NEW YORK–Canelo Alvarez thrilled over 20,000 fans in his Madison Square Garden debut as he stopped Ricky Fielding in three painful rounds to win the WBA Super Middleweight title.
It was an action packed fight as Fielding came to fight, but that was his undoing as he got drilled by thudding body shots for which two put him down one time in each of the first two frames. Alvarez closed the show for his adoring fans by dropping Fielding for a 3rd time in round three, this time from a wicked right to the head. Canelo ended things with another engulfing body punch that put Fielding down in a knee, and referee Ricky Gonzalez did the right thing by ending the fight at 2:38.
Alvarez is a three-division champion and now boasts a record of 51-1-1 with 35 knockouts. Fielding, 167.4 lbs of Liverpool, UK i 27-2.
Tevin Farmer retained the IBF Super Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Francisco Fonseca.
Farmer boxed well, as he featured some nice uppercuts to the body and slapping left hands. Fonseca was cut around the right eye in round six.
Farmer, 130 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 117-111 on all cards and is now 28-4-1. Fonseca, 129.4 lbs of San Ramon, CRI is 22-2-1.
In a battle between former world champions, Sadam Ali won a 10-round unanimous decision over Mauricio Herrera in a welterweight bout.
Ali, 147 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 to raise his mark to 27-2. Herrera, 146 lbs of Riverside, CA is 24-8.
Sadam Ali:
“Honestly, I didn’t look good in there. I felt like I won sloppy. Herrera made me look terrible in there. He’s a rugged fighter. And I fell in there that last moment of the fight the same way I fell when I fought Miguel Cotto. I felt like the cards were a lot closer than what the judges said they were.”
Mauricio Herrera:
“It was an ok fight. I had to shake a lot of the rust off, but it was a good pace. Overall, I thought I won the fight. I had him missing a lot in there, and I wasn’t that tired.
Ryan Garcia thrilled the crowd by stopping Braulio Rodriguez in round five of a scheduled ten-round lightweight bout.
In round one, Garcia landed hard right that drove Rodriguez to the canvas. In round three, Rodriguez, who was being more theatrical then forceful, was deducted a point for a low blow.
In round five, Garcia drilled Rodriguez with a left hook that rocked Rodriguez to the ropes. Garcia followed up with a left hook that sent Rodriguez to the canvas, and the fight was halted at 1:14.
Garcia, 134.8 lbs of Victorville, CA is 17-0 with 14 knockouts. Rodriguez, 133.2 lbs of Lo Romana, DR is 19-4.
“I wasn’t looking for the knockout because a lot of people say, if this kid can fight, I just see skills on Instagram. I wanted to show them that I can fight and I am for real.”
“That was the main thing coming in. We knew from the weigh-ins when [Rodriguez] pushed me that he would try to intimidate me, I think that’s what he was trying to do, but I came in here and I was like, that’s not going to happen.”
On training with the Reynosos: “Man, I can’t thank them enough. They took me in like family. They took care of me good. I don’t speak Spanish but they took care of me. I don’t speak Spanish, but I got the Mexican blood in me. Viva Mexico!”
On who he wants to fight next: “When I was first coming up, I made the mistake thinking when I was knocking everyone out that I can conquer the world. I know it’s a process and I’m going to trust everyone and trust my team. I’m not scared of nobody.”
Katie Taylor remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Eva Wahlstrom in a IBF/WBA Lightweight title.
Taylor dominated with her superior handspeed and combination punching.
Wahlstrom was cut on her forehead in round nine, and around her left eye in the 10th frame.
Taylor, 134.2 lbs of Bray, IRE won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 12-0. Wahlstrom, 133.4 lbs of Helsinki, FIN is 22-1-1.
Who she wants to fight next: “The goal is to be the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. Obviously one of the biggest fighters out there is Amanda Serrano, and that’s a huge, huge fight.”
On what she wants to say to Amanda Serrano: “Let’s get it on.”
On out-landing Eva almost two to one: “I thought it was a very good performance. She’s obviously a fantastic champion and a great, great fighter. I knew it was going to be a great showcase for women’s boxing. It was such a privilege to fight here in Madison Square Garden in front of so many Irish people, so thank you so much for the support.”
On her hand speed being compared to Sugar Ray Leonard’s: “That’s probably the biggest compliment I can get to get, being compared to Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s one of my favorite fighters, I’ve watched a lot of his videos, and my goal is to be as good as him.”
Lamont Roach Jr. remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Alberto Mercado in a junior lightweight bout.
Roach, 129.4 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93, and is 18-0-1. Mercado, 129.2 lbs of Humacao, PR is 15-2-1.
“I controlled most of the fight, and felt like I hurt him in almost every round. I am proud of the fight that I had tonight – most fighters don’t take the type of fights I say yes to. I’ll do what it takes to make it to the top and that means fighting skilled fighters.”
I feel good, but it’s a bummer going 10 when I know can end it earlier and go less. Other than that, the fight was tough. I dominated in everyone and I hurt him in everyone.
I know who the WBO and WBA champions are. [Masayuki] Ito and Alberto Machado. I’ll fight any of them. But I’m in line to fight for the WBO Title, so I really hope that happens next.
Yves Ulysse Jr. dropped Maximilliano twice en-route twice en-route to an eight-round unanimous decision in a super lightweight bout.
In round six, Ulysse dropped Becerra with a hard right hand. A round later, a left to the face sent Becera down for a 2nd time.
Ulysse, 139 lbs of of Montreal won by scores of 79-71 and 78-72 twice, and is now 17-1. Becerra, 139 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 16-3-2.
“It was truly a dream coming true to fight at the Madison Square Garden. All the best fighters have fought here and the atmosphere is really unique. I felt like home in the ring. I’m happy about my performance: I’ve stick to the game plan, was patient to get the openings and hurt him. “
Bilal Akkawy stopped Victor Fonseca in round seven of a scheduled eight-round auper middleweight bout.
Akkawy landed a huge flurry on the ropes, and referee Steve Willis stopped the bout at 2:53.
Akkawy, 167.4 lbs of Sydney, AUS is 19-0-1 with 15 knockouts. Fonseca, 1662. lsb of Tijuan, MEX is 17-9-1.
“There is a lot of room for improvement. I wasn’t myself in there, but I’ll be working on that when I get back to the gym. It’s an honor to have fought here [Madison Square Garden]. The plan now is to enjoy the holiday and then head to Mexico so I can get ready for my next fight.”
