[kenyan_cheena]

BOXING
MONTHLY

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 10 - OCTOBER 2006

(following are selected entries from the magazine's
"Fight Review" section)

4 October: Saitama, Japan
Yoko Gushiken (9-0-1(7)) UD6 James McKenzie (5-1(4))
(IBL flyweight division)

Japanese pocket-rocket Gushiken had experienced a disrupted preparation for his third IBL bout but that didn't stop him from scoring a dominant win over the durable Englishman McKenzie. Gushiken controlled every round save for the 3rd and dropped McKenzie with a flurry of punches one minute from the final bell. He landed exactly three times as many punches as McKenzie (189-63) and averaged over 100 punches thrown per round. It's been obvious throughout the first ten fights of the 21 year-old Olympic bronze medallist's pro career that he's a special talent and it will be fascinating to watch him move up the rankings of the IBL's flyweight class.

7 October: Los Angeles, California, USA
Fred Boatwright (5-0-1(1)) UD6 Eddie Bodell (5-2(3))
(middleweight division)

In a more convincing performance than in his last outing back in August, Boatwright recorded a comfortable unanimous decision victory over Oakland's Eddie Bodell. Although still quite cautious he appeared more willing to press the action and be the aggressor than at any time in his career prior to this fight. This change in his attitude can only be a good thing for his future prospects and was apprently the result of a heated argument with his brother. Hopefully he'll maintain the same mindset in his next bout, because Boatwright already possesses a fantastic defense and if he can compliment that with a potent offense he'll be one to keep an eye on.

7 October: New York, New York, USA
Frank Galvano (5-0(4)) TKO2 Mickey Larson (4-2(2))
(middleweight division)

After displaying an uncharacteristically patient attitude in his last outing "Frankie" Galvano returned to what he does best this month in a two-round decimation of the overmatched Jersey City native Mickey Larson. Galvano cut his man under the right eye in round one and sent him to the canvas early in the 2nd. The bout was stopped midway through the frame with Larson trapped in a corner having absorbed a dozen unanswered shots, the referee saving him from harm just as he started slumping down the ropes. Galvano has been a sought-after commodity with the IBL and Chicago promoter Tyrone Hillier both trying to snare his signature. However, it was reported towards the end of the month that the 22 year-old has signed a contract with New Jersey-based promoter and future IBO president Robert Tattaglia.

10 October: Laredo, Texas, USA
Carmelo Aleman (5-0-1(4)) UD6 Vic Foley (23-6-2(17))
(IBL bantamweight division)

Aleman bounced back after his elimination from the IBL's Americas Championship tournament to take a unanimous decision win over Canada's Vic Foley (59-55 on all three cards). Aleman really has been thrown into the deep end during his time in the league but he remains undefeated despite going up against three opponents with a total of 55 wins between them. Foley was a willing opponent but Aleman simply pounded him into submission with a relentless assault that saw him sweep the first four rounds on all three cards. He landed 189 of 535 punches (35.3%), Foley 125 of 283 (44.2%). In particular Aleman's left hook and right cross were damaging weapons, Foley eating a bunch of them throughout the contest. Based on what he's shown at the start of his career it would seem only a matter of time until Aleman is wearing the Americas title belt around his waist.

10 October: Laredo, Texas, USA
Paulie Ayala (15-0-1(11)) MD6 Manuel Armenteros (11-3-1(7))
(IBL bantamweight division)

In a competitive fight Fort Worth native Paulie Ayala turned back the challenge of Cuba's Manuel Armenteros to take a majority decision verdict on the undercard of the IBL's Americas tournament semi-finals. Armenteros worked his backside off, throwing an average of 105 punches per round compared to Ayala's 38. The problem was that the Cuban barely landed any of them. He connected at a shocking rate of 17.3%, Ayala outlanding him 144-109 and finding the mark with two of every three punches he threw. Ayala has never really been lauded for his defensive ability but against Armenteros it was outstanding. The Athens Olympian is happy with the progress he's making in the IBL, saying that he is looking forward to 2007 as being the year when he makes his mark on the professional ranks.

14 October: Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Eddie Perkins (34-2(24)) TKO8 Michael Pattinson (26-2-2(17))
(junior-welterweight division, WBA title fight)

Back in action for the first time since holding onto his title by the skin of his teeth in April against Marvyn Rollins, Perkins' camp decided on a safer option for his next defense in the shape of Louisville's Michael Pattinson. The bout was held in Perkins' hometown of Clarksdale. With barely a significant win on his resume Pattinson had somehow made his way into the WBA's top ten and Perkins was far too experienced for him to handle. Pattinson's right eye was both cut and badly swollen by the end of the 7th and after Perkins targeted it with a series of power shots early in the 8th the referee had seen enough and ended the fight. With four alphabet champions in the division there have been calls for a tournament to crown a true junior-welterweight king but at the moment IBF titlist Bruno Arcari is the only one who likes the idea.

