Crawford Stops Porter in the 10th; Porter Announces His Retirement at the Post-Fight Presser

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2021

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LAS VEGAS-After tense back and forth action WBO welterweight titlist Terence Crawford unleashed one of his patented left uppercuts that began the end for “Showtime” Shawn Porter, who give all he could give, but was stopped by technical knockout on Saturday.

Porter’s father stopped the fight. And later, Porter announced his retirement in front of the media at a post-fight press conference.

But during the fight, for nearly 10 rounds Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) seemed always on the prowl for the knockout against former two-time world champion Porter (31-4-1, 17 KOs) in front of the sold-out audience at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

As always Crawford started out slowly, more intent on learning what was incoming and setting up counters. Porter took advantage with his aggressive and calculated attacks early in the welterweight world title fight.

“I did good at times but I let him work when I should have worked with him,” said Crawford.

Both fighters showed quickness and the ability to escape early traps.

But Porter was the aggressor as Crawford fought out of a southpaw stance. It wasn’t until the fourth round that the WBO champion began to open an attack. A right hook and a left uppercut scored for Crawford who fought back with two right counters.

A clash of heads in the sixth round during a furious exchange opened up a cut on Crawford, but it did not stall his mounting attack. The fighter out of Omaha, Nebraska was always on the lookout for the knockout.

Crawford opened with a sizzling four-punch salvo in the seventh round. And though Porter tried to rally he was met with a sharp one-two that left Porter shaking his head at the sound of the bell.

Porter must have realized that Crawford’s momentum was beginning to roll.

A short rally at the beginning of the eighth round by the shorter Porter was met with a sharp left cross counter. And then a left hook by Crawford landed flush and seemed to give Porter pause.

It was beginning to look like Crawford was feeling it.

Both fighters exchanged furiously in the ninth round. Crawford was getting the range for his punches and Porter’s movement was not fooling the champion anymore.

“I had to turn it up and that’s when I got the stoppage,” said Crawford.

In the 10^th round, Porter charged forward with a winging attack and was countered by a Crawford left uppercut and down went the challenger. The always aggressive Porter beat the count and Crawford waited for the expected charge. It came and Crawford delivered a stunning right and crushing left that sunk Porter to his knees. He pounded the floor while on his knees in frustration.

Porter’s father and trainer Kenny Porter signaled to end the fight and the fight was ruled over by referee Celestino Ruiz at 1:21 of the 10^th round.

“I got him. Once I get him on the ground I’m coming in for the kill,” Crawford said.

A huge roar erupted from the crowd of more than 12,000 fans. Crawford had won against one of the elite fighters in the welterweight class. It was a moment to relish.

“My commitment wasn’t there,” said Porter. “I let him find his comfort zone.”

Crawford said Porter’s movement and defensive abilities kept him in the game until he made a mistake.

“I didn’t get to him in the early rounds because he was head rolling,” Crawford said.

Now its on to more big names.

“Like I said before, I don’t need (Errol) Spence,” he said.

During the post-fight press conference Porter announced to the media that he was retiring.

“I’m prepared to retire,” Porter said. “I’m announcing my retirement.”

Other Bouts

A middleweight fight saw Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao (29-0, 20 KOs) win by technical split decision over Canada’s Patrice Volny (16-1, 10 KOs) due to an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round. Both fighters had their moments and Falcao was making a strong move when both fighters exchanged and Falcao broke away in pain with his gloves on his face. A laceration above his left eye forced a stoppage of the fight. The Brazilian fighter was unable to continue and according to Nevada State Athletic Commission rules, the fight was stopped and the winner decided by the scorecards. One judge ruled Volny the winner but two judges saw Falcao the victor.

Kazakhstan’s Janibek Alimkhanuly (11-1, 7 KOs) pummeled Hassan N’Dam (38-6, 21 KOs) for eight rounds until the one-side beating was stopped by referee Kenny Bayless at 2:40 of the round. Whether it was fighting from long range or short range the Kazakh fighter trained by Buddy McGirt had his way. A left uppercut floored N’Dam in the third round but he was able to survive five more rounds before it was finally stopped after a four-punch combination.

Southern California’s Raymond Muratalla (13-0 11 KOs) won by controversial stoppage over Argentina’s Elias Araujo (21-4, 8 KOs) in the fifth round of their battle of lightweight prospects.

Muratalla was able to turn and use angle to deflect Araujo’s attacks and pinpoint counter shots to the body early in the fight. In round three Muratalla, who trains at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, Calif. stopped moving and began fighting inside. That’s when the power came into play.

