LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Previously unknown Albert Mensah is unknown no longer after a hard-earned ten-round unanimous decision over proud warrior Michael Katsidis at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday night. With the ESPN2-televised win, Mensah vaults into the world rankings, while the future of Katsidis’ career becomes uncertain.
Katsidis (28-6, 23 KOs) of Hollywood, California by way of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia began the fight well. Moving up to junior welterweight from lightweight did not slow the always offense-minded Katsidis down one bit. Though his punches may not have had the same effect on a natural 140-pounder as they did on lightweights, on sheer output alone Katsidis controlled most of the first three rounds.
After finding his jab in the third, Mensah (25-3-1, 10 KOs) of Joliet, Illinois by way of Accra, Ghana came out of his defensive shell for a big fourth round. With each clean shot landed, Mensah, 140, seemed to gain confidence. Several shots snapped Katsidis’ head back and drew gasps from the crowd. Despite taking some really clean blows, Katsidis, 138, rarely took a step back.
Katsidis, who entered the bout as the WBO #8 ranked lightweight, bounced back midway through the fifth to again outwork Mensah, who had let off the gas pedal after a strong start to the stanza.
The sixth round provided a quandary for ringside scorers. Katsidis outworked Mensah by a wide margin, but not one of his shots stood out as something that really hurt his opponent. Mensah, despite languishing on the ropes the entire round, deserved the nod as he caught Katsidis with several hard head shots.
Mensah loaded up and landed several bombs in an action-packed seventh round. Just when Katsidis seemed to be in danger of going down, and with Mensah a bit punched out, the former interim champion rallied. Katsidis took Mensah to the ropes and placed some hard shots, before Mensah regrouped and landed one of his own.
After a solid eighth for Katsidis, Mensah came out determined in the ninth and landed well to the body. Mensah followed up with a series of head shots that seemed to bother Katsidis, who still refused to go into retreat. Mensah closed out a great fight with more solid blows upstairs in the tenth. The fight had opened eyes to Mensah’s ability, but only reaffirmed what everyone has known about Katsidis. One would be hard pressed to think of an active fighter with an ounce more heart than the Australian.
One judge had the fight even, 95-95, but was overruled by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 for Mensah. With the win Mensah successfully defended his IBF International Light Welterweight title, and will now find himself ranked when the sanctioning body releases their next world rankings.
Mensah had just one previous fight in the Unites States, a July win over once-beaten Andre Gorges in Illinois. “Not many people have known about him, but he was well known in his home country of Ghana, where he had held many titles,” explained Mensah’s promoter Cynthia Tolaymat of Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion. “But now after this exposure, I am sure everyone will know about him. We want to move him next, and as fast as possible, into world title position.”
In a jaw-dropping performance, Alan Sanchez (10-2-1, 4 KOs) of Fairfield, California ran through prospect Artemio Reyes (15-2, 10 KOs) of Colton, California via first-round knockout.
Sanchez, 147, hurt Reyes, 146, with a clean right early in the round and chased him about the ring, landing a right uppercut and several straight rights in succession. Finally the dazed Reyes succumbed and fell into the ropes, as referee Joe Cortez came in to stop the contest at 2:08 of the first round. Sanchez had dropped a highly competitive six-round decision to Reyes back in June of 2010.
In a rematch of an October 2011 draw, Cameron Kreal (1-1-2) of Las Vegas moved into the win column with a hard-fought four-round majority nod over Tyler Lawson (0-2-1) of Las Vegas. Lawson, 141, took as good as he gave much of the way, especially over the first two rounds. However, Kreal, 140, deservedly got the nod as he outworked Lawson in a solid scrap. Scores read 38-38 and 39-37 twice for Kreal.
In the last fight before the televised card, Alexis Hernandez (1-1) of Las Vegas by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico scored three knockdowns over the first three rounds to score a four-round unanimous decision over determined Sergio Lopez (0-1) of Las Vegas.
Hernandez, 123, rocked Lopez, 122, into the ropes to score a knockdown late in the first round. Lopez managed to quickly regroup and fought well in spots off the ropes, most notably uncorking a hard left hook that momentarily stopped Hernandez in his tracks. The following exchanged carried past the bell, with Hernandez’ late shots the most flagrant.
Lopez carried some momentum into the second, which he controlled in the opening moments. Just as the fight began turning his way, Lopez was caught in an exchange and dropped for the second straight round. Again, Lopez regrouped and returned fire to close out the round.
The third looked much like the second round, with Lopez doing well early before finding himself again on the mat. This time it was a Hernandez left hook that put Lopez on the canvas. After a strong fourth round for Hernandez, all three judges had the fight for him by scores of 40-35, 40-34 and 39-38.
In an entertaining welterweight bout, Yusmani Abreu (2-2-1) of Las Vegas survived some scary moments in the first en route to a four-round split decision draw with Brent Rodriguez (1-3-2) of Venice, California.
Rodriguez, 146, caught Abreu, 146, with a wide right hook that sent the local fighter across the ring and against the ropes. Rodriguez either felt referee Jay Nady was going to call a knockdown or decided to admire his work, because he failed to follow-up on the stunned Abreu. With seconds left, Rodriguez swung away, but did not land a punch as Abreu fell to the mat. Even though the earlier landed punches had something to do with the fall, Nady waved it off as a slip.
To his credit, Abreu shook out the cobwebs and battled back in the second and third rounds. Each fighter had their moments in the fourth and ultimately the official scorers were split on who they liked. Each fighter took one card 38-37, with the third card coming in even, 38-38.
In a free-swinging four-rounder, Edwin Reyes (0-0-1) of Nashville, Tennessee battled back over the second half of the fight to force a unanimous draw with Yosigey Ramirez (0-0-1) of Las Vegas.
Ramirez, 104, appeared to be the stronger puncher through two, as he and Reyes, 104, exchanged at close quarters. However, Reyes came on in the third, landing hard shots inside some of Ramirez’ looping swings. Reyes completely dominated the fourth, nearly dropping Ramirez with a well-timed combination. In the following minute, Ramirez evaded just enough shots to remain on his feet, and even landed some as Reyes momentarily punched himself out.
By the time the fourth was coming to a close, Reyes was again getting the better of the action. In the end, all three judges had the fight a 38-38 draw.
Before the ring lights had a chance to warm-up, Richard Quesada (1-0, 1 KO) of Havana, Cuba stopped Luis Monda (0-1) of Miami, Florida in the night’s opening bout. The southpaw Monda, 140, quickly found himself against the ropes on the receiving end of a straight right hand, which apparently had him second-guessing his chosen profession.
Quesada, 141, followed up with a right to the body that put Monda down to a knee. Before reaching his count of ten, referee Russell Mora decided call off the contest at 50 seconds of the first.
Copyright Photos by Mary Ann Owen
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
