Jose Ramirez impressively decisions Jose Pedraza, writes Eric Armit in his international action round up
MARCH 3
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
LIAM WILSON, 10-1 (7), gains revenge for his only defeat as he crushes JOE NOYNAY, 19-3-2 (8), in two rounds of their ‘super-featherweight’ clash. Both had some success in a lively opening round but in the second Wilson connected with a right to the body and a left hook to the head that sent Noynay down heavily. He was up quickly but looked unsteady, and after the count Wilson stepped in with a straight right and another left hook. Noynay crashed to the canvas and although he jumped up he was staggering badly and the referee stopped the fight. Noynay was a ridiculous eight-and-three-quarter pounds over the weight limit for this fight. This card also saw the professional debut of NIKITA TSZYU, 1-0 (1), the younger brother of Tim. He had no trouble brushing aside AARON STAHL, 2-1-1 (0). Fighting at super-welterweight Tszyu dominated the first round then floored Stahl twice in the second with the referee stopping the fight after the second knockdown. In another super-welterweight bout, despite fighting from the first round with a cut under his right eye, DENNIS HOGAN, 30-4-1 (7), took a wide unanimous decision over WADE RYAN, 20-10 (7), on scores of 120-108, 117-110, 116-111. In another 154lbs contest, DANILO CREATI, 7-0 (1), decisioned CAMERON HAMMOND, 18-2 (9), over eight rounds with score of 79-71 twice and 78-73.
MONTREAL, CANADA
Canadian super-middleweight title challenger ERIK BAZINYAN, 27-0 (21), stopped Mexican REINALDO PANIAGUA, 17-2 (16), in nine rounds. Paniagua came in 10lbs over the contracted weight but the fight went ahead. Bazinyan slowly undermined Paniagua’s resistance and had him in serious trouble from body punches at the end of the eighth before a sustained attack in the ninth brought the stoppage. The aim is for Bazinyan to clash later in the year with STEVEN BUTLER, 29-3-1 (25), who floored and halted HECTOR ZEPEDA, 20-4,1NC (6), in three rounds. In an explosive start Butler had Zepeda down twice in the first round. Butler continued to attack in the second before flooring Zuniga again in the third and the fight was halted. Experienced STEVE CLAGGETT, 31-7-2 (20), set his usual fast pace and was given a good fight by Argentinian SEBASTIAN AGUIRRE, 18-4 (11), before the visitor flagged and retired after the ninth round.
TIJUANA, MEXICO
Flyweight ANGEL RAMOS, 28-1-2 (18), blitzed veteran GERARDO VERDE, 19-7-1 (14), staggering him numerous times before the fight was stopped after just 2-07 of the first round.
MARCH 4
FRESNO, USA
JOSÉ CARLOS RAMÍREZ, 27-1 (17), rebounded from his loss against Josh Taylor in their super-lightweight title fight in May 2021 with a comprehensive victory over JOSÉ PEDRAZA, 29-4 (14). Ramírez took the fight to Pedraza from the start. At times he found the slick Pedraza an elusive target but he had his jab working well and scored solidly to the body. Ramírez continued to put Pedraza under pressure as he rocked him with a right in the fourth and had Pedraza showing swelling and bruising around his right eye. Ramírez also edged the fifth but Pedraza did his best work over the middle rounds, boxing cleverly in the sixth and landing well in the seventh. He even stunned Ramírez with a left hook in the eighth. Ramírez came back to take the ninth and with the swelling by Pedraza’s right eye a growing problem Ramírez finished fight strongly to take the unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112 for Ramírez .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CubB4jqXnNk?start=59&feature=oembed
In other contests, featherweight JOET GONZALEZ, 25-2 (15), stopped JEO SANTESIMA, 21-4 (18), in nine rounds and super-featherweight GABRIEL FLORES, 21-1 (7), took an unpopular majority decision over ABRAHAM MONTOYA, 20-3-1 (14), on scores of 96-94 twice for Flores and 95-95. Flores has said he will now move up to lightweight. In a couple of lightweight duels HECTOR TANAJARA, 19-1-1 (5), was held to a draw by MIGUEL CONTRERAS, 11-1-1 (6), on scores of 78-74 Tanajara, 77-75 Contreras and 76-76. Rio Olympian CARLOS BALDERAS, 12-1 (11), knocked out AELIO MESQUITA, 20-7-1 (18), in the second round. You can add RICHARD TORREZ, 1-0 (1), to the growing list of hot heavyweight prospects. The Tokyo silver medallist announced his arrival with a second-round victory over ALLEN MELSON, 6-4 (3). Southpaw Torres, 22, floored Melson in the first but was cut badly over his right eye before ending the fight with two more knockdowns in the second.
Read our Roman Gonzalez vs Julio Cesar Martinez report here