This week we have Boots Ennis, Tomoki Kameda, Cletus Seldin, prospects, and so much more.
Saturday, November 18th
Azizbek Abdugofurov (12-0, 4 KOs) UD12 Wuzhati Nuerlang (11-2, 9 KOs), super middleweights – Pasay City, Philippines
Highly regarded Malaysian based, Uzbekistan born prospect Azizbek Abdugofurov picked up his twelfth win in as many fights in the Philippines this weekend. This was his fourth consecutive fight at super middleweight after struggling to make weight and then barely winning his final middleweight bout in 2017. Abdugofurov was considered a potential blue chipper when turning pro, but I think it is fair to question whether or not that is still the case. His middleweight run was pretty inconsistent. To be fair Azizbek faced better competition than a prospect normally would, but it isn’t like he was in against world class opposition either. The 26 year old has had a smooth run at super middleweight so far at least. If one thing boosted his status back up, it was his easy win against a solid Euro level fighter in Dmitrii Chudinov last time out. That win gave Abdugofurov a secondary version of the WBC belt at 168 lbs which should help him secure better opponents than his Chinese foe Wuzhati Nuerlang here going forward.
Charles Foster (17-0, 8 KOs) UD10 Israel Duffus (19-5, 16 KOs), light heavyweights & Abraham Nova (13-0, 10 KOs) UD10 Sulaiman Segawa (11-2, 4 KOs), junior lightweights – Boston, Massachusetts
This was a nice little prospect doubleheader put on by Murphys Boxing in Boston. Charles Foster is fresh off his ShoBox win over fellow unbeaten Alvin Varmall Jr in May and took a wide, comfortable decision. I think Foster peaks as a high regional level guy, but he is taking the right steps to get a shot at bigger glories in the sport. Abraham Nova, on the other hand, has more world title potential in my view. The 24 year old Puerto Rican started as a PBC prospect, but as their dates dwindled pre-FOX deal he was sort of cast aside. In response Nova has taken one of the most unique routes I have ever seen. He has fought in the Dominican Republic twice which makes sense due to his family connections there, but he has also competed in Mexico, Uruguay, and three times in Belgium where he is also scheduled to return once again before the year ends. I’m really intrigued to see how this sort of globe trotting hardens or otherwise affects the talented young man. As highly as I have thought of him, however, I must note that he did struggle here a bit. Ugandan Sulaiman Segawa put on a spirited effort that he should be quite proud of to keep this one close on the cards. I don’t think it is a cause for alarm though. Segawa is just decent himself. The 27 year old has taken his last five fights stateside and posted a 3-2 record against fighters with a combined mark of 44-1-1 going into their contests. He was a stiff test that Abraham Nova ultimately passed.
Jeremias Nicolas Ponce (21-0, 14 KOs) UD8 Guillermo de Jesus Paz (29-34-4, 1 KO), welterweights – Argentina
At 21-0 in a decent fight country like Argentina, I’d be doing UTR a disservice if I continued ignoring Jeremias Nicolas Ponce. The truth is I haven’t know much about him or been able to find much, so each time he has fought I have watched his record grow while leaving him out of the week’s article. Here are the basics. Ponce has fought once in Mexico, but otherwise has competed at home in Argentina. This was a stay busy bout against a low level fighter where weight wasn’t important. He is a junior welterweight in reality. The Argentinian has taken out two fellow unbeatens quickly including in his last fight, but I don’t recognize any names on his ledger and the majority of his opponents are clearly marked as low level journeyman/high level club fighters. Ponce has also collected minor belts from both the WBA and IBF which is a very important thing to do. On tape he is reasonably fluid, but he can overcommit to his right hand and leave himself vulnerable. It is hard to get a real read on Jeremias Nicolas Ponce yet, but what there is to see so far is at least a little promising.