In the fifth round both fighters fought toe to toe with Muratalla connecting solidly with right hand counters that staggered Araujo. The Argentine fighter remained slugging it out but was absorbing heavy blows to the body and head. A four-punch combination prompted referee Allen Huggins to halt the fight to the surprise of the fighter and the fans at 2:20 of the round. Fans booed the referee.

Former world champion Isaac Dogboe (23-2, 15 KOs) showed that moving up a weight division is not a problem in defeating featherweight contender Christopher Diaz (26-4, 16 KOs) by majority decision after 10 rounds. Dogboe was the aggressor throughout the fight against the defensive-minded Diaz. That proved the difference in the judges scoring in favor of Dogboe 95-95, 96-94, 97-93.

A featherweight fight between Adam Lopez (15-3, 6KOs) and Adan Ochoa (12-3, 5 KOs) that would have sold out seats back in the 1980s at the Olympic Auditorium ended in a “no decision.” The two Los Angeles-based fighters were forced to end their fight at the end of the second round due to a bad cut above the right eye of Ochoa that resulted from a headbutt. The grudge match will have to wait to find a winner.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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David A. Avila

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Ringside at the Fontainebleau where Mikaela Mayer Won her Rematch with Sandy Ryan

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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LAS VEGAS, NV — The first meeting between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan last September at Madison Square Garden was punctuated with drama before the first punch was thrown. When the smoke cleared, Mayer had become a world-title-holder in a second weight class, taking away Ryan’s WBO welterweight belt via a majority decision in a fan-friendly fight.

The rematch tonight at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas was another fan-friendly fight. There were furious exchanges in several rounds and the crowd awarded both gladiators a standing ovation at the finish.

Mayer dominated the first half of the fight and held on to win by a unanimous decision. But Sandy Ryan came on strong beginning in round seven, and although Mayer was the deserving winner, the scores favoring her (98-92 and 97-93 twice) fail to reflect the competitiveness of the match-up. This is the best rivalry in women’s boxing aside from Taylor-Serrano.

Mayer, 34, improved to 21-2 (5). Up next, she hopes, in a unification fight with Lauren Price who outclassed Natasha Jonas earlier this month and currently holds the other meaningful pieces of the 147-pound puzzle. Sandy Ryan, 31, the pride of Derby, England, falls to 7-3-1.

Co-Feature

In his first defense of his WBO world welterweight title (acquired with a brutal knockout of Giovani Santillan after the title was vacated by Terence Crawford), Atlanta’s Brian Norman Jr knocked out Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas in the third round. A three-punch combination climaxed by a short left hook sent Cuevas staggering into a corner post. He got to his feet before referee Thomas Taylor started the count, but Taylor looked in Cuevas’s eyes and didn’t like what he saw and brought the bout to a halt.

The stoppage, which struck some as premature, came with one second remaining in the third stanza.

A second-generation prizefighter (his father was a fringe contender at super middleweight), the 24-year-old Norman (27-0, 21 KOs) is currently boxing’s youngest male title-holder. It was only the second pro loss for Cuevas (27-2-1) whose lone previous defeat had come early in his career in a 6-rounder he lost by split decision.

Other Bouts

In a career-best performance, 27-year-old Brooklyn featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) blasted out Jose Enrique Vivas (23-4) in the third round.

Carrington, who was named the Most Outstanding Boxer at the 2019 U.S. Olympic Trials despite being the lowest-seeded boxer in his weight class, decked Vivas with a right-left combination near the end of the second round. Vivas barely survived the round and was on a short leash when the third stanza began. After 53 seconds of round three, referee Raul Caiz Jr had seen enough and waived it off. Vivas hadn’t previously been stopped.

Cleveland welterweight Tiger Johnson, a Tokyo Olympian, scored a fifth-round stoppage over San Antonio’s Kendo Castaneda. Johnson assumed control in the fourth round and sent Castaneda to his knees twice with body punches in the next frame. The second knockdown terminated the match. The official time was 2:00 of round five.

Johnson advanced to 15-0 (7 KOs). Castenada declined to 21-9.

Las Vegas junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) blasted out Stockton, California’s Giovanni Gonzalez in the second round. Vargas brought the bout to a sudden conclusion with a sweeping left hook that knocked Gonzalez out cold. The end came at the 2:00 minute mark of round two.

