Saul Farah (born Saul Becerra Gil on January 12, 1983) is a Bolivian professional boxer. He is the Bolivian national former Heavyweight boxing champion, having won the title by knocking out 1-0 Romualdo Rivera in the first round on March 13, 2010. He defended the national title 15 times successfully, before losing it on his 16th defense. His nickname is "El Fenix Asesino" ("The Assassin Phoenix").
Professional career Farah was also Bolivian national Cruiserweight champion, title that he obtained September 2, 2008 with a third-round knockout of local, 3 win 9 losses journeyman Fernando Marcelo Vega at San Julian, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the interim World Boxing Council Latino Heavyweight champion by beating 23-13-2 Esteban Hillman Tababary by twelve round unanimous decision on October 9, 2015, and the interim South American Heavyweight champion, championship which he won by defeating 13 win, 6 defeats and 2 ties (draws) prospect Guido Santana in the third round of their December 21, 2013 fight at Farah's hometown of Santa Ana del Yacuma. Farah is also the Santa Ana del Yacuma city, Beni Department and Santa Cruz de la Sierra Department Heavyweight champion, and he has once fought for world Heavyweight champion honors, albeit for an organization without much international recognition, the World Boxing Union. He lost that bout to Brazilian boxer Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos by third-round knockout on December 15, 2014, at Bahia, Brazil. Farah has also fought for World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation regional titles without success.
After a bout with Cesar Mamani, set for May 10, 2019,(a second-round technical knockout win) Farah traveled to the Philippines, where he fought American Ronald Johnson, 15–1 with 6 knockout wins, on June 15, 2019, in what would have been a bout for the Global Boxing Organization's Heavyweight world title, a title without much recognition by the general boxing world and fans alike. The GBO ultimately withdrew recognition of the fight as being for their championship, but Farrah and Johnson still boxed each other, with the American knocking the Bolivian down in the first round and prevailing by 12 rounds unanimous decision. Eventually, Farrah got his 70th career win five weeks later, when he defeated 1 win, 2 losses Luis Gregorio Castedo Yapovenda by second-round knockout on July 20 of that year, back home in Santa Ana del Yacuma, Bolivia.
On November 2, 2019, Farah traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to challenge Sadiki "The Buffalo" Maroy (15-2-1) for the vacant UBO Intercontinental Heavyweight title. After a spirited start, Maroy forced a TKO-7 stoppage of Farah earning the UBO title
On December 21, 2019, Farrah fought his 99th professional boxing match, being stopped in the first round by Christian Hammer in Germany.
Farah was scheduled to defend his Bolivian title in both March and April 2020; however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponements of both dates. Then, on October 30 of 2020, Farah defended his title versus Marco Kenny aka La Mole Viscarra over 12 rounds live on Pay Per View (PPV) at the Santa Rosita Coliseum in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Farah controlled the pace for the majority of the bout but was unlucky in losing a 12-round decision – and relinquishing this title to Kenny
On December 22, 2020, Farah became the world's first fighter to hold a Bridgerweight title, defeating Rosendo 'La Furia' Mercado Eguez from Santa Cruz. Bolivia via 12-round decision for the Bolivian national Bridgerweight championship. The so-called Bridgerweight division is a division with little recognition among world sanctioning boxing organizations; only the World Boxing Council recognizes it.
Farah then defended his Bridgerweight title for the first time on April 3 in Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia. Farah earned a TKO-1 victory over Ruben Vargas Diaz Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
Farah intended to defend his Bridgerweight title of Bolivia for the second time on March 26, 2021; however, Farah's bout versus Pedro 'El Terrible' Guanichaba was not approved by the Bolivian commission in appropriate time. The bout was rescheduled to April 30, 2021, and again to May 21.
Farah and Pedro Tabares would finally meet on June 19 and the entire world would witness an assault in the ring on Farah's life. In the 6th round of their match in Tabares' home town of Pando, Tabares hit Farah with a heavy shot and then threw the champion to the canvas. Once Farah was on the canvas, Tabares jumped on Farah and begin to punch him while he was down as well as deliver three kicks to Farah's head and neck. Farah was awarded the victory by disqualification and while Tabares apologized later for his actions he was not suspended by the Bolivian commission and a rematch was ordered for August 21.
In the 12 round rematch on August 21 again in Pando, Bolivia, Farah would get his revenge. In what was a mostly slow first half of the bout, Farah began to come on in the championship rounds. In the 12th and final round, Farah would storm Tabares in the corner and let his hands go, landing a hard left to the right side of Tabares' head and ear. This concussive location would put Tabares down and upon the restart Farah landed some massive shots that caused the referee to jump in and call a halt to the action. Farah takes a TKO-12 victory and the interim Bolivian heavyweight title.
