Muroodjon Akhmadliev retained the IBF/WBA Super Bantamiweight titles with a fifth round stoppage over Ryosuke Iwasa at the Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uznbekistan.

In round five, Akamadaliv landed a hard combination that sent Iwasa into the ropes, and the fight was stopped (maybe Prematurely) at 1:30.

Akhmadlaiv, 121 .2 lbs of Chust, UZB is 9-0 with seven knockouts. Iwasa, 121.6 lbs of Kashiwa, JAP is 27-4.

Shakhram Giyasov stopped Patricio Lopez in round three of a scheduled 10-round super lightweight fight.i

In round two, Giyasov landed a right hand that put Moreno on the deck. In round three, Giyasov landed a right to the head that sent Moreno down face-first and the fight was over at 2:21.

Giyasov, 139.5 lbs of Bukhara, UZB is 11-0 with nine knockouts. Moreno, 139.3 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 28-5.

Madrimov decisions Kalombo

In a fight featuring undefeated super welterweights, Israil Madrimov won a 10-round unanimous decision over Emmany Kalombo.

In round eight, Madrimov landed a left in the middle of an exchange that sent Kalombo stumbling into the ropes for a knockdown.

Madimov, 154.2 lbs of Khiva, UZB won by scores of 100-89, 99-90 and 98-92 to raise his unblemished mark to 7-0. Kalombo, 153.6 lbs of The Congo is 14-1.

Jalolov stops Zutis in 2

Bakhodir Jololov stopped Kristaps Zutis in round two of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Jalolov dropped Zutis with a left. Seconds later, it was a right hook that put Zutis down with a right hook in the corner and the fight was stopped at 1:16.

Jalolov, 250 lbs Sariosiyo, UZB is 8-0 with eight knockouts. Zutis, 255 lbs of Sabile, LAT is 7-2-2.

Dusmatov stops Kizota in 2

2016 Olympic Gold Medal winner Harsanboy Dusmatov stopped Muhsin Kizota in round two of their scheduled 10-round light-flyweight bout.

In round one, Dusmative dropped Kizota with a left over the top. In that same right, Dusmatov was cut around the right eye. In round two, Dusmatov landed another perfect left that put Kizota down for a second time. Moments later, it was a short left on the inside the put Kizota down again. Kizota was able to go on, but only a couple of seconds later, one more flush left forced the referee to stop the fight at 2:02,

Dusmatov, 108 lbs of Uzbekistan is 3-0 with three knockouts. Kizota, 108 lbs of Tanzania is 11-3.

Mirazizbek Mirzakhlilov made a successful pro debut with a first-round stoppage over Tasha Mjuaji schedueld six-round super bantamweight bout

In round one, Mirzakhalilov dropped Mjuaji with a right hand. Seconds later it was another right t hat sent Mjuaji down for the 10-count at 2:24.

Mirzakhlilov, 121.9 lbs of Tanzania is 1-0 with one knockout. Mjuaji of Tanzania is 17-8-2.

Dillian Whyte got his revenge as he stopped former world champion Alexander Povetkin in round four of a scheduled 12-round fight and win the WBC Interim Heavyweight title at the island of Girbralter.

Whyte rocked Povetkin from the outset as the former champ looked unsteady on his legs in almost every round. In round four, Whyte landed a big right hand that sent Povetkin sprawling into the ropes, and a wicked left hook sent a prone Povetkin down to the canvas just as the towel from Povetkin’s corner came flying in and the fight was stopped at 2:39.

Whyte was knocked out by Povetkin last August, but now the Englishman is back in line to get a world title shot. The 247.2 pound native of Brixton, ENG is 28-2 with 19 knockouts. Povetkin, 228 lbs of Russia is 36-3.

“I’m happier for my team than I am for me because some of my staff missed Christmas with their families,” Whyte told Matchroom. “They stayed back to help me train. They did so much behind the scenes to get me into the position for a World Title fight.

“I was so close, and then one lapse in concentration and I made a mistake. Tonight, I was like ‘yo’, I’m looking to beat some a** tonight. I was trying to get it done in the first round but then I had to relax. Anybody on the planet that gets hit with that left hook, they’re going down. Some of them might get up but most will stay down. He was kind of badly hurt. Now I feel bad. I want him to go home to his family healthy. 

“Everyone says a lot of things about me like I’m not this and I’m not that. These guys don’t know me. These guys don’t know what I’m capable of and what I can do. When I read the comments about me, I just laugh. I just laugh at these guys because I’m as strong as steel.

“One loss, two loss so what. It was a good learning fight for me because I had to think in there. I was rushing him but I had to think also. He’s still very heavy-handed and he’s still very good. I’m going to spend some time with my family and just relax. I’ll probably call Eddie tomorrow and ask him what we’re doing next. I want to make the most of it now and retire good and healthy.”

Wardley Stops Molina in 5

Fabio Wardley remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over former two-time-world title challenger Eric Molina in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round five, it was actually Molina who was pushing Wardley back by landing some good right hands. Molina was on the offensive when Wardley landed a short left that was followed by a right that put Molina on his back for the 10-count at 52 seconds.

Wardley, 232 lbs of Ipswich, ENG is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Molina, 251.5 lbs of Texas is 27-7.

“My corner weren’t too happy because sometimes I get a little bit, not lose my head, but I get a little bit bored of playing the long game and waiting it through in the tactics side,” Wardley told Sky Sports. “My heart won over a bit and I got stuck into a little bit of a war.

“I’m by no means the finished article. I’ve still got a lot to learn and that’s why we need fights like that because in other fights I’ve had where I’ve hit people, I’ve stuck it on them and they’ve gone missing. Molina didn’t go missing until we really had to dig it out.

“There was a few lessons there for us to watch back and for us to tick off. We’ll go back to the drawing board and figure them out. I needed this type of fight at this stage of my career. You can do it as much as you want in sparring and all of those type of things but it’s different when you get here under the bright lights.

“You need to test yourself in different ways and that’s what tonight was all about. I don’t go hunting for names, that’s not my style. I don’t go calling people out. I’m going for Titles, belts and accolades. That’s where we’re going next. We’re still trying to build and get those good level of opponents. At the same time, I’m now looking for that next step up. European, Commonwealth or British, something like that.”

Cheeseman stops Metcalf in 11

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Ted Cheeseman stopped previously undefeated James Metcalf in round 11 of their scheduled 12-round junior middleweight fight.

Both guys were hurt during the entertaining fight. Cheeseman seemed to have the fight in hand on several occasions, yet Metcalf would fight back with heart and desire each time. In round 11, Cheeseman landed a perfect left hook just as the bell sounded that sent Metcalf to the deck. Metcalf got to his feet, but stumbled forward, and the fight was stopped at 3:10.

Cheeseman, 154 lbs of Bernmondsey, ENG is 17-2-1 with 10 knockouts. Metcalf, 154 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 21-1.

“Again and again I’m in exciting fights,” said Cheeseman. “I’m always in entertaining fights. I’m improving and maturing. I’m working hard in the gym. Everyone doubted me and thought that I had a lot of miles on the clock. I’m still fresh as a daisy, and again I’ve cemented myself as the number one domestic Super-Welterweight.

“I felt I won the first five or six rounds. I nearly had him out of there in the fourth. I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to waste too much energy’. I used my experience and had a couple of rounds off. I don’t think he’d ever done the 12 rounds. Then it was time for me to step it up, bully him and push him back.

“It’s great to be in these fights because they’re entertaining. I’m looking forward to the future now. For a long while I was down, and everyone thought I was out. Now I’m flying again. The bookies had me as an underdog and a lot of people thought that I was going to get beat. I outboxed him, I outfought him and I knocked him out. I showed how good I am, and I showed how much I’ve improved.”

Campbell Hatton wins Pro Debut

Campbell Hatton made his pro debut and won a decision over Jesus Ruiz in a four-round lightweight bout.

Hatton, who is the son of former two-division world champion Ricky Hatton and is trained by uncle and former world title challenger Matthew Hatton won by a score of 40-36. Ruiz of Spain is 0-11.

“At first, I was a little bit disappointed in myself,” said Hatton. “I spoke to Matt and he’s always dead honest with me. A bit brutal at times. He said I could have done better but I definitely didn’t box badly. He said I boxed really well in patches and I should be pleased with it.

“There was a lot of pressure. I did the one thing I said all week that I didn’t want to do, I let the occasion get to me a bit. Now that occasion is out of the way, it can only get better. I’m pleased and I’m buzzing. It’s a dream come true. There’s no feeling like it. You always hear people say it on the telly. I didn’t realise how true it was.

“When the music started coming on, I think everyone could see how fired up I was. That’s probably what made me put the performance in that I did. I smothered myself a little bit, but I feel on top of the world. Eddie said there that I’d be out next on the Chisora undercard. I’ll have a couple of shandies tonight and then straight back into the gym next week. I think the second fight is going to be ten times better now I’ve got that first taste of things.”

McKinson Decisions Kongo

In a battle of undefeated welterweights, Michael McKinson won a 10-round unanimous decision over Chris Kongo.

In round one, McKinson dropped Kongo in round one with a left on the inside.

McKinson, 146.2 lbs of Portsmouth, ENG won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-94 to raise his mark to 20-0. Kongo, 147 lbs of Bermondsey, ENG is 12-1.

“I feel on top of the word,” said McKinson. “I’ve done things the hard way in my career. For many years I’ve been calling for my shot on the big stage and I never thought it would happen. I’ve been beating people for hardly anything to work my record up to 20-0.

“Fair play to Chris, Dillian and Eddie for giving me the opportunity. I didn’t think it was ever going to happen. A big shout out to my management team MTK Global and Lee Eaton for securing me this. I believe that my career starts tonight. There was a lot of people in the boxing world that didn’t have me down as the favourite. All of my mates have made money tonight! I’m happy. I’m bringing this belt back to Portsmouth.

“In the week we’ve had a lot of hype around this fight. Everyone has been talking about it. I know he’s a respectful lad deep down, and so am I. But it did get a bit heated and everyone was questioning if it was going to live up to the hype. I think it was a bit boring, but I did what I had to do to win. Great champions do what they have to do to win and I did that tonight.

“I hope Eddie can give me the opportunities; its winner stays on. I just hope I can get on one of these shows again. Like I said in all of my interviews before, Chris is the most dangerous Welterweight out there I the UK I believe but he has his weaknesses. I believe in myself. I’ve got a great team around me. I’ve given my life to this sport and it’s paid off tonight.

“I believe I’m top of the tree. There’s a lot of talk. I’ve got respect for all of the other Welterweights. Josh Kelly, Conor Benn and Florian Marku. It’s a great time to be a Welterweight domestically at the moment. I deserve the Conor Benn fight more than any other domestic fighter.”

Webb Stops Pfeifer in 2

Nick Webb stopped Paul Pfeifer in round two of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Webb sent Pfeifer down with a hard right hand. Webb dropped Pfeifer two more times, and the fight was stopped at 1:51.

Webb, 262 lbs of Surrey, ENG is 17-2 with 13 knockouts. Pfefier, 246.2 lbs of Germany is 7-1.

“I feel on top of the world,” said Webb..“Tonight before we went in we had a talk – start fast, get him out of there, we don’t get paid for overtime.  

“Everyone doubts me, but I have come here and made a statement. So, don’t doubt me no more. I want more belts, more Titles, get me out. I always believed in my self and my team believed in me too.

“It’s indescribable. I’m so happy. I’ve been through so much pain and hurt. I put everything into that. Everything into my training camp. To get a win like that is sending the right message. It’s a big win.

“Pfeifer is a great man; he was a great amateur and he had some great fights and great wins as an amateur. We knew what was in front of us, and we knew that we didn’t want to get involved with a boxing match. I just wanted to go in and destroy him.

“We said in the changing room to start fast and hit him quick, and that’s exactly what we did. Everyone overlooks me and everyone doubts me. It’s all about self-belief and mind games. When you’ve got bombs to back the mind games up, it’s all good.”

Seven-Division world champion Amanda Serrano stopped three-division world champion retained the WBC/WBO Featherweight titles with a ninth round stoppage over Daniela Bermudez in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

It was an entertaining fight that saw Serrano land heavy punches throughout the contest.

In round nine, Serrano landed a perfect left to the body that sent Bermudez down on a delayed reaction for the 10-count at 1:33.

Serrano, 124.8 lbs of Carolina, PR is 40-1-1 with 30 knockouts. Bermudez, 125 lbs of Argentina is 29-4-3.

“I mean, this is boxing. I am not invisible, I get hit,” said Serrano who lives and trains out of Brooklyn, N.Y. “I knew I was a lot bigger than her. I was listening to my corner to box and I wanted to put on a show in front of my island and that’s what I did. The knockout came in the ninth which shows that I have power until the very end.”

“I want to become undisputed,” stated Serrano. “I want to be the first undisputed champion to come out of my beautiful island of Puerto Rico. That’s definitely my goal – IBF, WBA. Nothing against any champion but I want those belts. If they want to become undisputed champion, then they need to come through me too, so we need each other.”

Caraballo Stops Leonardo Baez in 4!

Carlos Caraballo stopped Leonardo Baez in round four of their scheduled eight-round super bantamweight bout.

In round two, Caraballo put Baez on the floor after a vicious flurry of hard punches that was capped by three flush uppercuts. In round four, Caraballo pounded away with huge shots, and the towel was thrown in at 2:36.

Caraballo, 120.2 lbs of Puerto Rico is 14-0 with 14 knockouts. Baez, 119.4 lbs of Mexicali, MEX is 18-4.

“I want to thank God, Ring City USA and NBC Sports Network for this opportunity,” said Caraballo. “What we did was worked that uppercut, we knew he was a big, strong guy. I knew I had to work that body and sooner or later the uppercut would come. When it did, we finished the fight.”

“I am 100% sure that I am the most distinguished prospect on the island,” boasted Caraballo. “My goal was to go in there and get a couple rounds in, and I got it done.”

Eduardo Baez Decisions Ortiz

Eduardo Baez won an eight-round unanimous decision over Abimael Ortiz in a super bantamweight bout.

Baez landed 366 of 1171 punches; Ortiz was 130 of 650.