Gonzalez brought a 20-7-2 record which was misleading as 18 of his fights were in Tijuana where fights are frequently prearranged. However, he wasn’t afraid to trade with Vargas and paid the price.

Emiliano Vargas, with his matinee idol good looks and his boxing pedigree – he is the son of former U.S. Olympian and two-weight world title-holder “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas – is highly marketable and has the potential to be a cross-over star.

Eighteen-year-old Newark bantamweight Emmanuel “Manny” Chance, one of Top Rank’s newest signees, won his pro debut with a four-round decision over So Cal’s Miguel Guzman. Chance won all four rounds on all three cards, but this was no runaway. He left a lot of room for improvement.

There was a long intermission before the co-main and again before the main event, but the tedium was assuaged by a moving video tribute to George Foreman.

Photos credit: Al Applerose

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William Zepeda Edges Past Tevin Farmer in Cancun; Improves to 34-0

Published

2 days ago

March 29, 2025

David A. Avila

William Zepeda Edges Past Tevin Farmer in Cancun; Improves to 34-0

No surprise, once again William Zepeda eked out a win over the clever and resilient Tevin Farmer to remain undefeated and retain a regional lightweight title on Saturday.

There were no knockdowns in this rematch.

The Mexican punching machine Zepeda (33-0, 17 KOs) once more sought to overwhelm Farmer (33-8-1, 9 KOs) with a deluge of blows. This rematch by Golden Boy Promotions took place in the famous beach resort area of Cancun, Mexico.

It was a mere four months ago that both first clashed in Saudi Arabia with their vastly difference styles. This time the tropical setting served as the background which suited Zepeda and his lawnmower assaults. The Mexican fans were pleased.

Nothing changed in their second meeting.

Zepeda revved up the body assault and Farmer moved around casually to his right while fending off the Mexican fighter’s attacks. By the fourth round Zepeda was able to cut off Farmer’s escape routes and targeted the body with punishing shots.

The blows came in bunches.

In the fifth round Zepeda blasted away at Farmer who looked frantic for an escape. The body assault continued with the Mexican fighter pouring it on and Farmer seeming to look ready to quit. When the round ended, he waved off his corner’s appeals to stop.

Zepeda continued to dominate the next few rounds and then Farmer began rallying. At first, he cleverly smothered Zepeda’s body attacks and then began moving and hitting sporadically. It forced the Mexican fighter to pause and figure out the strategy.

Farmer, a Philadelphia fighter, showed resiliency especially when it was revealed he had suffered a hand injury.

During the last three rounds Farmer dug down deep and found ways to score and not get hit. It was Boxing 101 and the Philly fighter made it work.

But too many rounds had been put in the bank by Zepeda. Despite the late rally by Farmer one judge saw it 114-114, but two others scored it 116-112 and 115-113 for Zepeda who retains his interim lightweight title and place at the top of the WBC rankings.

“I knew he was a difficult fighter. This time he was even more difficult,” said Zepeda.

Farmer was downtrodden about another loss but realistic about the outcome and starting slow.

“But I dominated the last rounds,” said Farmer.

Zepeda shrugged at the similar outcome as their first encounter.

“I’m glad we both put on a great show,” said Zepeda.

Female Flyweight Battle

Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle edged past Texas fighter Marlen Esparza to win their showdown at flyweight by split decision after 10 rounds.

Valle moved up two weight divisions to meet Esparza who was slightly above the weight limit. Both showed off their contrasting styles and world class talent.

Esparza, a former unified flyweight world titlist, stayed in the pocket and was largely successful with well-placed jabs and left hooks. She repeatedly caught Valle in-between her flurries.

The current minimumweight world titlist changed tactics and found more success in the second half of the fight. She forced Esparza to make the first moves and that forced changes that benefited her style.

Neither fighter could take over the fight.

After 10 rounds one judge saw Esparza the winner 96-94, but two others saw Valle the winner 97-93 twice.

Will Valle move up and challenge the current undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela Fundora? That’s the question.

Valle currently holds the WBC minimumweight world title.

Puerto Rico vs Mexico

Oscar Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs), the WBO, WBA minimumweight titlist, knocked out Mexico’s Edwin Cano (13-3-1, 4 KOs) with a flurry of body shots at 1:12 of the fifth round.

Collazo dominated with a relentless body attack the Mexican fighter could not defend. It was the Puerto Rican fighter’s fifth consecutive title defense.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 319: Rematches in Las Vegas, Cancun and More

Published

3 days ago

March 28, 2025

David A. Avila

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Rematches are the bedrock for prizefighting.

