The Stuff That Didn't Make the Pod This Week (May 11)
Be careful what you wish for
I’ve really been blown away by the amount of people who’ve come by to subscribe - Thank you! Remember, this isn’t a spot for Rick Reilly level journalism. I’m not a writer, just a boxing fanatic like you. So be gentle with me!
Here is what didn’t make it on last nights podcast due to time constraints. Off we go!
I’m starting off with a Tanzanian king. What would you expect?
Last Wednesday in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, cruiserweight club legend Shaban Jongo Jongo (10-2-2) scored an RTD victory over Issa Mawe (3-7).
It was announced last week that Jongo Jongo will rematch Alphonce Mchumiatumbo (14-8-1) July 30th in Songea, Ruvuma, Tanzania
Their first fight was a 5 round war when Jongo Jongo stopped Mchumiatumbo in October 2020, a fight not on Boxrec even though it was broadcast on Azam TV. Which adds to the allure of this rematch.
Jongo Jongo v Mchumiatumbo Full Fight
So much to cover from Australia if you missed it last Saturday! Two dueling shows both from Queensland - one on Bien Sports Australia and the other a FITE TV pay per view. Here are some quick hits.
Keep an eye on 20yr old super bantamweight Vegas Larfield (6-0, 5 KO’s) who once again looked great in scoring a TKO-2 on the Ace Boxing show. You may remember Larfield from the Top Rank undercard - Moloney-Franco II.
Welterweight Jason Mallia (3-0) is a guy who will always be in fun fights - and he scored a quick TKO in round 1 Saturday. He’s one you’ll want to watch not only to see how high he can climb but because he brings nothing but excitement and action every fight.
Light heavyweight Jack Bowen (6-0, 6 KO’s) is going to be a problem. Both for his opponent and for his promoter & matchmaker.
Early on, Bowen looks like he has potential to climb to world championship level. A calm, patient technician with blistering power. He’s in good hands with his manager Mike Altamura, a hardcore like us who knows how to move fighters like Bowen along. It will be fun to watch him continue to grow, this kid could be special.
Speaking of special, super middleweight blue chip prospect Mateo Tapia (14-0) impressed against the very durable Argentine Wenceslao Mansilla (18-10-1) with a TKO-8 win.
Perfect matchmaking here for Tapia after a year out of the ring. Mansilla is very tough, came to fight, but was also well positioned for Tapia to break him down and score an impressive KO. Which of course he did.
For me, Tapia just looks different. There is no wasted movement. No technical mistakes. A real pleasure to watch and it sure seems the sky is the limit for the 24 year old nicknamed “El Tijuanero”.
Surprise addition to Saturday’s show from Bangkok saw 18yr old super prospect Sangarthit Looksaikongdin (13-0, 8 KO's) with the wicked left hook to the liver dropping Aekkawee Kaewmanee (24-16) for a KO-3 victory in their 145lb contest.
Looksaikongdin afterward was awarded with the 2021 WBA Asia KO of the year - and will likely be further awarded with a WBA top 15 ranking come May 31st.
I’ve been watching this kid since he was 16 and he continues to improve each time out. Thailand is an interesting place to see fighters progress as they struggle between big fights overseas and their nationalistic duties at home.
I can’t wait to watch this kid take the next step.
Looking ahead to the weekend, I’m very excited about the WBA light middleweight title bout between Hannah Ranking (11-5) & Alejandra “Fenix” Ayala (14-5) Friday in Glasgow.
Two cool story lines here. When Rankin won the vacant world title in November of last year, she became Scotland’s first ever world champion.
Ayala, the aggressive brawler from Tijuana, is fighting for a world title for the first time. This is Ayala’s second fight since coming out of retirement where she served almost a year as the boxing commissioner for Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
You can see this entire card for only $1.99E on FightZone.UK.
Let’s finish off with some quick hits for the weekend ahead!
I’m definitely going to commit one of my Google Chrome tabs to the TWENTY EIGHT fight card from Turkey Saturday. Yes. Twenty eight fights. Honestly, like I said about a German show on the pod - I just want to see if I can do it and not tap out.
The show is promoted by Serdar Avci Promotions (the Turkish heavyweight) and features a bunch of undefeated prospects and two female 10 rounds bouts atop the event - one, a UBO world title fight.
22yr old hard hitting light welterweight prospect Shinard Bunch (18-1-1, 15 KO’s) is in a stay busy fight this weekend in Pennsylvania.
Don’t sleep on a free show from Egypt Saturday on YouTube - the top fight should be fun, a a super midldleweight 12 round bout for the Egyptian title. And, to be straight, weird stuff happens in Egypt club shows. So you have that too.
Lastly, Thursday has three shows to keep an eye on! One from Russia, another Thursday night DAZN broadcast & Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions on UFC Fight Pass.
Saving the best for last, Saturday in Espelkamp, Germany, “Big Uncle Georgios” (7-7) faces 41yr old Riza Baydilli (7-0, 7 KO’s) for the vacant GBC Intercontinental & UBO International heavyweight titles. WAR Big Uncle Georgios!
Thanks a lot for reading! I hope you enjoyed this week and thank you very much for your continued support. LET’S GOOO!