| Saul Farah | |
| Realname: | Saúl Becerra Gil |
| Nickname: | El Fenix Asesino |
| Weight: | Heavyweight |
| Height: | 1.78 m |
| Birth Date: | 12 January 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Santa Ana del Yacuma, Bolivia |
| Style: | Orthodox |
| Total: | 101 |
| Wins: | 72 |
| Ko: | 62 |
| Losses: | 26 |
| Draws: | 3 |
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.[1] He defended the national title 15 times successfully, before losing it on his 16th defense. His nickname is "El Fenix Asesino" ("The Assassin Phoenix").
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,[2] 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,[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]
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 [7]
On December 21, 2019, Farrah fought his 99th professional boxing match, being stopped in the first round by Christian Hammer in Germany.[8]
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.[9] 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. [9] The so-called Bridgerweight division is a division with little recognition among world sanctioning boxing organizations; only the World Boxing Council recognizes it.[10]
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 [11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
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.[14]
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.[15]
Notably, Farah is also a boxing promoter, referee and matchmaker.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Win | 72–26–3 | Rosendo Mercado | UD | 12 | 22 Dec 2020 | |||
| 100 | Loss | 71–26–3 | Marco Kenny Viscarra | SD | 12 | 30 Oct 2020 | |||
| 99 | Loss | 71–25–3 | Christian Hammer | TKO | 1 (8), | 21 Dec 2019 | |||
| 98 | Win | 71–24–3 | Cesar Mamani | TKO | 2 (12), | 5 Oct 2019 | |||
| 97 | Win | 70–24–3 | Luis Gregorio Castedo Yapovenda | KO | 2 (12), | 20 Jul 2019 | |||
| 96 | Loss | 69–24–3 | Ronald Johnson | UD | 12 | 15 Jun 2019 | |||
| 95 | Win | 69–23–3 | Cesar Mamani | RTD | 2 (12), | 2 Mar 2019 | |||
| 94 | Win | 68–23–3 | Jorge David Urquiza Anez | TKO | 4 (12), | 25 Jan 2019 | |||
| 93 | Win | 67–23–3 | Cesar Mamani | TKO | 3 (10), | 11 Aug 2018 | |||
| 92 | Win | 66–23–3 | Rosendo Mercado | SD | 12 | 23 Jun 2018 | |||
| 91 | Loss | 65–23–3 | Zamig Athakishiyev | RTD | 1 (6), | 18 Apr 2018 | |||
| 90 | Win | 65–22–3 | Cesar Mamani | RTD | 5 (10), | 15 Nov 2017 | |||
| 89 | Win | 64–22–3 | Ruben Jesús Pone Poichee | TKO | 1 (10), | 2 Sep 2017 | |||
| 88 | Loss | 63–22–3 | Samir Nebo | KO | 3 (8), | 1 Jul 2017 | |||
| 87 | Win | 63–21–3 | Rosendo Mercado | TKO | 5 (12), | 17 May 2017 | |||
| 86 | Loss | 62–21–3 | Zhang Junlong | KO | 1 (12), | 29 Mar 2017 | |||
| 85 | Win | 62–20–3 | Ervin Chavez Vargas | TKO | 2 (12), | 4 Dec 2016 | |||
| 84 | Win | 61–20–3 | Mauricio Mendia Guaji | TKO | 1 (10), | 20 Nov 2016 | |||
| 83 | Win | 60–20–3 | Bernardino Fernandez | RTD | 4 (12) | 5 Nov 2016 | |||
| 82 | Win | 59–20–3 | Esteban Hillman Tababary | UD | 10 | 8 Oct 2016 | |||