Return battles between rival boxers always means their first encounter was riveting and successful at the box office.

Six months after their first brutal battle Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) and Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) will slug it out again for the WBO welterweight world title this time on Saturday, March 29, at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

ESPN will show the Top Rank card live.

“It’s important for women’s boxing to have these rivalries and this is definitely up there as one of the top ones,” Mayer told the BBC.

If you follow Mayer’s career you know that somehow drama follows. Whether its back-and-forth beefs with fellow American fighters or controversial judging due to nationalism in countries abroad. The Southern California native who now trains in Las Vegas knows how to create the drama.

For female fighters self-promotion is a necessity.

Most boxing promoters refuse to step out of the usual process set for male boxers, not for female boxers. Things remain the same and have been for the last 70 years. Social media has brought changes but that has made promoters do even less.

No longer are there press conferences, instead announcements are made on social media to be drowned among the billions of other posts. It is not killing but diluting interest in the sport.

Women innately present a different advantage that few if any promoters are recognizing. So far in the past 25 years I have only seen two or three promoters actually ignite interest in female fighters. They saw the advantages and properly boosted interest in the women.

The fight breakdown

Mayer has won world titles in the super featherweight and now the welterweight division. Those are two vastly different weight classes and prove her fighting abilities are based on skill not power or size.

Coaching Mayer since amateurs remains Al Mitchell and now Kofi Jantuah who replaced Kay Koroma the current trainer for Sandy Ryan.

That was the reason drama ignited during their first battle. Then came someone tossing paint at Ryan the day of their first fight.

More drama.

During their first fight both battled to control the initiative with Mayer out-punching the British fighter by a slender margin. It was a back-and-forth struggle with each absorbing blows and retaliating immediately.

New York City got its money’s worth.

Ryan had risen to the elite level rapidly since losing to Erica Farias three years ago. Though she was physically bigger and younger, she was out-maneuvered and defeated by the wily veteran from Argentina. In the rematch, however, Ryan made adjustments and won convincingly.

Can she make adjustments from her defeat to Mayer?

“I wanted the rematch straight away,” said Ryan on social media. “I’ve come to America again.”

Both fighters have size and reach. In their first clash it was evident that conditioning was not a concern as blows were fired nonstop in bunches. Mayer had the number of punches landed advantage and it unfolded with the judges giving her a majority decision win.

That was six months ago. Can she repeat the outcome?

Mayer has always had boiler-oven intensity. It’s not fake. Since her amateur days the slender Southern California blonde changes disposition all the way to red when lacing up the gloves. It’s something that can’t be taught.

Can she draw enough of that fire out again?

“I didn’t have to give her this rematch. I could have just sat it out, waited for Lauren Price to unify and fought for undisputed or faced someone else,” said Mayer to BBC. “That’s not the fighter I am though.”

Co-Main in Las Vegas

The co-main event pits Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) facing Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs) in a contest for the WBO welterweight title.

Norman, 24, was last seen a year ago dissecting a very good welterweight in Giovani Santillan for a knockout win in San Diego. He showed speed, skill and power in defeating Santillan in his hometown.

Cuevas has beaten some solid veteran talent but this will be his big test against Norman and his first attempt at winning a world title.

Also on the Top Rank card will be Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington and Emiliano Vargas, the son of Fernando Vargas, in separate bouts.

Golden Boy in Cancun

A rematch between undefeated William “Camaron” Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) and ex-champ Tevin Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) headlines the lightweight match on Saturday March 29, at Cancun, Mexico.

In their first encounter Zepeda was knocked down in the fourth round but rallied to win a split-decision over Farmer. It showed the flaws in Zepeda’s tornado style.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card that also includes a clash between Yokasta Valle the WBC minimumweight world titlist who is moving up to flyweight to face former flyweight champion Marlen Esparza.

Both Valle and Esparza have fast hands.

Valle is excellent darting in and out while Esparza has learned how to fight inside. It’s a toss-up fight.

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 12 p.m. Cameron Vuong (7-0) vs Jordan Flynn (11-0-1); Pat Brown (0-0) vs Federico Grandone (7-4-2).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. William Zepeda (32-0) vs Tevin Farmer (33-7-1); Yokasta Valle (32-3) vs Marlen Esparza (15-2).

Sat. ESPN 7 p.m. Mikaela Mayer (20-2) vs Sandy Ryan (7-2-1); Brian Norman Jr. (26-0) vs Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1).

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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