By Per Ake Persson
Deurne, Belgium: The first ever EBU title fight between two Belgians went ahead last night and Yves Ngabu (19-0) retained the title with a third round stoppage of Geoffrey Batello (32-6).
The result was expected but Batello is a dangerous puncher and was a live underdog.
Ngabu had too much of everything for him though and Batello was retired by his corner after two knockdowns.
Vitoria, Spain: Spanish super lightweight champ Nacho Mendoza (43-12-3) stopped challenger Fran Suarez (7-4-1) in the first round. Mendoza is a solid fighter with a good punch but with a questionable chin.
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Vantaa, Finland: Samuli Karkkainen, 6-0, won the vacant BBU (Baltic Boxing Union) cruiserweight title with a split eight round decision over Latvian Reinis Porozovs, 9-14-1.
The judges were indeed split as one had it 80-75 for the Finn, another had it 78-75 for the Latvian while the deciding vote went to Karkkainen at 77-76. It was a close fight with Karkkainens´s activity against Porozov´s fewer but harder punches.
The show was promoted by former pro Juho Tolppola.
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The undercard to the Sebastian Formella-Angelo Frank super welterweight fight on March 24 in Hamburg features an excellent matchup between two undefeated cruiserweights as Huseyn Cinkara, 9-0, 7 KO), and Tervel Pulev, 7-0, 7ko, meet. Pulev, the younger brother of Kubrat, waited long to turn pro and at 35 there is no time to lose and the same can be said for the 33-year old Cinkara.
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Zimbabwean Elvis Moyo continued the impressive resurrection of his career on Friday night, January 26, as he retained the World Boxing Federation (WBF) All Africa Heavyweight title on home ground at the City Sports Centre in Harare.
Moyo, who returned to boxing last July after four years competing in MMA, made his first title-defense of his second reign as WBF All Africa titlist, scoring a unanimous decision over South Africa-based Congolese Knife Didier.
Judge Eddie Marshall scored the very entertaining encounter 98-92 for Moyo, while Judges Patrick Mkondiwa and Francis Nhenderere had it slightly wider at 100-91 and 99-91 respectively. Referee in charge of the action was Darryl Ribbink.