Sandor Martin is aiming high

Another victory for Sandor Martin in Spain, writes Eric Armit in his latest international round-up

APRIL 1

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Local hero SANDOR MARTIN, 40-2 (13), kept his hopes of a shot at Josh Taylor for the super-lightweight title alive as he outclassed Mexican JOSE FELIX, 39-6-1 (30). Martin outboxed Felix over the first five rounds and then went toe-to-toe with him over the second half of the fight. The judges scored it 100-90 twice and 99-91 for Martin who had outscored Mikey Garcia in October. In a super-flyweight contest Spanish prospect SAMUEL CARMONA, 7-0 (4), was given a tough fight by Mexican JOEL CORDOVA 13-6-2 (3) and just scraped through with a ninth round knockdown giving him the edge. Scores 97-93, 96-93 and 96-94 for Carmona, who was 2-2 in fights against Galal Yafai and beat Paddy Barnes at the 2016 Olympic Games. Cordova lost on a sixth rounds stoppage against Julio Cesar Martinez for an alphabet title in June last year. Light-heavyweight RICARDS BOLOTNIKS, 19-6-1 (8), won a unanimous decision over Croatian 2016 Olympian HRVOJE SEP, 11-1-0 (8), with scores of 78-75 twice and 77-75.

FREJUS, FRANCE

Frenchman GUSTAVO TAMBA, 17-1-0 (11), overwhelms Italian DRAGAN LEPEI, 20-5-2 (10), to win the vacant European Union super-middleweight belt. Tamba floored Lepei heavily in the first but Lepei beat the count and survived the round. A strong right in the second had Lepei in deep trouble and the referee stopped the fight. Fourteenth consecutive victory for the Senegal-born Tamba.

SANTA MARINELLA, ITALY

Age no barrier for veteran Italian southpaw EMILIANO MARSILI, 41-0-1 (15), as he climbs off the canvas to win the vacant European lightweight title with a split decision over Peruvian-born southpaw FRANK URQUIAGA, 16-3-1 (1). Marsili was down from a right in the third but the better skills of the 45-year-old Marsili just gave him the edge in a fight that saw both fighters bleeding from cuts in an exciting encounter. Marsili took the decision on scores of 115-112 and 115-113 to Marsili and 115-112 to Spaniard Urquiaga. Marsili is closing in on 19 years as a pro without a defeat. In another lightweight contest DANIEL SPADA, 12-0 (4), took a unanimous decision over fellow-Italian Andrea Sito with scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75.

APRIL 2

ROSEMONT, USA

Irish light-heavyweight JOE WARD, 7-1 (4), stopped OSCAR RIOJAS, 28-15-1 (16), in five rounds. Seven wins in a row for the former amateur star who lost his first professional fight through a knee injury.

BERAZATEGUI, ARGENTINA

Featherweight JOSE ROMERO, 25-2 (9), rebounds from losses against Isaac Cruz and Michael Rivera as he stops IGNACIO PERRIN, 7-6-1 (1), after two knockdowns in the third round. In a middleweight encounter AMILCAR VIDAL, 15-0 (12), stopped OMAR DOMINGUEZ CHAMORRO, 7-5-1 (3), in the second. Dominguez took a standing count and was shipping more punishment when the referee halted the fight.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

German MARTEN ARSUMANJAN, 12-1-2 (6), retained the European Union middleweight title knocking out MARCOS NADER, 23-2-1 (5), with a right hook in the fifth round.

BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA

The super-flyweight bout between DEWAYNE BEAMON, 21-4-3 (15), and Colombian PABLO CARRILLO, 26-8-2 (17), ended in a fifth round technical draw after Carrillo was unable to continue due to a cut suffered in a clash of heads. The scores were 39-37 each and 38-38 at the stoppage. Flyweight ROBER BARRERA, 24-4,1NC (14), ends his fight with Venezuelan JIMSON GARCIA, 11-4-1 (6), with two knockdowns in the third round. Barrera lost a very close decision to Muhammad Waseem in November.

TOKYO, JAPAN

MAKOTO KAWASAKI 13-8-1 (2) won the vacant Japanese super-welterweight title with a unanimous decision over KOKI KOSHIKAWA 9-4 (6) with scores reading 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94. Koshikawa took an early lead but the more experienced Kawasaki paced the fight better and finished strongly. With the Japanese Boxing Commission declaring itself bankrupt and going into liquidation it remains to be seen who will sanction and administer Japanese title fights in the future.

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO

YAMILETH MERCADO 19-3 (5) retains her alphabet super bantamweight title with unanimous decision over substitute ISIS VARGAS 9-4 (3). All three judges scored it 99-91 for Mercado.

PUEBLA, MEXICO

 In a wild scrap YULIAHN LUNA 23-3-1 (4) holds on to her alphabet bantamweight title against MAYELL FLORES 8-0-1 (3). Luna was down in the second and both boxers were deducted a point for breaking the rules. Scores 99-89, 95-91 and 95-92 for Luna.

DEARBORN, USA

In his first fight for three years unbeaten welterweight hope  ERICK De LEON 20-0-1 (12) put Colombian HEVINSON HERRERA 27-20-1 (21) down and out late in the opening round. A cruiserweight bout saw Russian ALI IZMAILOV 8-0 (6)  beat Chilean ABRAHAM TEBES 7-1 (3) who retired after three one-sided rounds.