Tag: Yokasta Valle

Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba back in action, Joe Cordina to defend title

Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba is in action against Joe Goodall. Meanwhile, Joe Cordina will defend his title against Eduard Vazquez.

FIGHT WEEK

Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will face hard-punching Joe Goodall on Saturday. On the same day, 130-pound champ Joe Cordina will defend his belt against Eduard Vazquez.

EFE AJAGBA (18-1, 13 KOs)
VS. JOE GOODALL (10-1-1, 9 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Tahoe Blue Event Center, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Ajagba 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Henry Lebron vs. William Foster III, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Ajagba KO 5
  • Background: Ajagba continues to battle for a place among the top heavyweights. The 6-foot-6 Texas-based Nigerian has won three consecutive fights since he lost a one-sided decision to well-schooled Frank Sanchez in October 2021. The 29-year-old is coming off a fourth-round disqualification victory over Zhan Kossobutskiy on August 26, the result of numerous low blows by the Kazakhstani fighter. Goodall could be a dangerous opponent. The 6-foot-5½ Australian lost a near-shutout decision against countryman Justis Huni in June of last year but he bounced back to win two consecutive fights, including a sixth-round knockout of solid Stephen Shaw this past July. Shaw went the distance with Ajagba in a competitive fight six months earlier. Nine of Goodall’s victories have come by knockout.

 

JOE CORDINA (16-0, 9 KOs)
VS. EDUARD VAZQUEZ (15-1, 3 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Super featherweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: Cordina’s IBF title
  • Odds: Cordina 9-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Adrian Curiel, junior flyweights (for Nontshinga’s IBF title); Souleymane Cissokho vs. Isaias Lucero, junior middleweights; Julissa Guzman vs. Ramla Ali, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Cordina UD
  • Background: Cordina is scheduled to make his first defense in his second reign as IBF titleholder. The 2016 Olympian from Wales has had an up-down-up last year and a half. He won the belt by stopping Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in June of last year, his first major belt. He was then stripped after a hand injury forced him to pull out of a defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov that was scheduled for last November, after which Rakhimov stopped Zelfa Barrett to win the title. And, finally, Cordina defeated Rakhimov by a split decision to regain the belt on April 22. The 31-year-old resident of Cardiff has said he’d like to face WBO beltholder Emanuel Navarrete. Of course, he must get past Vazquez first. The 28-year-old is a fringe contender from Fort Worth, Texas. He has won four consecutive fights since he lost a split decision to still-unbeaten Raymond Ford in February of last year, although he hasn’t faced top-level opposition. He last fought on July 29, when he defeated Brayan De Gracia by a unanimous decision.

 

YOKASTA VALLE (29-2, 9 KOs)
VS. ANABEL ORTIZ (33-5, 4 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Cartago, Costa Rica
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Strawweight (105 pounds)
  • At stake: Valle’s IBF and WBO titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Prediction: Valle UD
  • Background: Valle, a major figure in her home country of Costa Rica, is one of the top women boxers in the world. The 31-year-old won the IBF strawweight title by outpointing Joana Pastrana in 2019 and has successfully defended nine times, adding the WBO belt by decisioning Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen in September of last year. She’s coming off a near-shutout decision over Maria Micheo Santizo this past Sept. 16. Valley held the IBF atomweight (102 pounds) belt in 2016. She has won 16 consecutive fights since losing back-to-back bouts in 2017 and 2018. Ortiz is also accomplished. The 37-year-old Mexican had two reigns as a 105-pound champion before running into trouble in 2021, when she lost her WBA belt to Seniesa Estrada by a wide decision and failed in her bid to take Marlen Esparza’s 112-pound title in her next fight. She has won two bouts since, including a unanimous decision over Santizo a year ago.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

SATURDAY

  • Noel Mikaelian vs. Ilunga Makabu, cruiserweights (for vacant WBC title), Miama (FITE)
  • Louie Lopez vs. Salvador Briceno, welterweights, Long Beach, California (Fox Deportes)

Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba back in action, Joe Cordina to defend title

Fight Week: Heavyweight Efe Ajagba is in action against Joe Goodall. Meanwhile, Joe Cordina will defend his title against Eduard Vazquez.

FIGHT WEEK

Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba will face hard-punching Joe Goodall on Saturday. On the same day, 130-pound champ Joe Cordina will defend his belt against Eduard Vazquez.

