Weekly Asian Boxing Results (February 2nd To February 8th)
((Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images))
If I'm being totally honest this past week wasn't the busiest for fights featuring Asian fighters, but there was plenty of meat to pull off the bones from what we did get, including some notable prospects, two world title fights and a OPBF champion in a stay busy fight.
February 6th
Thanongsak Simsri (14-0, 12) TKO4 Suriya Puttaluksa (0-3)
Thai teenager hopeful Thanongsak Simsri is planning to fight 6 times in 2020, and the first of those fights came this past Thursday when he stopped Thai novice Suriya Puttaluksa in what was essentially a gym fight in Bang Phli. The unbeaten 19 year old stopped his foe in 4 rounds and will now move onto an April bout, in Osaka, against a yet to be announced Japanese opponent.
Ricardo Rafael Sandoval (18-1, 13) KO7 Raymond Tabugon (22-12-1, 11)
Filipino journeyman Raymond Tabugon suffered his 5th loss in 7 as American hopeful Ricardo Rafael Sandoval proved to be too good and too strong. Tabugon, who was stopped less than 4 months ago by Angel Acosta, was stopped with Sandoval unloading on him and this was the 6th time the Filipino "Tornado" had been stopped. It's hard to know what is next for the 28 year old Pinoy, but it's clear that he shouldn't be fighting at this type of level. It's not that he's a bad fighter, but he is taking a lot of punishment in recent years and deserves an easy bout or two to rebuild some confidence.
February 7th
Charly Suarez (4-0, 4) TKO3 Dave Barlas (5-2-1, 3)
Talented Filipino Charly Suarez scored his latest win, as he stopped countryman Dave Barlas. Although talented, and a former amateur stand out, Suarez really is wasting his career with bouts like this, which answer no new questions and don't really develop his career. He's a sensational talent, a former Olympian, but he's also the wrong side of 30 for bouts like this. On the other hand the body shot he put Barlas down with was a beauty.
February 8th
Abdulkhay Sharakhmatov (1-0, 1) KO1 Benjie Ebido (0-3)
Uzbek debutant Abdulkhay Sharakhmatov made an impressive start to his professional career as he stopped Filipino Benjie Ebido inside a round. The Uzbek looked like a class fighter from the opening seconds, applying smart pressure, a tight defenses and a clever understanding of distance. Expected to see a lot of Sharakhmatov in the coming years, and expect him to have a very bright career. This was only his debut but the talent is clearly there.
Lito Dante (17-11-4, 9) TKO2 Sulis Barrera (4-8)
OPBF Minimumweight champion Lito Dante scored a tune up win as he stopped the over-matched Sulis Barrera in 2 rounds. This really was little more than a stay busy fight for Dante who will be back in the ring next month to defend his OPBF title against Masataka Taniguchi in Japan. Barrera did very little than take a beating until wilting under the pressure and consistent body shots of Dante.
Rafael Marzan (14-0, 10) MD10 Jestoni Autida (12-12, 6)
The unbeaten Rafael Marzan, from the US, picked up latest win as he squeaked past Filipino Jestoni Autida. On paper this looked like a mismatch but in reality this was a good test for Marzan, who has been picking up international experience in recent years. This was the type of match up Marzan needed and will develop from. It seemed clearer than the judges suggested, but with the bout being in the Philippines it seemed like Autida was getting some help from the judges.
Yokasta Valle (20-2, 9) TKO6 Carleans Rivas (8-7-4)
Costa Rivan fighter Yokasta Valle recorded her first defense of the IBF female Minimumweight title as she dominated Filipino fighter Carleans Rivas. I've no idea what Rivas did to get a title shot but she was well and truly second best here before being stopped in the 6th round. If the IBF are to take help female boxing being taken seriously they need to put some quality control in their challengers, and Rivas, who had just 3 wins, in 3 years, all against the same opponent shouldn't have qualified for a shot. As for Valle, this was a nice home coming defeat, but there are much more interesting opponents out there for her going forward.
Gary Allen Russell Jr (31-1, 18) UD12 Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-1, 9)
The most significant bout of the last 7 days, by far, was a WBC Featherweight title bout which ended up being a truly compelling bout. Defending champion Gary Allen Russell Jr managed to retain his title, taking a decision win over Mongolian challenger Tugstsogt Nyambayar, but was forced to work for it. Russell Jr got off to a controlling start, winning the first 4 rounds against Nyamabayar, who did little early on. From the middle rounds however the bout came alive, and Nyamabayar began to work his way in to the contest, giving us a really exciting last half of the contest. The loss, for Nyambayar, may be a major set back, but will also serve as the type of result that will help him develop, whilst the American notches another defenses and prove what a talent he is. Sadly it'll likely be another year until we see Russell Jr back in action, and that is certainly not a good thing!