Rozicki mandatory contender for WBC world title

By Vincent Morin

Nova Scotian Ryan Rozicki became a mandatory contender for the WBC light heavyweight (200 lbs) world title against Armenian Noel Mikaeljan on Saturday evening in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

In a WBC eliminatory fight, a sanctioning body established in Mexico, Rozicki (20-1, 19 KO) took only 1:47 to overcome Nigerian puncher Olanrewaju Durodola (43-10, 40 KO) .

Mikaeljan (27-2, 12 KO), who won his crown during his last outing, last November 4 in Miami against the Congolese Ilunga Junior Makabu, will therefore have to defend his belt against Rozicki following his victory.

In the evening's semi-final, Mexican Pedro Bernal Rodriguez (13-1-2, 5 KOs) defeated his compatriot Mario Victorino Vera (7-7, 2 KOs) by KO in the third round in a super featherweight clash. (130 lbs).

Nova Scotian Brett Beaton (5-1, 4 KO) did the same against Quebecer Kenny Chery (4-8-1, 2 KO), winning by KO in the eighth bout in the middleweight (160 lbs) category. .

In the super middleweight (168 lbs), John Michael Bianco (7-0, 3 KO) maintained his perfect record thanks to a unanimous decision victory in six rounds (60-54, 60-54 and 60-54) over the Mexican Bryam Galvez (5-3-2, 2 KO). The latter faced Wilfred Seyi at the Montreal Casino in June 2019, where he also escaped a unanimous decision.

In a confrontation between two boxers from two different weight divisions, Mexican Diana Tapia Castro (7-1, 2 KOs), 152 lbs, took advantage of an eight-pound advantage to overcome Ontario's Jennifer Williams ( 3-1, 0 KO), 144 lbs, by unanimous decision in six rounds (60-54, 59-55 and 59-55).

As a curtain raiser, the Algerian Olympian now residing in Saint-Hyacinthe, Reda Benbaziz (3-0, 1 KO), recorded his third career professional victory with a triumph by unanimous decision in four engagements over his Mexican rival Ramiro Garcia Lopez (5-7, 4 KOs).

It was a revenge for the two gladiators, since the first face-to-face, on June 3 in Victoria, British Columbia, could not produce a winner due to a cut suffered during an unintentional headbutt. The fight was stopped at the third attack and considered a no contest .