IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over previously unbeaten WBA heavyweight champion in recess Ruslan Chagaev (25-1-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday night in front of 61,000+ at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside from FightNews: Unbeaten middleweight prospect Fernando Guerrero (14-0, 12 KOs) demolished Brian “The Assassin” Norman (17-9, 5 KOs) on Friday night at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. Guerrero dropped Norman twice in round two and referee Kenny Chevalier waved it off at 2:35 when Norman was in no shape to continue. An impressive showing for the unbeaten power-puncher whose exciting style has created a huge legion of fans.
In an important bout between featherweight contenders, IBF #4 Fernando Beltran Jr. (33-3-1, 18 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over IBF #5 rated Monty Meza-Clay (28-3, 19 KOs) on Friday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center, in Laredo, Texas. Throwing more than 100 punches a round, the former two-time world title challenger Beltran simply outworked Meza-Clay to win by scores of 117-110, 115-112, 117-110. Beltran retains his IBF Latino featherweight belt.
By Robert Coster of FightNews: Making his 9th title defense, WBC light-flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (36-5, 20 KOs) stopped challenger Carlos “Shangai” Melo (19-9, 2 KOs) of Panama at 2.47 of the fifth round at the packed Arena Mexico in Mexico City. Sosa, cheered on by over 12,000 fans, attacked speedster Melo from the opening bell and effectively cut off the ring, forcing the Panamanian boxer to trade. The bout was action-packed but it was apparent that Sosa’s bulk and power were wearing down the game challenger. In the fifth round, a vicious hook to the liver had Melo crumbling to the mat. The challenger gallantly beat the count but a barrage of punches from Sosa forced referee Frank Garza to put an end to the bout. “I felt really good,” said champion Sosa after the fight, “I had worked on my speed and the plan was to take control from the beginning. Shangai had fought the best in this weight class and never been stopped. I am happy with my increasing strength and power.”
Super featherweight Joksan “Torito” Hernández (15-1-0, 8 KOs) won a majority decision over Héctor Velázquez (51-13-2, 35 KOs) in a bout for the WBC Continental Americas on Saturday night before a full house at the “Oscar Tigre Garcia” municipal gymnasium in Ensenada, Mexico. Scores
were 116-114, 115-114 and 114-114.
“The Businessman” Omar Chavez (16-0-1, 12 KO’s), the youngest of the Chavez dynasty, scored an impressive second round TKO over Patrick “Raging Bull” Cape (5-7, 3 KOs). Cape went down twice under a ferocious Chavez assault. Referee Juan Jose Ramirez stopped the bout at 2:19. Ring announcer Jimmy Lennon told the crowd that Omar dedicated the fight to his dad, ring legend Julio César Chávez, for Father’s Day.