THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 14 SEPTEMBER 2026: Ryan Garcia TKO Conor Benn in 2; Opetaia Stops Mikaelian; Baraou Outboxes Santillan; Suganob Stops Nontshinga

- in title fights Ryan Garcia demolishes Conor Benn in two rounds and Jai Opetaia halts Norair Mikaeljan. In other bouts Alexis Rocha outpoints Jose Carlos Ramirez with Andres Cortes and Vlad Panin also scoring wins

-Abass Baraou outboxes Giovanni Santillan

-Former featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez kayos Daniel Lugo in three rounds and there are wins for Olympic gold medallist Hebert Conceica, Jorge de Jesus and Dominic Valle

-Tobias Reyes, Maria Ferreyra and Angel Talavera score wins in Argentina

Garcia vs. Benn

GARCIA demolishes BENN in two rounds

Benn made the fight from the start coming forward behind his jab and throwing rights. Garcia was on the back foot and withstood Benn’s pressure and connected with some sharp counters. Benn took the fight to Garcia again at the start of the second but Garcia landed a left hook that had Benn backing off. Benn then advanced again but Garcia landed a couple of right hook counters then unleashed a straight right to the head that sent Benn down on his hands and knees. Benn made it to his feet but Garcia launched a fierce attack connecting with rights and lefts that drove Benn to the ropes and he unloaded punches until the referee came in to save a defenceless Benn. Garcia wasc making nthe nfirst defence of nthge bWBC titloe and promptly called out WBA champion Teo Lopez. A crushing loss for Benn. Wins over Chris Eubank Jr and Regis Prograis had boosted Benn’s standing but both fights were at weights above 147 lbs and there questions over whether Benn could safely take-off weight. Benn has some serious rebuilding to do.

Opetaia vs. Mikaeljan

OPETAIA crushes MIKAELJAN in nine rounds to win the vacant WBA secondary/regular title**.Both had some success in the opening round. Opetaia scoring well to the body and Mikaeljan connecting with a couple of rights. A clash of heads caused a redness under Opetaia’s left eye. Mikaeljan got on the front foot and continued to find the target with rights in the second. Opetaia was still looking to attack Mikaeljan’s body but had a growing swelling under his left eye. Mikaeljan closed the round by landing a good right. The third was close with Mikaeljan again relying heavily on rights. Opetaia did some good work inside and looked to have taken the round. Opetaia built on that in the fourth getting onto the front foot and scoring with right hooks to head and body and driving home a strong left late in the round. Mikaeljan continued to rely heavily on his rights in the fifth but Opetaia ramped up the pressure and was putting together some impressive combinations and was taking control of the fight. Mikaeljan just didn’t have the power to match Opetaia and was being outworked. In the sixth Opetaia was finding openings for his straight lefts and was catching Mikaeljan with counters when the Armenian came forward. Mikaeljan had still been having some success with his rights and he briefly threatened to turn the fight his way when he shook the advancing Opetaia with a right in the seventh. Opetaia recovered but Mikaeljan scored with some more rights inside and probably did enough to edge the round. Opetaia handed out some serious punishment to the fading Mikaeljan in the eighth. An overhand right in the ninth had Mikaeljan staggering back badly shaken and a combination sent him tumbling into the ropes. With the ropes holding Mikaelian up, the referee called it as technical knockdown. After the eight-count, it was clear Mikaelian had not regained his senses and the fight was waived off. 

** This fight was only for the vacant WBA regular/ secondary title as the WBC had not approved it for their title although Mikaeljan is their champion and Opetaia No 1 in their rankings. It was only for the WBA secondary title as David Benavidez is the actual WBA champion. The hope obviously would be a Opetaia vs. Benavidez fight but unless things change that would not be for the WBC title but the current situation with the WBC title is unclear.

