Results

On the undercard of Lamont Peterson's IBF Super Lightweight title eliminator twelfth round KO over Victor Manuel Cayo last Friday, Kenya's Douglas Otieno was predictably dispatched in only two rounds in his attempt at the vacant NABA Light Heavyweight title against 15-0 Russian Sergey Kovalev. The globe-trotting Otieno, in this his first trip to the US, loses away from home again for the seventh time against twenty-three wins, all at home. Another undercard match on the Las Vegas show saw Gambia-born Swede Badou Jack (pictured) dispatch normally durable American Timothy Hall with a body shot in the second of a Super Middleweight four. The twenty-seven year old Olympian improves to 7-0 while Hall loses for the twelfth time in eighteen outings.

Also on Friday, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, US-based puncher Paul Mpendo of Uganda could not land the big one and let former WBA World champion Jose Antonio Rivera get away with a unanimous decision in a Super Welter matchup scheduled for eight.

Same day in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzanian spectators at the Millenium Hall witnessed a club show topped by a six round rubber match between local Super Bantamweight contenders Hassan Kidebe and Shaban Mtengela. Their first encounter back in December produced fireworks with both boxers visiting the canvas before Mtengela was able to squeeze out a four round decision. A rematch was in order and in April, the two fought to a draw, again over four rounds. This time, upgraded to a six, the score still unsettled with the ref scoring it three rounds a piece. Mtengela goes home with his third draw against six wins and four losses while Kidebe closes out at 11-4-4. In other four rounders, unbeaten Lightweight, Salehe Mkalekwa, took a unanimous decision over Edward Luanda, both in their fourth paid matches. The loser has not seen a victory since his debut at Light Flyweight in 2007. Still at Lightweight, Mohamedi Kashinde notched his second win in as many fights with a third round KO over debuting Maulid Muhsin. At Bantamweight, another debutante, Bashiru Mkumbukwa, dropped a shutout decision to a very happy Dickson Kawiani celebrating his first victory in six outings. In the same division, Elias Nyampala outpointed Hamis Machachari while at featherweight, Mohammed Kondo topped Omari Makame, all making their pro debuts.

Dar-es-Salaam fans enjoyed another fight card on Saturday, this time at the DDC Keko Hall featuring two ancient warhorses and a pair of female matchups. Forty-one year old ex-IBF Africa Super Welterweight kingpin Maneno Oswald scored his thirty-seventh win against thirty-three defeats and three draws with a fifth round KO over the very faded former Tanzanian Welterweight champion Ernest Bujiku in a Middleweight encounter scheduled for six. A female Super Lightweight encounter witnessed the return to action of Jamhuri Said after a disastrous 2007 pro debut first round KO loss to world-rated Kenyan Fatuma Zarika. This time, the Tanzanian evened her ledger out at 1-1 with a six round points victory over Zarika's country-mate Rukia Nasarite, now 5-7-4. In the second female pairing, Fadhila Balawa and Asha Mzoa, both making their pro debuts, battled to a four round draw at Super Bantamweight.

Former ABU and IBF African Super Middleweight champion Joseph Marwa, now campaigning at Cruiserweight, took a heavyweight fight in Russia against 3-1 Albanian novice Bedarin Toma. But although Marwa was thirty-eight fights more experienced than his opponent, Toma made up for it with seventy-four more pounds in weight (33 kgs). Result; Marwa suffered two knockdowns en route to dropping an eight round decision. Top Tanzanian Super Welterweight contender Selemani Said travelled to Ukraine to take on undefeated Oleksandr Spyrko for a shot at the vacant IBO Youth Super Welterweight title on Saturday, but was rebuffed on the scorecards after going the ten round distance. Spyrko notched his sixteenth straight while Selemani stats drop to 10-4-2.

In Brooklyn, New York, Johannesburg-born US resident Danie van Staden, alias "The White Lion", suffered his seventh defeat and fifth KO loss with eight wins when he was brutally dispatched in the third by local undefeated Super Lightweight hero Gabriel Bracero. The winner, improving to 17-0, managed only his third knockout, but ironically connected with what is said to be one of the hardest punches of the year so far.

