Connect with us

Canada and USA

Quick Results from Brooklyn: Thurman Upends Garcia by Split Decision

Published

on

KEITH THURMAN WINS BY SPLIT DECISION — The welterweight title unification showdown between undefeated title-holders Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia attracted a crowd of 16,553, a record high for a boxing event at the Barclays Center. Those in the building anticipated a zesty encounter comparable to Thurman’s last appearance here on June 25 when he scored a narrow, albeit unanimous decision over Shawn Porter. What they got was another close fight, but a skirmish that was yet disappointing.

It didn’t start out that way. Thurman and Garcia exchanged haymakers in the opening round. But the match quickly turned into a tactical fight as Garcia concentrated on working the body, which he did in spurts, which is to say whenever he could penetrate Thurman’s defense. In the end, the elusive Thurman, who was the busier fighter, got the nod by scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 113-115. There were no knockdowns in what could aptly be called a chess match, notwithstanding robust exchanges at the end of round nine and again at the end of round eleven.

The drama came when Thurman became more defensive-minded late in the fight, evoking memories of Oscar De La Hoya’s ill-advised bicycling in his 1999 welterweight unification match with Felix Trinidad. This enabled Garcia to close the gap. Round 12 was his best round of the fight and since the crowd was pro-Garcia it wouldn’t have been surprising at all if the final verdict was a draw.

Keith Thurman, now 28-0, arrived with the WBA belt and added the WBC belt to his collection after saddling Danny Garcia (33-1) with his first professional loss. A Premier Boxing Champions promotion, the fight aired live in prime time on CBS.

In the co-feature, 21-year-old Erickson Lubin (18-0, 13 KOs) continued his rapid rise with a fourth-round stoppage of Mexico’s Jorge Cota. Fighting with his back to the ropes, Cota got caught with an overhand left and went down hard. He beat the count, but was clearly dazed and the referee waved it off.

Lubin, in the words of TV analyst Al Bernstein, simply had the superior skill set. Cota, who was coming off a 19-month layoff, was a willing mixer but his movements were somewhat stiff and his punches were slow.

With the victory, Lubin ostensibly becomes the mandatory challenger to WBC 154-pound kingpin Jermell Charlo. Where that leaves Charles Hatley is anyone’s guess. Hatley was slated to fight Jermell Charlo this coming Saturday at the new MGM Grand in Oxon Hill, Maryland, but the entire show was cancelled when Columbia’s Oscar Escandon, Gary Russell Jr’s opponent in the main event, was forced to withdraw after injuring his back in training.

 In a fight that wasn’t included in the TV broadcast, but was yet the most intriguing match on the undercard, Andrzej Fonfara came from behind to stop former lineal light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in the 10th and final round. Fonfara dropped Dawson late in round nine and finished him off with a flurry of punches in the next round.

This was a crossroads fight of sorts for both men as each needed a big win to get back in the high rent district of the 175-pound division. Fonfara (29-4, 17 KOs) was stopped in the opening round by Joe Smith Jr. in his previous bout, a fluke defeat in the eyes of his backers who now have more ammunition to buttress that opinion. The 34-year-old Dawson (34-5), a 16-year pro, suffered a big loss in stature in 2014 when he was out-pointed by limited Tommy Karpency and his tarnished reputation took another tumble tonight.

In an 8-round featherweight contest, fan favorite Heather Hardy (18-0, 4 KOs) kept her unbeaten record intact with a unanimous decision over Hungary’s Edina Kiss (13-3). Hardy simply out-worked Kiss who was the younger fighter by eight years. She won every round on two of the scorecards.

Hardy competes in a strong division that includes fellow Brooklynite Amanda Serrano and El Paso’s Jennifer Han, but at age 35 she had best not tarry on her road to a well-paying fight.

In an 8-round junior welterweight contest, Sergey Lipinets scored a seventh round TKO over Clarence Booth. From Kazakhstan by way of Beverly Hills, Lipinets advanced to 12-0 (10).

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles5 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles7 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles6 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles20 hours ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles5 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles5 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles6 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles7 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending