RCM Boxing Weekend Recap (2/6/22): Thurman Returns, Franco and Juarez Win Upsets, Shields and Cuarto Retains Titles
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In Digos City, Philippines, Rene Mark Cuarto, 20-2-2 with 1212 knockouts, Jose Dalman Panot, Philippines, retained his International Boxing Federation World Minimumweight title on Sunday, February 6, 2022, by seventh-round technical decision over Pedro Taduran, 14-4-1 with 11 knockouts, Valenzuela City, Philippines, in a rematch, Taduran was down in rounds two and six. Cuarto was deducted two points in round three for an intentional head butt. The bout was stopped by referee Danrex Tapdasan in round six due to a cut on Taduran’s forehead caused by an accidental head butt.
Result: Rene Cuarto Referee’s Technical Decision 7 Pedro Taduran, Minimumweights
Cuarto retains International Boxing Federation World Minimumweight title
The bout goes to the scorecards: 66-64, 65-64 Cuarto. 65-65 Draw included halted round, due to an accidental head butt in rounds six. Taduran down in rounds two and six.
Cuarto deducted two points in round three for an intentional head butt.
Former World Boxing Association World Welterweight champion Keith “One-Time” Thurman, after over two years out of the ring during the Pandemic, returned and won a 12 round unanimous decision in a World Boxing Council World Welterweight title eliminator bout against former World Super Lightweight champion Mario Barrios, at Michelob Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night, February 5, 2022, in the main event.
Thurman, 30-1 with 22 knockouts, age 33, Clearwater, Florida, controlled the ring with solid jab combinations, and body-body-head head combinations which broke Berrios down, administering Barrios a good beating. Barrios was trying to move up in weight class, and Thurman was not the person to attempt it with. Barrios did land a body shot which caused Thurman’s mouthpiece to come out in the eighth round, and Thurman’s right eye appeared bruised by bout’s end. Thurman just ruled on the punch count, and Berrios could not match Thurman’s volume, speed and accuracy at the higher weight.
Thurman’s trainer in the corner told him between rounds “Be the boss. Just don’t get carried away.” Thurman took the win and asserted himself, but did not underestimate Barrios, who landed some solid counter rights. Thurman missed with a wild left hook, and went spinning around to the canvas at the end of round 11, ruled a slip by referee Kenny Bayless. “I felt good, I felt a little ring rusty. He was good, he was a good opponent. He had more poise. He learned from his last outing. I learned from my last outing. I’m just happy to be back in the ring.,” noted Thurman, who connected on 181 of 661 punches, while Barrios connected on 105 of 491 punches. This was a clean bout with no holding throughout.
Result: Keith Thurman Win 12 Mario Barrios, Welterweights
World Boxing Council World Welterweight Title Eliminator Bout
Scoring: 118-110, 118-110, 117-111 Thurman. Referee: Kenny Bayless
Michelob Arena Undercard Major Bout Results
Lucas Santamaria Win 10 Abel Ramos, Welterweights
Surprise! Third upset for 13-2-1 Santamaria, who beat Mykal Fox and Devon Alexander.
Luis Nery Win Split Decision 10 Carlos Castro, Super Bantamweights
Castro down in round one. Scoring: 96-93, 95-94 Nery. 95-94 Castro.
Jesus Alejandro Castro TKO 6 Vladimir (24K) Hernandez, Super Welterweights (2:21)
Arizona’s 18-0 Ramos upsets Hernandez, who beat Julian Williams and Alfredo Angulo.
Leo Santa Cruz Win 10 Keenan Carbajal, Super Featherweights
Former four division world champion 38-2 Cruz returns after 16 months of absence.
Omar Juarez Win Split Decision 10 Ryan Karl, Super Lightweights
Surprise! 13-1 Texas pug Juarez comes off canvas in fifth round to upset Mexico’s Karl.
Kent Cruz Split Decision Draw 8 Enriko Gogokhia, Super Lightweights
16-0-2 Missouri prospect Cruz and 13-0 Georgian prospect Gogokhia battle to a draw.
Fernando Vargas Jr. TKO 2 Kody Kobarski, Middleweights
Las Vegas, Nevada middleweight prospect Vargas, 2-0 son of former World Junior Middleweight champion Fernando Vargas knocked down California’s 2-0 Kobarski, in first and third rounds, in battle of unbeaten.
At Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, in the main event, Saturday, February 5, 2022, southpaw Jesse Rodriguez Franco, 15-0 with 10 knockouts, San Antonio, Texas, won the vacant World Boxing Council Super Flyweight title by 12 round split decision of ex-WBC champion Carlos Cuadras, 39-5-1 with 27 knockouts, who was knocked down in round three. Cuadras went 6-0-1 in his first seven WBC Super Flyweight title bouts, but has lost his last three WBC title bouts.
Result: Jesse Rodriguez Franco Win Split Decision 12 Carlos Cuadras, Super Flyweights
Scoring: 117-110, 117-110, 115-112 Franco. Cuadras down in round three.
Referee: Chris Flores
Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona, Major Undercard Bouts
Raymond Ford Win Split Decision 10 Edward Vazquez, Featherweights
F1-0-1 New Jersey featherweight prospect Ford retains World Boxing Association Continental Featherweight title over Texas’ Vazquez, now 11-1. Split decision.
Jamie Mitchell TKO 4 Carly Skelly, Female Bantamweights, Two Minute Rounds (1:32)
8-0-2 Las Vegas, Nevada female world champion Mitchell retains World Boxing Association Female World Bantamweight title. Skelly down twice.
Fernando Diaz Win 10 Lorenzo Smith, Flyweights
California’s 11-1-1 Diaz wins WBC USNBC Vacant Flyweight title over previously undefeated 10-0 Smith in hometown Phoenix. Scoring: 96-93, 96-93, 95-94 for Diaz.
From Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, Saturday, February 5, 2022, Chris Eubank Jr. won a 12 round decision over Liam Williams in the middleweight main event. Eubank, 32-2 with 23 knockouts, Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom, a former WBA interim World Middleweight champion, knocked down Williams, 23-4 with 18 knockouts, Clydach Vale, Wales, United Kingdom, in the first, second, fourth and eleventh rounds.
Result: Chris Eubank Jr. Win 12 Liam Williams, Middleweights
Scoring: 117-109, 116-109, 116-108 Eubank. Williams was down four times.
Claressa Shields Win 10 Ema Kozin, Middleweights, Two Minute Rounds
Shields retains WBA and WBC World Middleweight titles
Shields wins World Boxing Federation World Middleweight title
Kozin’s Women’s IBA World Middleweight title was no at stake but her WBF title was
Shields now 12-0 with two knockouts, Flint, Michigan. Kozin now 21-1-1 with 11 knockouts, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Samuel Antwi Win 10 Conah Walker, Welterweights
London’s 14-1 Antwi Retains BBBofC English Welterweight title over Wolverhampton’s Walker, now 10-1-1.
Harlem Eubank Referee’s Technical Decision 5 Viorel Simeon, Super Lightweights (3:00)
13-0 Brighton super lightweight prospect Eubank, from the family of fighting Eubanks.
Otto Wallin Win 8 Kamil Sokolowski, Heavyweights
23-1 Swedish heavyweight contender Wallin in an eight round sparring session with tough and rugged 11-25-2 upset minded British veteran Sokolowski, who earned his paycheck.
Chris Jenkins Win 8 Julius Indongo, Super Welterweights
23-4-3 Garmant Wales fighter Jenkins outpoints former WBA, IBF and IBO World Super Lightweight champion Namibia’s 23-5 Indongo. First eight rounder in Indongo’s career.
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