More This Weekend...

Opponent change for Nigerian Super Middleweight champion Mojeed Okedara (pictured) sees Ekpenyong Benson replaced by Razak Gbadebo whose claim to fame is a one round blowout loss to Light Heavyweight champ Isaac Ekpo.

UBO All-African Heavyweight champion Matamba Postolo of Congo-Zaire guns for that organizations vacant Inter-Continental crown when he faces Argentina strongman Guido Santana over twelve rounds this Saturday in Lubumbashi.

Uganda's US-based Super Welterweight Paul Mpendo gets a big break when he faces former WBA champion Jose Antonio Rivera, on the comeback trail, in an eight rounder at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Mpendo, owner of an unimpressive 7-7-4 record, is probably considered a "safe" opponent by Rivera;s management, but the ex-champ from Puerto Rico isn't the most reliable on defense presenting the hard-punching Ugandan with an excellent opportunity to score a minor upset.

Action in Blantyre, Malawi, sees local Lightweight prospect Osgood Kayuni attempt to notch his tenth win against a draw when he takes on tough countryman Wellington Balakasi ahead of a scheduled mega-bout next month with fellow unbeaten Zimbabwean hope Ishmael Takudzwa Kuchocha.

Serious Leather Tossing in Accra

Big card this Saturday in Accra sees red hot Lightweight George Ashie, 20-3, square off against Bukom hero Malik Jabir in a twelve rounder with the vacant National title up for grabs. Ashie , knicknamed "Red Dragon", holds the ABU African and UBO World belts, but those titles won't be at stake. Jabir, popularly known as "Bukom Snake", owns an unremarkable 15-7 record, but has faced higher calibre opposition and, although many have written him off, has scored four straight wins and reportedly put himself through a grueling training camp in preparation for this grudge match.

WBA Pan-African Middleweight champ Laatekwei Hammond guns for a second continental belt when he takes on Nigerian champ Sunday King Hammer over twelve rounds for the WBO's version. However, the winner will only become the interim African champ as the actual title was just contested for in May when Hammond's countryman Kojo Issah beat another Nigerian, Alani Sulaimon, for the vacant belt. The WBA version will not be at stake.

A cracker of a twelve rounder pits National Super Bantamweight champ Raymond Commey defending his newly acquired crown against the seasoned former IBF Continental African champ and Commonwealth title challenger Isaac Nettey. A good test for Commey who is on a roll, but having just been involved in a war last month in his title winning effort against Razak Nettey, the champ should consider a long rest before his next outing.

Another National title match, this one for the vacant Bantamweight belt, pits twenty-five year old Michael Barnor against vet campaigner Prosper Ankrah. Barnor, a recent KO loser to Alfred Tetteh for the WBO Africa Super Bantamweight title will be hard pressed to defeat Ankrah who has faced the likes of  world class South Africans Bongani Mhalangu and Tshifiwa Munyai.

Other bouts on the ster-studded card feature former Olympian and undefeated Lightweight Sam Kotey Neecquaye, top Super Featherweight prospect Emmanuel Addo, former WBC Internatioanl champ Osumanu Akaba, and vet Bilal Mohamed.

Sunday Lagos Action

Nigeria, Lagos - Boxing's revival in Nigeria continued on Sunday with a show put on by Feels and Threels Promotions featuring five action-packed, non-title matches.

In a bout scheduled for six rounds, Featherweight national contender Dare Oyewole was rudely outhustled by last-minute novice Waidi Usman who thrilled the crowd with a skillful display scoring a third round stoppage. A Super Lightweight fray saw Akeem Dodoo and Malik Isiaka fight tooth and nail with Dodoo emerging the winner after six rounds by split decision. In a bout scheduled for eight rounds, Sunday Ajuwa iced Ademola Faniyi in the third at Super Middleweight.