Willis Meehan (7-0, 6 KOs) TKO1 Richard Nemeth (3-1, 3 KOs), heavyweights – Flemington, Australia
Willis Meehan is the son of former Kiwi fringe contender Kali Meehan, the man who probably should have gotten a heavyweight belt after an iffy split decision loss to Lamon Brewster in 2004. Like is father, Willis is a 6’5″ full sized heavyweight. He brings the size to a different level, however. Willis comes to the ring weighing anywhere from the low 270s to the low 280s. While he’d probably be best around 265-270, he isn’t fat in there by any means. Willis just brings a real immense thickness to his whole frame. He is a naturally huge man. He also moves pretty fluidly in the ring for a man of his size. The 23 year old is as crude as can be, but the physical tools are there if his father/trainer and larger team can be patient with the imposing young man. This fight was a joke, but that is okay. Let him get used to fight nights while improving Meehan in the gym.
Robin Krasniqi (49-5, 17 KOs) UD12 Ronny Landaeta (16-1, 10 KOs), super middleweights & Tom Schwarz (23-0, 15 KOs) TKO6 Christian Lewandowski (12-3, 10 KOs), heavyweights – Dessau, Germany
After starting his career 1-2, long time Euro level player Robin Krasniqi has gone 48-3 with the defeats coming at the hands of world level players in Nathan Cleverly, Juergen Braehmer, and Arthur Abraham. The 31 year is well marked as below that level, yet he continues on having a very solid career regionally. This relatively straight forward win over unbeaten Spanish based late replacement Ronny Landaeta returned the European belt to Krasniqi. Originally Krasniqi was supposed to meet once beaten Olympain Stefan Haertel here in a fight that I hope is rebooked. Also in action was homegrown German heavyweight prospect Tom Schwarz. The 24 year old has the size and marketability to succeed, but whether or not the physical gifts are entirely there is more questionable. His team will continue to move him slowly for a while. A true born German top heavyweight would be quite lucrative in the local market. Plus, 24 is a baby at the sport’s biggest weight. There is all the time in the world to try to develop Schwarz as much as possible.
Firat Arslan (44-8-3, 29 KOs) MD12 Sefer Seferi (23-2-1, 21 KOs), cruiserweights – Frankfurt, Germany
Unfortunately, 48 year old Firat Arslan’s final run at a world title has hit a snag in the form of a draw against recent heavyweight punchline Sefer Seferi. You probably remember Seferi for being the absurd return opponent for Tyson Fury to clown around against before he abruptly quit on his stool. He’s a natural cruiserweight, however. Back at his natural weight Seferi put on a respectable performance at least against the near 50 year old version of Firat Arslan. The draw was a reasonable decision over twelve even rounds that breaks a run of 10 straight wins for Arslan that probably should serve as a reminder that things won’t likely go well for the aging man if he does get his wish of another crack at a world title. If Oleksandr Usyk does vacate all four at once soon, however, all bets are off. It is possible that we will still see it happen.
Kerman Lejarraga (27-0, 22 KOs) KO4 Frankie Gavin (26-4, 15 KOs), welterweights – Baracaldo, Spain
Spanish puncher Kerman Lejarraga scored his second big stoppage win over a British name this year. First he plowed over Bradley Skeete quickly April before stopping Frankie Gavin on a single body shot in the fourth round Saturday. The talented Gavin was once considered a blue chip prospect before weight and dedication issues started cropping up. This fight was no different. Frankie missed weight by five pounds. The Brit managed to box well for two rounds before Lejarraga took over in the third. The Spaniard is a very strong, physical welterweight who is excelling on European level. Lou DiBella has signed him and intends to bring him stateside going forward. My concern is that maybe Kerman is a little too basic and lacks the high level athleticism usually found in world class welterweights, but we will have to see moving forward.
