inability to Get Russell Jr. Bigger Fights
But maybe Russell’s slower-than-necessary career trajectory isn’t all his fault. Someone needs to explain why it seems so hard for the PBC to get Russell bigger fights. He’s obviously very talented. He holds a world title. He’s already shown the willingness to take on tough challenges as was the case when he lost to Vasyl Lomachenko in 2014. Heck, Russell has even been lobbying for bouts against fellow PBC stars Leo Santa Cruz and Gervonta Davis. But instead of those fights happening, we’re left to ponder how contests between Russell and other top talents would go. The PBC does lots of things right in getting their fighters on TV often, setting them up for careers in broadcasting and paying them well for their talents. But they sure don’t seem great at making big fights happen between their elite stars.
HIT – How Guillermo Rigondeaux Just Keeps Guillermo Rigondeaux-ing
Admittedly, I seem to be one of the few people in boxing who appreciates what Cuban southpaw Guillermo Rigondeaux does in the ring on fight night. To me, his footwork, countering and pristine technique are mesmerizing, and that’s all the truer after seeing him maintain such a high level of craft at age 39. Rigondeaux defeated Liborio Solis by split decision in the co-main event of the Russell-Nyambayar card on Showtime. What amazes me most about Rigondeaux though is his dedication to winning fights at all costs. No matter how many people boo him, or write about his style being boring or even ditch him the way Bob Arum did a few years ago, Rigondeaux just keeps doing what he’s best at. It might not win him a lot of fans, but it sure has won him a ton of fights.
MISS – Boxing’s In-Person Fan Experiences Unnecessarily Lagging BehindÂ
Having covered UFC 247 in Houston over the weekend for Bleacher Report, the biggest thing that stuck out to me in seeing a UFC card in person for the first time was how much better the overall experience was for the fans. In fact, having covered live events in boxing put on by just about every major boxing promoter in the U.S. over the last 10 years, the thing I left UFC 247 wondering the most about was why boxing lags so far behind in this area. Seriously, the experience the fans have to come to expect from the UFC are worlds apart from what we are used to in our sport. It’s why fans at the Toyota Center in Houston were lined up in droves hours before the event, why the place was packed for the entire undercard and probably why MMA is growing so much faster than boxing. The most frustrating part of the equation, from a boxing-centric perspective, is that just about everything the UFC does to engage with fans and put on great live shows at the venues could be done by boxing promoters. They just don’t do them.
HIT – Kell Brook’s Smart Decision to Go Back HomeÂ
The former welterweight titleholder left longtime trainer Dominic Ingle in an effort to reinvent himself last year only to find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. It’s sometimes difficult for people to admit they made a mistake, especially when it comes to having to admit that mistake to the someone spurned for another. But Brook went back to Ingle, the son of a revered trainer, after one fight away (an appearance in which Brook looked dreadful by the way) and looked so much better off for it. Brook is now a junior middleweight. He’s already one of the biggest draws in the sport at 154 so he should be set up for big fights. Most importantly, the 33-year-old looked sharp again in defeating Mark DeLuca in the main event of a card in Brook’s hometown of Sheffield, England. That effort put Brook in line for another big fight, and after seeing him beat DeLuca it certainly looks like he’ll now be ready for it.
Photo credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME
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Argentinaâs Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

In an excellent fight climaxed by a furious 12th round, Argentinaâs Fernando Daniel Martinez came off the deck to win his rematch with Kazuto Ioka and retain his piece of the world 115-pound title. The match was staged at Iokaâs familiar stomping grounds, the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
In their first meeting on July 7 of last year in Tokyo, Martinez was returned the winner on scores of 117-111, 116-112, and a bizarre 120-108. The rematch was slated for late December, but Martinez took ill a few hours before the weigh-in and the bout was postponed.
The 33-year-old Martinez, who came in sporting a 17-0 (9) record, was a 7-2 favorite to win the sequel, but there were plenty of reasons to favor Ioka, 36, aside from his home field advantage. The first Japanese male fighter to win world titles in four weight classes, Ioka was 3-0 in rematches and his long-time trainer Ismael Salas was on a nice roll. Salas was 2-0 last weekend in Times Square, having handled upset-maker Rolly Romero and Reito Tsutsumi who was making his pro debut.
But the fourth time was not a charm for Ioka (31-4-1) who seemingly pulled the fight out of the fire in round 10 when he pitched the Argentine to the canvas with a pair of left hooks, but then wasnât able to capitalize on the momentum swing.
Martinez set a fast pace and had Ioka fighting off his back foot for much of the fight. Beginning in round seven, Martinez looked fatigued, but the Argentine was conserving his energy for the championship rounds. In the end, he won the bout on all three cards: 114-113, 116-112, 117-110.
Up next for Fernando Martinez may be a date with fellow unbeaten Jesse âBamâ Rodriguez, the lineal champion at 115. San Antonioâs Rodriguez is a huge favorite to keep his title when he defends against South Africaâs obscure Phumelela Cafu on July 19 in Frisco, Texas.
As for Ioka, had he won todayâs rematch, that may have gotten him over the hump in so far as making it into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. True, winning titles in four weight classes is no great shakes when the bookends are only 10 pounds apart, but Ioka is still a worthy candidate.
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Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

In a torrid battle Mexicoâs Emanuel âVaqueroâ Navarrete and his staccato attack staved off the herky-jerky non-stop assaults of Philippineâs Charly Suarez to win by technical decision and retain the WBO super feather world title on Saturday.
What do they feed these guys?