Vanhouter vs. Akpejiori

VANHOUTER beats AKPEJIORI after two minutes of wild action. The 6’8” Nigerian had huge height and reach over the 6’2” Vanhouter and both quickly landed heavy rights before a combination from Vanhouter sent Akpejiori down. Akpejiori beat the count but was unsteady. Then as Vanhouter moved inside Akpejiori clasped his arm in such a way that forced Vanhouter to twist and go down to the canvas to get his arm free. There had been no punch so the referee did not apply a count although Vanhouter looked to have injured his left shoulder. When the action resumed Vanhouter connected with a huge right that put Akpejiori down and out after just 62 seconds. Vanhouter, 21, has now won his last 7 fights by KO/TKO. Third loss in his last four fights for Akpejiori including a 33 second kalo loss to Stephan Shaw.

Cortes vs. Magsayo 

Cortes outpoints Filipino Magsayo

Cortes started out trying to hustle the better boxer Magsayo and had a good opening round. Magsayo settled in the second and evened things up with both rounds being close. A bit of controversy in the third. Cortes was again applying pressure and connected with some hard overhand rights. Magsayo overbalanced and his glove brushed the canvas and the referee applied a count. A review at the end of the round revealed no punch had been involved so there was no knockdown and Cortes looked to have won the round. The same thing happened in the fourth! Again the aggressive Cortes was hustling Magsayo and although this time Cortes looked to have scored a genuine knockdown it was again ruled out on review. Cortes had built a good lead by the end of the fifth but Magsayo upped his output in the sixth and connecting with some good combinations. There were a couple more “non-knockdowns” with Cortes taking the seventh only for Magsayo to have his best round so far in the eighth . He outpunched Cortes and Cortes looked ragged and was cut over his right eye. A left hook from Magsayo wobbled Cortes in the ninth and Magsayo looked to have edged the last but it was not enough to overcome the early lead built by Cortes Scores 97-93 for Cortes on the three cards. Both fighters were in the sanctioning bodies ratings so Cortes will climb and Magsayo fall.

Rocha vs. Ramirez 

ROCHA takes a unanimous decision over former super lightweight champion RAMIREZ who was moving up to welter after back-to-back losses. Ramirez started this one on the front foot taking the night to southpaw Rocha in the first. Rocha was scoring well with his right jabs but a right from Ramirez was the best punch of the round. Rocha used clever lateral movement to slide away from Ramirez’s attacks in the second and third but was not landing enough of his own to offset Ramires combinations. Ramirez looked sharp and seemed to have outworked Rocha and taken the first four round with his pressure but the rounds were all close. Ramirez then seemed to slow. Rocha was getting his punchers off first and Ramirez was not cutting the ring off allowing Rocha to score at distance and landing some sharp combinations. Rocha was boxing cooly and dominating the exchanges with shots to head and body and shook Ramirez with a left in the seventh. Rocha looked to have cancelled out the lead Ramirez had built and Ramirez was showing signs of tiring as Rocha landed some good shots in the eighth. A clash of heads opened a cut on Rocha’s head up near the hairline in the ninth and then Ramirez went down. It was controversial as their legs seemed to tangle but a punch had landed. That made it a 10-8 round for Rocha and although Ramirez proved the stronger over the tenth Rocha had the fight won. Scores 98-91 twice and 97-92 for Rocha. The right winner but the scores were too wide. Rocha is now 4-0-1 in a run of fights against tough opponents since losing to Giovanni Santillan in 2023. Third loss in a row for Ramirez including defeats against Arnold Barboza Jr and Devin Haney.

Panin vs. Linger

Belarusian-born PANIN demolishes LINGER in four rounds. Panin really had this under control from bell to bell. It was nearly all over in the first. A left hook to the ribs had Linger bent over in pain and backing up as Panin landed a ferocious series of punches that should have put Linger down but he somehow stayed upright for the remaining few seconds in the round. Panin piled on the punishment in the second and third and with Linger soaking up more hurt in the fourth the referee mercifully stopped the fight. Panin was 21-1 before losing to Brian Arregui last year. He has rebounded from that upset with four inside the distance victories but he is currently unrated. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for Linger.