Nawaphon Por Chokchai (43-1-1, 34 KOs) TKO4 Richard Claveras (18-6-2, 15 KOs), bantamweights – Bang Phun, Thailand
In March of 2017, Nawaphon Por Chockhai brought a typical gaudy but entirely empty Thai record into a title fight with Juan Hernandez Navarrete and was promptly dismissed in three rounds. I immediately forgot about Por Chokchai until he popped back up earlier this year by stopping former top flyweight Amnat Ruenroeng in April. That was a thrilling five round war that deserves to be in Fight of the Year discussions. Ruenroeng is badly diminished, but the win still puts the victor back on the radar. More wins over known fighters will help too, even if they are journeymen like Claveras. Anything is better than battling muay thai fighters making their pro boxing debuts. Claveras is actually a former world title challenger too, though he didn’t really deserve it and was destroyed in one by Pedro Guevara back in 2015.
Anthony Sims Jr (17-0, 16 KOs) TKO2 Colby Courter (13-13, 10 KOs), super middleweights & Nikita Ababiy (2-0, 2 KOs) TKO1 Javier Rodriquez (3-7-1, 2 KOs), junior middleweights – Mulvane, Kansas
Matchroom Boxing always has prospects developing low on their undercards and their American shows are no different. Anthony Sims Jr is a notably dynamic physical athlete with loads of potential. His team seems to be content working on his defensive liabilities and weight for now rather than raising his competition levels. That is smart. If Sims can use his reflexes to stop getting hit and work his way down to super middleweight, he has title potential. Why rush? He’s only 23. Also in action was former Team USA member Nikita Ababiy. The 20 year old nicknamed “White Chocolate” is a fluid, flashy fighter very early in his development. Hearn and company will be moving him slowly all through 2019. Neither prospect was troubled here one bit.
Friday, November 16th
Wanheng Menayothin (52-0, 18 KOs) UD6 Mektison Marganti (2-10-1, 2 KOs), minimumweights – Prachinburi, Thailand
At 33 years old and 52 fights in his career, WBC minimumweight titleholder Wanheng Menayothin is still taking nothing six round fights in between his world title defenses. That is just what the poor boxing economy in Thailand dictates what needs to happen for Menayothin to make a living. It is also why people take him beating the Marciano to Mayweather record as a joke though. While Floyd maybe didn’t always fight the best opponent available, he also didn’t take on 2-10-1 guys in his 52nd fight. Actually, he came pretty close to doing just that against McGregor, didn’t he? That was one fight though. The style mismatch is half or more of Menayothin’s.
Cletus Seldin (22-1, 18 KOs) TKO1 Nelson Lara (17-11, 4 KOs), junior welterweights & Jonathan Guzman (23-1, 22 KOs) UD10 Roberto Castaneda (23-11-1, 16 KOs), super bantamweights & Trevor McCumby (25-0, 19 KOs) UD8 Felipe Romero (20-16-1, 14 KOs), light heavyweights – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Fun but extremely limited power puncher Cletus Seldin highlighted the preliminary action of Top Rank’s card this weekend. He delivered on his promise of power by rolling over veteran Nicaraguan trial horse Nelson Lara pretty much immediately on a body shot. Seldin is a smart signing for Top Rank. He is a fighter who won on HBO not too long ago that their nice little set of junior welterweights will likely roll over. Sign me up for Saucedo-Seldin if Top Rank elects to make that the fallen home fighter’s first step back up. That’d be an amazing war potentially. Also in action were former titleholder Jonathan Guzman and light heavyweight Trevor McCumby. Guzman won a belt in an upset in Japan in 2016 before losing it on New Year’s Eve in the same place. He hadn’t fought since until Friday night. Guzman is a good athlete and a solid puncher. He is a very logical opponent for fighters in Top Rank’s 122-126 lb corridor like Isaac Dogboe, Jessie Magdaeleno, Oscar Valdez, Christopher Diaz, Miguel Marriaga, Genesis Servania, and more. McCumby is more of a regional talent, but Top Rank is think around 168 and 175 so opportunities may arise for him anyway.
