By Derek Bonnett: The big bouts of 2012 have finally started rolling. This week presented boxing fans with a scintillating title fight rematch at cruiserweight. Also, the son of a ring legend confirmed his standing among the world’s best middleweights without a doubt. One of today’s pound for pound best captured a world title in his fourth division and, as usual, a horde of other world class competitors remained on the move.
On Saturday, February 4, at Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany, Yoan Pablo Hernandez defeated Steve Cunningham by unanimous decision in a twelve round IBF cruiserweight title bout rematch. In a highly competitive bout, Hernandez mounted an early lead after scoring two knockdowns in the fourth. However, Cunningham rallied back to sweep most of the middle rounds. The champion put together a strong finish as both men fought through exhaustion. Hernandez prevailed by scores of 115-111 and 116-110 twice. The bout appeared a shade closer, but the right man won. Hernandez raised his record to 26-1 (13). Cunningham dropped to 24-4 (12).
Hernandez moved from third to second among the top cruiserweights at SecondsOut. Denis Lebedev fell from second to third. Cunningham remained fourth due to the close nature of the contest.
Also on the card, Mateusz Masternak TKO’d Michael Simms in four rounds cruiserweight bout. The stoppage came at the 1:16 mark of the round. Masternak improved to 25-0 (19). Simms dropped to 22-16-2 (14).
Masternak remained ranked at tenth in the cruiserweight division by SecondsOut. Re-entering the rankings is Troy Ross, who was removed due to inactivity. Ross climbs back in at eighth. Lateef Kayode was dropped to make room.
Also on the move in Germany, Eduard Gutknecht captured a unanimous over Vyacheslav Uzelkov to move into the light heavyweight rankings at number ten. Ismayl Sillakh dropped out of the top ten for the time being.
On the same evening, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, USA, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. dominated Marco Antonio Rubio to win a decision in a twelve round WBC middleweight title bout. The official scorecards favored Chavez by counts of 118-110, 116-112, and 115-113. The eight point margin best reflected the action. Chavez enhanced his ring credentials to 45-0-1 (31) in scoring his biggest victory to date. Rubio dropped to 53-6-1 (46).
Chavez jumped from eighth to fourth among the top middleweights at SecondsOut. Rubio dropped from fourth to eighth.
Also on the card, Nonito Donaire captured a split decision over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. after dominating the young Puerto Rican for twelve rounds in a vacant WBO super bantamweight title bout. Vazquez was put to the canvas in the ninth round and lost by two scores of 117-110. A third judge dubiously scored the bout 115-112 in favor of Vazquez. Donaire improved his record to 28-1 (18). Vazquez fell to 21-2-1 (18).
Donaire held onto his number two ranking at SecondsOut at super bantamweight. Vazquez dropped from seventh to eighth. Rendall Munroe re-entered the rankings at seventh after deciding not to move down to 118. Rafael Marquez exited to make room.
Vanes Martirosyan scored a third round TKO Troy Lowry in a light middleweight bout. The end came at the 2:53 mark. Lowry hit the canvas in round one. Martirosyan lifted his record to 32-0 (20). Lowry dropped to 28-12 (17).
Martirosyan kept his number seven spot at 154 in the SecondsOut rankings.
SecondsOut ranked fighters in action through Sunday, February 12:
On Friday, February 10:
At Gimnasio Municipal No. 1 in Trelew, Chubut, Argentina: Lucas Martin Matthysse versus Ivan Valle in a twelve round light welterweight bout
At Club Once Unidos, Mar de Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Luis Alberto Lazarte versus Jhonreil Casimero in a twelve round interim IBF light flyweight title bout
On Saturday, February 11:
In Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico: Rodrigo Guerrero versus Juan Carlos Sanchez in a twelve round IBF super flyweight title bout
To check out Derek’s SecondsOut rankings www.digenie.net/sorankings/p_so_world.asp">Click here
For further boxing discussion, contact Derek "DBO" Bonnett on Facebook or at mabfan@comcast.net.