Baez, 121.6 lbs of Mexicali, MEX won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 19-1-2. Ortiz, 121.6 lbs of Cidra, PR is 8-1-1.

“From the first to the last round we followed the strategy and that’s what gave us the victory,” said Eduardo Baez. “The strategy was to go forward without getting hit and that’s what we did.”

“Abimael is very strong physically and has power,” added Baez. “But I listened to my corner and have good physical condition and that was the key to win.”

“I wanted to show them that conditioning inside of the ring is key so I would throw a lot of punch combinations during sparring so that they would be used to that high intensity interval training in the ring,” said Chocolatito in a Ring City USA event earlier this week. “They always push forward in the ring and have great conditioning so that is a great factor.”

Juan Carlos Camacho won an eight-round split decision over Marvin Solano in a bantamweight fight.

In round eight, Camacho scored a knockdown with a right hand.

Camacho won two cards 76-75. Solano won a card 78-73.

Camacho, 116.4 lbs of Juana Diaz, PR is 12-1. Solano, 117.6 lbs of Juana Diaz, PR is 23-6.

Midyael Sanchez won an eight-round split-decision over Ryan Pino in a super welterweight bout,

In round two, Sanchez dropped Pino with a big left hook.

He needed that as Pino made a furious rally over the second half of the fight.

Sanchez, 149.6 lbs of San Juan, PR won two cards 76-75 while, Pino, 147.6 lbs of San Juan, PR took a card 76-75.

Sanchez is 9-1. Pino is 8-6-2.

Oscar Colllazo won a six-round unanimous decision over Francisco Bonilla in a flyweight bout.

Collazo, 111.6 lbs of Puerto Rico won by scores of 60-54 on all cards is now 3-0. Bonilla, 11.6 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX is 6-10-3.

Arely Mucino won an eight-round unanimous decision over Lucia Hernandez in a super flyweight bout.

In round eight, Mucino landed a short right that made the Glove of Hernandez touch the ground for a knockdown.

Muciono, 115 lbs of Monterrey, MEX won by scores of 80-71 on all cards, and is now 29-3-2. Hernandez, 109.2 lbs of Mexico City, MEX is 7-11.

Angel Carranza won a four-round unanimous decision over Eduardo Melendez in a lightweight bout.

In round one, Carranza dropped Melendez with a short left hook.

Carranza, 131 1/2 lbs of Hatillo, PR won by scores of 40-35 on all cards, and is now 2-0. Melendez, 130 3/4 lbs of Santa Isabel, PR is 5-30.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. remained perfect by stopping former world champion Maurice Hooker in seven entertaining rounds at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

The two stood toe-to-toe for most of the fight Ortiz landed the harder blows as he rocked Hooker several times. Hooker was able to get in some good shots of his own and the effects of those punches showed on the swelled up face of Ortiz.

In round six, Ortiz landed a hard right that sent Hooker back to the corner and eventually down.

In round seven, it was a right to the side of the head that sent Hooker to a knee, and the fight was over at 36 seconds.

Ortiz, 147 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX is 17-0 with knockouts, Hooker, 147 lbs of Dallas, TX is 27-2-3.

Estrada Decisions Ortiz; Wins WBA Minimumweight title

Seniesa Estrada won the WBA Minimumweight Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over long reigning champ Anabel Ortiz.

In round two, Estrada put Ortiz on the deck with a big left hand.

Estrada landed 163 of 511 punches; Ortiz was 102 of 373.

Estrada, 104.4 lbs of E. Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 100-89 twice and 99-90 and is now 20-0. Ortiz, 105 lbs of Mexico City, MEX is 31-4.

Marcelino Lopez stops Jairo Lopez in five

Marcelino Lopez stopped Jairo Lopez in round five of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

In round two, Marcelino dropped Jairo with a left hook. In round three, it was a right that sent Jairo to a knee. In round four, Jairo went down from what looked like a push, yet was scored a knockdown. In the same round Marcelino was cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt. In round five, Marcelino dropped Jairo in the corner for the 10-count, and the fight was over at 1:24.

Marcelino, 140.8 lbs of Arribenos, ARG is 37-2-1 with 22 knockouts. Jairo, 139.2 lbs of Apodaca, MEX is 27-12.

Kalkreuth Blows Out Long in 1

Tristan Kalkreuth destroyed Dustin Long in round one of a scheduled six-round cruiserweight fight.

Kalkreuth landed a huge barrage of punches in the corner and finally sent Long to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:18.

Kalkreuth, 198 lbs of Duncanville, TX is now 8-0 with six knockouts. Long, 199.8 lbs of Johnson City, TN is now 4-2-2.

Alex Martin won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Luis Hernandez in a junior welterweight bout.

Martin, 140 lbs of Chicago, IL won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 16-3. Hernandez, 139.4 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX is 21-1.

George Rincon won a eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Solis in a super lightweight bout.

Rincon, 139.2 lbs of Dallas, TX is 11-0. Solis, 139.8 lbs of Merida, MEX is 25-12-4.

Hector Valdez won a eight-round unanimous decision over Alberto Torres in a super bantamweight bout.

Valdez, 121.6 lbs of Dallas, TX is 14-0. Torres, 121.4 lbs of Sacramento, CA is 11-4-3.

Lawrence Okolie scored a 6th round stoppage over former world champion Krzystof Glowacki to win the WBO World Cruiserweight championship at the SSE Arena in London, England.

In round five, Glowacki started to bleed over his right eye. In round six, Okolie landed a stabbing right to the body that sent Glowacki on his back. He got up but the fight was stopped.

Okolie, 199.6 lbs of Hackney, England is now 16-0 with 13 knockouts. Glowacki, 195 lbs of Walcz, POL is 31-3.

“I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” said Okolie. “It’s nice hearing you say it. I’m happy. For me, it’s more of a relief. The potential has been there for over a year. I’m happy to get the victory. Now and forever, I’ll be a World Champion.

“I was just really focused on putting on a good performance. I’m physically very strong and punch hard. I’m very fit, so I can win on just those attributes at a certain level. I really focused on not rushing any shots because he’s very dangerous with counter shots and he’s very heavy-handed. His jabs were very solid, so I had to be very meticulous in keeping the distance. It was a good clean performance.

“All of the British former World Champions wishing me good fortune really touched me – shout out to them. From every run that I ever did, losing all of that weight, deciding to take a risk, having my parents support me financially when I couldn’t afford to get the bus down to the gym for training. To see it all pay off with a World Title is a dream come true – never give up. We can just go on from here. I need to keep pushing myself to prove myself as the best.”

Cordina Decisions Kourbanov

Joe Cordina remained undefeated by winning a 10-round majority decision over Faroukh Kourbanov in a junior lightweight bout.

Cordina, 132,4 lbs of Cardiff, Wales won by scores of 98-93, 96-95 and 96-96 and he is now 12-0. Kaourbanov, 130.5 lbs of Liege, BEL is 17-3.

“I didn’t think it was close at all,” said Cordina. “I think he nicked one or two rounds, maybe three. I was comfortable and I didn’t really get out of second gear. I let him work a couple of times throughout the rounds, maybe I shouldn’t have. I got a good valuable ten rounds out of that and it’s something to build on. I’ll put on a better performance in my next fight.

“It wasn’t about just going out there and trying to blow him out of there. We knew he was tough, that’s why we chose him. Both of his losses before me were to European Champions. He’s gone the distance a lot of times, we knew he was durable. We got the rounds under our belt and I felt I hurt him a couple of times. He was cute at times.

“I had 16 months out of the ring. He came to win and that’s what I wanted. The hand felt fine, I let it go a few times. I didn’t want to overdo it. Tony told me to let the shots flow so that’s what I did. I shouldn’t have any problems with my hand now. It’s time to build on that. If I want to be a World Champion, I have to get past people like Kourbanov. I didn’t really get out of second gear.”

Fowler Takes out Fortea in 3

Anthony Fowler stopped Jorge Fortea at in round three of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight fight.

At the end of round three, Fowler landed a booming right hand that sent Fortea to the canvas. With Fortea hurt, Fowler was able to land a hard combination that crashed Fortea down againm and the fight was stopped at 3:08.

Fowler, 153.8 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 14-1 with 11 knockouts. Fortea, 152.9 lbs of Sueca, SPA is 21-3-1.

“I surprised myself, I’m not going to lie,” said Fowler. “I thought it was going to go to points. I half play myself down. He just went 12 rounds with a Russian 18-0 killer, IBF No.1. I’m boxing at a much lower level. I’m the first one to admit that.

“I get a few trolls sometimes telling me that I’m boxing at English Title level and they’re right, it’s not my fault. I’m asking for these big fights. I haven’t been getting them. I’ve said to Eddie, ‘throw me in mate, let’s see what I’m made of’. Try and get me smashed and let’s see how I get on.

“He went down from a stiff jab which I was surprised about. I heard Shane say, ‘don’t rush it’, but I knew there was ten seconds left so I thought ‘f*ck it’. I had to throw one bomb at least, luckily enough it landed. He was actually better than I thought he was going to be.

“The first round was even and in the second round he caught me with a good shot. The jab was landing but he was quite tricky. I started throwing to his body to slow him down. The finish was nice, it was a nice straight hand. I was glad he stayed down; it could have been a long night that.

“I could have cried in that ring; it means that much to me. My coach genuinely believes in me more than me. I’ve got the power in both hands and I’ve got the ability. Me and Metcalf is an unbelievable fight. I know he wants it; I’ve heard him talking about it. The whole city would be buzzing. Put me in with Garcia and I’ll beat him too.”

Scotney Decisions Gangloff

Ellie Scotney won a six-round unanimous decision Mailys Gangloff in a featherweight bout.

Scotney, 123 lbs of Catford, ENG won by a 59-55 score and is 2-0. Gangloff, 119 lbs of France is now 4-2.

“It was definitely a learning fight for me for sure,” said Scotney. “Normally in your second fight you’re going to box someone that’s not coming to win. She wasn’t an idiot; she’d had five fights. I learnt a lot from that and there’s a lot to build on. I’m thankful for that.

“She was very angry wasn’t she. She’s as tough as they come, and I think I’m going to benefit a lot from it. It’ll give me a kick up the backside. I’ve got a lot more work to put in, which I love doing. I’ve got a long way to go.

“It was my birthday this week, I’ve just turned 23, I want to push on and I know I’ve got it in me. Now it’s time to start delivering. Women’s boxing is going from strength to strength. Hopefully I can get on the undercard of one of the big ones in May.”

Billam-Smith Decisions Ducar

Chris Billam-Smith won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vasil Ducar in a cruiserweight bout.

In round two, Billam-Smith started bleeding from the mouth. In round four, Billam-Smith hurt Ducar with a counter right and then jumped on him with solid punches for a knockdown.

In round six, Billam-Smith dropped Ducar with a body shot.

Billam-Smith, 199 lbs of Bournemouth, ENG won by sores of 99-90 twice and 97-92 and is now 12-1. Ducar, 198.8 lbs of Brno, Czech Republic is 9-4-1.

“I felt comfortable in there at all times, even when he had his little spurts,” said Smith. “It was really good for me. I thought I was going to become the first man to stop him. I had him down a couple of times, but he was a tough tough man. If I was going to rate it out of ten, I’d probably give myself a 6.5 or 7 out of ten.

“I’ve got plenty to work on in the gym and I can improve a lot. The main thing was getting the win. I got that and I’m happy. I hit him with a great body shot, I felt it really sink in, and then I dropped him to the head as well. He was dipping and I was trying to hit him just over the top of his gloves. Those Czechs are tough and all respect to him.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get the stoppage, but the main important thing was the win. I switched off a couple of times during the fight because I felt very comfortable. I let my hands get leaky probably two or three times during the fight and he clipped me, but I wasn’t buzzed or hurt at all. I saw everything coming so you can always take something out of the shots.

“I’ve definitely got improvements to make. That was my 13^th fight and I’m always about improving every day in the ring. I’m very grateful to have such great stablemates and such a great coach. I’d love to get the Tommy McCarthy fight as soon as possible.”

Ali Decisions Connolly

Ramla Ali remained undefeated with a decision over Bec Connolly in a sex-round featherweight bout.

In round five, Ali was cut around her left eye from an elbow.

Ali, 126.6 lbs of Bethenal Green, ENG won by a 60-55 score and is now 2-0. Connolly, 126.5 lbs of Swindon, ENG is 3-9.

“Apart from the shiner on my face I’m very satisfied,” Ali told Matchroom. “Regardless of what the scales said, I gave away about half a stone. I weighed-in in like two pairs of jogging bottoms just so I could match the weight. I felt the weight difference for sure, but I tried to not let her use her weight advantage against me.

“I tried to maintain the centre of the ring as much as possible, which I did. I’m really satisfied with how I performed. She’s tough but I got it done. Jobi always says you can’t beat the feet – and he’s right! I was always moving off from the double jab. We work a lot on footwork, and I feel like I did really well with my footwork.

“She was the one calling me out saying that she wanted to fight me. Don’t then turn around and complain that you’ve had short notice. You’re a professional, if I was calling someone out, I’d be ready any time. She said she had a couple of days’ notice. I don’t know what to say about that really.

“Everyone is nervous before getting in the ring because it means so much to you. You want to prove yourself and you want to show all of your friends and family that are watching at home that you’re worthy of watching. You want to put on a good performance and have a good fight. The moment that bell went all of the nerves went and I was razor focused on getting the job done. The Olympic dream is still alive and I’m still hopeful to go, and hopeful to compete. I’m still hoping to progress in my professional career.”

Arthur Beterbiev retained the IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight titles with a 10th round stoppage over Adam Deines in Moscow, Russia.

At the end of round one, Beterbiev dropped Deines with a grazing right to the top of the head.

In round 10, Beterbiev dropped Deines with a perfect left hook to the jaw and the fight was stopped.

Beterbiev is now 16-0. Deines of Germany is 19-2-1.

Silyagin Decisions Abdugufurov

Pavel Silyagin won a 12-round unanimous decision over Azibek Abdugufurov in a super middleweight featuring undefeated fighters.

Silyagin landed 189 of 704 punches; Abdugufurov was 119 of 485.

Silyagin, 167 3/4 lbs won by score of 120-108, 119-109 twice and is now 7-0. Abdugufurov, 167 3/4 lbs is 13-1.

