Wood scores spectacular KO, retains title
In an all-British world title clash, WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) knocked out former two-time IBF champ Josh Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs) in round seven on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. Warrington had it going his way until round seven when Wood connected with a right hook that staggered Warrington. A barrage of punches from Wood then dropped Warrington and left him unable to continue.
Nikita Tszyu wins Aussie super welter belt
Unbeaten super welterweight Nikita Tszyu (8-0, 7 KOs) scored a crushing fifth round TKO over previously unbeaten Australian 154lb champion Dylan Biggs (10 1, 7 KOs on Wednesday night at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Tszyu roared back after suffering a first round knockdown. It was a firefight for the next two rounds. Tszyu punished Biggs in a dominant round four, then mercilessly blasted Biggs to the canvas in the fifth. Biggs beat the count, but the bout was stopped moments later. Tszyu is the son of ring legend Kostya Tszyu and brother of current WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.
Kingry KOs Duarte in eight
In a bout fought at a 143lb catch weight, fan favorite Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) outclassed and stopped Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Duarte pressed the action, but Garcia’s speed and mobility won him the rounds. Garcia finally dropped Duarte in round eight and Duarte didn’t beat the count. Time was 2:51.
Unbeaten WBA #5 lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) exploded all over Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres (17-8-3, 12 KOs), dropping him four times in the first round. Time was 1:51. Another impressive performance by Schofield.
Middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. (21-4, 12 KOs) stopped Joshua Conley (17-6-1, 11 KOs) after six rounds. Mosley rocked Conley in round six and Conley couldn’t continue after the round.
Super middleweight KO artist Darius Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs) battered Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-5-1, 6 KOs) until the bout was stopped at :56 of round two.
BAM! Rodriguez TKOs Edwards to unify
In a flyweight unification clash, WBO champion Jesse “BAM” Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) stopped IBF champion Sunny Edwards (20-1, 4 KOs) in round nine on Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. In a good fight, Rodriguez steadily broke down and busted up Edwards. BAM finally dropped Edwards at the end of round nine and the bout was stopped.
In a WBA super bantamweight eliminator, former unified champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs) dealt an eight round beating to previously unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez (26-1-1, 13 KOs). Akhmadaliev dropped Gonzalez twice in round six and two more times in round eight to end it. Time was 2:49. Gonzalez was game and tough, but Akhmadaliev was too much.
Olympic gold medalist and flyweight contender Galal Yafai (6-0, 4 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over rugged Rocco Santomauro (22-3, 6 KOs). Yafai was mostly in control, but Santomauro got some of his licks in also. Scores were 99-91, 98-93, 97-93.
Super bantamweight Ja’Rico O’Quinn (17-1-1, 9 KOs) scored a spectacular fifth round knockout over previously unbeaten Peter McGrail (8-1, 5 KOs). McGrail was dominating the fight until he was laid out by a counter right. Time was 2:19. O’Quinn claimed the WBA Continental belt.
Monster” Inoue finishes Tapales, becomes undisputed 122lb champ
“Monster” Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), 121.75, impressively collected the four championship belts as he, WBC, WBO titleholder, finally caught up with WBA, IBF ruler Marlon Tapales (37-4, 19 KOs), 121.5, and dropped him with a devastating right for the count at 1:02 of the tenth round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue, in round four, floored Tapales with a solid combination of a left-right followed by a vicious left hook, and we thought it would be a matter of time for the Monster to finish it soon. But Tapales survived and displayed his gameness and durability to make it a longer fight than expected. The tenth, however, witnessed Naoya turn loose and connect a direct strong right without a left lead, which had Tapales reeling backward and down with the ropes behind him. The Filipino southpaw was unable to beat the count.
The undisputed champ Naoya said, “I appreciate Tapales having accepted this ultimate unification bout. He was courageous and durable. But he finally collapsed with his accumulation of punishment. I’ll fight next in May.” It fully entertained the packed-house crowd at Ariake Arena, who looked very much satisfied with Inoue’s complete coronation in just five months since his last victory over the then WBC, WBO titlist Stephen Fulton.
Ortiz halts Lawson, Barroso destroys Davies
By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) scored a first round TKO against Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-4, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Now competing at super welterweight following 17 months out of the ring, Ortiz connected with some good shots and the bout was suddenly waved off by referee Tony Weeks. Time was 2:33. Very early stoppage.
In the co-feature bout of the evening, Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) scored a first round knockout over Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-3, 18 KOs). A counter left dropped Davies early on. He got up and Barroso sent him to the canvas a second time. He got up once again but was unresponsive forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:53 of the first round. The 40-year-old Barroso wins the WBA interim super lightweight title.
WBO #1 super lightweight Arnold Barbosa Jr. (29-0, 11 KOs) of El Monte returned to the ring in his Golden Boy Promotions debut to stop Xolisani Ndongeni (31-4, 18 KOs) of Eastern Cape, South Africa in eight.
Lurking and fighting at a slow pace, Barbosa took his time to figure out Ndongeni in the opening round. A straight by Barbosa in the second snapped the South African’s head back as Barbosa continued to connect with the right throughout the second round. Swinging wildly to begin the third, Ndongeni took his shots at Barbosa but controlled the rest of the round. Barbosa was slightly cut on the left eye to begin the fourth as Ndongeni proceeded to box away. However, in the fifth, Barbosa and Ndongeni exchanged with Barbosa getting the better of it as he had the South African fighter backing away.
Applying pressure in the sixth, Barbosa kept Ndongeni at a distance landing effectively. It was all Barboza heading into the seventh as he continued to outwork and stay on top of Ndongeni. The ringside physician took a close look at Ndongeni to begin the eighth, Barboza kept it coming throughout the round as Ndongeni had no answers for the El Monte fighter. The corner stopped the fight at the end of round eight.
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NABF welterweight champion Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (14-0, 12 KOs) stopped Elias Diaz (12-2, 7 KOs) of National City, California in the eighth round.
Fighting at a fast pace early on, Diaz worked the jab as Curiel stalked connecting with thudding shots as he connected with a looping right. Curiel began to land more effectively as he closed the third round strong, connecting with a solid right hand. In the fourth, Diaz began trickling blood from a cut below his left eye, Curile once again connected with a looping right as the bleeding worsened for Diaz. Diaz’s eye was shut and limited his vision as Curiel began to work Diaz and then dropped him with a combination to end the fifth.
Working patiently and controlling the fight, Curiel kept on overwhelming Diaz with constant pressure through six. There was no questioning Diaz heart as he kept fighting on with his eye completely shut heading into the seventh as Curil was consistent in applying the pressure. The referee had seen in enough the following round as Curiel’s pressure was too much for Diaz, stepping in to stop the fight at 1:06.
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In the opening bout from the Virgins Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, super welterweight Emiliano Gandara (1-0, 1 KO) of Dallas, Texas made a successful professional debut with a first round knockout over Isaac Matamoros (1-2). Gandara dropped Matamoros and then finished him off at 2:11.
Was on the DAZN. Got the rest of the month because I paid for the mega fight two weeks ago. Great fights. Ortiz stoppage was bullshit. Heaps of boos.