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Low Output Chavez Jr. Outweighs Reyes, Wins UD10

Julio Cesar Chavez came back for another round of reputation burnishing, taking on Marcos Reyes in the main event of a Showtime card Saturday night. He didn’t bowl anyone over with his showing, though; Junior was the bigger, more skilled man in Texas, but he took much of many rounds off, and his corner told him time and again to be busier. That said, he did get the W, though no extra points for style: Chavez Jr. got the nod, by scores of 97-92, 98-91, 96-93.
Chavez (170.8 on Friday, refused to weigh in day of; living in CA; 48-2-1-1 entering) quit and lost in his last bout, and switched from Joe Goossen to Robert Garcia in his corner.
Reyes (from Mexico; 33-2 entering; cornered by Nacho Beristain; WBC No. 12 middleweight) used to use Garcia but couldn’t because he was booked.
Junior went 149-340 to 164-690 for Reyes. 340 punches over ten rounds is a weak number…
After, Junior said to Jim Gray he thinks he did OK but he hurt his left hand, which he thinks may be broken. He said he would have kayoed him, probably, if his hand was OK. He is open to a rematch, he said, and while Reyes threw a lot, he also missed a lot. He said he will stay at 168, and can do better, though he did have a great camp. Trainer Garcia said he could have done more, and they didn’t have much time together. Gray asked why fans were booing and Junior, like a Chris Christie, fielded that query well, saying that’s because they wanted a KO. Reyes to Gray said he thought he won, and complained that Junior was basically a 175 fighting a middleweight.
In the first, Jr. backed up, and then edged forward, played peekaboo guard, ducked down, popped a jab, tried to land a sharp right. In the second, Junior backed up, then wanted to land left hooks. He ripped one, then a chopping right…and the ref halted it because Reyes thought he was hit low. He was right, btw…A fierce right by Junior landed before the bell.
In the third, Reyes got busier. Junior nodded, told him to keep going. Junior perked up, backed him up second half of the round, won the round, I think.
In the fourth, Junior stalked, his poundage edge now helping as he ground down the smaller man. In the fifth, Junior did some basics, showing the jab. Junior’s heavier hands and body was helping him more now, as Reyes was being drained. Reyes went lefty, then righty, in the sixth. Garcia told Junior to do more, put more pressure on, the whole round, after the round. In the seventh, Reyes ran more. He was eating clean, he looked more fatigued. Reyes came out with energy to start the eighth; Junior wasn’t busy and didn’t press like he did the round before. In the ninth, a point was taken from Reyes for a foul, off a clash of heads. We saw blood on Chavez’ left eye. Reyes poured it on at the bell, showing great fire. Garcia said he needed the next round. In the tenth, Junior really didn’t do as Garcia said, he wasn’t all that urgent. Reyes threw low, and Junior complained, and got nailed while yapping. We went to the cards, after they traded to end it, and Reyes slipped to the mat…
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 239: Fernando Vargas Jr. at the Pechanga Casino and More

Once upon a time the name Ferocious Fernando Vargas stirred up the blood of many a Southern California boxing fan and others.
Based in Oxnard, California, the Ferocious One dared to be great and was fearless in charging forward like an Aztec warrior against all odds and opposition. Those who followed him expected it and though he only had 31 professional fights, each battle was dripping with drama.
Remember his battles with Ike Quartey, Winky Wright or Sugar Shane Mosley?
Even his losses were blazing unforgettable wars with Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricardo Mayorga.
Vargas no longer fights but he has three sons and they do the fighting for the Las Vegas-based family. Itâs Fernando Vargas 2.0.
The oldest son Fernando Vargas Jr. (8-0, 8 KOs) competes in a six-round super welterweight contest against Venezuelaâs Heber Rondon (20-4, 13 KOs) on Friday June 2, at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif. The Marvnation Promotions card will also be shown on its YouTube.com site.
In the co-main event number one super flyweight contender Adelaida Ruiz fights Mexicoâs Maria Cecilia Roman in a 10-round affair. Ruiz is considered by many to be a guaranteed world champion by this year. Donât miss her.
A special presentation includes the appearance of two boxing greats Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy âHit Manâ Hearns. During the 70s and 80s they both made history with incredible performances that made them both boxing immortals.
If you ever saw them during the 80s they were two of the primary fighters who raised the level of the sport with their willingness to fight each other. Leonard and Hearns fought each other twice. Leonard beat Roberto Duran two of three times. Marvin Hagler beat Hearns in what many consider one of the greatest three rounds of all time. Ironically, it was the first title fight I ever wrote about.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for tickets go to  www.pechenga.com or www.marvnation.com
Boxing Saturday in Detroit
Female boxingâs top pound-for-pound queen Claressa Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) faces Maricela Cornejo (16-5, 6 KOs) in defense of the middleweight world championship on Saturday, June 3, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions fight card beginning at 6 p.m. PST.