Kahriton Agrba stopped Helber Rojas in round two of their super lightweight fight.

Agrba pounded away at Rojas until the bout was stopped at 2:30 of round two.

Agrba, 140 lbs of Russia is 5-0 with two knockouts. Rojas, 138 1/4 lbs of Venezuela is 13-4-2.

Alexander Besputin remained undefeated by stopping Viktor Plotnikov after round two of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

Besputin, 150.6 lbs of Russia is now 14-0 with 10 knockouts. Plotnikov, 149.5 lbs of Ukraine is 33-11.

Vladimir Mironchikov stopped Elvin Akhundzada after round one of their scheduled six-round super middleweight bout.

In round one, Mironchikov landed a hard right that forced Akhundzada to take a knee. The fight was halted after the round.

Mironchikov, 173 lbs of Russia is 3-0 with three knockouts. Akhundzada, 160.6 lbs of Azerbaijan is 4-6.

Vladimir Ivanov stopped Alexander Stepanov in the opening round of their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

Ivanov, 234 3/4 lbs of Russia is 4-0 with three knockouts. Stepanov, 249 1/2 lbs of Russia is 2-4.

Rakhman Akhmetkhanov stopped Adam Karpets in round two of their six-round middleweight bout.

Akhmetkhanov dropped Karpets with a left to the body for the 10-count.

Akhmetkhanov was making his pro debut. Karpets is 21-16.

Saul Sanchez stopped Frank Gonzalez in round one of a scheduled 10-round bantamweight fight at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC in Tampa, Florida.

In round one, Sanchez dropped Gonzalez with a hard right. A follow-up flurry sent Gonzalez into the ropes for an eight-count/ Gonzalez was not steady and went down again, and the fight was stopped.

Sanchez, 118 lbs of Pacoima, CA is 16-1 with nine knockouts. Gonzalez, 118 lbs of Hialeah, FL is 8-2.

Marcus Willis won a six-round unanimous decision over Aaron Garcia in a middleweight bout.

Willis, 160 lbs of Fort Myers, FL won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 20-7-2. Garcia, 158 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 16-10-1.

Julio Solis destroyed Nicholas Collins inside of a minute of their scheduled four round lightweight bout.

Solis dropped Collins in the opening seconds with a left hook. Seconds later it was a booming right to the head that put Collins down and out and the fight was stopped.

Solis, 135 lbs of Caguas, PR is 4-0 with all of his wins coming via stoppage. Collins, 137 lbs of Wasila, AK was making his pro debut.

Jamie Robinson and Billy Allington fought to a six-round draw in a junior welterweight contest.

The referee issued a 76-76 scpre.

Robinson, 141 3/4 lbs of Bolsover, ENG is 10-4-2. Allinson, 141 1/4 lbs of Echam, ENG is 8-1-3.

Nathan Bendon won a six-round decision over previously undefeated Erik Apresyan in a junior middleweight fight.

In round six, Apresyan was deducted a point for pushing Bendon down.

That was the difference as Bendon won by a 57-56 score.

Bendon, 155 lbs of Sutton Coldfiield, ENG is 4-3-1. Apresyan, 152 /34 lbs of Poland is 7-1.

Sean Duffy stopped Paul Holt in round three of a scheduled four-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Holt was cut around the right eye and Duffy was cut around the left eye.

In round three, Duffy dropped Holt with a body shot for the 10-count at 1:03.

Duffy, 134 lbs of Keady, IRL is 4-0 with two knockouts. Holt, 134 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 7-10.

Shabaz Masoud stopped Louis Norman in round four of their scheduled six-round super bantamweight bout.

In round four, Masoud landed a hard right that sent Norman to the canvas. Seconds later, Norman was knocked down again, and the towel from the corner was thrown in at 1:12.

Masoud, 122 1/4 lbs of Stoke-On-Trent, UK is 8-0 with two knockouts. Norman, 121 3/4 lbs of Shepsted, ENG is 14-9-1.

Angel Fierro shrugged off two early round knockdowns to come back and stop former junior lightweight beltholder Alberto Machado in round six of their 10-round lightweight bout in Salinas, Puerto Rico

In round one, Machado dropped Fierro with a perfect counter right. In round two, it was another right that put Fierro on the deck.

Fierro started turning momentum in round four by working the body, and in round six, he landed a vicious left-right combination hat sent Machado crashing to the canvas. Machado could not beat the count and the fight was stopped at 47 seconds.

Fierro of Tijuana, MX is now 18-1-1 with 14 knockouts. Machado, 136 lbs of Rio Piedras, PR is 22-3.

“I’m happy, I faced a top-notch fighter tonight in Alberto Machado,” said Fierro, who was a three-to-one underdog. “He is world class and dropped me twice. But I am ecstatic that I was able to come back and beat a fighter of his caliber.”

“He dropped me twice in the beginning of the fight,” added Fierro. “When I got back to my corner, I told them, ‘remind me of my daughter.’ Because with this fight I can change her life and that’s exactly what they did after the third round. They motivated me and that’s exactly what I did.”

“We found a lot of gaps in Machado’s game in the sixth round,” stated Fierro. “I took advantage of them and I turned it around. I told you in the interview (before the fight), I didn’t come here to be a tourist in Puerto Rico. I came here to win.”

Ibarra Decisions Cornejo

Alma Ibarra won a eight-round unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo in a middleweight bout.

Ibarra, 156 lbs of Monterrey, MEX won by scores of 79-73 twice and 77-75 and is now 8-1. Cornejo, 158 1/2 lbs of Los Angles is 13-5.

“Now the world knows who Alma Ibarra is and what she is made of,” said the victor. “To everyone, I was a stranger. And to fight against someone who is very recognized worldwide in Maricela Cornejo and beat her, this opened many doors for us.”

“I felt very good, very strong, as this is a division that I am not used to,” said Ibarra. “I always fight in lower divisions, we had to go up two divisions to take this great opportunity, and well, I think we were not wrong to take this risk.”

Martinez and Gonzalez fight to Draw

Jose Martinez and Israel Gonzalez fought to a 10-round draw in a super flyweight bout.

Gonzalez took a card 96-94 while two cards read even at 95-95.

Martinez, 117 3/4 of Las Marias, PR is now 21-1-3. Gonzalez, 117 lbs of Las Cabos, MEX is 26-4-1.

“I felt his punches, but I was the superior fighter tonight,” said Gonzalez. “He might have won three rounds but it’s OK. I’m thankful to Puerto Rico and all of the people that gave me an opportunity to be here.”

“I feel happy, satisfied with the work I did,” said Martinez. “I understand that I was fighting against a strong opponent and that I won. I pushed more. I was on top of him, but these things happen in boxing. Now it’s a matter of continuing to train, maintain myself and seek that title opportunity.”

Former world champion Angel Acosta won an eight-round unanimous decision over Gilberto Mendoza in a flyweight contest.

In Round seven, Acosta dropped Mendoza with a left hook.

Acosta, 114 lbs of San Juan, PR won by scores of 79-72 on all cards and is now 22-2. Mendoza, 113 lbs of Modesto, CA is 17-10-3.

Edwin Valentin stopped Hector Marengo at the start of round five of a scheduled six-round lightweight bout.

Marengo did not answer the bell to start the fifth round, but the official time was 11 seconds.

Valentin, 135 lbs of Salinas, PR is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Marengo, 135 1/4 lbs of Arecibo, PR is 7-15-4.

Jose Roman remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Roque Junco.

Roman, 146 1/2 lbs of Bayamon, PR won by scores of 80-71 and 80-72 twice and is now 11-0. Junco, 146 lbs of Cordobo, ARG is 10-8-1.

Joe Ward avenged his lone professional setback by pounding out a six-round unanimous decision over Marco Delgado in a light heavyweight fight.

Ward, 173.8 lbs of Moate, IRL won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 3-1. Delgado, 173.6 lbs of Turlock, CA is 7-2.

Former two-time world champion David Benavidez stopped Ronald Ellis in round 11 of a scheduled 12-round welterweight bout at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Benavidez dominated the action against Ellis, who hung in there and tried to mount some offense, but Benavidez just had more weapons at his disposal and slowly broke down Ellis. Ellis was never knocked down in the fight, took a huge barrage of punches in the 11th frame, and the bout was stopped at 2:03.

Benavidez of Phoenix is now 24-0 with 21 knockouts. Ellis of Lynn, MA is 18-2-2.

Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

David Benavidez

“I rate my performance pretty good but I know I could have done better. Ronald Ellis is a tough competitor. I just hope the fans like what they saw. I threw a lot of combinations, punches in bunches. There were a lot of times I thought Ellis was going to quit but he didn’t. Hats off to him, he’s a tough guy. It was a little later than I wanted but a stoppage is still a stoppage. I hope the fans got a good show tonight.

“I was just head hunting in the beginning. My game plan wasn’t going to the body until I kinda figured out he wasn’t really blocking those punches. I should have gone to the body earlier, I would have stopped him earlier.

“I wasn’t really tired at all. I think that’s what working in Big Bear does. Working in that high altitude makes your stamina crazy. This was the first time I’ve been on weight the whole week. So I just relaxed. With the diet I had and going back to Big Bear, I could stay at 168 for three more years. At the end of the day, I deserve to give my fans 110% of myself every time I step into training camp and Big Bear is that sweet spot for me.

“I want all the big guys. Speaking for the fans too, they would love to see me against all the big guys because as you can see, I love throwing punches. I love stopping people so me versus any big name would be an amazing fight. I want [Jermall] Charlo, Canelo Alvarez, Caleb Plant, all of them.

“I’m willing to fight in August or September, whoever they want me to fight against. I just turned 24, I like to get paid so I would like to fight two more times this year. Whatever my company says, I’m down for whatever they want me to do.

“Jermall Charlo was talking about me, saying he was going to knock me out. If it’s that easy, come do it. I feel like it makes sense for the company, for me and him – we both need that big step up to move on to bigger things. I think that would be a great fight. He said he wants to move up to 168. Now he’s back-peddling.

“I definitely feel like I would beat Canelo Alvarez and I feel like it would be a great fight for the fans too. At the end of the day, people want to see great fights and fireworks and that’s what I give. There are still some things I need to work on in the gym but I feel like I still beat Canelo at the end of the day. I’m getting more experience.

“I’m the youngest guy on this roster and I’ll knock everybody out if that’s what it takes to get some of you in the ring. Come see me.”

Ronald Ellis

“Hell yeah I wanted to finish. I didn’t want to give him that satisfaction. I could have moved a little bit more and not taken so many shots to the head. Hats off to him. He did what he had to do. He never hurt me, that’s the funny thing. I took a lot of shots but he didn’t damage me or have me super hurt. I never thought about quitting. I’m pissed.

“I could have popped the jab and controlled things a little bit more and not let him smother me. I thought that I was in shape enough to absorb all those shots. I just kept telling them to let me go one more round. You can’t cry over spilled milk. We’ll be back here and get a crack at it next time.”

Cruz Decisions Romero

Isaac Cruz won a 12-round unanimous decision over Matias Romero in a lightweight bout.

In round six, Cruz was deducted a point for low blows.

Cruz landed 156 of 552 punches; Romero was 196 of 616.

Cruz won by scores of 118-109, 115-112 and 114-113 and is now 21-1-1. Romero is now 24-1.

Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

Isaac Cruz

“He was a fighter who didn’t want to exchange punches. We initiated the fight. He didn’t give any show at all.

“I was very fed up with the clinches – there was never a warning toward him. I did my best out there. Not the best way I wanted to do it but thank God we won the fight and we’re taking the victory home.

“He didn’t come to win. He was a very, very dirty fighter who had no interest in fighting with me. He was desperate. I’m not happy about the style of the fight but I am satisfied I took the victory home and we’ve come to the number-one spot in the WBA.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen [as far as the judges]. We forced the fight at all times and it would have been very impossible for the judges to do something to me when I was the one pushing the fight.”

Matias Romero:

“Obviously, I’m not happy with the decision. I thought maybe it was a draw. But I’m not going to argue. I did what I could. I think I could have worked a little more to the body and maybe grabbed a little less.

“Overall I’m happy with my performance. He’s supposed to the be the ‘Pitbull’ and I went the distance. You have to take the opportunities when they are presented and I wish I would have had more time to get ready for this fight.”

Gausha stops Clark in 2

Terrell Gausha stopped Jamontay Clark in round two of their 10-round super welterweight bout.

Gausha dropped Clark with a hard counter right in the 2nd frame. Gausha was all over Clark and landed a barrage of punches, and the fight was stopped at 2:44.

Gausha, 154 1/2 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 22-2-1 with 11 knockouts. Clar, 154 1/2 lbs of Cincinnati, OH is 15-2-1.

Terrell Gausha

“I knew Jamontay was a tough kid. I’ve been watching him since Cleveland so I knew about him already. I felt like I had a chance to knock him out but I didn’t know how the fight would play out. But I feel I did good, executed the game plan. My coaches had been studying film and we executed.

“I just took my time. I was setting traps. I knew he would be open eventually, but I had to be cautious too because he’s a rangy guy, has a good left hand. But I knew there were holes in his game and we executed. When the opportunity presented itself, we landed that big right hand.

“I didn’t know how early it would be. I felt like I could knock him out, but I thought it would take a few more rounds. I knew if I had him hurt that I would get him out of there. I noticed he was throwing a left hand but he was bringing it low. I couldn’t capitalize on it just then but I knew eventually I would get to him.

“I’m looking to fight in maybe June. I want the names out there. Obviously, all the belts are over here. I want to be a world champion so I’m looking to fight whoever I need to fight to get to the belts.

“I would definitely love a [Erickson Lubin] rematch. It’s all up in the air right now, but I’m one of those guys who loves a challenge. I’ve never said no to a fight if it makes sense. Erickson Lubin obviously he won that last fight. I would definitely like to avenge that loss. You’ve got [Erislandy] Lara out there, you’ve got a lot of people out there so I’m open to any fight. I’m going to be right back in the gym and stay ready.

“I know I made a statement tonight. I put the division on notice. I’m locked and loaded and I’m ready. I’m here.”

Juan Francisco had to wait over eight years, but he got even and won a 12-round split decision over Roman Gonzalez in another classic and win the WBA to add to his WBC Super Flyweight title at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Like the first fight, the two never strayed more then a couple feet from each other and threw over a combined 2500 punches and landed over 700.

