BROOKLYN, NY–Ryan Garcia scored the biggest win of his career as he sent Devin Haney to the canvas three times en-route to a 12-round split decision at Barclays Center.
Round one saw Garcia get off to a fast start as he landed some hard left hooks and backed Haney up. One particular left hook buckled Haney. Haney had a solid round three as he was good with the jab and landed a left hook that sent Garcia back.
The fight turned in round seven when Garcia landed a left hook that deposited Haney on the canvas. Garcia was deduced a point for hitting on the break. Garcia was relentless and hurt Haney several more times in what was a tumultuous round for Haney. In round 10, Garcia dropped Haney for a second time when he lanced a perfect three punch combination in the corner. Later in the round, Garcia hurt Haney again with a perfect left hook to the head. Garcia dropped Haney for a third time with another perfect left hook to the chin.
Garcia landed 106 of 285 punches. Haney was 87 of 214.
Garcia, 143.4 lbs of Victorville, CA won by scores of 115-109 and 114-110. Once card was even at 112-112.
Garcia is now 25-1. Haney, 140 lbs of Las Vegas is 31-1.
“I shouldn’t have put too much pressure on myself to stop him, because every time I hurt him, I went crazy and I couldn’t stop him,” said Ryan Garcia. “I think the ref should’ve stopped the fight. He (Haney) was really hurt. I felt bad, I even looked at Bill to stop the fight. [Regarding the point being deducted in seventh round] The guy was holding me for dear life, and I felt the opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free. I should’ve knocked him out that seventh round. They stole that from me. I’m surprised he has so much heart and recovery. He got wobbled bad in the first round. I thought it was over. He even hurt me with a hook. At the end of the day, I’m going to fight him, win or lose.”
“Ryan just shocked the world and proved once and for all that he is the face of boxing and a pound-for-pound athlete in our sport,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman Oscar De La Hoya. “Despite all of the talk from armchair psychologists and so-called boxing pundits, Ryan clearly had a plan and executed it.”
Barboza Decisions McComb
Arnold Barboza Jr. remained undefeated with a 10-round split decision over Sean McComb in a super lightweight bout.
Barboza landed 99 of 443 punches. McComb was 107 of 488.
Barboza, 139.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 96-94 and 97-93 while McComb took a card 98-92.
Barboza is now 30-0. McComb, 139.4 lbs of Belfast, IRE is 19-2.
“I felt good. It was a very tricky fight,” said Arnold Barboza Jr., “He was a lefty, tall and he moved a lot. He gave me a lot of trouble, but it was a learning experience. I’ll be back better. We’re going to talk to Oscar and see what’s next.”
Melikuziev wins Technical Decision over Dibombe
Bektemir Melikuziev won a technical decision over previously undefeated Pierre Dimbombe when cuts from both fighters forced a stoppage.
In round two, Dibombe was cut badly over his right eye from an accidental headbutt. In round five, Melikuziev dropped Dibombe with a straight left. Later in the round , another headbutt caused a nasty cut on Melikeziev’s left eyelid.
The bout was stopped in round eight due to the cut on Dibombe’s right eye.
Melikuziev was 80 of 276 punches. Dibombe was 58 if 237.
Melikuziev, 167.8 lbs of Uzbekistan won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 14-1. Dibombe, 166.6 lbs of Nantes, FRA is 22-1-1.
“He was a good opponent. Unfortunately, the fight was stopped,” said Bektemir Melikuziev. “During the fight he kept coming forward with his head. There was nothing I could do. I just needed another minute or two in the ring to finish the fight. I slowed down a bit because I felt that my opponent was getting tired.”
Daniel Jimenez Decisions John Ramirez
Daniel Jimenez upset John Ramirez via 12-round unanimous decision in a super flyweight bout.
In round 12, Ramirez was bleeding over his right eye.
Jimenez landed 191 of 722 pages. Ramirez was 142 of 531.
Jimenez, 114.8 lbs of Catagro, CR won by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 and is now 16-1. Ramirez, 114.2 lbs was ranked number-one by the WBA and had a title shot lined up for later in the summer, but that seems to have gone by the wayside and is now 13-1.
“I am very happy to become a champion again. I want to thank Golden Boy for the opportunity,” said David Jimenez. “I am ready to plan for what’s next. I felt great in the ring, and I felt like I was controlling the fight from the second round. Scrappy has a good punch and is a good boxer. Like all fighters, I want to become undisputed.”
Conwell Stops Gallimore in 6
World-Ranked Charles Conwell stopped Nathaniel Gallimore in round six of scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.
In round five, Conwell opened up a huge flurry that backed Gallimore up. Conwell continued to batter Gallimore until the fight was stopped at 56 seconds.
Conwell, 153 lbs of Cleveland is 19-0 with 14 knockouts. Gallimore, 153 lbs of Des Plaines, IL is 22-8-1.
“I feel good,” said Charles Conwell. “It was the coming back party. I thought he was a tough-game fighter. He came with a lot of experience, but I did what no other fighter has done. I stopped him in the sixth round. I don’t think any other fighter has beat him as bad as I did. He was a tough fighter and I appreciate him for taking the fight. We’re looking to get back in the ring asap, sometime in July or August. I’m back in the gym getting better. The ring rust is off. We’re ready for what’s next.”
Former three-time world title challenger Sergiy Dereyvyanchenko won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vaughn Alexander in a super middleweight bout.
Derevyancenko dropped Alexander with a body shot in round eight.
Derevyanchenko, 167.4 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 100-89 on all cards and is now 15-5. Alexander, 167.4 lbs of Saint Louis is 18-11-1.
Darius Fulgham stopped Cristian Olivas in round four of a scheduled eight-round super middleweight fight.
The time of the stoppage was 50 seconds of round four for Fulgham, 167.4 lbs of Houston, TX is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Olivas,
Jonathan Canas won a four-round unanimous decision over Markus Bowes in a super lightweight bout.
Canas, 137.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by 40-36 sores on all cards and is now 4-0. Bowes, 140 lbs of Roxboro, NC is 2-6.
Amari Jones stopped Armei Mbumba-Yassa om round six of a scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.
Jones dropped Mbumna-Yassa in rounds one and six. Jones ended the fight with a flurry and the bout was stopped at 39 seconds.
Jones, 159.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Mbumba-Yassa, 160.4 lbs Remscheild, GER is 10-2.
Kevin Newman II scored a fourth round stoppage over Eric Robles in a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight bout.
Newman dropped Robles in round four and the bout was stopped at 1:53.
Newman, 173.4 lbs of Las Vegas is now 16-3-1. Robles, 177.8 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 9-4.
Pedro Bogarro drooped Shamar Canal in the second round en-route to a six-round unanimous decision in a super lightweight bout.
Bogaro, 135.8 lbs of Sonora, MEX won by scores of 60-53 on all cards ans is now 8-1. Canal. 135 lbs of Albany, NY is 7-1.