A highly anticipated Bantamweight fray witnessed Ghana-based trash-talker Kazeem Owoiya match his prediction of a fourth round victory when he dispatched vet Felix Odion in a scheduled six. His next prediction is that he will gain the National title. And top Super Lightweight Sadiq Ahmed ended his six rounder early by dispatching overmatched Simon Okocha with a third round TKO.
- Results courtesy of Elum Onyeka

Heavyweight Title Set For Abidjan

Long reigning ABC Heavyweight title holder Augustin N'Gou of Cote d'Ivoire makes a long awaited appearance after years of inactivity caused by the civil war in the country. The thirty-seven year old , owner of twenty-five wins against two only defeats, has not seen action since last defending the belt in 2007. An opponent for the scheduled August 6th twelve rounder is yet to be finalized due to the shortage of capable heavyweights in the West African region.

Mzonke Fana Stripped of Title

Reigning IBF Super Featherweight champion Mzonke Fana of South Africa lost his belt in the offices of the New Jersey based sanctioning body without throwing a punch. Fana pulled out of a mandatory defense against top contender Argenis Mendez siting he had no trainer and had never signed a contract.

But, according to his promoter Branco Milenkovic, Fana had verbally agreed to a purse amount and had knowledge of the fight with plenty of time to spare, but had suddenly demanded more money at the last moment. Unable to come to an agreement, Milenkovic said he was obliged to pull the plug on the fight, thus forcing the IBF to impose its strict rules on mandatory defenses so as not to deny the challenger his right to a timely title shot.

Fana's manager, Mava Maulla, is currently seeking assistance from the South African parliament to get Fana reinstated as champion citing loss of imcome.

This And That...

Undefeated Nigerian Welterweight prospect Oyewale Omotoso arrived in Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood after a five year stint in Australia where he compiled an impressive 18-0 record and quickly got signed up by Top Rank. Omotoso joins fellow US-based countryman Lateef Kayode under the tutelage of Manny Pacquiao's famed trainer. Cruiserweight contender Kayode seeks to turn his IBF number one ranking into a world title shot after a final eliminator in October.

Meanwhile, back home in Lagos, top local Light Heavyweight Isaac Ekpo looks to get his career back on track with the help of his state government. The National champ is seeking sponsorship for an ambitious series of fights that include and African title and an Inter-Continental championship.

Kenyan Super Bantamweight Fatuma Zarika ended up on the short end of her Global Boxing Council world title attempt in Germany on Saturday against Elina Tissen dropping a unanimous ten round decision for the vacant belt. Tissen, already the owner of GBU, GBC and WIBF Featherweight titles, improves to 13-2 while ex-WIBF champ Zarika loses only for the fifth time in twenty-eight outings.

In other Kenyan action, Lightweight Samuel Kamau gets another crack at the WBC Youth Intercontinental title on Saturday, this time against Russian Welterweight champ David Avanesyan. The East African's last trip out of town ended in a disastrous one round destruction at the hands of Ghana's Emmanuel Tagoe for the WBO African Super Featherweight title. Kamau will be hard pressed to collect his thirteenth win out of eighteen fights with such a huge jump up in weight.

Countryman Douglas Otieno guns for the vacant North American Boxing Association Light Heavyweight belt in Las Vegas this Firday against undefeated, US-based Russian Sergey Kovalev. If all goes according to script, Otieno should collect his seventh loss in thirty fights following the pattern of losing each of the five times he has traveled abroad. An undercard matchup features Swiss-born Gambian Light Heavyweight prospect Badou Jack attempting to stay unbeaten in eight fights against very tough journeyman Timothy Hall Jr. Although a possessor of an uninspiring 6-11 record, a closer look reveals a rash of split decision losses to very decent opposition suggesting that this will be no walkover for the former Gambian amateur international.

Tanzanian vet Joseph Marwa, 24-17-1, takes on a tuneup eight rounder tonight in Russia, against locally based Albanian Bedarin Toma in anticipation of an October shot at the newly created IBF East/West European Cruiserweight title. Marwa should not have any issues with the hand-picked opponent who has only four fights to his credit.