The judges favored the harder punches of Estrada to the the volume of Gonzalez.by scores of 117-111 and 115-113. Gonzalez took a card 115-113.

Estrada landed 314 of 1212 punches; Gonzalez 391 of 1317.

The fight warrants a trilogy and most likely there will be Estrada took cards

Estrada is now 42-3. Gonzalez is 50-3.

McCaskill Decisions Braekhus again; Retains Undisputed Welterweight Titles

Jessica McCaskill won her 2nd consecutive unanimous decision victory over Cecilia Braekhus to retain the undisputed welterweight titles.

In round seven, Braekhus was deducted a point for holding.

McCaskill landed 131 of 493 punches; Braekhus was 94 of 337.

McCaskill, 144.6 lbs of Chicago won by scores of 100-89, 99-90 and 98-91 and is now 10-2. Braekhus, 145 lbs or Bergen, NOR is 36-2.

Kyoguchi Retains Light-Fly Title after Vega Hurts Hand

Hiroto Kyoguchi retained the WBA Light Flyweight title with a 5th round stoppage over Axel Vega, when the challenger hurt his hand.

In the 5th round, Vega landed a shot to the head, then he turned around and jumped in obvious pain and the fight was stopped at 1:32

Kyoguchi, 107.8 lbs of Tokyo, JAP is 15-0 with 10 Knockouts. Vega, 107.2 lbs of Ensanada, MEX is 14-4-1.

Williams Decisions Douglin

Austin Williams remained undefeated by winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Denis Douglin in a middleweight contest.

Williams landed 154 of 407 punches; Douglin was 81 of 379.

Williams 162 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 79-73 twice and 77-75 and is now 8-0. Douglin, 161.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 22-8.

Ford and Perez Battle to a draw

Raymond Ford and Aaron Perez battled to an eight-round draw of undefeated featherweights.

In round five, Ford was cut around the right eye.

Ford, 126.8 lbs of Camden, NJ won a card 77-75; Perez won a card 78=74 and a third card was even at 76-76.

Ford landed 129 of 488 punches; Perez was 97 of 385.

Ford is 8-0-1. Perez, 127.2 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 10-0-1.

In round five, Cissokho dropped Echevarria with a right hand. Cissokho scored another knockdown in round six.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who was one of the greatest fighters of all-time and involved in many mega-fights in 1980’s has passed away according to TMZ.com, who quoted Hagler’s wife, Kay.

Hagler who was the Middleweight champion of the world from 1979-1987 made 13 defenses of his titles, including the likes of Roberto Duran and his memorable three-round war with Thomas Hearns,, and finished with a record of 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts.

No official cause of death is being reported, but the tweet posted by Kay Hagler said he passed away unexpectedly at his home in New Hampshire.

Hagler was 66 years-old.

Danail Ngiabphukiaw stopped Wichet Sengprakhun in round three of their six-round light flyweight bout.

In round two, Ngiabphukiaw dropped Sengprakhun. He scored two more knockdowns, and the bout was stopped.

Ngiabphukiaw is 8-2. Sengprakhun is 11-10.

Brandun Lee continued to be impressive in his early career as he stopped Samuel Teah in round three of a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout at The Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In round three, Lee dropped Teah with a hard right. Later in the round, Lee landed a booming right to the face that sent Teah plummeting on his back, and the fight was immediately stopped at 1:43.

Lee, 139 3/4 lbs of La Quinta, CA is 22-0 with 20 knockouts. Teah, 139 lbs of Philadelphia via Liberia is 17-4-1.

“Honestly, I don’t think I learned a whole lot tonight. I knew he couldn’t outbox me. I knew he couldn’t outpunch me. I knew the knockout was going to come and that one was definitely one of my top one or two favorites so far in my career.

“This is probably my biggest accomplishment yet. It was a step up in competition and even the betting odds were way closer than usual. Most of the time, I’m a -5,000 favorite or something like that and this time it was only -1,000. I was getting a lot of DM’s on Instagram and Twitter of people telling me that Sam is going to be tough. Sam is going to beat you. But hopefully, the doctors check him out and everything is all good.

“We just got the IBO intercontinental belt so I would like to get my hands on the IBO world title next. But at the end of the day, it’s all up to my manager Cameron Dunkin.”

White stops Lopez in 6

Jordan White stopped Misael Lopez in round six of a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.

In round six, White scored a knockdown with a hard right. Moments later, White landed a flush combination that sent Lopez down again, and the fight was stopped at 2:40.

White, 130 lbs of Waldorf, MD is 11-1 with nine knockouts. Lopez, 129 3/4 lbs of Denver CO is 10-1.

Steven Ortiz

“Honestly, I’d give myself a D. Only because I feel like I came out beautifully in the beginning and I stopped being consistent with the jab and stopped doing the things that were working. I hurt my right hand a little bit and he hit me in the back with a kidney shot that slowed me down a little bit, so I was upset at that. Besides that, we took on a guy that was 14-0 with 9 knockouts after a year-and-a-half layoff. Most guys would never do that.

“He was a good fighter. He was disciplined. If I didn’t have the long layoff, I would have stopped him. Guaranteed. I hurt him plenty of times. If I was just a little sharper and a little more consistent, I would have gotten him out of there.”

Ortiz Decisions Hill

Steven Ortiz won an eight-round unanimous decision over Jeremy Hill in a battle of undefeated lightweights.

Ortiz, 134 3/4 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 79-73 and 77-75 twice and is now 12-0. Hill, 134 3/4 lbs of New Orleans, LA is now 14-1.

Steven Ortiz

“Honestly, I’d give myself a D. Only because I feel like I came out beautifully in the beginning and I stopped being consistent with the jab and stopped doing the things that were working. I hurt my right hand a little bit and he hit me in the back with a kidney shot that slowed me down a little bit, so I was upset at that. Besides that, we took on a guy that was 14-0 with 9 knockouts after a year-and-a-half layoff. Most guys would never do that.

“He was a good fighter. He was disciplined. If I didn’t have the long layoff, I would have stopped him. Guaranteed. I hurt him plenty of times. If I was just a little sharper and a little more consistent, I would have gotten him out of there.”

Padilla Stops Velasquez in 5

Victor Padilla stopped Thomas Velasquez in round five of a scheduled eight-round bout of undefeated lightweights.

In round one, Velasquez landed a perfect counter right that sent Padilla down to the canvas.

In round five, Padilla rocked Velasquez with a right hook and and hurt Velasquez repeatedly until he fell on the canvas. With Velasquez hurt, Padilla rocked Velasquez several more times until the bout was stopped at 1:56.

Padilla, 134 lbs of Williamstown, NJ is 9-0 with eight knockouts. Velasquez, 135 lbs of Philadelphia is 10-1-1.

Victor Padilla

“You have to understand that I had a year off and there were a lot of emotions heading into this fight. My timing was a little off. I was trying to throw with a lot of power so that’s why I was missing so much. He wasn’t catching me but he was making me miss. By the start of the fourth round, I started to relax and I realized that when I started putting pressure on him he didn’t know what to do. I just needed to calm down and let the knockout come naturally.

“Next fight, you’re going to see a better me. That’s the plan. I’m growing. I’m just 22 years old. I’m growing in the sport and I’m growing as a man. I’m a lot wiser now. I’m happy for the opportunity and I thank SHOWTIME for the chance to show my talents. It wasn’t exactly the way we wanted, but we got the job done.

“Yes, he was making me miss a lot so I understand why I was behind on the scorecards. But I have power in both hands and that was always in my mind. I knew I was going to get him with one shot but there were just too many emotions. In the fifth round, I was completely calm and that’s when the knockout came.”

Thomas Velasquez

“I can’t say if the stoppage was early or not right away. I have to go back to the video and watch it. A fighter isn’t going to say that they should have called it.

“I was executing the game plan pretty well up until that point. It was just a real good punch that I didn’t see.”

Shinard Bunch won a tough eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Cameron Krael in the featured bout of a five-bout card at The Sportsplex in Feastrville, Pa.

The show was promoted by RDR Promotions.

It was a rugged battle as Krael was able to get a lot of things done by boxing, and working behind a nice long jab from the outside. Bunch, who has been the most active fighter in the sport, as he was making his fourth ring appearance of 2021, was aggressive and giving just as much (if not a little more) then he was getting.

Both fighters fought at a nice pace and had good work-rates, which provided very few lapses in action, A lot of the fights were close, but where Bunch was able to create space for himself were in a couple of the middle rounds, where Krael did not throw as many punches as he did in other rounds..

In the end, Bunch took the decision 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 to raise his mark to 14-1. Carael of Las Vegas is 17-18-3.

Rashiem Jefferson Jr remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Darel Harris in a scheduled six-round featherweight fight..

Jefferson dominated the action and stopped with a hard punch at 1:56.

Jefferson of Philadelphia is 5-0 with one stoppage. Harris of Sarasota, FL is

Nahir Albright stopped William Parra Smith in round two of a scheduled six-round lightweight bout.

Albright scored a knockdown in round two, and the fight was stopped at after a big flurry from Albright at 1:51.

Albright of Sicklerville, NJ is 10-1 with three knockouts. Smith of Anchorage, Alaska is 3-6-1.

Edgar Joe Cortes stopped Michael Stoute in round five of a scheduled six-round bantamweight contest.

Cortes dropped Stout twice in round five. The fight was stopped after Stout got to his feet after the 2nd knockdown, and the fight was stopped by the corner at 1:21.

Stoute of Vineland, NJ is 7-6-1 with one knockout. Stoute of Long Island, NY is 3-3-1.

Nasir Mickens remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Nathan Benichou in a junior lightweight bout.

Mickens scored a knockdown in round two. Benichou was deducted two points for spitting out his mouthpiece.

Mickens of Philadelphia won by scores of 39-35, 38-36 and 37-36 and is now 2-0. Nenichou of Mexico via France is 2-3.

Yomar Alamo won a 10-round unanimous decision over Jesus Alberto Beltran in a junior welterweight bout at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

Alamo, 139 lbs of Puerto Rico won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 19-0-1. Beltran, 140 lbs of Sinaloa, MEX is 17-4-2.

Gianny Garcia stopped Julio Buitrago in the 4th and final round of their super banamweight contest.

In round round four, Garica dropped Buitrago with a left to the body for the ten count.

Garcia, 121 lbs of Miami, FLA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Buitrago, 121 lbs of Managua, NIC is 13-27.

Former world title challenger and winner of The Contender, Brandon Adams scored a spectacular eighth-round stoppage to capture the WBC Continental America’s and WBO NABO Junior Middleweight titles over previously undefeated Serhii Bohachuk in the main event of a Ring City USA card at the Felix Pagan Pintor Gym in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

The was televised on NBC Sports Network.

Adams came out strong in the early rounds as he took control by working on the inside. In round three, he was questionably deducted a point for low blows that landed on the high belt line of Bohachuck.

Adams continued pushing on as he not only battled Bohachuck, but a slippery ring surface. The Watts, California native showed his championship experience as he hung tough in the middle rounds and waited for and eventually got his moment in round eight.

In that round, Adams landed a big left hook that hurt Bohachuk along the ropes. Adams jumped on his prey and landed another booming left hook on the chin that sent Bohachuk to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 2:47.

With the win, Adams, who is promoted by Banner Promotions and The Tournament of Contenders is now 23-3 with 15 knockouts. Bohachuk, who came in perfect, is now 18-1 with 18 knockouts.

Chevalier stops Zambrano in 5

Bryan Chevalier scored a fifth round stoppage over former world champion Carlos Zambrano in a eight-round super featherweight contest.

In round one, Chevalier sent Zambrano to the canvas with a right to the side of the head.

In round five, Chevalier dropped Zambrano with a hard body shot that was followed by a hard right to the head. Chevalier finished with a hard combination that sent Zambrano down in the corner, and the bout was halted at 2:21.

Chevalier, 127.4 lbs of Bayamon, PR is 15-1 with 12 knockouts. Zambrano, 127 lbs of Peru is 26-2.

Zorrilla Defeats Madiyev by Technical Decision

Danielito Zorrilla won a technical split decision over Ruslan Madiyev when Zorilla could not continue after being hit behind the head.

In round five, Madiyev was docked a point for hitting behind the head. The same occurrence happened in round eight and the fight was halted at 1:!3.

Zorrilla, 139.6 lbs of Toa Baja, PR won by scores of 77-74 and 77-75, while Madiyev took a card 76-73.

Zorrilla is now 15-0. Madiyev, 139.6 lbs of Kazakhstan is 13-2.

Fernando Vargas Jr. remained undefeated with a opening round stoppage over Salome Flores Torres in a scheduled four-round super middleweight bout.

In round one,, Vargas dropped Torres with a hard straight left. Torres was overmatched as Vargas rocked him with every punch and dropped him again with a hard combination and the fight was stopped at 2:13.

Vargas, 159.8 lbs of Oxnard, CA via Las Vegas is 2-0 with two knockouts. Torres, 162 lbs of Santa Ana, El Salvador is 0-3.

Harold Laguna stopped Darwin Alvarez in the opening round of their four-round super lightweight bout.

In round one, Laguna dropped Alvarez with a left hook to the body that was followed up by a left hook to the chin and the fight was stopped at 2:10.

Laguna, 135.2 lbs of Guaynabo, PR is 2-0 with two knockouts. Alvarez, 138.5 lbs of Toa Alta, PR is 0-1.

Jorge Diaz stopped Felipe Munoz in round two of a scheduled four-round welterweight bout featuring pro debuters.

Diaz landed a perfect left hook that sent Munoz down on his back, and the fight was stopped at 42 seconds.

Diaz, 146 lbs of Puerto Rico is 1-0 with one knockout. Munoz, 143 lbs is 0-1.

Former world champion Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis fought to a 12-round draw in a super middleweight bout in Los Angeles.

Dirrell landed 161 of 435 punches; Davis was 139 of 521.

Both fighters took a card 115-113 and a third card was even at 114-114.

Dirrell, 167 1/2 lbs of Flint, MI is 33-2-2. Davis, 167 1/2 lbs of Wilmington, DE is 15-2-1.