Jonathan Gonzalez (22-2-1, 13 KOs) TKO8 Juan Alejo (24-6-1, 14 KOs), flyweights & Antonio Vargas (9-0, 3 KOs) UD8 Jorge Perez (12-6-4, 1 KO), bantamweights – Kissimmee, Florida
Puerto Rican flyweight contender Jonathan Gonzalez picked up his fourth straight win on Telemundo Friday night. It is a nice win too considering he got rid of Juan Alejo quicker than known power puncher Angel Acosta did in their vacant title fight in last December. I don’t know if the Puerto Rican is truly a top flyweight contender, but he is on a nice run of wins over fringe contenders at the weight at least. Alejo started the fight pretty well, but Gonzalez had taken over after a couple rounds on his way to the finish. Top Rank signed 2016 US Olympian Antonio Vargas also competed on the All-Star Boxing promoted card. In fact, Vargas has fought almost his entire young career on this very same stage. It isn’t exactly clear to me why he isn’t fighting on Top Rank shows like other Olympic prospects. Maybe they are trying to build his star at home in Florida so he can be an attraction there already when he steps up.
Jaron Ennis (22-0, 20 KOs) KO2 Raymond Serrano (24-6, 10 KOs), welterweights & Samuel Teah (15-2-1, 7 KOs) UD8 Kenneth Sims Jr (13-2-1, 4 KOs), junior welterweights & Arnold Khegai (14-0-1, 9 KOs) UD8 Jorge Diaz (19-6-1, 10 KOs), super bantamweights – Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia
Absolute blue chip Philly prospect Jaron “Boots” Ennis put on another sensation performance in blowing away regional opponent Raymond Serrano in two. The 21 year old is one of the absolute best prospects in boxing and he showed it in this ShoBox main event. After a completely one sided first round, Boots used a pair of single shots to put down Serrano twice before the finish. He’s young so it still makes sense for Boots and his team to take their time, but I’m also not sure he needs to. Ennis might very well be ready for a real step up. He’s looked spectacular every step of the way. ShoBox veterans Samuel Teah and Kenneth Sims Jr met in the co-main event with Teah getting a pretty clear decision. Neither of these guys are likely future title challengers. Neither is bantamweight Arnold Khegai in all likelihood, but the Ukrainian has looked decent in his two US fights so far. Hopefully he gets a stiffer opponent if he comes back to ShoBox.
Anvar Yunusov (6-0, 3 KOs) TKO4 Jose Salinas (10-4-1, 5 KOs), junior lightweights – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Rare three time Olympian Anvar Yunusov continues to build his pro career in Pennsylvania under solid regional promoter Marshall Kauffman. The Tajik fighter competed in 2008, 2012, and 2016 for his home country. He was a win away from a medal in 2008, but Yunusov only won one fight between his last two Olympic appearances and is now 31. Is he a major prospect? Maybe? That is a cop out, but the truth is I don’t know yet. Time will tell for the junior lightweight. It doesn’t help that I can’t find much for video.
Monday, November 12th
Tomoki Kameda (36-2, 20 KOs) UD12 Abigail Medina (19-4-2, 10 KOs), super bantamweights – Tokyo, Japan
Finally, former Japanese star and bantamweight titleholder Tomoki Kameda returned for his second fight of 2018 to secure an interim version of the WBC title held by the lanky Rey Vargas. This means he will meet the Golden Boy fighter in 2019 if Vargas is ready to go and stays at the weight. Somehow Tomoki is still only 27 despite having had an extremely low key three years back in Japan since losing his belt in a pair of fights with Brit Jamie McDonnell stateside. The Kameda name is famous in Japan and Tomoki is the one only between the three Kameda sons still active. His re-entry into the upper echelons of the sport will be big news internationally. As for this fight itself, Kameda started it pretty brilliantly before fading a bit against the hard charging and determined Medina late. He was never in serious trouble, however, and had also clearly banked enough of the first two thirds of the fight to earn an obvious decision win.