Navarrete (40-2-1, 32 KOs) and his elongated arms managed to connect enough to compensate against the surprising Suarez (18-1, 10 KOs) who wowed the crowd at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.
An accidental clash of heads opened a cut on the side of Navarreteâs left eye and forced a stoppage midway through the fight.
From the opening round Navarrete used his windmill style of attack with punches from different angles that caught Suarez multiple times early. It did not matter. Suarez fired back with impunity and was just as hungry to punch it out with the Mexican fighter.
It was savage.
Every time Navarrete connected solidly, he seemed to pause and check out the damage. Bad idea. Suarez would immediately counter with bombs of his own and surprise the champion with his resilience and tenacity.
Wherever they found Suarez they should look for more, because the Filipino fighter from Manila was ferocious and never out of his depth.
Around the sixth round the Mexican fighter seemed a little drained and puzzled at the tireless attacks coming from Suarez. During an exchange of blows a cut opened up on Navarrete and it was ruled an accidental clash of heads by the referee. Blood streamed down the side of Navarreteâs face and it was cleared by the ringside physician.
But at the opening of the eighth round, the fight was stopped and the ringside physician ruled the cut was too bad to continue. The California State Athletic Commission looked at tape of the round when the cut opened to decipher if it was an accidental butt or a punch that caused the cut. It was unclear so the refereeâs call of accidental clash of heads stood as the final ruling.
Score cards from the judges saw Navarrete the winner by scores of 78-75, 77-76 twice. He retains the WBO title.
Interim IBF Lightweight Title
The sharp-shooting Raymond âDangerâ Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) maneuvered past Russiaâs Zaur Abdullaev (20-2, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the interim IBF lightweight title after 12 rounds.
Both fighters were strategic in their approach with Muratalla switching from orthodox to southpaw at various times of the fight. Neither fighter was ever able to dominant any round.
Defense proved the difference between the two lightweights. Muratalla was able to slip more blows than Abdullaev and that proved the difference. The fighter from Fontana, California was able to pierce Abdullaevâs guard more often than not, especially with counter punches.
Abdullaev was never out of the fight. The Russian fighter was able to change tactics and counter the counters midway through the fight. It proved effective especially to the body. But it was not enough to offset Muratallaâs accuracy.
There were no knockdowns and after 12 rounds the judges scored it 118-110, 119-109 twice for Muratalla who now becomes the mandatory for the IBF lightweight title should Vasyl Lomachenko return to defend it.
Muratalla was brief.
âHe was a tough fighter,â said Muratalla. âMy defense is something I work on a lot.â
Perla Wins
Super flyweight Perla Bazaldua (2-0) eased past Mona Ward (0-2) with a polished display of fighting at length and inside.
Combination punching and defense allowed Bazaldua to punch in-between Wardâs attacks and force the St. Louis fighter to clinch repeatedly. But Ward hung in there despite taking a lot of blows. After four rounds the Los Angeles-based Bazaldua was scored the winner 40-36 on all three cards. Bazaldua signed a long term contract with Top Rank in March.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Frank Warrenâs Queensberry Promotions was at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, tonight with a card featuring hometown favorite Leigh Wood against Irelandâs Anthony âApacheâ Cacace.
Wood, a former two-time WBA featherweight champion, known for dramatic comebacks in bouts he was losing, may have reached the end of the road at age 36. He had his moments tonight, rocking Cacace on several occasions and winning the eighth round, but he paid the price, returning to his corner after round eight with swelling around both of his eyes.
In the ninth, Cacace, an 11/5 favorite, hurt Wood twice with left hands, the second of which knocked Wood into the ropes, dictating a standing 8-count by referee John Latham. When the bout resumed, Cacace went for the kill and battered Wood around the ring, forcing Woodâs trainer Ben Davison to throw in the towel. The official time was 2:15 of round nine.
Akin to Wood, Northern Irelandâs Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) is also 36 years old and known as a late bloomer. This was his ninth straight win going back to 2017 (he missed all of 2018 and 2020). He formerly held the IBF 130-pound world title, a diadem he won with a stoppage of then-undefeated and heavily favored Joe Cordina, but that belt wasnât at stake tonight as Cacace abandoned it rather than fulfill his less-lucrative mandatory. Wood falls to 28-4.
Semi-Wind-Up
Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor, fighting in his hometown for the first time since pro debut, delighted his fan base with a comprehensive 10-round decision over previously undefeated Troy Jones. Taylor, who improved to 12-0 (9) won by scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92.
This was Taylorâs first fight with new trainer Malik Scott, best known for his work with Deontay Wilder. The victory may have earned him a match with Commonwealth title-holder Lewis Edmondson. Jones was 12-0 heading in.
Other Bouts of Note
In his first fight as a featherweight, Liam Davies rebounded from his first defeat with a 12-round unanimous decision over Northern Irelandâs previously undefeated Kurt Walker. Davies, who improved to 17-1 (8), staved off a late rally to prevail on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111. It was the first pro loss for the 30-year-old Walker (12-1), a Tokyo Olympian.
In a mild upset, Owen Cooper, a saucy Worcestershire man, won a 10-round decision over former Josh Taylor stablemate Chris Kongo. The refereeâs scorecard read 96-94.
Cooper improved to 11-1 (4). It was the third loss in 20 starts for Kongo.
A non-televised 8-rounder featured junior welterweight Sam Noakes in a stay-busy fight. A roofer by trade and the brother of British welterweight title-holder Sean Noakes, Sam improved to 17-0 (15 KOs) with a third-round stoppage of overmatched Czech import Patrik Balez (13-5-1).
Photo credit: Leigh Dawney / Queensberry
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