Centeno decisions Leatherwood

Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (18-0, 9 KO’s), of Oxnard, Calif., remained undefeated with a one-sided 10-round decision victory over KeAndrae “Lightning” Leatherwood (17-3, 10 KO’s), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the main event Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® from Fantasy Springs Casino Resort in Indio, Calif.

Centeno, an up-and-coming junior middleweight going 10-rounds for the first time, was triumphant by the scores of 100-89, 100-90 and 99-91. There were no knockdowns.

The 6-foot-1½-inch Centeno, a former amateur standout, was happy with the victory, but unhappy with the way the fight played out.

“I really felt I could have done a lot more, but every time I connected with a good shot or started to get something going, he would hold on to me,” he said. “The way he was grabbing hold of me it seemed at times it was more wrestling than boxing. Every time I’d land a good punch, he’d hold, or try and take me down. The worst thing that happened to me was when he got me in a choke hold.

“It was frustrating. Every time I thought I had him, he’d hold, and I definitely felt I was hurting him. In the last round I really wanted to take him out, but he just kept holding me. Overall, I did the best I could under the circumstances.

“I know I have to continue to work in the gym because I want to take it to the next level. I want to continue to step it up a notch in opposition. That I went 10 rounds in this type of fight showed how well prepared I was. My team really had me in great condition and I thank them for that.”

Braulio Santos needed less than a minute to take out Kevin Hoskins in a scheduled eight round Featherweight bout.

Santos staggered Hoskins with a left and followed it up with a huge uppercut that sent Hoskins to the canvas. Hoskins got to his feet but staggered around and the fight was stopped at fifty-four seconds

Santos, 23, was surprised the match ended so abruptly. “I certainly didn’t expect it to end this fast,” he said. “I was doing my work.”

Hoskins had spent the last two days, Santos says, trying to intimidate him. “He tried to get in my face during the weigh-in, talking all kinds of stuff to me,’” said Santos, who was a member of the Puerto Rican National team for two years before turning pro in February 2011. “But I didn’t let it get to me. I didn’t care. It’s what happens in the ring that counts, not what you say or do before.

“There’s no extra pleasure beating him like I did. I was just doing my job. I am very, very happy, though, and ready to do it again. I just fought two weeks ago. With tonight’s fast fight, I’ll be ready to go in another two weeks.”

Santos, 127 1/2 lbs of Carolina, PE is now 10-0 with nine knockouts. Hoskins, 127 1/2 lbs of Los Angeles is now 7-2