“I thought I won the fight. I pushed the fight, hit him with cleaner punches,” Dirrell said. “He hit gloves a lot. I knew it was going to be a draw—as soon as they said it was going to be a split decision. I can’t control what the judges do and I respect them all because they have different perspectives and angles on what is happening.
 
“I was pressing the fight, I wasn’t tired at all. My jab was working. But I can’t stop what the judges think. Davis fought well. He did what he was supposed to, came in with a good game plan. He was boxing, he normally doesn’t do that. But we pressed the action.”

“I’m looking for a title. I’m not looking for just another fight. I’m looking for a big fight. That’s the plan,” Dirrell said. “I’ll take whoever has a belt, whoever we can get. I’ll take a Canelo, or a Caleb Plant.”

“I thought I won the fight, 116-112. It was a great opportunity. They doubted me. They told me he was going to knock me out. This was supposed to be a showcase for him but it wasn’t,” Davis said. “My body felt well. I felt good. Anthony Dirrell is a two-time world champion. I really wanted to make a statement. A draw is not as bad as a loss but I really don’t like breaking even.
 
“It was my first 12-rounder so it was a little unfamiliar for me. I knew he was experienced, but I kept my composure and pushed through it. I stuck to the game plan that (trainer) Stephen “Breadman” Edwards gave me.”

Ramos stops Bojorquez in 2

Jesus Ramos stopped Jesus Bojorquez in round two of a scheduled 10-round weltweight bout.

In round two, Ramos dropped Bojorquez with a hard left. Bojorquez was hurt and bleeding. He took more punishment and the fight was stopped at 1:44.

Ramos is now 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Bojorquez is 24-3.

“I was surprised he got up from that right hook. I was setting it up, throwing my jab to the body,” Ramos said. “I knew he was expecting another jab but I feinted and came back with the right hook. I didn’t think he would get up but he did and then I finished the job. This was a test run [at 147]. I felt really strong, the weight cut was a lot smoother this time around. I might campaign here. I have to talk to my team and see what they think.

“I want to be a champion at 21 years of age. That would be next year. I want to step up the competition this year, fight guys with names, and next year fight guys like Yordenis Ugas.”

Mielnicki stops Lopez in 3

Vito Mielnicki Jr. stopped Noe Alejandro Lopez in round three of a scheduled eight-round welterweight bout.

Mielnicki pounded away on Lopez until the bout was stopped at 2:50.

Mielnicki, 146 1/2 lbs of Roseland, NJ 8-0 with five knockouts. Lopez, 146 lbs of Houston is 10-4-1.

“I felt strong tonight. I don’t know how long I’ll be at 147, moving up may be in my future. For this fight, I give myself an ‘A.’ I got him out of there, a guy who said was a step-up, a guy who they said would carry me into the later rounds. But I expect nothing less of myself because I know I’m going to be great,’’ Mielnicki said.
 
“I’m just going to keep learning. I’m still young. I’m still 18 so we’re not in a rush. We’re going to keep building and see where that takes us. I’m 8-0 with 5 knockouts and I’m not injured or anything so I’m ready to get back in the ring as soon as possible.”

Michel Rivera stopped Anthony Mercado in the final round of their welterweight bout.

In round six, Mercado took a knee after absorbing some solid body shots. In round eight, Rivera sent Mercado down from a combination. Mercado looked exhausted upon reaching his feet, and the bout was stopped at 2:26.

Rivera, 144 1/2 lbs of Miami is 20-0 with 13 knockouts. Mercado, 146 lbs of Camuy, PR is 13-5.

Anthony Cuba and Diego Elizondo fought to a majority draw in a four round lightweight bout.

Cuba landed 41 of 196 punches; Elizondo was 47 of 216.

Cuba took a card 39-37 while two cards read even at 38-38.

Cuba, 134 1/2 lbs is 1-0-1. Elizondo, 135 lbs is 3-2-3.

Canelo Alvarez did what he was supposed to do. He dominated Avni Yildirim and scored a stoppage win after round three to retain the WBA/WBC Super Middleweight world championships at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Alvarez came out landing vicious body shots and hard uppercuts that started to soften Yildirim up. In round three, Alvarez landed a hard right hand that sent Yildirim on his back. Yildirim continued to take punishment for the rest of the round the fight was stopped in the corner.

Alvarez, 167 1/2 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 55-1-2 with 37 knockouts. Yildirim, 167 1/2 lbs of Turkey is 21-3.

Arroyo stops Rodriguez in 5; Wins Interim Flyweight Title

McWilliams Arroyo won the WBC Interim Flyweight title by stopping very late replacement Abraham Rodriguez in round five.

Arroyo broke Rodriguez down with hard shots until the fight was stopped at 1:41 of round five.

Arroyo, 112 lbs of Fajardo, PR is 21-4 with 16 knockouts. Rodriguez took the fight on less than a day notice as champion Julio Cesar Martinez hurt his hand. Rodriguez is now 27-3.

Forrest and Zhang fight to a Draw

It looked like it would be an easy night at the office for world ranked heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, it was anything but as he had to literal hold on to get a 10-round draw with Jerry Forrest.

Zhang scored hard knockdowns in each of the first three rounds, and was seemingly one punch away from ending things. Forrest hung in there, and and dominated the second half of the fight as he landed quick and hard combinations that had an exhausted Zhang holding on to the point where he was deducted a point in the 9th frame. Forrest had a strong final round that saw him hurt Zhang on a couple of occasions.

Zhang was 104 of 311 punches; Forrest was 156 of 555.

Forrest took a card 95-93 and two cards were even at 94-94.

Forrest 236 3/4 lbs of Newport News, VA is 26-4-1. Zhang, 256 3/4 lbs of China is 22-0-1.

Pacheco Decisions Gomez Jr.

Diego Pacheco remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Rodolfo Gomez Jr. in a super middleweight fight.

Pacheco landed 117 of 382 punches; Gomez was 70 of 351.

Pacheco, 168 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and is mow 11-0. Gomez, 167lbs of Laredo, TX is 14-5-1.

Castro Stops Moraga in 2

Marc Castro stopped John Moraga in round two of their scheduled four-round junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Castro dropped Moraga in the opening seconds with a jab. In round two, Castro dropped Moraga with a hard right hand. Moments later Castro ended thing when he landed a hard uppercut that sent Moraga down again, and the fight was stopped at 2:29.

Castro, 129 1/2 lbs of Fresno, CA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Moraga, 131 lbs of Pheonix, AZ is 1-3.

Highly-touted prospect Keyshawn Davis stopped Lester Brown in round two of their scheduled four-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Davis put Brown down with a solid right to the head. Later in the round, Davis continued the assault until the bout was stopped at 2:50

Davis, 136 1/2 lbs of Norfolk, VA is 1-0 with one knockout. Brown, 134 1/2 lbs of Nassau, BAH is 4-3-3.

Aaron Aponte remained undefeated by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Harry Gigliotti in a junior welterweight contest.

In round four, Aponte landed a right hand that sent Gigliotti down. Later in the round Gigliotti was deducted a point for headbutting.

Aponte, 139 3/4 lbs of Hialeah, FL won by scores of 40-34 on all cards, and is now 2-0. Gigliotti, 139 1/4 lbs of Havenhill, MA is 6-2.

Alexis Espino remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over Ashton Sykes in a super middleweight fight.

In round five, Espino hurt Sykes with hard left. That gave Espino the opportunity to land a series of hard punches that left Sykes prone, and the fight was stopped at 2:03.

Espino, 167 3/4 lbs of Las Vegas is now 7-0 with five knockouts. Sykes, 166 1/4 lbs of Colombia, MD is 5-4.

In a much anticipated showdown, former world champion Joseph Parker won a 12-round unanimous decision over Junior Fa in a battle of New Zealand based heavyweights in front of over 12,000 fans at the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.

Parker landed 163 of 490 punches; Fa was 106 of 394.

Parker, 240 lbs of Las Vegas via Auckland won by scores of 1191-09, 117-111 and 115-113 and to raise his record to 28-2. Fa, 260 1/2 lbs is now 19-1.

Hemi Ahio scored a brutal 7th round stoppage over 7’1″ Julius Long in their scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round four, Long dropped Ahio with a right hand off the ropes. That was in between Ahio battering Long with hard shots. In round nine, Ahio was pummeling Long with left hooks until one final one to the jaw sent the giant crashing down on the canvas with the back of his bouncing off of it and the fight was waved off at 2:55.

Ahio, 230 1/2 lbs is now 17-0 with 12 knockouts. Long, 326 3/4 lbs of Auckland, NZ via Detroit, MI is 18-25-1.

David Nyika needed just 29 seconds to stop Jesse Maio in the opening round of their six-round cruiserweight bout.

Nyika was making his debut. Maio is 3-1.

Nikolas Charalampous and Panuve Helu fought to a six-round draw in a cruiserweight fight.

In round five, Charalampous was deducted a point for low blows. Charalampous landed about 20 more that went undetected.

Each guy won a scorecard 58-56 and one card was even at 57-57.

Charalampous, 198 3/4 lbs of Auckland, NZ is 19-3-1. Helu, 197 lbs of Auckland, NZ via Tonga is 12-2-2.

Jerome Pampellone stopped debuting Antz Amouta in the opening round of their scheduled four-round cruiserweight bout,

Pampellone landed a right to the body that hurt Amouta badly. Pampellone jumped on Amouta with seven hard punches that sent Amouta to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 2:57.

Pampellone, 180 lbs of Auckland, NZ via London, ENG is 3-0 with two knockoouts. Amouta, 190 3/4 lbs of New Zealand is 0-1.

John Parker remained undefeated with four-round unanimous decision over Egelani Taito in a light heavyweight contest.

Parker, 174 1/2 lbs is 6-0. Taigo, 174 1/2 lbs was making his debut.

Daniele Scardina stopped Cesar Nunez in round eight of their scheduled 12-round super middleweight bout in Milan, Italy.

Scardina controlled the action, and in round eight he landed a hard combination that hurt Nunez badly, and the fight was stopped at 2:55.

Scardina, 166 1/4 lbs of Miami via Italy is now 19-0 with 15 knockouts. Nunez, 167 1/4 lbs of Spain is 17-3-1.

Prodan stops Cristofori in 10

Maxim Prodan stopped Nicola Cristofori in the final round of a scheduled 10 round welterweight contest.

In round five, Prodan dropped Cristofori with a left to head.

In round nine, Prodan rocked Cristofori with a left hook. With Cristofori backed up on the ropes, Prodan landed two hard shots and the fight was stopped at 1:50.

Prodan, 145 3/4 lbs is 20-0 with 15 knockouts. Cristofori, 146 1/2 lbs is 11-3-2.

Nicholas Esposito remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Tobia Giuseppe Loriga in a welterweight bout.

In round six, Esposito was cut around the right eye.

Esposito, 146 3/4 lbs of Italy won all cards 97-93 and is now 14-0. Loriga, 145 3/4 lbs of Italy is 32-9-3.

Mirko Natalizi stopped Islam Teffahi in round four of their scheduled eight-round junior middleweight bout.

In round four, Natalizi landed a perfect counter right that buckled and then put Teffahi to the canvas and the bout was stopped at 1:50.

Natalizi, 158 1/2 lbs of Rome, ITA is 10-0 with seven knockouts. Teffahi, 158 1/4 ls of Belgium is 22-9-2.

Vincenzo La Famina won a six-round unanimous decision over Pablo Narvaez in a featherweight bout.

La Famina, 127 1/4 lbs of Pagani, ITA won by scores 60-54 on all cards and is now 7-0. Narvaez, 127 3/4 lbs of Nicaragua is now 9-22-7.

Despite being outlanded by over 100 punches, four-division champion Adrien Broner won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jovanie Santiago in a welterweight bouta at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Santiago was deducted a point for hitting after the 4th round bell.

Broner only landed 98 of 338 punches; whereas Santiago was 207 of 697.

Broner, 146 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 and is now 34-4-1 Santiago, 145 1/4 lbs of Dorada, PR is 14-1-1.

Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME

ADRIEN BRONER:

“That was cool. I want to go home and really look at my fight. I haven’t fought in two years. But I felt good, I felt like I won the fight. I felt like I beat him with the jab, honestly. But it felt good to get my hand raised though.

“I really didn’t warm up that much. So later on in the fight, I felt warm so I started picking it up and I felt good.

“I knew he was going to be tough because he’s 14-0. And anybody with that ‘0’ wants to keep that ‘0’ so they’re going to fight like a bum fighting for a sandwich. I came in and I got the job done.

“I want to say to Al Haymon and Stephen Espinoza: Hey, keep me in the ring. If I was fighting on the regular, maybe buddy wouldn’t have lasted. But just keep me in the ring. Maybe we’ll stop fighting cases and maybe we’ll stop getting in trouble.

“It is a different AB. I only had $13 coming into this fight. We done flipped that to about $13 million. So a lot of things are going to change.

“There is a lot of work out there at 140. Right now we’re going to the drawing board with Al Haymon and see what’s best for me. But I’m definitely going back to the gym and I’m looking forward to getting one of those titles this year—at 140.”

JOVANIE SANTIAGO:

“No, the decision doesn’t surprise me. Broner did a nice job in there.

“The decision could have gone both ways. He fought a great fight. We were in it to win this fight and he got the decision.

“I think boxing fans know who I am now, but in this fight I should have applied more pressure and the fight would have gone my way.

“I need to talk to my management team and see what’s next for me. But the performance today says a lot about me.”

Wallin Decisions Breazeale

Otto Wallin won a 12-round unanimous decision over former world totle challenger Dominic Breazeale in a heavyweight bout/

In round four, Breazeale was cut over his right eye.

Wallin landed 232 of 659 punches; Breazeale was 91 of 556.

Wallin, 240 lbs of Sweden won by scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110 and is now 22-1. Breazeale, 261 1/4 lbs is 20-3.

OTTO WALLIN:

“It was nice. I think I had an advantage because I fought here before. I was more focused this time and I think I came out better than what I did last time.

“We knew coming in that I had better footwork, better speed so I wanted to use that. And I have good defense too. He hit me here and there but nothing too serious. I said before the fight that I just gotta do what I’m good and that’s what I tried to do.

