Prospect Watch Weekend Starting 24/02/12 - Review

Here's the review of the Prospects featured this weekend and how they got on in their fights. From now on I wont be telling of any new guys to follow, but I will be adding guys to my watch list, so when they are next out they'll be featured.

Butcher continues to impress as a pro

Friday 24/02/2012

Iain Butcher (3-0, 1 KO) Flyweight

New Boxrec Ranking - Now 234 in the World and 7 in the UK. 

How did the fight go? - Butcher continued his good form as a pro by getting his first stoppage win against Hungary's Richard Voros with a stunning first round stoppage. The promoters had spent a fair bit of money getting the kid over, but Butcher proved far too good and secured an impressive victory, which will send out a message to the rest of the British flyweights.

Richard Contreras (9-0-1, 8 KO's) Featherweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 204 in the World and 12 in the USA.

How did the fight go? - Contreras was always in a hard fight with tough journeyman Daniel Quevedo and unfortunately for him he was held to a draw. I think we saw here a guy who's powerful and expected to go out and blow his opponent, but unfortunately he was facing a real hard man. He has gone up in the rankings, but really this is a step back for him.

Jessie Vargas (18-0, 9 KO's) Light Welterweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 6 in the World, 4 in the USA

Expect to see Vargas at the MGM Grand May 5th

How did the fight go? - Vargas had an incredibly tough opponent in Lanardo Tyler and it really wasn't a pretty fight fight, however Vargas showed his class to win 99-91 on all three judges scorecards. Vargas has a lot of talent and getting the rounds in is no issue, you need to fight guys like Tyler and this was a good 10 round workout for him. He could very well be out in May on the Mayweather-Cotto bill as he's signed to Mayweather Promotions.

Saturday 25/02/2012

Luke Blackledge (8-0, 3 KO's) Light Heavyweight

New Boxrec Ranking - No ranking change as of yet

How did the fight go? - No confirmation of this result on Boxrec, but Blackledge proved too strong for his Polish born Welsh based opponent Robert Studzinski, stopping him in three rounds. Blackledge really is a fighter on an upward curve at the moment and represents the VIP Promotion stable he represents. He looks like a very talented fighter and will fancy a step up in class now.

Centeno Jr was an easy six round winner

Hugo Centeno Jr (12-0, 6 KO's) Welterweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 211 in the World and 43 in the USA.

How did the fight go? - Centeno makes a nice step up in the rankings by completely outclassing his opponent Narvaez over six rounds, winning 60-52 x2 and 59-53 on the judges scorecards. Narvaez is a rough old fighter and has only been stopped three times in his pro career, so Centeno did his job to get the decision. At 6ft1 he uses his height well in the division, but surely as he gets older he will be a light middleweight or middleweight.

Culcay had too much for his Italian opponent

Jack Culcay (11-0, 7 KO's) Light Middleweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 94 in the World, still 1 in Germany

How did the fight go? - Culcay found himself in with a tough Italian, but was far too good over the seven rounds which it lasted, stopping him with a real heavy barrage in the penultimate round. This classy ex amateur star seems to have a lot going for him at the moment, and is getting big German bill experience. Harder fights are to come, but he looks to be fighting incredibly well at the moment and is showing his class.

Craig Evans (6-0, 2 KO's) Super Featherweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 408 in the World, 21 in the UK.

How did the fight go? - Big shame for Evans here as his opponent Marc Callaghan retires at the end of round 1 with an arm injury. He had a really frustrating 2011 and to be honest his 2012 hasn't really got off to the best start. He's coming along nicely with Lee Beard as his trainer, but he needs some tough rounds to show his quality.

Frankie Gavin (12-0, 9 KO's) Welterweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 39 in the World, 6 in the UK.

Gavin looked really good on his return

How did the fight go? - Great win for "Funtime" who looked a lot sharper in stopping ex British champion Kevin McIntyre in three rounds on Saturday night. It was an awesome body shot that did it for him and everything about Gavin in the run up to the fight and in it was far better than what we've seen recently. This could easily have been a tricky night if he wasn't on form, but his head was right and he showed the class which made him Britain's only World Amateur champion.

Lewis Rees (3-0, 2 KO's) Light Welterweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 623 in the World, 42 in the UK.

How did the fight go? - This was one of the best fights on the undercard

"Beefy" did well against Morby

Liam Smith (9-0-1, 4 KO's) Welterweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 186 in the World, 15 in the UK.

How did the fight go? - When I wrote the Prospect Watch this weekend we didn't even know who "Beefy" was fighting after Laszlo Komjathi pulled out. He ended up fighting a guy who's usually two weight divisions above him in Paul Morby, and he was far too good for the man from Portsmouth, winning 80-69 on the referee's scorecard. Early on Liam looked like he really had him and was on the verge of a stoppage win, with some very good work shown in the first three rounds. After that he just carried on the solid work and ground out a good decision.

