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In what was a
busy night of World Boxing
Federation (WBF) championship
action, titles were retained and
captured in Belem, Brazil and
San Fernando in the beautiful
Caribbean island country of
Trinidad & Tobago on Friday June
19.
With the stands at the Ginasio
Escola Superior do Educación
Física packed with enthusiastic
fans, WBF World Middleweight
champion Isaac Rodrigues had to
work hard, but in the end
retained his title with a
unanimous decision over South
African Nkululeko Mhlongo.
The bout, which was televised
live throughout Brazil, was
fought at a high pace, and both
boxers had their share of
success in the early rounds. In
the second half Rodrigues took
most of the initiative, and
landed well with his
combinations, while Mhlongo
tried his best to stay in the
fight.
After twelve rounds of action,
judges Enrique Sotelo, Jorge
Falco and Benedito Balieiro all
scored it 117-111 for Rodrigues.
While some though that was a bit
too wide, there was no doubt
that Rodrigues was the deserved
winner. Refere in charge was
Jesus Salcedo.
Having won
the title last December, this
was the first title-defense for
Rodrigues, who improved his
record to 22-2 (17). Mhlongo,
the WBF Intercontinental Super
Welterweight champion, falls to
13-3 (11). Promoter was
UP Promocoes Ltds
headed
by
Wallace Pereira.
With the legendary ”Hands Of
Stone”, Roberto Duran,
attending as a special guest,
two WBF Caribbean title fights
saw underdogs prevail at Skinner
Park in San Fernando, Trinidad &
Tobago on a show promoted by
Golden Eye Productions and Floyd
Trumpet Productions.
Fighting in what was clearly his
biggest challenge to date,
undefeated
Nigel Edwards captured the
vacant WBF Caribbean Light
Heavyweight crown when
favourite
Kirt Sinette was forced to
retire
with a dislocated shoulder
at
0:11 of round nine.
Winning his first title in the
pros, Edwards improved to 9-0-1
(5), while countryman Sinnette
lost for only the third time in
twenty-five bouts and falls to
22-3 (18).
At Heavyweight, Mitchell Rogers
from Guyana got the better of
local man Kertson Manswell to
win a unanimous twelve round
decision in what was their third
outing. Manswell had won the
first two encounters, but this
time Rogers was too sharp for
him, and just the better man.
The new WBF Caribbean
Heavyweight champion took his
pro ledger to 9-4 (5), while
Manswell looks to be on the
down-slide as he drops to 24-11
(18).
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