After the fight, Tabares would claim he was hit with an illegal blow and asked the Bolivian commission to take action and overturn the result and suspend Farah.
On October 30, 2020, Farah lost his Bolivian national Heavyweight title when outpointed over twelve rounds by the debuting Marco Kenny Viscarra at the Coliseo Arena Santa Rosita in Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia.
The last fight he had that appeared on his Boxrec page took place on December 12, 2020, when he beat Rosendo Mercado, 2 wins and 8 losses coming in, at the Palacio de los Deportes in Trinidad, Bolivia, by a twelve rounds unanimous decision.
Notably, Farah is also a boxing promoter, referee and matchmaker.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes101Win72–26–3Rosendo MercadoUD1222 Dec 2020100Loss71–26–3Marco Kenny ViscarraSD1230 Oct 202099Loss71–25–3Christian HammerTKO1 (8), 21 Dec 201998Win71–24–3Cesar MamaniTKO2 (12), 5 Oct 201997Win70–24–3Luis Gregorio Castedo YapovendaKO2 (12), 20 Jul 201996Loss69–24–3Ronald JohnsonUD1215 Jun 201995Win69–23–3Cesar MamaniRTD2 (12), 2 Mar 201994Win68–23–3Jorge David Urquiza AnezTKO4 (12), 25 Jan 201993Win67–23–3Cesar MamaniTKO3 (10), 11 Aug 201892Win66–23–3Rosendo MercadoSD1223 Jun 201891Loss65–23–3Zamig AthakishiyevRTD1 (6), 18 Apr 201890Win65–22–3Cesar MamaniRTD5 (10), 15 Nov 201789Win64–22–3Ruben Jesús Pone PoicheeTKO1 (10), 2 Sep 201788Loss63–22–3Samir NeboKO3 (8), 1 Jul 201787Win63–21–3Rosendo MercadoTKO5 (12), 17 May 201786Loss62–21–3Zhang JunlongKO1 (12), 29 Mar 201785Win62–20–3Ervin Chavez VargasTKO2 (12), 4 Dec 201684Win61–20–3Mauricio Mendia GuajiTKO1 (10), 20 Nov 201683Win60–20–3Bernardino FernandezRTD4 (12)5 Nov 201682Win59–20–3Esteban Hillman TababaryUD108 Oct 201681Win58–20–3Eddy SalvatierraRTD1 (8), 20 Aug 201680Loss57–20–3Adrian GranatTKO1 (10), 4 Jun 201679Win57–19–3Eddy SalvatierraRTD2 (10), 5 Mar 201678Win56–19–3Esteban Hillman TababaryRTD8 (12), 9 Jan 201677Win55–19–3Esteban Hillman TababaryUD129 Oct 201576Win54–19–3Juan Carlos Flores ChoqueTKO1 (12), 10 Jul 201575Win53–19–3Esteban Hillman TababaryRTD6 (12), 9 May 201274Win52–19–3Ervin Chavez VargasKO3 (12)10 Apr 201573Loss51–19–3Vladimir GoncharovTKO1 (8), 1 Mar 201572Win51–18–3Dante OlivaresRTD1 (12), 31 Jan 201571Win50–18–3Carlos MoyaRTD1 (12), 17 Jan 201570Loss49–18–3Marcelo Ferreira dos SantosTKO3 (12), 15 Dec 201469Win49–17–3Jose Antonio RodriguezTKO1 (12)25 Jul 201468Win48–17–3Rosendo MercadoTKO2 (12)6 Jul 201467Win47–17–3Rosendo MercadoTKO2 (12)24 May 201466Win46–17–3Rosendo MercadoTKO1 (12)3 May 201465Win45–17–3Carmelo RocaTKO2 (12), 31 Jan 201464Win44–17–3Guido SantanaTKO3 (12)21 Dec 201363Loss43–17–3Chauncy WelliverTKO3 (10), 2 Jun 201362Win43–16–3Marcos Santana JuarezRTD3 (12), 12 Feb 201361Win42–16–3Romualdo FernandezRTD2 (12), 8 Dec 