“I am a good counterpuncher, I knew that. I’ve been having great sparring for this fight. I had been studying him a lot, I knew he that he was slower than me and doesn’t have the greatest defense always. I knew that I’d be landing my counters.

“I felt like after a while when I was feinting him, he kinda looked scared. He was kinda blinking and stuff. Or maybe the eye affected him, I don’t know. Or maybe his past experiences and being off for a little while.

“I knew he is a strong guy and he takes a pretty good punch. I mean, he was knocked out by Joshua and Wilder but those are the biggest punchers in boxing. I’ve seen him take huge shots from other guys and didn’t go down. So I wasn’t that surprised. I wish I could have done a little better and knocked him down.

“All in all, this was a great experience for me. I’m still learning, I’m 30 years old but I haven’t been at high level very long. I’m not there yet but I’m getting better and I feel like I’m improving every fight.

“I think there are a lot of guys out there, a lot of good fights. I’ve been so focused on Breazeale that I haven’t thought much past this but I hope to stay busier now. Before this I had a fight in August but before that I had long breaks. I hope to get a fight soon.

“I don’t think he ever hurt me. When you’re a southpaw and fight an orthodox fighter, sometimes you step on feet and lose balance. That happened to both of us a few times.

“My ultimate goal is to be champion. But I have to keep improving, I’m not there yet. I’ve got a lot of work to do, I’m getting better. I’m not so focused on who I fight, I just want to fight, keep it stepping it up and when I get another shot, I’ll be ready for it.”

DOMINIC BREAZEALE:

“I let the early rounds get away from me. Otto is a good boxer and did a good job of sticking and moving the whole fight. I did a little bit too much head-hunting at the start and paid for it on the back-end.

“I don’t think the eye bothered me much and I’ve had it busted up before. Otto did a good job of throwing the overhand right and making the eye look the way it does. He just did a better job of paying dividends on the body. I maybe landed 10 body shots the entire fight, which is unheard of for me.”

Easter Decisions Martin

Former lightweight world champion Robert Easter Jr. won a 12-round unanimous decision over Ryan Martin in a super lightweight bout.

In round eight, Easter was cut over the left eye from an accidental clash of heads. It was the first time that he suffered a cut in his career.

Easter landed 181 of 539 punches; Martin was 118 of 629.

Easter, 139 1/2 lbs of Toledo, OH won by scores of 118-110 and 117-111 twice. and is now 23-1-1. Martin, 139 1/2 lbs of Chattanooga, TN is 24-2.

ROBERT EASTER, JR.:

“I was just comfortable. Once I stay boxing, I get comfortable. I get a little bored but everybody says when I box, when I use my jab, keep my distance, I make the fight that much easier. So that’s what I was working on the whole camp. Me and my dad have been stressing on use the jab, keep your distance and that’s what we did. I wanted to fight but as you see, when I wanted to fight, I got headbutted. So it was best to keep our distance.

“Everybody knows when I get in the ring, I want to fight. That’s just where I feel a lot of adrenaline, a lot of  action, but like I said, when I box I make it look easy. I can count on how many fingers on when I actually just stayed boxing instead brawling.

“I realized he wasn’t going to deal with my jab in the first round. We’ve been working on that this whole camp, keeping the distance. I got really comfortable with the jab in the first round. The second round was what set the tone and I knew he wasn’t going to get past that, it was going to be all night with the jab.

“Whoever has those straps, whoever is in the way is going to feel this wrath. Me and AB, we’re coming to stir up the 140-pound division and that’s that. There ain’t no particular fighter, I want them all. We’re coming for all those straps.”

RYAN MARTIN:

“It was a great fight. I thought I was competitive but obviously I could have done a lot of things better. I followed him too much and he was able to take away our game plan. He did a great job of keeping me on the outside. There’s not too much to say, he was the better man tonight. His jab didn’t bother me too much but it did keep me from getting on the inside. He never stunned me or affected me with it, but I should have sped up on him a little more.”

Oscar Valdez had a star-making performance as he brutally knocked out Miguel Berchelt to win the WBC Super Featherweight Title at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Valdez showed he was the quicker fighter from the outset as he landed some hard and flush left hooks from the outset.

In round four, Valdez landed a left hook to the head that wobbled Berchelt. Later in the round, it was two more left hooks that sent Berchelt into he ropes which was correctly ruled a 10-count.

Valdez continued to dominate as he busted up Berchelt, and at the end of round 10, he landed a vicious left hook to the head and Berchelt slowly crumpled over his legs and face-first to the canvas. The fight was stopped immediately at 2:59.

Valdez, 130 lbs of Nogales, MEX is 29-0 with 23 knockouts. Berchelt, 130 lbs of Cancun, MEX is 30-2.

Valdez said, “There’s nothing better in life than proving people wrong. I have a list of people who doubted me. My idols doubted me. Boxing analysts doubted me. They said Berchelt was going to knock me out. I have a message to everybody: Don’t’ let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.
 
“I want to take this belt home, and I’m happy for that. Any champion out there… I heard Shakur Stevenson wants to fight. Let’s do it. I just want to keep on fighting and give the fans what they want.”

Gabriel Flores Jr. stopped former world title challenger Jayson Velez in round six of a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round six, Velez dropped Velez with a hard left hook. Flores then wobbled Velez badly with another counter shot, and Velez was in all kinds of trouble. Velez ended the bout with another left that put Velez down and the fight was topped at 1:40.

Flores Jr.132 lbs of Stockton, CA is 20-0 with seven knockouts. Velez, 132 lbs of Juncos, PR is 29-8-1.

Flores said, “I could’ve done it earlier. I was playing with my food. {Trainer Gabriel Flores Sr.} told me I just gotta press it. Nothing was really going on those first five rounds, to be honest. I was just feeling him out. 

“I would love to get the winner of Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton. I’d love that. I’m going to keep on working, and my performances are going to get better and better.”

Esquiva Falcao stopped Artur Akavov after round four of a scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.

Falcao controlled the bout until Akavov’s corner stopped the fight in the corner as Akavov cited a possible broken nose.

Falcao, 162 lbs of Visoria, BRA is 28-0 with 20 knockouts. Akavov, 162.5 lbs of Pskov, RUS is 20-4.

Elvis Rodriguez remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Alberto Veron in a junior welterweight bout.

Rodriguez landed 97 of 342 punches; Veron was 71 of 348

Rodriguez, 13 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 11-0-1. Veron, 142 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 18-3-2.

Rodriguez said, “This was my first scheduled eight-round fight, and I actually think I got a lot of good experience. Each fight, you acquire something different, and for this fight, I think the experience of going the rounds actually helped me out.
 
“It’s a great experience going the full eight rounds. It’s back to the gym to work on several things, specifically I know I needed to let my hands go a little more. When I did do that, I was able to hurt him. But in the end, I think it was a great experience. He’s a natural welterweight. He’s never been stopped, so I knew it would be a tough challenge, but you know I will go back to the gym and work harder to continue to grow in this sport.

Xander Zayas remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over James Martin.

Zayas, 146 lbs of San Juan, PR won by scores of 60-54 on all cards, and is now 7-0. Martin, 146 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is 6-2.

Zayas said, “As a young fighter, you need these types of fights. I haven’t been out of the first round in nearly a year, so for me to get six round in, that was important.”

Javier Martinez made short work of Billy Wagner by stopping him in the opening round of their four-round middleweight bout.

Martinez landed a booming right hook that buckled Wagner, and three ripping punches later, the fight was stopped at 1:51.

Martinez, 161 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 3-0 with one knockout. Wagner, 160 lbs of Great Falls, MT is 3-2.

Omar Rosario stopped Uriel Villanueva in round two of their scheduled four-round junior welterweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

In round two, Rosario dropped Villanueva with a left hook to the body. Seconds later, It was another left hook to the body that sent Villanueva to his knee and he did not beat the count of 10 at 2:38.

Rosario, 140 lbs of Caguas, PR is now 3-0 with one knockout. Villanueva, 140 lbs of Anaheim, CA is 1-1.

David Avanesyan stopped Josh Kelly in round six of their scheduled 12-round welterweight clash at the SSE Wembley Arena in London, England.

Avanesyan started to break Kelly down, and in round six he hurt Kelly and dropped him with a hard left-right combination. With Kelly bleeding over his left eye, Avanesyan rocked Kelly again and buckled him with a left hook. One more left look sent Kelly to he ground as the towel was being thrown in at 2:15.

Avanesyan, 146.6 lbs of Tabynskoe, RUS is 27-3-1 with 15 knockouts. Kelly, 146 lbs of Sunderland, ENG is 10-1-1.

“I feel very very good,” Avanesyan told Sky Sports afterwards. “I waited a long time for this fight. I put a lot of hard work into this fight. I came to join my coach and my manager from another country. I’ve had long spells away from my children. I miss them. I haven’t seen my children, my parents and my friends for a long time. 

“Thank you to my team and to the English fans for giving me this opportunity. Thank you to Matchroom, they put on the number one best show. I’ve had many big nights against the likes of Shane Mosley and Lamont Peterson, but this one with Matchroom is number one. 

“I am very happy. Thank you to god for my win today. Thank you to my manager and my coach. Carl sacrificed a lot of time with his family for my training. He has been my friend, my driver and my coach. I don’t like to speak too much. This is business. I know Josh is fast. I am fast too. Boxing is difficult. When you lose, many people think you are finished. This is boxing, you go down. This is life. I will wake up tomorrow morning a champion.”

Trainer Carl Greaves said: “I told everybody this would happen and they all thought I was a crazy coach who knows nothing. I knew exactly how it was going to go. I’ve spent over five years with David now. I’ve seen so much. I’ve seen all of these talented kids keeping him off for a certain amount of time, 30 seconds to a minute, but he finds a way every time. I was so confident in this fight. I knew it was going to go like that. I’m a bit gutted because I had £500 on round seven!”

Marku Stops Charlton in Eight

Florian Marku got off the deck to comeback and stop Rylan Charlton in round eight of a scheduled 10-round bout of undefeated welterweights

In round six, Charlton dropped Marku with a left to the head.

In round eight, Marku landed a big body shot that hurt Chalrton. That gave Marku an opportunity to open up and rock Charlton, and the towel at 2:18.

Marku, 146.8 lbs of Lushnje, ALB is 8-0-1 with six knockouts. Charlton, 144.6 lbs of Norwich, ENG is 6-1-1.

“I am really happy,” said Marku. “A lot of people thought that he would humiliate me and knock me out, but I showed that I can box. I will learn a lot from this fight. Three weeks before the fight, I dislocated a finger in my left hand. My team and all of the staff know that I was injured but I was never going to pull out of the fight. I came here to fight.

“After the fifth round I started feeling my hand. It was not a problem. I am happy about the performance. Rylan took so many good hits in the head. He took a lot of punishment. I was beating him and I was talking to him. I told him I was going to beat him and talk to him. I was telling him I’m not Joe Laws. I take the win and we go forward.

“His face was swollen and it was a good decision from his corner. He took a lot of punishment. I love to fight, this is my life. Thanks to the UK fans that believe in me. They like to see me fight. I love pressure. I’ll fight whoever my team S-JAM boxing decide next. Sam Jones and Adam Morallee got me into this position. I have the best team around me.”

Valenzuela decisions Davies Jr.

Gabriel Valenzuela won a 10-round majority decision over Robbie Davies Jr. in a junior welterweight bout.

In round three, Valenzuela decked Davies with a solid right hand to the chin the wobbled Davies, and another right put Davies on the canvas. In round four, Valenzuela was deducted a point for hitting on the break.

In round seven, Valenzuela was cut over the left eye. In round nine, he had a deepercut under his right eye.

Valenzuela, 138.8 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX won by scores of 96-95 twice and 94-94, and is now 23-2-1/ Davies Jr., 138.2 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 20-3.

Jordan Gill won a 10-round unanimous decision over former two-time title challenger Jordan Gill in a featherweight fight.

Gill, 125.5 lbs of Chatteris, ENG won ny scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 96-94 to raise his record to 26-1. Juarez, 125.2 lbs of Mexico City. MEX is 25-10.

Johnny Fisher made a successful pro debut with a beatdown of Matt Gordon inside of the 1st round heavyweight bout.

In the opening round Fisher was all over Gordan and was able to drop him twice. Upon the 2nd knockdown, Gordan was in no condition to continue and the fight was stopped at 2:29.

Fisher, 237 lbs of Romford, ENG is 1-0 with one knockout. Gordon, 241 lbs of West Bromwich, ENG is 2-6-1.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Fisher. “I know I’ve had a massive build-up; I’ve had Lennox Lewis sending me messages and Tyson Fury sending me messages. I had a lot of pressure on me, but I’ve shown that I can handle that pressure.

“All credit to Matt Gordon, but I bowled him over in one round. Normally Heavyweights are doing it in two, three or four rounds, so I’ve done a good job. Nobody needs to get unnecessarily hurt. I knew that I had him hurt when I first got him down. It was only a matter of time, so the ref did the right thing.

“I felt right and I felt comfortable, more comfortable than any of my amateur fights. I belong here, and I’ve got to prove that I belong here every time I fight. I’ve got a very long way to go, I know I’m only just beginning. Let’s just see how far we can go. I live and breathe boxing. I love training. I’d do it every single day of the week if I was allowed. I’ve got great people around me. There’s things I need to work on but I’ve showed my power tonight.”

Janelson Figueroa Bocachica won a 10-round majority decision over Mark Reyes Jr. in a battle of undefeated welterweights at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

It was a close fight with Bocachica trying to take the lead while Reyes was looking to counter.

The closeness of the fight was evident by the punch stats that saw Bocachica landing 156 of 579 punches; Reyes was 158 of 579.

Bocachica, 146 1/2 lbs of Detroit won by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95 and is now 17-0. Reyes, 147 lbs of Tampa, FL is 14-1.

“I felt like I had a unanimous decision but I just need to go back and watch the tape,” said the 22-year-old Bocachica. “I felt like it was an easy victory and I took him to school.”

“He had a short temper and he came out talking trash so you know I had to talk my trash back,” continued Bocachica. “But it was all part of the game plan to get him emotional in the ring and it worked in my advantage.”