EFE AJAGBA (18-1, 13 KOs)
VS. JOE GOODALL (10-1-1, 9 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Tahoe Blue Event Center, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Ajagba 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Henry Lebron vs. William Foster III, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Ajagba KO 5
  • Background: Ajagba continues to battle for a place among the top heavyweights. The 6-foot-6 Texas-based Nigerian has won three consecutive fights since he lost a one-sided decision to well-schooled Frank Sanchez in October 2021. The 29-year-old is coming off a fourth-round disqualification victory over Zhan Kossobutskiy on August 26, the result of numerous low blows by the Kazakhstani fighter. Goodall could be a dangerous opponent. The 6-foot-5½ Australian lost a near-shutout decision against countryman Justis Huni in June of last year but he bounced back to win two consecutive fights, including a sixth-round knockout of solid Stephen Shaw this past July. Shaw went the distance with Ajagba in a competitive fight six months earlier. Nine of Goodall’s victories have come by knockout.

 

JOE CORDINA (16-0, 9 KOs)
VS. EDUARD VAZQUEZ (15-1, 3 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Super featherweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: Cordina’s IBF title
  • Odds: Cordina 9-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Adrian Curiel, junior flyweights (for Nontshinga’s IBF title); Souleymane Cissokho vs. Isaias Lucero, junior middleweights; Julissa Guzman vs. Ramla Ali, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Cordina UD
  • Background: Cordina is scheduled to make his first defense in his second reign as IBF titleholder. The 2016 Olympian from Wales has had an up-down-up last year and a half. He won the belt by stopping Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in June of last year, his first major belt. He was then stripped after a hand injury forced him to pull out of a defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov that was scheduled for last November, after which Rakhimov stopped Zelfa Barrett to win the title. And, finally, Cordina defeated Rakhimov by a split decision to regain the belt on April 22. The 31-year-old resident of Cardiff has said he’d like to face WBO beltholder Emanuel Navarrete. Of course, he must get past Vazquez first. The 28-year-old is a fringe contender from Fort Worth, Texas. He has won four consecutive fights since he lost a split decision to still-unbeaten Raymond Ford in February of last year, although he hasn’t faced top-level opposition. He last fought on July 29, when he defeated Brayan De Gracia by a unanimous decision.

 

YOKASTA VALLE (29-2, 9 KOs)
VS. ANABEL ORTIZ (33-5, 4 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Cartago, Costa Rica
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Strawweight (105 pounds)
  • At stake: Valle’s IBF and WBO titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Prediction: Valle UD
  • Background: Valle, a major figure in her home country of Costa Rica, is one of the top women boxers in the world. The 31-year-old won the IBF strawweight title by outpointing Joana Pastrana in 2019 and has successfully defended nine times, adding the WBO belt by decisioning Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen in September of last year. She’s coming off a near-shutout decision over Maria Micheo Santizo this past Sept. 16. Valley held the IBF atomweight (102 pounds) belt in 2016. She has won 16 consecutive fights since losing back-to-back bouts in 2017 and 2018. Ortiz is also accomplished. The 37-year-old Mexican had two reigns as a 105-pound champion before running into trouble in 2021, when she lost her WBA belt to Seniesa Estrada by a wide decision and failed in her bid to take Marlen Esparza’s 112-pound title in her next fight. She has won two bouts since, including a unanimous decision over Santizo a year ago.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

SATURDAY

  • Noel Mikaelian vs. Ilunga Makabu, cruiserweights (for vacant WBC title), Miama (FITE)
  • Louie Lopez vs. Salvador Briceno, welterweights, Long Beach, California (Fox Deportes)

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivers special performance against Jose Zepeda

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivered a special performance against Jose Zepeda on Saturday in Carson, California.

Editor’s note: This new feature – Weekend Review – replaces the discontinued Good, Bad, Worse. The premise is the same: A look back at the past week of boxing.

 