Gonzalez vs. Salomon

GONZALEZ gets off the canvas to outscore SALOMON. Gonzalez made a poor start. He was boxing with confidence in the first but walked onto a punch and was floored. He came through that but it took him a couple more rounds to get into his stride then he controlled the fight from there. Scores 77-74 for Gonzalez on all three cards. Las Vegas-born Gonzalez has good amateur credentials having twice been Natonal Golden Gloves champion and taken gold and silver at the USA National championships. Second loss in a row for Mexican Salomon.

SEPTEMBER 11

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: WELTER: IGNACIO IRIBARREN (16-0-1,1 NC) W TKO 2 FRANCISCO OLGUIN (10-5).

Iribarren vs. Olguin

Southpaw IRIBARREN wins the vacant WBO Global title with a second round stoppage of OLGUIN. After handing out punishment in the first Iribarren and then put Olguin down with a left hook in the second and the fight was halted. In April Iribarren had won a WBO Global title in Ukraine but at super lightweight with the disqualification of local Aram Faniian for an illegal blow to the back of the Iribarren’s neck who had to leave the ring on a stretcher. The WBO changed the result to No Contest.

CORDOBA, ARGENTINA : BANTAM: MAXIMILLIANO MAIDANA ( 15-0-1) W PTS 10 LUCIANO BALDOR (21-6). 

Maidana vs. Baldor

MAIDANA remained unbeaten and collected the vacant South American title with a split decision over BALDOR. Being heavily favoured Maidana started out at a fast pace looking for a quick finish. When Baldor did not crumble Maidana settled and boxed his way to victory but Baldor ran him close. Scores 96-94 twice for Maidana and 97-93 for Baldor.

HURLSTON, AUSTRALIA: SUPER WELTER: AHMED DIB (24-0) W KO 1 AEKKAWEE KAEWMANEE (33-28-1). SUPER BANTAM: SKYE FALZON (12-2 W PTS 10 MONIK SINGH (10-4).

Dib vs. Kaewmanee

DIB makes it 14 wins by KO/TKO as he knocks out Thai KAEWMANEE in the first round. Dib, 38, wins the vacant IBA Pro Inter-Continental title. The 5’11 ½” Australian had a huge advantage in height over the 44-year-old 5’5 ½” Thai who suffers his sixteenth inside the distance defeat in a miserably poor match.

Falzon vs. Singh

Australian FALZON outpoints India’s SINGH to win the vacant WBA Asian title. Falzon, 38, was just too good for the 22-year-old Singh and won on scores of 99-91 on all three cards. Falzon has won her last eleven fights. 

HIDALGO, TX, USA: GIOVANNI MARQUEZ (16-1) W PTS 10 ROWIN SANCHEZ (7-3-3, 1 ND).

MARQUEZ wins his first professional title as he outpoints SANCHEZ for the vacant NABA belt. Marquez, 25, won on scores of 99-91 twice and 97-93. He is aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps as Dad Raul, a 1992 Olympian, went on to win the IBF light middleweight title.

SEPTEMBER 12

TAGBILARAN CITY, PHILIPPINES: LIGHT FLY: REGIE SUGANOB (19-1) W KO 5 SIVENATHI NONTSHINGA (14-3). SUPER FLY: REYMART TAGANCANAO (14-1) W PTS 10 CHUNLIN KUANG (5-2-2). FLY: LEONARD PORES III (11-0) W RTD 4 ANDIKA D’GOLDEN BOY(21-43-2). SUPER BANTAM: DATU ADAM (8-0) W KO 7 OKY AKBAR (12-5). 