| 81 | Win | 58–20–3 | Eddy Salvatierra | RTD | 1 (8), | 20 Aug 2016 | |||
| 80 | Loss | 57–20–3 | Adrian Granat | TKO | 1 (10), | 4 Jun 2016 | |||
| 79 | Win | 57–19–3 | Eddy Salvatierra | RTD | 2 (10), | 5 Mar 2016 | |||
| 78 | Win | 56–19–3 | Esteban Hillman Tababary | RTD | 8 (12), | 9 Jan 2016 | |||
| 77 | Win | 55–19–3 | Esteban Hillman Tababary | UD | 12 | 9 Oct 2015 | |||
| 76 | Win | 54–19–3 | Juan Carlos Flores Choque | TKO | 1 (12), | 10 Jul 2015 | |||
| 75 | Win | 53–19–3 | Esteban Hillman Tababary | RTD | 6 (12), | 9 May 2012 | |||
| 74 | Win | 52–19–3 | Ervin Chavez Vargas | KO | 3 (12) | 10 Apr 2015 | |||
| 73 | Loss | 51–19–3 | Vladimir Goncharov | TKO | 1 (8), | 1 Mar 2015 | |||
| 72 | Win | 51–18–3 | Dante Olivares | RTD | 1 (12), | 31 Jan 2015 | |||
| 71 | Win | 50–18–3 | Carlos Moya | RTD | 1 (12), | 17 Jan 2015 | |||
| 70 | Loss | 49–18–3 | Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos | TKO | 3 (12), | 15 Dec 2014 | |||
| 69 | Win | 49–17–3 | Jose Antonio Rodriguez | TKO | 1 (12) | 25 Jul 2014 | |||
| 68 | Win | 48–17–3 | Rosendo Mercado | TKO | 2 (12) | 6 Jul 2014 | |||
| 67 | Win | 47–17–3 | Rosendo Mercado | TKO | 2 (12) | 24 May 2014 | |||
| 66 | Win | 46–17–3 | Rosendo Mercado | TKO | 1 (12) | 3 May 2014 | |||
| 65 | Win | 45–17–3 | Carmelo Roca | TKO | 2 (12), | 31 Jan 2014 | |||
| 64 | Win | 44–17–3 | Guido Santana | TKO | 3 (12) | 21 Dec 2013 | |||
| 63 | Loss | 43–17–3 | Chauncy Welliver | TKO | 3 (10), | 2 Jun 2013 | |||
| 62 | Win | 43–16–3 | Marcos Santana Juarez | RTD | 3 (12), | 12 Feb 2013 | |||
| 61 | Win | 42–16–3 | Romualdo Fernandez | RTD | 2 (12), | 8 Dec 2012 | |||
| 60 | Loss | 41–16–3 | Billy Wright | TKO | 2 (12), | 9 Nov 2012 | |||
| 59 | Win | 41–15–3 | Carmelo Roca | TKO | 2 (12) | 11 Aug 2012 | |||
| 58 | Win | 40–15–3 | John Okita Popeye | TKO | 2 (12) | 17 Mar 2012 | |||
| 57 | Win | 39–15–3 | Jose Aponte Kantuta | TKO | 1 (12) | 1 Feb 2012 | |||
| 56 | Draw | 38–15–3 | Ronald Arancibia | PTS | 4 | 7 Nov 2011 | |||
| 55 | Win | 38–15–2 | Cleve Alexandre Moraez | TKO | 1 (12) | 23 Oct 2010 | |||
| 54 | Wih | 37–15–2 | Omer Salas | TKO | 3 (12) | 24 Sep 2011 | |||
| 53 | Win | 36–15–2 | Rosendo Mercado | RTD | 2 (12), | 28 Aug 2011 | |||
| 52 | Win | 35–15–2 | Fernando Marcelo Vega | TKO | 1 (12), | 14 Aug 2011 | |||
| 51 | Win | 34–15–2 | Carlos Castedo | TKO | 5 (12) | 4 Aug 2011 | |||
| 50 | Win | 33–15–2 | Jose Antonio Rodriguez | RTD | 3 (10), | 25 May 2011 | |||
| 49 | Win | 32–15–2 | Romualdo Fernandez | RTD | 1 (12), | 13 May 2011 | |||
| 48 | Win | 31–15–2 | Jose Monnroy Galvez | RTD | 2 (12), | 2 May 2011 | |||
| 47 | Loss | 30–15–2 | Johann Duhaupas | TKO | 2 (9), | 2 Apr 2011 | |||
| 46 | Loss | 30–14–2 | Irineu Beato Costa Junior | TKO | 2 (8), | 1 Mar 2011 | |||
| 45 | Loss | 30–13–2 | George Arias | RTD | 2 (12), | 31 Jul 2010 | |||
| 44 | Win | 30–12–2 | Bernardino Fernandez | RTD | 1 (12), | 5 Jun 2010 | |||
| 43 | Win | 29–12–2 | Romualdo Rivera | KO | 1 (12), | 13 May 2010 | |||