BIGGEST WINNER

Regis Prograis – Prograis had been a forgotten man since he lost his junior welterweight title to Josh Taylor in October 2019 because he fought only once a year after that and never on a big stage. On Saturday, he reminded us what we were missing. The 33-year-old from New Orleans gave a dazzling performance in Carson, California, stopping overmatched Jose Zepeda in 11 rounds to become a two-time 140-pound champion. Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) gave a boxing clinic, which left a good fighter in Zepeda looking lost most of the fight. The loser landed only six-plus punches per round, according to CompuBox. And then Prograis finished the job in style, scoring a brutal knockout 59 seconds into Round 11. He left no doubt that he’s a threat to anyone at 140 pounds – including his conqueror, Josh Taylor – and could compete with the elite 147-pounders eventually. It was a special night for him.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Jose Zepeda – Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) had a bad night. He had two previous losses in his career but was never dominated like he was by Prograis, who seemed to expose Zepeda’s limitations in the latter’s third failed attempt to win a major world title. The 33-year-old from the Los Angeles area never gave himself a chance to win. He should’ve gotten nasty with Prograis after it became clear he couldn’t box with a superior boxer but didn’t, although that’s easy for me to say because I’m not taking one hard punch after another from one of the best in the business. Bottom line: Zepeda was in over his head. Does he still have a realistic chance of winning a belt? That would depend on the opponent. I don’t see him beating someone at the level of Prograis or Taylor. And, of course, how many more opportunities is he going to get?

 

MOST FORTUNATE

Dillian Whyte – The longtime heavyweight contender eked out a majority decision over relative unknown Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 1 KOs) on Saturday in London, a fight that some believe Franklin did enough to win. Had Whyte lost, he would’ve fallen in back-to-back fights (he was stopped by Tyson Fury in his previous outing) and been 2-3 in his last five. The 35-year-old Londoner would’ve been hard-pressed to bounce back from that. As it was, Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had his hand raised. And now he seems to be on track to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch next year. If he can find a way to win that fight, people will have forgotten his cold streak and he’ll be back in legitimate title contention.

 

BEST PROSPECT

Bakhodir Jalolov – The 6-foot-7 Uzbek seems to have all the ingredients necessary to become a heavyweight champion, which was evident once again during his fourth-round knockout of Curtis Harper on the Prograis-Zepeda card. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist has a vast amateur background, which gives him an outstanding fundamental foundation. He can box. And 12 knockouts in as many pro fights supports the notion that he can crack. One question mark is his chin. We’ll see what happens when he’s caught by another big puncher. As it stands, the Brooklyn-based Jalolov is on a short list of rising big men who could one day soon dominate the division. Among the others: Joe Joyce, Jared Anderson and Frank Sanchez. Stay tuned.

 

BIGGEST LETDOWN

John Ryder vs. Zach Parker – The British super middleweight contenders were engaged in a compelling fight when, after four rounds, the previously unbeaten Parker (22-1, 16 KOs) quit because of an injured (broken?) right hand Saturday in London. Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) was baffled initially but then celebrated, which makes sense: He’s now the mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez’s WBO title. For Parker, there was nothing to celebrate. He had his own dreams of challenging Alvarez but will now have to take time off to heal and then begin the rebuilding process. And some observers undoubtedly wonder whether Parker should’ve tried to continue, which is harsh judgment because we don’t know the extent of the injury. Nevertheless, the unfortunate ending contributed to a disappointing night for a good boxer.

 

GUTSIEST PERFORMANCE

Yokasta Valle – The strawweight titleholder from Costa Rican moved up in weight to challenge junior flyweight titleholder Evelin Bermudez on the Prograis-Zepeda card, leaving her at what seemed to be at a physical disadvantage. That didn’t deter her. She used a combination of ability, hustle and sheer guts to outwork her Argentine opponent and win a majority decision, become a three-division champion and make it clear that she’s one of the best female fighters pound for pound. Valle (27-2, 9 KOs) is a former atomweight champ. The prideful Bermudez (17-1-1, 6 KOs) has nothing to be ashamed of. She gave a good effort. And she’s only 26. She’ll be back.

 

BEST BOXING FAMILY.

The Vargases – Former junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas has produced a brood of promising boxers. His three sons – Fernando Jr., Emiliano and Amado – have a combined record of 14-0 (11 KOs) in their young careers after Junior and Amado won their fights on the Prograis-Zepeda card. Of course, it’s early. The second-generation Vargases, who are trained by their famous father, are just started out. However, having been around boxing their entire lives, they have a good feel for the sport and have inherited dad’s fighting spirit. I won’t be surprised if one or more of them succeeds long term.

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[vertical-gallery id=34322]

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivers special performance against Jose Zepeda

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivered a special performance against Jose Zepeda on Saturday in Carson, California.

Editor’s note: This new feature – Weekend Review – replaces the discontinued Good, Bad, Worse. The premise is the same: A look back at the past week of boxing.

