NEW YORK CITY — For the third straight year, Michael “Mick” Conlan (11-0, 6KO) claimed victory on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, scoring a unanimous ten round decision over Mexican Ruben Garcia Hernandez (24-4-2, 10KO), whipping the Irish faithful on-hand into a frenzy at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater and retaining his WBO Intercontinental Title in the process.
It was an electric entrance for Conlan, who walked through the crowd to the ring, complete with bagpipes and alcohol-fueled Irish singalogs.
But where Conlan’s entrance was on point, his performance was a bit lacking.
The 27 year old former Irish Olympian started slow, content to gain information in the early goings while switching stances from southpaw to orthodox to keep Hernandez off-balance.
Although Conlan varied his looks, he lacked creativity, and relied on potshots to slowly pick apart the lesser-skilled Hernandez. Conlan, who is trained by Adam Booth, operated at his best when he threw combinations, which unfortunately came few and far between. When Conlan did throw punches in bunches, in rounds eight and ten for example, he inflicted damage and had Hernandez on the defensive.
Hernandez’s best work came in the fifth, when he had Conlan playing a little defense, wailing away at the Irishman while his back was against the ropes.
In fairness to Conlan, he didn’t have to be something he is not tonight. Ultimately, it was an easy night’s work for Conlan and the scorecards proved that.
At the end of ten, all three judges scored it a shutout for Conlan, 100-90.
Luis Collazo Grinds Out SD Over Samuel Vargas
In what Top Rank billed as the main event of the evening, 37 year old former world welterweight champion Luis Collazo (39-7, 20KO) turned back the clock and turned in a workmanlike performance, grinding out a ten round split decision against Samuel Vargas (30-5-2, 14KO). Don Trella scored the bout 96-94 for Vargas, while Glenn Feldman and Frank Lombardi had it 96-94 and 98-92 for Collazo, respectively.
After a brief feeling out period, in which Collazo, who was fighting at Madison Square Garden for the fourth time in his career, bested Vargas, the two began to get intimate in the third. Vargas willingly closed the distance, but got a bit more than he bargained for, as Collazo time and again scored with left hands.
Undeterred, Vargas came back round after round, continually shortening the distance in order to fight chest to chest with Collazo, who was more than happy to fight in tight.
From the third round on, each round played out in similar fashion, with the Colombian-Canadian Vargas and Collazo fighting an inside fight, but with Collazo besting his foe.
Towards the end of the fight, a cut over Collazo’s right eye that was initially caused by a headbutt in round two started to give the New Yorker a few issues. But the 282 round veteran battled through and earned the judge’s decision. 15rounds.com scored the contest 97-93 for Collazo.
The result marks Vargas’ fifth career defeat. Other fighter’s to have had their fist raised against Vargas include Errol Spence, Jr., Amir Khan, and Danny Garcia.
Mojica Upsets Barnes Via Split Decision
Dallas bantamweight Oscar Mojica (12-5-1, 1KO) scored the biggest win of his career, spoiling some of the St. Patrick’s Day fun at Madison Square Garden in the process, defeating two time Irish Olympic Bronze Medalist Paddy “The Leprechaun” Barnes (5-2, 1KO) via six round split decision.
Things went wrong for Barnes, 31, from the get-go, as the first Mojica jab landed produced an ever-flowing stream of blood from the Irishman’s nose. Mojica, 26, sensing Barnes could feel his power, applied pressure for the remainder of the first, forcing Barnes to fight off his back foot.
In the second the Texan dug a beautiful left to Barnes’ liver that forced the Irishman to his knees. The referee inexplicably and wrongly ruled it a slip. Credit Barnes who, once back to his feet, starting taking the fight to Mojica.
Barnes landed his best punch of the fight — a right cross — midway through the sixth that seemed to grab Mujica’s attention and stall his offense. Barnes, who was fighting in the US for the first time, kept his foot on the gas for the remainder of the round, but it wasn’t enough to get the nod.
Judge James Pierce scored it 58-56 for Barnes, while John McKaie and Kevin Morgan saw it 58-56 for Mojica.
The result marks the second straight loss for Barnes. He last lost in August when he KO’d via body shot by Cristofer Rosales in a WBC world featherweight title fight.
It was an easy night at the office the Bronx’s Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas (13-1, 8KO) as he easily outpointed Adrian Ramirez (10-3, 6KO) of the Dominican Republic. Official scores read 80-72×3.
Vargas was patient and prodding throughout, at times almost too calculating. It seemed if he just let his hands go the fight would have ended inside the distance. Nonetheless, the 20 year old Puerto Rican southpaw fought the fight on his terms, at his pace, and cruised to the win.
Vargas’ only blemish remains a DQ loss against Samuel Santana 2016.
Bauza Cruises Past Maldonado To Stay Perfect
Newly signed Top Rank prospect John Bauza (12-0, 5KO) cruised to an easy unanimous decision against Mexican-American Ricardo Maldonado (8-9-1, 1KO). Bauza, a Puerto Rican native who lives in North Bergen, NJ, quickly imposed his will on his 30 year old opponent. The 20 year old southpaw, who is trained by Robert Garcia, came off his stool firing from the onset, sitting down on almost all his punches, firing them off with purpose.
Less than two rounds into the contest, a Bauza right hook opened a small cut above Maldonado’s right eye and less than a round later, Bauza was scoring at will with his straight left, at one point shooting three straight down Main Street without obstruction. Bauza continued to dissect and bloody Maldonado the rest of the way, possibly even breaking the stubborn Mexican’s nose.
At the end of six, all judges agreed on a 60-54 scorecard for Bauza.
Nikitin Moves To 3-0 With MD Over Tapia
Russian featherweight Vladimir Nikitin improved to 3-0 earning a hardfought majority decision against tough Texan Juan Tapia (8-3, 3KO). Nikitin, who is perhaps best known to date for his controversial win against Michael Conlan at the 2016 Rio Olympics en route to a bronze medal, struggled with the non-stop pressure from Tapia. The two were constantly exchanging, but the 28 year old Russian consistently bested his 26 year old counterpart.
At the end of six, the judges scorecards read 57-57 and 59-55×2 for Nikitin.
Joseph Adorno Battles His Way Past Victor Rosas
Nineteen year old Top Rank lightweight prospect, Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (12-0, 10KO), battled his way to a six round unanimous decision against Mexican southpaw Victor Rosas (10-9, 4KO). It took Adorno a few rounds the to figure out his 31 year old counterpart, but by the time the fourth round came around, Adorno was having it his way. The orthodox-stanced teen, who is co-trained by his father Anibal and Robert Garcia, scored a knockdown in the fifth courtesy of a counter left hook. Credit Rosas, however, who battled back in the sixth and had his best round of the fight, backing up Adorno.
At the end of the bout, all three judges agreed on a 58-55 scorecard in favor of Adorno.
Ireland’s Reeves Kicks Off St. Paddy’s Day Card With Win
In a four round junior welterweight contest, Ireland’s Lee Reeves (3-0) shutout (40-36×3) Texas-native Eduardo Torres (1-2) to kick off an evening of boxing from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The card is anchored by a ten round welterweight scrap between former junior welterweight champion Luis Collazo (38-7, 20KO) and Samuel Vargas (30-4-2, 14KO) and concludes with a special attraction St. Patrick’s Day attraction, seeing former Irish Olympian Michael Conlan (10-0, 6KO) take on fellow featherweight Ruben Garcia Hernandez (24-3-2, 10KO) in a ten round bout of their own.