Christopher Pearson (3-0, 2 KO's) Middleweight

New Boxrec Ranking - 395 in the World, 76 in the USA.

How did the fight go? - Pearson makes a big step up the rankings with a 1st round smashing of Jeremy Wood on the big bill in St Louis. Wood had gone the distance with one or two unbeaten fighters in the past, but found himself completely over-matched here against a very good young fighter. Pearson was a really solid amateur and what I've seen of him as a pro, he looks a real talent.

Prospect Watch - Weekend Starting 10/2/11

Compared to last weekend and the weekend starting the 17th, this is a very quiet weekend of Boxing on the whole. That is mostly down to the fact Berto v Ortiz II was cancelled just over a week ago, and it's left a real gap in this weekend's action. Still there's one or two Prospects to have a look at, and sometimes it's better when there's not too much happening.

Buglioni faces a tough man in Clark

Kevin Mitchell returns to the ring for the first time since his fantastic July win over John Murray on Friday night in a 10x3 fight against Felix Lora. The atmosphere will be superb at a sold out York Hall and a lot of the noise will be coming from the supporters of Frank Buglioni (2-0, 2 KO's). This 22 year old from the Tibbs camp has already featured heavily in this feature on my blog, and has looked very impressive in destroying tough opponents Sabie Monteith and Paul Morby in a round. The Morby victory especially was a great one, as he had taken the likes of Tony Jeffries and Rocky Fielding the distance a month or two beforehand. Buglioni looks like a real star in the making, he's based at the best gym in London, and already is being hyped up for some big things by BoxNation. We have to remember he needs rounds, his team know that, and there's a good chance he'll get them against Ryan Clark (2-49-4, 0 KO's). On paper Clark looks like a poor opponent, but he's only been stopped twice in 55 fights and is a very active and fit fighter. This could be the perfect test for Buglioni in his third fight, but he manages another stoppage win, his stock will rise once more.

Saunders makes his pro debut at York Hall

Although this bill has a very local feel to it, making his debut on the card is North East fighter Bradley Saunders. A Bronze medallist at the 2007 World Amateur Championships, he disappointed at the 2008 Olympics, but he's a very big talent. He's been signed to Frank Warren Promotions for a good few months now, but finally does make his debut and I'm really looking forward to seeing him in action. His style looks made for the pro game and here he tackles Birmingham's Jason Nesbitt (9-139-3, 6 KO's), who's been stopped just 11 times in a 152 pro fight career. It's been just over three years since anyone last stopped him, and surprisingly that was light hitting super feather Gary Sykes, so it shows how much of a test this kid will be for Saunders on his debut.

Lozano is already #1 in the US

Quite a small bill in Tampa, Florida is where we go to next on Friday night, and headlining is a very exciting flyweight called Daniel Lozano (10-0, 7 KO's). The man from Bowling Green is already considered the best in his division in the US, and is ranked #47 in the world, which is good form after having just ten fights as a pro fighter. He won the WBC USNBC title in his last fight, becoming the first man to stop Dominican fighter Jonathan Arias, doing so in two rounds. Arias was in fantastic form coming into that fight, winning eight of his last nine and he was beating people up in impressive fashion, winning seven of those fights by stoppage. Lozano however stepped up to the mark impressively and most importantly hit some form after one or two inconsistent displays. Friday night it looks like he's stepping down in class to facing 20 year old Mexican, Manuel Galaviz (5-7, 2 KO's), who's lost five of seven inside the distance and a lot of those against guys with less experience and class than Lozano.

Aston is one of the "Prizefighter Prospects"

Saturday night there's only really one bill for me, with the next three fighters all featuring on Matchroom Sport's Prizefighter card at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall. One of them isn't featuring in the tournament itself and that is Dudley middleweight Ryan "Tank" Aston (4-0, 1 KO). Like Frank Buglioni, this is a kid I've talked a lot about already in this feature. I think he's got great potential and after his last fight, which was his first career stoppage win, he signed a deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, which is huge as they are becoming a real force in Britain, as shown by their big Sheffield bill on March 17th. Aston is already scheduled to fight on that bill, but this week the 20 year old southpaw has a little showcase against Keiron Gray (5-3-1, 1 KO) from Telford, who's yet to be stopped as a pro. He hasn't won in four fights, but drew with the unbeaten Jamie Ball last time out, and before that had gone the distance with Kevin McCauley, George Hillyard and Kris Carslaw. What needs to be pointed out though is that his last fight was in December 2010 and therefore he's had 14 months of inactivity, Aston is big favourite in this six rounder.


