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
Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 30
Rogelio Medina KO 3 J’Leon Love, super middleweights
Major upset in Vegas! In what was thought to be another chance for Love (18-1, 10 KO) to flourish (yeah!), the now formerly unbeaten sensation from Floyd Mayweather’s Money Team was pitted against Medina (33-6, 27 KO), a dependable fringe contender who was supposed to be a nice step up in level of competition. Instead, Medina gave Love a heartbreaking defeat when he connected a flush left hook right on his chin at the very beginning of round three and after dominating the previous two rounds with supreme confidence. The punch sent Love face first to the canvas where he remained for the full count while TMT boss Leonard Ellerbe and a host of supporters looked on in disbelief just a few feet away at ringside. It’s a great vindication for Molina, a hard-working fighter with a serious problem of bad luck that has now been at least partially reversed.
Badou Jack UD 10 Jason Escalera, super middleweights
Jack (17-1-1, 11 KO) is another promising fighter in the TMT fold who suffered a terrible upset (a KO at the hands of Derek Edwards back in February), and he is now on the comeback trail after that early disappointment in his career. This time, he managed to redeem himself with a solid victory against Escalera (15-3-1, 12 KO), a nephew of former Puerto Rican champ Alfredo Escalera. Jack was cautious but constant in his attack, leaving very few spaces for Escalera to counter and very few doubts about his recovery, winning by scores of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91. Nice step-up, comeback fight for a still valuable contender.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JBHjT3PO0c
Ronald Gavril UD 8 Thomas Falowo, super middleweights
Gavril put his record in double digits (10-0, 8 KO) with this dominant win over a capable Falowo (12-3, 8 KO), who was nevertheless unable to mount any significant offense against Gavril. Falowo visited the canvas in round three and was dominated the entire bout before the referee stopped the bout to save him from further punishment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UEc8gv_GHY
Halle/Westphalia, Germany, Aug. 30
Marco Huck UD 12 Mirko Larghetti, WBO cruiserweight title
Huck (38-2-1, 26 KO) is one of boxing’s most consistent champions in the heavier divisions, and he confirmed that notion in this fight, in which he broke Johnny Nelson’s record of 13 consecutive defenses of a cruiserweight crown in this victory over Italy’s previously unbeaten challenger Larghetti (21-1, 13 KO). The Serbian-born Huck was his usual brawling self, pressing the action throughout the entire bout, and seemed content with scoring a decisive points victory. But something must have happened in the last round to inspire him to go for the stoppage, because he launched a terrific two-fisted attack that ended up sending Larghetti to the canvas in devastating fashion. The bell sounded just as referee Jack Reiss was moving in to halt the carnage, but since the bout had already ended no count was given, and Huck took home a victory by scorecards of 116-112 (twice) and 118-110. Another slightly controversial ending for Huck, who nonetheless continues to be the man to beat in the division.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMZL0gjBSWs
Denis Boytsov UD 10 Timur Musafarov, heavyweights
Boytsov (34-1, 26 KO) was well on his way to becoming the next big thing from Russia in the heavyweight division until he ran into Alex Leapai a few months ago to suffer an upset loss that derailed his plans. He is now on the comeback trail, and he chose a rather soft touch in Musafarov (6-2, 5 KO) to get his act going again. Even though the difference in their level was noticeable, Musafarov ended up being a very live underdog, putting together a nice offensive output and holding Boytsov to a draw in one of the cards (which was officially denied after a point deduction for a headbut).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4uOw4I0mkA
Enrico Kölling TKO 8 Giuseppe Brischetto, light heavyweights
Two young fighters made their case to climb the rankings a step or two in the undercard. Kölling(15-0, 5 KO) remained unbeaten when Brischetto (12-2, 6 KO), who visited the canvas in round six, failed to come out for what would have been the final round of the bout, after receiving a solid beating throughout the bout. Kölling was not as active as his awkward, stance-switching Italian opponent, but he was clearly stronger and more determined to do damage, and he imposed both qualities in this terrific win. And previously, Feigenbutz (15-1, 14 KOs) simply destroyed Simeunovic (14-9, 12 KOs) in the very first round after dropping him twice in short succession. Simeunovic was very aggressive from the beginning, but he was no match for Feigenbutz’s terrific level of skill and accuracy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsm8k49jadU
Hermosillo, Mexico, Aug. 30
David Sanchez TKO 5 Anuar Salas, WBA interim junior bantamweight title
“Tornado” warning south of the border! Sanchez (26-2-1, 20 KO) looked dominant and confident in his biggest win to date, a fifth round stoppage of Salas (14-3, 10 KO) in another visit of the tinsel fairy of boxing to the land of the Aztecs. Bogus title belt or not, Sanchez looked impressive and solid enough to give any of the other more legitimate champs a run for their money. Salas visited the canvas once before the bout was finally stopped as the fifth round was coming to an end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-6G9bppjRY
Cancun, Mexico, Aug. 30
Juan Pablo Lopez TKO 10 Fernando Torres, junior welterweights
Gilberto Gonzalez KO 5 Jeffrey Fontañez, lightweights
Another chapter in the storied rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico ended in bitter disappointment for a duo of young fighters making the trek from the “island of enchantment”. In the main event, local favorite Lopez (25-3, 21 KOs) stopped Puerto Rico’s Torres (18-5-1, 10 KO) in a one-sided affair. And earlier, a similar result occurred when Gonzalez (24-3, 20 KO) sent Caguas (PR) native Fontanez (15-1, 11 KO) three times to the canvas through round five to finally force a stoppage and put an end to Fontanez’s unbeaten record.
Maracay, Venezuela, Aug. 30
Yonfrez Parejo TKO 11 Luis Hinojosa, vacant WBA interim bantamweight title
Parejo (16-1-1, 7 KO) had to summon all of his powers to earn this devaluated title belt with a decisive victory over a game Hinojosa (25-8, 15 KO) with a terrific body attack that ended up paying dividends towards the end, when the Dominican national dropped to the canvas and the fight was stopped a bit too hastily but not at all inappropriately.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FJC-CIObf8