Suganob vs. Nontshinga 

SUGANOB gains revenge as he stops NONTSHINGA in the sixth round to avenge a points loss in an IBF title fight in 2023. A fired up Suganob pressed and pressed in each round but really did not have much success either in cutting off the ring or connecting with any consistency. Suganob landed some useful body punches late in the third but when he followed Nontshinga into a corner looking to continue the attack Nontshinga banged home a right that sent Suganob back and down. Suganob was not happy with the count but it was a genuine knockdown. Suganob continued to attack hard over the fourth and was having more success. In the fifth Nontshinga was not moving as much and Suganob was able to score with some hooks a big left seemed to hurt Nontshinga who had dropped his hands and Suganob unleashed a series of punches that drove Nontshinga down on the canvas and the referee after a brief glance saw Nontshinga was not moving and waived the fight over. Nontshinga was down for an extended period and it was a relief when he recovered enough to leave the ring. With Suganob and Nontshinga the top two rated boxers in the IBF this win clears the way for a title shot for Suganob. Nontshinga suffered a heavy kayo so he may be out of action for some time.

Tagacanao vs. Kuang

Filipino TAGACANAO wins a gruelling battle over a strong KUANG in a fight for the vacant IBF Asian title.

Tagacanao made a fast start. He had reach and height over China’s Kuang and was bombarding the advancing Kuang with hard shots to head and body. These were power shots but Kuang blocked some and walked forward behind a high guard and kept coming. He refused to take a step back and was busy with hooks and uppercuts inside. The punches just seemed to bounce off Kuang and Tagacanao was being forced to work hard by the relentless pressure and Kuang was slowing Tagacanao with his body attack. Although Kuang was walking through the punches they were scoring punches and Tagacanao was outlanding Kuang and for me was a clear winner. Scores 97-93 twice for Tagacanao and 96-94 Kuang. Third win this year for Tagacanao. Kuang showed a strong chin and lots of stamina but that was not enough in this fight.

Pores vs. Andika Golden Boy

PORES shows speed and accuracy on the way to forcing a fourth round retirement against Indonesian ANDIKA. Southpaw Pores was targeting Andika’s body in the first-or what he could see of it as Indonesian Adika was advancing in a crouch behind a hight guard . Pores was boxing well on the back foot feeding Andika with punches as he came forward. It was almost target practice but Andika did have some success with sweeping shots inside. Pores was stepping up his work rate in each round and landing punches in clusters but Andika was standing up to the punishment well. Pores decided to take on Andika at his own game and stood and brawled though the fourth. At the end of the round Andika seemed to indicate to the doctor that he had a problem with his right eye and after some discussions with Andika’s corner he did not come out for the fifth round..

Adam vs. Akbar

ADAM, 23, collects his first belt as he knocks out Indonesian AKBAR in the seventh to claim the vacant IBF Asian title. Adam was working well behind his jab and scoring with hooks to the body from both hands. Adam continued to come forward in the second using quick movement and fast hands to boss the action. A clash of heads opened a bad cut over Adam’s right eye but he survived a doctors examination in the third and dialled his aggression down a bit. Akbar was more competitive in the fourth and fifth letting his hands go but Adam was still getting the better of the exchanges. Adam was back in charge in the sixth working the body of a tiring Akbar. In the seventh Adam drove Akbar around the ring until a left hook to the body sent Akbar stumbling back and down and he was counted out. Sixth inside the distance win for Adam and first inside the distance loss for Akbar. 

VILLA DOMINICO. ARGENTINA: FLY: TOBIAS REYES (19-2-1 ) W PTS 10 EFRAIN RODRIGUEZ (12-2). SUPER LIGHT: MARIA FERREYRA (14-1-1) W PTS 10 W ANAHI SANCHEZ (26-8). FEATHER: ANGEL TALAVERA (16-3-1) W TKO 5 10 RODRIGO RUIZ (23-2). 

