Our resident boxing writer Diego Morilla serves up a full weekend wrap-up of the most relevant boxing events in the worldwide scene. Every fight that matters is right here, in one place, and at one click away. Follow Morilla on Twitter at @MorillaBoxing
Carson, California, June 21st
Robert Guerrero UD 12 Yoshihiro Kamegai, welterweights
A fine, shake-off-the-rust performance from one of boxing’s most beloved champs. Guerrero (32-2-1, 18 KO) never fails to entertain and to earn the attention of the boxing world every time he fights, and in this occasion he returned from a 13-month layoff to score a unanimous decision over Kamegai (24-2-1, 21 KO) in a welterweight fight. True to his style, Guerrero started boxing and ended up brawling on the inside with some brutal exchanges against a willing opponent. The fight was even in the middle rounds, but Guerrero pressed the action down the stretch to grab the victory by scores of 116-112 and 117-111 (twice) and keep his career on track after his loss to Floyd Mayweather more than one year ago.
The winner goes on to: There’s always room at the top for a fighter who never fails to give 100 percent and continues to win in every division in which he embarks. Guerrero will be back with a high-profile bout very soon.
Vasyl Lomachenko MD 12 Gary Russell Jr., vacant WBO featherweight title
Finally! Lomachenko (2-1, 1 KO) made his debut two years ago after a sterling amateur career in which he became a two-time Olympic gold medalist for his native Ukraine, but he failed to grab his first professional title in his first try. Now, he had to work extra hard to achieve his dream, but he did it against one of today’s most talented fighters in the division in Russell Jr. (24-1, 14 KO) to grab the vacant WBO featherweight belt. The fight had an interesting course of action, with the action going back and forth and the control of the fight jumping from one fighter to the other, but Lomachenko finally managed to impress more when it mattered and closed the show in impressive fashion to make history as one of the champions with less fights before obtaining a world title (he is now tied with Thailand’s Saensak Muangsurin who also won a world title in his third pro fight). Scores were 114-114 and 116-112 (twice).
The winner goes on to: As boxing’s oldest and most talented rookie, Lomachenko has created a huge buzz, and there’s no shortage of foes waiting to prove he is not worthy of the attention he is getting. Expect to see him in more and more intriguing bouts very soon.
Devon Alexander UD 10 Jesus Soto Karass, super welterweights
He promised, and he delivered. Alexander (26-2, 14 KO) is as talented as any other welterweight out there not named Floyd Mayweather, and aside from a couple of setbacks he has always looked the part. He had promised to get back into the big picture in this fight against a tough fighter in Soto Karass (28-10-3, 18 KO), a tough former champ against whom almost no one manages to look good. But Alexander pulled through and delivered a masterful performance with scores of 97-93 and 99-91, regaining some momentum in his career and establishing his ability to trade as the fight went deep into toe-to-toe territory during some passages in which Soto Karass was supposed to be in his domain but was nevertheless dominated by Alexander.
The winner goes on to: Alexander can box with the best, but his lack of pop and his sometimes unattractive style have cost him in the matchmaking department. This fight should help him regain some ground at the negotiating table.
Chad Dawson KO 1 George Blades, heavyweights
It was supposed to be a light-heavyweight bout, but Dawson (32-3, 18 KO), a former 175 lb titlist who famously dropped even further in weight to challenge Andre Ward for the 168 lb a couple of years ago, had trouble to even make the cruiserweight limit, tipping the scales at 202 lbs. The fight was made anyway, and it lasted just a little bit more than the weigh-in itself. Dawson shook off the rust of this 12-month layoff since his last fight by taking apart Blades (23-6, 16 KOs) in a rush, dropping him twice to stop him at the 2:35 mark of the very first episode.
