DIAZ GETS WIN IN SCANDALOUS MANNER
Houston, TX– Juan Diaz UD 12 Paulie Malignaggi: Diaz (35-2, 17 KOs) wins a controversial unanimous decision over Malignaggi (25-3, 5 KOs) on a night where Paulie might have needed a KO just to get a draw. Diaz’ volume punching began to work in round two, but Malignaggi’s smarter boxing and ring generalship should’ve earned him the win. Both fighters were cut but neither severely. Scores were David Sutherland’s 116-112, Raul Caiz Sr. had it 115-113, and then there was Gail Van Hoy’s seemingly criminal score of 118-110 or 10-2 in rounds. Add referee Laurence Cole looking to save Diaz who was cut by a punch, and you realize what Paulie was up against. .
“GHOST” GRABS TITLE IN SECOND DIVISION
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero UD 12 Malcolm Klassen (takes IBF 130 lb. title)
Punching machine Robert Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs) was too busy and had too much skill for now ex-champ Klassen (24-5-2, 15 KOs) a South African fighting in the U.S. for the first time. There were no knockdowns and neither fighter was hurt, though Guerrero was cut by an accidental head clash over his left eye. Scores: 117-111, 116-112 and 116-113.
GHOST, ARREOLA, MERCHANT ON “RING TALK” TONIGHT!
Robert Guerrero, heavyweight Chris Arreola, and Larry Merchant will all be Pedro Fernandez’ guests Sunday night at 8:05 PM PT when “Ring Talk Worldwide” is on radio and Online here at www.RingTalk.com Just click on the Live Radio box at the top of this page and listen to the longest running fight show in history, 24+ years!
JACOBS WAY BETTER THAN ISHE
Danny Jacobs UD 10 Ishe Smith: Power puncher Jacobs (18-0, 15 KOs) went the full ten with rugged veteran Ishe Smith (21-4, 9 KOs). There were no knockdowns and Smith was warned for hitting Jacobs three times after the bell, then penalized a point after the ninth for the same. Scores: 100-89 and 96-93 twice.
HUNGARY WATCHES HUNGRIER FIGHTER WIN
Budapest, Hungary– Robert Stieglitz KO 11 Karoly Balzsay (takes WBO 168 lb. title) Stieglitz (36-2, 22 KOs) stopped a no longer unbeaten and heavily favored Karoly Balzsay (21-1, 15 KOs) in front of his hometown fans. The action fight came down to stamina. The aggressive Stieglitz began to wear down the champion from the start and in round nine rocked Balzsay. At the end of the round, Balzsay went down but it was ruled a slip. Stieglitz didn’t let up in #10 and Balzsay went back to his corner on wobbly legs. The fight was stopped at 0:12 of #11. Carried out of the ring on a stretcher Balzsay looked alert and not seriously injured.
Juergen Brähmer KO 11 Aleksy Kuziemski: (Interim WBO 175 lb. title) Brähmer (34-2, 28 KOs) knocked the outclassed but previously unbeaten Kuziemski (17-1, 4 KOs) down four times. The fourth time was the charm as the fight was stopped at :39 of #11. This win earned Brähmer earned at shot at longtime WBO champion ZsoltErdei.
Zsolt Bedak KO 2 Yersin Jailauov: Light puncher Bedak (14-0, 4 KOs) shocked everyone in attendance as he scored a stoppage of Yersin Jailauov (20-7-1, 7 KOs) at 1:06 of #2.
Edwin Ayala