Martin wins WBA lightweight eliminator

Frank “The Ghost” Martin scored a one-sided 12-round unanimous points decision over Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera, at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday night in a WBA lightweight title eliminator.

Martin (17-0; 12) scored with stinging shots as he proved to be the faster fighter throughout, with Rivera unable to handle his opponent's southpaw stance.

Rivera (24-1; 14) was knocked down in the seventh round as the judges scored it 120-107, 118-109 and 117-110 for Martin.

On the same card in an IBF super-middleweight eliminator, IBF No 9 Vladimir Shishkin (14-0; 8) won on points over 12 rounds against former IBF champion and No 7-rated José Uzcátegui (32-5; 27). Shishkin was in control throughout.

The scores were 117-111 twice and 115-113.

CURIEL REMAINS UNBEATEN

Mexican welterweight Raul Curiel (12-0; 10) from Tamaulipas, Mexico won on a second-round knockout over Louisiana’s Brad Solomon (29-6; 9) at the Commerce Casino & Hotel Events Center in Commerce, California on Saturday night.

A big overhand left sent Solomon down to the canvas.

He managed to get to his knee, but referee Ray Corona counted him out at 44 seconds into the round.

Diego De La Hoya (24-1; 11) won on an eight-round technical decision over Jose Gonzalez (23-11-1; 13) in a junior lightweight bout.

De La Hoya was well ahead when the referee called the fight off as Gonzalez’s eye was swollen shut.

MBILLI DOMINATES ALEXANDER

WBC No 2 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (23-0; 20) outscored the tough Vaughn Alexander (17-7-1; 10) on Saturday night at the Parc des Expositions in Nantes, France.

Mbilli scored with a low blow in the opening round as Alexander needed time to recover.

The scores were 100-90, 100-90 and 99-91.

MBENGE LOSES IN FRANCE

South Africa’s Thulani Mbenge lost on a majority 12-round points decision against Soleymane Cissokho for the WBC silver welterweight title on Saturday night at the Parc des Expositions in Nantes, France.

Cissokho (16-0; 9) was the sharper fighter and managed to edge it.

The scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114.

CHRIS BILLIAM SMITH WINS IN FIVE

Cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith (17-1; 12) who is rated No 2 by the WBO won on a fifth-round knockout over Armend Xhoxhaj (14-;7) on Saturday night at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England.

Xhoxhaj made a good start, but Billam-Smith finished him off with a barrage of punches.

British light heavyweight champion “Super” Dan Azeez (18-0; 12) stopped former world champion Rocky Fielding (30-3; 17) in the eighth round to win the vacant Commonwealth title.

Azeez was in control from the opening bell before the fight was stopped when Fielding’s corner threw in the towel.

Fielding failed to make the weight and if he had won, he could not have claimed the title.

2020 Olympian female lightweight Caroline Dubois (5-0; 4) won in 60 seconds of the first round against Sofia Rodriguez (5-8; 1).

Heavyweight Steven “Drago” Robinson (6-1; 4) won on a fourth-round stoppage over Nick Campbell (5-1; 5).

WBA No 15 welterweight Michael McKinson (23-1; 2) outpointed Roberto Arriaza (19-5; 14) over six rounds.

In a lightweight bout, late substitute Jimmy First (15-0; 4) outpointed Cori Gibbs (17-1 3) over eight rounds.

DE GRACIA WINS ON FIFTH ROUND TKO

Featherweight Bryan De Gracia (29-2-1; 25) won on a fifth-round technical knockout against Manuel Felipe Gomez (11-4; 11) on Saturday at the Coliseo de Pescaito David Ruiz Ureche in the tourist beach city of Santa Marta, Colombia.

MAKHMUDOV WINS IN ONE ROUND

Heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (16-0; 15) won on a first-round technical knockout over Michael Wallisch (23-6; 16) on Friday night at the Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan, Quebec in Canada.

Makhmudov scored an early knockdown in the opening round and Wallisch took a knee on two more occasions in round one.

Makhmudov was deducted a point for hitting behind the head as Wallisch did not come out at the bell for the second round.

In a female junior middleweight bout, Femke Hermans (14-4; 5) won on a 10-round unanimous points decision against the 38-year-old Mary Spencer (7-1; 5) to take the IBO belt.

Middleweight Steven “Bang Bang” Butler (32-3-1; 26) won on points over 10 rounds against Joshua Conley (17-5-1; 11) to retain the NABF title.