Reyes vs. Rodriguez

Argentinian REYES starts his rebuilding process with a unanimous decision over RODRIGUEZ.After being floored four times and stopped in 65 seconds in his last fight the choice of Rodriguez who had scored all of his 13 wins inside the distance looked rash choice. Understandably Reyes made a cautious start. A confident Mexican Rodriguez did enough to edge the first round. Both scored well in the second with a strong left from Reyes the best punch of the round. Reyes took the third with Rodriguez cut in a clash of heads. Reyes was finding his rhythm in the fourth but was shaken late in the fifth as Rodriguez showed he was dangerous. There were some good exchanges over the sixth and seventh with the better boxing of Reyes seeing him take both rounds but Rodriguez was landing enough to make the rounds close and he landed heavily in the eighth. It was toe-to-toe over the closing rounds with Reyes holding off a strong finish from Rodriguez to get the decision. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-92 all for Reyes who wins the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title. Mexican flyweight champion Rodriguez had won his last 5 contrasts.

Ferreyra vs. Sanchez

FERREYRA wins the vacant WBO Latino title with a victory over fellow-Argentinian SANCHEZ. Ferreyra was moving up from lightweight for this fight and she set too fast a pace for the more experienced but older Sanchez. The pace off the fight offset the better skills of Sanchez and Sanchez did not help her chances when she lost a point for a butt that opened a cut over Ferreyra’s left eye. Ferreyra came out a comfortable winner on score of 97-93 twice and 98-92. Ferreyra, the South American champion, lost on points against Brazilian Beatriz Ferreira for the IBF lightweight title in June last year but has rebounded with three wins. Former WBA light champion Sanchez a past victim of Katie Taylor, had lost to Stephanie Pineiro for the interim WBA title in November. 

Talavera vs. Ruiz 

Mexican TALAVERA climbs off the canvas in the first to score a shock win over world rated Ruiz. It looked as though Talavera was a on the way to a triple-whammy when he failed to make the weight for this fight for the vacant IBF and WBO Latino titles and found himself on the floor in the first round. Both fighters were looking to engage and there were plenty of fiery exchanger. Neither was paying much attention to defence and as they traded punches in the fifth Talavera landed a booming left hook that sent Ruiz down and out. It was a heavy knockdown and the referee dispensed with the count immediately waiving for help for the motionless Ruiz. The local fighter did eventually recover but it was worrying for a time. An unexpected finish as Talavera had scored only two previous inside the distance wins and in a fight in Argentina in May last year had been dropped twice and stopped by 10-1 Javier Cardoza. Ruiz had lost a decision to Australian Sam Goodman in an IBF super bantam eliminator in April and had moved up to featherweight

MEDFORD, MA, USA: HEAVY CASSIUS CHANEY (26-4) W KO STEVE VUKOSA (15-2-1). 

CHANEY wins the New England title with a kayo of champion VUKOSA (sorry did not get the round) . Now 39 the 6’6” 260 + lbs Chaney has slipped from the days when he was 21-0. The 49 year-old Vukosa-a bus driver by trade- was having his fourth fight in five years.

PUEBLA, MEXICO: LIGHT HEAVY: OMAR CHAVEZ W TKO 2 BRAYAN SANTANDER (14-7). CRUISER: JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR (57-7-1,1ND) W TKO 1 JEISON TRONCOSO (14-4). 

Chavez vs. Santander

CHAVEZ stops SANTANDER in two rounds. Chavez did the scoring in the first but Santander landed some heavy punches at the start of the second. Chavez, 36, fired back driving Santander along the ropes and then scoring with clubbing rights that eventually sent Santander down for the count. Chavez, 36, was having his first fight this year. Seventh loss by KO/TKO for Colombian southpaw Santander.

Chavez vs. Troncoso 

CHAVEZ blows away overmatched TRONCOSO in the first round for his third win this year. A left hook sent Troncoso stumbling into the ropes and unloaded punches. Troncoso worked his way off the ropes but was forced back and a fierce combination sent him down and out. Now 40 Chavez still has dreams of another world title fight but we are talking about a fighter who weighed 130 lbs when he turned professional in 2003 and was 196 lbs for a fight in April. No weights were available for either of the fights on this card.