RINGSIDE REPORT BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT RAYMUNDO DIOSES — Undefeated WBA super featherweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis needed less than a full round to defend his title against Hugo Ruiz in the main event of a Showtime televised card from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on February 9, 2019.

An attendance of 8,048 watched as Davis, (21-0, 20 KOs) ate a right hand early from Ruiz, which only served to prompt Davis to seek an early night at the office.  Davis rocked Ruiz with a left hand that put Ruiz, a former junior featherweight titlist, on his heels and Davis ended matters with a right-left-right combination that dropped Ruiz.  The former champion got up after an eight count, but referee Jack Reiss didn’t like what he saw and waived off the fight at 2:59 of the first round.

Reiss has worked multiple championship contests and utilized his veteran experience in stopping the fight.  “Ruiz didn’t answer me.  I told him clearly in the dressing room what he needed to do.  When I asked him in Spanish if he wanted to continue he didn’t answer.  He was really hurt.  He basically made the decision. If he just (nodded his head) we would have kept going.”

Ruiz served as a substitute opponent as Abner Mares was forced to withdraw due to an eye injury. Ruiz’s last fight was January 19 on the Manny Pacquiao-Adrien Broner undercard.

“Tonight I just wanted to put on a great performance.  I was scheduled to fight Abner Mares, but he had an injury so my main goal tonight was to make a great performance, which I did,” said Davis, who threw 56 total punches, landing 11 including nine out of 18 power connects.

It was a quick yet impressive outing for Davis, who defended his WBA belt for the first time since registering a third round TKO over Jesus Cueller in April 2018.  That fight was the Baltimore native’s only fight in 2018.

“I’m very confident that I will be more active this year.  I have three, probably four fights lined up this year. I’m happy with my team and ready for the next.”

Barrios-Zamora

San Antonio’s Mario Barrios utilized his height and reach against Richard Zamora in the lead-in to the night’s main event.

Barrios (23-0, 15 KOs) looked sharp and other than getting caught with a head shot in the early rounds, dominated Zamora and stepped on the gas to score the stoppage with a barrage of blows at 2:16 of the fourth round.

“He wasn’t an easy target at all,” said Barrios, who sparred with Amir Khan and Devin Haney in training camp and is the WBA’s No. 1 ranked fighter at 140 pounds. We just used everything we worked on in camp to find my range.”

He added: “It was an amazing fight. I tip my hat to Zamora – he’s a hell of a warrior. I wish him nothing but the best for the rest of his career. Like he said at the press conference, he wanted a war and I brought it to him. Total respect to him.”

Fortuna-Bogere

Las Vegas resident Sharif Bogere squared off against Javier Fortuna in what was a dull start in the outset that drew the crowd to boo audibly. The fighters stepped up the activity in round five and traded body shots yet neither fighter gained much ground.  Bogere served as the pace dictator, yet his offense did not lead to much and neither did Fortuna’s. Bogere had some success early in the sixth as some punches started to land. The fighters became tied up late the round and Bogere fell to the canvas in what was ruled a knockdown. The end result was a decision win for Fortuna (34-2-1, 23 KOs) in a fight that was devoid of any sustained action.

Off-TV Fights

Erickson Lubin dominated former IBF champion Ishe Smith in a nine-minute super welterweight fight. Smith was badly dropped in the second with a left down the pipe from Lubin, and seconds later found himself on the canvas again. A flurry of punches dropped Smith a third time yet Smith was able to survive the second round. Lubin (20-1, 15 KOs) kept the pressure up in the following round, leading to a fourth canvas visit for Smith at the end of round three.  At that point referee Jack Reiss called the fight off prior to a fourth round start.

“I hit hard. I saw that one of my shots shook him up and he dropped. I am a great finisher and I knew it was time to get him out of there. After the second time dropping him, I thought maybe he was a little shaken up because veteran fighters are capable of recuperating easily when they are hurt,” said Lubin.

Oakland, California’s Lennard Davis was knocked down in round one yet brought the heat the next round, rocking super lightweight Maurice Lee’s head back with power punches that Lee was able to eat and stay on his feet. Davis let up on the pressure in the following rounds, allowing Lee back into the game.  Davis dropped Lee at the end of the fourth, yet the fight remained competitive and ended in dramatic fashion with both fighters throwing until the final bell after six rounds. Lee was almost dropped in the exchange. Judge Daniel Sandoval had it 57-55 for Lee yet was overruled by the other two judges who had it 56-56 for a majority draw.

Las Vegas native Juan Heraldez was impressive, registering three knockdowns in his bout with Chicago’s Eddie Ramirez. Heraldez, (16-0, 10 KOs), who fought from a shoulder roll stance, scored two knockdowns in the fifth round yet Ramirez fought back gamely before being dropped again as a straight right hand dropped Ramirez in the seventh.  Ramirez beat the count yet referee Ray Corona didn’t like what he saw and called the fight off.

Super bantamweight Israel Luna utilized his height and reach advantages against Angel Carvajal in a four round bout.  Luna, (2-0, 1 KO) kept Carvajal at bay and also got the better of the exchanges with effective combinations. Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37 for a unanimous decision win for Los Angeles’ Luna.

Photo credit: Dave Mandel / SHOWTIME

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