Justin DeLoach stopped Chris Pearson in the 2nd round of their scheduled 10-round junior middleweight bout at the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula, California.
DeLoach hurt Pearson with a left hook in the 2nd round, and then dropped him with a combination. Pearson was hurt and then ate a big right down the middle and was dropped to his knees, where he could not beat the 10-count at 2:30.
DeLoach, 151.8 lbs of Augusta, GA is 17-1 with 9 knockouts. Pearson, 152.8 lbs of Dayton, OH is 17-2.
“I’m not surprised that it happened so quickly,” DeLoach said. “We had a strategy and we stuck to it. Hard work pays off and that was proof. I didn’t think I was an underdog, but I understand the whole thing of psychological warfare. I always go into the ring like I am on top no matter what.
“Pearson seemed a step slower from the start and DeLoach came forward,” said ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood, who later called the DeLoach win a shocker. “Wow. Even if you liked DeLoach to win this fight, you are surprised it happened this soon.”
He later added: “I thought it was going to be a distance fight. Pearson never recovered from his loss to Eric Walker. DeLoach continues to surprise. This is his fourth consecutive major win and now I believe he’s a contender at 154 pounds—maybe one or two fights away from a world title fight.”
“I felt lackluster,” Pearson said. “He came out and he was explosive, he was busy. He didn’t do anything I didn’t expect. Things happened the way they did, and you gotta take the good with the bad. He hit me in the eye which got me a bit disoriented. He fought like I thought he would, he did what he had to do. His performance didn’t surprise me.”
DeLoach was clearly overcome with emotion as he reflected on his huge victory. “I feel great,” DeLoach said. “I am emotional right now. I come from a small city and my mom is here and she’s in tears. Seeing my mom and my family here, I am just proud.”
DeLoach was clearly overcome with emotion as he reflected on his huge victory. “I feel great,” he said. “I am emotional right now. I come from a small city and my mom is here and she’s in tears. Seeing my mom and my family here, I am just proud.”
Saul Rodriguez survived a knockdown, but was able to eek out a split decision in a 10-round lightweight bout over Oscar Bravo.
In round five, Bravo landed a booming right hand that sent Rodriguez staggering into the bottom ropes for a knockdown. Bravo pelted Rodriguez several other times, but Rodriguez was given the decision with his consistant output.
Rodriguez took cards by 97-92 and 95-94 scores while Bravo took a card 95-94.
Rodriguez, 133.8 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is now 21-0-1. Bravo, 132.8 lbs of Santiago, CHI is 23-7.
“I was pretty happy with my performance, but I know there are a few things I need to work on and really just stay focused,” Rodriguez said. “When you’re fighting a wild opponent like Bravo, it gets tough, he head-butted me a few times which affected my visual, but I didn’t let his wild style interrupt my plan.
“I was definitely going for the KO throughout the night, but I was still boxing with him. I just gotta go back in the gym and continue developing as a fighter, I am just happy to bring the win home to my hometown and my home stable [Mayweather Promotions].”
Andrew Tabiti stopped Quantas Graves after six rounds of their scheduled ten-round cruiserweight bout
In round four, Graves started to bleed from his nose. Later in the round, he was rocked bad by a hard right from Tabiti.
In round six, Tabiti dropped Graves with a right to the body. The beatdown continued for the rest of the round and his corner mercifully stopped the bout after the round.
Tabiti, 196.2 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Graves, 198.8 lbs of Beaumont, TX is 11-1-2.
“As soon as I got in the ring, I knew it was game over for him,” Tabiti said. “Figuring out his game plan was easy money. The only thing I feel I could have done better was get him out of the fight quicker. He was talking a lot before the fight, but I didn’t let that get in my head I just came out and did what I was supposed to do.
“Tabiti is very fast,” Graves said. “I’ve been boxing for 19 years and I’ve never fought anyone as fast as him. I have no excuses. It is okay. Tabiti was cocky before the fight and humble after. He just needs to keep working hard and perfect his skills.”