“I don’t disagree with the scorecards tonight,” said Reyes, who became the 196^th fighter to lose their undefeated record on ShoBox. “I obviously could have done more to win but it was a close fight nonetheless. I just have to go back to drawing board and train harder. I need to execute things a little bit better during the preparation for my fight. I can’t take anything away from the judges.”

Shishkin Decision Agbeko

Vlaidimir Shishkin won a 10-round unanimous decision over Sena Agbeko in a super middleweight fight.

In round two, Shishkin started to bleed around his left eye. It was from a punch, and the cut worsened as the fight went on, but Shishkin was the more effective fighter and won by scores of 100-90 twice and 98-92.

Shishkin landed 222 of 596 punches; Agbeko was 109 of 555.

Shishkin, 169 lbs of Oak Park, MI is now 12-0. Agbeko, 168 3/4 lbs of Nashville, TN is 23-2.

“I did have to overcome adversity tonight with the cut,” said the Russian Shishkin, who fought for the first time under new trainer L.J. Harrison. “But I have been cut many times in my career so I was able to deal with it. It affected me a little bit but that’s boxing.

“It was good to go the distance. I felt like I got a lot of good work in tonight and learned some things. I will improve a lot because of this fight and fix my mistakes. I am ready for a big fight after this.”

Montoya Decisions Guerrero

Abraham Montoya won an eight-round majority decision over previously undefeated Alejandro Guerrero in a lightweight bout.

Montoya landed 268 of 1000 punches; Guerrero was 198 of 623.

Montoya, 135 lbs of Mexicali. MEX won by scores of 79-73, 77-75 and 76-76 and is now 20-2-1. Guerrero, 135 lbs of Houston, TX is 12-1.

“I felt great tonight and it was all because my physical trainer Raul Franco got me in shape for this fight,” said Montoya. “He is the reason I was able to throw so many punches tonight. I felt I could have kept that pace for 10 or 12 rounds if I had to.

“I felt good at lightweight and didn’t have to worry about my weight but I am definitely moving back down to super featherweight. I only moved up for this opportunity. I felt I would have knocked him out at super featherweight.”

Joseph Diaz Jr. and Shavkat Rakhimov fought to a 12-round majority draw in an IBF Junior Lightweight world title clash at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

Diaz was the reigning champion, but he lost his title on Friday when he was more then three pounds over the 130-pound weight limit.

It was a close fights with each guy having good stretches of success with the left hand. The fight was a mirror image as they both landed some solid body blows. The was some solid in-fighting with Rakhimov pulling ahead towards the championship rounds. Diaz had a good 12th and the fight was judged 115-113 for Diaz and 114-114 twice.

Diaz landed 233 of 740 punches; Rakhimov was 213 of 951.

Diaz, 133.6 lbs of South El Monte, CA is 31-1-1. Rakhimov, 129.8 lbs of Ekaterinburg, RUS is 15-1.

“I’m a little upset. I felt I had done enough to win the fight,” said Joseph Diaz Jr. “It was a close fight. It wasn’t my best performance. I didn’t make weight. I lost the belt on the scales. I want to apologize to everyone. I want to apologize to all my fans. It was a mistake on my behalf. No excuses, but I’ll be back. Rakhimov threw a lot of combinations. But a lot of them landed on the gloves. I felt I threw more shots and landed more body punches. I thought I should have won the fight.”

 “I did everything I was supposed to do,” said Shavkat Rakhimov. “Victory was on my side. I feel I won the fight. There were a few mistakes, and we need to work on it. I did everything that was possible. There were a few mistakes, but I will work on that. There is no perfect boxer, and I hope to gain more American fans.”

Castano Decisions Teixeira; Wins WBO Jr. Middleweight title

Brian Castano won the WBO Junior Middleweight title with an emphatic 12-round unanimous decision over Patrick Teixeira.

Castano was relentless in his output by landing hard shots to the head and body for which Teixeira had little answer for. Castano hurt Teixeira badly in round 12 as he landed a hard right that had Teixeira trying to run from Castano. Castano battered him until the final bell.

Castano landed 373 of 1136 punches; Teixeira was 197 of 972.

Castano, 153.8 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG won by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 117-111 and is now 16-1-1. Teixeira, 153.4 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA is 31-.2

“I am very happy. We did a great job with my team,” said Brian Castaño. “It was a good fight. We all mistakes, and I have to fix things here and there, but a fight is a fight. Each fight is different, and I understand that. I knew Teixeia very well going into this fight. He is very strong, and he has a lot of heart. He is a great person. This was one of the greatest wins of my career. Not anyone can be a world champion, and I was able to do it twice. So I am very happy.”

Rios Decisions Negrete

Ronny Rios won a 10-round unanimous decision over Oscar Negrete in a super bantamweight fight.

Rios landed 290 of 880 punches; Negrete was 150 of 830.

Rios, 121.4 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 33-3. Negrete, 121.6 lbs of Tierralta, COL is 19-3-2.

“I should have sat down more on my punches,” said Ronny Rios. “I went in a little bit too much with my head, and I kind of waited too long. But I’m happy with the win. I really want a world title shot for my next fight, and I think this fight was a necessary step in that direction.”

Mosley stops Olivas after 5!

Shane Mosley Jr. stopped Cristian Olivas after round five of their scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.

In round three, Olivas started to swell around his right eye. The eye kept getting worse as Mosley pounded him repeatedly with left hand, and the fight was stopped by the corner following the 5th frame.

Mosley, 161.6 lbs of Pomona, CA is 17-3 with 10 knockouts. Olivas, 161.6 lbs of Mexicali, MEX is 19-8.

“I had a really tough opponent in there. But I went in there, looked sharp and got the job done. These are the kinds of fights that I need in order to show people that I am ready for a world title.”

Melikuziev stops Fitch in 3

Bektemir Melikuziev stopped Morgan Fitch in round three of their scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout.

In round two, the nose of Fitch started to bleed. In round three, Melikuziev dropped Fitch with a straight left. He ended things with a vicious left to the body that sent Fitch down and the fight was stopped at 2:08.

Melikuziev, 170.6 lbs of Indio, CA is 7-0 with six knockouts. Fitch, 170.5 lbs of New Orleans is 19-5-1.

“Despite everything that happened, I think it was a good performance,” said Bektemir Melikuziev. “I wish I could have lasted longer and gotten a few more rounds in, but I think it was a good performance. I’m ready for any of the big names in my division.”

Azat Hovhannisyan stopped Enrique Bernache in round eight of their scheduled 10-round featherweight bout.

In round two, Hovhannisyan dropped Bernache.

Bernache, who was complaining of headbutts throughout the fight, bowed out in round eight.

Hovhannisyan, 122.8 lbs of Los Angeles is 19-3 with 16 knockouts. Bernache, 123 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 24-13.

“I’m very happy,” said Azat Hovhannisyan. “It’s my first time with Robert Garcia. We had a lot of good sparring. I’m No. 1 in the WBA. I want to fight a world champion.”

Victor Morales won an eight-round unanimous decision over Rodrigo Guerrero featherweight bout.

Morales, 125.8 lbs of Vancouver, WA won by scores of 80-72 an is now 14-0. Guerrero, 125.8 lbs of Mexico City is 26-10-2.

“After 16 months away from the ring, it feels great to be back,” said Victor Morales Jr. “I knew he was going to be very tough. He is a former world champion, so I knew it was going to be a difficult bout. Either way, I was able to fight either on the outside or on the inside.”

Dalis Kaleiopu made a successful pro debut with a 3rd round stoppage over Eduardo Sanchez in a four round super lightweight bout.

Kaleiopu dropped Sanchez with a hard right uppercut and the fight was stopped 48 seconds into the round.

Kaleiopu, 136 lbs of Waianae, HI is 1-0 with one knockout. Sanchez, 135.6 lbs of Corocoron, CA is 2-4.

“It’s been a long time because of COVID,” said Dalis Kaleiopu. “So, it felt great to finally make my pro debut. I hurt him many times, but I let him go. But then I landed a shot he couldn’t come back from, so it feels good to stop somebody that has never been stopped.

Caleb Plant made another case for a major fight as he won an easy 12-round unanimous decision over former champion Caleb Plant to retain the IBF Super Middleweight title at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Plant dominated with his jab and working hooks behind it. Plant went up and down by landing body and head shots with Truax getting in an occasional right hand. Those were very few and very far between as Plant outlanded Truax 179-47.

In round four, Truax began to leak blood from his nose.

Plant, 167.6 lbs of Las Vegas won by shutout scores of 120-108 scores and is now 21-0. Truax, 167.8 lbs of Saint Michael, MN is 31-5-2.

“I felt great. I dominated every round. I hardly got touched. He wasn’t giving me much either,’’ Plant said. “I felt like, early on, he was just looking to survive and move away. Then a third of the way into the fight, I hurt my hand. It’s kind of swollen. I felt something similar before. I’ve got to sit down and get it checked out but we’ll see. I don’t think it will hinder any upcoming fights.
 
“A champion can adjust to anything. It’s about staying focused, staying disciplined and sticking to the game plan. Maybe the injury hindered me here and there but I felt I used it well – I got a dominant victory, a shutout on all three cards.”

“I wanted the stoppage. I’m a little disappointed that my hand got hurt early in the fight. But I feel like I put on a good performance,’’ Plant said. “I feel like I’m the best super middleweight champion in the world. I want to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion. I’m ready for whoever, whenever. You line ‘em up and I’ll knock ‘em down.”

“I’m a little disappointed. I wanted to put pressure on him and make it a dogfight, but he was elusive. He was able to escape out the back door. I wasn’t able to put a glove on him,” Truax said. “I knew he was going to be quick, but he was a little more elusive than I expected. It wasn’t a fast paced fight and credit to him for that. I wanted it to be a fast paced fight and put pressure on him, but he controlled the pace and he was very elusive.
 
“I was never buzzed or hurt. I felt like my conditioning was very good the whole fight. He just jabbed the heck out of me. I’m going to go home and talk to my family and see what the next step is. I still feel like I have something to offer the game.”

Coffie Starches Rock in 3

In a battle of undefeated heavyweights, Michael Coffie took out Darmani Rock in round three of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

Coffie landed a crushing left uppercut to send Rock down early in round three. Later in the round, it was a left hook that put Rock down and out at 59 seconds.

Coffie, 270.2 lbs of Brooklyn is 12-0 with nine knockouts. Rock, 261 lbs of Philadelphia is 17-1.

“He had quick hands we knew that, but timing beats speed,” Coffie said. “They said he shuffles his feet and drops his hands. They told me to wait for him to shuffle his feet and then drop that left hand on him.”
 
“I don’t want to sound like I’m jumping the gun or anything like that or downplaying the need for experience. But I don’t think I’m that far off. I think I have power, movement, and I think just my style of fighting that can really contend with anybody.”

Joey Spencer remained undefeated with a 1st round stoppage over Isiah Seldon in a middleweight bout.

In round one, Spencer dropped Seldon with a hard right. Upon the fight being resumed, Seldon was deducted two points for hitting behind the head. Seconds later, Spencer dropped Seldon with a hard right and the fight was stopped at 2:15

Spencer, 158 lbs of Union City, MI is 12-0 with nine knockouts. Spencer, 156.6 lbs of Somers Point, NJ is 14-4-1.

“I just knew that I was going to put hands on him, and that’s how I was going to retaliate. I definitely put in the back of my mind that maybe I’d punish him a little further if I would have gotten a chance. But I didn’t. The ref stopped him, and that’s the way it ended,’’ Spencer said. “My man strength is coming. I’m only 20. I turn 21 in March. I’m getting stronger and stronger. I’m getting a lot more confident because people aren’t able to take my punches in the same way.”

Barthelemy Decisions Rivera

Former world champion Rances Barthelemy won a 10-round unanimous decision over All Rivera in a super lightweight bout.

In round two, Rivera was cut on his right eyelid from an accidental headbutt. In round three, Rivera was cut around his left eye.

Barthelemy landed 179 of 548 punches; Rivera was 62 of 367.

Barthelemy, 142.8 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 97-93, 99-91 and 100-90 and is now 28-1-1. Rivera, 143.2 lbs of Santa Rosa City, PHL is 21-5.

“After almost two years of being out of the ring, it was hard making sure we stuck to the game plan to make sure we didn’t get anxious or desperate,” Barthelemy said. “I felt we controlled the fight from start to finish and that’s exactly what we wanted to do. I’m looking at Alberto Puello next, going after that 140 WBA belt and hoping that sets us up for bigger opportunities before the end of the year.” 

Oberlton stops Sharp in 3

Atif Oberlton stopped Nathan Sharp in round three of a scheduled four-round light heavyweight bout.

In round three, Oberlton landed hard body shots until Sharp wilted, and the fight was stopped at 48 seconds.

Oberlton, 177.4 lbs of Philadelphia, was a National Golden Gloves champion, and was making his pro debut. Sharp, 177.6 lbs of Merced, CA is 4-3.

Brandon Lynch and Marcos Hernandez battled to an eight-round draw in a middleweight bout.

Lynch landed 99 of 361 punches; Hernandez was 75 of 525

Lynch won a card 77-75; Hernandez took a card 78-74 and one card was even at 76-76.

Lynch, 158.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 10-1-1. Hernandez, 160 lbs of Fresno, CA is 14-4-2.

Stephen Fulton Jr. showed his versatility as he outpointed and outpunched Angelo Leo to capture the WBO Super Bantamweight title at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In round one, Leo was cut over his left eye as the result of an accidental headbutt. The two fought inside for much of the bout, which would have seemed to favor Leo, but Fulton beat the now-former champion Leo at his own game as he was much quicker and active. Leo would attempt to work the body, but it was Fulton who showed the class in this bout.

Fulton landed 364 of 1183 punches; Leo was 262 of 810.

Fulton had answers for any and everything that Leo threw at him, and he cruised home with the victory and title by scores of 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Fulton of Philadelphia is now 19-0. Leo of Albuquerque, NM is 20-1.

Stephen Fulton Jr., Quotes:

“It feels good. I told you that I would engage more in this fight. I boxed a little but I engaged more to show him that I’m better than him at what he does best. They didn’t know I was going to come and engage in a fight like this. I’m used to dealing with fighting inside the gym, inside the ring. Everyone I’ve fought tried to bully me. This time I did to them what they try to do to me. And I got the job done.