201260Loss41–16–3Billy WrightTKO2 (12), 9 Nov 201259Win41–15–3Carmelo RocaTKO2 (12)11 Aug 201258Win40–15–3John Okita PopeyeTKO2 (12)17 Mar 201257Win39–15–3Jose Aponte KantutaTKO1 (12)1 Feb 201256Draw38–15–3Ronald ArancibiaPTS47 Nov 201155Win38–15–2Cleve Alexandre MoraezTKO1 (12)23 Oct 201054Wih37–15–2Omer SalasTKO3 (12)24 Sep 201153Win36–15–2Rosendo MercadoRTD2 (12), 28 Aug 201152Win35–15–2Fernando Marcelo VegaTKO1 (12), 14 Aug 201151Win34–15–2Carlos CastedoTKO5 (12)4 Aug 201150Win33–15–2Jose Antonio RodriguezRTD3 (10), 25 May 201149Win32–15–2Romualdo FernandezRTD1 (12), 13 May 201148Win31–15–2Jose Monnroy GalvezRTD2 (12), 2 May 201147Loss30–15–2Johann DuhaupasTKO2 (9), 2 Apr 201146Loss30–14–2Irineu Beato Costa JuniorTKO2 (8), 1 Mar 201145Loss30–13–2George AriasRTD2 (12), 31 Jul 201044Win30–12–2Bernardino FernandezRTD1 (12), 5 Jun 201043Win29–12–2Romualdo RiveraKO1 (12), 13 May 201042Win28–12–2Romualdo RiveraRTD1 (12), 13 Mar 201041Loss27–12–2Gonzalo BasileTKO8 (12), 13 Nov 200940Draw27–11–2David GutierrezPTS1011 Jul 200939Win27–11–1Marcos Eduardo BellsDQ1 (6)22 May 200938Loss26–11–1Raphael ZumbanoUD920 Mar 200937Win26–10–1Antonio SalasUD1214 Feb 200936LossRaphael ZumbanoUD921 Dec 200835Loss25–9–1Manuel Alberto PuchetaRTD6 (10), 14 Nov 200834Win25–8–1Esteban Hillman TababaryTKO2 (10), 18 Oct 200833Win24–8–1Rosendo MercadoTKO1 (4), 7 Oct 200832Loss23–8–1Aaron Orlando SoriaUD819 Sep 200831Win23–7–1Fernando Marcelo VegaTKO3 (12)2 Sep 200830Loss22–7–1Laudelino BarrosTKO4 (10)1 Aug 200829Loss22–6–1Lawrence TauasaKO3 (12), 4 Jul 200828Win22–5–1Paul SolaresTKO2 (10), 20 Jun 200827Win21–5–1Manuel Solis HurtadoKO3 (10)23 May 200826Win20–5–1Guido SantanaUD109 May 200825Win19–5–1Carmelo RocaKO5 (10)26 Apr 200824Win18–5–1Jose Aponte KantutaKO3 (10)15 Apr 200823Win17–5–1Guido SantanaKO8 (10)18 Mar 200822Win16–5–1Limber Mua IvernagarayKO3 (10)29 Dec 200721Loss15–5–1Carl Davis DrumondKO2 (12), 15 Oct 200720Win15–4–1John Okita PopeyeUD619 Sep 200719Win14–4–1Jose Aponte KantutaKO2 (10), 31 Aug 200718Win13–4–1Manuel Solis HurtadoTKO2 (8), 6 Jul 200717Loss12–4–1Kertson ManswellTKO7 (10)26 Dec 200616Win12–3–1Manuel Solis HurtadoKO6 (10)6 Nov 200615Win11–3–1Limber Mua IvernegarayKO3 (10)21 Oct 200614Win10–3–1Carmelo RocaTKO3 (10)6 Oct 200613Win9–3–1Walter Alba MelgarKO4 (10)22 Sep 200612Win8–3–1Edigar OliveiraTKO2 (10)6 Sep 200611Win7–3–1Jose Aponte KantutaTKO4 (6)21 Jul 200610Win6–3–1Walter Alba MelgarUD830 Jun 20069Win5–3–1Carlos MoyaKO1 (10)21 Apr 20068Win4–3–1Omer SalasKO2 (8)18 Jan 20067Loss3–3–1Chiquilin SoriaUD1030 Dec 20056Win3–2–1Carlos CastedoKO2 (10)2 Oct 20055Win2–2–1Walter Alba MelgarKO6 (10)27 Aug 20054Win1–2–1Antonio SalasUD617 Apr 20053Loss0–2–1David GutierrezUD416 Dec 20042Draw0–1–1Walter Alba MelgarPTS42 Dec 20041Loss0–1David GutierrezUD425 Nov 2004
References
External links