14 October: Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA
Pernell Whitaker (15-0(10)) UD10 Raul Martinez (23-4-1(16))
(lightweight division)

Fighting on the undercard of Perkins' title defense Olympic gold medallist Whitaker was in fantastic form against the tough but slow Mexican Raul Martinez. It was the first ten-rounder of Whitaker's career and he had no trouble lasting the distance to take a 98-92,99-92, 98-92 verdict. He peppered Martinez throughout with his lighting-fast fists, landing almost 300 punches and bringing some nasty swelling to the Mexican's right eye. It was reported before the end of the month that Whitaker's promoter has secured him a shot at the vacant NABF lightweight title, the bout likely to take place in mid-December. There's little doubt that Whitaker will walk away with the belt, even though his opponent is yet to be confirmed.

18 October: London, England
Jimmy Fulton (22-1-1(18)) MD6 Tsuyoshi Hamada (4-0-1(2))
(IBL welterweight division)

In his first outing under the IBL banner hometown favourite Fulton found a lot more resistance than he expected from Japan's Tsuyoshi Hamada. The opening four rounds were very competitive and Hamada actually led on one card heading into the 5th with the other two judges having it even. Fulton was able to finish the bout with a convincing final two frames, which was enough to secure the win, his 23rd. Fulton suffered his first career defeat in a challenge for Bruno Arcari's IBF junior-welterweight strap back in June. Despite that the IBL signed the 22 year-old to a three-year contract a couple of weeks later, Fulton making the move to the welterweight division. He said after the win over Hamada that it feels like he's "starting over" with his career and is excited about his future in the IBL.

20 October: New York, New York, USA
Felix Trinidad (7-0(6)) TKO4 Hector Lopez (5-2-1(3))
(junior-welterweight division)

Fighting in the opening prelim on ESPN's Friday Night Fights Puerto Rican talent Felix Trinidad produced a polished, patient display in dispatching Mexico's Hector Lopez. Trinidad floored his opponent once in the 2nd and then twice in round four, the referee waving off the contest immediately after the second knockdown. Always in command, Trinidad was matched against Lopez simply to look good and that's exactly what happened. Since making his professional debut in February the former amateur standout has reeled off eight wins with little difficulty. No doubt his team (headed by his father Felix Sr.) will keep him on this path for some time yet before putting him in with tougher competition.

21 October: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Brutus Brody (8-0(8)) KO2 Stevie Williams (12-2-1(8))
(heavyweight division)

Having obliterated promising Cleveland native Eric James last month in Detroit, Brutus Brody travelled south to take on Atlanta's Stevie Williams in his own backyard and destroyed him within five minutes of the opening bell. After catching Williams with some sledgehammer shots in the 1st Brody turned out his lights with a piledriving right hand thirty seconds into round two. The punch landed flush on Williams' chin and dropped him like a sniper's bullet, silencing the crowd at the Georgia International Convention Center. In his nine professional bouts to date Brody is yet to be taken into round four and has only seen the 3rd round on one occasion. It's pleasantly surprising to see his promoter Tyrone Hillier putting him in against a pair of prospects in his last two outings, although it might be enough to encourage others to steer clear of him.

21 October: San Francisco, California, USA
John Fehner (2-0(2)) KO3 James Harrington (5-3-1(2))
(heavyweight division)

2006 has been the year of the promising American heavyweight and it appears that the name John Fehner can be added to that list. The 19 year-old San Francisco-born southpaw made his pro debut in early September and in the space of seven weeks has recorded three knockout wins, all coming from a left hook that has got Californian boxing observers excited. The punch brought the crowd to their feet as one when he planted it flush on Harrington's chin a minute into the 3rd frame of their clash. The Seattle native didn't move for the duration of the count and was out cold for some five minutes after the bout ended. Of mixed European and Native American heritage Fehner has already earned himself a small but dedicated fanclub in San Francisco outside the circle of his family and friends. All three of his bouts have been held in the Bay Area and it's likely that he'll continue to fight there during the coming momths.

28 October: Cardiff, Wales
Jim Driscoll (35-1-2(27)) KO8 Matthew Davidson (31-3-1(22))
(featherweight division, WBA/WBC title fight)

Outstanding Welshman Jim Driscoll defended both his WBA and WBC belts against an opponent who he had defeated in something of a controversial bout back in 2004. England's Matthew Davidson had reeled off seven straight victories since then and was expected to give Driscoll one of his toughest fights in some time. It didn't work out that way as the champion showed why he's regarded as one of the top five best pound-for-pounders in the world. He broke Davidson down over the course of the first seven rounds and then finished him off with a merciless assault in the 8th. A quartet of penetrating jabs had the Englishman backpedalling before a flush left hook put him on his backside. He failed to beat the count, the fight over at the 1:43 mark. It was said back in June that current WBA junior-featherweight champion Sergio Palma was considering moving up to featherweight and challenging Driscoll. That's a matchup that has "2007 Fight of the Year" written all over it.