Fast Results from Minneapolis: Dirrell Wins Controversially; “Shango” Victorious

Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions brought U.S. fight fans a day-night doubleheader of sorts with cards in London and Minneapolis. Both shows were headlined by fights in the 168-pound division.

In Minneapolis, Anthony Dirrell and Avni Yildirim clashed for the WBC belt that became vacant when David Benavidez had it stripped from him for testing positive for cocaine. Dirrell had briefly held this title, losing it in his first defense on a majority decision to Badou Jack. Tonight he became a two-time WBC title-holder, but his victory, a split technical decision, was not without controversy.

Istanbul’s Yildirim was expected to be easy meat for Dirrell. The Turk had lost badly in his previous test against a name opponent, stopped in three rounds by Chris Eubank Jr. In his most recent bout, he labored to a majority decision over 46-year-old Danish-Congolese veteran Lolenga Mock. But tonight he was a handful for Dirrell who was rather lackadaisical, letting Yildirim bring the fight to him.

The pivotal moment occurred in round seven when an apparent head butt opened a gash over Dirrell’s left eye. Another clash of heads in round 10 worsened the cut, leading referee Mark Nelson to call time out and have a physician examine the wound. The physician stopped it and by rule the decision went to the scorecards with the judges instructed to score the 10th round as if it was a full round. When the fight was stopped, Yildirim celebrated in the mistaken impression that he had won by TKO. But two of the judges had it for Dirrell by tallies of 96-94, overruling the dissenter who favored Yildirim 98-92.

A rematch would seem to be in order but it’s more likely that Dirrell will pursue a unification fight with IBF title-holder Caleb Plant who was part of the broadcasting crew.

 Co-Feature

Local fan favorite Jamal “Shango” James (pictured), a lanky 6’2” welterweight, stopped Columbia’s Janer Gonzalez who surrendered after six frames. Moments before the bell ending round six, James, a lanky 6’2″ welterweight, knocked Gonzalez to his knees with a sharp left hook to the liver.

James (25-1, 12 KOs) has won five straight since suffering his lone defeat at the hands of Yordenis Ugas. Gonzalez (19-2-1) was making his first start in 16 months and his second start outside his native Columbia.

Undercard

It was snowing in Minneapolis and at nightfall the temperature was plummeting into double digits on the minus side. We mention this because the undercard was swarming with boxers from warm-weather towns including four hot prospects from Florida.

Orlando’s Justin Pauldo opened the show in a junior welterweight bout slated for eight rounds. Perhaps it was cold in the building and he was in a hurry to get back to his hotel room as he dismissed his 35-year-old Argentine adversary, Federico Malespino, in the opening round. Pauldo advanced to 12-1 (6). Malespino (16-11-2) was making his U.S. debut.

Alabama middleweight Money Powell IV needed two-plus rounds to overcome South Carolina’s Javier Frazier (8-9-1). Powell IV, now 9-0 (5), was a decorated amateur.

Austin Dulay (12-1, 10 KOs) stopped Mexico’s Yardley Armenta Cruz (24-13) with a flurry of punches in the third round. A southpaw from Nashville, Tennessee, Dulay is of Italian and Filipino descent. Cruz, who has been matched tough throughout his pro career, has now been stopped 10 times.

Bryant Perella, a welterweight from Fort Myers, Florida, improved to 16-2 with an 8-round decision over Columbian journeyman Breidis Prescott. Back in 2008, Prescott ventured into Manchester, England, and shocked the boxing world with a first round knockout of Amir Khan. Prescott has won only 12 of his 28 fights since that moment.

A 10-round middleweight match opened the TV portion of the card. Jeison Rosario, from the Dominican Republic, scored a ninth round stoppage of Fresno’s Mark Anthony Hernandez. Rosario (18-1-1, 13 KOs) knocked Hernandez onto the seat of his pants with a sweeping left hook and then pounced on him with a flurry of punches when he arose, forcing the referee to intervene. This was a rematch. Rosario and Hernandez (13-2-1) had previously fought a 6-round draw.

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