 

BIGGEST WINNER

Regis Prograis – Prograis had been a forgotten man since he lost his junior welterweight title to Josh Taylor in October 2019 because he fought only once a year after that and never on a big stage. On Saturday, he reminded us what we were missing. The 33-year-old from New Orleans gave a dazzling performance in Carson, California, stopping overmatched Jose Zepeda in 11 rounds to become a two-time 140-pound champion. Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) gave a boxing clinic, which left a good fighter in Zepeda looking lost most of the fight. The loser landed only six-plus punches per round, according to CompuBox. And then Prograis finished the job in style, scoring a brutal knockout 59 seconds into Round 11. He left no doubt that he’s a threat to anyone at 140 pounds – including his conqueror, Josh Taylor – and could compete with the elite 147-pounders eventually. It was a special night for him.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Jose Zepeda – Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) had a bad night. He had two previous losses in his career but was never dominated like he was by Prograis, who seemed to expose Zepeda’s limitations in the latter’s third failed attempt to win a major world title. The 33-year-old from the Los Angeles area never gave himself a chance to win. He should’ve gotten nasty with Prograis after it became clear he couldn’t box with a superior boxer but didn’t, although that’s easy for me to say because I’m not taking one hard punch after another from one of the best in the business. Bottom line: Zepeda was in over his head. Does he still have a realistic chance of winning a belt? That would depend on the opponent. I don’t see him beating someone at the level of Prograis or Taylor. And, of course, how many more opportunities is he going to get?

 

MOST FORTUNATE

Dillian Whyte – The longtime heavyweight contender eked out a majority decision over relative unknown Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 1 KOs) on Saturday in London, a fight that some believe Franklin did enough to win. Had Whyte lost, he would’ve fallen in back-to-back fights (he was stopped by Tyson Fury in his previous outing) and been 2-3 in his last five. The 35-year-old Londoner would’ve been hard-pressed to bounce back from that. As it was, Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had his hand raised. And now he seems to be on track to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch next year. If he can find a way to win that fight, people will have forgotten his cold streak and he’ll be back in legitimate title contention.

 

BEST PROSPECT

Bakhodir Jalolov – The 6-foot-7 Uzbek seems to have all the ingredients necessary to become a heavyweight champion, which was evident once again during his fourth-round knockout of Curtis Harper on the Prograis-Zepeda card. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist has a vast amateur background, which gives him an outstanding fundamental foundation. He can box. And 12 knockouts in as many pro fights supports the notion that he can crack. One question mark is his chin. We’ll see what happens when he’s caught by another big puncher. As it stands, the Brooklyn-based Jalolov is on a short list of rising big men who could one day soon dominate the division. Among the others: Joe Joyce, Jared Anderson and Frank Sanchez. Stay tuned.

 

BIGGEST LETDOWN

John Ryder vs. Zach Parker – The British super middleweight contenders were engaged in a compelling fight when, after four rounds, the previously unbeaten Parker (22-1, 16 KOs) quit because of an injured (broken?) right hand Saturday in London. Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) was baffled initially but then celebrated, which makes sense: He’s now the mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez’s WBO title. For Parker, there was nothing to celebrate. He had his own dreams of challenging Alvarez but will now have to take time off to heal and then begin the rebuilding process. And some observers undoubtedly wonder whether Parker should’ve tried to continue, which is harsh judgment because we don’t know the extent of the injury. Nevertheless, the unfortunate ending contributed to a disappointing night for a good boxer.

 

GUTSIEST PERFORMANCE

Yokasta Valle – The strawweight titleholder from Costa Rican moved up in weight to challenge junior flyweight titleholder Evelin Bermudez on the Prograis-Zepeda card, leaving her at what seemed to be at a physical disadvantage. That didn’t deter her. She used a combination of ability, hustle and sheer guts to outwork her Argentine opponent and win a majority decision, become a three-division champion and make it clear that she’s one of the best female fighters pound for pound. Valle (27-2, 9 KOs) is a former atomweight champ. The prideful Bermudez (17-1-1, 6 KOs) has nothing to be ashamed of. She gave a good effort. And she’s only 26. She’ll be back.

 

BEST BOXING FAMILY.

The Vargases – Former junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas has produced a brood of promising boxers. His three sons – Fernando Jr., Emiliano and Amado – have a combined record of 14-0 (11 KOs) in their young careers after Junior and Amado won their fights on the Prograis-Zepeda card. Of course, it’s early. The second-generation Vargases, who are trained by their famous father, are just started out. However, having been around boxing their entire lives, they have a good feel for the sport and have inherited dad’s fighting spirit. I won’t be surprised if one or more of them succeeds long term.

[lawrence-related id=34314,34302,34300,34296]

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