Fireworks at the Bubble: Valdez TKOs Velez; KO Machine Berlanga Keeps on Rolling

There were fireworks galore on Tuesday Night in the last installment of Top Rank’s semi-weekly Summer Series on ESPN. Two devastating knockouts preceded the main event, a 10-round clash between former world featherweight champion Oscar Valdez and Jayson Velez.

In his second outing at 130, Valdez saved the best for last, stopping former world title challenger Velez at the 2:23 mark of round 10. Velez, who hadn’t previously been stopped, having lasted 10 rounds with the likes of Golden Boy phenom Ryan Garcia, had good success early, but the tone of the fight changed in round five when Valdez put him on the canvas with a sweeping left hook.

In the final round, Valdez decked him again with a short left hook. When Velez rose on unsteady legs, Valdez bull-rushed him, knocking him through the ropes which prompted referee Tony Weeks to waive it off. Valdez, from Nogales, improved to 28-0 (22 knockouts) while setting up an all-Mexico showdown with WBC 130-pound world champion Miguel Berchelt. Velez fell to 29-7-1.

Other Bouts

Brooklyn super middleweight Edgar Berlanga did it again, moving to 14-0 with his 14^th knockout, all in the first round! His opponent Eric Moon (11-3), came out fast but within seconds retreated to his back foot. The knockout punch, a chopping right hand, left Moon seriously discombobulated. The official time was 1:02.

Although he isn’t a heavyweight, Berlanga is inevitably drawing comparisons to the young Mike Tyson. Tonight, he showed why he was the 2019 TSS Prospect of the Year.

In an 8-round contest, French-Canadian light flyweight Kim Clavell made a good showing in her U.S. debut. The undefeated Clavell (12-0, 2 KOs) won every round on all three scorecards against capable Natalie Gonzalez (6-1), a single mother of two from New Rochelle, New York. Clavel attracted notice earlier this year when she was named the Pat Tillman Award for Service winner at the 2020 Espy Awards for her work as a night shift nurse working with COVID-19 patients.

Junior welterweight Elvis Rodriguez, a 24-year-old southpaw from the Dominican Republic, forged his second straight one-punch knockout, knocking Dennis Okoth into dreamland with a straight left hand that penetrated Okoth’s guard. Referee Tony Weeks didn’t bother to count.

Rodriguez, who trains at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym, improved to 8-0-1 with his eighth knockout. Okoth, who had his first pro fight in his native Ghana, declined to 4-4-1.

In the opener, former WBO 122-pound world champion Isaac Dogboe improved to 21-2 (15 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Chris Avalos (27-8). There were no knockdowns, but Dogboe had a point deducted in round five for a low blow, a curious call by referee Russell Mora.

Dogboe, born in Ghana and raised in London, was appearing in his first fight with trainer Barry Hunter in his corner. His only defeats have come at the hands of double-tough Emanuel Navarette. Avalos, a former two-time world title challenger, has lost five of his last six.

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There were originally seven bouts scheduled. An 8-round super middleweight rematch between Raphael Igbokwe and Genc Pilana was pulled from the card today when Houston’s Igbokwe tested positive for the coronavirus.

Late Sunday evening, the heavyweight match between Guido Vianello and Kingsley Ibeh was scratched when Ibeh tested positive. Ibeh would have been making his third appearance in the Bubble.

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Top Rank Boxing is taking a short break but will return in August. The August docket includes a very appealing light heavyweight contest between Eleider Alvarez and Joe Smith Jr. They are penciled in for Saturday, Aug. 22.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams for Top Rank

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