Until last week, Costa Ricaâs Hanna Gabriels was the scheduled foe, but VADA testing revealed illegal substances in her blood stream and she was forced out. After two days Cornejo was mutually agreed by both parties to be the replacement.
âI was getting ready for another fight on June 6. This wasnât a last-minute fight. I eat, drink, and love boxing. Itâs not a part-time job,â said Cornejo about eagerly accepting the fight as a replacement for Gabriels.
The last time we saw Shields in the prize ring she was firing on all gears as she unleashed blazing-fast combinations on Englandâs Savannah Marshall. Many had predicted Shields would be vanquished.
Many were wrong.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and champion of three weight divisions has shown that size, power and will are not enough to dethrone her. Only a few made Shields blink and that came early on.
During the press conference, Mark Taffet, co-manager of Shields, hinted that she may be pursuing undisputed status in the super middleweight divisions and above. But first, her defense against Cornejo who did not hesitate in consenting to the challenge.
Only in the past four years has female boxing become a lucrative pro sport. Before fighters like Shields, Katie Taylor, and others, women were seldom paid more than $3,000 dollars for a world championship fight.
Shields helped spark the change and Cornejo will now finally meet her in the prize ring.
âClaressa has done so much for the sport of boxing. Weâre trying to do our part. She canât do it alone. Weâre all trying to make a difference,â said Cornejo about accepting the fight on short notice. âShe needs a dance partner and Iâm ready to dance June 3.â
Shields smiled, content that Cornejo helped salvage the fight card in Detroit, Michigan near her hometown of Flint. Shields personally bought 1,000 tickets for youngsters to attend the fight card on Saturday. Now it will be a true contender facing her.
âI want to say thank you for fighting me,â said Shields to Cornejo. âI know you want to dance, but I came to fight.â
To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
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The Sweet Science Rankings: Week of May 29th, 2023

The Sweet Science Rankings: Week of May 29th, 2023
In this week’s TSS Rankings, it’s all change at the top of the 126lbs division with Luis Alberto Lopez rocketing to the #1 spot after a brutal dispatch of Michael Conlan; Leigh Wood is right behind him after making it 1-1 with a miserable Mauricio Lara (Mexico) who is likely about to depart for 130lbs after failing to make weight by 4lbs. For the moment he languishes at #5.  Chris Billam-Smith makes #3 at 200lbs after ripping victory from fellow Englishman Lawrence Okolie. The hapless Okolie drops to #8. The best performance this weekend though was turned in by New Yorker Oscar Collazo who brutalised the favoured Melvin Jerusalem (Philippines). Collazo rises to three, Jerusalem drops to #8.
Pound-for-Pound
01 â Naoya Inoue
02 â Oleksandr Usyk
03 â Juan Francisco Estrada
04 â Dmitry Bivol
05 â Terence Crawford
06 â Errol Spence Jnr.
07 â Tyson Fury
08 â Saul Alvarez
09 â Artur Beterbiev
10 – Shakur Stevenson
105lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Knockout CP Freshmart (Thailand)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Petchmanee CP Freshmart (Thailand)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oscar Collazo (USA)*
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ginjiro Shigeoka (Japan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wanheng Menayothin (Thailand)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daniel Valladares (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yudai Shigeoka (Japan)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Melvin Jerusalem (Philippines)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Masataka Taniguchi (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rene Mark Cuarto (Philippines)
108lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenshiro Teraji (Japan)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jonathan Gonzalez (Puerto Rico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Masamichi Yabuki (Japan)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hekkie Budler (South Africa)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sivenathi Nontshinga (South Africa)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Elwin Soto (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daniel Matellon (Cuba)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reggie Suganob (Philippines)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shokichi Iwata (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esteban Bermudez (Mexico)
112lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunny Edwards (England)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Artem Dalakian (Ukraine)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Julio Cesar Martinez (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Angel Ayala Lardizabal (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Jimenez (Costa Rica)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesse Rodriguez (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ricardo Sandoval (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Felix Alvarado (Nicaragua)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Seigo Yuri Akui (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cristofer Rosales (Nicaragua)
115lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesse Rodriguez (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kazuto Ioka (Japan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joshua Franco (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Junto Nakatani (Japan)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fernando Martinez (Argentina)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thailand)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kosei Tanaka (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andrew Moloney (Australia)
118lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jason Moloney (Australia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vincent Astrolabio (Philippines)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Antonio Russell (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Takuma Inoue (Japan)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alexandro Santiago (Mexico)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ryosuke Nishida (Japan)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keita Kurihara (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Paul Butler (England)
122lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Fulton (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Marlo Tapales (Philippines)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luis Nery (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Murodjon Akhmadaliev (Uzbekistan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Raâeese Aleem (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Azat Hovhannisyan (Armenia)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kevin Gonzalez (Mexico)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Takuma Inoue (Japan)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Riel Casimero (Philippines)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fillipus Nghitumbwa (Namibia)
Â
126lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luis Alberto Lopez (Mexico)*
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Leigh Wood (England)*
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Figueroa (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rey Vargas (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mauricio Lara (Mexico)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mark Magsayo (Philippines)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Josh Warrington (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reiya Abe (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Otabek Kholmatov (Uzbekistan)
