Big underdog Joe Smith Jr. scored a stunning first round stoppage over former world title challenger Andrzej Fonfara in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Smith knocked Fonfara down with a booming overhand right. Fonfara was hurt bad, and after Smith landed eight punches, landed a crunching left hook that was followed up by a right that sent Fonfara to the deck and the fight was stopped at 2:32.
Smith of Long Island, NY is now 22-1 with 18 knockouts. Fonfara of Chicago is now 28-4.
Rau’She Warren wrestled the WBA Bantamweight title with a 12-round majority decision over previously undefeated Juan Carlos Payano in a rematch of their controversial bout in August.
Warren of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 115-113 twice and 114-114 and is now 14-1. Payano is 17-1.
Erickson Lubin remained perfect with a 3rd round stoppage over Daniel Sandoval in a scheduled 8-round Super Welterweight bout.
Lubin rocked Sandoval with a hard combination and snapped Sandoval’s head back repeatedly until te bout was stopped at 2:36 of round three.
Lubin, 153 1/2 lbs of Orlando, FL is now 15-0 with 11 knockouts. Sandoval, 158 lbs of Guadalajara, MX us 38-4.
In a battle of previously undefeated middleweights, Maciej Sulecki stopped Hugo Centeno in the final round of their scheduled 10-round bout.
In round nine, Cenetno began to bleed from the nose. In the final round, Sulecki landed a perfect right that sent Centeno to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:06.
Sulecki of Poland is 23-0 with 8 knockouts. Centeno of Oxnard, CA is 24-1.
Alex Martin remained undefeated by winning an 8-round split decision over Juan Carlos Abreu in a welterweight bout.
In round eight, Abreu dropped Martin with a right hand.
Martin of Harvey, IL won by scores of 78-74 and 77-74 while Abreu took a card 76-75.
Martin is 13-0. Abrue of the Dominican Republic is 19-3-1.
Jose Quezada remained undefeated by winning a 6-round split decision over Cameron Krael in a welterweight bout.
Quezada won by scores of 58-56 on two cards and one card read even at 57-57 and he is now 11-0. Krael is now 8-11-2.
JOE SMITH JR.
“There’s no feeling like this. I’m happy to take this victory back home to New York to all my fans.
“I’ll talk to my promoter but I’m hoping for another big fight to get myself to a world title.
“Now everybody knows who I am. This is the best thing that could have happened.
“Once I started hitting him and pushing him back he fell away and left himself open for the right hand.
“I thought this would be more of a fight, but I took him out early and it feels great.
“He was punching and I knew he leaves himself open. I was just looking for the punch and it landed.”
ANDRZEJ FONFARA
“He is a heavy puncher. He hit me with a great punch. It happens.
“I threw some good punches, but I got too comfortable. I didn’t see the punch coming. That made it a great punch.
“I’m disappointed because I thought I would win the fight but it is boxing. I will rest and get back in the ring. I’ll get back to work.”
RAU’SHEE WARREN
“This feels great. It’s unbelievable. Payano came to put on a great fight but I came out victorious. It was a good fight. If he wants the rematch, we can do it again.
“I was comfortable that I had won the decision. He came to fight and he stayed active. My corner just told me I had to answer back.
“We wanted to make him miss and make him pay. I definitely made him miss a lot. He was just staying busy. I bobbed and weaved. I pressed him enough to where I could take over. Barry Hunter told me I had to take the last round and I got him cut.
“My corner just kept telling me to work. I knew I was in control but I just had to step on the pedal at the right time.
“I want to take it to another level. A third fight could be really big. I want Warren-Payano 3 in Cincinnati. If not I’ll go after all the other champions.”
JUAN CARLOS PAYANO
“I wasn’t able to completely follow my game plan. At moments I was able to do what we trained for, but not enough. I hurt my rib early in the first two rounds and it made it difficult to grab and breathe. I take nothing away from him.
“I was courteous enough to offer the rematch right away and I hope that I get reciprocated the same way.
“Rau’shee was pretty much the same as last time. I fought his pace and I didn’t follow my plan. I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do and he was able to prevail. I think I gave the fight away and Rau’shee won the fight.”
ERICKSON LUBIN
“I felt great. He’s a veteran so I wanted to take my time and get him out of there by chipping away. I saw that he was hurt with a hook. I saw that it cut him and I wanted to rush him. A flurry of punches and the ref stopped it.
“I’m looking at going higher in the rankings. My team knows I’ll fight everybody. They have to stop me from fighting people cause I’ll say yes to anyone. I just want a title and I’ll do anything to get there.
“I’m still working. I feel great right now. I’m excited to get back in the gym. I didn’t hurt anything. I just want to keep going from here.
“I will fight anybody. I’m not a ‘turkey,’ I’m a ‘pilgrim.’ Everybody is on my radar.”
DANIEL SANDOVAL
“He threw a good combination and I stopped throwing punches, so the referee did what he had to do.
“The referee had the best vantage point and I agree with his decision. Lubin was the better fighter tonight.”
MACIEJ SULECKI
“It was a milestone fight for me. This could give me a chance to fight for the middleweight world title.
“I’ve always thought of myself as a technical fighter. I just needed a small adjustment to move the technique to power. That is exactly what happened when I moved to America.
“This is unbelievable. It’s hard to put into words. Fighting on the biggest stage in American television is amazing.
“I knew from the beginning that I was going to dominate. I needed a couple of rounds to get my timing. Once I got my timing, I knew that I was physically and mentally better than this guy.
“I want to fight Daniel Jacobs. I think that would be a great fight.”
HUGO CENTENO JR.
“I had trouble making weight. I don’t want to make excuses. He did what he had to do, but I felt like I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.
“I felt sluggish by the fourth round. The fatigue set in hard. I wanted to finish the fight. I work hard for it. It is what it is, but I can’t wait to get back in the ring again.”