This weekend's Prizefighter is in the light welterweight division and it has a very solid and somewhat local feel to it, with Mark Lloyd, Young Muttley and Dean Harrison all living in the Midlands, and Harrison especially will be a big crowd favourite with the Wolverhampton crowd. Barry Morrison is an ex British champion entering and John Watson steps up from lightweight, where he was brave in two British title fights against Gavin Rees and Anthony Crolla. Completing the line up are the unbeaten Tyrone Nurse, and two guys I've got my eye on in Adil Anwar (13-1, 7 KO's) and Dale Miles (12-0, 9 KO's). 

Anwar is bookies favourite

Anwar is the bookies favourite and to me that's no surprise as the Leeds kid has very good form going into the competition. According to him nobody in Britain wants to fight him at 140lbs, which is why he stepped up to 147 last time out to win the English title, stopping the unbeaten James Flinn in eight rounds with a very classy display. He's stopped his last four opponents and those have been against some stronger kids than what he'll face here, with an especially good display coming against Nathan Graham, knocking him down four times en route to a 10th round TKO win. After that fight Graham entered the Prizefighter welterweight competition, where he gave a decent account of himself against Junior Witter, losing a UD over three. 

I think Miles has a big chance this weekend

Miles is an unbeaten southpaw from Alfreton, and like Anwar he's on a cracking run of form, stopping his last seven opponents. His last fight was featured on Sky, becoming just the second man in 47 fights to stop a very tough Frenchman called Mihaia Mutu in six rounds. Mutu has gone the distance with some serious fighters in the last three years and in October 2009, knocked Young Muttley out in three rounds. What I like about Miles is that he always performs better when stepped up in class, he's got some dodgy fighters on his record, but he's clearly a very talented fighter and I think being a southpaw in this competition can sometimes be ideal. He's third favourite with the bookies and does appeal quite a bit to me.


It's a really good competition, plenty of experience, but the guys with lots of fights on their record have had the ambition knocked out of them in recent fights, you just have to look at Young Muttley's display v Frankie Gavin to see that. The three unbeaten guys head the betting and Anwar being the favourite, might be cursed as they don't have a great record in Prizefighter. Tyrone Nurse has had 20 fights, but has barely fought anyone and with just three stoppages, I'm really not sure if he's good enough. For me with Miles being a 27 year old, he's not a young kid, he's a really good fighter and looks like a guy on the way up. However with Prizefighter, expect the unexpected!


This week there will be no Bill Of The Weekend as it's such a quiet one, it would have been Berto v Ortiz II, however the cancellation has put a real dampener on things. Next week is a massive weekend of Boxing, so remember to check the site, and also come back for the review of this weekend's Prospect Watch.


All I can say is good luck to this week's Prospects and also to Kevin Mitchell, who is one of my favourite British fighters and was so chuffed for him when he bounced back from that Katsidis loss v Murray.

Prospect Watch Weekend Starting 20/1/12 - Review

This past weekend was the most intriguing and busiest fight weekend of 2012 so far, and the prospects I featured in my earlier post, most certainly delivered.

Selkirk had too much for Tomas

The action kicked off at the Olympia on Friday night, and although there was disappointment in the main event as Derry Matthews was once again stopped, this time by Italian Emiliano Marsili, light middleweight prospect Joe Selkirk (8-0, 5 KO's) impressed with a 5th round stoppage of Ryan Toms. The fight was stopped on the basis that the swelling around Toms' right eye was worsening, and this was after being outclassed by the far classier Selkirk. I've said already that Selkirk needs to be a lot more active in 2012, he's a really talented fighter, and for me a rematch with Steve O'Meara would certainly be an attractive and easy fight to make.

Diaz won a superb fight v Robb and remained unbeaten

The other Friday night fight I featured promised to be an absolute cracker, and it lived up to expectations, with Guy Robb and Joel Diaz slugging it out in a fight which saw both guys be put down in the first three rounds. Diaz (7-0, 6 KO's) proved too strong in the end, stopping Robb (7-1, 3 KO's) in the 7th round. Both guys have lots to improve on, but for a fighter so young, Diaz showed a real warrior spirit and he's got the raw ingredients to be a really decent fighter, although it will take time. This fight is well worth a watch and take a look at the 4th round especially. Diaz is scheduled for further action on the 17th of February at Cicero Stadium in Illinois.

