Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik Back on Track,
Martirosyan, Peter and Korobov Dominate!
By: Steve Morrow
December 19th, Beeghly Center, Youngstown, Ohio: Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik made the third defense of his WBC and WBO middleweight titles stopping Miguel Espino in the fifth round.
Pavlik, 36-1, 32Ko’s who’s only loss was to future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins October 2008 was returning to the ring following some personal problems and a serious infection to his left hand.
“The Ghost” was scheduled to meet Paul “The Punisher” Williams December 5th but had to pull out of the bout due to the injured hand. Some in William’s camp claim that the injury was just another ploy to dodge boxing’s most avoided fighter.
Pavlik returning to the ring after a ten month lay off taking on unranked Miguel Espino, 20-3-1, 9Ko’s a foe some are calling hand picked in his hometown. The game Espino came to fight but could not match the loaded arsenal carried by the champion.
Pavlik started strong looking to make a point using a stiff jab and good right hands taking it to Espino who looked to extend the round only to lose a point. In the second Pavlik started where he left off banging a game Espino who closed up throwing to “The Ghost’s” body. In the third round Espino looking to go toe to toe stayed on Pavlik’s body while the champion began to land with clean right hands. Espino’s blows began to wander low and he was warned twice by referee Steve Smoger. The champion opened up the fourth round with a heavy right to the challengers jaw and is beginning to find the mark. Espino appearing fatigued keeps throwing without any power only to collect a looping right putting him on one knee. After the action continues the champion stalks Espino dropping him for the second time in the round but gets up right almost energized by the roaring crowd chants for Pavlik. The challenger hangs on reacting to the bell as he just received an early Christmas present.
Pavlik went right after Espino in the fifth catching the challenger with big right hands finishing him at 1:44 of round five when referee Steve Smoger stepped in to call the fight. Pavlik bruised under his right eye knew he was in a fight with the light handed Espino but the result was inevitable and Pavlik was shacking off the rust as the fight went on.
Team Pavlik has called for a Williams but the politics of boxing will take there toll as rumors of a Felix Sturm fight begin to fly.
The cards first co-feature matched light middleweight Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan, 26-0, 17Ko’s taking on “Slik” Willie Lee, 17-6, 11ko’s for the NABO title stripped from Carlos Molina for failure to defend it November 9th and Lee’s NABF Light Middleweight Title.
“The Nightmare” started early for Lee with Martirosyan establishing his jab hurting “Slik” Willie with a solid straight right. In the second round lead right hands began to land for Martirosyan who began to land in combination. It all came crumbling down in the third when “The Nightmare” dropped Lee with a square right hand. Beating the count but looking worse for the action Lee found himself on the deck from another Martirosyan right prompting referee Randy Jarvis to stop the boutat 2:13 of round three.
In a heavyweight co-feature former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter, 33-3, 26Ko’s stopped Pensacola, Florida’s Gabe “Big G” Brown, 18-13-4, 12Ko’s in the fourth round of their scheduled eight rounder.
Round one saw the former champion begin to establish his heavy jab creating openings for several good right hands. Round two saw Peter staying patient working behind his jab looking to unload his big right hand. In the third Peter began to find openings for his right as “The Big G” began to soften. In the fourth round Peter backed Brown to the ropes opening up with both hands influencing referee Randy Jarvis to stop the punishment at 2:58 of round four.
In a battle of southpaws undefeated middleweight Russian southpaw Matt Korobov, 9-0, 7Ko’s started fast pounding North Carolina’s Ken Dunham, 6-12-1, 4Ko’s with an under over attack to the body and head dropping him in the scheduled six rounders opener. Korobov meticulously began to break down Dunham continuing to mix it up decking the game southerner two more times convincing referee randy Jarvis he had seen enough stopping the action at 1:29 of round three.
In undercard action Houston, Texas welterweight Omar “O” Henry, 7-0, 6Ko’s blitzed Savannah, Tennesse’s Jessie “The Kid” Davis, 11-16, 8Ko’s flattening him twice before banging him out at 2:23 of round one of their scheduled six rounder.
Youngstown, welterweight Jake Giuriceo, 5-0-1, 2Ko’s battled Clevelands Henri White Jr; 4-4-2, 3Ko’s to a six round majority draw when the scores were announced 58-56 for Giuriceo and 57-57 times two.
Featherweight “Mickey” Miguel Angel Garcia, 18-0, 16Ko’s remained unbeaten after dropping Yogli “Olafo” Herrera, 22-11, 15Ko’s twice thenfinishing his nights work stopping the rugged Colombian with a devastating right at 2:19 of round three.
Cleveland, Ohio’s welterweight Willie Nelson, 13-0-1, 8Ko’s boxed his way to a 59-55, 60-54 times two unanimous decision over Doel “Noel”Carrasquillo, 12-14-1, 10Ko’s.
Jack Loew trained lightweight Chris Hazimihalis made his pro debut in fine fashion stopping Toledo, Ohio’s winless Norman Allen, 0-6-1, with a barrage of punches convincing Allen to take a knee prompting referee Jim Villers to evaluate and stop the fight at 1:of round three of their scheduled four rounder.
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Soto Decisions Chavez Over 12!
By: Hector Fuentes
December 19th, Arena Itson, Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico: 29 year old Humberto “The Crafty Little Fox” Soto, 50-7-2, 32Ko’s won a twelve round unanimous decision over 37 year old Jesus “El Matador” Chavez. Soto dropped Chavez in the fights opener but “El Matador” 44-7, 30Ko’s would be there all night. In the see saw toe to toe action Chavez was deducted two points for low blows in the fifth and sixth rounds. Soto took the bout usually ending up on the better side of the exchanges landing the cleaner more effective punches earning a 100-87 times three unanimous decision.
The win opens the door for several attractive bouts for the “Crazy Fox” like a meeting Micheal Katsidis, Ali Funeka or the victor of Edwin Valero/ Antonio DeMarco WBC Lightweight title Fight February 6th Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Valero Remains Perfect!
By: David Colon December 19th, Polideportivo José María Vargas, La Guaira, Venezuela: Venezuelan WBC Lightweight Champion Edwin “Dinamita” Valero, perfect in twenty six bouts 26-0, 26Ko’s made the first defense of his title stopping 34 year old veteran Héctor Velázquez, 51-14-2, 35Ko’s by way of a six round TKO. The heavy handed Valero had a tougher time than expected with the cagey veteran cutting the champion on his nose and over his left eye before being cornered in the sixth round taking many unanswered power shots convincing his corner to call the bout between the sixth and seventh rounds awarding Valero a 6th round RTD.
“Dinamita” is expected to meet WBC interim lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco February 6th Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