“At some point I felt like I touched him but he didn’t show that he was ready to go although he might have been ready to go. His face showed that he was surprised by my punching power.

“I wore him down by attacking his body and pushing him back. I had to change the whole narrative, push him back and dropping those uppercuts in. That’s how I got the job done.

“From like the fifth round, that’s when I knew I was going to take off. I never got tired from engaging. This fight I was prepared and I knew that’s what I came to do. So by the fifth, I knew I was taking the fight away from him.

“Early on, I noticed he was landing a lot of good right hands as I was pulling back – and that’s one of the things my trainer told me not to do in the dressing room. I made the adjustments and smothered the shots to make sure I wouldn’t get caught again.

“I would like to fight another title-holder. I’d like to show I’m the best in the weight division. I am just a better fighter and I’m better at what he does. I just showed I was better overall and I’m going to continue to show that. I’m just lost for words right now. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer but I had to force the issue. I am a great body puncher. I’m so used to boxing but I had to show y’all the other side to me.

“After a year off, I feel I did a good job but I could be a lot better, a lot sharper. I want Luis Nery, Brandon Figueroa…I want all the champions. I want to be undisputed.

“It hasn’t hit me yet. When it hits me, I’m going to act the fool. Dancing, going crazy. This is a dream come true right now. I’m a world champion. Not everyone can be a world champion.

“This was the first fight I wasn’t really nervous. I knew I was in shape. I barely got tired. The ring rust was there somewhat but I kinda feel like I broke out of that. Just going through everything I went through, COVID and all, getting through that helped me.

“The bully got bullied. It always happens. I’m the new! The game plan was to box at first, but when I got in there and when I saw that I made a couple of mistakes and he was landing the right hand cleanly, I had to get a little dirty and fight his fight. I had to show him that I’m the better man to fight his style. I had to flip the script a little bit and I knew I had to continue to bang with him, and I did.

“Probably around the fifth or sixth round I started to see he was breathing a little heavy.

“There wasn’t any ring rust because of all the things I’ve been through; in 2020 we’ve all been through some crazy things and it’s been a rough year for all of us. But I felt that’s what changed my mind set and made me love the sport even more. Because I felt like I lost my opportunity and it gave me the chance to see that when something is taken away from you, you find that love and that love was boxing.

“It feels good because I’m the only world champion of any sport in Philadelphia. A lot more of us will have our hand raised, like Jaron Ennis and other talented fighters from Philadelphia.

“There’s a lot more that I can work on and I see that in the ring, but as long as I came and took the title from the world champion I just got to get back, and relax at this point.

“Maybe a unification belt is next. I want to pursue my goal of that and that’s why I was screaming ‘Undisputed!’ That’s what I want to do. That’s what I’m here for and what I want to do.

“I showed I was the better man. I met his promoter Floyd [Mayweather] at the Wilder fight, and he said he didn’t know me. But I bet he knows me now. I wish he would give me that bonus he said he was going to give Leo.”

“Philly, we back. That’s all I’ve got to say. I made my name in the books, I made history.”

Aleem Stops Pasillas in 11

Ra’eese Aleem won the WBA Interim Super Bantamweight Title with an emphatic 11h round stoppage over Victor Pasillas in a battle of undefeated fighters.

In round two, Aleem dropped Pasillas with a hard left hook. In round six, Aleem dropped Pasillas again with a left hook.

In round nine, Pasillas showed some life, but then Aleem landed a left that made the glove of Pasillas touch the canvas for a knockdown. In round 11, Aleem landed a perfect left hand that sent Pasillas to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:00

Aleem, 121 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas is 18-0 with 12 knockouts. Pasillas, 122 lbs of Redwood City, CA is 15-1-1.

Ra’eese Aleem Quotes:

“I feel great. We had a good camp. I was dominant. I wanted to put an exclamation point with this performance. It feels absolutely amazing. It just confirms what I knew in my head, that I have elite power. He’s one of the top fighters in the division so to knock him out, it means I’m a true threat.

“I think a lot of people were sleeping on me and my power. I wasn’t surprised that I stopped him. I didn’t think he’d be able to go the distance with me. I think a lot of the fighters in this division should really be on notice.

“I wanted to knock him out. But I wasn’t necessarily trying to go for the knockout early. I was just seeing the openings and everything came together.

“It doesn’t matter who I fight next. I’m ready to fight any world champion. Whether it’s the winner of Leo-Fulton or if Murodjon Akhmadaliev wants to come out of hiding.

“Any current world champion that’s willing to fight, I’m ready. I’ve got the pen, send the contract. Whether that’s Brandon Figueroa, Akhmadaliev – he has two of the belts and is a tremendous fighter. He hasn’t defended his belts yet. Any one of those fights would be a great fight.

“I couldn’t feel his power. There wasn’t like one punch he hit me with and I was like, ‘Damn, I got to watch out.’ I knew he was a hard hitter but I didn’t feel his power tonight.

“I’m a diverse fighter. Coming into this fight, I didn’t know what kind of fighter I was facing. But I pride myself in being able to adapt. I’m not one-dimensional: I can brawl, I can box. I just took what he gave me.

“I was able to give him different looks. And being able to explode in those small spaces, I feel I was able to capitalize.

“Early on, I was touching him and he could feel my power. He was grunting when I hit him in the body. So I knew he didn’t want to be aggressive because he could feel it.”

Romero stops Sparrow in 7

Rolando Romero stopped late-replacement Avery Sparrow in round seven of their 12 round non-title bout.

Seconds into the fight, Romero dropped Sparrow with a hard left hook to the side of the head. In round six, Sparrow was deducted two points for low blows.

With the fight getting out of hand, the corner of Sparrow stopped the bout at 43 seconds of round seven.

Romero, 134 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas is 13-0 with 11 knockouts. Sparrow, 136 lbs of Philadelphia is 10-4.

Rolando Romero:

“I was very disappointed, I really wanted to fight Justin Pauldo. But things happen – at least I had another opponent.

“I fought a dirty fighter. He hit me with a dozen, if not more, low blows, back of the head, trying to wrestle but it is what it is. I got the victory. I dropped him with that hook in the opening round. I thought it would be over but he’s slick – he knows how to survive.

“I didn’t really get to showcase the angles. I believe it was the last round, I started letting off. My defense was sharp, I was just sharp in general. I wouldn’t say it was improvement from my last fight; just showing more of what I have.

“The person that fought Jackson Marinez wasn’t me. I had a bad camp, I didn’t do the things I was supposed to do. The big part, he fought scared and made it very difficult. Marinez was supposed to rematch me. He decided not to even though we offered more money.

“With Sparrow, he fought like a coward. He just wanted a street-fight because he knows he wasn’t going to do anything to me. It came to low blows, hitting behind the head. His corner did the right thing by stopping it. In that last moment before they stopped the fight, he was hurt again and there was a lot of time left in the round. He’s lucky they stopped it.

“You guys said you want to see me box and you saw me box. At the end, his corner quit and he fought like a coward. I boxed good.

“I thought I had him out in the first but he’s really good at surviving.

“I’m a growing fighter. I came into this game eight years ago, I started boxing late and didn’t have much of an amateur career. I’m learning on the job. The old me would have went in there to destroy him.

“Boxing fans are the most bi-polar people I’ve ever seen in my life. There are so many fighters that have gone through the things I’ve gone through. Boxing is a very toxic sport. I just want the best and I just want the best for the future. I hope I keep entertaining you guys because at the end, that’s all that matters—and entertaining myself.

“I want that WBC belt. That’s what I want. I want a fight with Devin Haney.”

Dustin Poirier shocked Conor McGregor in he 2nd round of their lightweight in Abu Dhabi.

McGregor had a solid round one with his strikes. In round two, Poirier started to get on track with Calf kicks. Poirier landed a hard shot that hurt McGregor. One more hard punch sent McGregor down, and the fight was stopped at 2:32.

Poirier, 156 lbs is 27-6 with 14 knockouts. McGregor, 155 lbs is 22-5.

Chandler Knocks Out Hooker in 1

Michael Chandler made a spectacular UFC debut with a 1st round stoppage over Dan Hooker in a lightweight bout.

 Chandler dropped down with a left hand and then and drilled Hooker with some hard Ground-and-Pound and the fight was stopped at 2:30.

Chandler, 156 lbs is 22-5 with 10 stoppages. Hooker of New Zealand is 20-10.

Calderwood Decisions Eye

Joanne Calderwood won a unanimous decision over Jessica Eye in a flyweight fight

Calderwood outlanded Eye 214-104 and won by scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28 and is now 15-4. Eye is 15-9.

Muradov stops Sanchez in 3

Makhmud Muradov stopped Jason Sanchez in round three of their middleweight bout.

In round three, Muradov landed a big right hand that hurt Sanchez and then he landed flying knee and that pushed Sanchez up on the cage Muradov landed a big flurry, and the fight was stopped at 3:00.

Muradov, 186 lbs of Tajikistan is now 25-6 with his 17th stoppage. Sanchez, 186 lbs is 12-6.

Rodriguez stops Ribas in 2

Mariana Rodriguez stopped Amanda Ribas in round two of their flyweight bout.

Rodriguez dropped Ribas with a hard right. Several Ground-and-Pound shots later, and the fight was stopped at 54 seconds.

Rodriguez, 116 lbs of Brazil is now 13-2 with six stoppages. Ribas, 116 lbs of Brazil is 10-2.

Arman Tsaryukyan won a unanimous decision over Matt Frevola in a lightweight bout.

Tsaryukyan landed 116 of 185 punches; Frevola landed 51 of 95.

Tsaryukan, 155.5 lbs of the Georgia Republic won by scores of 30-27 on all cards and is now 16-2. Frevola, 155.5 lbs is 8-2-1.

Brad Tavares won a unanimous decision over Antonio Carlos Jr. in a middleweight bout.

Tavares landed 75 of 139 strikes. Carlos landed 58 of 143.

Tavares, 185.5 lbs won by scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28 and is now 18-7. Carlos, 185 lbs of Brazil is 11-5.

Juliana Pena submitted Sara McMann in round three of their bantamweigh clash.

Pena was able to make McMann submit from a rear-naked choke at 3:40.

Pena, 136 lbs of Chicago is 11-4 with her 5th stoppage. McMann, 135 lbs of Sacramento, CA is 12-6.

Marcin Prochnio won a unanimous decision over Kahlil Rountree Jr. in a light heavyweight bout.

Prachnio landed 108 of 229 strikes; Rountree was 59 of 155.

Prachnio, 205 lbs of Warsaw, POL won by scores of 29-28 on all cards, and is now 14-5. Rountree, 206 lbs of Las Vegas is 9-5.

Movsar Evloev won a split decision over Nik Lentz in a catchweight bout.

Lentz had swelling under his right eye in the opening round. By the end of round three, Lentz’ face was a bloody mess.

Evloev landed 124 of 234 strikes; Lentz was 50-143.

Evloev won two cards 29-28. Lentz on the strength of a good 1st round where he almost was able to be successful on a couple of choke attempts, took a card 29-28.

Evloev, 150 lbs of Russia, won by scores of and is now 14-0. Lentz, 150 lbs of Coconut Creek, FL is 30-12-2

Amir Albazi won a unanimous decision over Zhalgas Zhumagulov in a flyweight bout.

Albazi landed 101 of 209 strikes; Zhumagulov was 72 of 149. Albazi had several near-miss choke opportunities in the 3rd round.

Albazi, 126 lbs of Iraq won by scores of 29-28 on all cards and is now 14-1. Zhumagulov, 126 lbs of Kazakhstan is 13-5.

Myquan Williams won a 10-round unanimous decision over Yeis Solano in a fight featuring undefeated super lightweights at the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

As early as round four, the right eye of Williams began to swell.

In round eight, Williams scored a knockdown when he landed a jab that sent Solano to the canvas. In round 10, Solano was deducted a point for a low blow. Later in the round, Solano was credited a knockdown when both guys came together and a punch was landed with both guys hit the canvas.

Solano landed 142 of 519 punches. Williams was 200 of 646.

Williams, 139 1/2 lbs of East Hartford, CT won by scores of 97-92 and 96-93 twice, and is now 16-0-1. Solano, 139 1/2 lbs of Los Angeles is 15-1.

“The judges definitely got it right,” said Williams. “I thought I landed the bigger, sharper shots for sure. I let him do a little too much though. He was shooting that straight left a lot, but I was catching most of them. He didn’t land too much.

“I would give myself a seven or eight out of 10. I could have done a lot more. The first couple rounds were good but in the middle of the fight, I kind of let him back in. But I adjusted and picked it back up and got my second wind in the latter rounds.”

“It was definitely important not to just get the win but to look good doing it,” said Williams. “I’ve been off for 15 months and this is a big platform to fight on. It’s my first televised fight so I thought it was important to look good and showcase my skills.

“It was a little weird fighting in front of no fans. I could hear a little bit of what the announcers were saying which was different. But I think it allowed me to focus a little more, to be honest. Not hearing the crowd and playing to the crowd helped me in the end.”

Nunez and Avagyan battle to a draw

Jose Nunez and Aram Avagyan battled to an eight-round majority draw in a featherweight bout.

Nunez landed 122 of 484 punches; Avagyan was 136 of 471.

Scores were 77-75 for Nunez, while two cards were even at 76-76.

Nunez, 127 1/4 lbs of Panama is 11-0-2. Avagyan, 128 lbs of Glendale, CA is 10-0-2.

“There was no justice tonight,” said Nunez. “It’s not fair. I won the first four rounds and closed out the last one as well. I executed the game plan really well. I knew he was a tough opponent, so I needed to slow him down by attacking the body and that’s exactly what I did.

“I’m not interested in a rematch if it’s going to be another draw. It was a tough fight, but I already proved that I’m the better fighter. He was not the toughest opponent I’ve faced because the truth is that I feel like I won. At the very least, I very clearly won five rounds.”

“I definitely did enough to get the win,” said Avagyan. “It doesn’t make sense to me. He never hurt me. I got hit with some body shots, but I blocked everything. Every big shot he threw he missed. I thought I fought a good fight and deserved the win. I’m not interested in a rematch if it’s going to be judged like that. If it’s going to be fair, then yes, I would fight him again.”