Dominic Breazeale TKO 3 Devin Vargas, heavyweights
Fabian Maidana UD 4 Eddie Diaz, welterweights
Two former amateur standouts got some exposure in this card as well. Breazeale (11-0, 10 KO), a talented former U.S. Olympian heavyweight, scored a third round TKO against fellow former Olympian Devin Vargas (18-4, 7 KO), dropping him in the second round and forcing him to quit after a terrific shot to the temple in the third round. Previously, Maidana (1-0), a younger brother of former titlist Marcos Maidana, had his professional debut with a victory over the also debutant Diaz (0-1) by scores of 40-36 (twice) and 39-37.
Monte Carlo, June 21st
Martin Murray UD 12 Max Bursak, middleweights
Murray (28-1-1, 12 KO), better known for failing to keep his foot on the gas pedal in his lone title shot against Sergio Martinez in early 2013 long enough to grab his title, is not doing much to gain steam towards another title shot. In this occasion, he did take care of Bursak (29-3-1, 12 KO) with ease by scores of 119-109 (twice) and 117-112, but he will need to put on much more exciting performances if he wishes to get his career back on track at the highest level.
The winner goes on to: Murray’s star as a top contender in the 160 lb division has faded after a few less-than-stellar performances, but his value is still there.
Hekkie Budler KO 8 Pigmy Kokietgym, WBO strawweight title
Great victory by one of boxing’s fastest-rising stars in the lower weights. Budler (26-1, 8 KO) scored four knockdowns (rounds four and seven, and two more in the eighth) and looked impressive on his way to a stoppage win over Kokietgym (52-6-2, 23 KO) in eight rounds that should earn him a chance to finally strut his stuff in America to put the boxing world on notice of his superb talent and colorful style. Hopefully he’ll be facing stronger opposition next time.
Youri Kalenga SD 12 Mateusz Masternak, vacant WBA interim cruiserweight title
Kalenga (20-1, 13 KO) scored the mild upset over Masternak (32-2, 23 KO) with a split decision win over 12 rounds in a clash for a “vacant interim” cruiserweight title, of all things. It was a spirited bout, with both fighters taking turns to take the lead on a fight in which Kalenga simply outlanded his foe when it really mattered and left a much better impression to win by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 while the other card favored Masternak for 115-113.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa, June 21st
Nadjib Mohammedi TKO 7 Anatoliy Dudchenko, IBF light heavyweight eliminator
Mild upset in Philadelphia. Mohammedi (35-3, 21 KO) was expected to be a tough but limited contender, but he found his rhythm early and never let go, scoring a one-sided stoppage over Dudchenko (19-3, 13 KO) in a light heavyweight eliminator for the IBF title currently owned by Bernard Hopkins. Mohammedi was able to sustain his pace and eventually raised the stakes in round seven with a barrage of punches that caused the stoppage at the 0.38 mark. Don’t count on Hopkins giving him a title shot, but he may get his chance later if the belt is vacated by B-Hop.
Karl Dargan TKO 5 Anthony Flores, lightweights
A local grudge match was featured in the undercard, and Dargan (16-0, 8 KO) got the best of it in his stoppage of Flores (11-5-1, 6 KO) to win a regional title in an entertaining fight.
Cancun, Mexico, June 20th
Cristian Mijares TKO 7 Daniel Rodriguez, junior featherweights
A former pound-for-pound entrant is trying to find his way back to the top. Mijares (50-8-2, 24 KO) reached his 50th victory when he manhandled Rodriguez (20-6-1, 7 KO) and stopped him under a barrage of punches to put his still-valuable name back in the mix in a suddenly interesting 122-ish lb neighborhood. His dream of landing a title bout with his compatriot Jhonny Gonzalez is still a long way from becoming a reality, but Mijares seems able to hold his own against solid contenders once again after a couple of setbacks that put his talents into question a couple of years ago.
Jose Salgado UD 12 Oscar Blanquet, junior bantamweights
A former title challenger is back on track. Salgado (33-2-1, 27 KO) rose back from a first round knockdown to score a unanimous decision over Blanquet (32-7-1, 23 KOs) in front of his local adoring crowd, and is now 7-0-1 in the comeback trail.