| 42 | Win | 28–12–2 | Romualdo Rivera | RTD | 1 (12), | 13 Mar 2010 | |||
| 41 | Loss | 27–12–2 | Gonzalo Basile | TKO | 8 (12), | 13 Nov 2009 | |||
| 40 | Draw | 27–11–2 | David Gutierrez | PTS | 10 | 11 Jul 2009 | |||
| 39 | Win | 27–11–1 | Marcos Eduardo Bells | DQ | 1 (6) | 22 May 2009 | |||
| 38 | Loss | 26–11–1 | Raphael Zumbano | UD | 9 | 20 Mar 2009 | |||
| 37 | Win | 26–10–1 | Antonio Salas | UD | 12 | 14 Feb 2009 | |||
| 36 | Loss | Raphael Zumbano | UD | 9 | 21 Dec 2008 | ||||
| 35 | Loss | 25–9–1 | Manuel Alberto Pucheta | RTD | 6 (10), | 14 Nov 2008 | |||
| 34 | Win | 25–8–1 | Esteban Hillman Tababary | TKO | 2 (10), | 18 Oct 2008 | |||
| 33 | Win | 24–8–1 | Rosendo Mercado | TKO | 1 (4), | 7 Oct 2008 | |||
| 32 | Loss | 23–8–1 | Aaron Orlando Soria | UD | 8 | 19 Sep 2008 | |||
| 31 | Win | 23–7–1 | Fernando Marcelo Vega | TKO | 3 (12) | 2 Sep 2008 | |||
| 30 | Loss | 22–7–1 | Laudelino Barros | TKO | 4 (10) | 1 Aug 2008 | |||
| 29 | Loss | 22–6–1 | Lawrence Tauasa | KO | 3 (12), | 4 Jul 2008 | |||
| 28 | Win | 22–5–1 | Paul Solares | TKO | 2 (10), | 20 Jun 2008 | |||
| 27 | Win | 21–5–1 | Manuel Solis Hurtado | KO | 3 (10) | 23 May 2008 | |||
| 26 | Win | 20–5–1 | Guido Santana | UD | 10 | 9 May 2008 | |||
| 25 | Win | 19–5–1 | Carmelo Roca | KO | 5 (10) | 26 Apr 2008 | |||
| 24 | Win | 18–5–1 | Jose Aponte Kantuta | KO | 3 (10) | 15 Apr 2008 | |||
| 23 | Win | 17–5–1 | Guido Santana | KO | 8 (10) | 18 Mar 2008 | |||
| 22 | Win | 16–5–1 | Limber Mua Ivernagaray | KO | 3 (10) | 29 Dec 2007 | |||
| 21 | Loss | 15–5–1 | Carl Davis Drumond | KO | 2 (12), | 15 Oct 2007 | |||
| 20 | Win | 15–4–1 | John Okita Popeye | UD | 6 | 19 Sep 2007 | |||
| 19 | Win | 14–4–1 | Jose Aponte Kantuta | KO | 2 (10), | 31 Aug 2007 | |||
| 18 | Win | 13–4–1 | Manuel Solis Hurtado | TKO | 2 (8), | 6 Jul 2007 | |||
| 17 | Loss | 12–4–1 | Kertson Manswell | TKO | 7 (10) | 26 Dec 2006 | |||
| 16 | Win | 12–3–1 | Manuel Solis Hurtado | KO | 6 (10) | 6 Nov 2006 | |||
| 15 | Win | 11–3–1 | Limber Mua Ivernegaray | KO | 3 (10) | 21 Oct 2006 | |||
| 14 | Win | 10–3–1 | Carmelo Roca | TKO | 3 (10) | 6 Oct 2006 | |||
| 13 | Win | 9–3–1 | Walter Alba Melgar | KO | 4 (10) | 22 Sep 2006 | |||
| 12 | Win | 8–3–1 | Edigar Oliveira | TKO | 2 (10) | 6 Sep 2006 | |||
| 11 | Win | 7–3–1 | Jose Aponte Kantuta | TKO | 4 (6) | 21 Jul 2006 | |||
| 10 | Win | 6–3–1 | Walter Alba Melgar | UD | 8 | 30 Jun 2006 | |||
| 9 | Win | 5–3–1 | Carlos Moya | KO | 1 (10) | 21 Apr 2006 | |||
| 8 | Win | 4–3–1 | Omer Salas | KO | 2 (8) | 18 Jan 2006 | |||
| 7 | Loss | 3–3–1 | Chiquilin Soria | UD | 10 | 30 Dec 2005 | |||
| 6 | Win | 3–2–1 | Carlos Castedo | KO | 2 (10) | 2 Oct 2005 | |||
| 5 | Win | 2–2–1 | Walter Alba Melgar | KO | 6 (10) | 27 Aug 2005 | |||
| 4 | Win | 1–2–1 | Antonio Salas | UD | 6 | 17 Apr 2005 | |||
| 3 | Loss | 0–2–1 | David Gutierrez | UD | 4 | 16 Dec 2004 | |||
| 2 | Draw | 0–1–1 | Walter Alba Melgar | PTS | 4 | 2 Dec 2004 | |||
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | David Gutierrez | UD | 4 | 25 Nov 2004 |