Â
130lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Cordina (Wales)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oscar Valdez (Mexico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hector Garcia (Dominican Republic)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â O’Shaquie Foster (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (Tajikistan)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roger Gutierrez (Venezuela)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lamont Roach (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eduardo Ramirez (Mexico)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenichi Ogawa (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robson Conceicao (Brazil)
135lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Devin Haney (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gervonta Davis (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vasily Lomachenko (Ukraine)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Isaac Cruz (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â William Zepeda Segura (Mexico)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Martin (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â George Kambosos Jnr (Australia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shakur Stevenson (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Raymond Muratalla (USA)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keyshawn Davis (USA)
140lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Josh Taylor (Scotland)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Regis Prograis (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jose Ramirez (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jose Zepeda (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Catterall (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Subriel Matias (Puerto Rico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arnold Barboza Jr. (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Antuanne Russell (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zhankosh Turarov (Kazakhstan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shohjahon Ergashev (Uzbekistan)
Â
147lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Errol Spence (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Terence Crawford (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yordenis Ugas (Cuba)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vergil Ortiz Jr. (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jaron Ennis (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Avanesyan (Russia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cody Crowley (Canada)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roiman Villa (Columbia)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alexis Rocha (USA)
Â
154lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jermell Charlo (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tim Tszyu (Australia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brian Castano (Argentina)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brian Mendoza (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Smith (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesus Alejandro Ramos (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sebastian Fundora (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Michel Soro (Ivory Coast)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Erickson Lubin (USA)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Magomed Kurbanov (Russia)
Â
160lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gennady Golovkin (Kazakhstan)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jaime Munguia (Mexico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carlos Adames (Dominican Republic)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Janibek Alimkhanuly (Kazakhstan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Smith (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Erislandy Lara (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sergiy Derevyanchenko (Ukraine)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Felix Cash (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esquiva Falcao (Brazil)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Eubank Jnr. (Poland)
168lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Canelo Alvarez (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Benavidez (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Caleb Plant (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Christian Mbilli (France)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Morrell (Cuba)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Ryder (England)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pavel Silyagin (Russia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vladimir Shishkin (Russia)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carlos Gongora (Ecuador)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Demetrius Andrade (USA)
175lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dmitry Bivol (Russia)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Artur Beterbiev (Canada)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joshua Buatsi (England)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Callum Smith (England)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Smith Jr. (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gilberto Ramirez (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Yarde (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dan Azeez (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Craig Richards (England)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Michael Eifert (Germany)
200lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jai Opetaia (Australia)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mairis Breidis (Latvia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Billam-Smith (England)*
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Richard Riakporhe (England)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Aleksei Papin (Russia)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Badou Jack (Sweden)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arsen Goulamirian (France)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lawrence Okolie (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yuniel Dorticos (Cuba)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mateusz Masternak (Poland)
Unlimited
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tyson Fury (England)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zhilei Zhang (China)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Deontay Wilder (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Joshua (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andy Ruiz (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Filip Hrgovic (Croatia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Joyce (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dillian Whyte (England)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Sanchez (Cuba)
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U.K. Boxing Montage: Conlan KOed; Wood Regains Title; Billam-Smith Upsets Okolie

British fight fabs had plenty of options last night. Important events were staged in Manchester, in Bournemouth, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The locals were delighted in Manchester and Bournemouth, but fans in Belfast were left crestfallen when their hometown hero Michael Conlan, the former two-time Olympian, was on the wrong end of a vicious KO.
Conlan, who was 18-1 heading in, had a four-inch height advantage and three-inch reach advantage over Mexican spoiler Luis Alberto Lopez. The Irishman attracted late money and went to post a small favorite. But Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) emerged victorious, successfully defending his IBF world featherweight title which he won in British soil over Josh Warrington.
