The Past Week in Action 21 December 2020: Canelo, Golovkin, Ramirez Register Wins in Busy Yearend Fights (Part II)
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16 December (continued)
Los Angeles, CA, USA: Welter: Eimantas Stanionis (12-0) W TKO 9 Janer Gonzalez (19-4-1). Middle: Eumir Marcial (1-0) W PTS 4 Andrew Whitfield (3-1).
Stanionis drops Gonzalez.
Stanionis grinds down Gonzalez on his way to a ninth round stoppage. Nothing flashy about the Lithuanian. He just walks forward through whatever punches come his way and responds with clubbing rights and left hooks to the body. Gonzalez was forced to fight going back as nothing he threw was stopping the forward march of Stanionis. The Lithuanian also has a very useful jab which he used to set Gonzalez up for his hooking attacks. Gonzalez was finding plenty of gaps and landing some strong punches but he began to wilt under the relentless pressure from Stanionis. The fight had gone out of Gonzalez by the eighth and two rights crosses and a right uppercut saw him
Gamal Yafai too much for Luca Rigoldi in Italy, writes Andy Whittle
THE old adage was that you had to knock the other guy out to get a draw when travelling to Italy to box for a title but Birmingham’s
Gamal Yafai made nonsense of the statement at the Allianz Cloud in Milan. He relieved Caldogno southpaw
Luca Rigoldi of his European super-bantamweight title by securing an emphatic unanimous points victory, judges Guido Cavalleri of Bergamo, Italy and Bury’s John Latham having him ahead 116-112 at the finish whilst a second Italian Giovanni Poggi saw it somewhat more clear cut and turned in a card reading 119-109 in favour of the Brit.
ON Thursday (December 17), Birmingham “Beast”
Gamal Yafai goes into enemy territory when he challenges European super-bantamweight champion
Luca Rigoldi on the Italian’s home turf. Milan’s Allianz Cloud hosts this Matchroom/OPI co-promotion, which will be televised live on DAZN.
Yafai has only fought outside of the UK once before as a professional (in Germany), but the 29-year-old has extensive experience of competing abroad as an amateur, including in Russia, where he picked up a bronze medal at the 2010 European Championships.
All but one of Rigoldi’s pro fights have taken place in Italy. In his sole away appearance in the paid ranks, the Caldogno resident secured the vacant European crown by unanimously outscoring Jeremy Parodi in the Frenchman’s backyard. Since that title triumph in November 2018, Rigoldi has made two successful defences of his belt. However, last time out in December 2019, the 27-year-old was held to a disappointing draw by previous victim Spar
Gamal Yafai has three wins since losing to Gavin McDonnell Photo Credit: Boxing Scene
Matchroom’s Italian arm is in operation this Thursday night in Milan, as a decent looking card is held at Allianz Cloud.
British interest at the top of the card comes in the form of Birmingham’s Gamal Yafai (17-1, KO10) and the 29-year-old challenges for the European Super Bantamweight title against the champion, Luca Rigoldi (22-1-2, KO8).
It’s a bit of a surprise opportunity for Yafai, as he hasn’t been operating at this level recently, and has won three low key contests since a points defeat to Gavin McDonnell in 2018.
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