Vasyl Lomanchenko defended the WBO Junior Lightweight title with a systematic stoppage after nine rounds over Jason Sosa at the MGM National Harbor in Nation Harbor, Maryland.
Lomachenko displayed his incredible ability, landing punches from every angle imaginable using terrific footwoork. Sosa was extremely game and tried for every second of the fight, but he was outmatched as he went up against what some are calling the best Pound for Pound fighter in the world.
Sosa’s left eye began to swell as early s round three, and it did not get any better as Lomachenko landed quick combinations to the head and solid body shots. In round seven, it started to look like that a stoppage was imminent as Sosa began to wilt under the enormous velocity of the punches. Finally after round nine, trainer Raul Rivas made the right call by saving his fighter, Sosa from any more damage and the fight was halted.
Lomachenko is 8-1 with six knockouts. Sosa is now 20-2-4.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk stopped Yunieski Gonzalez in round three of their scheduled 10-round light heavyweight bout.
In round three, Gvozdyk landed a counter left that put Gonzalez on the deck. Gvozdyk landed a barrage of hard shits that kept snapping the head of Gonzalez back. Gonzalez was trying to fight back and was on weary legs until he was dumped on the canvas for a 2nd time. His corner stopped the bout simultaneously at 2:55.
Gvozdyk is now 13-0 with 11 knockouts. Gonzalez is 18-3.
Aleksandr Usyk retained the WBO Cruiserweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Michael Hunter.
Usyk got off to a slow start as Hunter was able to use his movement and quickness to win a couple rounds. Usyk started to get on track and land some solid combinations in each round.
Usyk pounded the body hard in round ten, and he started to break the 2016 United States Olympian. Usyk had a big round eleven and a bigger round twelve as he relentlessly pounded Hunter all over the ring, and was credited with a knockdown after one of those barrages forced Hunter to be held up by the ropes. The fight could have been stopped at any point in the last minute, but Hunter was able to make it to the final bell.
Usyk, 199 1/2 lbs of Ukraine won by scores of 117-110 on all cards and is now 12-0. Hunterm 198 lbs is 12-1.
Usyk
“I’m very happy with my performance, I did what I wanted to do, he
took a lot of punches, I thought maybe they would stop
the fight at the end”
“The low blows didn’t really both me, it was annoying however.”
“He was trying to hold and I knew he would do that so I worked in
the gym on keeping him off me and keeping my distance to extend my arms.”
“I’d love to fight any of the title holders, anytime, anyplace.”
Hunter
“No excuses, I lost the fight, no issue with the scorecards.”
“I need to stay more active, I give myself a 6.”
“I’d love to fight him again, it was a great fight and he’s a
great champion.
Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions
“It was a great TV fight truly showcasing the how talented the
cruiserweight division is.”
“Both are world class fighters and that showed tonight in their
performances.”
“We’re very happy with Aleksandr’s performance and look forward to
his return on HBO.”
Mike Reed won a 10-round unanimous decision over Reyes Sanchez in a welterweight bout.
Reed is now 22-0. Sanchez is 26-10-2.
Jesse Hart stopped Alan Campa in round five of their scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.
Campa’s corner called a halt to the action at 1:49 of round five.
Hart of Philadelphia is now 22-0. Campa is 16-3.
Egidijus Kavaliauskas stopped Ramses Agaton in round 4 of their scheduled 8-round welterweight bout.
Kavaliauskas dropped Agaton twice in round three and hammered out with a right hand for the ten count at 2:58 of round 4.
Lavaliuskas is now 16-0. Agaton is 18-6-3.