Saturday night at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, Puerto Rican fighter Luis "Orlandito" Del Valle moved to 15-0 (11 KO's) by taking a comfortable UD over tough Mexican fighter Jose Angel Beranza (34-22-2, 26 KO's). Considering the Mexican has only been stopped four times in his career, and beat the unbeaten Christopher Martin in his last fight, this was a really good showing from Del Valle. With this ability and potential he really should be winning these fights anyway, but he boxed nicely, and looks to be the next hot Puerto Rican fighter coming through. So far he looks a really talented kid and could be in for some big Madison Square Garden nights, with a big Puerto Rican population in the Big Apple.

In Mexico, Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO's) starred with a superb performance, forcing Alejandro Hernandez into a 4th round retirement, becoming the first guy to stop "Payasito". Not even slick Argentinian fighter Omar Andres Narvaez could stop this guy when he challenged for the WBO flyweight title in 2008, and Hernandez has had some good performances in the last two years. Santa Cruz is up to #12 in the world in the bantamweight division and is fast becoming a real star.

Also on the bill was super middleweight fighter Marco Antonio Periban, however I haven't had any news of a result from his fight so far, therefore it's hard to comment on him.

Price absolutely demolished McDermott

We were back at the Olympia on Saturday night and the two Price lads I featured both had impressive wins, with headliner David, smashing "Big" John McDermott in a round. Considering the problems McDermott had given Tyson Fury and Danny Williams in previous title challenges, this was expected to be a real test for Price (12-0, 10 KO's), however the 6ft8 giant was simply too strong. It was a awesome performance as I know McDermott had trained hard for it, which makes it an even more impressive performance. I still think we have a lot to learn about Price, we don't know much about his defence or stamina, and shouldnt get carried away with this, however it's hard not to give the guy the credit, the ingredients are there for a future heavyweight champion of the world.

Danny Price (3-0, 1 KO's) was in with the tough Bulgaria Tayar Mehmed, and boxed really nicely over four rounds to 40-35 win on referee Steve Gray's card, putting Mehmed down in the second with an absolute beauty of a right uppercut. I really like Price, he's very well schooled, has a solid job, and looks a better fighter already than most guys domestically in his division. Mehmed has only been stopped once in his career, and that was by a really good upcoming German based fighter, so to put him down and get some rounds under the belt sounds like a near perfect display from the Scarborough man.

Those are the guys I featured first time around, now who were some of the finds from this weekend?

Well Boxnation featured Ellesmere Port super flyweight Paul Butler (6-0, 2 KO's) on the Mathews v Marsili undercard, and the "Baby Faced Assassin" looked good in his first eight rounder, winning all of the rounds in his fight with tough Bristol based South African, Michael Rambaletsa. The man from Soweto has been stopped just once in a 14 fight pro career, and that was by two time world title challenger Evans Mbamba. Butler cruised in this fight, he boxed well on the back foot, and has definitely got potential.

On the Ramos-Rigondeaux undercard there was a talented, young fighter, looking to bounce back from his first pro loss, and Javier Molina (10-1, 4 KO's) did well in his bout with Alberto Herrera, knocking Herrera down in the first, en route to a UD win over six (59-54, 58-55 x2). Molina is a kid with a lot of potential, but hasnt really hit the heights as a pro and was beaten over eight last time out by the very dangerous WBC FECARBOX welterweight champion Artemio Reyes over eight rounds. In the amateurs he was a brilliant fighter and beat the likes of Karl Dargan and Brad Solomon to win the US Championships. He also qualified for the Olympics in 2008 and although not firing on all cilinders, the California man is worth following.

Satchell looked good as he stepped up in class

Sky Sports featured a decent little undercard bout as the main warm up for Price v McDermott, and I was delighted to see talented Liverpool super flyweight Kevin Satchell (7-0, 0 KO's) gain a massive win over former British bantamweight champ Martin Power. Yes it's true Power is not the fighter of old, but for a novice like Satchell to dominate him over six, knocking him down in the 2nd, is very impressive. Referee Steve Gray scored it 59-55 for the home fighter and credit has to be give to "Satch" for first of all taking the fight and secondly to perform so well. I've already talked about Paul Butler, and this is another very exciting super flyweight in the North West. 

In Woodland Hills, California, Russian welterweight Alexander Filichkin (10-0, 3 KO's) returned for the first time since November 2010, and in his first fight on US soil, secured a really good looking win over Hector Alatorre. The 30 year old from Tulare, California, had been stopped just once in 33 pro fights before this, and that was in the final round of his 10x3 contest with Victor Ortiz in February 2010. Filichkin retired him in the 4th, and that on paper is a very impressive looking win.

Those are the four guys who I've added to my watchlist this weekend, it was a very decent weekend, and certainly an enjoyable one for Boxing nuts like myself. I'll be back next week with another Prospect Watch and Bill Of The Weekend, with fast rising Belfast super bantamweight, Carl Frampton, one of the guys to keep an eye on.