By Ken Hissner: In the main event, IBF World Super Featherweight champion Joe Cordina defended against Edward “Kid” Vazquez and barely retained his title by a 12 round majority decision on Saturday night at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
In the co-feature, IBF World Light Fly champion Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga lost his title, being stopped by Adrian “Gatito” Curiel in two rounds.
In the Main Event, 2016 Olympian IBF World Super Feather champ Joe “The Wizard” Cordina, 16-0 (9) beat Edward “The Kid” Vazquez, 15-1 (3) by a 12 round majority decision.
In the first round, Cordina had his way, but Vazquez showed to be a worthy challenger. In the second round, a fight broke out as both had their moments. In the third round, Cordina hurt Vazquez with a body shot. In the fourth and fifth rounds, the action continued, with Vazquez forcing the action for the most part.
In the sixth round, Vazquez knocked out the mouthpiece of Cordina and had him against the ropes for the first two minutes. By the end of the round, Cordina was the aggressor in a war! The fight looked even after six rounds. In the eighth round, Vazquez had a good round. In the ninth and tenth rounds the action continued. Cordina never expected this tough of a fight.
In the eleventh round, it continued going back and forth with Cordina using the ring, moving and countering. In the twelfth and final round, the fans got all they expected in one great fight with little to choose between them.
Scores were 114-114, 116-112 twice with 114-114 KH. The referee was Mark Calo-oy
In the co-feature IBF World Light Fly champ Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga, 12-1 (9) was stopped by Adrian “Gatito” Curiel, 24-4-1 (5) at 1:09 of the second round 12 rounds.
In the first round, Curiel was the aggressor in a close round. In the second round, a thunderous right from Curiel to the chin and down went Nontshinga for the count from Referee Sparkle Lee.
Returning after eleven months, the 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist and current WBC Silver Welter champ Souleymane Cissokho, 17-0 (9), defeated Isaisa “Bestia, Jr.” Lucero, 16-2 (10) over 12 rounds scoring one knockdown.
Half a minute into the first round, Lucero landed a left hook to the chin of Cissokho, who got on the run until the final minute when he started landing punches.
In the second round, Locero had a red mark under his right eye at the start of the round. At the halfway point Cissokho landed a jab followed by a solid right on the chin, dropping Lucero for an 8-count from Referee Massio. He managed to come back well.
In the third round, Lucero came back well, chasing Cissokho throughout the round. In the fourth round, Cissokho dominated with his jab and landed the final punch, a solid right on the chin of Lucero. In the fifth round, Cissokho cut the left eyebrow of Lucero halfway through, causing the blood to flow down the side of his face. It was a big round for Cissokho.
In the seventh round, Locero dominated the back-pedaling Cissokho. In the eighth round, Locero’s cut re-opened from the jabs of Cissokho in a close round. In the ninth, with a minute remaining, the referee had the ring physician check the cut of Lucero. Cissokho continues being the counter puncher, while Locero never stops coming forward.
In the tenth and eleventh rounds, Cissokho had a slight edge. In the twelfth and final round, except for a low blow, Cissokho dominated but had swelling under his left eye at the end from Locero’s right hands.
The scores were 118-109 twice and 117-110 with 116-111 KH.
In a rematch, IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantam champ Alejandra “La Roguera” Guzman,13-3-2 (7), lost her new title to the former IBF Inter-Cont’l champ Ramia Ali, 9-1 (2), who regained her title over 10 x 2 rounds.
In the first round, Guzman outworked Ali mostly with a jab. Ali was warned by Referee Jean Robert-Laine for pushing down on the neck of Guzman. In the second round’s final half minute, Ali landed the best punch of the round, a solid right to the chin of Guzman.
From the third through the fifth, it was close, with Guzman out-landing Ali, who continued to finish stronger. Guzman had a small cut in the fifth on her left eyebrow.
In the sixth round, Guzman was warned for hitting on the break. Ali had a better round. In the seventh round, Ali rocked Guzman in the final seconds several times with rights on the chin. She is the quicker of the two with her jab. In the eighth, Ali seems to have evened the score.
In the tenth and final round, Ali used her rights to the chin while Guzman was the aggressor for the most part in a fight almost too close to call.
Scores were 96-94 all scores, as well as KH.