Although Conlan had a rough patch in the second round, he was seemingly in a good position heading into round five when the Mexican invader brought a swift conclusion to the contest, discombobulating Conlan (pictured) with a right uppercut that prompted his trainer Adam Booth to throw in the towel. It was the second time that Conlan came up short in a bid for a world title. He challenged for the WBA version of this belt in March of last year, losing on a spectacular last round knockout to Leigh Wood in a fight that he was winning until the final 90 seconds.
AlsoâŠ
In a scheduled 12-rounder for a WBC featherweight trinket, five-foot-three Liverpool buzzsaw Nick âWreckingâ Ball advanced to 18-0, (11 KOs) with a 12th-round stoppage of South Africaâs previously undefeated Ludumo Lamati (21-1-1, 11 KOs). Lamatiâs corner tossed in the towel after Ball landed a series of hard punches in the final frame.
Lamati was on his feet when the bout was stopped but was in dire straits and was removed from the ring on a stretcher. There was no update on his condition as this story was going to press.
In a companion 12-rounder, Belfastâs Anthony âApacheâ Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs) successfully defended his fringe 130-pound title with a wide decision over Damian Wrzesinski (26-3-2). The judges had 118-111, 117-111, and 116-112.
Wrzesinski, a 38-year-old Pole, fought with a brace on his right knee. This was the first fight for âApacheâ in his hometown in eight years. The win may have set him up for a match with Welshman Joe Cordina, the IBF junior lightweight title-holder, or Shavkat Rakhimov who lost a close decision to Cordina in a bruising tiff last month.
Manchester
Mauricio Lara didnât bring his âAâ game to England. That became apparent at the weigh-in when he failed to make weight, losing his WBA world featherweight title on the scales. By rule, only Leigh Wood could win it or it would become vacant.
This was a rematch. Fourteen weeks ago, Lara went into Woodâs backyard in Nottingham and stopped him in the seventh round. Lara was behind on the cards when he felled Wood with a crunching left hook. Wood beat the count but his trainer Ben Davison tossed in the towel which struck many, especially Wood, as premature as less than 10 seconds remained in the round.
In a previous trip to England, Lara had broken hearts in Leeds, stopping native son Josh Warrington. The Mexican invader, younger than Leigh Wood by 10 years, was expected to win again, but Wood, 34, simply out-worked him. He knocked Lara down in the second round with an uppercut and methodically kept him at bay, winning by scores of 116-111 and 118-109 twice.
Co-Feature
In his first appearance since his controversial defeat to Josh Taylor in Glasgow in February of last year, Jack Catterall improved to 27-1 (15) with a wide decision over Irish-Australian southpaw Darragh Foley (22-5-1).
The Sportsman called the Catterall-Taylor fight, a split decision win for Taylor, the most controversial fight in British boxing history and Catterall became a more sympathetic figure when Taylor, after several postponements, reneged on his promise to give Catterall a rematch, opting instead for a date with Teofimo Lopez.
Although Foley was in action 10 weeks ago, scoring his signature win with a third-round stoppage of favored Robbie Davies Jr., and Catterall was making his first start in 15 months, this was a one-sided fray in Catterallâs favor. He had Foley on the canvas twice en route to winning by scores of 99-88, 98-89, and 97-90.
Eddie Hearn has expressed an interest in matching Catterall with Regis Prograis assuming that Prograis gets past Arnold Barboza on June 17.
Also
Englandâs Terri Harper (14-1-1), who jumped up three weight classes last year, successfully defended her WBA 154-pound diadem with a unanimous but unimpressive 10-round decision over perennial title challenger Ivana Habazin. The judges had it 98-92 and 99-93 twice.
Harper was slated to fight former pound-for-pound queen Cecilia Braekhus last Saturday in the co-feature to Taylor vs. Cameron in Dublin, but hat match fell out when Braekhus came down with a bad cold following the weight-in.
Harper is seeking a unification fight with countrywoman Natasha Jonas. Habazin, a 33-year-old Croat, fell to 21-5.
Bournemouth
In his fourth defense of his WBO world cruiserweight title, previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie was soundly defeated by former sparring partner Chris Billam.-Smith The match was contested in Billam-Smith’s hometown before a raucous crowd at sold-out Vitality Stadium.
A 3/1 underdog, Billam-Smith, who was 17-1 heading in, proved clearly superior He knocked Okolie down in the fourth round and again in rounds 10 and 11 en route to winning by scores of 116-107, 115-108, and 112-112.
About that curious 112-112 card. It was turned in by U.S. judge Benjamin Rodriguez who had been working the Illinois-Wisconsin circuit. On social media, his tally is being called the worst scorecard of all time.
Did Billam-Smith’s fans leave happy? The correspondent for British Boxing News called the event âa night of breathtaking boxing action that will never be forgotten.â
The six-foot-five Okolie may have made his last start as a cruiserweight. He aspires to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
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